As always, I appreciated his unwavering support, but doubt lingered in the back of my mind. Would he feel this way if not for the blood bond?
Riffat’s gaze flicked to me. “You are…together?”
“What gave it away?” Callan asked. “The adoration in her eyes every time she looks at me? Or the way she can’t keep her hands off me?”
I smacked his hand away and made a show of rolling my eyes.
“This is a typical arrangement in your realm?” Riffat asked.
“There’s nothing typical about us,” Callan replied.
“No one arranged it,” I added. “We met earlier this year under less-than-ideal circumstances.”
“We made lemon drops out of lemons,” Callan said with a broad grin. “You should try it sometime, Riffat. You might loosen up a little.”
The guard ignored him. “We should make a start,” Riffat said. “While light remains.”
I was on board with that suggestion. There was no time to waste. We left the castle with Riffat and a servant greeted us at the stables, leading a mule by a rope. The mule was laden with a large pack and three bedrolls.
“A thousand thanks, Latmer,” Riffat said.
The servant scuttled off without a word. Riffat pointed to a black stallion in the corner stall. “That one is yours, witch.”
“You can call me Cerys,” I said.
“I prefer not to,” Riffat replied.
I studied the horse. “A boost, Callan?”
The werewolf kept a careful distance. “You’re better off asking Smiley McHappy over here. You don’t want me to spook him when you’re trying to get on.”
Riffat came over and wordlessly assisted me.
“I’m petite,” I said, although the guard had made no comment.
Riffat secured her stallion to the mule and we set out. Callan waited until we passed through the royal gateway to shift. He maintained a reasonable distance from us, allowing Riffat to take the lead.
“Do you mind having to sleep outside this week?” I asked.
The guard’s gaze remained firmly fixed on the path ahead. “I mind nothing His Majesty requests of me. It is my duty.”
“Why didn’t you go with his regular guards to wherever they went?” I asked.
The muscle in her cheek pulsed. “My presence was required at the castle.”
“But not now,” I said. “Now you’re with us.”
“Because there was no one else as competent and trustworthy,” Riffat said.
“What’s it like being a female guard?” I asked. “Is that typical here?”
Riffat tugged the mule closer to us before he strayed too far from the path. “Not exactly.”
“Good for you then,” I said. “It’s important to push the boundaries of what’s acceptable.”
“Like you and the wolf?” she replied.
“That doesn’t push boundaries where I’m from,” I said. “Not anymore.”
We rode in silence the rest of the way until we reached the campsite. Riffat had clearly been here before. She prepared the site with little fanfare and, once darkness set in, created a crackling fire by blowing on the palm of her hand.
“You’d like my friend Dani,” I said. “She’s a fire witch.”
“But not you?” Riffat asked.
“Not without my wand,” I said. That much was true. No need to elaborate on my other abilities.
Callan had shifted back to human form and spread out the bedrolls. “I suppose we travel at first light.”
“We have much distance to cover, so yes, that would be best,” Riffat replied.
“I didn’t realize the colony was so big,” I said.
“The djinn realm is quite large,” Riffat said. She took a seat on a nearby log. “The Shaitan colony is not the largest, but it is heavily populated.”
“Which is the largest?” I asked.
“Geographically, it is the adjacent Ghul colony, though much of it is a wasteland.”
“Sounds like a good time,” Callan said. “We should take a tour.”
Riffat’s expression darkened. “You do not wish to encounter Ghuls, not if you value your lives. There have been reports…” She trailed off. “Colony matters are of no concern to outsiders.”
“Fine, but you brought it up.” I nestled into my bedroll and tried to pretend that I was back in my room with Haggis curled up beside me. At least the weather was pleasant. Small mercies.
“So why are the king’s regular guards somewhere else?” I asked. “If this is a time of peace between the Colonies, where’d they go?”
Riffat averted her gaze. “They are searching for someone.”
“That’s vague,” I said. “Does it have anything to do with the queen?”
The light from the flames illuminated Riffat’s deep frown. “Why do you ask this?”
“Because the queen seemed anxious about whatever it is,” I said.
“Maybe it’s connected to this Lumin guy,” Callan said. He stretched on top of his bedroom, not bothering to slide inside. “I think you should tell us what’s going on.”
Riffat shook her head. “No, Lumin has nothing to do with the prince.”
“The prince?” I shot back. “What happened to the prince?”
Riffat hesitated. “That is confidential.”
Callan’s dark eyes glinted in the dim light. “I suggest you tell us what happened to the prince, Riffat, before something unfortunate happens out here. If there’s any chance it’s connected to Lumin and can exonerate Cerys…”
“I suppose there is no harm in telling you. It is not a well-kept secret. Prince Wuhaib fled the colony and the royal family has been distraught ever since. The king used locator magic and dispatched his top guards to find him, but there has been no progress.”
“Why did he flee?” I asked.
“A bride was recently chosen for him,” Riffat said. “He was apparently unhappy with the arrangement. He and the king quarreled many times over it. One day the prince went hunting and did not return. His companions said he vanished. He even left behind his beloved stallion and faithful hound, such was his desperation to avoid his fate.”
