by T. A. White
“Only you, Tate, would get involved in something like this. The Black Order is filled with thugs and murderers, given absolution because they work in the emperor’s name. They hate the Dragon-Ridden because they’re out of the Order’s reach. They’re going to have your head if they can.”
Tate was very much afraid that he made a good point. She didn’t tell him about the markings or her fear that Night might be blamed.
“I guess we’ll just have to figure this out so that my head stays where it belongs.”
He snorted. “We?”
She gave him a tight smile. “You didn’t think you’d get out of this so easily, did you? We’re a team, or so you said when you forced your way into this.”
He sighed, not looking happy at the turn of events. Maybe that would teach him to not accept jobs from Ryu.
“I hope you have some type of plan,” he hissed.
“I’m working on it.”
“You’ve caused quite a stir among these people,” the Shodon observed in a mild voice to Jost, his emotions hidden behind a neutral expression. He stood a little apart from the knot of Kairi that had formed around Jost.
“Though regrettable, it was unfortunately unavoidable,” Jost said. His back was ramrod straight. He had an implacable expression on his face.
The Shodon gave a humorless smile, emotion not touching his eyes. Tate got the sense he knew what was coming. “I’m sure you’re about to explain what has caused our mediator to act so rudely.”
“Perhaps this would be best done in private,” Jost said.
“I think this is as fine a place as any to share your news.”
If Tate hadn’t known Jost as well as she did, she would have missed the slight tightening of his lips that said he wasn’t happy about that answer. Or the suspicion that gathered around the corners of his eyes. Much of her time on his ship had been spent observing those around her. It was a defense against the holes in her memory. As a result, she’d become quite good at reading the crew’s micro expressions.
“It is my regret to inform you that one in your party no longer walks under this sky.”
That was a poetic way to say his throat had been cut and he’d been left for dead.
The Shodon’s face showed no expression. Not grief. Not rage. Or any other emotion Tate was familiar with. It was like looking at someone who had been carved from stone. Not even a twitch to give away what he was feeling.
“Do you know who?”
“I believe his name was Ithor Aisao,” Jost said.
Tate focused on the guards and those standing close, all Kairi, who were in hearing distance. Shock and acceptance appeared on several faces. Tate was interested to note the lack of sadness or grief. No one protested that his words were impossible. More than one didn’t look particularly surprised at the news.
Tate found that interesting and made a note to compare observations with Dewdrop later.
“Ithor? Are you sure?” a Kairi male asked, coming to stand at the Shodon’s shoulder. His eyes were sharp and he had a thin face and thin body. This was not a warrior. He didn’t carry the same deadly grace as the rest of them.
“Yes,” Jost said.
“Do you have the culprit in hand?” the man demanded.
“The person who discovered the body didn’t see who killed him.”
The man scoffed. “Probably because he was the one to kill Ithor. Let us talk to him. I’m sure we can get the truth out of him.”
“You mean torture him into confessing?” Tate asked in a quiet voice. “Because that’s so reliable.”
The man gave her a cold glare, all but looking down his nose at her. It made Tate want to retaliate with a snide comment, but she kept her reaction locked down, wanting to hear his response. “Whatever it takes to find the person responsible for Ithor’s death.”
“The person has already been questioned.” Jost’s voice was the calm in the storm Tate could sense gathering.
“We have a right-”
Jost interrupted. “In the event of violence during a mediation, the mediator and the witness decide the course of events so that all involved can be assured of a fair outcome, one untainted by politics. We’ve called in the Black Order to conduct the investigation. The witness will oversee their efforts.”
The man snapped his mouth shut as he shot Tate a narrowed glance. He was not happy with that response. The guards and the Shodon looked her over with perfectly blank expressions. She couldn’t get an idea of what they thought about her involvement.
The Shodon clasped his hands in front of him, his sleeves falling to cover his hands. “This unfortunate event has tired me. We will depart so we may say prayers to guide his way to the ancestors.”
Tate opened her mouth to protest; Jost made a sharp gesture to cut her off.
He gave the Shodon a short bow. “Of course. We’ll pick this back up tomorrow once you’ve had time to mourn your man.”
The Shodon gave a small nod and swept out, accompanied by his guards. The rest of his people followed behind.
Tate stepped up to Jost and said in a low voice meant only for his ears. “What are you doing? Someone will need to talk to all of them, establish who has an alibi. Find out who was here and who was missing in the time surrounding the deaths.”
She did not like that he had just dismissed a key group that the men from the Black Order would deem vital to speak to. She didn’t know much about investigations but time struck her as being of the essence. Their dismissal would give them a chance to close ranks and decide on the story they wanted told.
“Do you have a reason to suspect one of them might be involved in Ithor and Ronald’s death?”
“There’s no reason not to suspect them. For all we know, his death is a misdirect by one of them designed to derail the talks.”
It was entirely possible. From what Tate knew of the Kairi, it was the type of political maneuver they excelled at.
“Either way, none of them would have talked to you or the Black Order tonight. Tell the Black Order to follow up with them in the morning,” Jost said.
