knew this quite well, held up a staying hand, and Severn fell silent. It was a pity that such a gesture didn’t have the same effect on Elluvian.
“You have the makings of an excellent Hawk,” Helmat told Severn. “Which is a pity—for them. You believe that somewhere, in the Tha’alaan, there are the memories of someone Barrani?”
“I think it a high possibility. And I think the murders themselves were meant to overwhelm the Tha’alaan so completely, any notice of that would be submerged by horror and fear. But I don’t understand entirely how the Tha’alaan works. I don’t understand how the Tha’alanari work. I believe Ybelline could explain both.”
“Do you feel it’s necessary? You went to the High Halls with Elluvian yesterday. Elluvian feels he has the case in hand. Do you not believe him?”
“I’m not certain that the Emperor’s Laws are enacted by feelings.”
Helmat’s laugh was an explosive bark. “You haven’t discussed this with Elluvian.”
“No. I told him only that I wished to visit the Tha’alani quarter, and he said I would require permission.”
“I might be moved to grant that permission if you detail your day as Elluvian’s escort.”
“He hasn’t reported?”
“He has. The report was absent details.”
“No one attempted to injure—or kill him. We met with Lord Corvallan and Lord Cassandre.” Severn paused. Helmat recognized the names, although technically the Wolves did not involve themselves with the Barrani except at Imperial command. “He told them that the Barrani man seen at the edge of the crowd during one of these murders was also a Lord of the High Court.”
“Absent many details. This is not good news.”
Severn said nothing.
Helmat, however, was not Barrani. There were subtleties Elluvian missed that Helmat did not. The Wolflord’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t believe Elluvian was telling them the truth.” How will you deal with this, Severn?
“I believe,” Severn said, without hesitation, “that Elluvian believes the Lord in question—”
“Which lord?”
“An’Sennarin.”
Helmat cursed. “Continue.”
“Elluvian believes An’Sennarin is responsible for the deaths, or rather, for commanding that they take place. I don’t believe that An’Sennarin was personally present and implicated by mortal memories, but he allowed the two Lords to believe that he was.”
“Did they believe it?”
Severn shrugged. “They were upset—or unsettled—enough that it was hard for me to tell.”
Fair enough. “I think I will partner Elluvian with you for future visits to the High Halls. You at least returned alive.” Helmat turned to the mirror on his desk. “Imperial Service,” he said. “You will not have Elluvian’s company for your visit to the Tha’alani quarter.”
Severn didn’t point out that the permission hadn’t yet been granted. Nor did he seem at all uncomfortable with the lack of Elluvian.
“Before you leave I have one piece of advice.”
Severn, who had not yet turned toward the office door, nodded.
“Do not get personally involved in crimes. Your job—our job—is to follow the Emperor’s command. Each crime, and each criminal, has been examined by Imperial judicial process. Do not place any of your own ego in the outcome.”
* * *
Elluvian’s clothing was far more suitable for visiting the Tha’alani quarters than the clothing Severn otherwise owned. As he hadn’t been required to pay for any of it, Severn hesitated; the hesitation was brief. He understood Mellianne’s instinctive distrust and resentment of what the clothing itself might signify, but Mellianne wasn’t with him. No other Wolf was.
Rosen was annoyed on his behalf. If the Wolflord had advised Severn to treat each job as impersonally as possible, he hadn’t ordered Severn to treat the men and women who were part of the Wolf pack beneath his command in the same way. And even if he had, he hadn’t told Rosen.
“I can’t believe Helmat is sending you to the Tha’alani quarter. It’s been less than a week since you were examined.”
“He isn’t sending me against my will,” Severn began.
“No, of course not. You’re young and you want to make a good impression. But this is beyond the pale. He should send Jaren if he wants information.”
Any attempt to tell Rosen that the information desired was desired by Severn himself was going to end in dismal failure. Severn did try. Although he knew very little about Helmat Marlin, he instinctively almost trusted him. He didn’t want to cause trouble for the Wolflord.
That trouble, however, was not his to mitigate. Rosen was annoyed. Severn accepted what he couldn’t change, as he always had.
He discovered that the Tha’alani quarter, unlike the Leontine quarter, was heavily walled and guarded. Both mortal Imperial guards and Tha’alani guards blocked the only visible