Annia frowned. “He did seem quite well dressed for someone who has no income. But maybe he’s living off savings?”
I shrugged. “We could poke into it a bit more.”
Annia considered it a moment, then shook her head. “We’ll circle back to that. He’s not a suspect, so poking into his private affairs isn’t a good use of our time. For now, we need to trace the origins of that flask.”
The next morning, after training and breakfast with Roanas, I hopped onto my bike and headed up to the Port. Annia had taken me by the Enforcer’s Guild last night to retrieve it, and we’d agreed to split up this morning. While she filled out the paperwork for last night’s activities, I was going to Witches’ End to track down the flask.
As I pedaled up and down Solantha’s steep, hilly neighborhoods, dodging steamcars and whizzing by pedestrians on their way to work, I couldn’t help but miss Annia’s steambike. Man, but it had been nice to zoom around town on that sleek, sexy machine. It would be a long time before I had enough money to buy my own, and I almost wished I’d had her come with me just so I could enjoy another ride.
Stop being such a lazy ass, I chided myself. I was more than strong enough to endure the bike ride. Besides, it was better that I didn’t take Annia along for this. I needed to stop by Madam Charming’s shop so I could recharge my amulet, and I didn’t need Annia asking unwanted questions about it.
My route took me up past the Shiftertown border and into Rowanville, then northwest to where the Port was located. The tightly packed streets began to thin out as I reached the coast of Solantha Bay, giving way to wider streets, fancier shops, and luxurious apartment complexes that charged a fortune for their waterfront views. The salty sea breeze teased my nostrils, winding its chilly fingers through my hair so it could tug my curls out behind me like a streaming banner. But despite the cold breeze, the sun was shining brightly, its rays bouncing off the white stone boathouses that marked each pier.
The line of piers stretched north and south as far as the eye could see, making up what we called the Port. It was the largest harbor in the Northia Federation, and did a brisk business. Many local shops and restaurants lined the nearby streets to cater to tourists and sailors from all around the world.
I parked my bike on the street, securing it to a lamppost with a lock, then headed south toward Pier Eighteen, otherwise known as Witches’ End. This was the section of Solantha where foreign magic users set up shop to ply their trade. They made good coin off the shifter and human populations, who came to this part of town to seek charms, amulets, and cures for their ailments rather than go to the exclusive Mages Quarter. It cost a lot less, and the residents of Witches’ End were a hell of a lot friendlier than the holier-than-thou attitude one could expect from the average mage.
Despite it only being nine o’clock, Witches’ End was bustling with activity. People strolled along the pier, perusing the plentiful offerings. Tourists could get their fortune read, a charm to ward off nightmares, even love potions, if they walked into the right shop. Some of the things sold here were mildly illegal, but most of the merchandise was aboveboard. If someone was looking for darker magic, they had to go down to the Black Market at their own risk.
I hurried down to the end of the pier, where Madame Charming kept her shop, anxious to get this errand over with so I could get back to the case. But, to my shock, her gauzy curtains and hand-painted sign were no longer hanging in the windows. Instead, dried herbs and cream-colored curtains hung behind the glass, and there was a different name frosted on it. Over the Hedge, it said in type that was somehow both blocky and elegant. What the hell kind of name was that?
Scowling, I pushed the wooden door open, determined to get to the bottom of this. A small bell tinkled as I did so, and the scent of herbs, wax, and magic flowed over me. The combination soothed my nerves despite myself, and I let out a breath as I looked around. Madame Charming’s dark colors and whimsical decorations were gone, replaced by clean, simple furnishings crafted out of natural materials. The curtains framing the windows were plain cotton, the tables and shelves were made of driftwood, and the colorfully dyed rugs were handwoven. The place was buzzing with activity, several customers admiring various vials and pouches full of herbal concoctions, by the smell of them. Was this an apothecary?
“Hello?” A male voice, crisp and throaty with a strange accent, came from behind me. “Can I help you find something today?”