That was the point of questioning. To determine if there was a reason to suspect. Not that it mattered now that Jost had dismissed them.
Jost turned to the rest of the gathering whose whispers were beginning to fill the room. Danny remained in place on the other side of the room. Tate noticed he’d positioned himself in front of the door.
To keep people from trying to leave until Jost was ready? Or was it just coincidence?
Jost held up his hands for silence.
“There has been an incident,” he started.
“Obviously,” the Duke said in a dry tone of voice as he drifted closer to Jost and Tate. Tala approached from the opposite direction, curiosity alive on her face.
She inhaled a deep breath, tilting her head before her eyes came to rest on Tate. “Someone is injured.”
Tate blinked. She glanced down at her hands, knowing that there was no blood on them. She hadn’t touched either body as it was obvious even from a distance that both men were dead.
She gave Tala a considering look. The woman had an incredibly powerful sense of smell if she could tell there had been blood present just by a sniff of Tate and Jost.
What other feats were the Silva capable of?
“Two people are dead,” Jost said simply.
Tala and the duke’s faces were just as controlled as the Shodon’s. No expression slipping free to give observers a hint of what they were feeling. Not surprising for people who were heavy hitters in the empire’s political mire. They would have to be skilled at diplomacy to have lived this long.
“One of the Kairi,” Tala said, her eyes sharp and assessing.
The duke glanced at her and then back at Jost, his face thoughtful.
“Yes,” Jost confirmed.
“Who else?” someone asked. Tate thought he looked like one of the investors.
“We prefer to keep that to ourselves until his family can b
e informed,” Jost said.
“You told the Kairi.”
“The Shodon acts as the head of any family for those at this meeting. He will convey his regrets to the man’s family in our place. The other was human and his family is likely in this city and deserve to be informed first.”
The human who’d objected didn’t look satisfied by that response, but he didn’t argue when Jost moved on.
“Talks will have to be delayed,” the duke said.
The Silva expressed their disagreement in growls. The humans were a little more circumspect with their voiced objections. Only a few seemed relieved by the statement
“They will go forward unless I or the witness decide otherwise,” Jost said in a cool voice. “We will not let the actions of one derail this mediation.”
The duke didn’t look happy at that pronouncement. Tala looked thoughtful. Gabriella came to stand by her lady as she watched everyone else. Tate let her gaze roam over those in the room, noting who seemed to have something to say and those that were keeping their emotions locked down.
“The Black Order will be called in to investigate. I have every faith that they will work tirelessly to bring the men’s murderers to justice.” He met each person’s eyes. “Until then, feel free to enjoy the refreshments we’ve prepared for you.”
A few lost little time in leaving, the announcement putting a pall on the gathering. The conversation was subdued when it resumed. The academics seemed mostly intent on guessing who it was that had been killed. More than a few guessed correctly.
Gabriella fell into step beside her. “I find it interesting that your people didn’t order the Kairi to remain to be questioned by the Order.”
“They’ll be questioned tomorrow once they’ve had time to mourn,” she said.
Gabriella snorted. “They don’t mourn. That would imply they care.”
Before Tate could reply, Tala joined them. Her amber eyes were sharp. Tate could see frustration there and behind it all a hint of fear.
“Your mediator tells me that you will be liaising with the Black Order during this investigation.”
Tate inclined her head.
“I hope you’ll convey how inappropriate it would be for them to make assumptions without evidence.”
Tate blinked. She’d kind of assumed that was obvious.
“I’m sure the Black Order is aware of that.”
Tala’s snort was surprisingly unladylike for a person wearing such a delicate dress. “I wouldn’t bet on it. They have a long history of casting stones long before it is prudent to do so.”
Tate didn’t know how to respond. She settled for saying, “I will be sure to inform them of that.”
Tala gave her a firm nod before turning to Gabriella. “This news has wearied me. I think it is time to head home.”
“Of course, Doyenne.” Gabriella inclined her head and made a sharp motion. The rest of the guards moved, their configuration changing as they placed Tala in the center.
Before she left, Tala turned to Tate. “My Ayer and Lennart have informed me that your friend has much in common with my people. You and he should visit us in our home in the city. I’m sure we have much to talk about.”
Tate didn’t know what to do with that invitation so she nodded and smiled. Night might kill her tomorrow when he learned they had an engagement, but it was the only graceful response she could come up with. “I look forward to it.”
Tala gave her another nod and then swept out of the room, her guards and Gabriella moving in perfect synchronization with her.
Tate turned back to the gathering. There weren’t many groups to choose from and even fewer with people she recognized. She saw Roslyn on her own across the room and moved to intercept her. She’d wanted to speak to her all night. Now was as good a time as any.
Roslyn straightened as Tate stopped next to her. She shot an unsure glance to where her father held court with several Academics in attendance as they pleaded their case. Ryu stood at his side. The duke’s lips tightened when he noticed Tate with his daughter, but he gave Roslyn a sharp nod.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Tate said in a dry voice.
