Barb & J C Hendee Noble Dead 07 In Shade and Shadow (v5.0)

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or the royal family know something of the text� "!s content, wishing to keep it
hidden, even from the captain of the Shyldfälches?
Ghassan exhaled in frustration. One of the royal family had appeared at
precisely the right moment, referred to a premin by a noble title, and
betrayed a connection to the one man digging too deeply into guild affairs.
And Captain Rodian came straight at Ghassan� "!s table, his jaw clenched. He
was obviously unaccustomed to having his leash jerked in, no matter how
politely done by such a gentle hand.
� SJourneyor Hygeorht,� " Rodian said through his teeth. � SWould you be good
enough to walk me to my horse?� "
It was not a request, and Ghassan stood up. While considering these new
tangles, he had almost forgotten Wynn sitting right across from him.
� SYou cannot find your horse alone?� " he challenged.
� SIt� "!s all right, domin,� " Wynn said, swinging her legs over the bench to
rise beside the captain. � SI� "!ll walk out with him.� "
Glowing lines and marks flashed across Ghassan� "!s sight, and he reached for
her thoughts.
. . . and all Nikolas� "!s foolishness . . . and all this mess around Jeremy
and Elias . . .
A wave of anxiety flooded Ghassan. What had Nikolas to do with anything? He
tried reaching deeper.
Wynn put a hand to her temple and looked around the hall.
Ghassan immediately severed contact. Had she felt him? No, not possible; she
had no training or experience. He watched carefully as Wynn followed Rodian
out the wide archway.
Perhaps too many spells, cast too quickly, with lost attempts due to new
random pieces he had just gathered. For whatever reason, Ghassan felt a twinge
building in his own head.
�
� SYou know the duchess?� " Wynn asked, taking two steps for Rodian� "!s one.
His position as captain was well respected. But even so, members of the
Shyldfälches didn� "!t have dinner with the royal family� certainly not at
the invite of the wife of a prince, even a deceased one.
� SI assisted her once,� " he said bluntly, but he stared ahead, focusing on
nothing.
Wynn didn� "!t press further. She suddenly realized that she knew part of this
story. Even in self-imposed seclusion, rumors reached her. The higher they
came from, the more momentum they gathered as they rolled downward through all
levels of society.
About two years ago Prince Freädherich of the � reskynna had died, and his
body was never found.
The tale was that he and his wife, Duchess Reine, had gone out in a small
sailboat one evening. Not even members of the Weardas had accompanied them.
The boat was found adrift late the next morning with only the hysterical
Duchess Reine aboard.
As a Faunier, she knew nothing of sailing and had been unable to bring the
small boat ashore. It was said that when she was found she was half-mad with
grief, and couldn� "!t� or wouldn� "!t� explain what had become of her
husband. Strangely, not one of the royal family raised charges against her,
but just the same, an inquest was required by law.
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A young captain of the Shyldfälches, newly promoted when his predecessor
retired, investigated the disappearance. The inquest was held privately in the
royal court. No one ever learned what the young captain had uncovered.
Though the duchess was never proven wholly innocent in the eyes of the people,
neither was she charged in any way. The king and queen still held her dear, as
if she were one of their own children by blood rather than marriage. Prince
Freädherich� "!s death was officially cited as accidental. And all because of
a report presented by the newly appointed captain of the Shyldfälches.
Wynn glanced up at Rodian.
She� "!d never cared enough about the rumor to put a face to the city captain
who accomplished this feat. No wonder Duchess Reine had invited him to dinner.
� SWas anyone hurt during the break-in?� " she asked.
� SNo.� " He glanced down at her. � SIt happened after closing.� "
The captain hesitated, and his brows gathered as he scrutinized her, perhaps
judging whether to say more.
� SWhoever did it,� " he finally went on, � Sgot into the shop and then broke
out. Would any of your people know how or why?� "
Wynn was confused by the captain� "!s brief explanation. So many of Calm
Seatt� "!s citizens viewed sages as possessing arcane knowledge rather than
just as hardworking scholars.
� SI don� "!t think so.� "
Then she mulled Rodian� "!s words more carefully. The thief managed to gain
access, but then had to break out?
� SYou might ask Domin il� "!Sänke,� " she added.
� SWhy?� "
� SHe is a master of metaology, metaphysics and the like, which includes the
scholarly study of magic.� "
When they reached the courtyard, Rodian� "!s white mare stood waiting near the
open inner gate, not even tied to a post. She nickered at the sight of the
captain.
� SA pretty thing,� " Wynn said as they approached, and she reached up to
stroke the animal� "!s velvet nose. � SAnd so gentle.� "
� SUnless I� "!m threatened,� " Rodian said, and then his voice softened as he
patted the horse� "!s neck. � SThen she is fierce. Her name is Snowbird. I
trained her myself.� "
� SDo your people raise horses?� "
His expression closed up, as if he� "!d given away something private. Wynn knew
he hadn� "!t asked her out here to discuss Duchess Reine or his horse. She
waited quietly.
� SWhat was your real reason for going to Master a� "!Seatt� "!s scriptorium?� "
he asked.
Flustered, she wasn� "!t certain how to answer. She� "!d kept stoutly to her lie
of seeking out a grief-stricken Imaret. But the captain had certainly heard
too much when he caught up to her.
� STo learn what truly happened to Jeremy and Elias,� " she finally answered.
� SSo, then you would believe their deaths and the break-in are tied . . . to
this project of your guild?� "
� SYes,� " Wynn answered.
� SThen help me,� " he said. � SEven if you don� "!t know what was in those
folios, what did you bring back from the Farlands?� "
Wynn stared at him, remembering their seemingly casual chat on the ride back
to the guild. The first words that came to mind were . . . you conniving
bastard!
She bit her tongue. This was why he� "!d been so innocently curious about sages
and journeyors and assignments. All his polite questions were nothing more
than a way to get into her head. She stopped petting Snowbird.
� SMy first loyalty is to the guild,� " she replied coldly, � Sas well as to
any agreement of confidence requested of them by the royal family. But I have
other information you should know.� "
� SAnd what is that?� " he returned.
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� SJeremy was working� without guild knowledge� for a moneylender under
investigation by the high advocate.� "
All the morning� "!s trials and frustration faded from Rodian� "!s face.
He slowly shook his head. Wynn guessed that he might� "!ve known of such a
case, as head of the city guard. But obviously a link to the deaths hadn� "!t
occurred to him� not without the connection she� "!d just provided.
Rodian patted Snowbird once more. He pointed toward the lone stone bench to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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