Song of Shadow

by Natalya Capello

“Enough. It has the whole city talking.” A sneer lit Freya’s lip as she looked down her nose at Lorelei. “The embarrassment we have to face.”

  “It’s not true.” Lorelei’s fists clenched. “There is something very wrong with the Order and we are trying to find out the truth.”

  “Even if any of that was true, where do you get off thinking it’s your place?” Freya gave a soft sniff. “This is what got you in trouble before.”

  “Isn’t it the place for any of us to right what is wrong?” Lorelei said. “We are supposed to look after the lesser faerie, and the Order we believe in is not only using them, but we sidhe as well.”

  A vein throbbed in Freya’s temple as a look of rage subsumed her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “You’re to return home and submit yourself to the Order authorities for questioning. They have agreed to give leniency if you turn over information on you companions, especially the sidhe female.”

  Lorelei’s stomach tightened and her fingers dug into her palms. Did her family really believe they were being magnanimous with this offer? At best, she would be forced to stay with her parents or shipped off to another priory. A heavy weight settled over her at the thought. Even if Vaana assassinated Verdain, Lorelei wasn’t going to turn her in to the Order, not before Vandermere returned with information on Vaana’s history. She certainly wasn’t going to betray him or Wes.

  “No,” Lorelei said. “I’m not coming back. I’ve gotten this far on my own.”

  Freya’s face twisted into a scowl. “Fine. You deserve everything you are going to get.”

  The mirror clouded over with a bluish mist. It faded, leaving only her reflection.

  She had to wonder when her sister had become so ugly.

  29

  The noise of music, laughter, and clinking glasses flowed around Vandermere as he sat at a small table in the corner of the tavern, nursing a sour ale. Wes had brought it to him and then sauntered off in search of the contact they were supposed to be meeting.

  Over the last two days, Wes had dragged him through several dingy, wooden ramshackles masquerading as ale houses in search of a lead. Wes seemed to have a lot of contacts, because he spent most nights talking to his contacts which ranged from tavern owners to merchants to craftsmen. All congregated for drinks at the end of the night. Despite these numerous contacts, they found nothing. Tonight, might be different though. Wes had said this could be their big chance to uncover any information on the Order, especially the church in Kirkwall.

  Vandermere hoped he was right. He’d given Lorelei a promise of a week, three with ship travel. If he didn’t return, she was coming after him and bringing that traitorous bitch with her.

  Vandermere gritted his teeth and his hand slid under his shirt to grip the medallion hanging underneath. Why had Fate tied him to Vaana after what she’d done? It’d always had a sense of irony, he supposed. Though, without Vaana, he would never have met Lorelei. A smile touched his lips; she’d been a salve to his madness.

  Wes’s head bobbed among the crowd as he made his way back to their table. A sidhe female with lemon yellow hair pulled back into a bun followed behind him.

  Vandermere raised an eyebrow. When Wes had mentioned a contact, he hadn’t expected a sidhe.

  “Vandermere, this is Lady Tanila ap Aoife.” Wes gestured towards her. “A good friend of mine recommended we speak.”

  “A pleasure.” Tanila sat in the chair across from Vandermere in one graceful sweep.

  A member from Vaana’s House. Vandermere gritted his teeth. Was this a plant? Surely, Wes was more cunning than that. His gaze met Wes’s, who widened his eyes, and tilted his head to Tanila.

  Vandermere cleared his throat. “Pardon me. It is a pleasure and a surprise. You were not what I was expecting. Tell me, how is it that we can help each other?”

  Wes sank into the last chair with his side turned to the back of the chair. He glanced around the crowd with narrowed eyes. Tanila swept her gaze across the room, then leaned forward, ducking her head closer to Vandermere as she threaded her fingers together.

  “I’m a reporter investigating a story concerning my House and the Order,” she said.

  “Oh?” Vandermere asked. “I didn’t know there was a connection between the two. To be honest, House Aoife is more concerned with gaining riches and secrets.”

