The Sapphire Crescent

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Emriana moved fluidly, soundlessly, through the darkened house, making her way up to the third floor, to the high chambers that had once been her grandfather's library. That section was little used anymore, but her grandmother insisted that all of her husband's old books be left where they were, kept clean but otherwise undisturbed. Emriana didn't think it was some strange clutching at the past, but rather a desire on Hetta's part to keep the innumerable tomes available, should someone else in the family ever choose to take up reading as a pastime. The girl had come there occasionally as a youngster just to stare at the countless books, and a few more times more recently when she needed to get away from everyone, especially the twins.

Unlike most of the rooms in the house, it was completely enclosed, without the usual open arched windows, to better preserve the books inside. There was still access to the outside, though, through a pair of doors that had windows of leaded glass set into them. The doors led to yet another balcony, a small one that sat at the top of a three-story light well in the middle of the house. The atrium at the bottom was filled with climbing plants on trellises, and Emriana felt confident she could make her way down to the level below, to the small balcony off the study, by descending one of the wooden lattices.

She opened the doors to the library and quietly slipped through, pulling the doors shut behind her. She stood there for a moment, peering around, but the chamber was completely dark except for the glow of moonlight shining in through the leaded glass windows in the doors on the opposite side of the room. That was her destination, but she would have to practically feel her way across the open floor, because she literally could not see any chairs or tables that might be standing between her and that portal. She had not come there often enough or recently enough to remember the layout of the furniture with any clarity.

Slowly, her hands in front of herself so she could feel her way clearly, Emriana began to walk toward the far doors. Each step was short and gentle, because one wrong move, any instance of bumping into the furniture, would alert anyone in the chamber underneath her. Her fingers brushed the edge of a chair, and she remembered that it was clear to the right of it, so she sidestepped slowly and advanced again.

The girl was perhaps halfway across when she got the sudden sensation that she was not alone in the room. The hairs on her arms and the back of her neck prickled in alarm. She froze, straining to listen for any telltale signs that someone else was with her.

Quietly, as if realizing it had been detected, a shadow separated itself from the surrounding darkness and moved out into the open. Emriana's heart leaped into her throat. The form shifted over to stand in front of her, becoming a silhouette against the backdrop of the windows. Emriana took a step backward and bumped against the chair she had so carefully circumnavigated before.

"I had a feeling you'd come this way tonight," the form said, "just a hunch, really, that you might think of sneaking into the study through the atrium."

It was Evester.

Emriana nearly dropped to the floor, she was shaking so hard, but she sighed in relief.

"Waukeen, Evester!" she hissed, moving toward her oldest brother. "Do you intentionally make a habit of scaring the life out of me? What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you," Evester replied as Emriana closed with him to give him a hug.

Evester returned the embrace-and the girl was flipping over sharply, off balance against her brother's hip. She landed on the floor with a solid thud, her arms pinned behind her. The breath was knocked out of her.

As Emriana gasped and tried to make sense of what had just happened, she felt her brother cinch her arms together with rope. Her heart sank, realizing that something was terribly, terribly wrong.

"Uncle Dregaul should have paid more attention to your antics," Evester said, finishing his knot work and starting on Emriana's legs. "He would have realized, like I have, what a clever little rogue you've turned into, sneaking out all the time."

"Evester," Emriana said, "what are you doing? What's happened to you?"

"Oh, plenty," Evester replied. "I woke up and realized if I waited around for Grandmother Hetta to die and Uncle Dregaul to finally retire, I'd never gain control of this family and its assets. So I decided to take matters into my own hands."

"Why?" the girl asked in a small voice, horrified that her older brother was behind all of what was going on. "What could you have possibly wanted that you couldn't already have?"

"Oh, little Em," Evester said with a chuckle, "you are still so innocent. Sixteen tonight and thinking you understand life, but you don't. There's so much more. The real power to be had in this city is there for the taking, if people are just willing to step up and grab it. Denrick and I see that. Someday, maybe you will, too."

"It was you!" Emriana said suddenly, realizing that Evester and not Uncle Dregaul had promised Denrick he could have her. "You told that lecherous worm that he could violate me! You gave him permission to take me!"

She struggled to get up, then began kicking to try to break free, but it was too late; her brother had already bound her tightly.

