The Emperor's Wolves (Wolves of Elantra #1) - Michelle Sagara Page 0,120

a test for writing composition. If you pass one of them, you don’t have to take the other. There is also a series of combat classes.”

“Weapon?”

“Yes. Basic weapons and unarmed. I figured you’d find those useful.”

“Is there a test?”

“It’s not called that, but yes.”

Severn was silent for one long beat. “How many hours a week are these classes expected to take?”

“Elluvian nixed the combat classes.”

“Oh?”

“He told Helmat he’ll train you personally.”

“I think I’d prefer the classes.”

Rosen’s brows rose. “You’re really not as young as you look, are you?” The words were soft, and far more serious in tone. “Why would you prefer the classes? Most of the younger Wolves would have considered Elluvian’s personal interest a bit of an honor.”

“You don’t.”

She chuckled. “I’m not young anymore.”

Severn shrugged. “I’d prefer the classes because most of the younger Wolves will consider Elluvian’s interest an honor.”

“You’re worried about Mellianne.”

“Mellianne is a Wolf, yes.”

“If that’s your concern, you’re going to have to talk to Helmat. He trusts Elluvian. It’s almost safe for him to do so.” The implication that it wasn’t safe for Severn was so clear, extra words would have been superfluous.

“I’m not sure I have the time for classes.”

“No, you probably don’t. Your current mission isn’t a job for new recruits. Mellianne and Darrell weren’t sent on active hunts until they’d passed all of the classes they were forced to take. If Jaren were here, he’d be shadowing Elluvian, not you. Jaren’s not here. I can’t do it,” she added, looking briefly at her leg and the hand that was missing fingers. “Doesn’t matter if you have the time or not. We have to arrange them anyway.”

“Even if I’m forced to miss them?”

“Yeah. You’ll be forced to log missed lessons and to provide written reasons—”

“In Barrani?”

“Barrani is the preferred language for most of our so-called academics, yes. It’s not necessary, but it’s what the hierarchy expects.”

Severn nodded. He glanced, once again, at the mirror on her desk, which was inactive. “If I make a query, will I be logged?”

“Yes.”

“Will anyone who is not a Wolf see that log?”

“Not unless Helmat gives that permission. Hawks and Swords are always logged. Any query that comes through either branch is noted. Wolves have slightly different imperatives.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re Wolves. Some of the work the Wolves do is more secretive in nature. We’re not the Imperial Service, but we’re not Hawks either.”

“If I wanted to query some of the Hawks’ recent work, I have access to that information?”

Rosen exhaled. “Yes. Elluvian’s mirror has the relevant reports.” At Severn’s expression, she added, “You want to know about the remaining witness.”

He nodded.

“The information about that witness, and the three who didn’t survive to become part of your investigation, are waiting for you. Don’t look at me like that—Helmat’s been closeted in meetings for the past few days and he hates meetings. We know what some of those meetings are about.

“I’d love to know why you think the Tha’alani castelord is relevant, though.”

* * *

The witness, Dogan Sapson, was in jail. The cells served two purposes, the first being the expected one. They kept the criminals in. Given the nature of some of the criminals and some of their crimes, the cells had been constructed with protections against various forms of magic. Those protections were also useful when attempting to preserve the life of someone who had been targeted by the powerful.

Severn looked at the three morgue reports the Hawks had also filed. He knew what had killed the first two witnesses; the third had drowned. The drowning, however, had not occurred in any of the expected places—which is to say, near any body of water, large or small. If the first two deaths could be passed off as the natural outcomes of criminal activities gone wrong, the third could not.

Practical magic, Severn thought grimly. Of all of the lessons he’d been offered—or threatened with—that was the one he didn’t want to miss. He knew of magic, of course—any street child did. He’d never had the means to separate the stories of the street from reality. If a man could die from drowning without being near or in actual water, that was an application of magic he wanted to understand.

The Barrani Hawks had been sent to secure both of the two witnesses who had been alive when Severn’s sessions with Ybelline had begun in earnest. The first group had had the witness in custody; he had drowned in the middle of a city street, with no obvious visible intervention. The