“And let me guess,” I said. “The queen was sympathetic to her son’s plight.”
Riffat’s brow lifted but she said nothing.
“What makes you say that?” Callan asked me.
“Queen Enova is the reason I get a week to prove my innocence,” I said. “There’s a story there. I know it.”
Riffat emptied the dirt from her riding boots and put them back on. I hadn’t noticed that she’d changed her curly-toed shoes until now. “Queen Enova was chosen as a match for the king even before she came of age. She was sent by her parents to live in the castle and become acquainted with the king.”
“How old?” I asked.
“Nine,” Riffat replied. “The king was always kind to her and she grew to be happy here. I daresay there is no better match in the realm.”
I stared at the barely visible ground, focusing on the thin cracks in the earth that reminded me of veins. “But she never fully recovered from being taken to the castle against her will, did she?”
Riffat scanned our surroundings for what seemed like the hundredth time since we made camp. “No, I do not suppose she did.”
“Which is why she defended her son,” Callan added. “She understood how he felt.”
“And me,” I said.
“It is a difficult subject between them,” Riffat admitted. “I believe the queen does not wish her husband to think that she does not love him, yet she still wishes their marriage had come about in another way.”
“And now the prince is gone,” I said. “Does anyone know where he went?”
Riffat gave a sad shake of her head. “The guards have been searching for weeks, but there is no trace.”
“Was he involved with someone?” Callan asked. “Another woman? Someone from another caste that he’s now staying with?”
Riffat sucke
d in a breath. “That is highly doubtful. Those that marry outside of their own caste are shunned.”
“It seems he’s made that choice for himself,” I said. “Is that why you were interested in our relationship?” I gestured to Callan. “Because we’re different species?”
Riffat seemed mildly embarrassed. “A witch and a werewolf is most unusual when we do not even support relationships between different castes of djinn.”
“It’s probably because your realm is closed off from others,” Callan said. “The more isolated you are, the more reasons you find to separate yourselves from each other.”
“Perhaps.” Riffat repacked the rest of her gear. “It is not for me to speculate.”
“Why not?” I asked. “You’re a woman with a brain.”
Riffat met my gaze. “I am the guard of King G’lur. His expectation is the only one I must meet.”
I didn’t press the issue. “Will you sleep?”
“When I do, you will know nothing of it,” she replied.
“If you need me to take the second shift, I can do it,” Callan offered.
“No, should you escape under my care, the price will be my head,” Riffat said.
“If we intended to escape, Riffat, you’d be unconscious and we’d be long gone by now,” Callan said.
The guard’s jaw tensed. “Do not make idle threats, wolf.”
“It’s not a threat,” he said. “Just a fact. Cerys made an agreement with your king and she’s sticking to it because that’s the kind of witch she is. Me? I’d have been a little more hostile to the idea.”
“Duly noted,” Riffat ground out.
“Sleep well, lemon drop,” Callan said. He reached for me and gave my hand a squeeze. “None of those nightmares tonight. You need rest.”
Riffat shot me a quizzical look but said nothing.
“Good night, Riffat,” I said. “I hope you manage to rest.”
“Rest is for the weak,” she replied.
“Or for the sleepy,” Callan said. He yawned and closed his eyes. “Tomorrow will be a better day, Cerys. Promise.”
“From your lips to the ears of the gods,” I said. I curled into a ball and prayed for a brighter tomorrow. No one had ever heeded my prayers before, but I figured there was always a first time.
Chapter Nine
The theater where Lumin worked was located in a thriving town called Dvin. Even though Callan was in his human form, we received a nonstop parade of curious looks as we traveled through the center of town.
“Who do you expect to speak to at the theater?” Riffat asked.
“Anyone there,” I said. “The owner. A manager. A cleaner. Any djinni there could have information that would help us.”
Riffat took care of the stallions and the mule while Callan and I entered the brightly colored theater. The interior reminded me of the castle with its jewel tones and plush velvet seats.
A djinni stood on the stage, instructing a group of actors. He seemed displeased with whatever was happening.
“The show must go on, it seems,” Callan whispered.
An actor pointed and the djinni in charge turned to look at us. “We are closed for rehearsals.”
“We’re not here for the show,” Callan called. “We’d like to speak to someone about one of your actors.”
“Lumin?” the djinni asked. I thought I detected a hopeful tone.
Callan folded his arms. “That’s the one.”
The djinni’s bottom half dissipated into mist and began to rotate. He propelled himself to the top of the seating area where we waited. Riffat entered the theater behind us.
“See?” Callan said to her, pointing. “Mini-twister.”
“I am Rafiq,” the djinni said. Legs formed once again when he reached us. “The owner of this theater.”
“Nice to meet you, Rafiq,” I said.
The owner’s leg jiggled with anxiety. “Is there any word on Lumin? He has been greatly missed.”
My body tensed. I’d only been concerned with getting information, not giving it.
“Lumin Nasaaf is dead,” Riffat said in a no-nonsense voice. “These two have been tasked by the king with conducting a full investigation. We expect your complete cooperation.”
