Trick of Shadows (The Duskhunter Saga Book 2) Page 3

  I gave him an approving look. He was learning.

  The duke’s already thin lips thinned further, disappearing into his beard. “Well I,” he paused, “I don’t know where Charlotte kept her journal. I’ll search for it.”

  I bet you will, I thought. And once you find it, you’ll burn it. Outwardly, I smiled. “That will be very helpful. In the meantime we’ll get started questioning her close friends. When did her two ladies go missing?”

  The duke seemed to calm himself. “The first left us weeks before my wife’s death, the other shortly after. Their bodies were never found, so I don’t know if the vampire took them, or if they simply fled.”

  I nodded, taking in his words. “And Charlotte’s friends?”

  “My courier should be able to provide you with a list. He ran all of Charlotte’s errands and scheduled her outings. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to prepare my wife for her rites.”

  Steifan and I both bowed. Steifan because it was the proper etiquette, and me to hide my calculating expression. There was something wildly off about Charlotte’s murder, and her husband’s behavior, and I fully intended to find out what that was.

  For while my purpose was to hunt vampires, it was also to avenge innocent lives. I wasn’t sure what type of monster had caused Charlotte’s demise, but I would see that monster brought to justice, even if it was the man standing before me.

  Chapter Three

  The servant held the door for us as we walked outside, duteously avoiding eye contact. The young courier waited below the three steps leading down to the street. The guard who had escorted us was gone. Apparently he’d done his duty.

  I looked down at the courier as the door shut behind us. “You are to give us a list of all of the duchess’ friends and places she frequented,” I explained. “If you know what her schedule was a few days before she was killed, that would also be helpful.”

  The courier stepped back, looking to Steifan as if expecting him to dispute my words. When he didn’t, the courier nodded quickly, splaying short hair across his forehead. “I can escort you. The duchess had few friends. I can show you where they live.”

  What was this, I thought, someone actually being helpful? “What’s your name?” I asked.

  His flush hid his freckles. “Bastien Goddard, my lady.” He dipped his sandy head in a bow.

  I realized then that he didn’t keep looking to Steifan because he was male and therefore in charge. I just made him nervous in the way many women make young boys nervous.

  I smiled. “Pleasure to meet you, Bastien. We will follow your lead.”

  Bastien lifted his head and was off like a colt.

  Steifan leaned near my shoulder as we hurried after him. “That’s the nicest I’ve ever seen you be to, well, anyone.”

  “Oh shut up,” I said, not wanting to embarrass Bastien.

  My grin faded as we followed Bastien into another square, much smaller than the one at the entrance of the city. I’d realized why I found the boy’s demeanor charming. He reminded me of Elizabeth, the last person to find me worth interest. She hadn’t been frightened spending time with a hunter either, and it had gotten her killed.

  Bastien stopped walking at the edge of the square and turned to us. “Lady Montrant lives over there.” He pointed past gilded carts bearing pastries, cakes, and meat pies. “But she should be out here soon, most of the noble ladies take tea at this time.”

  I followed his finger as it moved to point at a gathering of wrought iron tables. Many ladies gathered there, and my first thought was how did they move in all that fabric? And how did their heads remain upright with such tall hair? I’d seen such garb on rare occasions growing up, but I was far more used to village girls in simple dresses, with their hair hanging in practical plaits.

  A woman emerged from the home Bastien had pointed out. Her lilac dress looked like it weighed more than three other ladies’ dresses put together. Her hair was pure silver with age, but appeared silken in texture, piled into artificial ringlets atop her head. Jewels embellished her bodice and her throat.

  “That’s her?” I asked Bastien.

  “Yes, Lady Montrant. She and the duchess were close friends for many years.”

  I looked to Steifan. “Find a place with Bastien to look inconspicuous. I want to know if anyone watches me questioning the lady with too much interest. Don’t question anyone, just note who might be watching and ask Bastien for their names.”