  “We are interested in the lost histories of our people, for the most part. However, it is true of the Order as well. Usually, they are considered to be rivals in the search for artifacts, which makes this all the more interesting.”

  “What do you mean?” Vandermere asked.

  “A number of our girls have been joining the Order over the past decade, most notably, Lady Vaana ap Aoife.”

  Vandermere’s back straightened. “Why is Vaana important in this?”

  “Lady Vaana is the daughter of the previous head of our House, Lady Tiere. She was expected to succeed her mother when she became of age. However, she joined the Order.”

  “Who sits in the Quorum now for the House?” Vandermere asked.

  “Lady Kara, Vaana’s aunt.”

  Vandermere sat back and rubbed his cheek. “And Lady Kara was Vaana’s guardian after her parents’ death.”

  Tanila’s eyebrow raised. “You know more of this than you are letting on.”

  “I know a little,” Vandermere said with a smirk. “I’m from House Essus. We’re supposed to know things.”

  “All this is interesting, but what does it have to do with Kirkwall?” Wes asked. “Why are you here?”

  “Lady Vaana was sent here to Kirkwall at the beginning of her training. She was only transferred back to the Elphyne Empire a few years ago.” Tanila leaned back and stared off for several moments. “Vaana returned from here changed. She used to be more of a friendly, lively girl.”

  “She’s still lively,” Wes muttered. “Not so much on the friendly.”

  “You know her?”

  “We’ve met,” Wes said.

  “You believe that something happened to Vaana here?” Vandermere broke in. “But how do you know it wasn’t just the training that changed her?”

  “I can’t explain it,” Tanila said. “I just have hunches for these things. So, I did a little digging…”

  “And?” Vandermere asked.

  Tanila leaned farther forward and motioned for Wes and Vandermere to inch closer. When they did, she spoke in a low voice, barely above a whisper. “I found a secret lab in the church here.”

  “You have?” Vandermere said. “What’s inside?”

  Tanila sighed and leaned back again. “I didn’t get a chance to look around. A group of monks came and I had to leave before I got caught.”

  Vandermere’s shoulders slumped.

  Tanila pulled a small key from her pocket. “I still have a way in, if you’re interested in coming with me.”

  Vandermere smiled. “We’d love to accompany you. We have questions of our own.”

  Tanila closed her hand around the key. “And what are those questions? I’m curious to know what interest you have in the Order…and Vaana. You’ve met her, it seems.”

  Vandermere stared at her. The last time he’d trusted an Aoife, she’d been an assassin. Still, that had been due to the Order. Tanila seemed just as interested in digging up secrets as they were. Besides, he didn’t have to tell her everything.

  “Vaana has been traveling with us for the past several months,” Vandermere said.

  Tanila let out a soft coughing laugh. “You’re the heretics that led her astray? I expected more like him.” She nodded to Wes. “No offense.”

  Wes shrugged. “I guess I might fit a look.”

  “That’s what they are saying?” Vandermere scowled. “I suppose I shouldn’t have expected less.”

  “That’s not what happened?” Tanila asked.

  “No,” Vandermere said. “She was affected by several artifacts she found…The Order seems to believe that turned her into a heretic.”

&nb
sp; “Is she here in the city?” Tanila glanced around the tavern as if she expected Vaana to be sneaking up on her.

  “No,” Vandermere said. “That would be dangerous She is somewhere safe, with a friend.”

  And hopefully still locked away.

  “All right, so you’re here because…?” Tanila asked.

  “Because we believe that what the Order did to her is the reason she was affected by the artifacts. We’re here for close to the same reason as you.”

  “How was she affected?”

  “That’s our business,” Wes said. “We gave you why we are here. So, are we going to do this?”

  Tanila looked between them with narrowed eyes. “I’m not sure what I’m getting out of this.”

  “Two males having your back.” Wes crossed his arms. “Extra eyes and ears.”

  “Two males who could get me caught,” Tanila countered. “I mean, do either of you know anything about stealth?”

  Wes snorted. “Please, I’m a phooka. I can shapeshift into something small and stealthy. And he can see the future.”