Evester chuckled and said, "I was just being a good businessman, Em, taking full advantage of the resources at my disposal. Remember what I said the other night about risk and reward, and how none of the Houses in Arrabar would take chances with each other? I had something Denrick wanted, so we struck a deal. It was just business, sister, just business. It's a fearless man's game, running a great House in Arrabar, and I'm just the fearless man to play it. With my two trusted partners, of course."

"Vambran won't let you get away with it," Emriana said, trying to sound convincing, for her own sake as much as for her brother's.

Evester laughed again.

"Vambran?" he said. "Unlikely. Not when the rest of his family is in danger. He's just a little too idealistic for his own good, little sister. He and Dregaul are just alike, more so than either would care to admit. Both of them spent all these years protecting the family, hiding Vambran's dirty little secret from the world, though for very different reasons. He's not about to jeopardize his kin to stop me, sis. He'll sacrifice himself thinking he can save you, just as Aunt Xaphira did for him. Problem solved. It'll be a pleasure to be rid of his brooding, self-righteous presence."

Emriana could not speak, she was so furious, hurt, and stunned. She would never in a hundred years have imagined that Evester could be so callous. She felt tears begin to well up in her eyes, saw in her mind's eye her world crashing down around her once again.

"Well, it's time to go downstairs," Evester said, pulling a magically illuminated rock from some hidden pocket and lighting the room with its pale, pearly glow. "I'm sure Denrick will be happy to see you've been rounded up once more."

With that, Evester stooped down and hoisted his sister up over his shoulder. He carried her back out the door of the library.

Vambran blocked a quick stab at his head and backed up a step, then jumped to his left as Denrick slashed low with his sword. The lieutenant planted his feet against the wall and pushed back the other direction, going high, and parrying another rapid slice with his own blade. He landed on the banister of the balcony, then had to swing out over the sitting room a story below, one arm wrapped around the closest column, to escape yet a third slash from Denrick. Vambran came back around to the banister again, with that column between him and his opponent. Denrick's blade smacked sharply against the column as Vambran jumped down to the balcony again.

"I guess all that service with your soldier buddies was good for something," Denrick scoffed, advancing again. "You may not fight worth a damn, but at least you're good at the acrobatics."

Vambran ignored the other man's jibes and concentrated on matching his moves. The lieutenant had to admit that the Pharaboldi whelp was an excellent swordsman. He had already pushed Vambran back three times, and the mercenary officer was beginning to wonder if there was a way inside the man's defenses. Though Vambran's blade was a bit longer, Denrick was very fast with his, and he always seemed have a parry in place when Vambran attacked.

"Come on," Denrick said, "the night's not getting any younger. If I'm going to have any time left for your sister's charms, we've got to finish this sometime in the next few hours."

Vambran knew the man was just trying to rattle him, and he worked hard to tune out the scathing words. But every time Denrick mentioned Emriana, the lieutenant wanted to smash his head against a wall. The first time Denrick had taunted Vambran with his carnal intentions, Vambran had let his emotions get the best of him and jumped in for a fierce series of slashes and cuts, thinking to put the upstart down then and there. But Vambran was rudely awakened when he took a cut across his wrist. It was a glancing blow, and Denrick's blade wasn't turned at precisely the right angle, but it had opened Vambran's eyes to just how cunning and talented his foe really was.

As Denrick closed for a new attack, Vambran dropped down and sliced at the man's feet. Denrick leaped over the swing and used his momentum to turn a back flip back out of the way as Vambran came up suddenly, thrusting into the air where Denrick had been a split-second before.

Vambran's rush carried his center of balance a little too far forward, though, and Denrick came back in with a downward stroke, trying to cleave Vambran's head in half. The lieutenant rolled to one side, grabbing at a pedestal with a bit of ancient Netherese pottery displayed atop it. Vambran pulled the pedestal down and around, clipping Denrick's knee as the scoundrel's blade clanked off the pottery, shattering it. Vambran rolled away and spun around again.

Denrick smiled as he came closer again.

"Arm getting tired?" he asked casually. "I can cut it off if it is," he added, smirking.

