The Emperor's Mask (Magebreakers Book 2)

by Ben S. Dobson

  “Or what? Say it, Carver.”

  “What if the Knights of the Emperor are pulling the strings? They might have infiltrated the organization.” Spellfire, that sounds crazy. The past few days, Tane saw the hand of the Knights everywhere, no matter how far-fetched. Except… crazy doesn’t have to mean wrong. Not when we’re dealing with a giant killer in a metal mask who can walk through wards and leave no trace.

  Kadka shook her head. “No. Makes no sense. Why send us to Deepweld then? If they are behind Mask, why put us in place to stop him?”

  “Because the Mask has been playing with us from the start! Sending us messages, trying to draw us into this. If the Knights of the Emperor are pulling the strings, maybe they sent us there because they wanted us there. Because we beat them once, and they can’t let that stand. We’ve been challenged now, and people are going to hear about it. Every murder we can’t stop discredits us a little bit more. Iskar told you that we were becoming a symbol for the cause, but maybe it’s a symbol his masters want erased.”

  “Is not like that,” Kadka said stubbornly. “You read people, Carver, but I was there, not you.”

  They were nearing the Uuthar estate now, an opulent gated manor like so many others on Riverview Avenue—home to the eldest and wealthiest of the Senate houses. Further down at the end of the road, Tane could see the massive Audlian estate, guarded by a veritable army. Daalia Audlian had certainly meant it when she’d talked about increasing security.

  “I know you liked him, Kadka,” Tane said, “but right now—”

  “Is not just because I like him,” Kadka said, narrowing her eyes. “Was way he talks. Like he believes in… better things.”

  Tane raised his hands. “Alright. But we can’t ignore any possibility right now.”

  “Including Uuthar woman. As much points at her as Iskar and Silver Dawn.”

  “Believe me, I haven’t forgotten. That’s why we’re going to talk to her. For all I know, it’s her and the Silver Dawn and the entire Senate. It feels like everyone we talk to could be a secret killer.” Tane’s fingertips found his watch-case and traveled over the familiar dents. “We need to end this, and the only way I know to make that happen is to follow every lead.”

  Kadka cocked her head at him, and the annoyance faded from her eyes. “Is not our fault just because Mask uses our name, Carver. Is not your fault. You know this, yes?”

  “I know,” he said. “But that doesn’t make me feel any better about it.”

  As they reached the Uuthar estate, a blue coach bearing the emblem of the constabulary—a golden shield emblazoned with a rearing gryphon—drew up outside the gate, and Indree climbed out. She was dressed in plain clothes rather than her uniform, presumably to spare the family embarrassment. Not a courtesy the bluecaps ever offered in the poorer districts.

  Indree raised a hand in greeting. “Tane, Kadka. Good timing. Come on.”

  The guards gave them no trouble at the gate. They were expected. A towering ogren footman led them across the grounds—not to the manor entrance, but around the side of the house, toward the rear gardens.

  “Remember, you’re just here to observe,” Indree said, glancing pointedly at Tane. “Senator Uuthar is speaking to us as a courtesy. I asked you here because you’re good at seeing lies, and I can’t start casting truth-spells on senators without stronger evidence than we have. But I don’t want you saying anything. Either of you.”

  “Understood,” said Tane. “I won’t say a word.” Unless I have to. He trusted Indree to ask the right questions, but it wasn’t her the Mask kept leaving messages for on top of dead bodies.

  Around the back of the manor, the grounds opened up into a vast well-maintained garden, divided into sections by manicured hedges. At the far end, the grounds sloped down toward the Aud river, and a high wall separated the estate from the bank. In a gazebo at the garden’s center, Noana Uuthar reclined in a huge chair with an open book in her hand. The footman led them to her, and she looked up as they approached.

  The footman bowed and introduced them. “Constable Inspector Indree Lovial and company, Your Honor.”

  Senator Uuthar remained in her chair—even sitting, only Kadka matched her height—and her perfect features broke into a gentle smile. “Welcome, all of you.” She was impossibly lovely, like all ogren—near nine-feet tall with golden hair and cheekbones that could have been carved from marble. Tane felt himself flush as she turned her eyes to him. “And I can only presume these are the ones they call Magebreakers? How interesting. What have you come to ask me about, Inspector Lovial?”

