Finder: First Ordinance, Book One (17 page)

"I'm afraid to let anyone in, so I told the maids to stay out of this room. I wish we had Finder back. She would do this for me and I wouldn't worry about my notes and books falling into the wrong hands."

"She's dead. They kill the half-bloods," Rodrik sighed and strode toward Amlis' wide window. "I hope it was a quick death."

"I'm not sure we can count on the mercy of the Guardians," Amlis rose and stretched before joining Rodrik at the window. "Are those the new conscripts?" He watched the training of troops in the courtyard below.

"Yes. Few know the proper grip on a sword."

"I've heard rumors," Amlis said.

"What rumors?"

"The ones concerning the way my brother's page died. Those that say he didn't die solely of a knife or blade wound."

"How else might he have perished? I heard Yevil killed him with his bare hands."

"Not true, according to Garth. He told me there was a gaping hole in Brin's chest. What weapon might cause that?"

"None that I ever heard tales of," Rodrik replied. "Is Garth sure of his information?"

"He saw the body."

"Was it not savaged, somehow, before it reached the stables?"

"He supervised the removal. Unless the savagery occurred immediately after Brin's death, there was no time for such."

"What was done with the body?" Rodrik turned to Amlis in curiosity.

"Likely in the boneyard, where thieves and murderers are buried."

"How difficult would it be," Amlis began.

"I'll have it done tonight." Rodrik turned abruptly and strode out of Amlis' study.

* * *

"Information requested by the Master Scholar," Justis set the fat, sealed envelope on Ordin's desk.

"You were right to bring it here; he plans to have tea with me at midmorning," Ordin nodded to Justis. "I thank you for this swift response."

* * *

I was surprised to find Justis in Master Ordin's study when I arrived for my first lesson in anatomy. His black wings shone nearly blue in the early morning light from Ordin's window.

That window was open to the day, while sunlight filtered in with abandon and played about the papers and objects on Ordin's desk.

"Ah, Quin," Ordin greeted me with a smile. "Ready for your lessons to begin?"

"I am, Master Ordin," I nodded.

"I will speak with you later," Justis dipped his head to Ordin and turned to walk away. Something troubled him, I could tell, but I refused to use my gift to determine what it was.

He brushed past me on his way to the door and a tiny, black feather floated in his wake. I waited until he was through the door before reaching out to catch it in my hand.

"That is a down feather," Ordin explained as I cradled the fluff in my hand. "Probably loosened somehow in flight. He's not scheduled to molt again for four turns."

"May I keep it, or should I return it?" I asked, blinking at Ordin.

"You may keep it. Children make a game of collecting colored feathers they find. The black ones are much prized, but red are the rarest, as you might imagine."

"I saw a child learning to fly with his parents," I said.

"Those are good days and usually make good memories," Ordin replied. "Here. I have books for you. While these first two are in the Kondari language, the images are accurate for bones and organs.

"I can read them," I accepted two heavy books from Ordin.

"You can read their language?" Ordin stared at me in shock.

"Yes. I read all the numbers and signs at the hospital when we arrived there," I said.

"And you speak and understand their language. This is unprecedented," Ordin rubbed his forehead. "I have never heard of such."

"I don't know how it is that I know these things. I just do," I shrugged, hoping I wasn't buying trouble for myself by revealing hidden talents.

"Then go through those books as best you can. Make notes in our language from their text and I will review your work. Write down any questions you have, and I will answer as best I can. Understand, Quin, that their technology far exceeds ours."

"I know," I said. "May I read on your terrace?"

"Of course. Tables and benches are there, for that purpose."

"Do we have other texts from them—the Kondari? For learning purposes?"

"Much of their information is on small chips that are displayed through the use of machines. We have none such here. I will ask, however, when I see them next."

"Thank you, Master Ordin. For these, and for teaching me." I indicated the books in my arms.

"It is no trouble, young one."

* * *

"I have this," Melis held up a small, transparent bag. "Found in her room."

"That's a pin feather," Hadris Jem, High President Charkisul's Chief of Medical Sciences, said, accepting the sample and examining the contents. "We'll run DNA, and see how it matches with the DNA we have from the others."

"There's something there, and I want to know what it is," Melis agreed. "I know their children grow wings at age nine. By the time they're her age, they have fully-grown wings and know how to fly rings around anything. That girl was only getting hers—they're not long enough for her condition to be an exaggerated molting."

"I examined the images from the security cameras," Hadris agreed. "The wing hinge is not fully realized, so your assumptions are correct. We continue to run tests on Berel, but the disease has been eradicated and the boy is weary of our poking and prodding."

"The Avii royals have already spent half the money," Melis huffed. "On jewelry, furniture and solar-powered machinery. Nothing for the girl, as far as I can tell." Melis hadn't forgotten the slave remarks in the recorded conversations, either.

"I may have a suggestion, then," Hadris offered.

* * *

"Unprecedented, but certainly worth consideration," Charkisul nodded to Hadris. "Naming her a citizen of Kondar will afford her the rights given to any of ours. I listened to that recorded conversation, had it translated into text afterward and then read it, several times. I didn't like what they said concerning the girl."

"I worry that granting her citizenship will create a rift between us," Melis pointed out judiciously. "We may be placing her life in danger, after all."

"They thought we would buy her? Preposterous. Slavery and the selling of sentient beings has been outlawed for hundreds of turns."

"Their customs are not ours, and their laws are certainly not the same," Hadris observed. "Can we not make her an honorary citizen, at least? They will think it an empty gift, when it will be, according to our records, citizenship."

