"How long have you been impersonating Melisandre? Since La Selva de Fendes, wasn't it?" Constanza asked accusingly.
Constanza's companion yanked her boot back on and said with studied casualness: "I suppose it doesn't matter now that the Montaigne have figured out the ruse. Yes, I've been with you for some time now and the whole Jérôme rescue was to throw off your growing suspicion. My dear sister is such a soft-hearted, romantic fool. Unfortunately, Monsieur de Montaigne saw fit to share what he'd discovered and now I find myself in a bit of a tight situation. But as I'm no longer being paid, perhaps you and I can come to some sort of arrangement. I could shed a bit of light on the recent events and even be of some assistance if the price is right." She settled back into her chair, staring directly at Constanza. "So the question becomes, what are you willing to offer in exchange for your answers, Doña?"
Constanza shrugged and leaned back against the door, arms crossed. "Don't be silly. You have a fair idea of how much we value Melisandre. She is, if you will forgive me for using a simile that will probably not resonate very much with you, more than a sister to me. And that brings to the question, señorita... Sarina, was it not? If Melisandre and you are indeed sisters as Baron Rémy de Montaigne asserted, why this charade?"
The woman's fingers drummed a rhythm on the arm of the chair and her words were cold. "As far as I'm concerned, I owe my sister nothing and she owes me a lifetime. Let's just say when the opportunity presented itself, I chose to collect." Her fingers stilled. "Next question."
Constanza's eyebrows went up, as her expression changed to one of polite disbelief. "Indeed? I confess I do not understand how she could owe you when she did not realize you even existed. Should I understand you have once again sold her to the enemy? Are you still working on the same commission as in La Reina del Mar, or did you get the sale price a second time?"
This elicited a grin. "You wound me, Constanza! Jacques Lévesque d'Aur is out of favor for losing her in the first place." She gestured airily. "No, my employers are Castillian and whether you believe it or not, they represent Melisandre's best interest and even impressed upon me how important it was to maintain her reputation. So the answer to your question is no, I did not 'sell her to the enemy'. Next question." She leaned back stretching her legs out and crossing her ankles, watching Constanza with amusement and waiting.
Constanza's face suddenly hardened.
"You misunderstand the situation, señorita Sarina," she said sternly. "This is not a game of question and answer. You know that I mislike sacrificing innocent lives, and you know that I -- and my companions -- value Melisandre's safety in the extreme. But you are not an innocent, in any sense of the term, and surely you realize that if you push us we will resort to desperate measures to rescue her. At the moment, I am wagering on you and us having at least common opponents, and so being in a position where we can all benefit from a truce and a deal. I am also nursing the hope that your resemblance with Melisandre goes more than skin deep. But I suggest you give me reasons to keep these two hopes alive, and very quickly. Despite what you may think from the lengths at which I am willing to go to spare lives when I can, I assure you that I am resolved to do what I must, as I have ever done. I am not only Melisandre's old roommate from boarding school, madam; I am also a captain and I can be ruthless if I must. Right now, you can earn much -- probably more than you comprehend -- by helping us, but you also risk more than you seem willing to admit."
"You misunderstand, Doña. I've offered you a chance to freely ask your questions and I will answer them as best I might. Despite my best abilities, I'm not a mindreader and I don't know how much you know or how little for that matter. So how about I give you a rundown. You listen without interrupting, think it over, and ask your questions.
"The beginning. Melisandre is my sister whether she is aware of that fact or not. We were involved in a shipwreck when we were very young and I still have nightmares when traveling by ship. The man who claims to be her father is a thieving pirate, as well as a slave trader who sees her as a treasure he's managed to collect. She is a posession, nothing more, a bauble on his sleeve and if you care to check, he's never been married. I, on the otherhand, grew up on the streets. A harder life than those peasants you've seen outside. Our fates I assure you, are very much intertwined. I believe her to be the eldest by a few minutes only, but can't verify that. I've no idea of who our parents are or where we come from. By our coloring, we could fit in with several races.
"The middle. While following you, I ran in to Jacques Lévesque d'Aur who offered me quite a bit of money to bring Melisandre to him. I was told she'd come to no harm and that the Empereur requested her presence in the Sun Court or whatever he happens to calls it. D'Aur wanted to ensure that Don Aldana did not interfere with the journey and seemed to hold him in ill regard. Being curious what it was like to live the life of a noble, I agreed and gave her over to him and took her place. I also ensured that Fedencia was aware of the situation because I don't trust the Montaigne all that much, and set her in your path at a time when I'd already received payment. I only agreed to delay Don Aldana, not stop him.
