by Zen DiPietro
The escort probably wasn’t necessary, but it was a host’s obligation to see to the safety and comfort of any performing bards. It would be rude to argue against the fulfillment of his duties. Élan didn’t mind, anyway, given their earlier experience.
Jonas shook hands with Night then clasped Élan’s hand warmly.
As she and Night started off, Élan reflected that the evening hadn’t gone as she’d expected, but she’d gotten what she needed.
“Is that your new boyfriend?” Night asked her when they got a distance away from the party. Of course, the blades were within earshot, and Élan scowled at Night. He looked back at her with a bland expression.
“What if it were?”
He shrugged. “It’s nothing to me. Just didn’t think you’d date a civilian.”
“I just met him. I’m not dating anyone. Did you find out anything?” She glanced at their escort to remind him to speak in generalities while they had an audience. Not that he probably needed the reminder. But since it was Night, she was taking no chances.
“Lots of things.”
He failed to elaborate.
“Anything useful?” she prompted, then corrected herself. He’d probably launch into a slew of observations she didn’t want to hear. “Anything I’d care about?”
“One girl made a certain claim. Not sure if it was true or if she was trying to beguile me. No, I take that back. She was certainly trying to beguile me but that doesn’t mean she was lying.”
“Think you could press her for information?”
Night remained impassive. “I wouldn’t press her for anything. She smelled like vomit.”
“She was drunk?”
“Quite.”
So she wasn’t reliable. That was too bad. At least Élan had the lead on Kett. He’d be easy to track down, given the details Jonas had mentioned. Once she did that, she might have a better idea of how to proceed.
Night stopped walking and Élan bumped into him. The two blades slowed to avoid leaving them behind.
Night stared into her eyes. “Would you die for me?”
Since Night was a living non sequitur, Élan didn’t bother to ask what prompted the question. “If it was necessary, yes.” She also didn’t bother to return the question to him. She knew that if it came down to it, he would.
He simply nodded and started walking again. She suppressed a sigh.
She adjusted the carrying strap on her shoulder and followed him. She’d have to contact Kassimeigh when she found some privacy. It was late, and the justice was probably asleep, but she was sure Kassimeigh would return the message first thing in the morning. She suspected that she’d be seeing the justice the next day to discuss details in private, since she could say little over the comm.
She wondered how her friends at Blind Bob’s might react if they saw her hanging out with a justice. Or, better yet, if Kassimeigh came looking for her at Blind Bob’s. She imagined the rumors it might stir up and smiled. Oh, yes, she definitely had to do that.
She laughed softly to herself.
4
Kassimeigh stared at the comm panel without really seeing it. Élan had sent a message in the wee hours of the night, asking if they could get together soon. Hopefully that meant progress. She’d need to rearrange her day.
She straightened and got to work. She answered a few messages that required her immediate attention, then left her office and strode down the echoing hallways of the Northern Keep. She’d acclimated to her new situation of having not one office but two. Here at the keep, being an elder required her to have an office that other shivs could visit. At the fortress in Apex, her other office awaited her return to her Guard duties.
At first the duality of her life had felt alien. Dedicating her life to serving Terath’s justice system as a member of the shiv order had always kept her plenty busy, and now she had even more to do. But she’d arranged her schedules at each institution to create an effective balance. Canan had already signed on as her assistant at the fortress, and now her good friend Bryan assisted her at the keep. Canan and Bryan had established a working relationship to coordinate her schedule between them, and it all ran remarkably well.
Except that she’d seen far less of Arc lately than she’d prefer. Or of Izzy and Will, for that matter. Luc and Ina were on an extended honeymoon, so they weren’t in regular contact anyway. Although it was for a happy reason, Kassimeigh felt their absence in her day-to-day life. Oh, for the days when she’d only had one job and one mission.
She turned a corner and entered another wing of the keep. Midway down the hall, she stepped into her room. Her new status as an elder had not meant a change in living quarters. Elders did not indulge in more materialism than any other shiv.
The room was the same as she’d always kept it—simple and uncluttered. She had more items of clothing now, thanks to Izzy. But she kept most of her social outfits at the fortress, where she’d be more likely to use them.
Once she’d packed an overnight bag, she was ready to leave for Sanctuary. Since she’d sent the necessary missives via the comm, she wasted no time on farewells. She came and left so often that it would be wildly tedious to go through the process of greetings and goodbyes every time. Besides, as an elder she need not answer to anyone at the keep for her actions.
She’d installed a kite shed on the grounds behind the keep, and she stored three versions there. Today, she selected her favorite. Her small, sleek, and exceptionally maneuverable two-seater. This kite kicked ass.
She’d reach Sanctuary in just over an hour. She could get there faster, but she saved the greater speeds for emergencies. The energy needed to fly the kite and protect herself from the forces it generated grew exponentially, and there was no reason to take on unnecessary fatigue.
A few barrel rolls didn’t require much effort, though. Kassimeigh arrived in Sanctuary with the pleasant feeling that flying always gave her. She smoothed her windblown curls as she stepped off the kite. She secured it against the small building that housed the justices currently assigned to the city.
