The Emperor's Wolves (Wolves of Elantra #1) - Michelle Sagara Page 0,83
I indulge?”
But Severn was now seated in front of Elluvian’s mirror, which was actually much larger than the one on Rosen’s desk. Elluvian’s mirror did not have to share space with trays of paper, unopened correspondence, and books meant to schedule appointments to speak with the elusive Lord Marlin.
“How much information can Records contain?”
“I am not aware that there is a limit,” Elluvian said.
“Why does all the paperwork exist, then?”
“You understand the necessity for paperwork?”
“Rosen explained it.”
Elluvian laughed. “I’m surprised your ears are still attached to your head.”
“She’d probably be happier if all of it was contained in Records.”
“No doubt. So would every person who has handled this particular desk since the inception of the Wolves.”
“Why isn’t it done?”
“It is done. But the paperwork allows for signatures and seals in a way that Records doesn’t. And the mechanism by which Records works is not well understood by many. Most of those who could claim that understanding are members of the Arcanum.”
“Arcanum? Imperial Mages?”
Elluvian chuckled. “Never, ever ask that where either Arcanists or Imperial Mages can hear you. No. The Arcanum is an ancient institute; it predates the Empire. It is where the best and brightest go to study magic, if they have displayed the aptitude for it. Imperial Mages work directly for the Emperor, and by extension, the Halls of Law. There are no Barrani Imperial Mages. No Barrani palace guards. No Barrani in Imperial Service.”
“But there are Barrani Wolves. And Hawks.”
“Say, rather, Barrani Wolf.” If he expected Severn to ask him to elucidate, those expectations were to be disappointed. Severn was now scanning Records, sifting them for any information he might find that they had missed.
“I want to speak with the Tha’alanari.”
“Again?” Elluvian smiled. “When you say Tha’alanari, do you refer to Ybelline?”
There was no answering smile. “It doesn’t matter who. It could be Garadin.”
“Will you venture into the Tha’alani quarter again?”
Severn shook his head. “I don’t think it’s helpful to be there. The only people who will speak to me are Tha’alanari—the people who serve the Emperor.”
“In which case, they might as well come here?”
“Lord Marlin said there was one man seconded to the Hawks we might speak to.”
“I am certain that was not his exact phrasing. Use the mirror,” Elluvian said.
Severn blinked.
“Use it like this: Ybelline, Tha’alanari.”
The mirror’s many disparate images faded. When color returned, Severn was now staring at the face of the future castelord.
* * *
“You wish to know about any Tha’alani death that occurred during the serial killings?”
“Yes. Not murders—or not obvious, detectable murders—but deaths. Any age group. Any location.”
“If the deaths were suspicious, would it not be more germane to look for unremarkable deaths outside of the quarter itself?”
“I don’t think any death that occurred outside of the quarter would be considered unremarkable,” Severn replied. “But if there are such deaths, they would be relevant.”
“You’ve searched Records in the Halls of Law?”
Severn nodded.
“And you’ve not found the information you seek.”
“I haven’t put all the information together—but no, I don’t think so. The deaths that occurred, that were listed as natural, happened too much before or too much after. And there are only two.”
“You believe that someone entered the Tha’alani quarter to kill one of my kin without alerting either the victim or the guards?”
“I think there are ways to kill that would be near instant and that would not cause alarm in the victim before his or her untimely, immediate death. Whoever was responsible for this death would understand the Tha’alaan as well as anyone who isn’t a part of it. The murders of your kin were brutal.”
“You think this was done entirely to harm the Tha’alaan.”
“I think it might have been done around the same time to possibly stop any of the Tha’alani from touching those memories or any memories surrounding the deaths, yes. I don’t think the person involved hated the Tha’alani.” He shook his head. “No, I think he must have hated or feared them—but I don’t think he bore ill will to the people he indirectly murdered.
“They were tools.”
“Your kin has long feared mine, and fear causes insanity.”
“Yes. But... I think he must have understood some part of that as well. If the Tha’alaan was injured enough, things might be buried that would otherwise draw attention.”
She was silent. Her eyes were green. In a human face, it would have been a lovely color. “Very well.” She closed her eyes. Opened them again. “This is not an avenue of investigation we pursued at the time—we know and fear the fear