  Steifan seemed hesitant. “Do you want to question her yourself? Are you sure you know how to speak properly?”

  I scowled. “They will understand my words well enough.”

  Bastien tugged Steifan’s sleeve. “Come, I know just the place. No one will notice us watching.”

  Steifan gave me one last hesitant look, then allowed Bastien to guide him away.

  I turned my attention to Lady Montrant, now seated at a table with two other ladies while a servant poured them tea. I started walking toward them, then froze mid-step, sensing a dull thrum of energy from the Seeing Sword. It was the first time it had awoken since the night of Karpov’s death.

  I looked around, but no one was watching me, let alone threatening me. Perhaps it was nothing, though it did make me realize the sword had been quiet around the duke. If he was trying to cover up his wife’s murder, surely the sword would have seen him as a threat?

  I shook my head minutely and kept walking, stopping in front of Lady Montrant’s table.

  “My ladies,” I said, encompassing the two younger women with Lady Montrant in my gaze. “Do you mind if I join you?” I gestured to the empty chair at their table.

  The two younger women seemed to shrink as they looked up at me, while Lady Montrant seemed to grow. Her spine stiffened and her narrow nose raised. “I imagine this is about Charlotte? I can see no other reason for a hunter to be in this part of the city.”

  I ignored the subtle insult, not bothering to argue that many hunters came from noble families, and could fit in well amongst the wealthy. “Yes, this is about Charlotte. I’m told you and she were close friends. I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

  “Close friends.” She snorted. “Very well, have a seat.”

  I pulled out the remaining seat and lowered myself less than gracefully, snatching one of the pastries from the table on my way down. Lady Montrant already didn’t like me, so I might as well skip the niceties.

  I took a bite of the pastry, chewed and swallowed. “Were Duke and Duchess Auclair struggling with coin?”

  The lady’s jaw fell open, showing healthy teeth, a rarity in someone her age. Or at least a rarity in the small villages. I imagined many in this part of the city still had all their teeth. She shut her jaw with a click. “Why would you think such a thing?”

  “I was just at their home. It is a grand estate, but there are few grand treasures within.” I took another bite of pastry, enjoying the sweet, flaky crust.

  The lady seemed to think about her answer while her two companions pretended they were not in the middle of our conversation, politely sipping their tea.

  She started to reach for her own tea, then pulled her gloved hand away. “Very well. Yes, Charlotte was struggling with coin. I grew tired of sponsoring her every time we were out. I told her as much roughly two weeks ago. I now feel great remorse for what I said to her.”

  She didn’t look like she felt great remorse. She looked like she didn’t really care at all that her friend was gone.

  I decided on another tactic. “Do you know if Charlotte felt like anyone was watching her? Had she met anyone new?”

  The Lady Montrant smiled a secretive smile, deepening the furrows around her thin lips. “Charlotte met many new people, if you understand my meaning.”

  Was she implying that Charlotte was less than faithful in her marriage? Perhaps to earn extra coin? I couldn’t think of any way to ask my questions that wouldn’t have the lady calling for guards to escort me away, but I would remember the implication.

/>   “Do you know if Charlotte kept a journal?” I asked.

  The Lady Montrant stood, her movements quickly echoed by the two younger ladies. The lady looked down at me. “If Charlotte had a journal, it would be filled with the blatherings of a simpleton. Now if we’re quite finished, I have things to do.”

  I nodded. “If I have further questions, I’ll visit your home.”

  Her eyes went wide for just a heartbeat, but I didn’t miss it, and I would remember it. “Very well,” she snapped, then turned and walked away. Her two ladies curtsied, then followed Lady Montrant across the square.

  I watched them go, then looked down at the platter of uneaten pastries, and the three mostly full cups of tea. I highly doubted the lady had anywhere urgent to be. She had planned on a long teatime.

  I took another pastry for myself, and two more, one for Steifan and one for Bastien. We now had two suspects in the crime, the duke, and the Lady Montrant. I was anxious to see if Steifan and Bastien had spotted any more to add to the list.