Rafiq stood perfectly still, as though still digesting the news. “Dead. Are you quite certain?”
“Quite,” I replied. I would offer no details. They were far too unpleasant.
“Do you know of anyone who wished Mr. Nasaaf harm?” Callan asked.
Rafiq rubbed his hands over his deeply lined face. “He was the most popular bard in the colony. Naturally, there were djinn that wished him harm. Every actor on that stage wished he would break a collar bone or fall into an eternal slumber.”
“We understand he disappeared from this theater before an evening performance,” I said.
Rafiq closed his eyes, as though trying to block the memory. “Yes, that is true. The audience was most unhappy. They threw rotten fruit.”
“Were you the last one to see him?” Callan asked.
“I do not know,” Rafiq replied. “I believe so. We had an argument. He stormed back to the dressing room. No one else was there, to my knowledge.”
“What did you argue about?” I asked.
Rafiq threw out his hands. “The same thing we always argued about. Money. Larger letters for his name on the marquee. His ego was as great as his talent.” His expression grew pained. “And now he is gone.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I said.
“Not half as sorry as my patrons will be when they hear the news,” Rafiq said. “Lumin is irreplaceable, not that others will not try.” He cast a furtive glance at the actors assembled on the stage. “I can think of more than one or two that will rejoice at the news.”
“And what about you?” Callan asked. “You said the two of you argued.”
Rafiq reeled back. “What are you suggesting? Listen, I would be a fool to do anything to Lumin. He made me a very wealthy djinni.” He looked from Callan to me. “I do not know about you, but I like money very much.”
“It has its uses,” Callan said.
“If there is anyone you should talk to, it is Bahir,” Rafiq said. He positioned himself so that the actors couldn’t see his face. “He is the tallest djinni on the stage.”
I glanced casually around Rafiq’s shoulder. “I see him. He was jealous of Lumin?”
“Extremely,” the owner replied. His voice dropped. “But you did not hear that from me.”
“Thank you for your help,” I said. “When we find out what happened, we’ll be sure to let you know.” Not if, but when.
“I would welcome the news,” Rafiq said. “If you intend to question Bahir, would you mind waiting until after the rehearsal? Time is money, you see.”
We reluctantly agreed. Callan and I waited outside the back entrance to the theater while Riffat took care of feeding the stallions and the mule. Bahir finally emerged with a blond djinni beside him. Her eyes were even darker than my natural brown, albeit overdone with dramatic makeup.
“Bahir?” Callan said.
The djinni stepped forward. “Who is asking?”
“My name is Callan and this is my colleague, Cerys. We’re investigating the death of Lumin Nasaaf on behalf of King G’lur.”
Bahir balked. “Death? Lumin is dead?”
The blond djinni broke into hysterical sobs and hurried off. Bahir remained rooted to the ground.
“You seem surprised,” Callan said. “You were aware of his disappearance, I assume.”
“Of course,” Bahir said. “But I believed it to be a holiday of sorts.”
“You thought he disappeared without telling anyone because he took a vacation?” Callan asked. His tone was laced with suspicion.
“Lumin often felt overwhelmed by the attention,” Bahir replied. “Now me, I would never…but that is a different story.”
“You and he often competed for roles,” I said.
“I do
not know that it is considered competition when one of us always loses,” Bahir said with a bitter laugh. “Though I suppose I will have ample opportunity now.”
I studied Bahir. Just because he expressed surprise at the news of Lumin’s death didn’t make him innocent. He could still be responsible for binding Lumin to the opal and disposing of him in Terrene—a death sentence of another kind.
“Were you at the theater the evening Lumin disappeared?” I asked.
“I was not, but I was called to step in for him at the last moment,” Bahir said. “The crowd was highly disappointed. They had come to see the magnificent Lumin perform, not Bahir.” He raked a hand through his thick hair. “Tell me what happened.”
I cast a sidelong glance at Callan. How much did we dare reveal?
“He was bound to an object and spelled not to communicate,” Callan said.
Bahir gasped. “Bound? Someone performed an attachment spell on him?” He spat on the ground and cursed. “Who would impose such a cruel fate on a colony treasure like Lumin?”
His reaction struck me as genuine. Then again, Bahir was an actor, so it was hard to say. “He was discovered in a river in Terrene. A river that leads to the underworlds.”
Bahir’s eyes grew round. “How is such a thing possible? Lumin would not leave the realm. Not voluntarily.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“His love is here,” Bahir replied. “Even if he had decided on a holiday, he would not have gone without her.”
Lumin had a partner? This was the first mention of her. “Is she a fellow thespian?”
“No.” Bahir struggled to maintain his composure. Thoughts of Lumin’s partner seemed to unsettle him. “She owns the Lantern Inn here in town. Amalia.”
“Thank you,” I said. We’d need to break the news to Lumin’s partner, too. Terrific.
“Please.” Bahir placed a hand on my arm and Callan growled until he released me. “Deliver the news privately. Should Amalia’s husband overhear you, it could create trouble for her, if you understand me. He knows nothing of their relationship.”
Outlaw: Spellslingers Academy of Magic (Enforcer of the East Book 2) Page 9