The Emperor's Wolves (Wolves of Elantra #1) - Michelle Sagara Page 0,87
had come to accept that this desk served a necessary function for the Wolves. He wondered if her injuries could be healed with sufficient magical power. It was not an entirely idle thought. He now knew the location of a healer.
She glared at him as he approached her desk.
He chose to ignore the glare. “The Hawks will take the two surviving witnesses into protective custody,” he told her.
She didn’t ask for any context whatsoever. Her nod was grim, her eyes narrow. She, like Helmat, was not best pleased with him.
“I wish to make certain that the Hawks sent to secure that protection are Barrani.”
Some of the tension left her face, her jaw. “Severn is worried.”
“He is not, despite his age, a fool.”
“He thinks that his investigation caused the deaths of two of the four witnesses.”
“As I said, he’s not a fool. On the other hand, it’s unlikely the murderers were Barrani.”
“Then why send Barrani Hawks?”
“Because I might be wrong.”
Her eyes rounded.
“How big is this?” she demanded, although she took a moment to activate her mirror. “How big is it going to be?”
“If not for Severn’s early intervention?”
The mirror chimed three times—a wind chime sound that Rosen had chosen because she found it calming.
A familiar face filled the frame of Rosen’s mirror. Garadin, eyes emerald. “Ybelline will attend the Halls of Law in three hours.”
Elluvian frowned. When Garadin failed to add more words, he said, “I will meet her at the gates, and I will escort her here personally.”
“And home?”
“And home.”
The emerald of the Tha’alani’s eyes barely shifted.
“It would make more sense to send Severn back,” Elluvian then offered.
“It would, yes.” Garadin’s words were clipped. Ah. “Be at our gates in one hour.”
The mirror chimed again. This time, Helmat’s craggy face occupied the space. “If you’re to serve as her escort, take Severn with you.”
“Of course.”
* * *
“What exactly did you do this time?” Elluvian asked as they exited the Halls of Law.
“The Records of the Halls of Law didn’t have the information I needed.”
“And you asked Ybelline for it? You’ve already stirred the pot by asking for information that Tha’alani wouldn’t otherwise cede to outsiders.”
Severn nodded.
“Her visit today is not about that information.”
“Probably not.” He hesitated and then added, “Although she’ll probably have that information as well.”
“You don’t wish to tell me what you asked of her.”
“No.”
A short bark of laughter surprised Elluvian, as it was his. “My permission, as you must be aware, is not required. Rosen?”
Severn nodded. “She didn’t entirely approve.”
“She doesn’t entirely approve of anything.”
“She trusts the Wolflord.”
“Trust and approval are not the same, at least among my kin.”
“Your kin doesn’t trust anyone.” Severn’s voice held no accusation; it was neutral, observational.
“True. We have some cause.”
The cub nodded. “Do you think the Hawks will arrive in time?”
“I think they might be able to save one of the remaining two witnesses. I asked that the Hawks sent to provide protective custody be Barrani.”
“You trust them?”
“What did I just say? No. But unless they arrive to a cooling corpse, they have the best chance of offering substantive protection.”
“And if they fail?”
“That will give us information as well. Helmat is not pleased. The Hawklord is not pleased. In less than two days you’ve ruffled feathers—and in the case of the Hawklord, that description is literal. There is some chance the Barrani Hawks will have their pride on the line. Avoid bruising Barrani pride where you can.”
Severn nodded. He was, in silence, scanning the streets, his gaze flitting across the heights of buildings. Elluvian did not tell him that this caution was wasted. Caution, unless it devolved into fear, was never wasted.
* * *
Ybelline met them at the gate with a group of four Tha’alani guards as escort. She did not wear the flowing robes that were at home in the Tha’alani quarter; she wore, instead, the darker suits occupied by the Imperial Service. That, and the visible antennae, made her look far more intimidating to the mortals in the regular streets.
Elluvian tendered her a perfect bow. He nudged Severn, and Severn did the same, but it had not been his automatic response. Neither man held their bows; she was worthy of respect, not obeisance.
The four Tha’alani guards were green-eyed to a man. Or woman. They said nothing, but their antennae wove frantically in the empty air.
“No,” Ybelline said, her voice gracious, the word unadorned. She spoke it out loud; she meant it to be heard by those who had no access to the Tha’alaan. “I am certain I will be