I spun around to see a man standing behind me, a half smile on his face. He was tall, with broad shoulders that tapered into a lean waist, dressed in an earthen-colored robe with a sage-green sash tied at the waist. His ash-blond hair framed a long, square-jawed face that looked about thirty, with handsome features and striking, cornflower-blue eyes. My heart did a little flip in my chest, and I realized that he was quite attractive.
“Um, yeah.” Clearing my throat, I shoved my hormones back down the hole from whence they’d risen. My Heat was only two months off, and the closer it got, the friskier they tended to be. “I was looking for Madame Charming.”
The man gave me an apologetic smile. “I’m afraid she closed up shop and moved back to the Central Continent a few weeks ago.” He held out a hand, and I noticed his fingers were lightly stained with herbs and dirt. “My name is Comenius Genhard, and I’m the new owner. Is there something I can help you with?”
“Sunaya Baine.” I shook his hand, and a tingle shot up my arm and straight down my spine. Get a grip! No, not like that! I scolded myself as I squeezed his hand even harder. Flustered, I tucked my hand into my jacket pocket before I could make an even bigger ass of myself. “I’m an enforcer.”
“Ah.” His eyebrows rose. “Is this official business, then?”
“Yes and no.” I hesitated, then reached for the amulet hanging from my belt. I untied it, then passed it over to him. “Madame Charming made this for me, for protection. The magic is starting to wear down, and I need it charged.”
“I see.” A thoughtful look entered Comenius’s eyes, and he traced the amulet with his fingertips. “Protection, you say?”
“Yes.” I met his gaze evenly, refusing to betray my suddenly racing pulse. Did he suspect?
But Comenius only nodded, then pocketed the amulet. “Give me a few moments. I’ll take care of it.”
He disappeared into the back, leaving the clerk at the front desk to attend to the customers, and I took the opportunity to study his wares. Amongst the herbal teas, soaps, and bath salts lining the shelves, there were quite a few potions. According to the labels, they were meant to cure various maladies. I took the flask from Cerlina’s room out of my inner jacket pocket, then compared it to the different sizes and shapes of bottles in the shop. None of them matched.
“Here you go.” I spun around, my heart in my throat, at the sound of Comenius’s voice. He was standing behind me, the amulet dangling from his fingers, with a very curious expression in his eyes. “This should last you another three months, at least.”
“Thanks.” My fingers brushed against his, and that thrilling little tingle shot through me again. “Guess I’ll have to come back to see you again.” Did I sound a little breathless? By Magorah, I was on the job!
“You’re welcome any time.” His eyes twinkled, and his scent changed very subtly beneath his natural herbal, musky fragrance, betraying his interest. He glanced at the shelves behind me, then to the flask in my hand. “Were you looking for a particular potion?”
“No.” I gave him an apologetic smile. “I’m afraid this is the ‘official business’ portion of my business.”
His eyes glinted. “Do tell.”
I held out the flask to him. “I’m tracking down a missing girl, and I found this flask in her room. We’re a bit short on leads at the moment, so I was hoping I might be able to identify which shop she’d bought this from, or at least what kind of potion was in it.”
“Hmm.” He drummed his fingers along the length of the flask. “I do carry this kind of flask, but I
’m afraid many shops in the area will as well, so that might not be your best bet.” He uncorked the bottle, then gave it a deep sniff. A puzzled frown settled over his handsome features. “Honeybeetle, dewblood, anise, and a hint of caraway. There are a few others, but too faint to identify since there is nothing left in the flask.”
I arched a brow. “You can smell all that?” Of course, I could—my sensitive nose had picked out seven different scents in that bottle when I’d taken more time to study it, though I didn’t know their names. But how could a non-shifter manage that?
“Of course I can.” He gave me an amused smile. “I would be a poor excuse for a hedgewitch if I couldn’t identify which herbs were used in a potion. Much like a chef can identify ingredients in a dish by tasting it, I can identify the ingredients in a potion by smelling it.”
“Huh.” I filed that bit of information away for later—this guy might be useful in the future. “What’s a hedgewitch, exactly?”
