Wicked Bronze Ambition

26

Dean served supper in Singe’s office. She and Old Bones had guests: John Stretch and Belinda Contague. They were in related businesses, so some of that might have gotten done during the socializing. Belinda fussed over Morley like he was a toddler with a serious ouchie. The display was revoltingly mushy.

I downed some shepherd’s pie and a pint of beer before I told Belinda, “You might not want to roam around on your lonesome, the way things are going around me lately.”

She asked, “Why should I worry? You’re the target.”

John Stretch agreed. “I put the word out to my people when I heard about Strafa.” He was yet another soul that my sweetie had conquered.

John Stretch is handy to know. His people go everywhere, doing the dirtiest work, and people pay no attention. They should worry about protecting their secrets.

“Nothing?”

“Not yet. There is a hole in the tapestry. Many on the Hill would like to know who attacked her. None of them do know, or even have strong suspicions.”

“That’s odd.”

Singe added, “I get the feeling that they are not planning anything, they just want to know if there is a danger to them.”

That made sense. There have been doctrine-driven insurrections directed at sorcerers before.

Soon I was feeling full enough, mellow enough, and safe enough to collect myself and go to the Dead Man’s room-after a side trip to my old office, the broom closet next to the space Singe used, where I put on one of my ratty old sweaters. It can get cold in there with His Nibs.

“Any thoughts?” I asked as I adjusted a chair so I could settle comfortably with my pint. “I see Penny is still learning her oils.” The girl is a talented artist. Old Bones does what he can to help her develop her skills.

His pet stray is one of few females, of any species, that he not only tolerates but actively likes.

You have someone worried. More likely, several someones, probably all determined to win the Tournament of Swords.

“I have the magical skills of a large boulder. As long as all I have to do is sit there, I’m golden. I’m a powerhouse.”

It occurs to me that Strafa may not have been attacked for the reasons that we have assumed.

“Huh?”

She was indeed, Furious Tide of Light and the likely Algarda Champion, but suppose she was eliminated instead in a fool’s effort to make sure that you do not enter the game. An ill-reasoned effort that has fired a raging blowback already.

“My head is running slow tonight. Elucidate your reasoning. Pretend I’m a dim five.”

Damn! I whipped a flashy word on him and it went completely to waste. Of course, his being able to tramp around inside my head whenever he feels like, he always sees my best stuff coming.

Consider the response to events. Since Strafa’s demise the Civil Guard, the Syndicate, the rat people nation, the Algarda family and its allies have all mobilized to hunt the assassins. I submit that it may have been such actions that the assassination was intended to forestall.

“Oh.” I got it. Sort of.

Somebody might think the Tournament of Swords game would be rigged against them if I was Strafa’s Mortal Companion. My connections could give her an intelligence edge. Take her out and those resources no longer mattered.

“I can see somebody with an upper-class attitude thinking that way. Somebody committed to the premise of the tournament and expecting a win. But it wouldn’t be somebody who knows me because I wouldn’t buy into the tournament in the first place.”

Indeed. At the moment it appears unlikely that the tournament will occur. After the embarrassment those men suffered. .

“Yes?” There had been more than one embarrassment, I thought. That doll-child had toyed with me, then had gone her way with ease.

Of course, however clever she was, she couldn’t remain unseen by all the eyes that would be watching for her now. She would be identified. She would be taken out of the game. Gently, of course. I wouldn’t put up with anybody attacking children in my name.

We shall have to come back to this later. We are about to have company.

Damn. I had been hoping to explore his thinking about the girl who had attacked me in the cemetery.