Diamond in the Rough - Vivienne Savage Page 0,10

you?”

“I felt the change in the spiritual plane and knew someone had summoned those things.” The woman flattened her mouth. “Caius has grown desperate. And now, it is far too dangerous for you to return to the city. The wraiths will be waiting.”

“Then where can I go?”

“The desert. The Moritta are who you must seek next, and I’m afraid it’s no small task to find them.”

“Xavier mentioned as much.”

The old woman smiled. “Then you already know the path before you. I can do nothing more than arm and prepare you for the journey. I may not be able to walk alongside you through the desert, but I will provide the tools for your success—and of course, there is the Soul of Avarae.”

“What of it?”

“It is yours to take. I sense purpose for it that lies beyond this tower.”

Elora swept from the room and into the next one, her footfalls silent against the rugged floor. She returned with a wrapped bundle in her arms that smelled of dust and old leather, the spice of magic perfuming the air when Rosalia set the heavy parcel upon her lap and unfolded it. Metal buckles gleamed against dark leather, the armor masterfully made. She smoothed a hand over the supple leather and traced the contours while a magical aura hummed across her fingertips. Each tingle told a story, every subtle buzz made a promise.

None of it was ordinary, and the value exceeded anything she’d ever held in her hands before, surpassing even the elvish anellan.

“This is beautiful, but I wouldn’t call it appropriate for subtle work.”

“Look again,” Elora said, placing a hand on the same leather. A tingle traveled over Rosalia’s hand and the leather sang—musical chimes a gentle whisper within her thoughts. The dark leather and its golden trim darkened to a smooth, velvet matte black.

“Perfect. Thank you. Could you do one more thing for me? Can you…pass a message to a dear friend of mine? I need for you to send for Captain Adriano Anamesco.”

Elora glanced to the side, gazed at something Rosalia couldn’t perceive. She smiled. “That won’t be necessary, Rosalia. No need to send for your friend.”

“What? Why not?”

“Because he’s already here.”

5

Aiding and Abetting

While the guard legally ransacked his home and business, Moiranna kept him occupied with cardamom and rose-sugar dusted cookies, elvish grey tea, and conversation for the duration of the search. But he knew without a doubt hours later when the scowling watch sergeant returned his keys, face smudged with dirt and eyes filled with irritation, that they’d found nothing. He also knew what to expect from the pettiness of human men and didn’t count on finding either his home, storefront, or store rooms to be in immaculate condition.

“I’ll go with you,” Moiranna volunteered at once. A woman of her height should not have been either so bold or brave. Her gnomish heritage placed her at just above his waist and made Xavier feel positively giant by comparison. The small people were quite tiny indeed, and their halfbreeds were rarely much larger.

He couldn’t bear to inconvenience her. Worse, he didn’t want to bear the guilt of what would happen if the guard mistook her for an accomplice. “That won’t be necess—”

“Come.” The younger woman strode forward and crossed the narrow distance between their storefronts, not to be dissuaded. He knew what she planned at once, to be a witness to crimes committed by the guard so that he might file the appropriate report, though he knew already that he was powerless to address their behavior.

As expected, he found shelves toppled and creations tipped onto the floor. Sunlight streamed through the window, gilded beams glinting over scattered gears and exposed metal springs. He sighed as Moiranna ran forward to the middle of the aisle, her brown eyes large with surprise. Her small feet didn’t disturb the mess as she moved amidst it all and began righting objects that appeared undamaged.

“Master Bane, whatever did you do to anger the guard this way? Surely you can’t have deserved all of this!” She gestured toward a clock with its innards torn out. Metal bits and ruin sparkled over the floor, the waste of a week’s difficult work. “Is it…a woman?”

“A woman?” Xavier asked dumbly.

Moiranna stared up at him, pity and curiosity warring for prominence in her expression. “You’ve slept with the watch captain’s wife, haven’t you?” she finally accused at the end of the long and tense silence.

It took several moments for it to sink in. Finally, Xavier blinked. “What? No! Of