Master Gella didn’t spare anyone or anything a glance, however, she walked past all that and took a stairwell up. On the third floor, she stepped out and walked down a hallway, pausing at an intersection. She glanced at a sign listing room numbers and then walked to the right down the hallway.
One guard sat beside the door to the room. He stood, a wary look to his eyes, as they approached. Master Gella showed him her identification and explained what they were about. The man spoke briefly with her, then nodded.
A quick look inside revealed that only two of the four beds in the room were occupied. One man had black hair, he was the bowman, and the other, the driver, had brown. Shiny handcuffs glinted on their left wrists. The men looked over when the three of them walked in. Master Gella must have been recognized, because the bowman’s expression went flat when he saw her.
Fillion closed the door behind them and waited, back against the wall. He glanced at Elizabeth—she’d made her way to an unoccupied bed and sat on its edge—then looked back at Master Gella.
The master investigator walked over and stood between the men. “Well, at least you two are still alive.”
A flicker of emotion, curiosity perhaps, twitched the brows of the bowman.
“Your friend, the driver of the carriage in the fake accident, was murdered last night.”
Brown-hair’s eyes went wide and he glanced at the bowman.
Fillion kept the smile from, his face. They were rattled so they’d have less control over themselves. Can you sense their thoughts?
“I wondered if you two had received goodbye visits as well.”
I can. Both are worried, but one is near panicked.
“I’m happy to see that was not the case.”
Golden. Do they think of the other man, the one who was killed?
They do not.
Fillion frowned. Do they think of anyone in particular?
Not right now. They think of getting paid and the frightened one thinks of riding quickly on a horse.
“That’s not to say you won’t be getting a visit soon. Hopefully, the guard outside will keep you on this mortal coil.” Master Gella shrugged.
Fillion crossed his arms. “It seems both of you were surprised to learn that the carriage man was killed.” Master Gella hadn’t mentioned that it had happened while in custody, so he wouldn’t either. “So killing him obviously wasn’t part of the plan. At least not the plan you two were party to.”
Brown-hair leaned forward. “How do you even—His part of the plan wasn’t supposed to be discovered!”
“Shut yer yapper!” The bowman glared at him.
“And was the two of you getting caught part of the plan?” Master Gella lifted a brow.
The panicked one thinks of driving a wagon into a crowd of people. He thinks of removing the coat he was wearing and jumping off the wagon. Then . . . standing around? Why would he do that?
Fillion raised his brows. Deception on top of pissing deception. This is just more confirmation that the criers are related somehow to those who robbed the payroll. I wondered at the timing of that crowded fight at the street intersection. It was planned, like the riots!
“No,” Fillion said, “they were supposed to get away, too. In the chaos of an accident, with the globe of darkness shielding any chasing eyes, it would be an easy thing to mix in with onlookers, then melt away. And a wagon racing straight into a crowd of fighting people would create a very large accident.”
Master Gella grunted.
Brown-hair, eyes wide, stared at him.
“How shocked you must have been,” Fillion said, “seeing the barrier spring up before you when your destination was so close. You very nearly got away.”
“But instead,” Master Gella sat on the edge of brown-hair’s bed, “here we are. Which is unfortunate for you because it seems as if your bosses tend to reward failure to follow the plan with death.”
She twisted her lips. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but it is suspected that your carriage man was killed by someone he knew, as there were no signs of a struggle. It would appear as if your bosses will stop at nothing to, what is the expression? Tie up loose ends?”
Fillion had wondered why she would reveal to them that detail. Feigning worry, he glanced at the door. “Master Gella, do you think one guard is enough protection for these men?”
“Hmm,” she said, “I don’t know. Alas, the police told me they would only provide the one.”
Elizabeth stood. “Surely if these men helped them, the police would provide more protection.” She turned to him, her back to the men, and winked. “Right?”
Fillion stared at her. She understood! Struggling to keep the smile from his face, he said, “I–I would think so. Master Gella?”