Vambran noted that members of the Sapphire Crescent were gathering below, and several more of the mercenaries were ascending the stairs, coming to aid him. Denrick would quickly be outnumbered. Though he suspected the man could take a soldier or two down before he himself dropped, Vambran would prefer not to lose any of his men.

"Your time is up," Vambran said to his foe. "It's only a matter of time before we drop you. Let's spare both of us a lot of pain and end this sensibly. You don't want to die, do you?"

"No, but I want you to die," the younger man retorted, charging in on Vambran again. The lieutenant was forced to spring to the side of the new rush, and he slammed against the railing of the balcony again, overbalancing and tumbling over the top of it.

For an instant, Vambran seemed to hang in midair, flailing as his body tilted awkwardly, his sword spinning out away from him. Then he managed to grasp hold of one of the spindles of the railing, jerking himself to a stop, but wrenching his shoulder in the process. He dangled there for a moment, his arm twisted painfully over his head, and let go, dropping down to the sitting room below, just as Denrick lunged out over the banister to try and stab at him.

Vambran's escape permitted several of the mercenaries watching the melee from below to get in a clean shot with their crossbows, and Denrick took two hits as he tried to straighten back up. One bolt grazed his arm, marking a clean line diagonally along the forearm, and the other sank deeply into his thigh. The young man howled in pain and staggered back from the railing, sinking down onto his backside in a whimper.

Vambran heaved a sigh of relief as several more soldiers moved in around Denrick, taking him prisoner. The lieutenant looked up and saw Kovrim, Adyan, and Horial among the troops, and he smiled at them.

"Good timing," he said. "I owe you, boys."

Kovrim nodded, and Horial started to say something as the men upstairs forced Denrick to his feet and began to march him back toward the stairs. But everyone stopped short as a clear, calm shout echoed through the sitting room.

"Vambran!" It was Evester. He stood at the railing of the highest balcony, one level above the study, where Old Obiron's library was. Beside him, standing stiffly, was Emriana. She had a sorrowful look on her face, and Vambran suddenly realized that she was bound.

The lieutenant shook his head.

"Evester?" he called out, "Are you all right?"

"No," the mercenary's older brother called down, a hard edge to his voice. "No, I'm not. You've ruined everything, you stupid lout."

"I did what?" Vambran said, moving to a different spot where he could see better. "What are you talking about?"

"It wasn't Uncle Dregaul, Vam," Emriana called forlornly. "It was Evester. He's behind it all."

Vambran's breath caught in his throat as he heard his sister's chilling words.

"What are you doing, Evester? What is this about?"

"It's about me taking my rightful place as the head of the family, about getting things done that no one else can do. And it's about you interfering with all of it."

"How did I do that, Ev? What did I interfere with?"

"My alliance, you idiot! You came home and promptly shredded the whole plan to pieces. Because you had to stick your nose into something that had no effect on you at all."

"Oh, so because it wasn't anyone I know, I shouldn't care what happened to her?"

"By the gods, Vambran, save your concern for the people who really matter! If you devoted half as much of your noble concern worrying about how your actions affect your family as you do worrying about some stupid, common wench, we wouldn't be here right now."

"That's pretty funny, coming from the man who has usurped the family seat, practically sold his own sister into slavery, and is going to-to do what, Ev? Are you going to get rid of us? Me? Em? Grandmother Hetta? You think all of that is showing concern for your family?"

"Shut up," Evester said, pulling a dagger and placing it against Emriana's throat. "What would you know about it, anyway? All you ever managed to do was shoot the Lord of Arrabar's cousin and let someone else take the blame for it. Not only did you put the whole future of the House-my future-in jeopardy, but then you couldn't even stick around and take your lumps like a man. No, you had to run off and join a mercenary band while I stayed here and learned the business. And everything that Uncle Dregaul and I tried to get you to do to help improve the family's station, you railed against. So how would you know what's good for the family?"

"Waukeen, Evester," Vambran said quietly, "you think I didn't regret that every single day of my life? You think I didn't wish I could take it back? That's the very reason why I wouldn't let this go. Maybe Jithelle Skolotti was just a 'common wench,' but I couldn't stand by and watch another person's family wonder what really happened, like I did to Rodolpho's." Evester shook his head.

