Elfshadow

The man shrugged. "It is possible. Gold snuffboxes of that type are common enough."

"Very few bear this mark." Arilyn placed the box on the table before him and tapped the flowing rune engraved onto the top. "Do you know this mark?"

"My field of expertise is books and rare papers," the man said importantly. "I ca

Arilyn leaned forward. "I can tell you're a learned man," she said in a pleasant voice. Ja

"What else could such a mark be?"

"What else indeed?" Arilyn laid the sketch down beside the box. "You're quite certain you've never seen this man?"

Ja

"This box?" she asked.

The man smiled suavely and spread the fingers of his one good hand, as if to say, "all right, you've caught me."

"These books must be quite expensive," Danilo said, looking up from an illuminated volume. "I doubt you got the best of that deal."

"It is a most unusual box," Ja

Curious, the half-elf opened the box. It was full to the brim. She set it down.

"You see?" The fence shot a triumphant glance at Danilo. "It is quite a valuable item. The enchantment is very strong."

"It ought to be," Arilyn said. "The box belonged to the mage Perendra." Ja

"It's not likely." The man paused, considered. "Of course, since I didn't know this was stolen, it's possible that something else of the mage's came into my hands. I do not know. I deal in books, mind you. And, as young Lord Tha

"Fu

"The thirst for knowledge can reside in the humblest of men," the fence said piously. "I have learned to overlook appearances."

"That is wise, I'm sure," Danilo said. He picked up a small, leatherbound tome and glanced at the pages. "What language is this?"

"Turmish." Ja

"How did this man happen to acquire the snuffbox?" Arilyn broke in.

"Who can say?"

"Our man said he got it from an elf," Danilo said helpfully.

"Strangest thing, really. He tried to tell us the elf's name, and he died." Danilo shrugged and picked up a book with a cover made of fine inlaid wood.

"An elf?" asked the fence in a dry whisper.

"Yes, that's what he said. Barth also had a partner," Danilo mentioned, looking up from the book. "A man by the name of Hamit. Poor man got a dagger in the back." Ja

"No," the fence said hastily. A light went on in the man's eyes, and as he glanced down at the hand in his lap his face took on a crafty appearance. "Perendra the mage was slain by the Harper Assassin, was she not?"

"It's possible," Arilyn said.

"What will happen to this assassin, should you find him?"

Arilyn looked steadily at the fence, letting him read her intentions. He looked intrigued, then his round face clouded and his eyes fell to the desk. After a moment he said in a flat tone, "I'm afraid I can't help you. Now, if you'll excuse me?"

Murmuring her thanks, Arilyn rose to leave. Danilo laid down the book he'd been perusing, stretched lazily, and followed her out of the shop.

"We certainly didn't get much from him," the half-elf grumbled as they walked down Book Street.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that."

Something in the dandy's smug tone stopped Arilyn in mid-stride. "What did we get?"

"This." Danilo held up a book bound in plain brown leather.

"What's that?"

"Ja

Thirteen

Arilyn took off her cap and raked one hand through her hair. "Let me understand this. You stole the man's account book?"

"Why not?" Danilo said mildly, stuffing the book back into his sack. "To whom is he going to complain? Let's take a look at it over lunch, shall we? There's a tavern nearby that has the most wonderful fried fish."

"That was a stupid risk to take."

The dandy smirked. "You're just mad because you didn't think of it first."

"You may be right," Arilyn admitted. "How did you get it? I didn't see you take it out of the shop," she said, allowing him to guide her down the street.

"Thank you," he said as if he'd just been complimented. "Ah, here's the tavern. The Friendly Flounder, and aptly named it is."

Danilo ushered her into the small taproom, which was already filled with people and the pungent odors of ale and fried fish. Danilo ordered for them both. He ate quickly, then he carefully wiped his fingers free of grease and took out the book. On it were neat columns filled with some ornate eastern script.

"You can read that?" Arilyn asked.

"Not yet."

Danilo cast a cantrip, a simple spell to discern language. Before his eyes, the flowing lines on the page shifted and wiggled, rearranging themselves into Common. "What do you know!" Danilo said admiringly. "It worked!"

"Resourceful, aren't you?" Arilyn commented, observing him keenly.

"Occasionally, though often accidentally," Danilo said. He turned the pages of the book, taking no more than a glance at each one. After several moments, he looked up. "I don't think you're going to like this."

"Well?"

Danilo slid the book closer to Arilyn and turned to a page near the middle. "Look at this item. Elaith Craulnobur, purchased twenty uncut sapphires." He flipped several pages and pointed. "Here's his name again, as seller of a spellbook. Here he acquired a Cledwyll statue, and on this date he was really in the mood to shop. On the final page, there's a notation concerning an inquiry by Elaith Craulnobur." Danilo looked up and held Arilyn's eyes. "It seems that the good elf is a regular customer."

"That doesn't necessarily mean he's the elf we seek," Arilyn pointed out.

"Don't be too sure." Danilo flipped back a few pages. "On this day the fence received a shipment of rare coins from Elaith Craulnobur. The coins were delivered by a man named Hamit, to whom the fence gave a receipt. Do I say 'I told you so' now, or shall I wait until you're unarmed?"

"All right, you've made your point," Arilyn conceded, "but how did you do that? You knew exactly where to turn each time."

"The benefit of having an empty head, my dear, is that you can fill it with all ma

"But-"

"Ah! Listen to this! This settles the matter, I should say."

Danilo's tone was so triumphant that Arilyn allowed herself to be distracted. She listened with growing dismay as Danilo read a list of goods received from Hamit, a list that included an enchanted snuffbox. She rose from the table and tossed down a few coins to pay for her uneaten fish.