LITMIR.BIZ

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fire.”

      Teela said nothing. When Marcus growled, the Barrani Hawk shrugged. “I concur.”

      “Pardon?”

      “He’s an Arcanist. There’s more, kitling.”

      “No doubt the Hawks will hear about it from Sanabalis and the Imperial Order at some point: the Lord was involved in either the creation of, or the protection of, something that functions as a portal to—somewhere else.”

      “Where?”

      “I’m not sure it has a name. Tara referred to it as the outlands. Tiamaris has quarantined the building we found it in, and he’s calling in Imperial mages to ‘study’ it. We think the Barrani Arcanist used the portal to access the fief of Tiamaris.” She hesitated, given Teela’s eye color, and then said, “The door bore two sigils.”

      “You recognized them,” was Teela’s flat reply.

      She nodded. “They were the same as the sigils on the Arcane bomb.”

      “You’ve been informed that the Imperial mages could only find one?”

      “Yes. The second—at least on the door—was subtle; it was pervasive, but strangely amorphous. I’m to speak to Sanabalis about it, but he’s so busy that I might be able to put it off for six weeks.”

      “Private.”

      “Sergeant?”

      “When the alleged Arcanist tried to kill you a second time, was it because he recognized you?”

      “No, sir. In my opinion it was because we’d seen him, and we’d interfered with whatever it was he intended. We no longer ditch our tabards when we enter Tiamaris at the request of Lord Tiamaris; it’s likely that the Barrani saw only the Hawk.” She exhaled. “If there’s any way to investigate the financial activities of the fieflords, I think you’ll find that a large portion of the embezzled treasury funds are now in the fiefs.”

      “The…fiefs.”

      “It’s possible that the money was funneled to the Arcanists—or an Arcanist—who then used it to pay fieflords for a few dozen of their citizens. There would be no reports filed and no objections to the disappearances.”

      “The fiefs are not our jurisdiction,” Marcus growled.

      “The disposition of the Imperial funds is, though.”

      “You think the Exchequer was indirectly involved in slave trafficking?”

      “No.” Pause. “Technically, yes.”

      “If this is your idea of not adding to our workload, you fail.”

      “Can I keep the job anyway?”

      “Out. I believe you have an appointment at the High Halls. But first visit Records. The Arkon has sent word about needing another full scan of your marks.”

      “Given the events of the afternoon, I was really hoping to give that a pass.”

      “Given the importance of your pilgrimage, and your ignorance of same, that is not considered an option. Don’t give me that look—if you have a problem with the decision, take it up with the Hawklord and Lord Sanabalis. Corporal.”

      Teela nodded.

      “I’ve been extremely appreciative of your duty detail for the past three weeks.” That detail had involved hours that would have driven the mortals in the department literally insane; the Barrani worked around the clock with breaks for meals. They didn’t need something as petty as sleep, and lack of sleep didn’t slow them down at all.

      “Not so appreciative that you’re offering a raise.”

      “No. I’m following what I’m told is a time-honored tradition.”

      “Which would that be?”

      “If you want something done, give it to the person who’s always busy.”

      Teela chuckled drily. “You want me to make certain Kaylin survives.”

      “More or less.”

      “Yes, sir.”

      * * *

      Teela was not in good enough humor that she insisted on driving the carriage after their detour to Records, which was a mixed blessing; driving placed her on the outside of the cabin.

      “You are certain about what you saw in the border zone?”

      “Given that Yvander was convinced he was walking with a friend in an entirely different part of the fief? Possibly not. But that kind of illusion usually makes my skin break out in hives.”

      Teela nodded in the absent way that implied she wasn’t listening to the answer. Long experience had taught Kaylin that this didn’t actually mean she didn’t hear it. “Refrain from mentioning this in the High Halls,” she finally said. “The Barrani Court expects a certain amount of political fallout from the failed assassination attempt. The Emperor was not pleased.” Gaze firmly fixed on the exterior landscape, she added, “What else happened? Before you attempt to tell me that there was nothing, remember what I’ve said about lying.”

      “I don’t really want to talk about it.”

      Teela, however, did. “You visited Nightshade. Oh, don’t give me that look.” Given that Teela’s gaze hadn’t shifted, this said something. “Kitling, I don’t know what hopes you have for Lord Nightshade, but hope, among our kin, is not a double-edged blade. It is single edged, and the edge always wounds. Always. He is not mortal. He does not value what you value.”

      “Does he value what you do?”

      “You don’t understand what I value. You assume because I’m a Hawk, I share yours. This is not a safe assumption,” she added in case it was necessary.

      “Why did you come to the Hawks?”

      “For reasons of my own. They are not particularly relevant. They were reasons,” she added drily, “you would possibly approve of; your own…were not.”

      “But the reason I stayed—”

      “Oh, hush, kitling. Not all of our heartless plans work as we intend; nor do all of our good intentions. We are where we are, and we can rarely predict where we will go, no matter how firm our beliefs.”

      After a longer pause, Kaylin said, “I can’t tell whether or not you’re warning me off Nightshade or telling me not to judge him.”

      “Can I not do both?” Teela turned to her then. “It has never been safe to know him or to keep his company. That much is true. But this is less about Nightshade, to me.”

      “How so?”

      “He is what he is, Kaylin. Accept that; you will find the Barrani less daunting. He is not mortal, and his concerns are not mortal concerns.”

      “He sold mortals to the Arcanist,” was her flat reply.

      Teela’s eyes darkened. “That is unfortunate,” she finally replied. “You are certain?”

      “Yes.”

      “The same Arcanist—”

      “Who was responsible for a portal that led to what Tara called the outlands, yes. And who destroyed my home.”

      “What is he doing?” Teela said, but she didn’t ask it of Kaylin; she spoke to herself. Realizing that she had a rapt audience anyway, she shook herself. “We are almost at the High Halls. I should warn you that the High Halls are in slight disarray at the moment.”

      “…What do you mean by ‘slight’?”

      “I did mention that our raid was not entirely conclusive. The Eternal Emperor paid a visit to the High Halls—in person—this afternoon.”

      “He

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