“They have provided protection for those assisting investigations before, yes.”
“I’ll tell you all I know.” Brown-hair looked at Master Gella.
“Fool!” The bowman stared at brown-hair. “We’re in no danger. We don’t know nothing, so we can’t give away nothing. That’s our protection. These mummers,” he glanced at them and back to the other man, “are playin’ ya fer an idiot.”
“As we don’t know anything, it doesn’t matter if I speak then, does it? We’re not likely to get paid now, anyway.”
The bowman made an irritated sound, then lay back and stared at the ceiling, lips pressed together.
The other man turned back to Master Gella. “I was hired to be the driver. There were two guards, one for up top, and one for in back. I think the last two of the team were sorcerers. You know about the fake accident and the fight started on purpose, so I’m not revealing anything you don’t know there.”
Even if Tobin turned out to be a coincidence, this man just made the connection between the criers and the robbery. Fillion rubbed his chin. Or at least the crier at that street corner.
“As for any other, plans, I know nothing. My job was to get the wagon away from the bank and drive a planned route. I was to stop at the carriage accident in a specific spot for at least forty-five seconds, then continue along the route. At the fight, I was to drive straight into the crowd and stop. Then it would be as you said.” He nodded at Fillion. “We’d mingle with the crowd and wander off.”
Fillion frowned. There’s wasn’t much in what the man had recounted that Coatl hadn’t already learned. Was he lying about any of that?
He was not.
“I see,” Master Gella said. “What of the people who descended into the storm tunnels?”
“Storm tunnels?”
“The reason you had to stop in that specific spot at the accident was to allow the three in back to climb down into tunnels under the streets through an access hole.”
The man grunted. “I wondered why the practice carriage had four horses until I saw that the armored wagon was drawn by four. Judging where to stop with the armored wagon was simple after all the trial runs we did with the practice carriage.”
Master Gella nodded. “Exactly. Do you know where the rest of the team went after exiting the tunnels?”
“I know nothing about that. I was hired to drive, and I was only instructed on things I’d need to know for my job.”
True?
True.
“Who did the instructing?” Elizabeth stared at the man.
“Well, the carriage driver in the fake accident came with me on the practice runs. He sat in the back and would call out to me if I had stopped in the right spot. I guess in comparison to where that access hole was.”
“Was he in charge of all the teams?”
The man looked at Master Gella and shook his head. “No, he just worked with me to coordinate that part of the plan at the staged accident. Mask was in charge of everyone. He’s the one who gave everyone their overall instructions.”
Fillion frowned. “Mask?”
“That’s what I called him. We didn’t share anyone’s real names. And him, I never even learned what he really looked like. He always
wore some kind of strange mask along with a red suit. Come to think of it, I can’t even say for certain that Mask is a man. Mask’s voice was always altered to sound like a child and there are plenty of women who aren’t very big up top who could wear that suit, so . . .” He shrugged.
Elizabeth crossed her arms. “And how were you hired?”
“That’s not part of the robbery.” The bowman glared at them. It seemed to be his normal expression.
Master Gella turned to him. “I’ll be the judge of what is and isn’t part of—”
“I’m afraid I have to agree,” the driver said. “I’ll tell you what I can of the robbery, but I can’t give you information about how I got the job. I’d never be able to look for more work, elsewise.”
“Ah,” Fillion said. “So you weren’t contacted, you went to someone looking for work.”
The man’s eyes widened a touch.
Fillion stared at him. “Who was it? Who did you go to?”
No response.
What does he think of right now?
A woman.
“What is the woman’s name?”
The man’s brows lifted. “How—?” He pressed his lips together and scowled.
The Wolf.
Fillion smiled.
+ + + + +
Liara glanced around the tavern and shifted nervously in the booth. Are you okay? Not too hot?
I am fine. I like the sun.