  “I’m very sorry I have to do this, senator, but I need to ask where you were when the Mask was seen at Deepweld manor last night, as well as the nights of the murders.” Indree handed a slip of paper to Senator Uuthar. “We’ll need to talk to these others too.”

  Uuthar looked over the list with solemn gravity. “My husband and my nephew.” Her nephew Aigan was the junior senator and heir to the house—Noana and Oden Uuthar had no children of their own. The great curse of the ogren was that they rarely carried to term, and when they did, one in three were born mindless, brutish ogres who had to be sequestered in a remote sanctuary at the south end of the isle. “Everyone in House Uuthar with standing invitations to all three crime scenes. Are we being accused of something?” Her voice didn’t fluctuate in the slightest, but Tane could have sworn he saw her eyes flick over Indree’s shoulder toward the manor house. What is she looking at? It was hard to follow her eyeline accurately given their difference in height, and there wasn’t much there. Some windows, another covered patio, a cellar door set into the foundation.

  “Not at all, Your Honor,” Indree said. “Again, I’m sorry, but we do need to be thorough. Every name we check off the list narrows it down. If you can all account for your movements, we’ll be on our way.”

  “We were here, of course. Oden and Aigan are brunching with guests in town, but I can tell you that we were together all three nights. The incidents were all late in the evening, weren’t they? We would have been settled in the lounge by then.” Again, the senator’s eyes moved. Just for an instant, and she covered it well, but Tane was certain now—she was looking at the cellar door. And she was nervous, for some reason. What does she have in there?

  “We’ll need to verify that with your staff,” Indree said. “Do you mind if we speak to them now?”

  For the briefest moment, Noana Uuthar’s perfect facade faltered. “Right now? I…” She regained her composure almost instantly. “Now isn’t a good time. We’re renovating a number of rooms in the house. But I know just who you’ll need to talk to. What if I send them to Stooketon Yard?”

  Tane caught Indree’s eye, and raised a brow. She nodded. She’d noticed it too.

  “That is very generous, Your Honor,” Indree said. “But I had hoped to have a look around the house and grounds as well. Just to be thorough, of course.”

  “I don’t think that will be necessary, Inspector,” Senator Uuthar said firmly. “I’m sure Chief Constable Durren would agree. I will send the appropriate staff to the Yard. Now please, excuse me.” She hefted her book, and smiled again—it was as lovely as before, but this time Tane could see the insincerity behind it. “I had just reached a rather exciting chapter.”

  Polite, but a dismissal all the same. They were ushered back around the house and off the grounds without delay.

  Tane waited until they reached Indree’s coach, away from the guardsmen at the gate, and then he said, “She was hiding something. She didn’t want you poking around the house, and she kept glancing at the cellar door.”

  “The cellar?” Indree frowned. “I didn’t catch that. But she certainly was quick to get rid of us when I suggested looking around the grounds.”

  “Which means is just what we should do, yes?” Kadka said. “Why leave?”

  “Because I need a warrant to search her property without her permission,” said Indree. “And Durren isn’t going to be happy when I ask
for one. Not for a senator’s estate.” She sighed. “I hate this case, I really do.”

  “We both know that’s going to take too long,” Tane said. “By the time you have your warrant, she’ll have hidden whatever it is she needs to hide. Spellfire, Ree, someone else could be dead by then!”

  “What else can I do, Tane?” Indree demanded. “I’m bound by the law. I’ll try to make Durren see reason—he’ll at least understand that more murders look bad for him. Until then, I don’t want you two doing anything stupid.”

  Tane held up his hands in surrender. “Couldn’t if we wanted to. Our invitation was temporary. There’s no way we’re getting back in through the estate’s wards.”

  Indree fixed him with a long look, and then nodded. “True, I suppose. Do you two need a ride?”

  Tane shook his head. “No, you should get straight back to the Yard and get started on that warrant. We’ll take the discs.”

  Indree just nodded and climbed up to her seat. “I’ll let you know when I have something.” She motioned to the driver, and then they were away.