"I'm through talking with you," he said. "Just get up here. And Denrick. Both of you climb up here now, or Em slips and falls over the side."

And, just to show he meant it, Evester grabbed his sister by the shoulder and shoved her forward, making her lean out over the railing.

Emriana yelped in fright and struggled to back away from the drop, but Evester had all the leverage, and he just kept pushing her, forcing her farther and farther out.

"Vam! Help me!" the girl shrieked. "Please, stop it!"

"Get up here, Vambran," Evester said. "I'm not kidding."

All around him, Vambran heard the murmurs and grumbles of his men, angry at the situation and talking bravado about knocking Evester down a peg or two or giving him a good swift sword in the gut, but Evester had them bested, and everyone knew it. The lieutenant eyed Denrick, who was grinning malevolently at him, and he nodded to the men holding the prisoner. Understanding, they let the younger man go, and he jerked his arms free indignantly, then turned and demanded his sword. Reluctantly, the soldier holding it handed it over.

"You see?" Denrick said to Vambran. "In the end, you can't beat us. You're a fool to even try. The city belongs to us, Vambran. Not to the old fools who hoard their gold, or the small-time thinkers like your uncle or my mother. Only people such as Evester and me truly understand how to wield the power of coin."

"I hardly think it takes a lot of brains to take the cowardly road, Denrick," Vambran said. "And you're not out of here free and clear, yet. So I wouldn't go flapping my mouth off too much if I were you."

Denrick just glared at Vambran, who gestured for the younger man to go first. Denrick limped forward, taking the lead, and the pair of them began to ascend to the top floor.

When Vambran arrived, Evester was standing behind Emriana, holding the blade to her throat once more and using her as a shield.

"First, you're going to heal him, Vambran. Then, you're going to let him tie your hands behind your back, and the four of us will walk out of here."

"And go where, Ev? The whole city will be hunting for you after this. There's no place you can retreat to and still sit atop your ill-gotten perches."

"Nonetheless, you're going to do exactly what I just said, or I will slit her throat and throw her over the side. Do you understand me?"

"Sure, Ev," Vambran said, defeat making his words quiet. He knelt down, ready to examine the puncture wound in Denrick's leg. He cast one last glance up, about to tell Evester that he would cooperate and be their hostage if they would let Emriana go right then, when he spotted the faintest hint of movement from behind his older brother.

Xaphira.

Apparently, Denrick hadn't seen her, so Vambran quickly averted his eyes downward again, not wanting to betray the potential rescue. He directed his face toward the end of the bolt still rammed in Denrick's leg, but he watched carefully out of the corner of his eye for some sort of telltale sign that she was acting. He saw her take the first subtle step toward Evester, and he reacted.

Reaching out, Vambran gripped the end of the bolt and slammed it sideways, twisting at the same time. The howl of pain as Denrick stumbled backward was loud and piercing. The younger man staggered backward, reaching feebly toward the pain, as Vambran stood up again and turned back toward his brother.

Evester held a look of shock on his face as he watched what Vambran had just done, and he let his hold on Emriana sag slightly, dropping his guard. Xaphira timed it perfectly. She stepped in behind the man, snaking her arm underneath the one of his that held the dagger and leveraging it out, away from his hostage's face. At the same time, she shifted her weight under his, shoving him up off the ground with her hip and spinning him over backward. He landed with a thud on the balcony, well away from Emriana.

Emriana sank down to the tiles, for she was still bound hand and foot. Vambran moved to her, ready to help free her, when her eyes grew wide.

"Look out!" she cried, and Vambran instinctively dived to one side as Denrick's sword whistled over his head.

The force of the strike sent Denrick staggering forward, for his leg had no strength in it, and he could not easily recover his balance. He stumbled forward, right at Emriana. She rolled backward, even as he came at her, and Vambran could see what the heir of House Pharaboldi was about to do. The lieutenant willed his body to lunge forward, to stop Denrick's forward progress, but he was much too slow. There was nothing he could do to stop Denrick from slipping his blade right into Em's chest as he fell on top of her.

Curiously, though, the wounded man didn't reach the girl. As he fell, she rolled backward, bringing her feet, which were still tied together, up under him. She used his momentum against him, hoisting him high and shoving as hard as she could, sending him completely past her, over her, and toward the railing.