She couldn’t help the little smile that curved her lips. At least Mia was having fun.
The meeting would be here in the interest of secrecy. There weren’t many left in the group, but if any of them were shadowing Cirtis or Yiska around Bataan-Mok, they’d not be able to easily follow unseen as the men made their way to Pashi. And it would be impossible for anyone to follow her on a dragon on a round-about flight.
Anaya is here! She flies to me.
Tell her I said hello.
Aeron had arrived, then. Where were the others? She sighed and sat back against the padded leather bench of the booth. As she anxiously rubbed her hands over her thighs, the thin material of the robe was smooth under her fingers.
Soon after she dropped off the enchanting crew she was ferrying this morning, Lonato had approached her. She wondered why he had broken with their normal meeting schedule until he explained. Liara had been shocked when Lonato relayed Stoltz’ findings.
The news he asked her to share weighed heavy. While Fala had finally been located thanks to Stoltz, what were her plans for the poison? The fact that she had no qualms about killing people worried Liara. What destruction could the woman wreak with such a powerful poison?
Anaya says Aeron is nearly to the village. A little humor came through the link. She says he was running for a bit but had to stop because of the heat.
Thanks, love.
Aeron had also ferried people over to Bataan-Mok this morning with her, though, unlike Liara, he was part of the morning enchanting shift. Once everyone had dismounted, Anaya and Mia had padded over to join Ikan, who lay in a corner of Dragon Square where no construction was taking place. Shortly after was when Lonato approached Liara.
Mia had been concerned about the shock she felt from Liara at the boy’s news. When the reason was explained, she told Anaya, who then told Aeron. His shift would be over before lunch, so he’d insisted that he be at the meeting. She could understand his desire. He’d worked harder than any of them to help the people of the villages and Bataan-Mok, even risking his and Anaya’s lives, and this threat could be devastating.
The sound of the door opening drew her gaze. Cirtis and Yiska walked in.
That was everyone. Once Aeron arrived, she could begin. Polandra had volunteered to remain in Bataan-Mok in case anything arose there during this meeting. Liara would tell her about what happened here afterward.
She scooted to the side to make room, and Cirtis slid in. “Hello,” she said.
Cirtis smiled. “Hello.”
Yiska sat on the other side of the booth. “Good afternoon.”
She nodded to him and glanced at Cirtis. “Aeron will be here soon.”
Cirtis waved down a server. “He always orders tłizi, doesn’t he?”
Liara nodded. “He does.”
After their orders were placed, Aeron’s included, the server hurried off.
“Polandra seemed worried when she asked for this meeting,” Cirtis said.
“Yes,” Yiska said. “She looked concerned when she spoke to me, as well.”
Cirtis clasped his hands on the table. “I have to assume the tidings are not good.”
Liara frowned. “Aeron already knows the news in general, so I can begin without him.” She took a breath and let it out. “Fala has been located.”
“Oh, ho.” Yiska sat forward. “That is good news.”
Liara nodded and continued. “Yes. Stoltz was approached by her group and recruited.”
“He’s with them?” Cirtis frowned.
Liara raised a hand. “Only to spy on them. The hatred they hold for any who are sympathetic to dragons frightened him.” She thought of Stoltz’s little brother. Benji was probably the main reason the former manis wanted to help stop the crazed fanatics. “He’s been keeping an eye on the group, and especially on Fala.”
Aeron arrived then, hurrying over. “My apologies,” he said and slid in beside Yiska.
“No need to apologize,” Cirtis said. “We took the liberty of placing your usual order for you, and Liara merely started filling us in on the news.” He turned to her. “Though, as the news has so far all been good, the worry she and Polandra evinced seems unwarranted.”
“I haven’t gotten to the bad news yet,” Liara said. “But before that, more good news. It seems Fala’s group is disintegrating around her.”
“That is fantastic,” Yiska said. “No more accidents? No more lost goods? No more lost lives? What more could we ask for?”
