Page 74 of Death of the Glass Angel
“I. . .” Janus wanted to defend herself, but found nothing to say.
“Not every evoker exists to start bar fights.” Felsin jabbed.
“Don’t lie to yourself, brother. You get into just as many.” Brand’s eyes darted west. “Ah, but you have a guest.” Glancing at Janus, he walked away.
A red-haired woman in a plain pale-green gown curtsied to Brand before approaching Janus. Scarlet eyes searched Janus’ face as the cefran woman curtsied.
“Sorry to bother you, Lady Janus.” The woman said. “I’m looking for someone, and your steward said only you would know where to find them.”
“Who? Talon?” Janus guessed.
“Yes. Have you seen him? He was late for our appointment.”
Janus flipped through her mind, recalling the woman. Lady Mela, Prince Paulus’ lover. Why was she looking for Talon? Shaking her head, Janus responded. “I haven’t seen Talon all day.”
“Did he mention where he might be going?”
“Shopping. He wanted to peruse the visiting merchants.”
“Ah. He’s probably lost track of time then.” Lady Mela offered another curtsy. “Thank you.” She spun on her heel and strode away.
Janus watched the woman depart, a frown deepening on her face. A shiver ran down her spine, and she stiffened.
The woman’s silhouette as she faded into the night matched the starlit woman in Janus’ vision; the one beneath the hanged man’s constellation. The one consumed by dragon’s shadow.
Waiting for Mela to leave, Felsin turned to Janus. “I keep retracing what Alfaris showed you. He’s never been direct, but I usually puzzle out what he means.”
“Did you figure it out?”
“We’re missing something. You said you didn’t recognize the woman standing with the antlered dragon.”
“Good timing,” Janus said. “I just found her.”
* * *
Talon was fed up with this investigation. What a waste of time. Here he stood in the barren stone quarter, tracking down a kidnapper.
Assassins stalked the city, ordered by a shadowed hand. What was Valkyrie thinking, wasting his time with this?
Thumbing through his list of names, Talon watched the crowds funneling through the mountain city’s streets. Fifty young men were gone. All stormborn cefra. But nobody cared.
Sighing, Talon fished his pocket watch from his coat and snapped it open. He stared at the ticking hands before starting. Valkyrie had wanted to meet him at a café to exchange notes and update each other. He usually was rather punctual. Evidently, not tonight.
“There you are.”
How timely. Returning the watch to his pocket, Talon spun to face Valkyrie, dressed down from her Lady Mela guise into simple leathers. She looked equal parts irritated and amused.
“Sorry. I’ve been distracted.” Talon muttered.
“Find anything?”
“Someone’s got it out for no-name stormborns,” Talon explained. “What about you?”
“Not much. The assassin who fled was found dead.” Valkyrie said, eyes scanning the maze-like streets of huts. “You said all the victims were stormborn?”
“Yeah. Young men, nobody will miss.”
“Hm.” Valkyrie’s eyes flashed. “Like you.”
