Page 59 of Ryld's Shadows
Chapter Thirteen
Hank had been trying to help Ryld feel a little bit better about the disaster with his teacher. It was all the arrogant teacher’s fault, but Ryld still felt terrible. Then Kai had stormed back with news about the court and Ryld being confined to his suite. There’d been some waving of arms and some unkind words about young mages on Kai’s part before he’d stormed out again. He understood why Kai was so agitated, but his anger at other people had only made Ryld withdraw more into himself.
Not long after that, a knock sounded on the door. Hank opened it to a short parade of servants carrying…art supplies? They left everything just inside the door and hurried off. None of them looked up from their feet even though Ryld had retreated to the bedroom.
“Guess I’ll see what we have here,” Hank muttered as the door shut again.
A tilting easel that Ryld could use the way he did his draughting desk back home—Hank set that up by the big window in their parlor. Brushes, paints, bottles of ink, and quills—he moved a side table over next to the easel for those. Paper of different sizes and textures—second side table.
“Ryld?” He stuck his head in the bedroom where Ryld was lying on his back, staring at the ceiling. “They brought some things for you to make patterns, if you want.”
Ryld slowly got up, but Hank could tell he was only making the effort for his sake. They had been through so much together since Hank had become his companion, but not in all that time had he seen Ryld look so defeated. Even so, Ryld went to the area Hank had set up and sat in the chair, running his fingers over some of the items.
“Thank you. For doing this.” He gestured to the supplies.
“You’re welcome.”
Ryld selected a feather quill. Instead of using it he twirled it between his fingers then brushed the edge over his cheek. He set it aside and chose a piece of paper and brush. While he worked, Hank used Kai’s laptop to do some research.
Both databases had already been backed up to Kai’s server in Research back at AURA, so even if someone got nervous, they wouldn’t be able to erase the incriminating entries. Hank had earmarked every suspicious deposit and every equally suspicious withdrawal and had coded their copies to show the discrepancies—all the places where the databases didn’t match. There were errors here and there, small ones, but ones that he felt confident would be born out in attempts to balance the bank statements.
Not much more he could do there, so he looked into the orphanage itself. No news articles jumped out at him, just the usual charity function this and fundraiser that in the local sources. A short police blotter mention concerning adisturbanceand apixie individual, no names given. The building had once, yes, been Kent City Elementary, left vacant for several years when the population declined, and the elementary and middle schools had been combined into one building. Purchased by Pacific Redfern and Co., a real estate developer, slated for demolition with plans for mixed-use development…
Then the demolition didn’t happen. The next sale on the parcel number was to the Goodworks Foundation. Whoever they were. Frustratingly, Hank found no information on them at all. Charitable trusts didn’t always have a big online presence but…something.
The next year, the orphanage opened.
Just all a little too convenient.
He was just about to start digging into information about Ms. Albright when Kai swept back in.
“You could knock,” Hank said without glancing up from the screen.
“Ah. Yes. I should.” Kai had the decency to look embarrassed. “I had a thought.”
“Just one?”
“Terribly funny. I think the pixies might have information for us.”
Hank put the laptop down. “You’re going back out there, aren’t you? Even though the place didn’t feel safe at all.”
Kai sniffed in that half-offended way. “If you’re concerned, you could come with me. Perhaps they would be more comfortable speaking with you.”
“Maybe.” Hank stepped over to the window and kissed the top of Ryld’s head. “Would you be all right if we took a trip over there?”
Ryld stopped what he was doing and looked up. “The place you are going is not safe?”
“Pixieland. We were there before.” Hank chewed on his lip with his tusk. “There was a…tension there. A watchfulness. I’m not sure it’s unsafe, but I wouldn’t send Kai in there alone.”
Ryld nodded. He seemed to consider Hank’s words a moment then lifted the paper he’d been working on, handing it to Hank. “Take this with you. For luck.”
The pattern on the paper was colorful, done in a loose whimsical fashion. Each color overlapped slightly with another, forming rows of fairy wings on a soft blue background.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you, sweetheart.” Hank leaned down for a proper kiss and it occurred to him that some part of Ryld’s thoughts had been with the pixies, too. That made him more certain that Kai was right, and this was the next logical step.
He folded the paper carefully and put it in his shirt pocket. “We’ll be back in a few hours.”
He knew Ryld heard him. The non-answer happened when he didn’t think an answer was necessary and he’d already turned his attention back to his patterns.
