Chapter 89

Riley sat perched on the bed, watching Tobias pace back and forth before setting a pin and referencing the unrolled report scroll on the desk.

For hours he had made the same loop.

- Reference Scroll

- Drop a pin

- Stare

- Pace

Twenty-three pins now formed a geometric series of swirls on their one silver map as he stood back like an artist, placing his hand on his chin while his free hand cupped his elbow, taking a deep breath.

"That's all of them. I've found all the locations," he announced as if expecting a revelation to leap out at him.

The first four had been the easiest, because it involved pinning it to the wall, then the real work had begun.

"You know, where I came from, they'd have colorful balls on the end," Riley observed, causing him to turn.

"Oh? Huh," He replied, distracted.

There, lost in the mystery, an emotion was percolating she didn't expect... contentment.

He was enthralled, deep in thought, and far away from his problems, looking only at the puzzle.

His fingers came away from his mouth, dancing a few scant inches from the map, tracing out and mimicking the pattern. Sure enough, there were long oval loops radiating out from the castle grounds like flower petals.

A wave of frustration overwhelmed the contentment as he pushed away from the map, placing both hands on the desk.

"But what does it mean? Nesting sites? Is it nomadic? Are they targets of opportunity, but if so... what opportunity? What do the victims have in common? On the face of it, nothing," he muttered to himself, staring at his handiwork as if it held the secrets of the universe.

Distantly, the sound of music drifted up from the stairs and from under the floorboards.

The nighttime entertainment was beginning.

Riley stretched out paw over paw, pulling out the kinks in her back with a yawn.

"Would you mind if I went downstairs?"

"What?" Tobias turned, blinking wide-eyed.

"The music's starting and I've been up here for hours. It would be good to move. Hell, it might do you some good to get away awhile," she prompted.

"Oh, well, will you be ok on your own?" he asked.

"Huh…" Riley realized in that moment she had never really gone off on her own before.

"I didn't mean anything by it," Tobias said quickly, picking up on the jumble of emotions flowing through her.

Striding over, he opened the door a crack, giving her room to nose out.

To her eyes it yawned like the abyss itself, the veritable unknown staring back at her.

"No, you didn't do anything, you care, I know that, and I think I'll be ok. In fact, I think it would be healthy for me," she resolved, all the while settling back down on the bed.

"But you aren't going," Tobias prompted.

"I know that," she replied, as the fear surged like caustic acid.

"Nope, I'm not giving into that," Riley resolved, hopping down in defiance of how she felt, moving with courage towards the door.

Nosing out as if fearful she would alert a guard, on timid paws she ventured to the banister, then down the stairs as the festive music grew louder, and the floor vibrated with the forceful impacts of people dancing.

She trembled.

"It sounds like fun," she lied to herself as her heart rate spun up in her ears. Within her mind, she reached for Tobias and how he felt, trying to distract herself. There was that contentment again, a feeling of peace before the puzzle, the contrast, showing her own anxieties and fears in a deeper light.

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"It's in my mind," she said, trying for distance as she sought refuge on his side of their bonded souls.

A woman in a colorful skirt twirled by the stairs, dancing through a wide open space made by the crowding of tables against the walls. A scant few patrons ate their meals, watching with rapt interest, some moving and swaying in their seats.

Scanning around, Riley found a chair, sat against the wall, away from the door, that seemed safe enough.

The trick was getting there.

The world fated to muted greys as her veil covered her in subconscious reflex. As the first song of the night came to its gentle close, Riley slunk against the wall, watching warily, making her way towards the chair.

Safely there, she let her power drop, appearing as if by magic.

"By the dead Gods," a patron complained, walking beside her, regarding her curiously.

Riley cocked her head and looked at him dumbly.

The man shook his head in bewilderment, "I think I've had enough to drink. Switch me to tea, barkeep."

Safety assured, Riley settled in to watch the show. An hour passed of dancing and music, the place filling in for its evening customers, as bowls of rich stew began to arrive from the kitchen, being brought to random tables.

"This isn't so bad," she said to herself as Justinian entered, wearing his jaunty hat, with a beautiful woman holding on to his arm.

Tall and statuesque at 5'10, she was also rail thin, causing Riley to think of a bird. An indigo blue dress that descended down to her ankles highlighted perfectly her beautiful blue eyes that were bracketed by curly auburn hair. Justinian guided her to a table near the back and scanned around, spotting Riley; he held up his hand.

