Page 23 of A Blade of Lies and Spirits

“With Ms. Vernier.” Chance’s mouth quirked at the corner. “She’s doing her best to make sure I understand how much I’m honored, and I’m a quick study at diplomacy. Which I’ll need, since some of the bodyguards noticed you know me. I’ll make something up, since they don’t seem fond of you.”

Which meant he’d charmed his way into both a wealthy woman’s bed and her home. Not that I was surprised. Chance could charm the pants off just about anyone.

“You’re related then?” Walker asked, his tone dry.

“Yes,” I answered as Chance opened his mouth, then I winced as he closed it with a snap.

Chance might be one of the best liars I’d ever met, but he shouldn’t be surprised that Walker had seen through his mask. Walker was smart. Smart enough to realize that if Chance and I were connected, it was unlikely he’s just some wealthy fool from Australia. Hell, we even look similar, since we both come from the Stardust clan. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that he was full of it, although he was still pissed I’d told Walker the truth. I could tell by the way his angry gaze swung to me.

“Alys, could you ever keep anything quiet? Do we have a problem?” Chance’s second question slapped Walker like a challenge.

Walker shrugged. “Ms. Vernier is an adult, so it’s her business if she wants to be with you. My advice though is that the truth works best for relationships lasting longer than a night. That’s only my advice though, take it or leave it. But as long as you obey the law, we’re fine.”

Law, Compact… “Did either of you hear what the Puck-wudj-ininee said?”

Chance shook his head; Walker raised a brow.

“He said the Wendigo had been bound in a body. It being bound in a body by a human rather than just possessing a ready vessel broke the Compact. I thought it might have been summoned and was running around trying to preserve its vessel, but this confirms it’s walking around hiding in someone.” I shuddered. The thought of a concealed wendigo sent unpleasant chills down my spine. “Is there a way to test?”

“Not without looking into their mind, if it’s bound in their flesh. Or observing behavior and waiting for the spirit to manifest.” Walker’s clinical tone contrasted with Chance’s flinch.

“Given the Wendigo’s signature behavior… Alys, why are you involved in this?” Chance took a step toward me.

“It’s fine, Chance. I’m an adult—it’s my right to deal with my problems.”

Walker turned away from us, tapping his comm. Voice raised, he said, “Hello? I need a tow from these coordinates,” he continued as he paced further away.

“Talk to me, Alys.”

“I will if I need you. Go. You have your own business to deal with.”

Glaring at me, Chance called the Road and stepped on it, slamming the passage shut behind him.

Walker returned. “It’ll be a few hours. Let me see what I can arrange for tests on people who’ve been traveling between here and Durgion. Are you ready to head for the hotel?”

I nodded.

* * *

At the hotel,I settled down into the cushy bed, too tired to want to lose the clothes or even to be frisky. Soothing the river’s rage had drained me again. Walker picked me up and carried me into the tub as I grumbled at him.

“My nose is sensitive,” he said drily as he started the hot water running and added soap. I stripped and climbed in. Long strong fingers carefully swept my hair to one side, I smelled the soap he warmed between his hands and luxuriated in the feel of digits digging solidly through my scalp, washing my hair and soothing the last of the river's pain with his touch. Sleep swooped down in the wake of soap and shampoo.

I woke in bed at dawn, with a note and a pre-loaded expense card waiting for me on the other pillow.He’d used paper. Called back to Capitol. Will return as soon as I can. Please limit violence to deserving persons.I couldn’t help lifting my lip in the ghost of a smile.

It rustled as I folded it. After I waterproofed it, I tucked it into my satchel with the lock of Dmitri’s baby hair I kept. A pole boat would get me to where I needed to go, and hire was cheap. Noone would rent a grav going to that area anyway. Soon I would be back to my room.

* * *

On the wayto the ‘rise, I popped the ID chip from Dmitri’s reader, so it couldn’t be traced, and dropped the little beacon in the water. I smiled as I looked at the reader. Monique and her children would benefit from the educational device in a way that could be life-changing, even though my son would never miss it. The world we lived in was a strange one.

The swamper poled our boat toward the circle of buildings on high rises above the water. The ‘rises shone above still water, a circle of stones evenly placed around the outskirts. The swamper I’d hired poled us closer.

Smooth and white, the building's exterior bore the perfume of Uncle Ethan’s magic, like a memory of home. He’d incised wards on the bases of the ‘rises, then driven stones with the same sigils into the muck. They’d be under the tide, but the wards burned, visible to the eye even during the day.

It was a challenge to the hungry spirit, should it ever come here again, complete with clear directions to where Ethan lived.

Sosubtle.

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