The Spirit Siphon (Magebreakers Book 4)

by Ben S. Dobson

  After returning to the embassy, he and the others had gathered in their suite of rooms to compare notes. Ambassador Althir had retired to her own chambers, leaving the four of them alone together for the first time that night.

  The suite was far more elegant than any place Tane had ever called home—a well-appointed common room where they currently sat, as well as three large bedrooms, each with its own balcony looking out over the city. The rooms were lit by mage-lamps, although other magical conveniences were lacking. He supposed the Belgrian authorities wouldn’t be comfortable with Audlanders having anything so dangerous as an artifact stove to heat food. For that matter, the embassy wasn’t even permitted to have wards or other magical defenses—conventional physical security had to suffice.

  Tinga was sitting upside-down in her chair across from the couch, her head hanging down over the edge of the seat and her legs hooked over the back, kicking absently in the air. “So it was boring?” she asked. “What a shame. Should have stayed here. Me and the embassy staff had a grand old time.”

  “I can live with boring if it’s useful,” Indree said, ignoring the sarcasm. “But I didn’t get much information either. A few people had some gossip about Duke Detehr—apparently not everyone approved of his influence over the Kaiser. Nothing of substance, though. No one was much interested in speaking to me at length. They’re not very forthcoming with non-humans. I don’t know how Ambassador Althir gets anything done.”

  “Is easy, when you look in right place.” Kadka was grinning like she knew something they didn’t—which probably meant she’d done something clever. She leaned forward in her chair and reached behind her back to pull something from her waistband. A pair of envelopes. She placed them down on the tea table between her armchair and the couch.

  “What are those?” Tane leaned over the table and picked up the top envelope. Assuming they addressed letters the same way here as in Audland, it was from Kaiser Gerrolt to Duke Detehr. “How long have you had these? Why didn’t you say something?”

  “Thought it is better if Althir doesn’t know,” Kadka said. “Is not diplomatic to steal from palace.”

  Indree frowned. “You stole them? Where were they? Is anyone going to notice they’re missing?”

  “Detehr has rooms in palace,” Kadka said. “Found them in desk. Things are all left there since he dies, not cleaned. No one knows letters are there unless they already dig through drawers.”

  “Let’s hope no one has, then,” said Indree. “Or that they don’t check again any time soon, if they already have. I can’t imagine Gerrolt would approve of us stealing his dead friend’s correspondence. But if we’re lucky, they could be a lead. What do they say?”

  “Don’t know,” Kadka said with a shrug. “In Belgrian.”

  Tane took the letter from the envelope and unfolded it. It was unintelligible, except for the names. “We might need Althir after all.”

  “Might not,” said Kadka, and looked to Tinga. “How good do you read Belgrian?”

  Tinga flipped herself upright in her chair and reached across to take the letter from Tane. “Probably better than I speak it,” she said. “I lose the words sometimes when I have to come up with them myself. It’s easier when I can see them.” Her eyes moved over the words, mouthing the occasional one as she worked through it.

  “Well?” Tane tapped the table to get her attention. “Don’t keep us in suspense.”

  “He’s writing back, replying to a letter Detehr sent,” Tinga said. “It looks like Detehr was trying to convince Kaiser Gerrolt not to go along on the Gerthine’s test flight.” She put on a fake voice, as deep and imperious as her naturally high goblin vocal cords were capable of. “Your concern moves me, my friend, but I must show confidence in the project. We can’t allow other nations to…” A frown as she puzzled something out. “Rise… to air? I guess that’s like ‘take to the skies’. To take to the skies without Belgrier doing the same. Then he talks a lot about the potential of the airships for a while. He’s excited about it, talks about faster travel, more secure borders.” She moved down the page a bit. “And then here: I look forward to your visit. You have been away from Stehlin too long. When you see the progress we have made, you will understand. Then it’s just fond regards and so on.”

  “It sounds like they really were as close as people say,” said Tane. “Maybe Detehr just went up on the Gerthine to keep Gerrolt from taking the risk.”

