LITMIR.BIZ

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Handred?”

      “He told her that she is not required to report to the Hawklord—that’s his duty.”

      “In exactly those words?”

      “More or less.”

      Perenne grimaced. “I like this job,” he said. “I’d like to keep it for a while.”

      “You don’t have to do anything else,” she replied. “I just—I need to talk to the Hawklord, and I’ll be in the dumps for insubordination if I ignore Mallory to his face.”

      “You’ll be in the cells for insubordination if you ignore him behind his back,” Perenne replied reasonably. But he opened his arms, and his wings went from their light, airy fold behind his back to a full tip-to-tip stretch.

      “Don’t expect much,” he said, as he caught her in his arms and adjusted for her weight. “Mallory was appointed with the Hawklord’s approval.”

      “The man’s an arrogant prick.”

      “True. But he’s not a homicidal one.”

      “Marcus isn’t homicidal.”

      “Much. Look, I know there’s some history with Mallory, but the Hawklord trusts him enough to let him run and staff Missing Persons.”

      The ground receded.

      “Perenne, he’s going to insist that the Barrani cut their hair.”

      Perenne winced. “I didn’t say he was sane. But let him. He won’t last long if he does.”

      “I couldn’t talk him out of it if I tried.”

      The dome that enclosed the Hawklord’s tower grew larger as they approached it from above. It was closed. Kaylin swore.

      “Look, just—dangle me above it while I knock.”

      “Knock?”

      “Kick.”

      “Better. Have you put on weight?”

      “Very funny.”

      The Hawklord could be called many things. Stupid was not one of them. Almost before Kaylin had finished kicking the dome—and it was actually easier said than done if she didn’t want Perenne to drop her—the dome itself began to slide open, eight parts receding into the stone of the tower’s upper walls. Perenne took the open dome as an invitation to relieve himself of his burden, and very gently set her down, his wings beating slowly.

      He landed behind her and snapped the Hawklord a salute. The Hawklord nodded at Perenne. “Circle the dome,” he told the Aerian. “Private Neya has no other way of leaving, but I assume she thought this out beforehand.” His white wings were folded at his back, and his hands were at his sides.

      But his eyes were ringed and dark, and he looked tired. He waited in silence for Perenne’s ascent, and then turned his regard on Kaylin. “I believe you were told not to report to me.”

      “I’m not.”

      “Ah. And what, exactly, are you doing?”

      “I want you to report to me.”

      “I see.” He turned and walked toward the mirror that graced the tower. “You refer to Marcus Kassan.”

      “What happened? Why is he—”

      “I don’t know, Kaylin. I know that he is currently in the custody of the Caste Courts. The Leontine Caste Court. More than that I have not been able to ascertain. But his arrest is within the purview of the Caste Courts, and unless Marcus demands a public hearing or a public trial in the Imperial Courts, it is not our concern.”

      “You can’t believe he—”

      “It doesn’t matter what I believe. It doesn’t matter what you believe. The Caste Courts have the right to convene in this fashion. If we decide to disrupt Caste law, we risk too much. The city can’t cope with two Caste difficulties.” He paused and then said, “You visited Ybelline Rabon’alani.”

      “Yes. At her request. And she’s not going to file an incident report.”

      “Good. And you found her well?”

      “No.”

      “And your duties at the Imperial Palace?”

      “I’m not allowed to report to you,” she reminded him.

      “Sergeant Mallory would not consider something this informal to be a report,” the Hawklord replied.

      She started to argue, and stopped herself because it was true.

      “Acting Sergeant Mallory,” she said instead.

      “As you say.”

      “Why in the hells did you choose him? Why not promote someone from the department? He’s handled Missing Persons reports for the last gods know how many years—he’s not—”

      The Hawklord lifted a hand. “Do not question my judgment in this. And before you embarrass yourself by asking, Sergeant Mallory does not have any information he can use against me. He was put forward as the most senior candidate who could fill the position on no notice.”

      “By who?”

      “It’s not your concern, Kaylin.”

      “He’s never liked the fact that I’m a Hawk.”

      “No.”

      “He’ll do whatever he can to get rid of me.”

      “He’ll allow you to do whatever you can to give him the excuse, yes. A year ago, that would have taken a day, two at the outside. I expect that it will now take him much longer. Especially given the nature of your duties at the Palace.”

      “Where’s Caitlin?”

      “Caitlin—and she has a rank, Private, but as this is entirely informal, I will allow you to forget it—has chosen to take a leave of absence. Her duties under Marcus Kassan did not leave her much free time, and she is, in fact, owed several weeks of back pay, and several more weeks of time off. She is utilizing both at the moment.”

      “But when they run out?”

      “She is still a Hawk in good standing. If her position is not vacant when she chooses to return, another position will be found for her. She has also received at least two offers of employment from the Swords.”

      Kaylin watched his reflection in the mirror, waiting for it to dim as he accessed Records. She waited for at least five minutes before she realized he had no intention of accessing Records at this time.

      He just didn’t want to look at her.

      It was surprising how much this stung.

      “Access to the Tower during Sergeant Mallory’s stay will be restricted,” the Hawklord told her. “If there is an emergency, those restrictions do not apply—but do not create an emergency.”

      “But—”

      He turned away from the mirror, then. “I am aware of the schedule Richard Rennick chooses to keep,” he said, his voice sharp and low. “I am aware of the hours you are expected to serve. You have half a day of paid time in which to play cards. Corporal Handred is also blessed with the same abundance of time. Use it, Kaylin. There is nothing that Marcus will tell me. I haven’t eaten at his table. I haven’t been given the hospitality of his hearth. I haven’t been adopted by his Pridlea. You’ve spoken to his wives before—speak to them now, if they’ll talk.

      “I trust you,” he said, his voice still low and intense. “I trust you to use your training as a Hawk. As a groundhawk, when you’re focused, you have very few equals. Go where I cannot go. Discover what I cannot discover. Survive Mallory’s dislike. It is not beyond your skills.” He looked as if he would say more, but he stopped

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