  Tanila shook her head. “Still not enough. How about this? I take you with me, and you bring me to Vaana after we’re done.”

  Vandermere shared a glance with Wes. Could they trust this woman? “I thought you already knew Vaana.”

  “We met when we were younger, but it’s not like we were close or anything.” Tanila waved her hand. “I’m just looking for an interview on her perspective on this.”

  “If you do find a story, where do you expect to publish this?” Wes asked. “This is the Order we’re talking about. They have so much control that getting you’re truth out will be difficult.”

  Tanila smirked. “Darling, I’ll make a place.”

  “All right.” Vandermere raised his hand. “If you get us into this secret lab and we find information, we will take you to her.”

  “It’s a deal then.” A satisfied smile curled on Tanila’s lips.

  The door to the tavern swung open and two redcaps in bronze chainmail with tabards with the symbol of the Kirkwall guard stepped inside. Tanila stiffened and hunched her shoulders.

  She turned back to Vandermere and Wes. “Meet me at midnight tomorrow on Deveron Street across from the church.”

  She stood and pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. She moved between standing patrons along the edge of the tavern, skirting around the movement of the redcaps as they scanned the room.

  “We should probably wait here for a few more minutes so not to catch their attention. Ale?” Wes signaled to the barmaid for two drinks.

  Vandermere chuckled. “You just want to drink.”

  “After that, I could use one,” Wes said. “She was intense.”

  “No more than Lorelei…” Vandermere said. “Or Vaana…”

  “No, Vaana would take the award on that,” Wes said.

  The barmaid returned with two mugs filled with foaming ale. Wes took his and drained half of it. He set the mug down with a satisfied sigh and leaned back.

  Vandermere took his mug and sipped as he scanned over the crowd, keeping his eye on the two redcap guards. They’d taken a place at the bar and were laughing over their own drinks. Tanila had been particularly paranoid at them. What had she done to get that key?

  “Lorelei must be going crazy by now,” Wes said with a chuckle.

  Vandermere smiled at the thought of her pacing the tower. “Most likely. She’ll get her chance to see more action though. This is just one step.”

  “Do you think we can trust Tanila?” Wes asked.

  Vandermere closed his eyes, searching his feelings, his gift for any insight. Nothing came to him. He sighed.

  “I can’t say for certain, but she seems to be our only option if we want to learn more,” Vandermere said. “I only hope she doesn’t lead us into a trap.”

  The following night, Vandermere leaned against the wall of a shop in alley of Deveron Street. He peeked around the corner to peer up at the clocktower that rose above the gabled rooftops of the city. One minute until midnight. A chill ran up his spine. Tanila had avoided those guards in the tavern the night before, but what if she’d been caught by others? She clearly had been up to no good.

  He let out a long breath and glanced at Wes, who was cleaning underneath his nails with the point of his dagger.

  “How can you do that and not cut yourself?” Vandermere asked.

  “Care and precision,” Wes said. “Besides, we phooka are agile.”

  “Doesn’t that depend on what animal shape you take? I don’t see a bear being all that agile.”

  “You haven’t seen a bear fishing, then,” Wes said. “I prefer smaller animals anyway.”

  “Like rats?” Tanila’s voice rose from farther down the alley.

  Vandermere stood up straight as she stepped out of the dark shadows in the back.

  Wes pointed from the front where they stood to the back. “How did you…?”

  “I’ve been scouting this city for weeks. I’ve learned a few secrets.” Tanila sauntered towards them. “On time, early even. I like that. So, are we ready?”

  “When you are,” Vandermere said.

  “Let’s see what secrets this church holds then.” Tanila stepped out of the alley and strolled along the sidewalk with her hands in her pockets.

  Vandermere followed behind her. Wes strolled after them, whistling a low tune. Vandermere glanced over his shoulder every few steps but the street remained empty. At this time of night, most of the city had fallen asleep or had taken refuge in the many taverns.

