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Nikolas had shared concerning Selwyn Midton and the forged account books. For
now she kept Nikolas⬠"!s involvement to herself. Rodian listened carefully to
every word.
⬠SWhy didn⬠"!t you tell me this yesterday?⬠" he asked.
⬠SI just found out last night. But please be discreet. Even you can see how
badly this might damage the guild⬠"!s reputation . . . and the memory of a
dead apprentice.⬠"
⬠SEven I?⬠" he returned, but he let the barb pass. ⬠SWho told you this?⬠"
Wynn shook her head. ⬠SI cannot say.⬠"
Rodian⬠"!s ire began to spread across his face again.
⬠SThere⬠"!s more,⬠" she said.
She wasn⬠"!t certain how to begin, as Duchess Reine had mentioned one of the
parties involved.
⬠SDo you know Baron Twynam⬠"!s son, Jason?⬠"
⬠SWhy?⬠" he asked cautiously, which implied ⬠Syes⬠" to her question.
⬠SHe and Elias were courting the same girl, a merchant⬠"!s daughter named
Elvina. Jason caught Elias one night and threatened to kill him if he didn⬠"!t
stay away from her. I think Elias was going to meet her the night he died.⬠"
Rodian⬠"!s blue eyes widened, and his voice rose. ⬠SWhere did you hear
that?⬠"
She shook her head. ⬠SI⬠"!m not even certain it⬠"!ll be helpful,⬠" she
replied. ⬠SWhat you do next is your own business, but remember discretion . .
. if you expect anything more from me.⬠"
Wynn got up and headed across the courtyard, and the captain didn⬠"!t try to
stop her.
Rodian had to investigate all possible leads, but he⬠"!d been ⬠Sroyally⬠"
warned off of pressing the sages⬠at least for now.
Wynn fought to remain rational. She had to at least entertain the possibility
that Jeremy and Elias had died for some reason other than the folio they⬠"!d
carried. And the burglary at Master Shilwise⬠"!s was just a coincidence. But a
feeling in the pit of her stomach said otherwise.
Entering the common hall, she found Domin High-Tower and Premin Sykion
speaking quietly by the great hearth. Whatever tour they were giving Duchess
Reine seemed to have been interrupted, and il⬠"!Sänke was nowhere in sight.
Wynn willed herself calm as she went to her superiors.
⬠SThank you for seeing the captain out,⬠" Premin Sykion said. ⬠SA bit of air
has done you good.⬠"
Wynn bit down again at this condescension. Treating her like a child was just
another way of undermining her. Although she didn⬠"!t care for High-Tower⬠"!s
cold looks and lectures, at least he was openly hostile.
⬠SThank you,⬠" she answered politely. ⬠SI understand that we must keep the
translations away from general citizens, like the captain . . . but you both
know someone may be seeking the contents of our folios.⬠"
High-Tower grumbled under his breath with a snort, but said nothing
discernible.
⬠SIf I had access to my journals,⬠" she continued, ⬠Sand translations, and
the codex of all recent work, I might help find what this . . . person is
seeking.⬠"
⬠SWynn!⬠" High-Tower growled, trying to silence her.
⬠SI didn⬠"!t just carry back those texts!⬠" Wynn snapped, and it came out too
loud, echoing around the empty hall. ⬠SI handpicked every one the best that I
could! I know what I chose and why.⬠"
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She took a long breath, grasping for calm once more, and appealed directly to
the premin.
⬠SPlease . . . I can help stop these thefts, or at least offer a motivation
for them.⬠"
Premin Sykion raised a hand at High-Tower⬠"!s impending barrage.
⬠SWynn, do you truly believe you would understand the texts better than the
masters of our order, or even those of the other orders helping us? Is that
not rather prideful and assumptive?⬠"
Wynn clenched her hands so tightly that her fingernails bit into her palms.
⬠SPlease . . . Premin,⬠" she repeated. ⬠SWhat harm could there be in giving
me access?⬠"
The slightest flicker of anger crossed Sykion⬠"!s narrow, serene face. ⬠SYour
place here, as well as your soundness of mind, has been in question for some
time. You will keep away from what does not concern you.⬠"
Premin Sykion and Domin High-Tower walked away together.
Wynn stared after the pair until they vanished out of the north archway. She
turned to the fireplace and crossed her arms, clutching herself tightly, as if
it were the only way to hold herself in one piece.
Why hadn⬠"!t she presented a more reasoned argument? Someone or something was
willing to kill for the secrets of the texts⬠someone who could read the
Begaine syllabary. And none of her superiors seemed the slightest bit willing
to acknowledge that truth.
She leaned forward until her forehead touched the hearth⬠"!s warm headstones.
⬠SOh, Chap,⬠" she whispered. ⬠SWhat would you do?⬠"
He⬠"!d rebelled against his kin, the Fay, not only to save her life, but to do
what he knew was right for those he watched over. In becoming an outcast among
his kind, even an enemy to them, he found the courage to bear that sacrifice.
Wynn gazed into the hearth⬠"!s low embers.
If⬠when⬠she ever saw Chap again, how could she look him in the eyes unless
she found the same in herself?
CHAPTER 6
At midmorning Rodian stepped from the city ministry hall overlooking the bay
with two addresses in hand: one for Selwyn Midton⬠"!s shop and the other for
the man⬠"!s home. He⬠"!d heard of charges filed against an illicit moneylender
but never connected this to either deceased sage.
Once mounted upon Snowbird, Rodian turned eastward through the city.
The inner business district was closest to the royal grounds. He passed one
small bank with polished granite steps and a fine inn of massive size called
the Russet Palace. Visiting merchants and even the wealthier ones of Calm
Seatt often retained residency there for a whole season. He should⬠"!ve been
relieved to have uncovered anything besides the guild itself to investigate,
but instinct told him to focus on the contents of those missing folios.
And yet Duchess Reine had asked him to follow other leads.
He passed through the merchant district⬠"!s fringe, filled with respectable
and utilitarian shops for basic necessities. Then he slowed to carefully guide
Snowbird through a bustling open-air market.
Why were the royals, the duchess included, protecting the sages and their
project? He still remembered going before her inquest tribunal in the main
hall of the greatest of the three castles. At first he hadn⬠"!t cared for the
arrangement.
The royals of old had established a rule for all citizens to be held
accountable in like fashion. Legal proceedings were always held at the
city⬠"!s high court, prosecuted by the high advocate of the people. It
wasn⬠"!t proper for any royal family member to be given exception to the rule
of law.
But later Rodian had also broken the law⬠twice.
Upon his first interview with Duchess Reine Faunier-Ã reskynna, he noted how
much she differed from those of the royal bloodline. Her brother and sister by
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marriage, Prince Leäfrich and Princess à thelthryth, remained close at her
side. Prince Leäfrich⬠"!s displeasure over Rodian⬠"!s questions was politely
plain.
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