"Perhaps," the High President agreed. "Let me think on it. Meanwhile, are there other illnesses that might need her attention? I realize we'll have to pay, but it will get her here."

"I'll do research," Melis replied.

* * *

When I returned to the Library after reading medical texts from Kondar most of the day and making notes, I found Dena dusting books. I stared. She turned and offered me a brilliant smile.

"Master Gurnil asked for me," she almost danced with excitement. "I get to live in the Library quarters. With you."

I blinked—nobody had ever been excited to be near me before. "I hope this means you get to read if you want," I said.

"Master Gurnil says so, after my cleaning chores are done for the day. I like reading about the Queen's Guard—there are so many stories about them."

I knew she wanted black wings more than anything, but I wisely didn't remark on the subject, choosing to nod my understanding instead. In my mind, it would harm none if she trained with the young Black Wings. The thought made me sigh.

"My bedroom is next to yours," Dena said. "I hope you don't mind."

"Why would I mind? I am more than happy you're here," I said. "You can teach me the everyday things that I can't find in books."

"And we can be friends," she added, a note of hopefulness in her voice.

"Yes. Friends. Most certainly." I didn't tell her that I'd never had any, before. Instead, I helped her finish the dusting, then we went to collect dinner trays for us and Master Gurnil from the guild dining hall.

* * *

Garth pulled back the edge of the tarp for Amlis to see. "It's not pretty, my Prince," Garth explained.

"Nor would it be," Amlis replied as he studied Brin's decomposing corpse. As Garth reported, a large, gaping hole lay near the center of Brin's chest. Amlis steeled himself—worms worked their way through exposed, putrid flesh and buried themselves in rotting, exposed organs.

"We've seen enough," Rodrik waved away the stench while Garth flipped the thick, canvas tarp over the body. "Take it back and let no one see you do it."

"It will be done."

* * *

"Chen, what have you heard?" Amlis sat before the fire in his suite, sharing a bottle of wine with Wolter's assistant cook and Rodrick.

"The guardsman outside the door reported a sharp noise, such as he hadn't heard before, then Yevil stalked out of the King's suite, telling him to call for the stable master and any healer that might be found."

"A sharp noise?"

"Like a metal pot dropping or such. He had nothing to compare it to. When others rushed in, they found the King kneeling next to Timblor, who was bleeding from a knife wound. Brin was already dead. Timblor didn't live long." Chen shook his head before sipping his wine. "That is all I heard, and that was shortly after. Lately, all seem afraid of Yevil and the King's wrath, so gossip has dwindled."

"At least we have this information," Amlis said. "Is there anything else to report?"

"Just this," Chen said. "One of the recruits coming in from the south recognized Yevil's name. He made the sign of warding upon hearing it."

"He made Liron's ward? Any idea why?"

"I couldn't find him after that, and discreet inquiries have gotten no results."

"Interesting." Rodrick stood, emptied his cup and nodded to the Prince. "I'll make my way to the barracks tomorrow."

"I'll get back to the kitchen—tomorrow's bread will be set to rise, soon." Chen stood and bowed informally to Amlis before walking toward the Prince's door.

* * *

"The reports say Yevil is from Meede, here," Amlis tapped the place on his map, indicating a principality south and east of Lironis. "He became Father's man-at-arms a turn before Tandelis was killed."

"Meede is bordered by Warrel and Rondes," Rodrick said. Warrel was always Tandelis' ally, while Rondes seldom supported him. Warrel no longer sends anyone to court, while we are overrun with those from Rondes."

"Do you think the recruit in question may have been from Warrel?"

"Possibly. Perhaps you should ask the field marshal for recruit records. I'd like to speak with anyone from Warrel. Privately, of course."

"Of course."

* * *

"Is the dough set out to rise?" Chen asked the moment he walked into the kitchen. He never saw who clamped a hand over his mouth, and once the long blade sliced his throat, he no longer had the ability to shout for help.

* * *

Chen's death woke me from a dream. It had been troubling, that dream, but the waking reality was worse. Chen had breathed his last in a bubbling of blood, and I wept for his loss.

* * *

"Is Master Ordin in?" Justis landed on Ordin's terrace, not far from where I studied a Kondari anatomy book at a table. The day had started out fine, but became cloudy and I was about to go inside before rain fell.

"He is," I said, closing the book after marking my place.

"I hear you have one of my feathers," he said as he followed me inside.

"I do. Do you want it back?" Ordin said he didn't, but then one can never predict another's decisions where I was concerned.

"No. I just thought it odd that you'd want it."

"Ordin called it a down feather. I find it amazing that something so soft might come from someone so hard."

Justis stopped still for a moment before continuing to follow me toward Ordin's study.

"You find me hard?" he asked, reaching for the handle to Ordin's study door before I could do so myself.

"You seem that way. The High President's guard thinks you're dangerous."

"Does he, now?" Justis smiled for the first time since I'd known him.

"Master Ordin, Commander Justis is here to see you," I said when we walked into Ordin's study. He looked up from the paper he was writing and invited Justis to sit. I turned to leave.

"Stay," Justis held out a hand. "This involves you."

* * *

Before the meeting was over, Master Gurnil had been summoned and tea was served. My talents were required a second time in Kondar, for the promise of payment. The issue of no payment coming to me was skirted—skillfully—by Justis, who refused to go against his brother on the issue.

"Do we know what the illness is?" Ordin set his cup down as he asked the question.