Norwood blinked. Beneath the glass dome, the plate was full again. More magic… The captain shifted uneasily. Magic was rare and dangerous. To use such power for simple convenience didn’t seem right.
Oblivious to his guest’s discomfort, Woefler popped the morsel into his mouth and waved a hand. A thick roll of parchment floated over from a shelf as he chewed, swallowed, and chased the bite with a sip of wine.
“I’m afraid it’s rather dry reading. Maybe you’ll get more from it than I did.” Taking the parchment out of the air, he handed it over.
Norwood untied the string that bound the roll and opened the report. “You read it?”
“I had to transcribe it from the messaging scroll, Captain.” The wizard pointed to an ornate golden stand on a nearby table. A scroll stretched across the flat surface, rolled into a pair of spindles at top and bottom. Beside it, a long-feathered quill pen stood in an inkpot. “Just as the emperor’s archmage had to transcribe the report onto an identical messaging scroll in his laboratory. I hope the information was worth our time.”
“So do I.”
While Norwood read the report, Woefler continued munching and sipping wine. The wizard was right; it was dry reading and offered little insight. Nothing even remotely illegal or suggesting a connection to the Thieves Guild or Assassins Guild. There has to be one somewhere. Norwood had already thrown off any thought of the baron being killed for his money, or something as trite as jealousy. This murder was not so mundane. Rerolling the scroll, he lost himself in thought. Perhaps, there was something here that he could work into his plan to identify the information leak.
“Satisfied, Captain?”
“Not really.” He regarded Woefler. Could the amiable wizard be involved in some murderous conspiracy? No. If he was, Norwood would already be dead. That didn’t mean, however, that he hadn’t inadvertently leaked information.
“To get back to your original question, Master Woefler. Someone tried to kill me in my home last evening.” Norwood gave an accurate account of the attack, and the assassin’s vaporous escape, only leaving out the part about his savior assassin. If anyone found out he’d been exchanging information with the Assassin’s Guild, there would be all Nine Hells to pay. The last thing Norwood wanted was a manhunt to scare off his informant or, worse yet, make him angry.
“Really?” The wizard’s eyes fairly glowed with intrigue. “A coincidence is quite improbable, Captain. That was surely Baron Patino’s killer.”
“Yes, that’s what I thought, too, but it raises a disturbing question: How did he know I was investigating Patino’s death? I told no one but you and the duke.”
“Yes, that is disturbing, but before we go there, Captain, let me ask you how this man vanished. What exactly happened? What did you see, hear, smell, or even taste? Did your skin tingle? Was there a temperature change? If so, was it hot or cold? Any details at all would help.”
Norwood thought back. His memories of that moment were quite vivid, right down to his own pounding heart and the blood on the tip of his dagger. “I cut him, and he pulled back. I asked who he was. He said, ‘the right hand of death’, and then some black mist or vapor bloomed from somewhere near his hand, and it…consumed him. There was no sound, no smell that I remember, and I didn’t feel anything like heat, cold, or static.”
“Consumed him…” Woefler put down his wine glass and leaned forward. “Describe that, please.”
“The dark vapor came up fast, like…streamers of black smoke, and as it swirled and spread over his body, there was nothing left. His hands and feet were the last to vanish, but his body was already gone. When I put a blade through it, the stuff just swirled away like mist on the breeze. It happened fast.”
“That is very interesting, Captain.” Woefler nodded. “Yes, I think this was most definitely an interplanar shift, not a transposition spell like mine.”
“What’s an…interplanar shift?”
“A means to step from our plane of existence to another. My spell, the one I performed in your office, opens a kind of passage between two points in our world. I simply step through, as I would an open door.” He smiled, pleased by his explanation, and reached for the wine decanter. “Are you sure you won’t have a glass of this remarkable sherry, Captain? You look as if you could use a drink.”
“Well, it’s not even noon yet, but…”
“Nonsense.” Woefler poured both of their glasses full. “A sailor friend of mine once told me that the sun is always over the yardarm somewhere.”
