Page 124 of Blood Sanctuary, Part One

“We are not making any accusations, Honored Master,” said Lio. “If we were treating your colleague like a criminal, he would be expected to offer a gift to those affected by the destruction. As the guest houses are under the auspices of the Queens’ Chamberlain, that would be my mother. As Firstgift Komnenos, I can speak for her and assure you she will overlook this unpleasant occurrence.”

Skleros laughed. “No Hesperine will get a gift out of me. That’s not the nature of my profession.”

Lio looked at him. “Considering everything you have done, you are very fortunate that I am not demanding justice tonight.”

“We will now remove your smokes,” Mak informed the Gift Collector, “as well as any vials, plant matter, or tools capable of starting a fire.”

“We will not tolerate this insult,” Chrysanthos said.

Mak and Lyros drew closer to the necromancer. The surrounding Tenebrans backed away.

Skleros laughed softly, as if to himself. That laugh worried Cassia more than anything else.

He held out his arms, as if taunting the Stewards. Mak and Lyros’s ward deepened. Lio’s eyes dilated, and in her mind, she felt the magic he held ready.

Mak and Lyros methodically searched Skleros’s person, pulling out a bundle of a dozen smokes. The tinderbox he had taken from Eudias was next. They proceeded to divest the Gift Collector of vials and packets until they had found all his tonics and smoking herbs. They deposited the lot in a bag like the one Rudhira had used to secure the suspicious wine goblet.

“We are thankful for your timely intervention,” Benedict said to Mak and Lyros. “This could have been much worse.”

“Thank all the gods there wasn’t anyone inside,” said Lord Gaius. “We are deeply sorry for the damage to your guest house. It does not sit well with my conscience that no reparation is to be made.”

“Reparation is notyourresponsibility,” Lio replied. “My family’s only concern is that your stay in Selas is safe and enjoyable. Let us all simply be grateful no one was harmed. By comparison, the far lesser loss of possessions is not worth considering.”

“I must recover what I can from my rooms,” Chrysanthos insisted. “You must allow me inside.”

Mak shook his head. “Out of the question.”

“For your safety.” Lyros’s smile did not reach his eyes.

“The Stand has spoken,” Lio said. “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait. Until the Eighth Princess and Muse Menodora are completely finished, my father has inspected the structure to ensure the fire did not compromise its integrity, the Stand has declared the guest house safe for mortals, and my mother has arranged new rooms for you in an undamaged wing, I cannot allow you to pass. In the meantime, may I suggest you accept my Ritual mother’s invitation to a pleasant sailing adventure up the coast?”

“Thank you, Ambassador,” Cassia said. “We shall take your suggestion and seek refuge on the sea until the coast is clear.”

GIFTS FOR THE FUTURE

Cassia had observed thatstranding men in Orthros, far from the king’s listening ears, loosened their tongues. So too did stranding them on Kassandra’s ship, away from the Dexion’s rule over the guest house.

Men roamed the deck and with them, whispers that must soon reach the ears of the Cordian mages, who stood isolated amid a group of Charge-turned-deckhands.

Cassia drifted among the embassy, keeping Knight closely heeled in the confines of the gathering on deck. She added her own whispers to the storm and read busy lips when the murmurs were too low to understand. She listened to the tones that told her more than words and measured the Tenebrans’ hearts.

“…what was that graveshit thinking?”

“…if a Hesperine had come to harm…”

“…could have gotten us all killed!”

“I don’t buy the ambassador’s pretty excuses…what if it was the Hesperines who…”

“Nonsense. Hesperines wouldn’t touch fire.”

“A necromancer, using fire? Golden boy must have helped him.”

“How else could the mages destroy the artifacts without arousing suspicion…trying to protect us…”

“Trying to hide their lies, more like. Now I’m certain there were no curses on the artifacts at all.”

“Well, that puts an end to their experiments, eh?”

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