"The present. I was approached by a man claiming to represent Castillian nobles. They thought it vital to remove Melisandre from your party and I assume keep her out of the hands of the Empereur. Don't bother asking me who they were, I don't know. I was under strict orders to number one, don't get caught or found out . Number two, protect Melisandre's reputation at all costs. Number three, eliminate Sebastiano Biancastro if possible without jeopardizing the first two. Frankly, with that sword of his, I'm disinclined to achieve that objective, but your countrymen see him as some sort of threat. I would assume toward her virtue, but after traveling with him for some time, I can assure you he is a gentleman. If I were him, I'd watch my back. But then he may in actual fact be a threat to you, so if you care to tell him then do so at your own peril. I'd would recommend against it for the time being. The Montaigne and the Castillans know something about my sister. Who's to say Villanova doesn't as well? He could be using his man to get close to her.
"My motives. I love my sister and I hate her. She is everything I could have been, given her life. Fancy clothes, fancy schools, fancy friends. I take turns praising and cursing her actions. I've gone over and over what I'd say to her were we face to face. And each time I've been given that chance, fate intervenes in some way to prevent it. But our fates are intertwined and based on Remy's comments last eve, I'd say your countrymen didn't do the best job and the Montaigne have her. I've learned that's probably a very bad thing and I don't think the Empereur wants something as simple as an audience.
"But based on our past relationship, I can tell you are mulling over the advantages and disadvantages of keeping me around, so here's my offer. If I can help you retrieve Melisandre in good condition, we discuss fair payment for services rendered upon our safe return to Castille. If not, well, we'll probably all be dead, but I'd be willing to allow you to set up whatever terms you wish, and I will swear to it by Theus and all the Prophets. Do you find that acceptable? Or do you have further questions?"
Constanza had listened with great attention to the woman who bore her best friend's features. When at least Sarina paused, Constanza nodded slowly, her face reflecting the rapid calculations through which her mind was running.
"I assure you, if we recover Melisandre safely, you can set your price as long as you are talking of money. Other conditions you may have in mind would need to be discussed, however. But you may discover that there are other advantages to being an ally, beyond shiny dubloons."
She frowned, trying to piece the story together and commenting aloud, almost as she would have to Melisandre herself.
"Castillans AND Montaignes. Mm. They want Melisandre, but unharmed, and despite your amazing resemblance, have decided that only the genuine article will do. How odd that her long-lost twin sister wouldn't do. If they had simply made her disappear and have you act her part instead from the very beginning, no one would have suspected the substitution. Unless... either they want her from something she knows and you don't, or can can do and you cannot; or someone else knows of your existence, can distinguish between you, and would intervene if she was replaced for whatever purpose the enemy has in mind.
"Oh yes, I do mean 'the enemy'. Her captors may be Castillans, but if they had good things in mind they would not use such an approach. Besides, we learned in Barcino that some Castillans can collaborate with Montaigne if the price is right. I assume you have heard enough of the current political problems in Castille to realize we are far from presenting a united front. I note that Baron Rémy did not seem overwrought that you were there and Melisandre was not. And how easily he decided you were not her -- that suggests they already have her in hand, but you say she was captured in Castille?"
Sarina grinned wryly. "As you originally deduced, she was taken once your party entered the forest and the inquisitors began to... disappear. And before you ask, no, I don't know if the same people were responsible for both acts." She pulled the combs from her hair, shaking it free. "And yes, I spoke of money. I've no use for anything else, and if I did, money could buy it." She paused a moment. "Oh, and you should probably know that the Comte de Sinjin has something to do with it, although I'm not sure in what capacity. He spoke to me in Montaigne and addressed me as Sarina before we left for Charouse. His words were along the lines of 'Sarina, sometimes it is very bad to be second', or some such nonsense. But he knew. And now it seems all of the Empereur's cronies know. The information was leaked and I assure you it wasn't me. If my main objective were to fail, my money was forfeit."
"Mmm," Constanza hummed non-commitally. "So we don't know if your employers this time were ultimately the same as last time. Has it occurred to you that they may be trying to double-cross you? Claim you failed when in fact they have what they wanted? As for the Comte de Sinjin, he may be one of them or he maybe a third party who found out about this little plot and is trying to take advantage of it. Blackmailing the captors, perhaps. He did not ask anything of you, such as a bribe?"
Sarina shook her head. "No, they aren't the same. If you work through... umm... contacts as I do, you get a feel for it. And the Comte de Sinjin asked for nothing, just like Remy asked for nothing. And they seemed to take pleasure in the fact they knew me for who I was." She glanced across at Constanza. "You do realize it wasn't anything personal. I've rather enjoyed your company and that of your companions, although I could have done without the drivel that the Vodacci call poetry."