Roslyn blinked, her face unsure.
“Did you know we were attending the same party in Ashwin’s shop?” Tate asked when Roslyn wasn’t forthcoming.
“No.” Her answer was soft. “I didn’t know my attendance would be required until afterwards.”
Tate studied the woman, not sure if she believed her.
“You arrived after dinner, right?” Tate asked. “That’s right around when the murders happened. I don’t suppose you noticed anyone on your way here.”
She shook her head. “No, just the servants.”
Frustration nipped at Tate as the Duke of Spiritly joined them. Roslyn seemed to fade into the background as soon as he arrived. It was not behavior Tate was used to from someone so confident while speaking about magic theory or demonstrating a difficult spell.
The duke’s face was calm as he kissed his daughter on the cheek and then turned to Tate. He was perfectly poised. The epitome of a gentleman.
It set Tate’s instincts tingling.
The duke was in good shape, despite the fact that he was nearing the middle of his life. This wasn’t someone who was content to let themselves go as age encroached. Nor did he seem to be given to the excesses that dogged others in his position.
He moved with the grace and self-awareness of someone who’d learned the fighting arts. His clothes were finely tailored without being ostentatious. His eyes had an intellect brimming behind them very like his daughter’s. Tate could see Roslyn in his features. She must have got her coloring somewhere else, but her bone structure, that force of personality came from this man.
The duke studied her in turn. His green eyes hawk-like in their intensity.
“Well, here I am. Are you going to ask any questions?” he asked after a long pause.
Tate frowned at him. That was rather direct. Especially since she’d been going out of her way to make it appear as if she was only interested in casual conversation.
His smile was humorless. “It’s obvious what you’re after.”
Roslyn looked between the two of them with unease.
Well if he insisted. “Why did you invest in this endeavor?”
He frowned, the question unexpected. “What relevance does that have on things?”
Tate shrugged one shoulder. “Probably nothing. Maybe everything. That’s the thing with these sorts of matters. You never know what’s what until the matter is resolved.”
“The perfect opportunity to uncover someone’s secrets.”
She gave him a sharp toothed smile. Something about him rubbed her the wrong way. It made her want to push him. “Very good. Yes, secrets have a way of coming to light when you're stumbling around trying to uncover something else."
“Then whoever murdered the Kairi made a mistake.”
“How so?”
“He gave someone, you or the Order, the opportunity they needed to skulk about asking the sorts of things myself and others with stakes in this discovery wouldn’t want asked.”
“So you admit you have secrets.”
He gave a careless shrug. “Everyone has secrets. That doesn’t mean you’ll be able to uncover them.” He was very confident of that.
“Again, why did you invest in this?”
“I suspect you already have an idea of my reasons.”
Evasion. So original.
“You know how unpredictable rumors are. I’d like to hear the truth from your own lips.”
The duke’s eyes blazed with a green fire. He didn’t like that she continued to press. Good. Perhaps his anger would lead him to reveal something by accident. Though, Tate doubted it. The man was entirely too self-possessed for that. It made him entirely untrustworthy.
For a moment, Tate thought he would refuse to answer her question. She was already preparing a counter question.
He sighed,
the sound making it clear that he found this entire matter trying. “It’s no big secret. Half the city knows.” He leaned forward. “My daughter has been unable to bond or master the artifacts in my family’s possession. It’s my hope that this new discovery might give her another chance to take her rightful place.”
Roslyn made a small movement that spoke of hurt. Her eyes dropped to the ground and she seemed to fold in on herself, for a moment appearing nothing like the self-assured student Tate knew.
“It was my understanding that not everyone can bond with an artifact.”
He nodded. “That is true.”
“Then why is it so important that Roslyn find one to master? It’s no great flaw to be unable to form a bond.”
Tate didn’t like the implication that Roslyn was lacking simply because she was the same as most of the population. She especially didn’t like it when he made it right in front of his daughter to a stranger.
The duke’s chuckle was warm and amused. “Maybe if you’re a commoner. For one of the Spiritly line, it is considered a most egregious flaw. No, there will not be too many other chances like this. Roslyn must be allowed to bond with one of the artifacts.”
And there it was. Tate had known he would say something that would make her want to punch him.
“I hear that these artifacts are powerful. What makes you think that the mediator will find in your favor? Seems to me that too many artifacts in one family will destabilize the power structure in this little section of the world.”
“Indeed. However, Lord Dampier will have no choice to find in our favor.”
Tate’s interest sharpened. That almost sounded like a threat. She wished someone would threaten Jost. It would make this whole thing go much quicker.
“Does he know this?” Tate asked.
The duke gave her a smile. “Once he examines the facts, he’ll concede that the Academy is the only one with any legitimate claim. They are the ones who put in the work, who financed the search. They should reap the rewards.”
“Them and you, right?”
Ah, there it was. The faintest tightening around the corners of his eyes.
“And anyone else who invested in the endeavor.”
With the duke getting the biggest share of the pie no doubt.
