A servant at the gate tries to get in our way. I brush him aside. "Thraxas of Turai, Chief Adviser to Lisutaris, Mistress of the Sky. Here as guest of Baroness Demelzos." #51 | | |
Inside, the house is in the sort of uproar you'd expect when the eldest son of an important family is about to get married. Though neither I nor Makri look like wedding guests, everyone is too busy with their own problems to pay us much attention. I lead Makri upstairs to the Baroness's reception rooms. I burst in to find the Baroness having her hair done by two servants. #52 | | |
"Thraxas! How dare you burst in when - " #53 | | |
"Sorry Baroness. I have important news." I look pointedly at the servants. The Baroness dismisses them with a nod of her head. #54 | | |
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"Someone from Baron Vosanos's household has been trying to kill Merlione. Whether it's the Baron himself, or his steward, I don't know. But they're responsible." I take the scroll from the magic purse. "By ancient law, Merlione inherits your queenstone mines, not your son. Baron Vosanos is bankrupt. He's depending on your son bringing wealth into his family. But your son will only be wealthy if Merlione is dead." I hand the scroll to the Baroness. #56 | | |
"But this is so old," she says. #57 | | |
"I think it's still legal. Alceten was killed because she discovered it. The Baron knew all about her work because his Chief Steward has a cousin in the Record House. She was keeping him up to date with Alceten's research." #58 | | |
"I really can't believe Baron Vosanos would try to kill my daughter." #59 | | |
"I don't know if he's directly responsible. More likely he just asked his Steward Magranos to deal with the problem. Magranos is capable of arranging a murder. He tried to arrange mine. If your son marries into that family, I don't think your daughter will ever be safe." #60 | | |
Baroness Demelzos calls for her servants and asks them if her husband has left the house yet. Part of his role in the wedding is to escort his son to the church. They tell her he's almost on the point of setting off. #61 | | |
"Wait here," the Baroness says, then hurries off. Makri and I are left alone in the reception room. I pour myself a glass of wine. #62 | | |
"What now?" says Makri. #63 | | |
"Either the Baron believes me and cancels the wedding, or he decides I'm a liar and throws me out. Either way, I've done all I can." #64 | | |
Makri reaches for the decanter, and winces with pain. She can still feel the effects of the fight, even if she's pretending she can't. We sip wine from silver goblets, waiting for the Baroness to return. After almost an hour, we're still waiting. #65 | | |
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"Doesn't look like it." I rise from my chair. "Let's go home." #67 | | |
I ask a servant outside to tell Baroness Demelzos that we've departed. The house is still bustling with activity, but I can sense apprehension among the scurrying servants and tradesmen. They know something's wrong. Makri takes the reigns as we drive home. We pass a squadron of heavily armed troops who've just arrive in Elath. From Hadassa in the South, I think, judging by their armour. Many more troops should be arriving soon. #68 | | |
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"Did someone just shoutenormous human?" asks Makri. #70 | | |
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"They must be referring to you." Makri halts the carriage and we look around. Running towards us with a great grin on her face is a slender young Elf with spiky yellow hair and a broad grin. I recognise her. It's Sendroo, from the Elvish Isle of Avula. #72 | | |
"Hello Thraxas! Hello Makri!" #73 | | |
"Droo? What are you doing here?" #74 | | |
"I sailed up with the advance party. I'm a messenger in the Elvish Reconnoissance Regiment!" #75 | | |
"You are?" Last time I saw Droo, who's around eighteen I think, she was a poet, and quite an intoxicated one at that. I wasn't expecting her to pop up in Samsarina, dressed in the dull-green tunic and leggings of an Elvish Scout. You meet all sorts of unexpected people in wartime. #76 | | |
"Yes! Isn't it fun? What are you doing here?" #77 | | |
"We're refugees from Turai," I tell her. #78 | | |
"But we're going back," says Makri. #79 | | |
"It's so good to see you again! I can't really talk now, my platoon is marching up to see the King. Tell me where you live and I'll come and visit!" #80 | | |
Makri smiles at Droo. "It will be good to see you." #81 | | |
We give Droo our address. She runs off up the street after her platoon, still grinning. She's carrying a bow on her back, and a sheaf full of arrows. I shake my head. I'm not sure that having Droo in the Elvish advance party fills me with confidence. At least it means the Elvish troops are on their way. #82 | | |
When we arrive back at Arichdamis's house, Lisutaris is stepping out of an unfamiliar carriage. As soon as she sees us she scowls and yells at us. "What's the idea of stealing my carriage?" #83 | | |
"We needed it," I say. "I had to see Baroness Demelzos in a hurry." #84 | | |
"Does this have anything to do with the wedding being cancelled?" #85 | | |
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"Yes. I and about four hundred of the Samsarinan aristocracy were left waiting in church like a bunch of idiots, till Baron Mabados finally arrived and announced the wedding couldn't go ahead due to family illness. A very sudden attack, apparently. I presume that's not the real reason?" #87 | | |
"No. I'll tell you about it inside." #88 | | |
A little later, while relating the string of brilliant deductions and unrelenting hard work that led to me solving the case, I can't help noticing that Lisutaris seems distracted. I ask her what's the matter. #89 | | |
"Kublinos. He's arriving soon to take me to dinner. I don't want to go." #90 | | |
"You're not relying on him for money any more," I point out. I take out Lisutaris's magic purse, ignore her protests about me borrowing it without asking, and pour 31,500 gurans onto the table. It's a hefty pile of cash, even though some of it is made up of 1,000 guran gold bars. #91 | | |
"We actually ended up with 34,582," I tell them. "But I paid back the Baroness the three hundred she staked us. I offered her a bigger cut, but she wouldn't take it. I'm giving Arichdamis 282 gurans to make up for the damage to his cellars. And I gave 2,500 gurans to the local Saint Quatinius's hospital for the poor. When we were on that boat, I did promise I'd donate something if we made it back to shore." #92 | | |
I'm expecting some complaints about this, particularly from the heathen Makri, but none are forthcoming. Makri and Lisutaris seem content that I've made the donation. We have had a lot of luck recently; perhaps some saint has been looking after us. #93 | | |
"So that gives us 10,500 gurans each. No need to thank me for my brilliant betting campaign. Though it does strike me you won't be collecting your winnings from Lasat, which is unfortunate." #94 | | |
"That's the only unfortunate thing about his death," says Lisutaris. "Anyway, thanks for the brilliant betting campaign. It's good to have money and not be relying on Kublinos. But I can hardly just tell him to go away, can I? Not after he's been so generous." #95 | | |
"Of course you can," says Makri. "Just tell him you're not interested." #96 | | |
"That's easy for you to say," says Lisutaris. "I don't see you telling General Hemistos to go away, even though you want to." #97 | | |
"I'm not very good at these things. Is he coming here with Kublinos?" #98 | | |
Lisutaris nods. Makri looks worried. "Thraxas, could you tell Kublinos and Hemistos we're not really interested?" #99 | | |
"Absolutely no chance," I say. "If you can't deal with unwanted attention that's your problem. And if Kublinos and Hemistos are headed here, I'm off to the Jolly Bandit for a civilised drop of ale." #100 | | |