  “Kaiser’s cousin tells me same when I talk to him,” Kadka offered. “Klenn. He is one I find about rooms from.”

  “Maybe, but they weren’t there yet in that letter,” Indree said thoughtfully. “It sounds like Gerrolt was still planning to go. And depending on Endo’s goal, it could have been very effective to have the Kaiser go down with the ship. He has no sons, and succession squabbles would certainly cause problems for the country. If we can verify that someone took steps to put Detehr on board instead, it might suggest that providing Gerrolt with a grievance against Audland was considered more valuable than destabilizing Belgrier with his death. I’d like to know exactly who changed his mind about the test flight, and how. Tinga, can you read us the other one?”

  Tinga nodded eagerly, clearly pleased to be involved in the investigation. She took the next envelope and opened it. After a moment, her eyes widened slightly. “It’s from Henred Klenn. The same man Kadka spoke to?” She looked up, curious, and it occurred to Tane that she hadn’t met most of the people they were talking about.

  “That’s right. He’s on the Kaiser’s council, the main liason to their airship project.” He gestured for her to read on.

  “They’re talking about the same thing,” said Tinga. “The risk of the flight. But this one is dated before the other letter. The Gerthine has only been tested over short distances, never for an extended flight. But despite the council’s advice, Gerrolt remains convinced that he must go aboard, to show good faith. He’s always listened to you. I hope if he sees you in person, he’ll see reason. Please, come talk to him. That’s the important bit.”

  “So it was Klenn who asked him to come,” Tane said. “Could he have known that Gerrolt would ask Detehr to take his place?”

  Kadka frowned. “Says nothing about this when we talk, but he does know Detehr from when they are boys. Maybe guesses what he will do.”

  “So you spoke to him at length?” Tane asked. “What else did he say? Anything useful?”

  “He is friendly,” Kadka said. “Very interested in asking me questions, but not about investigation. About Sverna. Talks better about magic than most here.”

  “That might make him sympathetic to Endo’s cause,” Indree suggested.

  “Right,” said Tane. “He could have been trying to win your trust, get information.”

  Kadka nodded slowly. “Maybe. He stares at me when we first come to court. Maybe is worried about investigation?”

  “It’s thin, but it’s worth looking into,” Tane said. “Tomorrow we should check if there’s any record of him visiting the crash site.”

  “I’ll take care of that,” Indree said. “Berken won’t let me out of her sight anyway, and I need to follow up with Stennig, see if they’ve gotten anything from him. I’ll ask her to let me check the Guard’s records. And try to convince her something’s not right with Stennig’s story, while I’m at it.”

  “Just don’t push her too much,” Tane warned. “I don’t like the way they look at you here. The Guard would love an excuse to take down an Audish mage.”

  Indree gave his knee an affectionate squeeze. “I’ll be careful. But she didn’t arrest me for using magic at Stennig’s house. I think she might listen.”

  “Then me and Kadka should head to the workhouse that constructed the airship,” said Tane. “If the sabotage was done in advance, it probably happened there.”

  Tinga started to interject. “What about—”

  “Yes, Tinga, you can come,” Tane interrupted. “Like I said before, I’d rather keep my eyes on you
when I can.”

  “We should keep in touch,” said Indree. “If I find anything, I’ll let you know with a sending. I can get that past Berken. And if you need me—I assume you snuck your sending locket past the security when we arrived?”

  Tane rubbed the back of his neck, and then dug the necklace out of his trouser pocket. “Well… It didn’t seem like it would cause too much trouble.” He wasn’t going to risk being caught in Belgrier with an illegal weapon, but he’d figured a piece of jewelry was less likely to get him thrown in jail.

  Kadka laughed. “Knows you too well, Carver.”

  Indree grinned at her. “And yet I keep him around for some reason.”

  “That’s why I like to have this thing with me,” said Tane, stashing the locket away again. “It’s good to have a reminder that you actually kind of like me.” She’d given it to him so he could call her when he needed help. It contained a lock of her hair as a divination focus, and if he squeezed the pendant, she would instantly receive a magical signal to open a sending between them.

