the investigator recognized the man who clearly handed off the assignment.”
“Yes, that would be my guess as well. He does mention the possibility of a large withdrawal from Gabriel’s account, but not conclusively.” Although it was not information that led her to draw any conclusion she had not already drawn, it was useful in one way. Haerrad, who publicly disdained the magi, clearly had reliable connections within the Order itself.
* * *
When Jarven ATerafin returned to his rooms within the manse, he had a guest. She was not waiting in the hall; she was seated in the parlor; nor did she rise when he entered. Instead, she watched him with care. His clothing was in slight disarray; Jarven had not been one of the members of House Terafin who had made their hasty retreat from the Common to the manse. If he liked to play at age—and he did, when it suited him—he was not a young man by any stretch of the imagination.
“Have you just returned?” she asked him quietly.
“Finch,” he replied, smiling. He offered her a bow. “I must be addled; I was certain I had locked those doors on my way out.”
“You’re still certain,” she replied, her smile both present and reluctant.
“So I am. I admit I am slightly surprised to see you here.”
She lifted a brow.
“That is the absolute truth, my dear. You are honestly far too embroiled with Lucille if you can doubt that—and doubt it so frankly.”
“I suppose it’s the first time I’ve broken into your rooms.”
“I hope it’s the first time you’ve broken into anyone’s rooms; it would be considered completely inappropriate behavior for a member of the House Council—and risky behavior for a member of your age and relative seniority. I trust there is a reason for it, other than to test the deplorable security of these locks?”
“There is. I want to know why you approached Haval with information about Gabriel ATerafin. I considered asking Lucille, but thought that should be my last line of offense, not my first.”
“Ah. So you are not yet angry.”
“I’m not angry, no. Worried. Concerned. Curious in an uneasy way. I’ll reserve anger for later use.”
“If you are asking why I did not approach you, I had my reasons.”
“I have no doubt of that—but I would like to know what they were.” She folded her arms across her chest, tilting her chin up as if she were Lucille behind the bastion of her desk.
“Because I had the information. I am fond of you, Finch, but the information, given to you, would be of little value.”
“It would reach Jewel.”
“Ah.” He crossed the parlor and opened a small cabinet. “I have had a rather tiring afternoon—and an unexpectedly exciting one—and I am about to indulge in a drink that is not tea. Will you join me?” He pulled out one glass. “I will take that wrinkled nose as a no.”
“I will keep you company while you drink,” she offered.
“Good. You can perhaps explain what occurred in the Common since you will not be otherwise occupied.”
“Explain? You were there, Jarven. You saw what we all saw.”
“I am certain I saw more than you saw,” was his friendly reply. He took a small table, dragged it across the very fine rug, and deposited his squat, round glass in its center. He then went back for a chair. “But it is possible that your understanding of what you did notice was deeper than my own. I would therefore be quite interested in hearing your version of events.”
“Haval first,” she told him.
“Finch, you wound me. I am all but exhausted.”
She rose then, and fetched a footstool from the corner of the room farthest from the door. This, she carried—although it was much heavier than it looked. She placed it firmly in front of Jarven’s feet, and then resumed her own seat.
“You are not in a terribly charitable mood, I see. Then again, you almost never are, where that girl is concerned.”
“Where The Terafin is concerned,” she said, correcting him.
“My dear, if I answer your questions, Haval will be ill-pleased.”
“Haval is already ill-pleased.”
“Oh?”
“You asked for the House Council seat. Whatever else exists between you, that was no part of his plan.”
“And you are so certain it is part of mine?”
“Tell me it’s not.”
“It is not.”
“Liar.”
He chuckled, lifted his glass, and held it to the light. It was magelight. “Do you understand why I maintain my position in the Merchant Authority?”
“Lucille would kill you if you quit.”
He laughed. “I assure you that is not the