Page 54 of The Iron Dagger
Hara’s eyes were wide. “I don’t know how you talked your way out of that. Why aren’t you in a jail cell in Norwen right now?”
“I paid them off, and they left quick as anything,” he said with a wave of his hand.
“You paid them . . . but you didn’t give back the money we took?”
“No. But thinking about it, it probably amounts to the same thing.”
“So, what happened here is that we robbed the man, and the lawmen benefitted,” she said.
Gideon chuckled. “I suppose you could think of it that way. But that’s the way it goes. Corrupt to the man, every one of them. What of it?”
“Nothing. It’s just very interesting. The power that is in money.”
“The greatest power of all,” said Gideon, toying with a fork. He gave her a sardonic smile. “That makes you the most powerful sorcerer of all.”
Hara chewed slowly. The sun illuminated the different tones of chestnut and sable in her hair. He imagined how soft the skin just under her jaw would feel on his lips. Had she always been so achingly lovely, even back in the cottage? What he wouldn’t give to have spent the night in here instead.
“I’m sorry to have left you alone in here all morning. I hope you weren’t too bored,” he said.
“I wasn’t bored. I sought out the Head Witch Recruiter and I have been made a part of their ranks.”
If he had been drinking from the teacup, he would have spat it out. “You didwhat?”
“Should I not have?” said Hara, worry touching her eyes. “I was very careful with how I spoke so as not to give anything away.”
“No, I just—Ihave never even met the Head Recruiter,” said Gideon. “How did you manage it?”
Hara told him of her trials before the Recruiters agreed she could be admitted to the office and gain access to the records.
This was better than he could have planned for. Turnswallow had a reputation for keeping his group to themselves. Despite working closely under Gideon’s father, Turnswallow had never attended a banquet or a cotillion with the other senior officials.
On the road Gideon entertained the idea of pulling strings with his father to secure Hara’s place among the Recruiters, or else to give her special access to their records, but those plans were bound to come with many grumblings and bribes. It had not crossed his mind that Hara could gaintheir trust legitimately, mainly because he thought she would be frightened and reluctant.
A new sense of admiration touched him as he watched her slurp her soup. He’d been fretting all morning that she would need his company before she felt comfortable roaming the palace on her own, but that did not seem to be the case.
“Are you certain you don’t need my help with the Recruiters?” said Gideon.
Hara shook her head. “It would be strange if you were seen helping me with my research, especially if you’ve never shown an interest in magic before. I think it’s best if we act as though there is nothing between us but gratitude. We should play our parts in public and meet in secret when we can.”
He knew she was right, but her matter-of-fact tone made him sulk inwardly. Which was nonsense. He kept his features smooth.
“While you search the Recruiters’ records, I will find out if my father’s seneschals have any records in their keeping,” said Gideon. “Perhaps even the library could have some helpful material. There are certainly books about the overthrow of the Ilmarinen. We can see if anything is mentioned about what happened to members of their court afterward.”
“That may not even be necessary,” said Hara, and her eyes were large and bright. “Gideon, Markus Turnswallow was the one who took her. I saw her in his memory.”
“What?” Gideon breathed. Having never met the man, he knew almost nothing about him or how long he’d been in his father’s employ. “So then look now! You looked into my past when you were out in the woods far away from my bedside.”
Hara was shaking her head. “I tried—I’ve been trying all afternoon. Since our relationship is so new and tenuous, I have no control over what I See. It’s very murky, and I suspect he has trained his mental shields to protect Corvus’ secrets.”
“Can you See anything at all?”
“I keep Seeing snow, blinding white snow on a mountain. There is a plummeting sensation, as though he is falling from a great height. And then he is standing in the snow again as if nothing has happened. And it repeats over and over. This is the memory that keeps surfacing every time I look.”
“Perhaps he meddled with it somehow. It seems we need to do some research on Sight and memory,” said Gideon thoughtfully. To his surprise, Hara laughed. “What is it?”
“It’s just a bit ironic. My mother was the greatest Seer in living memory. She would be the expert on such a matter.”
Gideon smiled. “Perhaps she left some material in the library. And in the meantime, we will see if it is possible to tamper with a memory.”
