the two victims were falsely marking themselves thrice.'
'Oh? Haven't seen that in quite a long time.'
'Exactly,' Vambran said, leaning forward. 'It struck me as odd, too. But besides that, these city watchmen just didn't seem quite right to me. They didn't really understand procedure, and they were downright surly toward Em and me.'
'I see. Were you wearing your marks last night, too?' Kovrim asked, pointing toward Vambran's forehead.
Vambran nodded and said, 'Yes, and of course they behaved rather poorly about it, too. Very accusatory, not surprisingly. But it was more than that. Even after I demonstrated my talents, they were downright rude, at least until a second squad of guards arrived.'
'So what are you concerned about?' Kovrim asked, scratching at his balding pate. 'Did something happen?'
'Not as such,' Vambran replied. 'But I decided to draw out the sergeant's surface thoughts, to see what he was really about, and what I read was unsettling. I just don't think they were actually watchmen. He seemed very worried about someone finding out what had happened last night.'
'I see. So, what did you do about it?'
'Well, Em was there, and I didn't want a skirmish breaking out, so I just kept quiet. The second squad was led by a captain, and she certainly seemed to know what she was doing. They gathered the bodies and told me to report this morning for a debriefing. I was actually looking forward to it, because I wanted to see what came of the communing with the dead.'
'And?'
'Last night, two Waukeenar priests showed up unannounced and ordered the bodies burned, due to magical plague.'
Uncle Kovrim's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
'Oh, really?' he said. 'I haven't heard a thing about the plague breaking loose anytime recently.'
'I figured you would be the one to know, if anyone did,' Vambran said. 'I think the magic plague is just a ruse. Someone is hiding something, and I'm worried about the implications that these two priests are involved in it.'
'Yes,' Kovrim said absently, scratching at his head again, deep in thought. 'That doesn't sound good.'
'I mean, it may be nothing, but a moment or two conversing with the spirits of the slain couple could have cleared it all right up.'
'Yes, it could have. So, did you voice your doubts to this captain?'
'I did. She was not interested in listening to me. Claimed to have put a couple of her men on it, and that was that.'
'And you're not satisfied with her efforts.'
Vambran was silent for a long time. Finally, he looked his uncle squarely in the eye.
'You know what's troubling me,' he said at last.
Kovrim nodded slowly and said, 'You can't keep blaming yourself for that, Vambran. You were just a boy.'
'You know that doesn't make it feel any better. It haunts you just as much as it still troubles me.'
'That's different. I was an adult, I should have known better than to have given you that crossbow. If I hadn't-'
'So neither of us can forgive ourselves so easily. The fact remains that all I can think about is what Rodolpho's family must have thought when they heard the news and afterward. Bewildered, wondering why someone would assass-' Vambran clamped his mouth shut, unwilling to continue that thought. 'Anyway, now, I see it happening all over again. I can't help but wonder how the families of these two are feeling, thinking their dead kin were criminals. It's not right.'
'I understand your passion for this, Vambran, I really do. But I'm not sure you can do anything about it. I wish there were; maybe we'd both feel better afterward.'
'There's something else,' Vambran said, unwilling to let it go. 'Em thinks she recognized the woman, though she can't remember from where. And,' he added, wondering if his uncle would approve of what he was about to suggest, 'the suspicious guards kept something of Em's, a dagger I'd given her and which they confiscated last night. I think I can track them down if I needed to.'
'Hmm,' Kovrim said, nodding. 'You could tell the watch captain this, lead her to the men.'
'I already offered. She still wasn't interested.'
'A pity for her, but an opportunity for you.' Kovrim leaned forward and gave a hard stare at his nephew. 'I wish I could go with you, but these bones are getting a little too old for traipsing around the city in pursuit of criminals. I'll leave it to you. But if you do track on the dagger, you do not go alone, do you understand me?' Vambran nodded. 'Take a couple more stout bodies with you. Someone you can trust.'
Vambran nodded and said, 'I think I know just the two.'
'In the meantime,' Kovrim replied, sitting back, 'I'll help you any other way I can. I'll look into the two priests. If there's something going on that the temple's involved with, I'll find out what it is.'
Vambran smiled.
'Thanks, Uncle Kovrim. I knew I could count on you.'
The ride to the Pharaboldi estate was serene, if not terribly entertaining, inside the full coach. Emriana did her best not to fidget and complain, but she found the confines of her dress, the coach, and the company of her mother all to be very stifling. The vehicle made its way through the merchant's district of the city, the iron-rimmed wheels rolling loudly over the cobblestones and jostling the occupants incessantly. Emriana looked out the window, watching the hustle and bustle of the city flow past them while Ladara made small talk with Hetta and the attendants who had traveled with them that day.
Emriana tried to tune her mother out, completely disinterested in the latest gossip concerning the truly wealthy of Arrabar, the plots and intrigues they were involved with, and the speculation over what marriages might be occurring between Houses in the near future. She wished Jaleene were there to give her some companionship that would be more to her liking, but true to his word, Uncle Dregaul had ordered the handmaiden to remain behind to be disciplined. At least she wasn't going to be let go, for which Emriana could thank her grandmother. Hetta had revealed to the girl before they finished their breakfast that she had informed Dregaul he was not to relieve the handmaiden from her duties, but that he could make the threat to do so if it made him feel better.
Apparently, the man had taken his mother up on her suggestion. Though she would not be losing her confidante and friend, Emriana still felt no small amount of sympathy toward poor Jaleene over the day she was bound to have, being scolded by the master of the House.
'Em, I do hope you don't sulk like that when we arrive. It is so unbecoming,' Ladara commented, drawing the girl out of her thoughts.
'What?' Emriana asked, blinking and looking up to see the entire entourage of women watching her. 'Oh, I'm sorry, Mother,' the girl replied, trying to smile. She realized she must have been looking very morose, contemplating her maid's fate. 'I will try.'
It wasn't easy, putting on airs, but she did it because of what her grandmother had revealed to her that morning.
The sooner I start pretending to be what they want, the sooner they'll quit scrutinizing me so much, Emriana told herself.
'And do try to be pleasant to Denrick today,' Ladara continued, which almost elicited a groan from the girl before she caught herself and nodded, smiling. 'The last time you visited with him, you were less than polite, you know.'
Emriana stole a quick glance at her grandmother, who raised her eyebrows slightly as if to say, Remember what I told you.
Turning back to her mother, Emriana smiled even wider and said, 'I will do my best, Mother.'
Ladara smiled, apparently genuinely relieved.
'Thank goodness. Maybe you're growing up after all.' The woman pulled a fan out of her handbag and