  I stood and looked around, remembering the slight warning from the Seeing Sword. While a few ladies watched me curiously, none watched threateningly.

  But the threat was another thing to remember. Just because I was around civilized folk, didn’t mean I could lower my guard. If anything, it meant I should raise it.

  Bastien and Steifan found me as I meandered back in the direction of the duke’s estate. Bastien’s hiding place had indeed been a good one, because I hadn’t been able to pick them out from the growing crowd. The three of us walked down a small side street, and I handed each of them a pastry.

  Bastien looked at me like I was his new favorite person.

  I wiped away my smile, then turned my attention to Steifan. Mustn’t get too attached. “Did you notice anyone?”

  Steifan tucked a lock of black hair behind his ear, glancing out toward the main street warily. “Everyone was watching you, but most just glanced your way curiously. We did see the servant we met at the duke’s estate, but he never looked your way. Perhaps he tried too hard to not look your way.”

  I turned to Bastien, who had devoured his entire pastry in three bites. “What do you know of him? Have you worked with him for long?”

  Bastien wiped a fleck of frosting from his lip. “His name is Vannier, I am not sure of his surname. As far as I know, he has always served the duke. He speaks to me little, except to relay my tasks for the day.”

  I stroked my chin in thought. “Three suspects for our list then. The duke, whose motives are yet unclear. The Lady Montrant, because her former friend borrowed too much coin. And Vannier.” I looked down at Bastien. “Was Duchess Auclair a cruel mistress?”

  Bastien shrugged. “She was nicer than the duke. She looked down her nose at everyone, but at least she didn’t have a temper.”

  Steifan watched me intently, seeming to absorb every word.

  “Questions?” I asked.

  “I’m just wondering why you haven’t mentioned the vampire. We saw the bite. Do you think it was staged?”

  I shook my head. “No, I don’t think it was staged, I’m just not sure it’s what killed her. Lady Montrant implied that Charlotte spent time with men for coin. I don’t think a vampire would be beyond paying for blood if he was trying to remain well hidden within the city. It would explain why he would bite a duchess rather than taking a peasant.”

  Steifan stared at me wide-eyed. “You mean she willingly let a vampire bite her?”

  I shrugged. “If she was desperate enough, it’s a possibility. Whatever is going on here is dire enough to have resulted in a murder. We cannot afford to ignore any possibilities.” I snapped my mouth shut, realizing I probably shouldn’t be saying all of this in front of Bastien. He did, after all, work for the duke. He could be a spy.

  I observed his intrigued and somewhat excited expression. I really didn’t think he was a spy, he seemed to be having too much fun. But you never knew. I needed to be more careful around him.

  Steifan looked back toward the main street again as a well-dressed couple passed by. We had all gone silent, so they didn’t notice us.

  “What now?” Steifan asked once the couple was out of hearing range.

  I looked up at the sun. “We still have a few hours until evening. I want to question some of the common folk in the city before dark. Their lips might be a bit looser about things concerning the Duchess and Duke Auclair.” I didn’t think we’d be hunting any vampires tonight, but we would still search. I wanted to know as much as possible before we went out into the dark.

  I turned to Bastien. “This is where we leave you, for now. Do you think you can meet us again tomorrow? I may want to question more of Charlotte’s friends.”

  He grinned and nodded excitedly. “I can wake up early to take care of any tasks the duke might have for me. I could meet you an hour after dawn.”

  I nodded. “Meet us in the main market square. We’ll be waiting.”

  With that, he hurried off.

  “So you really didn’t see anyone else watching with interest?” I asked Steifan.

  He shook his head. “No one that stood out, though I had an uneasy feeling, like someone was watching me that I couldn’t see.”