  Tane turned to Kadka as soon as Indree was out of earshot. “She’ll never get it in time. Come on.”

  “I know this look.” A grin spread across Kadka’s face. “You have plan. What is it?”

  “To get back in through the estate’s wards. But we’re going to need help.”

  Chapter Twelve

  _____

  “MY FRIENDS! WHAT a wonderful treat to see you again!” Bastian Dewglen fluttered up to meet them on iridescent butterfly wings. He was dressed, as ever, in an impeccably tailored green suit and matching masquerade mask. Behind him, a massive warehouse workshop was filled with cluttered tables, and a small army was hard at work assembling artifacts out of brass and copper and gold and precious gems. Here and there, pincered brass arms attached to the tables performed simple tasks like sorting charms and artifacts into different crates—automation in its most basic, limited form. Even when there was nothing in front of them, they continued their grab-and-move motion in an endless pantomime.

  “Bastian,” Tane said with a smile. The round-bellied little sprite might have been a criminal, but his enthusiasm was hard to resist. “You’ve grown your operation, I see.” Bastian’s previous shop had been destroyed by men working for Chancellor Nieris—the new location was easily three times the size.

  Bastian sighed mournfully and placed a hand over his heart. “It was all I could do, in memory of the friends lost in that barbaric attack. We cannot let such evils press us down, Mister Carver! We must hold our heads high and show them the strength of the Audish spirit!” He flew by Tane to perch on Kadka’s shoulder. “My dearest Kadka, you understand what I mean, don’t you? Your irrepressible spirit is a great part of what I admire so about you.”

  Kadka laughed, tilting her head to look at him. “Still say too many words for what you mean, little man. But I understand.”

  Bastian beamed at her. “I knew you would!” His smile quickly fell into a frown. “But there do seem to be more evils than usual haunting our streets of late. A terrible thing, this Emperor’s Mask business. I suppose that’s what brings you here?”

  Tane raised an eyebrow. “What have you heard?”

  “It is all over Thaless that this Mask has challenged the Magebreakers,” Bastian said. “A grave mistake, and one I have no doubt that he will soon regret! But is it true?”

  All over Thaless. Wonderful. Well, no point lying, I suppose. “More or less. And don’t call us Magebreakers.”

  Bastian pouted his lower lip. “It seems a shame to waste such a wonderfully vivid title, but if you insist. In any event, I am delighted to know you are on the case! The Mask must be stopped. Anyone who fancies the rise of another Mage Emperor is a traitor to everything Audland represents. Magic for the magical? Pah! Magic is for everyone!” He punched a little hand into his palm as punctuation, his round cheeks flushed with passion. “My friends, your dedication to our nation’s interests never ceases to amaze me. I know that you will get the better of this madman in short order. But let us speak of happier things! I understand you have brought a very interesting guest to see me.”

  “Endo Stooke,” said Tane. “You’ve heard of him too, I take it.”

  “A young prodigy!” Bastian exclaimed by way of confirmation. “So little of his artifice work reaches the public, but I make a point of knowing the most talented names in the field. What I’ve heard of his progress with automation is astounding!”

  “So… can we bring him in?” Tane asked.

  “Ah,” said Bastian. “That little issue. I am sorry my friends had to hold him outside, but you know, the young son of a Senate house doesn’t come to my little shop every day. Normally there are channels for that, and of course my usual policy of acquiring a divination focus is out of the question. Are you quite certain he can be trusted to keep a secret?”

  “I believe so,” said Tane. “We were hired to investigate Ulnod Stooke’s murder. Endo just wants justice for his brother. He won’t do anything to jeopardize the investigation. And right now, we’re at a dead end without his help. And yours.”

  “Well that won’t do at all! Let us not delay another instant! If you trust him, I trust him!” Bastian clapped his hands together and motioned to the men waiting at the door. “Bring him in!”

  Bastian’s men escorted Endo in through the door. Wheeling in his chair, Endo surveyed the huge workshop with wide eyes.

  “I didn’t think it would be so big,” he said as he drew up alongside Tane and Kadka.