  Before Indree could respond, a knock sounded at the door. The four of them exchanged looks—it was late for anyone to come visiting.

  “What is it?” Indree called out.

  A voice from the other side. “You have a visitor. Baron Henred Klenn, of the Kaiser’s council. Shall I show him in?”

  “What is he doing here?” Tane asked in a low voice. The timing felt suspicious, given that they’d just been talking about the man. He looked to Kadka. “Did he give any warning that he’d visit?”

  Kadka shook her head. “No. We only talk about Sverna and Duke Detehr. You think he knows we suspect?”

  Tane spread his hands. “I can’t imagine what he’s doing here at this hour otherwise.”

  “We have to let him in,” Indree said. “If we wait too long, he’ll know something’s wrong. He’s not going to do anything to us in the middle of the embassy, even if he is involved. And if he does, we’re ready for it.”

  She was right, as usual.

  “Alright, but everyone just… be on your toes,” said Tane. “Tinga, get out of sight, just in case. We’ll say you went to sleep.”

  Tinga didn’t put up a fight this time, just nodded and scampered into her bedroom. Kadka slipped her hand behind her back, ready to pull a knife if she had to.

  Tane raised his voice and called out, “Yes, it’s fine. Bring him in.”

  A member of the embassy staff swung open the door and held it for Henred Klenn to walk through. He looked harmless enough, a middle-aged man with greying brown hair and a strange, anxious expression on his face. It wasn’t what Tane had been expecting.

  “Hello,” Klenn said in passable Audish, bypassing their earpieces entirely. His eyes landed on Kadka, and didn’t move on. “I am… sorry to intrude. I have a question for Kadka that I could not ask at dinner. I wonder if I might speak with her privately?”

  Kadka didn’t move, and kept her hand behind her back. “Can talk in front of my friends.”

  Klenn hesitated, but seemed to think the better of arguing. “Very well. I… I must know, was your mother named Nevka? Of Clan Nadivek?”

  Kadka’s brow creased. “Was, yes. How do you…” She trailed off, and her eyes widened. Her hand fell to her side, leaving her knife behind.

  And then Tane remembered a story she’d told him once, over late-night drinks in his office. A Belgrian noble… “Spellfire,” he whispered.

  Indree looked at him curiously. “What is it?”

  Before Tane could answer, Henred Klenn did.

  “I believe…” He choked off, swallowed, started again. “I believe you are my daughter.”

  _____

  “I believe you are my daughter.”

  “What?” Kadka couldn’t quite make sense of the words. She’d known they were coming from the moment she’d heard her mother’s name, but it didn’t seem possible. Everyone was looking at her, but she could only stare at this man she’d always told herself she didn’t need to know. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

  Klenn opened and closed his mouth a few times, clearly searching for words. “I… I wanted to find you, but I didn’t know how to look. When I heard stories about a half-orc Magebreaker I wondered, but before then… They don’t just let outsiders come and go from Sverna, and I knew that’s where your mother took you.”

  Kadka shook her head sharply. “No. You don’t blame her.”

  Klenn put up his hands. “That isn’t what I… I would never blame her. I loved her, back then. We were young, and… and she was fearless. She didn’t care what anyone would think, and I thought I didn’t either. I never wanted—”

  “Enough!” Kadka barked, surprised by the loudness of her voice. “Is enough. Doesn’t matter what you want. You let us go.”

  He hung his head. “I know. I should have said something, done something, but… When they learned Nevka was pregnant, my family considered it an embarrassment that had to be dealt with, and I… I lacked the courage to stand up to my father. I have thought about that moment so often over the years. How I might have stopped it. I have tried to stand for people like her, since then. As much as I can, without losing everything. It is… a hard position to take, in Belgrier.”

