In Shade and Shadow

No one spoke for several breaths.

'I was in the new east library with several apprentices,' Sykion said, 'instructing them in proper tutoring of initiates. Domin High-Tower, I believe, was overseeing cleanup after supper. We do not employ servants here and equally share all daily tasks. Domin il'Sänke—'

'I was out alone,' the Suman interrupted, adding with a shrug, 'and I have no one to attest to my whereabouts.'

Rodian studied him. 'You were out after the supper hour? Why?'

'I took a letter to the courier's office at the docks. Just a note to my home branch of the guild.'

'The courier's office isn't usually open past dusk.'

'The day passed too quickly,' he replied. 'I lost track of time and hurried but was too late.'

'Why not wait until morning?' Rodian countered. 'It could take days or more before finding a ship leaving for the Suman coast.'

'I heard of one already in port,' il'Sänke answered. 'I wanted to be sure my letter was aboard for its return trip.'

Rodian made another quick note in his journal. It would be easy enough to check whether any vessel was headed that far south. As he was about to press the matter, High-Tower cut in.

'I am certain you can locate citizens who saw il'Sänke near the docks—which are always busy, Calm Seatt being the most major port to the north! Now, if there is nothing else, I suggest you—and your men—get to the streets with your questions.'

'What were Jeremy and Elias doing out after dark?' Rodian asked. 'You seemed anxious last night concerning a 'folio' they'd been carrying.'

The room sank into silent tension. Il'Sänke's eyes narrowed slightly, and Rodian caught the slight shift of Premin Sykion's slim shoulders.

'The folio has nothing to do with their deaths,' the premin said, calm and poised. 'And any regret at its loss is meaningless compared to the lives of our own. The work it held can be redone.'

Rodian listened politely to the barest rise of pitch in her voiheich in hce. He'd struck a sensitive spot.

Perhaps the folio was only a happenstance theft. Perhaps it had nothing directly to do with these deaths. But it did have to do with something of serious concern to these three.

'Last night,' Rodian continued, 'Master a'Seatt said that you've been sending draft work to his shop for transcription. He handed over a folio to Jeremy and Elias to carry back. What did Master a'Seatt's people copy for you yesterday?'

Domin il'Sänke shifted one step closer. His dark fingers laced together across the front of his waist.

'None of us would know from memory,' he answered. 'Master a'Seatt's scriptorium is one of several employed in such work. Drafts are sent to multiple scribes' shops in the city.'

'Every evening?' Rodian asked.

'At dawn,' Sykion answered, appearing too satisfied with il'Sänke's explanation. 'The guild is working on a large-scale project. We do have some sages who are skilled in scripting, but we prefer the expertise of the private scribe shops for materials to be added to our libraries and archives.'

She paused, pivoting in her seat to face him fully.

'Captain… this work has proceeded uneventfully for almost half a year, so I see no reason why anyone would now kill for such a theft. Elias and Jeremy were in an unfortunate place at an unfortunate time… and taken by chance.'

A large-scale translation project, going on for nearly six moons?

'What is being translated?' Rodian asked.

'We cannot release that information,' il'Sänke answered.

'You will release whatever I ask,' Rodian declared. 'This is a murder investigation.'

Premin Sykion's stern frown deepened the lines of her face.

'If you confer with the city minister to the royal family, you will find the project is under exclusive guild authority. The work is of a sensitive nature. Until we are told otherwise by the monarchy, no information concerning the project will be shared with anyone outside the guild.'

Her gaze hardened, as if those politely blunt words were all she need say.

Rodian suppressed frustration.

The guild was highly favored by the royals, as it had been for generations. If the king and queen stood behind the sages, it would be dangerous for him to force the issue, even under rule of law. But the more these three evaded speaking of this project and the folio's content, the more Rodian began to wonder.

How little—or how much—did it have to do with deaths of two young sages?

'If you can't tell me what is being translated,' he tried, 'at least you can tell me where and how the materials in question were acquired.'

High-Tower rolled his lips inward, turning his eyes on il'Sänke. The Suman seemed uncertain, and Sykion finally shook her head.

'Surely that cannot be confidential?' Rodian asked. 'If the work is so important, every initiate and apprentice in the guild would know where it came from. Rumors are unbridled things.'

'Do not attempt to badger any of them,' High-Tower warned, 'or I will present a formal complaint… and not to the high advocate but to the monarchy itself!'

Rodian was at an end. A tangle of suspicion and frustration choked off any reply. For the moment nothing could be learned here, and he turned to the door. For the span of a breath il'Sänke's darkening expression made him hesitate—then it was gone. Rodian gripped the door latch.

'Have someone send for Wynn Hygeorht—now. I will talk to her alone.'

And he pulled the door open.

'Unacceptable!' High-Tower shouted from his desk. 'We will not have her bullied by the likes of you! One of the masters will be present.'

The dwarf's clear anger brought Rodian a wave of relief.

He much preferred open hostility. Angry people made mistakes, always saying much more than intended. Premin Sykion rose, stepped past him through the door, and headed silently downward.

Rodian glanced back to find both High-Tower and il'Sänke waiting behind him. Obviously they weren't going to even give him a chance at seeking Wynn on his own. He stepped out with both domins close on his heels.

When Sykion reached the turn made on the way to the tower, she motioned to a passing apprentice garbed in the teal of the Order of Conamology, sages who studied in the field of trades, crafts, and practical matters. They also managed the few public schools established by the guild in the king's city. Sykion bent like a willow, whispering in the boy's ear, and the apprentice rushed off with a quick nod.

'I have sent for Wynn,' the premin said calmly. 'But I agree that she should have someone else present.'

She led them out to the entryway, before the large double doors to the courtyard. And Rodian stopped, holding himself in check.

This visit hadn't played out as expected. Misguided or not, he'd believed the sages would want these murders solved—would offer him what assistance they could. Yet they hobbled him, shielded by their favor in the royal court.

All four of them stood in uncomfortable silence until the apprentice burst through the doors.

'Premin…' the boy panted. 'Journeyor Hygeorht is not in her room. And no one knows where she is.'

High-Tower shoved past Rodian toward the boy. 'What? Who did you ask?'

Rodian tucked his journal back into his belt, not waiting for the boy's reply. 'I will speak with my liaison to the royal family about this—and I'll btryis—and e back.'

With that, he walked out into the courtyard.

For some reason these sages didn't want him speaking with the young woman, obviously driven by desperation beyond protecting a member of their guild. They could hardly be unaware how much more this drew his attention. But before he reached the gatehouse tunnel, a smooth voice called from behind.

'Captain.'