Page 42 of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate
“Neither can I dismiss it.” Juuyu was a warrior in his own right, and he placed great trust in his own instincts.
They were on their second circuit of the facility when Mirrim stopped to chat with the security guard posted at the gallery entrance. Juuyu indicated the man’s clipboard, which he surrendered without protest.
“Colt’s been a real hit, especially with the children,” he was saying. “We should bring in one of the troupes. Maybe the folk singers?”
Mirrim answered, “It would mean more eyes on the place, but it might also increase the crowds.”
Valid points on both sides. Worth considering.
But Juuyu’s attention was locked on the guard’s record of comings and goings. A four-digit number and a time were listed in tidy columns. As well as a small checkmark. Given the depth of the stack, the notes went back several days, with the most recent page on top.
“What is this, please?” Juuyu asked.
“Oh, that’s just me keeping busy.” The silver-haired reaver tapped each column. “Ticket number, the time they entered, and I check them off when they leave again.”
It was all very orderly. And potentially useful, since they could cross-check ticket numbers in the system. Juuyu could only approve the keeping of such a systematic record. But that was also why he was concerned. “There is a gap.”
The man blinked. “Is there?”
Juuyu turned the clipboard. “More than one, actually. It happened yesterday. And the day before.”
“Huh.” The man’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t notice.”
Mirrim asked, “Why’d you leave a space, Jim?”
“I don’t remember.” Tapping the empty row, he murmured, “I think it was … something nice, though.”
Juuyu flicked open his watch and glanced around the courtyard. “Note the time.”
“Sixteen minutes ago.” Mirrim whistled sharply enough to make Juuyu wince, then shoved through the gallery doors. Over her shoulder, she snapped, “They could still be here!”
FIFTEEN
The Four Gentlemen
Juuyu swiftly double-checked the clipboard before catching up with Mirrim. “There are currently twelve guests and one school group in this section. We should not cause a stir.”
“Won’t need to.” Mirrim grimly slapped a sigil on the wall. One of Magda’s. The trigger set off a cascade of interlocked sigilcraft, scattering secondary sigils through every gallery.
“An interesting adaptation.”
“Pretty standard, really. We use these in hunting games. Magda’s been hoping to tag our sneak.” Mirrim initiated two more sets, then pointed at Juuyu. “I’ll confirm the safety of our guests. Make sure the Junzi’s secure.”
“Agreed.”
The whole exchange took no more than eight seconds, and Juuyu was gone before another could pass.
He arrowed along the most direct route, closer to the ceiling than the floor. A contingency that was only permissible because of Juuyu’s orders to protect the Junzi by any and all means. His own sigils were deploying in their order, diminishing the impact he made on human senses. While not truly invisible, he was difficult to notice. And gone in a blink, even if someone did.
Fingers flicked through familiar forms, and sigils spun out behind him. But Juuyu’s gaze was firmly fixed ahead. He, too, was a hunter. Eager for the chase.
It might not be the Rogue, welcome as that would be. Dragons were the natural prey of phoenixes, and he was confident he could bring death to their elusive foe, once cornered.
A fox capable of sidestepping Argent’s barriers was a far more frightening prospect. But difficult to imagine. Juuyu was of the opinion that the Gentleman Bandit hailed from one of the other trickster clans. But it was all speculation.
Nobody knew the thief’s identity.
When the Plum Cascade vanished from Lord Beckonthrall’s trove, polite murmurs and condolences were traded along with pleas of ignorance. However, the subsequent attempt on the Orchid Saddle had raised the proverbial hackles of everyone who understood the significance.