"Look at you, out on your own," he praised, pausing to ruffle her ears.

"I'm a free and independent hare that needs no sorcerer," Riley replied proudly.

"No doubt, good morrow, Ranger," he bowed deeply, taking off his hat with a flourish.

"Where's my no-account brother? The very idea of leaving a lady unescorted, the nerve!"

"I told you, I'm an independent beast," Riley sniffed superiorly.

"You are, I'm more worried about him without one of us supervising. Combat sorcerers are such children," Justinian shook his head sadly.

Riley giggled, "He's upstairs staring at a map he paid a silver to poke holes into."

Justinian's brow furrowed in confusion, "Wait here; I'll go fetch him and make introductions."

Stomping away, he was only gone for a moment before reappearing with Tobias. With their mutual aid, people made way, leaving her no room to be stepped upon, as the memory floated by of her intents to escape upon her arrival in Calaria.

"That would not have gone well," she said to herself as she hopped, bracketed by her escorts.

"Lady Godwin, may I present my brother in spirit, Ranger Tobias," he bowed as she held out her hand.

"A pleasure to meet you, M'lady," Tobias took her hand and bowed in kind before they both took their seats.

"The manners are much more civilized here," Riley mused to those involved in her conspiracy.

"The pleasure is all mine, Ranger. Justinian here speaks endlessly about you. Tell me, is it dangerous?" she leaned in as if rapturously interested, allowing Riley a closer look at her eyes.

They seemed serious, focused, and sharp, belying her easy tone.

"It has its moments, but I'm just getting started. Justinian and I were in the same class. We, uh, came up together," Tobias replied awkwardly.

She giggled behind her hand, "Oh, how lovely."

She gently touched Justinian's shoulder, causing Riley to prick up her ears, "And who is this with you, your companion?"

"That's Ranger Riley," Justinian stated flatly with a grin.

"How cute, and what wide eyes!" She giggled again.

"Hello," Riley said in practiced reply.

Lady Godwin's eyes went wide as she stammered, "By the thirteen, I'm sorry, I didn't think... you're second tiers? Oh, what am I saying, you're Blackblades, but that's...unusual."

Her voice dropped half an octave and lost all pretext of lilt as if the real her suddenly stepped from behind a persona.

"Why, aren't you full of surprises," she said as if a switch had been flipped.

Tobias cocked his head, "Riley's unique; we're a team. She provides an edge in the field I'd never have with a regular companion."

"I'm starting to understand why the Generals sent you. Justinian tells me you're curious about the murders?" she asked as a waitress came up to take their orders.

"Dinner for the table, these strapping lads look hungry, don't they?" She giggled; the façade was up again as she pulled out a silver and overpaid, "Gentlemen, your drinks? And what would your companion prefer?"

"Two ales for us, grass and fruit for Riley," Tobias said.

The waitress nodded and vanished as if ephemeral.

"That should guarantee us some privacy and good service. When Justinian told me, I wasn't sure what help I could provide," she explained.

"Well, what can you tell us about Chadrick?" Riley asked as Tobias shot her a look.

"Chadrick? He's a fool and unworthy of the title given him. Strutting around with an infernal hawk as if that's something to be proud of. The Royals once had standards," she whispered conspiratorially as their drinks came, and the waitress left as quickly as she had appeared.

"I understand he's unhappy with his position," Tobias continued neutrally.

"Oh, interminably, says it's beneath him, hates it almost as much as he hates you," she replied, dropping the information like a live grenade.

Tobias raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, I know, darling, he's incessant about how you humiliated him, complains to every servant that has the misfortune to be in his service. The brat is spoiled, but he's no killer. Do you think he might be involved?" she leaned forward in rapt curiosity.

"We're considering all angles, is all," Tobias deflected.

"So you're looking at all those that have access to the castle ground then? That's quite the list, and you're starting at the top; that's curious... I suppose Rangers have their ways. If you asked me, though, your suspicion is in the wrong place," she let her hand fall on Justinian's upper arm again.

Riley began to squirm in her seat as Lady Godwin inadvertently took a bat to her favorite theory.

"Where would you start?" Tobias asked.

"Why, at the beginning, the academy was where the first murder happened, correct? I understand Inspector Alecto could be a bit of a scourge to students and servants alike. To me, darlings, that sounds like someone might have just been aching to kill him, but what do I know?" She laughed brightly as their food arrived.