by Liz Schulte
Katrina lifted a dagger and ran it down her palm, then handed it to Leslie who repeated the motion and passed the blade to Cheney who did the same. Next Katrina lifted a cup and squeezed a few drops of her blood into it. The other two repeated her actions. A few seconds later it was all over. Both women hugged him.
“Is that all?” Cheney asked.
“That’s it. It’s not really a spell. It’s more ceremonial than anything.”
Cheney nodded. “Did you need something, Sebastian?”
I stepped into view. “Phoebe was killed.”
Cheney’s face hardened. “Ladies.” He nodded to the girls. “It appears I must go.”
“That’s okay. I think I know a way to get the witch to talk,” Katrina said.
“If you determine anything, send for us,” I said.
Cheney and I headed for the castle doors. “Where was she?” he asked.
“According to the guard, the same place that Tahlik died.”
Cheney’s strides became longer and faster. “We’re being framed.”
I didn’t disagree. “The question is by who. Who has the most to gain from you not winning?”
“Kalan or Gillivray. Unless it has nothing to do with the election.”
“How would Phoebe fit into this if the latter were true?”
“We cannot dismiss the idea that Jessica is behind all of this. So long as we stay distracted by the election and public opinion we aren’t working against her. All of this has happened in the final days, which happens to coincide with her suddenly coming back.”
She had claimed that she was Tahlik’s source of information from the start, but that didn’t really explain why she would kill him unless she had been once again misdirecting us. “It’s possible. We should have investigated it more.”
Cheney shook his head. “We turned it over to Sy and his bounty hunters. They turned up nothing. You were right that it was more important that we were removed from the situation.”
I sighed. I had been thinking politically. I assumed the bounty hunters would turn up something, but even when they didn’t, it seemed involving ourselves in the investigation would open Cheney and Selene up to more scrutiny. However, had we caught the killer then, or at least knew more, we wouldn’t be in this situation now.
“Did you inform Sy?” Cheney asked.
I shook my head. “Is he here?”
“He’s with Selene.” His mouth settled into a firm line. “Actually, let’s not tell him until we know more. Get Frost instead and meet me outside.”
Cheney went through the door and I headed back to the dungeon to get the necromancer. Frost came willingly as I explained the situation.
“Who worked Tahlik’s case?” she asked.
“Sy would know better than me. He’s with Selene.”
Her lips pursed but she nodded. “I’ll talk to him later then.”
I smiled. “That would probably be for the best.”
As we approached the gates, she glanced at me. “I need you to clear a path to the body for me. Keep everyone away from me so someone doesn’t accidentally touch me.”
I nodded. “Anything else?”
She shook her head and tugged her long black gloves up higher. As we approached the small crowd parted. Cheney stood on the outskirts observing the corpse sprawled on the ground; a shocked looking guard stood next to him. Frost made a beeline for Phoebe while I joined Cheney and the guard.
“So you saw nothing?” Cheney said quietly.
The guard shook his head. “One moment she was fine and the next she fell. There is no wound.”
It was the exact same story Sy had told about Tahlik. No traces or signs of poison had ever been found on him, as well as no wound or apparent reason for death. It all pointed to one thing: magic.
“When is the last time she ate or drank anything?” Cheney asked.
“She has had nothing since I joined her. She spoke in three different locations today, but did not take a break.”
“Not even a drink of water?” I asked. It seemed unlikely.
“There was nothing. I swear.” The guard frowned. “But wait, that doesn’t make sense, does it? There had to be something… .”
Cheney glanced at me and I shrugged. So far this was all exactly the same.
“Thank you. You may return to your original post. If I need you again, I will send for you.” Cheney looked back at Frost inspecting the body.
Frost finally looked up from her squatting position, and gave us a single nod. We walked over to her.
“I would like to see Tahlik’s body if that’s possible.”
“He’s gone,” Cheney said. “Elves disappear when they die.”
She sighed and stood up. “Transport her to the castle.” Without waiting, Frost headed back.
“More humans,” someone shouted out of the crowd.
Cheney rolled his eyes and transported the body back without addressing the small group. I took a deep breath and turned to them. “A bounty hunter,” I said. “An impartial investigator.”
“But still a human witch,” the man said. “How do we know she isn’t the one responsible?”
“What would a human bounty hunter care about a fae election?” I held my hands up. “Please. It has been a tragic night. Let us find who did this and bring them swiftly to justice.”
“Will you find the murderer?” Kalan’s voice rose from the back. “You never found Tahlik’s killer. And this looks eerily similar, does it not? Perhaps the Erlking and Queen do not wish for the killer to be apprehended.”
The crowd voiced their agreement.
“Kalan.” I nodded to him. “As you know Lord Tahlik was the Queen’s father. Since the death was so personal to the Erlking and Queen, we thought to distance the castle as much as possible from the investigation. As far as I am aware, the investigation is still ongoing. The loss of her father still pains the Queen daily.”
That quieted the group. Not only had Selene suffered a personal loss, but it also reminded them that she was at least partially titled. Her father, as worthless as he was, was still nobility.
