“But…why would the Hazas risk so much over a reagents key, ma’am? And why would someone bother stealing it first?”
“Well, that assumes that the key you originally found actually was a reagents key,” she said. “And I’m now convinced that it wasn’t! I think it was something else entirely…Nusis herself was even puzzled by it. We asked her to identify what kind of key it was, and none of her tests could tell her—because it wasn’t a key at all, you see.”
“Then what was it?”
“The missing third you overheard Fayazi Haza discussing!” said Ana. “Something terribly important. The heart of all the sin that hangs over this canton, and perhaps the whole of the Empire. Now—get me to Vashta, quickly. For I know what we must do.”
“And what’s that?”
“Tell her that someone is going to try to kill Fayazi Haza,” said Ana simply.
* * *
—
“A…A THREAT AGAINST Fayazi Haza’s life?” said Vashta, horrified. “Again? Truly?”
“I’m afraid it is, ma’am,” said Ana. “There is a third assassin, and they struck again tonight. I am convinced that they mean her ill.”
Vashta paced the Iudex tower atrium, her face stricken, her black Legion’s uniform tinkling softly as all her heralds clinked against one another. “And…and this is who killed poor Nusis?”
“I am still unsure of that, ma’am,” said Ana. “But I think I can identify them. To do so, I will need to confer with Madam Haza, along with her engraver—for he has likely engraved many memories that may be useful to us in our search. Can we summon them here, to the Iudex tower, first thing tomorrow? The faster we move, the likelier we can ensure her safety.”
“I…I can, certainly,” said Vashta. “But, Dolabra, this is ill-timed…The leviathan approaches. The canton will likely devolve to chaos as it nears.”
“And that would be the best time for an assassin to strike. We must resolve this quickly. And, if she does agree to come, I would recommend giving Madam Haza the utmost protection. Any Legionnaire you can spare must be present, ma’am, along with Captain Miljin.”
“Of course. Yet is there no more you can tell me? I mean, who is this killer? And what is the nature of this threat against Fayazi Haza?”
“I cannot offer you anything of great certainty, ma’am. But I believe her engraver’s testimony can illuminate that. Now, with your leave, ma’am, Din and I must prepare for our interview tomorrow.”
She nodded. “Certainly. Certainly…”
I led Ana up the stairs, the whole of the tower creaking about us in the night wind.
“Just wish to comment, ma’am,” I said, “that, ah, I’ve no idea at all what’s going on anymore.”
“We build a trap, Din,” said Ana. “Vashta herself said that the only thing that would make Fayazi jump now would be if we said there was another threat to her life.” She grinned. “And that is what I just told her.”
“You lied to her, ma’am?”
“Oh, I did,” said Ana. “But not about that. There is a threat to Fayazi’s life—yet not the sort anyone expects.”
“Then…what did you lie to her about?”
“Well, for starters, I know who the third poisoner is, Din. And I now know how those ten Engineers died. And I also know what that reagents key truly was—and where it is now. I do feel a bit bad for lying to Vashta about all that, but…well, there is so much corruption in this canton that I worry an errant word from her could ruin my plot.”
We came to her door. I opened my mouth to say more, but she raised a finger.
“No time to explain, Din,” she said. “I must prepare my rooms for tomorrow, for I worry that all this could very well go awry. But listen, boy…” She gripped my arm tight. “I am going through this door, and after that, you are to never open it again, understood? Not without my saying it’s safe. Is that clear?”
“I…I don’t understand, ma’am,” I said, now thoroughly bewildered. “Why?”
“Do you understand that you shouldn’t open this door unless I tell you, child?” she hissed. “Yes? Then do as I say! I’d tell you why, but I’m sure you’d just try and stop me, and that would imperil many lives.”
“I’m your engraver,” I said indignantly. “Shouldn’t I be told of your schemes?”