  Tanila led them through the backstreets to the right side of the church. It loomed above them, three stories of white stone that appeared grayish-yellow because of the nearby streetlamps.

  Tanila stopped as a smaller stone building added onto the greater structure. Its windows were shuttered and dark.

  “This is the Agora,” she whispered. “The main building has no exit I could find aside from the front. However, there is a secret entrance through here. We need to hurry. The guard’s route passes this way in a few minutes.”

  Wes put his back to the wall and scanned behind them. Vandermere turned the opposite direction and watched for any coming lights as Tanila pulled out a key. She stepped up to the small wooden door on the side and unlocked it. The door swung open with a creak.

  She had to duck her head to slip inside. The door had been made with smaller folk in mind, most likely the hobs. Vandermere paused, then shrugged and stooped to follow after her. Wes grunted as he contorted himself to squeeze through.

  The lingering scent of roasted meat and grease greeted them in the darkened kitchen. Pots of various sizes hung from the low ceiling. Vandermere had to stay in his bent position as not to hit them. Wes closed the door, and Tanila lit a lantern.

  “Don’t worry,” she said with a smirk. “The next room is more our size. Just be quiet. The cook sleeps above, as does the guests who stay here.”

  They made their way around the small counters of the kitchen in an awkward crouching shuffle. The doorway into the next room was more fitting for their height. Vandermere stepped into the next room and stood straight with a sigh of relief. A dull ache lingered in the small of his back and probably would for some hours. If that was the worst pain he would have to endure here, it would be worth it to learn more about Vaana’s ability.

  Tanila moved past the long wooden table and six chairs in the room to a door on the other side. She unlocked it and swung the door open.

  Wes raised an eyebrow.

  “Skeleton key,” Tanila said. “I pulled some favors to have it specially made.”

  The next room held two rows of shelves filled with books and scrolls. A large desk sat in the middle of the room with a thick tome on top. Tanila stalked past to the shelf in the back and fiddled with something on the wall beside it. There was a click and the shelf and wall swung towards them with a soft scrape of wood.

  Tanila waved her hand at the dark hole. “May I pr
esent the entrance into the Church of Passionate Embers.”

  Vandermere crept forward into a small stone stairwell with brass reinforced steps leading up and around. The scent of incense clung to walls. Wes entered, hands in his pockets. Tanila pulled the wall closed behind them.

  “Where is this secret lab?” Vandermere whispered.

  “It’s in the catacombs, but we’re going to need to travel up to the second floor to get to the stairwell with the entrance to it.” Tanila nodded to Wes. “Here’s where we could use that ability you were boasting about. Want to check that the hall upstairs is clear?”

  Wes gave her a mock salute and turned his back on both of them. His form seemed to collapse in on itself as fur sprang out all over his body. He grew smaller and smaller, his clothes engulfing him and fluttering to the floor. A small lump shifted from his shirt and a small orange cat shimmied out of the neck hole. It stared up at them, its green eyes reflecting in Tanila’s lantern light, and gave a soft mrow.

  “Well, go on.” Tanila waved her hand up the stairs.

  The cat raced up the stairs with a grumbling trill and disappeared in the dark. Tanila leaned against the corner of the stairwell with her hand resting near the secret opening. She was ready in case they had to hide from any late-night corridor walkers.

  Vandermere reached for the medallion around his neck and his fingers brushed against the emerald.

  All this for a female that had murdered one of his own House. Verdain had been a legend. Vandermere’s uncle had told him about Verdain when he had been a boy. Verdain had been one of the most powerful mages to graduate from the Aimsir. He’d excelled in three different schools of magic. He had been a pride of House Essus, who had to deal with the ridicule of other Houses for their curse.

  And he’d been slain by a girl.

  A girl who has most likely been tricked and used by everyone she’s looked up to.

  Vandermere started at Verdain’s voice in his head. He hadn’t known he could do that.

  You’re touching the emerald. Therefore, I can communicate with you. Verdain’s voice held a hint of amusement. As for the girl, give her some leniency. It seems she’s had a hard life.