Pile of Bones (31 page)

“I found this one in the stairwell,” Mardian said. “He actually cut me. I was so surprised, I nearly let him escape.”

“I should have aimed higher,” Andrew said. “It was my first stabbing.”

“Wait.” Ingrid lowered her sword. “There were four of you. I count three.”

“He’s creeping up behind you right now,” Mardian said. “All stealthlike.”

“I saw him bolt for the emergency exit,” Oliver replied. “Just before everything went pear-shaped. He must have gotten out.”

“Not a problem.” Mardian tightened his grip on the knife. “He won’t get far. My lady has no use for deserters.”

Andrew frowned slightly. “Who is this lady that you keep talking about? Also”—he looked at Oliver—“why did you leave me on the fourth floor? Was it something I said?”

“Shut up.” Mardian stepped back, pulling Andrew with him. “You’re the cause of this, auditor. It was your silver tongue that charmed the undinae.”

“I told you before—I don’t know what you’re talking about. I can help you with your taxes, if that’s what you want. But I didn’t charm—” His eyes narrowed. “
Undinae?
Is that a person, or a plural noun?”

“Unbelievable.” Mardian laughed softly. “After all this trouble, you don’t even remember. You can’t. Now what am I supposed to do with you?”

Andrew’s eyes widened as he took in the rest of the room. He looked at Shelby and smiled in disbelief.

“Why do you have a bow?” Then he saw the kid with the arrow in his hand. “Oh. You—did you
shoot
him? With an actual arrow?”

Mardian looked at Carl suddenly, and smiled. “The foxes told me about what you did. Someone has boundary issues.”

“Shut up, gelding.”

“Oh, I think you’ll find that I’m quite intact, on either side.”

“Did killing Narses make you feel like a true spado?”

“The old capon managed to elude us. He’ll be found, though. And this isn’t about me. It’s about your lack of impulse control.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“This must be killing you.”

“I know I’m not the best at reading nuance,” Andrew said weakly, “but has everyone completely stopped making sense? Or am I dreaming?”

“Even damaged, he’s still dangerous.” Mardian tightened his grip. “I have my orders.”

“No.” Carl took a step forward. “How can he be a threat? He doesn’t even know what you’re talking about. Just let him go.”

“Do the two of you know each other?” Andrew asked. “Are we all playing some kind of extreme RPG? I think someone forgot to tell me the rules.”

“There are none,” Mardian replied. “I mean, there used to be. The rules held everything together. No crossovers. No talking about the secret. But things crossed. People talked, like they always do. Not everyone is good at keeping secrets. The lares are restless. Powers are moving back and forth. Soon, you won’t be able to tell one side from the other.”

“I don’t know what your lady friend is expecting,” Carl said, “but you can’t just commit murder on school property.”

“My position is secure. I can do as I wish.”

“The police are on their way.”

“How long have you lived in this city? The police are cruising up and down North Central, looking for people to hassle. You might as well call a taxi. They’ll show up in twenty minutes, or forty, or half past never. It’s all up to chance.”

“We outnumber you,” Carl said. “The odds are in our favor.”

“Certainly. But I’m fast. He’ll bleed out before you can reach me. Pumping his stomach is one thing. You won’t be able to sew his head back on.”

“
That’s
where I know you from,” Andrew said. “You were at the hospital.”

“Keep up, sweetheart. You don’t have much time left.”

“Look.” Carl raised his arms. “If you need a prize, take me instead. Your psychotic lady can torture me.”

“You think a failed bard will pacify her? It’s because of him that Pulcheria lives. He must pay in kind. There’s no way around it.”

“I suppose you do whatever she tells you.”

“I do what’s necessary. I always have.”

Andrew’s eyes narrowed. “Has everyone gone crazy from smoke inhalation?”

“You can’t stop this,” Mardian said. “Egressus will fall. Once she controls both cities, the balance will shift in her favor. The silenoi have already breached the divide. They’re hungry, and this city is going to be their banquet. Latona will create a new order.” He laughed. “Do you know why Regina is really called Queen City? Because it belongs to the basilissa. She’s going to level it, like an old roach motel, and build a new temple on its ruins. A temple to the lares. Just like the old days, before the blasted wheel controlled everything.”

“How will a bunch of spirits be any different from the goddess of chance?” Shelby demanded. “They’re selfish and devious. Why would they serve her?”

Mardian smiled. “Let’s just say they’re planning a family reunion.”

Andrew started to say something. But his eyes were suddenly drawn to the floor. Ingrid followed his gaze. Her breath caught. As she watched, a tiny set of footprints appeared in the swirl of blood around the fallen auditor. The tracks continued, foot by foot, and something smeared the blood behind them. It looked like a tail. The tracks made
their way across the blood path, then stopped, about a foot away from Mardian.

Andrew stared at the spot where the tracks vanished. “What is that?” he whispered.

Mardian pressed the knife until it drew blood. “No more games. It’s time to finish this.”

“Andrew”—Carl’s eyes were wide—“what do you see?”

“I think it’s”—there was a note of delight in his voice—“a
salamander
.”

“Talk to it!”

“Are you insane?”

“Yes! We’re all crazy from smoke inhalation, remember? Talk to it, Andrew! Tell it you want to make a deal!”

“No deals,” Mardian hissed.

Andrew continued to stare at the ground. He seemed to be listening to something. Then, smiling, he said: “Yes. I understand.”

Two tendrils of smoke rose from the ground. Then a spark landed on Mardian’s shoe. It was quickly followed by another spark, and another. They popped out of thin air, like miraculous fireworks. A flash of orange struck his hand, and he swore, dropping the knife. Andrew elbowed him sharply in the stomach. Mardian fell against the counter, sparks raining down on him from all directions, landing on his clothes, in his hair.

Outside, they heard the tramping of boots. Yellow lights flashed against the sliding glass doors, cutting through what remained of the smoke. Mardian had misjudged the city. The firemen were here.

“The emergency exit!” Oliver cried. “Now!”

Glass shattered.

Mardian clawed at his burning clothes.

The kid with the arrow in his hand was beginning to stir.

Ingrid dropped the sword and ran.

She didn’t stop until they reached the parking lot. She would run all the way home, if she had to. Neil was waiting for her. And Paul. They had no idea what was coming.
She looked at Andrew. Carl had an arm around his shoulder and was guiding him toward the truck. In spite of the blood on his neck, he was smiling, like a child realizing for the first time that he shared the world with salamanders.