She’d agreed to meet Élan at Blind Bob’s under the guise of questioning her about the recent attack by those three would-be bandits. The matter had already been handled by the justices who had been on duty in Sanctuary at the time, but the incident made for a perfect cover story.
A brisk walk took her across the town to Blind Bob’s. She’d never entered the inner sanctum before. She entered her credentials into the comm panel embedded in the wall, then stood under the scanner. As a justice, she had the authority to override the security and enter if she had cause to do so. She had no need for such brute-force methods today. She waited while the system verified her identity.
“Shiv Justice Kassimeigh Cabalumi, Commander of the Terath Guard identified,” the panel announced. She smiled. The official use of the justice title, rather than the elder title, had been one of the stipulations of her becoming an elder. She waited patiently, knowing that a matching panel would make an announcement to the occupants of the room, relaying her request to enter.
She wondered if she should act particularly severe and give the bards some excitement to talk about. But then that wouldn’t match her cover story of coming to talk about the attack on Élan and her friend in the woods. Ah, well.
The door swished open and Élan peered at her from the other side. “Wow. You know how to make an entrance. That’s a hell of a title. Come on in.”
Kassimeigh stepped in and the door closed behind her. She was aware that every set of eyes in the room stared at her even as their owners continued to play music. She returned their gaze and the roomful of bards became suddenly preoccupied with their instruments.
The cacophony of sounds assailed Kassimeigh’s whole body. Music filled her ears, finger cymbals rang in her head, and bass notes thumped in her chest. It was instantly exhausting. She had no idea how anyone could think in this place.
“Is there a quiet spot?” If there wasn’t, they’d be leavi
ng immediately. Even if they hadn’t had sensitive information to discuss, Kassimeigh would have no interest in spending any time in such a chaotic space.
“Sure, there are soundproofed practice rooms in the back. No comm panels, nothing that can distract. Follow me.”
Élan pressed a panel and a security door opened, then slid shut behind them. Immediate silence fell, and Kassimeigh’s ears rejoiced.
“This place spared no expense on security.” Kassimeigh observed, suitably impressed. Automatic security doors were prohibitively expensive. Given the relative safety of Terath, only the most sensitive locations had them. Bards were a unique group, though, with a unique history and way of doing things.
“We know we’re safe at Blind Bob’s, or our other havens. That’s worth a lot.”
“If it gives you comfort, then yes, it is.”
“More than comfort,” Élan argued. “Just last night, a friend and I were attacked on the outskirts of Sanctuary by armed men.”
Kassimeigh’s eyes narrowed. “Yes. I heard about that. The report said you were unharmed but your friend had a minor injury?”
“Yes. We’re both fine.”
“I’m sure it was a deeply distressing experience. I don’t know if it helps, but those three have already been adjudicated and dispatched. They won’t bother anyone again.”
Élan’s eyes dropped to the ground. Kassimeigh wondered if the execution of the outlaws disturbed her. Some people had no stomach for the realities of the justice system. The laws, punishments, and the mercy of expedience were all ingrained into their society. However, since serious criminal activity was not the norm, most people could get through their days without ever thinking about it.
“Was there any motive besides money?” Élan asked.
“No. It was clear that they were working alone and wanted only money. There’s no telling what they wanted it for.” Kassimeigh frowned. Dying over money was such a horrendous waste. There was nothing on Terath necessary for life that a person couldn’t easily obtain.
Élan tossed her silver hair behind her shoulder and took a seat. Instead of a table and chairs, the room had low benches, cushions, and mats. Kassimeigh seated herself on a mat and waited for Élan to speak.
“The evening started out poorly but it got better. I have a lead on sparkle.”
Kassimeigh gave her a nod of encouragement.
“I talked to Jonas Trak, who is part of Trak Engineering. He says a longtime friend of his named Kett might know something about sparkle. I don’t know Kett’s last name, but his parents are friends and colleagues of Jonas’ parents. Kett and Jonas grew up together.”
“What’s the connection between Kett and sparkle?”
“Kett told Jonas that he’d tried sparkle. Kett alluded that he’d bring some to Jonas’ party. But he didn’t show.”
Kassimeigh considered the information. Kett might have just been talking big, trying to impress his friend. But he had to have heard about sparkle from someone. If he’d tried it, he could tell them who had given it to him. That was exactly the kind of connect-the-dots scenario she needed to get closer to whoever was making the stuff.
“Good.” She gave Élan a tight nod. “This might lead to something. Was there anything else?”
“No, that’s all I’ve come up with so far. I’ll keep digging around, though.”
“Any reference is significant, so let me know about anything at all. What was your impression of Jonas Trak?”
Élan’s response was immediate. “He seems a very nice guy. Excessively wealthy. An engineer with the company, so he must be smart and willing to work hard.”
“Was he interested in you? Personally?”
The tips of Élan’s ears turned pink. “I think he was.”
“And you found him pleasant enough?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like you to see if you can befriend him. We may need his help.”
Élan stayed quiet for a long moment before asking, “Is he going to get hurt?”