“And Kalan, your refusal to have a guard with you today was quite worrisome. I do wish you’d take more care.”
He smiled, but the implication was not lost on him. “I am sorry to say that having a guard appears to have been more hazardous to Phoebe’s health than helpful.”
I ground my teeth. “Surely you are not accusing one of our loyal, self-sacrificing guards of such a terrible crime.” The crowd of full elves began to mutter their support—of me this time. The entire royal guard consisted of full elves. It was an honorable and coveted position. “Because Phoebe had such a guard with her, we will be able to retrace her steps completely and flush out the true culprit. Whereas, if anything were to have happened to you, it would be nearly impossible.” I gestured to the castle. “Now if you would follow me inside, I know the Erlking has many safety concerns he would like to discuss with you.”
Kalan walked past me. I chose not to transport so I could better keep an eye on the man. It didn’t seem likely that he would have killed Phoebe of all people, but he was still without an alibi. “Did you know Lord Tahlik?”
He charged forward.
I didn’t try to catch up with him. Instead, I watched the determined half-elf go. Could the future of our race truly fall into his hands? Even Gillivray would be better than him. Before he went through the doors, he whirled back to face me.
“You implied that I had something to do with Phoebe’s death.”
“I believe I inferred it.” I watched blood rise to Kalan’s face. He’d indicated that Cheney’s guard had assassinated or had a hand in Phoebe’s murder. If he was prepared to throw out broad, baseless accusations, we would return the favor. How could one expect to become Erlking when he couldn’t take dissension? “Cheney and Selene are not your enemies, Kalan. If you can’t see that, you have no business being Erlking.”
“Oh, I’m positive you are happy wit
h things as they stand. Why change anything when you were born into the top tier?”
I shook my head. “Do not speak of what you know nothing about. You only expose ignorance.”
“So you would vote for a half-elf?” he asked.
“Yes. As would I vote for a dwarf or fairy or goblin if their beliefs aligned with mine. I was a soldier. I have fought next to any number of races. We have bled, cried, and laughed together. I have learned one universal truth: what someone is on the outside is far less important than the way they conduct themselves on the inside.”
He shook his head. “Words are easily spoken. Not so easily practiced. For all of your talk you will stand with the royal family.”
“Not that I have to justify anything to you, but yes, I stand with Cheney who I have known my whole life. I have served with him in wars and accompanied him on countless expeditions. I know what is in his heart. I also stand with Selene who I would continue to support with or without Cheney. Make no mistake when I tell you that she is one of my best friends and anyone who has something bad to say about her or is determined to try to ruin her will have hell to pay by my hands.”
“I have no grudge against the queen,” he said. “I hardly know her.”
“And yet you make demands that would threaten her very existence when all she has done is make personal sacrifices to save others.” I brushed past him. “You must be proud.”
“She made personal sacrifices to save others from disasters that were entirely of her making. Hardly seems as noble.”
“You may be right. She might have caused them, but how many people do you know who would brave being reborn as a human, a journey through purgatory, and would risk her life and all those she loves to set things right again? Selene hasn’t gotten off without punishment. She has been punished and continues to punish herself ten times over. Yet you would have her expose herself to the scrutiny of all those who would love to see her fail. Her life has not been easy. She has worked for everything she has ever gotten. She is the perfect example of how far a half-elf can really go. You should look up to her as a leader of your race, not try to tear her down.”
I didn’t wait for Kalan to respond. Our conversation was over. He followed me in silence up to Cheney’s office. I knocked twice then opened the door. Cheney sat behind his desk and Frost stood in front of it. Kalan trailed in behind me, then headed directly to Frost and stuck out his hand.
“You’re the bounty hunter?” He raised an eyebrow at her slight, petite figure as she looked at his proffered hand with dismay.
Finally she rolled her eyes and moved past him the long way around. “Sebastian, could you help me with the body?” she asked.
I glanced at Cheney who didn’t have to vocalize his consent. “Of course.”
As soon as we were in the hallway she said, “Cheney took the body to the kitchen. Don’t ask me why. I’m a necromancer and even I don’t want dead bodies where I eat, but whatever.”
I laughed. “It has the best refrigeration.”
“I thought elf bodies disappeared when they died. Why didn’t she?”
“She’s a dryad, not an elf.”
She nodded. “But Tahlik did disappear?”
“Yes. Sy saw him before he vanished because he had been following him.”
She frowned. “So nothing was left behind?”
“Just the clothing he was wearing.”
“And where are they?”
“I imagine Selene has them since he was her father.”
Frost nodded. “I’d like to see them.”
Phoebe’s body was laid out on the floor of the root cellar off the kitchen. Frost beckoned me closer and undid the corpse’s shirt, pulling it back. “What do you see?”
I inspected the body. There wasn’t a mark on her. Not so much as a smudge on her arms or chest. “Nothing.”
She nodded. “Exactly.”
I shook my head. “I’m not following.”