“We deal in earth-based magic,” he explained. “All of our potions, spells, charms, and amulets are created by drawing on the earth’s power, as well as using the natural materials Mother Nature provides. There are some who think of us as mere healers,” he added, his eyes briefly flashing with annoyance. “But we use magic just as much as any other witch.”
“I don’t doubt that for a moment.” The place smelled strongly of it beneath the herbs and dirt. It was that burnt-sugar scent that clung to mages like a disease—that I was so careful to make sure didn’t cling to me. I brushed my fingers against my recharged amulet, seeking its comfort. It worked wonders to control my magic, though it wouldn’t help if my life was in danger.
“So, do you have any idea what kind of potion this was?” I asked.
Comenius handed the flask back to me. “I’ve come across a similar combination once, for a particular customer of my late master. The man’s daughter was an empath, and such a talent tends to take a toll both physically and mentally. He asked for a potion that would suppress her magic, so that she might walk amongst others without being assaulted by their emotions.”
“By Magorah!” I nearly dropped the flask. “There are potions that can do such a thing?” Would such a potion be useful for me? Or would it hamper my ability to shift?
“Yes, though I can’t speak to the concoction’s effectiveness personally,” Comenius admitted. “But my master was very talented, and a man of integrity. I don’t think he would have mixed a potion that he didn’t believe worked.” His expression turned grave. “Whoever this missing girl is, it is likely that she too is struggling with magical issues. I hope that you find her before something bad happens…but on the other hand, I know that if you do, she will be left at the mercy of the Mages Guild and the magic wipes.” His eyes shuttered, as if a wall had suddenly slammed down between us, and I flinched inwardly. “I’m afraid I must get back to work now, Miss Baine. Why don’t you see the cashier and get settled up?”
“Uh, sure.” Flustered, I said my goodbyes, then headed for the register. I’d obviously upset him with the thought that I’d be turning over an innocent little girl to the Mages Guild. Hell, I was upset myself. What was I going to do? I couldn’t abandon that girl to such a terrible fate…but it also wasn’t my place to decide what to do with her. My job was to find her and bring her home.
My troubled thoughts churned in my head as I left the shop. Even the sight of the Firegate Bridge, stretching tall and proud across Solantha Bay, couldn’t distract me from the knowledge that I’d just gotten myself into a huge mess. And I had no idea how I was going to solve it.
7
“Are you all right?” Annia asked as I picked at my platter of fish. “You look a little down. Did you strike out at Witches’ End?”
I shook my head. “I guess I’m not very hungry.” Annia and I had decided to meet at a nearby seafood restaurant, so I’d headed over here after I’d finished up at Witches’ End. As usual, I’d ordered a huge meal, but now that it was in front of me, I couldn’t bring myself to eat much.
Annia gave me a droll stare. “That’s bullshit,” she said. “I did a bit of digging into shifters this morning, after I finished up the paperwork. You guys need to eat constantly to maintain your energy. If you’re not feeling inspired enough to eat, then something’s really wrong.”
I sighed, twirling my fork in the bed of pasta on my plate. How the hell could I tell Annia what I’d learned? That Cerlina Thotting was a magic user, and almost certainly hiding out for fear of discovery? I couldn’t bring myself to turn that information over to the Enforcer’s Guild. Cerlina was technically young enough to go through the magic wipe, but sometimes the mages who administered them were careless and damaged the victims anyway. I’d warmed up to Annia in the last day, and she’d proved herself competent as an enforcer. But would she put the girl’s welfare above her own desire to claim the bounty?
“Sunaya.” Annia leaned closer, lowering her voice. “You can trust me. Tell me what’s wrong.”
I looked into Annia’s dark eyes, round with concern. Her scent told me she believed what she was saying. But could I actually trust her with this?
You don’t have a choice, I told myself. The two of you are partners on this case. Besides, Annia had showed plenty of compassion last night when we’d rescued Larina. She clearly had a soft spot for children, just like I did. I had to believe she wouldn’t throw Cerlina under the bus just for the bounty, especially since she kept claiming she didn’t need the money.
“You have to promise not to go running to the Enforcer’s Guild with this.” Annia opened her mouth. “Just promise,” I snarled.