Kassimeigh leaned forward. “It’s my job to protect people, not to hurt them. Sometimes I hurt some to protect others. It’s unfortunate but it’s reality.” She paused to let that idea sink in. “I don’t plan on any harm coming to Jonas but I can’t promise it won’t happen. I can’t promise you won’t get hurt, either. If you wish to discontinue this assignment, you can.”
Élan’s fingers tapped on her knee. “I want to help. I’ll talk to him. I have his comm details.”
Kassimeigh smiled. “Ah. You really did like him then.” She knew how cagey Élan was about her identity and personal life.
“He asked me. It seemed harmless, and possibly helpful.”
“Smart. Good job. Keep me apprised.” Kassimeigh leaned back.
“I will.”
“Did you have anything else to discuss?”
“Not really.” Élan’s fingers smoothed out over her knee and lay flat.
“I’ll leave you, then. If any of your friends out there ask why I was here, just tell them it was to let you know what happened to the three attackers. Which I did, so it’s not a lie.”
She stood before continuing, “Before I leave Sanctuary, I’m going to talk to some of the justices here to see if they’ve noticed anything that could be related to the attack. I’ve also increased security in the area and assigned details to monitor the woods. The city will be safe.”
“That’s great. Thank you.”
Kassimeigh didn’t respond. She didn’t like to be thanked for doing her duty, though she appreciated the sentiment on behalf of the order.
They said their goodbyes and Kassimeigh wasted no time in getting herself from the practice room to the opposite side of the main door. She had no idea how Élan dealt with all the commotion in the sanctum. Attending an outdoor bard event was enjoyable for short periods of time. At one of those she could move out to the fringes to get some more space, and sound didn’t bounce off the walls and back to smack her in the face. All of the musical mayhem sandwiched between four walls was a different thing entirely.
As Kassimeigh strode down Sanctuary’s Main Street, she admired the tidy layout and orderliness of the city. She’d always enjoyed the atmosphere. In general, people were friendly and in no hurry. The presence of the justices discouraged poor choices and as a result, no one worried about their safety.
That made Élan’s encounter with those would-be robbers all the more bothersome. People made stupid decisions all the time, but to do so in such a high-profile place just didn’t make sense.
Kassimeigh found a bench at a junction between two different shiv patrol routes and positioned herself there. Knowing the inner workings of security in the city allowed her to simply wait, and within five minutes, a shiv came striding right toward her. Seeing her, he stopped in front of the bench and gave her a small, formal bow.
“Elder,” he acknowledged. The only way to prevent a shiv from recognizing her on sight would be to wear full shoka. Which she rarely did anymore.
She waved a hand as if wafting away a bad smell. “I prefer to be called Justice.”
“How can I assist you, Justice?”
“What makes you think I need assistance?” she asked.
The shiv was young, and she easily identified him as someone not yet being groomed to be a justice. Perhaps he never would be. Only some had the necessary skills and fortitude. Nonetheless, he wouldn’t be keeping watch over Sanctuary if he hadn’t proven himself.
“Seated where you are, you’re clearly waiting for a shiv. And here I am,” he answered.
Kassimeigh kept her face serene, but she liked his response. It was always nice to be among those who used their brains for a living.
“What’s your name?”
“Emmon.”
“How long have you been stationed in Sanctuary?” Kassimeigh had spent a couple years here herself, in her early days as a shiv. It was a highly desired assignment.
“Seven months.”
“Good.
Then you’re pretty familiar with it. Has anything seemed at all unusual to you lately?”
“Unusual.” The young shiv frowned thoughtfully. “No, nothing besides the attempted robbery, which of course you’ve heard about.” He dipped his head deferentially.
“I did. I just wanted to follow up and see if anything had precipitated it. Or if it seemed to be a symptom of something else.”
“No. We’ve all talked about it, and it’s a mystery. But unfortunately, many crimes are inexplicable.”
“Yes, but usually they’re the minor offenses. Not something like an armed attack. If you hear of anything that seems at all curious to you, please contact me directly. Even if you think it’s probably nothing. Or it’s just a gut feeling.”
“Of course, Justice.”
“Thank you, Emmon. Please, don’t let me keep you from your patrol.”
He shifted to resume his course. “Yes, Justice. I hope you enjoy your visit to Sanctuary.”
Kassimeigh smiled. “I always do.”
The warmth of her expression provoked a surprised blink and stare from Emmon, who quickly recovered and offered a disproportionately big grin of his own.
Small things, she thought. Even a simple smile could change the entire aspect of a conversation. Wearing a shoka came with a certain weight of bearing, but her time apart from the order had allowed her to loosen up occasionally, even while wearing one. It was one of the reasons she had no interest in being called “Elder.” She didn’t want the title to become self-fulfilling and push her back into the box labeled “conformity” that she’d inhabited for so long. She was an elder precisely because of her newfound independence.
She stood, feeling a mild itch of rebellion between her shoulder blades. Just thinking about the elders’ manipulation of her made her want to color outside the lines. When she’d agreed to become one of them, she’d known that the others weren’t getting the colleague they expected. She’d changed more than they’d intended. She wondered if they had picked up on that yet, and if it made them nervous.
