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"Take its head off," she answered bluntly. "And burn the body."
Darmouth paused, and Magiere wondered if her answer had been too simple for him. Or perhaps its directness had quelled his doubts. He looked at Chap and Wy
"And these two?"
"He tracks. She finds people and places for him to investigate. If you have clothing from the victim, it would help, as well as anything known about this undead."
Darmouth appeared put off by her tone and roughly shoved one wolfhound back out of his way. "It's an u
Magiere didn't flinch. "So it's male?"
Darmouth's face grew darker. Magiere realized he didn't care about the details. Maybe he didn't even believe it was more than a madman. He simply wanted to hire her services and be done with it.
Omasta stepped in from the archway. "It happened in the alley behind the Bronze Bell I
Magiere understood. Omasta grew concerned by his lord's mood and wanted this audience finished. He'd known her name when he'd come to the gatehouse, so he was more than just some office, perhaps someone in Darmouth's confidence. He was about in his midtwenties, so too young to have been in service while Leesil's parents were here. But he might know other things, such as why anyone fleeing the city would run into the keep instead of away from it.
Then there was Lady Progae, the one Paris had mentioned not long before Leesil lost all hold upon himself.
Magiere spoke directly to Darmouth. "We should speak with Lady Progae, as she is the best witness."
"No," Darmouth snapped. "Omasta will handle any more arrangements. Start hunting, if you expect to be paid. I'll double the coin if you finish this tonight and bring me the head of this creature."
Magiere's revulsion increased. "How did you know I was in the city?"
"It's my city," he answered. "You're dismissed."
Faris rose, stepping around the table along with his slender companion. They came up behind Darmouth, one on each side.
Investigating the keep seemed folly in hindsight, but Magiere saw Wy
Before Magiere could speak, Omasta took her arm, urging her toward the archway. She pulled free from his grip but followed, herding Wy
Magiere fought down frustration. What could he possibly see here that was of any use? As they reached the doors, Magiere heard footsteps behind. She stopped and turned halfway about.
Darmouth headed for a side corridor with his Mondyalitko lackeys dogging his heels.
"You should hear my fee," she called out, "before offering to double it."
He didn't even glance back as he disappeared into the corridor.
CHAPTER TEN
Leesil trudged up the i
Magiere's expression was impossible to read. It could've been disappointment, anger, concern, or a mix of things Leesil couldn't guess- didn't want to guess. She hadn't said a word about it, though he couldn't remember how he'd gotten back into the bed. He'd no time for shame over what he'd done last night. At least he had slept. Neither memory of Progae nor a young Hedi disturbed him for a short while.
"There isn't any garlic," he said, and laid down the quarrels. "And it's too late in the season to bet on finding any at the market, but I have options we can try."
"Sit," Magiere said, and slid over where she sat leaning against the bed.
She was dressed as "the hunter" with her black hair tied back in a thong. Two lanterns and several candles sent crisscrosses of warm light over her, setting off the bloodred glints in her locks. He'd always liked her hair.
But she was so composed. Magiere dealt with conflict in two ways: head-on in open outrage or with icy disregard that anything had happened. He wasn't certain how to interpret her new quiet watchfulness.
Leesil dropped down beside her, and his stomach lurched as if suddenly turned inside out. His body was no longer conditioned for nipping himself to sleep, let alone drowning himself into oblivion.
They'd managed to keep up idle conversation in front of Byrd after Magiere's return, and now they finally had privacy. Leesil's own feelings were mixed. Although desperate for any scrap of information regarding his parents' fate, he was still angry that Magiere, Wy
"We did not get far," Wy
"You were right," Magiere added, still studying Leesil. "We won't learn anything from Darmouth. But this lieutenant-Omasta-might be of some use."
"No!" Leesil said too sharply, and his head throbbed for it. "Don't trust anyone in Darmouth's company. He holds something over each of them, or he'd never let them near him. This Omasta will act for his own preservation, and you won't know it until he's already betrayed you."
A hint of Magiere's belligerent side filled her expression. Before she could argue, Chap barked and thumped a paw on the hide.
"What?" Leesil asked.
Wy
"For why my parents ran into the keep," Leesil answered.
Wy
Leesil nodded, his thoughts begi
Chap pawed again, and Wy
"The keep is surrounded by a lake," Magiere said. "Are you sure you're catching his meaning?"
"Of course I am," Wy
Leesil cringed, adding another spike to his splitting headache as he waited for Magiere's irritable response. She simply raised her hands in resignation.
Wy
"Last option-they tried to kill Darmouth themselves. I suppose this makes sense. If he were dead, others might hesitate, free of his influence, and your parents might be able to flee Venjetz."
No one spoke for a moment.
When Leesil first fled the city in youth, the province was stable. There was little hint of outside threat beyond its borders, and he'd served well to uproot any insurrection from within. He suspected his mother might have considered this third option, but his father would've counseled for the least risk. The coercion option would be Gavril's choice.