“It’s a relatively new drug, very powerful, created by a fusion of magic and science. It’s effective on all of Nekropolis’s species, with the exception of the completely dead, such as zombies and ghosts.” He paused. “Since you’re the city’s only self-willed zombie, I have no idea whether it would affect you or not. It would be interesting to find out, wouldn’t it?”
“After what happened to Varma, I think I’ll just say no, if you don’t mind. Who’s making the stuff?”
“The Dominari is distributing veinburn. But the drug itself is made by the Arcane.”
Arcane? That meant: “Talaith.”
Gregor’s head bobbled, his version of a nod, I suspect. “And the plants which are used to make veinburn are cultivated in Glamere.”
“That’s surprising,” Devona said. “I wouldn’t expect Talaith to use technology, not after what Matt told me about how she demands her people practice pure, natural magic-and especially with what happened with the Overmind.”
“Times change,” I said. “And the Darklords will do anything to gain an advantage over each other-including abandoning their principles. Assuming they ever had any in the first place.” I suddenly recalled who Devona’s father was. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be, you’re right; even Father might be persuaded to set aside his hatred of technology if he thought it was to his advantage.” She thought a moment. “Could the Hidden Light be mixed up in this somehow? After all, they manage to smuggle holy items into Nekropolis. Perhaps they also bring in technology.”
I answered before Gregor could. “Doubtful. The members of the Hidden Light are capable of a lot of things, but working closely with Darkfolk isn’t one of them. They have a deep aversion to associating with those of a supernatural persuasion.”
“Then why do they deal with you?” she asked.
“Because I was killed while foiling one of Talaith’s plots. They view me not as a monster so much as a victim of a Darklord’s evil.” I turned to Gregor. “What do you think? Could the Hidden Light be in on this?”
“I must concur with your assessment, Matthew,” he said. “The Hidden Light has always worked alone in the past.”
That settled, I returned to my original line of questioning. “Do you know where The Dominari have their lab set up?”
“Somewhere in the Sprawl, I believe, but the exact location is unknown to me.” Gregor’s mandibles clicked together once, twice, an action I think was intended to substitute for a smile. “The Dominari may not be Darklords, but their protective spells are still quite formidable.”
“I don’t suppose you know who Varma’s veinburn connection was.”
“Actually, I do, or at least, I have a suspicion. The only veinburn dealer I’m aware of is a demon named Morfran who works out of the Sprawl.”
I frowned. “Only one dealer? That doesn’t make any sense. It’s not like the Dominari to work on so small a scale.”
“I have the impression they’ve been field-testing veinburn,” Gregor said, “trying to get the formula just right.”
“I suppose.” Still, it didn’t sound like the Dominari’s style. Like the criminal organizations back on Earth, they always went for the money, and they weren’t exactly known for their patience. “Can you think of anyone in particular who would gain from stealing the Dawnstone?”
“You’re asking me to theorize. You know how much I dislike doing so in the absence of facts. But if I were to hazard a guess, I would say someone who wished to harm Lord Galm-or perhaps even Father Dis. And in all likelihood, that would be another Darklord.”
“Talaith,” Devona said. “Relations between my father and Talaith might be cordial at the moment, but they haven’t always been so. And if Talaith is behind the creation of veinburn-”
“She could have gotten Varma hooked on the stuff, and used his addiction as leverage to get him to steal the Dawnstone for her,” I finished. “It certainly seems to fit. No wonder she was ready for us when we tried to cross her domain. Augury, my dead ass. One of her people probably saw us asking around about Varma in the Sprawl and alerted her that we were investigating the Dawnstone’s theft and figured there was a good chance we’d consult Gregor.”
“And the Red Tide?” Devona asked. “They came after us after we’d visited Waldemar-long before anyone could’ve been aware of what we were doing.”
“Maybe Talaith’s got an informant in the Cathedral, someone who saw us there.”
“Why the Red Tide, then? They hardly seem like the type to work for Talaith.”
“Darkgems are darkgems, no matter who pays them to you. And the Red Tide’s tech can’t come cheap, not when it has to be imported from Earth.”
Around us, Gregor’s children began getting restless. A sign, I knew, that Gregor himself was becoming bored and was eager to move on to another topic.
“Anything else?” he asked.
“Not that I can think of,” I answered.
“Then on to the matter of payment.” If there’s such a thing as an insect version of a purr, Gregor’s words were it.
Before I could respond, Devona stepped in front of me and said, “I’ll pay.”
“No you won’t,” I said.
She turned to me, her face set in a determined expression. “You paid Waldemar’s price, Lord Edrigu’s, and Silent Jack’s. It’s my turn.”
“I could afford to pay them, Devona. I…Papa Chatha gave me some bad news. My body can no longer be preserved by magic. I’ll be gone in a couple days, maybe less.”
Gregor didn’t react; he’d probably already known. But Devona came forward and took my hand.
“I thought your skin looked a little grayer than when we first met, but I told myself it was just my imagination. It wasn’t, though, was it?”
I shook my head.
“And you’re spending the time you have left helping me.” She sounded bemused, as if she couldn’t quite bring herself to believe it.
I felt a need to tell her the truth. “My motives aren’t unselfish. I was hoping that if we recovered the Dawnstone, you would intercede with Lord Galm on my behalf and ask him to help me make Papa a liar.”
“So you haven’t given up.”
I smiled. “It’s not in my nature.”
“Then the prices you paid-a page from your life, bearing Edrigu’s mark, losing your finger-you paid them even though you still intend to continue living. Uh, existing.”
“Yes.”
She nodded, as if in understanding, but of what I had no idea. She released my hand and turned back to face Gregor. “I shall pay this time.”
“Actually,” Gregor said, his antennae quivering as if he could barely contain himself, “since the information I’ve provided may benefit both of you-Devona, by helping recover the Dawnstone, and Matthew, by providing a chance to avoid discorporation-you must both pay.”
“What?” Devona nearly shouted, setting Gregor’s children to rustling nervously. “That isn’t fair!”
Gregor leaned forward, and although nothing else in his attitude changed, I sensed a hint of menace in the motion. “This is my home. Here, I decide what is and isn’t fair.”
From behind us came a soft whispering, like a distant wave breaking on the beach. I turned to see Gregor’s children had left the ceiling and the walls and were massing behind us.
I put a hand on Devona’s shoulder. “It’s okay. Information is the only coin he deals in.”
“Quite so,” Gregor affirmed.
Devona sighed. “Very well, then.”
I looked behind us; the mound of Gregor’s children was growing smaller as they returned to their places.
“Ms. Kanti, you shall pay first.” Gregor settled back once more. “As Matthew told you, all that interests me is information. But as I mentioned earlier, there are some places in Nekropolis-only a few, mind you-where my