“It seems she’s running out of funds,” Liara said. “And with no money to pay them, her followers have mostly all left. However, Stoltz told Lonato that he’s worried about how their loss is affecting Fala.”
“Oh?”
Liara paused with the arrival of their food. A sudden twinge of hunger made her realize just how long ago breakfast had been. With various sounds of approval, the four dug into their mid-day meal. Several minutes passed before she continued.
Feeling much less hungry, she spoke as she ate. “Fala has been scurrying off alone for the past few days.”
Aeron glanced at her and shook his head. “I really wish she could see the truth of the Order. The truth of dragons.”
“Alas,” Yiska said, “I know just how difficult that can be.”
“I wonder what she does when she goes off on her own?” Cirtis said.
“Stoltz has been following her on those solo journeys,” Liara said. “She goes to a small cave system where she has been distilling a liquid.”
“A liquid?” Yiska’s eyes were narrow.
“Yrdra’s Blood.”
Cirtis’s spoon clattered into his bowl. “Alandra’s merciful heart.” Face pale, he stared at the remains of his stew.
“Yrdra’s Blood?” Yiska, brows furrowed, glanced at him and then at Liara. “What is that?”
“A highly toxic poison,” she said. “Lonato says that a mere drop can kill dozens of people.”
“Good gods.” Yiska set his spoon down. “Why, Fala? Why?”
Cirtis seemed to have regained his composure. “Does Stoltz know what she plans with it?”
Liara shook her head. “No. In fact, she has told none of her followers about the caves or what she does there. The only reason Stoltz even found out about all this is because he’s been secretly following her.”
“Now that we know where Fala is,” Aeron said, “why don’t we just go grab her?”
Cirtis frowned. “There’s no law against making Yrdra’s Blood, as far as I know.”
“Why not?” Aeron glanced from him to Yiska and t
hen back. “What normal purpose would anyone have for a poison that deadly?”
“Even if it were illegal,” Cirtis said, “do you really think that would stop her from making and using it?”
Aeron scowled. “No. Perhaps not. Still, if it were illegal, at least we’d be able to grab her right now and throw her in gaol.”
“Well, we have to proceed with things as they are, not as we wish they were.” Cirtis drummed his fingers on the table. He turned to Liara. “Was Stoltz witness to Fala ordering any of the recent accidents?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I can have Lonato ask him.”
Cirtis nodded. “Hopefully, he was. Because if we have no proof of her ordering any of the accidents, we have nothing to accuse her of and nothing to bring her before a judge for.”
“Then have Stoltz steal the poison,” Aeron said, “so she can’t make use of it.”
“No.” Cirtis shook his head. “That would let her know that someone has been following her to the caves and make her suspect one of her group. If she then formulates another plan, we might not be able to learn of it. So for now, we should just have Stoltz continue to follow her.” He frowned. “Hopefully, he’ll learn her plans for the poison, or at the very least, witness her ordering an accident or some-such.”
“We should also have Lonato look for any former members of her group,” Yiska said. “If we can get people willing to bear witness against her, people who know that she ordered any of the accidents, then we’ll have the proof we need to bring her to justice.”
Aeron sighed. “I suppose you’re right. We need proof.”
“There is a little good news concerning the poison,” Liara said.
“Good news?” Aeron looked highly dubious.
“According to Lonato,” she said, “there are two ways to destroy it. A hot enough fire will break it down, cause a reaction that will turn it non-lethal, and bleaching water works similarly. It reacts with the poison, breaking it down chemically and forming new, harmless compounds.”
“I see,” Yiska said. “What about someone who’s been poisoned with it? Is there an antidote?”
Liara shook her head. “No. That’s the worrisome thing. Once someone has been poisoned with Yrdra’s Blood, even just by touching it, they die too quickly to be saved.”
Of Gods, Trees, and a Sapling: Dragonlinked Chronicles Volume 4 Page 50