  Bastian hopped down from Kadka’s shoulder in a flutter of wings to alight on the arm of Endo’s chair. “Endo Stooke. My deepest condolences for your loss. A true tragedy.” He extended a tiny hand, and Endo hesitantly took it between his thumb and finger. Bastian shook vigourously. “Bastian Dewglen at your service, and let me say that even in these dark times, it is an honor to meet you! I have followed your artifice work where I could—particularly your work in automation. I’ve dabbled myself”—he gestured towards the brass arms working away behind him—“but only for the most repetitive tasks. I understand you have a great mind for it!”

  Endo flushed and ducked his head. “Thank you, but I’m not sure about that.”

  “Nonsense!” Bastian gestured at the chair beneath his feet. “This is your work, no? Such elegance!” He took flight once more, surveying the spells etched into brass and copper. “The efficiency is astounding.” Hovering by the wheels, he jabbed a finger excitedly at a section of glyphs and looked back at Tane. “Have you seen this?”

  Tane stepped closer and knelt to look. The glyphs etched around the circumference of the wheels detailed spells of motion and guidance. “That’s interesting. The way the steering and the momentum spells are integrated…”

  “I could never have arranged it so elegantly!” Bastian said. “The way one plays into the other, eliminating redundancies! Expensive to power even so, I imagine—my clientele prefers a better cost to effect—but to make such a thing function all day without an ancryst engine… Bravo, Mister Stooke!”

  “Well, I had a lot of free time to work on it,” Endo said, leaning over the side of his chair to look at them. The blush was fading from his cheeks, and there was a spark of excitement in his eye. “If you find that interesting, you might like the levitation spells underneath. They’re not perfect yet, but—”

  “Maybe you three talk about this later,” Kadka said from behind, and Tane glanced back to see her watching them with a sharp-toothed grin. “Could go all night, I think. But is not why we are here.”

  “Right.” Tane stood and brushed off his knees. “Bastian, we need something illegal fast.”

  Bastian landed on the arm of Endo’s chair once more. “Well, you have my attention! Perhaps it’s best if we speak in my office.”

  Bastian took flight and beckoned for them to follow, then led them through the warehouse to a room in the back corner. Inside, several comfortable chairs sat before a ped
estal with a sprite-sized desk atop it. A countertop ran around the edge of the room with a number of small work stations set upon its surface, most bearing artifacts in various stages of construction.

  Bastian landed atop the pedestal and rested his round body in the tiny chair behind his desk. “Please, sit,” he said. “Tell me more.”

  “We have to bypass some powerful wards,” Tane explained, lowering himself into a chair. Beside him, Kadka did the same, and Endo rolled his chair between theirs. “Probably best if I don’t say where, but Endo has a standing invite. The problem is, he can’t get where we need to get without being noticed. So I need a mimic vial.”

  “Ah,” said Bastian. “So that is why I’ve been given the pleasure of meeting young Mister Stooke.” He smiled at Endo. “I am glad to have had the opportunity, but a hair or fingernail would have sufficed. You hardly needed to trouble yourself coming here.”

  “I wanted to,” said Endo. “I… didn’t feel comfortable, after what happened to my brother… I couldn’t give a focus to a stranger without seeing with my own eyes what happened to it.” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to offend.”

  “No offense taken whatsoever!” Bastian exclaimed. “I do hate the label, but I am what some might call a criminal, after all! No, you were wise to consider the dangers. Perhaps you would like to put your focus into the vial yourself? I won’t lay a hand on it, and once our mutual friends have taken it from here, I expect I shall never see it again. Does that ease your mind?”

  Endo was silent a moment, and then nodded. “I… suppose it does.”

  “Well then, to business!” said Bastian. “I have the vials, of course. But there is a complication. They are only useful for confusing detection spells, not breaking wards.” He turned to Tane. “If you want to replace your Astral signature with his, you of all people must know it won’t work, Mister Carver. The vial will only overlay a second signature on top of yours. A masking spell won’t help—it might stop a spell from identifying you specifically, but not from sensing an Astral link at all. And any worthwhile ward will have been set to lock out such conflicts. It’s been tried a hundred different ways.”