Page 88 of Shield of Fire

“I’ll have you know it was an extremely unfortunate accident that took Rankin’s life,” Mathi said blandly.

“I’m sure the official reports listed it as such.”

“Oh, come on,” I said, when neither man elaborated. “You can’t just leave a statement like that hanging out there and not give details.”

“I assure you, we most certainly can. There are some things in this world better left unsaid and unknown.”

I was sure there was, but that would never stop curiosity. Or, at least, it would never stop mine. But the finality of Cynwrig’s tone meant I’d be questioning Mathi later rather than him.

“To bring this back to the matter at hand,” Lugh said. “Why was the third ruby found at Gilda’s? Even if she is connected to our nutcase elves, she didn’t have the power or nous to use it.”

“Maybe she was doing nothing more than keeping it hidden until they found the shield,” I said. “Remember, they need the three rubies to unleash the full force of the shield, and there’s not many who would have uncovered her hiding spot.”

It was lucky I had.

“She was servant class,” Mathi said. “She could not have moved about with the impunity needed to steal the stone.”

“And there lies the arrogance of the elves,” I said. “The so-called servant class hears and sees more than any of you could ever guess. They are all but invisible to highborns unless they want to fuck or in some other way use them.”

“Afran did accuse her of stealing,” Cynwrig said before Mathi could reply. “I never discovered what, exactly, she’d taken, but it’s more than possible she and our two elves had a long history of stealing goods and information.”

“And she was drugging you for information, if I remember correctly,” Lugh said mildly,

Mathi gave him a rather dark look. “That’s different.”

“Not really,” I said. “But there’s something else—something that does tie all this conjecture together. According to what I just heard in a vision, Halak, Gilda, and Keelakm were definitely working with someone on the council to steal information and goods.”

“Everyone on the council has been vetted,” Mathi said. “As have their immediate connections.”

“Vetting didn’t catch Gilda.” I hesitated. “That same vision told me Carla had dealt with both Gilda and our elves, and that she has multiple identities, including one as a standing council member.”

“Carla Wilson? The lawyer?” Mathi said, disbelief evident.

I nodded. “According to what I overheard via the Eye, they weren’t behind Gilda’s acquisition of the ruby, but someone on the council did give them information that led to it.”

“They?” Lugh said. “Who are ‘they’?”

My gaze met his. “Carla and the man I’m hearing but not seeing. They are Ninkil followers and were responsible for Mom’s death.”

Lugh swore and scrubbed a hand across his eyes. “And you’ve no clue as to who the man might be?”

“None, although I believe the reason I’m not seeing visuals is because he’s using a shield and some kind of voice modulator.” I shrugged. “I just don’t know enough about the Eye to be sure. I’m sorry.”

He reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “Don’t be. You’re doing an amazing job under trying circumstances, dearest sister. Don’t ever doubt that—or yourself.”

Tears prickled my eyes, and I hastily blinked them back. When the gods had been handing out big brothers, they’d certainly given me one of the best.

“If Carla had gotten the contact’s identity from those four men, my father surely would have,” Mathi said. “He did interview them extensively before she arrived.”

Extensively being code for using non-approved methods. I finished my whiskey as another arrived. “Thing is, even though she used Dahbree, she never got a name. Your father would likely have had the same result—and even he wouldn’t go up against the council without reason.”

Mathi pursed his lips. “On that I agree.”

“What about Gilda’s background check?” Lugh asked. “Did that reveal any other elven—or non-elven—contacts?”

“It didn’t even reveal Afran’s presence,” Mathi said, “so obviously it was not as thorough as it should have been.”

I took a drink. “Who did the check? Is it worth doing a background on them?”

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