She held up her hands. “All right, all right. I promise I won’t go to the Guild about this.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Now what’s this all about?”
I leaned in close, lowering my voice so that none of the humans sitting nearby could hear. “Cerlina Thotting is a magic user.”
“What?” Annia sat up straight, her eyes wide. “How do you know this?”
I explained about my meeting with the hedgewitch, and what I’d learned about the potion. “I don’t see why she’d have the potion, if she wasn’t a magic user.”
“Could be she’d just found the flask somewhere,” Annia said, though she didn’t sound very convinced. “Or that it belonged to a friend.”
I shook my head at that. “I don’t think so. And there are always rumors swirling around regarding the next tests—they’re done at random, after all.” I scowled at that. I knew the Mages Guild did things that way because they liked to keep us peons on our toes. Thankfully, there were whispers that Lord Vengar would be retiring soon, and we would have a new Chief Mage. I could only hope that whoever took the office next would be more humane, and he’d actually give a shit about his subjects outside the Mages Quarter.
“So why didn’t you want to tell me about this?” Annia asked. “This information is crucial to solving the case.”
“Because I don’t want to throw Cerlina to the wolves.” I pressed my lips together. “If we report the truth about why she ran away, Captain Galling will hand her over to the Mages Guild to be wiped—executed if the parents refuse the wiping.” Pain sliced deep into my chest at the thought of that poor little girl going through such a thing. “I don’t care how much gold they’re offering—I won’t let that happen to her.”
Annia regarded me curiously. “I’d say that was treasonous talk, but as a shifter, I figure you don’t care.” She held up a hand, cutting off my protest. “Don’t worry—I won’t give up Cerlina to the Mages Guild, and we’ll keep the case report short and vague. But we do have to find her. Her parents are worried sick, and who knows what kind of trouble the girl might be in. I’ve heard that the more agitated a child is, the more prone they are to having magical accidents.”
Don’t I know it, I silently agreed. Aloud, I said, “Didn’t Mr. Thotting mention that Cerlina had moved to her current school a year and a half ago?”
Annia paused,
a forkful of food halfway to her lips. “Yes. What about it?”
“Well, we asked all the girls at her school if they knew where she was, and none of them did. But what if she’s been in touch with her old friends?” A burst of excitement rushed through my veins. “Do we have the name of her old school? Maybe we can go over there right now.”
“You’re a genius, Naya,” Annia declared. “We’ll finish up here, then go back to the Guild so we can call Mrs. Thotting and get the info.”
“Excellent.” I picked up my fork, then paused. “Naya?”
Annia grinned. “Cute nickname, isn’t it? Now hurry up and finish eating.”
I shoveled down the food, then reached for my purse to pay for my share. To my consternation, I was short on the bill. “Don’t worry about it,” Annia said, tossing some coins on the able. “You can pay me back when we get our bounty.”
I sighed. “I’m going to need a lot of extra bounties if we keep eating out like this,” I complained as we left the restaurant.
Annia clapped me on the back. “You know how you can earn extra money? Keep an eye out for any gold that smells like geranium oil. I overheard some guys from the main crew saying that the last batch of stolen gold had been sprayed with the stuff, so the shifters are gonna try to trace it. If you find any and use it to apprehend the robber, you might just be able to cash in big.”
“I sure hope so,” I said fervently, but I wasn’t about to hold my breath. Let the Main Crew worry about their fancy case. I had a scared little girl to find, and that was more important than a bag of gold.
8
“Looks like your hunch is paying off, Naya,” Annia said as she hung up the phone. “You ready to go and follow up this new lead?”
“Hell yeah.” After lunch, Annia and I had gone back to the Guild and used her desk phone to call Mrs. Thotting. The quick call had revealed that Cerlina had another best friend, Galia Brennan, with whom she was still quite close, even after almost two years at her new school. Mrs. Thotting had called Galia’s mother right after Cerlina went missing, and was told they had not seen her. But little girls could be very good at keeping secrets, and maybe Cerlina had found a way to hide out there without alerting Galia’s parents.
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