“Take off your shirt,” she told me.
“Pardon?”
“Your shirt, take it off.”
I couldn’t imagine what this would prove but I did it.
“See,” she said, pointing at me, though her hand stayed at least two feet away from me. “You have marks and scars. Signs of having lived. She has nothing. Her skin is as new and unmarred as a baby. That’s weird.”
I looked again. I could see what she was talking about, but it was also possible she just had perfect skin and nothing had happened to her to mar her complexion. “And what does that tell us about the way she died?”
She bit her lip. “I don’t know.” She continued worrying the edge of her lip. “Then there’s the fact that she has no wounds. I mean it could be poison, but even with that there’s normally a sign of some sort, but granted not always. But in that case how did she ingest it?” She proceeded to look between all of Phoebe’s fingers and toes for any sort of puncture mark. “What sort of poison would have no sign or indication it had been taken before the person dies? If it was in something she ate or drank why didn’t she die immediately?”
Those were all good questions, but simply asking them didn’t put us any closer to an answer.
“I want to talk to Sy,” she said, still examining the body.
I went back to Selene’s room. She was lying on the bed, her eyes closed. Sy pressed a finger to his lips as I walked in, so I waved for him to come out.
“She just fell asleep,” he said.
“I came to talk to you. One of the candidates has been murdered and Frost is investigating. She’d like to talk with you about it.”
“Sure.”
“She’s in the kitchen.”
Sy took long strides down the hallway as I slipped back into Selene and Cheney’s room.
“What happened?” Selene’s eyes popped open.
I smiled at her. “How do you feel?”
“Like I’m out of the loop.” She scrunched her nose. “What happened?” she repeated pointedly.
“Phoebe died outside of the castle. Frost is looking into it and wanted to consult Sy.”
Selene yawned. “That’s weird. Did anyone see anything?”
“Nothing. Do you still have your father’s belongings?”
She hesitated. “Why?”
“The murders are similar.”
Her eyes flickered toward the closet before her face went blank and she shrugged. “I don’t think I have them.”
“Is that so?” I asked softly, heading directly for the closet.
“Sebastian, you can’t go in there,” she said as I walked into the closet that was more the size of a room. My eyes scanned past all the clothes, straight to a bright yellow plastic bag on the top shelf. I pulled it down and took it back out with me.
She looked at the bag in my hands and her jaw clenched and her eyes narrowed. “Could this be it?”
“Illegal search and seizure,” she said under her breath. “What do you think you’re going to find?” Her voice turned as hard as her stare.
“What do you know about his death?” I countered.
“Nothing,” she said immediately, widening her eyes with innocence.
I gave her a look.
“Well, I know enough to know that the two deaths are in no way connected. That’s all I have to say. Now if you would return my father’s things, you may leave.”
Lorelei returned to the room in a cloud of long blond curls and lilac scent, with a fresh pot of tea on a tray. “You’re supposed to be napping.” She turned to me and pointed. “We’ll have none of your nonsense. Out.”
I headed for the door without argument.
“Sebastian, wait.” Selene’s voice was so helpless I had to turn around. She opened her mouth, but only managed to shake her head.
“I’m sorry,” I said. In any other circumstance I would have let Selene keep her secret, but this time it was too important. We had to find the killer or Cheney would lose the election. Any clue would be better than none.
; I took the package to my own quarters to open it. If some sort of evidence was hidden in the bag, I wanted to see it before I decided on how useful it would be to us. I slid a knife along the tape and opened it carefully, pulling out one piece of clothing at a time. His shirt was first. I held it up and inspected it carefully. Next were his pants and shoes, but still nothing—and the bag was empty. When I reached down to put them all back, something caught my eye on the sleeve of his shirt. A golden glistening strand of hair all but twinkled beneath the light. I plucked a long curling blond hair off the sleeve of his shirt and held it between my fingers.
“Damn it,” I said under my breath. I needed to get out of here so I could speak with Sebastian before he did anything stupid. There was no way Sy killed Phoebe. He’d been with me all day. Aunt Lorelei sat guard in a chair by my bed, threatening to sedate me if I so much as opened an eye. This was bullshit.
A sharp pain shot through me, but I breathed through it, keeping my eyes firmly closed. All I had to do was get rid of Lorelei for five or ten minutes tops and I could find Sebastian and get back to bed before anyone knew any different. That or warn Sy so he could monitor the situation.
I cracked open one eye and peeked at Aunt Lorelei. She looked up immediately with a disapproving look. “You know what sounds really good?” I said with a smile.
She tried to look irritated but failed. “A nap?” she asked.
“Those coconut cookies you used to make.”
She nodded slowly. “Perhaps I will make them later.”
“Or…you could make them now?”
“Later,” she said. “If you are awake enough to talk, you are awake enough to drink more tea.”
I promptly closed my eyes at the suggestion. I must have had five pots of tea throughout the day and gone to the bathroom fifteen times. If I had any more my teeth would be permanently stained. Another pain struck—this one hard enough that the room trembled around me.