  “Is hard for you?” What he’d done was bad enough, but to hear excuses from a man with so much power and influence… Kadka’s hands trembled, her nails digging into her skin. “Hard to watch from manor house when my mother is thrown out of country, alone and pregnant? When families are broken? When people are thrown in workhouses? Poor man.”

  Klenn flinched at the scorn, couldn’t meet her gaze. “You have every right to be angry. I can’t make up for any of it. I understand that. But please, I… I need to ask. Your mother. Is she… what became of her? I’ve spent so long not knowing.”

  “She is dead,” Kadka said flatly. Nothing more. He didn’t deserve to know about their lives. Didn’t deserve to know about the long illness. Or that when the end had drawn near, Kadka had begged—for the only time in her life—to know who her father was beyond just some Belgrian nobleman. Her mother had been too far gone by then; she’d died without ever saying his name.

  Klenn seemed to shrink at that, and the sorrow in his eyes looked very real. “I am so sorry, Kadka. If… if I had known…”

  “What?” she growled, baring her teeth. “You would find me? Care for me? Is too late. Don’t need you before, don’t need you now. You are no father to me.”

  Klenn stared at her for a long moment, and when he finally spoke, it was with the voice of a defeated man. “I shouldn’t have bothered you. I’m sorry. I’ll go.” He raised his eyes to meet hers once more. “But… if you need anything while you are here, you only have to ask. I will help in whatever way I can.”

  Kadka didn’t answer, just stared him down, her whole body shaking.

  Klenn nodded slowly, turned, and walked out of the room.

  As soon as the door closed, Carver was at her side, his hand clasping her shoulder. “Kadka, are you alright?”

  No one else had spoken for so long, she’d almost forgotten they were there. “Is fine,” she said. She was still trembling, which made it less convincing. A deep breath, and then she repeated, “Fine.”

  Tinga sidled out of hiding from behind her bedroom door, eyes wide. “Was all that true?” she asked. “Are you sure you don’t want to go after him? I’d be chasing him down to get some answers.”

  Kadka shook her head, and forced her fists open. Her nails had dug deep crescents into her palms. “No. Need nothing from him.” She realized she was still staring at the door Klenn had left through; she looked away and forced a grin. “Is nothing.” It mattered very much to her that meeting her father didn’t matter to her, the way she’d always told herself it didn’t. And if she couldn’t make that true just then, she could at least pretend. She turned to Carver. “So, tomorrow we go to workhouse?”

  Carver shared a look with Indree, and rubbed the back of his neck
awkwardly. “Well… the thing is, this doesn’t clear Klenn as a suspect. Maybe even makes him more likely to work with Endo, if he resents Belgrian customs for taking your mother from him. We still need to know if he was involved.”

  “Is nothing to me if he is,” Kadka said with deliberate nonchalance. “Should follow any clues we have. Told you, is fine. Will not hurt my feelings.”

  Carver shook his head. “No, it’s not that.”

  She knew what it was. She wanted to beg him not to go further; wanted to knock his teeth loose for even thinking it. Instead, she just waited, trying not to show any sign that she cared.

  “I have to ask you to do something,” he said. “And you’re not going to like it.”

  Chapter Eleven

  _____

  TANE WOKE TO a noise he wasn’t sure if he’d heard or dreamt.

  He thought he’d heard someone speaking, but Indree was fast asleep beside him. She’d rolled herself up in the covers to the point that Tane’s left side was exposed to the cool night air. As usual. With a smile, he laid his head back down on his pillow, and closed his eyes.

  The noise came again. Very faint and distant, barely anything. It might have just been the wind outside. But it sounded like a voice.

  He sat up once more, looked to either side, and then reluctantly leaned over the edge of the bed to peek underneath. No one. The room was empty save for him and Indree.

  “Tane.” Slightly more audible now. Unmistakably his name. He became aware of a slight pressure in his ears. A sending?

  A light tapping on glass drew his attention, from the windowed double doors leading to the balcony. He turned to look.

  There. A silver-blue light in the gap between curtains, low to the floor. It narrowed slightly, like an eye focusing on his face. He knew what it was instantly.