  I once again thought of the warning from my sword, and of the face I had glimpsed when we first entered the White Quarter. “Be on your guard, Steifan. I have a feeling we have fallen into something much bigger than the Potentate could have known. We’ll stay at the inn near the market tonight. I don’t want to be anywhere near the duke’s estate while we sleep.”

  “Agreed,” he said as we started walking. “I’ll have nightmares enough about Charlotte’s corpse tonight.”

  I smirked. “Stay with me, and you’ll eventually collect enough nightmares to last a lifetime.”

  His black hair lifted in the breeze as he glanced at me. “You know Lyss, I don’t doubt that at all.”

  “Then you’re learning,” I said more somberly as we headed toward the gate.

  And he would continue to learn. Someday he would kill just as easily as I did, and part of me would mourn that day. My life was not something I would wish upon anyone, let alone a friend.

  Chapter Four

  We learned little more that evening, except that there were more people missing than just the duchess’ ladies. It wasn’t uncommon for people to go missing in such a large city, but it did seem an unusual amount. We ended up at the inn where we had rented a room upon our arrival to the city. There had only been one room available, which was well enough, as it saved coin. If Steifan was uncomfortable with the impropriety of the situation, well, he’d just have to deal with it.

  We had a meal of smoked trout and honeyed ale, then returned to our room. We would rest a short while, then go out into the night to see if I could sense any vampires.

  I unlocked the door and entered first, observing the lone bed, wash basin, and our belongings in the corner. My eyes darted back to the bed, realizing there was a yellow daisy there. Steifan pushed into the room behind me and I lunged toward the bed, snatching the flower and crushing it in my palm behind my back. I whipped around as Steifan shut the door.

  Steifan narrowed his eyes at me. “Why are you standing like that?”

  I relaxed my shoulders, still hiding the crushed daisy. “I just realized I had wanted to check on the horses one last time before we rested. I’ll be right back.”

  His continued gaze said he didn’t believe me, but after a moment, he nodded.

  When he turned his back to fetch something from the saddlebags, I hurried out of the room, shutting the door quickly behind me. I looked at the crushed flower in my hand, fueling my budding anger, because I knew exactly who it was from. What right had Asher to follow me here? And to know which room I rented? He’d probably bespelled the innkeep into telling him while Steifan and I had been busy with our evening meal.

  I hurried down the hall and down the stairs before Steifan could think to follow me. Once I was outside, I dro
pped the daisy on the ground, then headed for the stables. If Asher was around, he would find me.

  I was checking over our horses when I sensed a presence at my back. I turned to find Asher leaning against a thick wooden post supporting the roof of the stable. He stood in profile, his face partially obscured by his long white hair draped over his black coat.

  “You should know by now I’m not impressed by dramatic entrances,” I chided.

  He turned his face toward me and smiled. “Yes, you are impressed by very little.” The light from one of the lanterns illuminating the stable hit his face just right, cutting across one silver eye and one high cheekbone.

  I crossed my arms and leaned my back against my horse’s pen. “Why are you here? We are a long way from the mires.”

  He pushed away from the post and closed the distance between us. “I wanted to ensure you wouldn’t get into any more trouble. You seem to attract it from all directions.”

  I wanted to back up, but I had effectively trapped myself with the pen behind me. My horse nudged my shoulder, reminding me that it was there. “You didn’t come all this way just to keep me out of trouble. Why are you really here?”

  “One of the ancients who maintained the old order was killed recently. I had hoped you could help me hunt the culprits. When I searched for you, I could hardly sense you. I didn’t expect you to travel so far.”

  My breath caught at his words. If an ancient had been killed, that meant there were indeed other vampires carrying forth Karpov’s plan. I exhaled, then sucked in a sharp breath. “When did it happen?”

  “Two nights ago,” he explained. “Quite the coincidence that you were sent to a far off city not long before, if my estimations of your travel time are accurate.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “The Potentate sent me here. There was no way he could have known that one of the ancients was to be killed. I imagine you have ruled out the possibility of the kill being claimed by a hunter?”