“Very well. Thank you.” He took the glass, sipped, and had to agree; the sherry was remarkable. The warm glow trickled into his stomach, but didn’t do much to relax him.
“Now, you were hypothesizing about how this assassin learned you were investigating Patino’s death. Let me assure you that no one learned it from me.”
“But you copied down my inquiries to the Royal Archives here in your chambers. Could someone spy on you here?”
“No, Captain.” The wizard looked affronted by the suggestion. “The entire palace is protected from magical intrusion. And I always have protection, so no one could have heard our discussion in your office, either.”
“Well, what about someone sneaking in and reading the message you while you were out?” He nodded to the scroll on the golden stand.
“Even if someone could get in here without being reduced to ashes, the message I sent is not here. It’s in Tsing.”
“But you said you had to write it down there, on the scroll.”
“Yes, I did. Let me explain how this magic works.” Woefler sipped his sherry and plucked another dainty from the tray. “When I write on that scroll, the words appear on an identical scroll in Tsing, not the scroll here. I destroyed your note with your inquiries as soon as I transcribed them, so there was no trace for anyone to find here in my quarters. The scroll in your hand is the only copy of the return message, and I only received that this morning, after your assassination attempt.”
“That narrows the potential leak points considerably. Duke Mir’s the only other person here who knows of the investigation…”
Woefler was already shaking his head. “If you haven’t noticed, Duke Mir can be rather paranoid about security. He would not pass information that you gave him on to anyone else, not even the duchess. Your leak is not in Twailin.”
“So, the leak is a thousand miles away...”
“It seems so, Captain, but this magical messaging system is as secret there as it is here. Few would see your inquiry.”
“Who might have?”
“The emperor’s archmage, definitely. I doubt he took your request to the emperor himself for approval, so at least one imperial page to deliver it. Then there’s the royal archivist, of course, and probably one or two assistants.” He shrugged. “No more than six people, and none who would care about your inquiries.”
“Someone apparently does. And somehow they got a message to this priest in Twailin, thinking that if they killed me, they’d stop the investigation.”
“Captain, I think you are misunderstanding the magic involved here. If this assassin does indeed travel by interplanar shift, then distance means nothing. He could transport himself from Tsing to your home in the blink of an eye.”
“Marvelous.” Norwood downed his sherry and sighed. His plan wasn’t quite working out how he thought it would, but with a wizard on his side… “Master Woefler, I’d like to set a little trap for our killer, but I need your help.”
“I’d be delighted to help.” Woefler grinned like he’d been offered a title. “What do you need?”
“A map of the empire that shows the baron’s estates, to start with. He has three; two are relatively close to Twailin.”
Curiosity glinted in the wizard’s eye. “Are you planning pay a visit to further your investigation?”
“I am.” Norwood could see the wheels working behind Woefler’s eyes. At least he’s on my side.
“And since that is outside of your ju
risdiction, you’ll need permission from the Duke.”
“Yes, but I’ll tell Duke Mir I’m going to one estate, while I’ll really be going to another. That way, if someone shows up to kill me, it’ll confirm that the duke wasn’t the leak.”
“And you’ll have me send a query to the emperor about this estate you really plan to visit, so if someone comes to kill you, it will be confirm that the leak is in Tsing.”
“Yes. And you’ll include some language to make it clear that I have found irregularities with the baron’s death. Don’t call it murder, but say that I’m investigating.”
“Of course.”
“And I need you to make sure the message says exactly where I’m visiting and when I’ll be there.”
“You plan to use yourself as bait…” Woefler’s intrigue faded with concern. “The duke won’t like that, Captain.”
“The duke doesn’t need to know.” He narrowed his eyes at the wizard. “Does he?”
Woefler’s smile broadened, and he reached for the wine decanter. “Hunting murderers is such thirsty work, Captain Norwood.”
The corners of Norwood’s mouth twitched. “Only one more, Master Woefler. Just while we look at the map. I have to speak to the duke straightaway.”
