I glanced around at the surrounding shrubs, having an odd feeling of noticing them before. I took a few steps toward the fence separating the garden from the street, then froze. I recalled dark hair framing blue eyes, watching me from just this spot.
“This is where I saw Egar,” I breathed. I turned back to the men. “The Nattmara knows about the canals.” I thought about it. “If he did kill Charlotte, he could have moved her body. Maybe he noticed the vampire bite on her neck, and thought it might be a way to lure hunters to the city. The female Nattmara told me our blood has more power than other mortals.”
“But why kill Jeramy?” Steifan asked.
My elation abated. Perhaps I was just grasping at threads. “I don’t know, I suppose that doesn’t really make sense. Why kill Jeramy, and not feed?”
Asher watched us, silently absorbing our words. Or maybe he was just waiting for us to shut up and get on with things, who knew?
“Let’s find Vannier,” I decided. “Maybe he can answer these questions.”
As we started walking, I wondered how I planned to pull the servant out of his bed. I most certainly did not want to be caught breaking into the duke’s estate in the middle of the night. At the very least, we would be thrown out of the city. At the most, we would be imprisoned indefinitely, or killed by guards.
We cut across the gardens, scaling fences where necessary, until we reached the duke‘s estate. I leaned against a tree with Steifan on the other side, both of us hiding in its shadows. Asher stood close behind me, and I couldn’t exactly tell him to back up because it would put him out in the open.
Trying to ignore him, I focused my full attention on the back side of the estate. Usually servants’ quarters were either in the back, or in a separate building. Since I didn’t see any separate buildings, I imagined Vannier’s chamber was behind one of the three windows on the bottom floor.
“Wait here,” I whispered to Steifan. I didn’t bother saying anything to Asher. He would do as he liked regardless, and I wasn’t worried about him getting caught.
With my next step in mind, I crept forward, skirting around a garrish white fountain with two scantily clad maidens pouring water from pitchers. I barely breathed as I reached the first of the windows and peeked inside. I could see a bed and small nightstand through gauzy white curtains, but the room appeared to be unoccupied.
I sensed Asher behind me and briefly glanced back at him, then crept to the next window. There was a blanket covered lump on the bed. I couldn’t be sure that it was Vannier, but I was pretty sure I could see a tuft of gray hair poking out near the pillow.
I looked back at Asher now peering over my shoulder. Is that who you saw, I mouthed, though we would be judging solely on the hair.
Perhaps, he mouthed back.
I nodded, then turned back to the window. Now to get him out of there so we could question him privately.
A tap on my shoulder almost made me scream, but it was only Asher. I was just surprised because he so rarely touched me. He would stand close, yes, but there was always a hair’s breadth between us.
He gestured to the sleeping man, then gestured to himself.
Was he offering to fetch Vannier for me? I supposed that would solve a few problems. Don’t hurt him, I mouthed.
Asher rolled his eyes, then shooed me away.
I retreated to wait with Steifan back by the tree.
I watched as the shadow of a shape that was Asher disappeared around the side of the house. Not but a few moments later, a stifled shout emanated from within.
I leaned forward, peering around the tree at Steifan.
He shrugged. No more sounds came from within the house.
“There,” Steifan whispered.
I followed the direction of his outstretched finger, spotting Asher returning the way he’d come. He clutched Vannier in front of him, one hand covering the old man’s mouth while making him walk forward. Vannier wore an old-fashioned sleeping gown, a style now uncommon amongst younger folk.
I caught the wide-eyed look of fear on his face as Asher forced him near, then recognition dawned, and that fear turned to confusion.
Asher maintained his grip over Vannier‘s mouth, but I suspected the old man wouldn’t scream if he let him go. Not without first finding out why two hunters had him pulled from his bed in the middle of the night. We were supposed to be on his side, after all.
I stepped around the tree, facing Vannier. “Earlier tonight,” I whispered, “y3ou paid a scarred man. What was his task?”
Vannier’s eyes shifted from side to side. He mumbled words, but they were muffled by Asher’s hand.
My eyes lifted to Asher. “Let him go. If he shouts, break his neck.” I hoped my raised brows conveyed that I didn’t actually want him to break the poor man’s neck. I didn’t think Asher would kill on my command regardless.
He freed Vannier, then took a step back to stand beside Steifan.
I glanced around the dark garden, wishing we had somewhere better to question Vannier, but this would have to do. “Answer the question,” I ordered.
Vannier wiped his mouth, then cast a quick glare at Asher before turning back to me. “The man you saw is an old friend. I needed someone I could trust.”
I was sure my disbelief showed clearly. “A duke’s servant, friends with a mercenary?”
Vannier narrowed his eyes. “I was not always a duke’s servant.”
Now that, I actually believed. He had wiped away his fear quickly. “And what did you pay this friend to do?”
He glanced at the men, then back to me. “I suppose if I must trust someone, it might as well be hunters with few connections in this city.”
I didn’t correct him in thinking Asher was another Hunter. Better than him realizing what