Vambran watched the sequence as if time had slowed down somehow. Denrick, still flying forward, was headed over the railing. He was twisted awkwardly, unable to stop himself, and he flailed about desperately for something to grab hold of, anything at all that would keep him from falling to his death.

The one thing that was there, within reach, was Evester. Somehow, Vambran's brother had managed to get to his feet and was circling with Xaphira, when Denrick went tumbling by.

The oldest son of Ladara Matrell never saw his companion coming, but Denrick managed to grab hold of his shirt. As he fell over the railing, Denrick hung on to Evester, refusing to let go, and the force of his momentum pulled Evester right over the side with him. The last thing Vambran saw of his brother was one arm, fingers extended, grasping futilely for the banister. There was a shriek of terror, and a moment later, one large thump that Vambran felt even at the top of the house.

"I knew Dregaul was beginning to slip into a maniacal notion that any business deal, no matter how questionable, whether financial or ethical, was all right," Hetta said.

They were all gathered in the sitting room. The elderly matriarch of the Matrell family was in her favorite chair, and Ladara was beside her, as usual, though Emriana's mother was obviously more subdued than usual. The girl couldn't really blame her; she had lost a son and a grandson, after all.

After Denrick and Evester's deaths, the rest of the family had been found, unharmed, locked in the cell in the basement. Marga had not handled her husband's death well, though in the end, after some magical calming ministrations from Kovrim, she at least began to see that she and her twin children had probably been spared a lifetime of misery under a tyrant's rule. Still, she was left in a quandary. Her own House was devastated, just as House Pharaboldi was. Her only true family seemed to be the Matrells. The three of them were resting quietly in their rooms while the rest of the family discussed how to honor their dishonorable dead.

"But I had no idea he was teaching those same reprehensible qualities to Evester," Hetta continued quietly, sadly. "If I had, I would have taken control back a long time ago."

"But Grandmother," Emriana asked, "why in the world didn't you do that anyway?"

"Because I needed Dregaul to do something that would get him in over his head," the woman replied. "I needed to be able to show to everyone, you included, that I was still sharp and that he was the one unfit for running the family business."

Emriana nodded, though she didn't see how Hetta would think that anyone wouldn't trust her. To her, the woman seemed to have the most sensible head on her shoulders of all of them.

"That's not the only reason you let it go on, though, is it?" Xaphira said, sitting off to one side and studying the family.

Emriana still hadn't gotten used to the idea that her long-lost aunt had returned from her self-imposed exile. She had heard the story about the woman's disappearance only a couple of days before, and yet there she was, in the flesh, and Emriana had a chance to get to know a new member of her family. The thought excited her, especially after the conversation she and Hetta had had. Such a newfound mentor, coupled with the loss of Dregaul and Evester, caused the girl's emotions to be in turmoil at the moment

"No," Hetta said, answering Xaphira's question. "I also needed to see who would recognize that the House was on unstable ground and do something about it. I had to see who I could trust."

Emriana realized that her grandmother was looking at both her and Vambran then. She cocked her head to one side, not understanding.

"If Dregaul wasn't suitable to manage the Matrell family affairs, then who would be?" Hetta explained. "You are, my dear," she said, smiling at her granddaughter.

As what Hetta was saying began to dawn on her, Emriana looked over at Vambran. He seemed just as apprehensive as she felt.

"Us?" she asked quietly, uncertainly.

"Yes," Hetta affirmed. "You and your brother did far more than I had ever imagined for the sake of the family-not the House, the family. Of course, I never envisioned having to stop Dregaul from forcing you to marry, or for us to need to be rescued from a trio of misguided fools," she added wistfully.

Emriana felt her chest tighten, then, for she knew that Hetta grieved for her lost son and grandson.

"You two have a lot of thinking to do," Hetta continued. "I know you're not ready to assume control of the House yet, but it will be time, soon. I'm not going to be around forever, you know."

That sobering thought just added to Emriana's poignant mood. She went to her grandmother and gave the woman a long hug.

"You can't leave us too soon," she said in a fierce whisper. "You still have too much to teach me."

Hetta laughed and replied, "I'm sure that whatever wisdom I fail to impart to you, Xaphira can more than make up for."