Chapter XIV
Lad jerked out of his trance-like state and whirled, batting away the hand that had touched his shoulder. Dee’s yelp of pain stopped the killing blow that would have followed.
“Don’t do that!” Lad relaxed from his fighting stance and glared at his assistant. “Don’t ever touch me without my being aware of you! I could have killed you!”
“Yes, sir.” Dee rubbed his wrist where Lad had struck. “I called, but you didn’t respond. I’m sorry, sir.”
“You’d be sorrier if I broke your fool neck by accident.” Lad cursed inwardly, blinked, and took in his surroundings. It was dark. He’d come up to his room to change clothes, stopping just for a moment to watch the sunset from the balcony. That must have been a half-hour ago. Once again, he’d been lost in thoughts of Wiggen and Lissa, the first time he held his daughter in his arms… Gods I miss them both so much… He blinked again and focused on Dee. “Next time just stomp your foot or throw something at me.”
“Yes, sir. Your guards are downstairs. They were worried.”
“I just came up to change. I didn’t think I needed an escort.”
Dee frowned in disapproval, but just nodded toward the door. “Dinner’s ready, sir. Hensen’s waiting in the dining room.”
“Let him wait.” Lad strode to his wardrobe and flung open the door, suddenly irritated by Dee’s oppressively protective attitude. He knew he should eat, but the thought of food clenched his stomach. He picked out a dark shirt and trousers. “On second thought, go ahead and feed him. I’m not eating. I’m going out.”
“Sir, please. Do you think going out is wise?”
“You’re my assistant, not my keeper!” Lad stripped off his fashionable silk shirt and donned the dark linen one.
“Yes, sir, but I believe keeping you alive falls under my purview.” Dee picked up the fallen shirt and folded it. “You said yourself that someone might be out to kill you, someone who can magically appear anywhere he wants. If I had been that person just now, you’d be dead.”
Lad stopped and glared. Once Dee finally realized that the guildmaster wasn’t going to kill him for speaking his mind, he seemed to grow bolder with each passing day. But what irritated Lad was not so much Dee’s mothering interference, but that he was right. He had been thoughtless to leave his guards downstairs, and to consider going out alone. He flung the dark trousers back into the wardrobe and started pacing. “I can’t just sit here waiting, Dee! It’s driving me crazy! I’ve got to do something!”
“Well, if you don’t mind my asking, sir, what are you waiting for?” Dee placed the silk shirt on a shelf, then picked up the trousers and started to fold them.
“What?” The question snapped through Lad’s dark mood. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, why don’t you do something? You said you’re waiting on information about Patino from your informant. How long will that take?”
“Weeks, apparently. The inquiry has to go to Tsing and back.”
“And so do you.” Dee tucked the trousers away and closed the wardrobe door. “You and Miss Mya, that is.”
“I can’t just leave, Dee! We haven’t found Kiesha yet.”
“Master, we both worked for the Hunters long enough to know that, if you don’t find someone within the first couple of days, the search is apt to drag out for weeks.” He shrugged. “And if she’s found in your absence, she’ll be kept safely locked up until you return.”
Lad grudgingly conceded that point, but persisted with another. “And if my informant needs to contact me with news about Patino while I’m gone?”
“The news will also be here when you return. But there’s also the opportunity for you and Miss Mya to conduct your own investigation while you’re in Tsing. Someone there will have known the baron. He may even have relatives living in the city. Posing as gentry, you might be able to pick up information through social channels.”
Lad peered at Dee. His assistant seemed to have all the answers.
“But sitting in a carriage for weeks?” The prospect of so long in a rolling coffin grated like sand between his teeth.
“Or sit here for the same weeks waiting for word on Patino or for someone to find Kiesha, and then have to go to Tsing.”
“The Grandmaster isn’t expecting me for another month.”
Dee shrugged again. “His instructions said within two months, sir. You can go earlier. I’ll send a fast courier ahead to inform him of your pending arrival. I’ve got your clothes ready for a final fitting, and I can charter a carriage in a day. Besides, if you’re traveling, an assassin won’t know where to find you.”