Constanza winced. How quickly this woman dismissed the most precious treasures, only to fixate on mere gold.
Sarina made a face. "What are you going to tell them by the way? I imagine Don Lucas will be most put out as he seems to regard Melisandre as his charge. I gave him ample opportunity to, shall we say, attempt to take advantage of the traveling arrangements to no avail. Too bad really, he'd most likely be entertaining company. Beggar John won't be an obstacle. I've seen you exert control over his actions and he seems to listen to you, and no one else. But the Vodacci will be a problem. I don't doubt he will take Melisandre's capture as a personal affront if he truly has feelings for her, and if he doesn't then it will be an affront to his Prince if he is working for a greater purpose. Either way, he's a loose cannon." She gazed with some interest at Constanza. "Do tell me how you suggest we handle this less than optimum situation and come out with my hide intact. I don't think either Lucas or Sebastiano will take well to being duped. I imagine Sebastiano's conversation was meant for Melisandre alone, and Lucas..." She hesitated a moment and then plunged ahead. "....well, Lucas to put it bluntly, and no offense to your family, is proud and hates to be made a fool of. I've made a fool of him for several days. He'll be very angry. I thought of suggesting this remain between the two of us, but problems will arise when Melisandre and I stand face to face and I imagine that then would be less optimum than now. We may be in a hurry with no time to talk or explain, not to mention you will incur their wrath for keeping them from the truth."
Constanza pursed her lips. "First, I must understand the situation better. Go over the details, please. Who did you talk to, what were the arrangements, how was Melisandre captured, what do you know of her intended fate after that point?"
"It's not going to help you much. When you're offered a job, you make a few discreet inquiries but if you get too nosy the offer's withdrawn." Sarina shrugged. "I can tell you the man seemed to represent a group of Castillans. They had the money to back it up and didn't quible much on price when I set it. Warning signs in my business. I asked for terms and they were adamant that Melisandre's reputation was most important and suggested were I able to help her reputation that additional funds would be made available. Although they seemed eager to have the Vodacci removed, could I manage it. I made my inquiries and all that I could find out was that the men hiring me were powerful, anxious to keep Melisandre out of Montaigne, and seemed on the up and up. I don't think it was their intent to harm her in any way. They need her for something." An emotion flickered across her face, too quick to catch. "I've no idea where they were taking her and did not see her on her way out. On the pre-arranged eve, I slipped into the tent you shared with her and you were sleeping sound enough you didn't notice. She was already gone and in what manner she was taken, I've no idea. That's pretty much it. When the swap was to take place, I would be contacted."
"Don't you have a name," Constanza asked, "a description, an accent, someone we might be able to recognize? Prearranged signals? Has anyone tried to contact you since the switch? I understand you want to preserve your contacts, but consider that you stand to lose what you thought you would earn on this little jaunt anyway. I am certain that you are very competent at what you do, but since this has clearly taken a turn you hadn't planned on, consider the possibility that these people may have been even sharper and may have cheated you."
Sarina settled back to a more comfortable position. "My contact? I assure you I'd very much enjoy getting to know him better." She glanced over at Constanza with a smile. "He was young, dark hair, darker eyes. Not as handsome as Lucas, but close. And he spoke much like Juan. Gallegos, is it?
Constanza grimaced. The adventuress was not being very forthcoming with details, but this was hardly surprising.
"I see." She paused briefly, returning to the woman's earlier question. "You are correct, Signor Sebastiano will be furious. You will have to convince him, and the rest of my companions, that you truly don't know more but can help us find Melisandre and are willing to do so. I assume that the reason the Baron de Montaigne, and perhaps the Count de Sinjin, recognized you so easily is that they know where Melisandre is. Since we're being manoeuvred into going to the Empereur's Court, it must mean something is planned for us there. We were also told by poor Lieutenant d'Arrent that both General du Toille and that cad Jacques Lévesque d'Aur work for the Empereur's secret police. Perhaps we now need to prepare a little surprise of our own, so that the enemy doesn't hold all the cards. But first, we must tell Lucas, Ferd... Beggar John and Sebastiano of these machinations."
She turned to open the door she had been leaning against.
Sarina casually got to her feet and sauntered over to stand near the window glancing out between the curtains. "I suggest that you try and temper their reason a bit. Without me, Melisandre's life expectancy is drastically reduced. You DO want her back, do you not?"
Constanza looked over her shoulder, gave the adventuress a sweet smile, and wordlessly opened the door leading to the corridor where she expected to find Lucas and Ferdinand with their ears against the wall.