Emriana turned and smiled at her aunt.

"I'd like that," she said, and Xaphira smiled back. She looked over at her brother, then, and saw him still brooding. "What are you thinking about?"

Vambran sighed and said, "That everything is changing. The House, the family responsibilities… I don't even know how much longer I'll remain a member of the Sapphire Crescent, with all that's happened."

"You still have a bright future there," Hetta said. "Your captain was more than understanding when you abandoned your post."

Vambran grimaced. He had received a disciplinary rebuke for his actions, a symbolic punishment and nothing more. He claimed that he was ultimately thankful for the light punishment, but Emriana could tell that he had become somewhat disillusioned with his service in the mercenary company. She wondered whether he would stay a part of it. He seemed to love it so much, and he excelled at his craft. But he was faced with becoming the head of the household, and perhaps some of the things he liked doing most would have to be set aside, for the sake of the family.

Of course, Em thought. I'm facing the same thing. Who would have thought that turning sixteen would carry so much responsibility with it?

Things had definitely changed at the Matrell estate. As Emriana looked around at her family, she wondered just how many more changes were on the horizon.

"You know," Vambran said to Xaphira during the lull, "you still have some explaining to do to me. Why have you been following me the past few days? And what have you been doing all these years?"

"She's been working for me," Hetta cut in. Everyone turned to look at her, shocked. "That's right, I've kept some secrets, too. The truth is, Matrell holdings are actually ten times the size that you all think they are, thanks to Xaphira. Even after she disappeared, we kept in contact. Never mind how, just trust me that we found a way. She's been my business partner for the past eleven years, and together, we've managed quite a few shrewd investments." When everyone still gaped, the matriarch feigned indifference. "What? Did you think I was going to trust all of our assets to Dregaul? If I had, we'd be a very poor family right now."

"And the other?" Vambran asked. "Following me?"

Emriana watched her aunt not say anything for several moments.

Finally, taking a deep breath, Xaphira said softly, "I told you last night that there was more to this than you could fathom, and there is. I'm still only beginning to put all the pieces together. But you should know that I'm almost certain you didn't shoot Rodolpho Wianar twelve years ago."

Emriana gaped at her aunt, then at Vambran. Her brother's mouth hung open.

"What?" he said quietly, as though he couldn't understand what he had just heard.

"Let me show you something," Xaphira said.

She walked over to where her red cloak hung near the door and removed a small bundle from a pocket inside it. The bundle was long and thin and wrapped in oilcloth, and when she unrolled it, Emriana could see a pair of crossbow bolts.

"This one," Xaphira said, holding up the first, "was in the quiver you gave me that night a dozen years ago before we parted ways. I dumped everything else into the sea once I was well out of port."

Xaphira took up the second bolt. Emriana could see that it was darkened at the tip, stained.

"This one," her aunt said, "was one I pulled out of my leg that night, after I ran from you."

The woman held them up, side by side. They were identical, right down to the blue fletching.

"What?" Vambran said again. "How can that be?"

"Because someone who was shadowing me that night, following me as I ran from the watchmen, had it in his possession. He shot me with it while I was fleeing, down near the docks."

"But, where did it come from?" Emriana asked, confused.

"It was stolen from my quiver at the Generon, before Adyan, Horial, and I ever started shooting," Vambran said, his tone cold. "Someone used my own bolt to assassinate Rodolpho Wianar, making it look like I did it."

"Exactly," Xaphira said. "And that someone is the same man who has been behind the scenes, working for Grozier Talricci, Denrick Pharaboldi, and Evester. It has been that man who has tried to thwart you at every turn when you started digging into the kitchen maid's death."

"The thug who confronted us last night, in the alley, during the fight for Uncle Kovrim!" Vambran said, his face lighting in recognition.

"Yes. His name is Junce Roundface, and he's a very skilled assassin."

"You knew this, and you didn't say anything?" Vambran asked, looking squarely at his aunt.

"We had more important things to take care of," Xaphira replied just as firmly. "First your uncle, then your sister, were in trouble. I didn't want you distracted with my news when you needed a clear head to save everyone else."

Vambran nodded, understanding his aunt's reasoning.