Lad could think of no more arguments. Dee was right. Once he got this meeting with the Grandmaster out of the way, his time would be his own. The trip needn’t be a waste of effort. They could investigate Patino in Tsing, and Lad might be able to determine if the Grandmaster was behind Patino’s contract to protect Lad and Mya.
What if there’s a link to Kiesha…to Wiggen’s death? The ring on Lad’s finger seemed to constrict, a garrote around his soul. Even if the Grandmaster admitted to orchestrating the killing, there was nothing he could do about it. Lad shook his head to clear his thoughts. He was getting ahead of himself. I need facts, not supposition. Only then would he have a focus for his vengeance.
“Fine. Set it up.” He doffed the dark shirt and pulled out the one Dee had just put away. “Send runners to Mya and Sereth. Tell Mya that we’re leaving day after tomorrow, whether she’s ready or not. Inform Sereth that he’ll be in charge of the guild in my absence.”
“Sereth, sir?”
“Yes.” Sereth owed him, not only for Jinny’s life, but for his own as well. The Master Blade understood that debt, and would repay it with loyalty.
“Very well, sir, but you may want to send Hensen home, and give Sereth explicit orders not to kill him while you’re gone.” Dee folded the discarded shirt and put it away. “You may have noticed the…um…friction between them.”
“Friction? That’s putting it mildly, but you’re right.” Lad strode to the door. “I’ll tell Hensen he’s going home, and you draft the messages. I’ll sign them after dinner.”
“Very good sir.”
Lad ignored the satisfied smile on Dee’s face. Let him enjoy his little victory. At least this gave Lad something to do.
The knock on the front door sent Sereth’s hand to the hilt of his sword. His two bodyguards reacted by moving to interpose themselves between him and the door.
Don’t be stupid, Sereth! Assassins rarely knocked, especially ones who could pop in and out magically. But it might serve as a distraction…
“Jinny?” he called up the stairs. She had been in their bedroom unpacking clothes she hadn’t worn in year
s. Sereth had ordered all their belongings moved to his new house, and the two of them had been unpacking all afternoon. The place was starting to feel like a home, but his nerves were on edge, and he hadn’t heard her in a while. “Jinny!”
“I’m here, Sereth.” She stepped onto the landing, a bundle of clothes draped over one arm and a dagger in her free hand. She held the blade as he’d taught her. She was no assassin, but she could defend herself well enough.
That’s my Jinny.
“I heard the knock. Who is it?”
“Probably just business.” The smile he flashed her fell as he turned back to the door. Few outside the guild knew where he lived, and he intended to keep it that way. He nodded to one of his bodyguards. “Open it.”
The Enforcer complied, revealing a breathless young woman in a sweat-stained jerkin. “Message for Master Sereth.” She held out a sealed scroll tube.
The Enforcer reached for it, but Sereth’s paranoia flared. “Don’t touch it!”
Both bodyguard and messenger froze.
Sereth stepped forward. “Who is it from?”
“Your master, sir.”
That boded well; a guild messenger would never blurt out Lad’s name. “Come in.”
The messenger stepped through the door without hesitation, and showed no trace of anxiety when the Enforcer closed it behind her.
“Now, hold out the scroll.” She did so, again without hesitation or any sign of nervousness. Reaching out his hand, the tingle from Sereth’s ring assured him that the scroll case wasn’t dangerous. He took the tube. “Wait. I might have a reply.”
He popped the waxed seal, unrolled the scroll, and read. He blinked and read it again, wondering if this was some mistake. Swallowing hard, he read it a third time to make sure he understood. Convinced that he wasn’t hallucinating, he turned back to the messenger. “Inform my master that I received his message, and that I’ll follow his orders to the letter.”
“Very good, sir.” The young woman bowed and left. The door thumped closed, and the two Enforcers relaxed.
Weapon of Vengeance (Weapon of Flesh Trilogy) Page 20
