Strovi, mystified by this rush of names and dates and numbers, looked to me for help.
I sighed and asked, “Ma’am…What’s the significance of all this?”
“The significance, Din, is the size of the order,” she said. “Kestip sold this now-missing Suberek a lot of fernpaper, and at a high price. Almost as if Suberek had gotten a very, very big order of his own, larger than his own inventory, that he was in a hurry to fill.” She turned to me, grinning. “And then there is the date. For this transaction took place seven days before the breach.”
Comprehension wriggled into my skull. “The day after we think the ten Engineers were poisoned…” I said.
“Yes. Suberek was apparently given a very big, frantic fernpaper order from some mysterious person just after the Engineers were poisoned. So big was this order, in fact, that he had to buy some panels off of his neighbor to fulfill it! It’s rather like how the groundskeeper hurried to replace the fernpaper door just after Commander Blas was poisoned—but far, far larger. And yet now, why…Suberek doesn’t answer the door, even when the Legion comes knocking.”
Strovi sat forward, looking alarmed.
“You think this Suberek might be in danger, ma’am?” I asked.
“I would at least like to discover his whereabouts,” she said. “And I would like to find out where this order was sent to. For that site is likely either where this Jolgalgan brought her poison, or where the poisoning itself happened.” Her blindfolded face turned to Strovi. “It’s late afternoon now. We’ve burned up almost all the day just digging through papers. I shall notify the rest of the investigation team of what we’ve found—but the curfew extends to everyone in the city except Legion personnel, correct?”
“That’s correct, ma’am,” he said.
“Then I would like to see if you could escort young Din here to this Suberek’s fernpaper mill to check in on him. And bring the Engineers’ reagents key as well, Din—just in case you find out where that order went.” She raised a finger. “But before you go, Din—a word?”
* * *
—
I WAITED FOR the door to shut before asking, “How went today, ma’am?”
“Inconclusive,” she sighed. “Miljin found the corpse, and the money, and the wall pass. He was outraged and shocked. He then brought it to Uhad, who was similarly outraged and shocked. Uhad showed it to Kalista, who was also very outraged and shocked. Then Miljin departed to bring Nusis in—I suspect you passed him as he left—and I expect she, too, will be appropriately outraged and shocked. I have done a lot of insipid pretending today, Din, but I have not yet detected a false note from any of our colleagues. All have reacted as they should.”
“Then do you trust them now?”
“Oh, no. I continue to feel something is amiss here. I just don’t know what it is. Yet still—tonight, stay sharp. We must establish the death scene, and there is most certainly someone out there who wishes you not do that. Strovi seems a solid sort, but…keep your hand close to your sword.”
I paused. “My sword is, ah…still made of wood, ma’am.”
She frowned and cocked her head. “Oh. Well…in that case, make sure your boots are laced up proper, boy, so you can run like hell.”
CHAPTER 20
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STROVI AND I EXITED the tower just as the curfew bells stopped ringing. The streets of the city were now silent and empty, the buildings half lit by a moon shrouded in clouds. There were no lanterns or lights to be seen, except for the one swinging from Strovi’s hand and those carried by the patrolling Legionnaires.
If I’d not had Strovi striding along with me I’d have been locked up within twenty paces: each time a Legionnaire spotted us, they’d hurriedly advance, then pause at the sight of the captain, bow, salute, and let us proceed. Strovi would often shout a word of encouragement to them, or clap them on the back and bid them farewell. In the dark of that night, he seemed far older and more at ease than I. I had to remind myself we were almost the same age.
“Deserters,” he said to me at one corner, almost apologetically.
“Beg pardon, sir?” I said.
“That’s why there’s so many patrols. Streets aren’t often safe at night. Too many mutineers and deserters trickling back from the walls, trying to make it out of the canton. Captain Miljin might have acted a bit mad with you yesterday, flashing his sword about, but he wasn’t wrong when he mentioned that. They hide in houses in the day and move by night.”