"After all these years, you still understand me too well," he said, a slight smile creeping onto his face.

Emriana noticed that Xaphira smiled, too.

The woman continued, "Besides, all of my suspicions are just that, still-suspicions. I don't have any other proof than these two bolts. And I've only recently managed to connect him to the shootings that night. I was following him to get some sort of additional proof of who he's connected to, who might have been behind the attack that night."

Hetta cut in, "And by following Junce, you began following Vambran, simply by extension."

Xaphira smiled at her mother.

"Something like that," she said warmly. "Once I saw that Vambran was getting involved in activities Junce was behind, I decided to keep on eye on my nephew full time, just to be nearby if he should need me."

"But that means that whoever is behind Junce's actions-and Grozier's, Denrick's, and Evester's-was also behind the murder of Rodolpho Wianar twelve years ago," Emriana said, understanding at last the connection.

Her stomach was fluttering.

"Yes, it does," Xaphira replied. "I don't know what the connection is, but there is one there. You're involved in it from both ends, Vambran."

Emriana's brother nodded and said, "It's all connected somehow. Grand Trabbar Lavant is still looking to manipulate events to broker an alliance, I'm sure. And he'll find other Houses willing to rally to his cause. Uncle Kovrim and I are going to have to stifle him politically, because we have no real proof that he's behind any of this."

"You couldn't prove that he and Grozier Talricci were working together?" Hetta asked.

Vambran shook his head.

"No," he answered, "we haven't yet begun truth-reading either him or Bartimus. They're both very good at masking their thoughts, so we're going to have to bring in more powerful magic to break them down. And Uncle Kovrim can't actually say that he rooted out Lavant's involvement by going through the high priest's personal records. Those have undoubtedly been destroyed or moved, so it would be his word against the Grand Trabbar's and I think we all know who's side the temple would take in that instance. So, we're going to have to deal with this one subtly."

"What about the four Halanthi priests who tried to waylay him yesterday?" Xaphira asked. "Can't you make a connection between them and Lavant?"

"I wish we could, but they have all disappeared. The temple is in turmoil over all this, and of course, the Grand Trabbar is screaming longest and loudest for justice on Uncle Kovrim's behalf."

"Of course," Xaphira replied.

Emriana's brother didn't say anything for a long time. Finally, as the silence grew uncomfortably long, the girl asked shyly, "How did you get into and out of the warehouse without me seeing you?"

Xaphira laughed and said, "You're going to be quite the little sneak when you get some more seasoning. It wasn't easy, but I've learned a few tricks that you don't know about yet."

"And aren't going to learn about any time soon," Ladara said firmly, stirring from her spot beside Hetta. "You are only sixteen, and you have no business sneaking out like that all the time. Do you understand me?"

Emriana opened her mouth to protest, but then she caught a look from her grandmother out of the corner of her eye and she repressed a smile.

"Yes, Mother. I won't do it anymore."

To herself, Emriana thought, As far as you know.

She stole a glance at Aunt Xaphira, who was hiding a smile of her own.

The girl's thoughts were interrupted as a figure appeared in the sitting room doorway. It was Uncle Kovrim, ushered in by one of the servants.

"Kovrim, welcome," Hetta said, smiling and rising to greet their guest.

The priest wore a dark frown as he said, "I wish my visit were for a happier purpose, but I've got unfortunate news."

Vambran sat forward in his chair.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Grozier Talricci and Bartimus the wizard escaped custody during the night. They were helped by someone on the outside, someone very good at getting in and out of the watch headquarters where they were being held."

"Junce Roundface," Vambran growled, standing. "This isn't over, yet. We have to find them"

"Why you?" Ladara asked quietly. "Why do you have to be the one to do this?"

"Because whoever is behind it has made me live with unnecessary guilt for twelve years, and I owe them a little payback."

"It won't be easy," Kovrim said. "They know we're looking for them, and they have powerful magic at their disposal to aid in staying hidden."

"Perhaps," Vambran said, "but we have to try. Junce Roundface is working for someone even more powerful in this city. Apparently, they all are."

"Someone who wants to start a war," Xaphira said.

Emriana looked at her family, from face to face. They all wore the same grim expression.

They're all thinking the same thing, she realized. House Matrell is still in danger.