“We don’t like to use that term,” Aaliyah said brusquely. “It has ugly connotations we’d rather not be associated with.”
Barrett chuckled. “There’s a difference between a sobriquet and a slur, Quaesitor, between teasing and mockery. Unless you’re saying there’s no difference between calling you inquisitors and calling you magic pigs or mystic fascists?”
“Don’t get all philosophical on me, old man,” Aaliyah grunted. “It’s not that serious.”
“Fair enough, but I take it the duty that brought you here is inquisitive, so perhaps you can tell me what you’d like to inquire about?”
“You’re not stupid so don’t try to play me like you are,” Aaliyah said, leaning forward in her seat. “You know full damned well I’m the last person who’d want to come talk to you lizards and the VC would only send me if it was important. So don’t try to sell me on the oblivious grandpa crap because you know why we’re here and if you don’t then you’re losing your damned touch.”
Barrett sighed deeply, sitting in the chair beside Samuel at the table. “You’re here about the attacks, then.”
“What can you tell us about them?” Aaliyah asked, moderating her tone and matching her posture to it by leaning back in her chair.
“It started with attempts to scry some of our better known holdings,” Barrett said.
“When was that?” Eresthanon asked, pulling out his notepad to jot down anything that struck him as important.
“Yesterday afternoon, around two o’clock,” Barrett said. “We didn’t know what we were looking at, at first, and our countermeasures were working, but I had a bad hunch about it.”
Barrett told them that, after detecting and thwarting early attempts to scry prominent locations associated with the Drakon, more active measures were deployed to detect any further attempts at monitoring being directed their way. It took less than an hour from the initial efforts being rebuffed for the unknown watchers to turn their attention to the areas around their known holdings.
“Not long after that, they changed tactics from targeting locations to directing divinations at our people,” Barrett said. “We knew they were looking, but we didn’t know who they were, what they were looking for, or what they planned to do about it. We found that out soon enough.”
“Because of the attacks,” Eresthanon said.
“Right in one,” Barrett replied, tapping his nose with his index finger. “We put word out to our people to make their way home or to a stronghold, so they’d be better protected from scrying and divination.”
“Wait a second, why?” Aaliyah interrupted. “Surely you haven’t got the same protection on every drakus’ home that you do on your other properties.”
“It would be to gain the protection of the hearthbond,” Eresthanon said. “Unless I’m much mistaken.”
Barrett tapped his nose again. “I’m not the best with sorcery, but as I understand it, the hearthbond provides a degree of privacy that empowers even simple defensive measures. It’s supposed to be one of the few ways magic has grown stronger in the past few centuries.”
“Property rights and privacy are cultural touchstones that have grown expansively, etching the authority of the hearthbond deeper into the aether even as the obligation of the host has eroded,” Eresthanon said.
“So you wanted to get them out of sight before any trouble could spring up,” Aaliyah reasoned. “But that didn’t work out, obviously, or there wouldn’t have been any attacks.”
Barrett smiled ruefully. “We took actions based on assumptions that turned out to be faulty; they weren’t targeting local drakus, they were watching them to find people who weren’t known around town.”
“How’d you figure that out?” Aaliyah asked, shooting Eresthanon a glance.
“Quite a lot of our people were targeted by auguries, but a much smaller number were physically followed, and, of that number, the only ones confronted were all in the company of people who aren’t from New York,” Barrett said. “Some of them weren’t even drakus.”
Aaliyah began tapping the table with her fingers. “Just so we’re clear, your people were targeted by magic, then physically assaulted, and it didn’t occur to you to reach out to the VC?”
“And report what?” Barrett chuckled. “Harassment? Stalking? Bullying? Unless these attacks weren’t limited to the Drakon and you know something I don’t, then you’ll know that none of the Pillars were actually violated.”
He held up a hand to forestall Aaliyah’s response. “I’m not fool enough to think all these attacks aren’t going to end in someone’s death, but they haven’t yet so what’s the Vigiles supposed to even do about it?”
“You know damned well that we take attempts to violate the Pillars seriously,” Aaliyah retorted.
“If the right kind of person is the victim,” Barrett replied. “My people generally aren’t under the aegis of the full force of the law, so why would we invite your people to come fish around for reasons to cause us even more grief?”
“Are you saying the Drakon has been unfairly targeted by the Vigiles recently?” Eresthanon said.
The older man tried to keep his composure, but he couldn’t stop himself from rolling his eyes slightly. “Well I don’t know about all that, but I do know we pay out a lot of fines every year over the most restrictive interpretations of the Second and Third Pillar you’ll ever hear about.”
“Don’t misrepresent this stuff,” Aaliyah said, pointing an accusatory finger at the drakus. “Your little shadow empire has their scaly fingers knuckle-deep into all kinds of bullshit and the best our people can make stick is the most penny ante crap imaginable.”
“I’m sure you’re right, Quaesitor, and that’s the full and complete extent of it,” Barrett replied drily, settling back in his chair and folding his hands across his stomach.
“Whatever,” Aaliyah spat, sitting back in her own chair with her arms folded across her chest.
There was obviously history between Aaliyah and the Drakon that was more involved — and more acrimonious — than she had let on to Eresthanon. There was a contempt between her and Barrett that could only have been bred by familiarity, leading the elf to wonder just how well Aaliyah knew the man who was ostensibly the second-in-command of the Drakon.
Nothing of their features, beyond skin color, or personalities suggested a familial relationship, yet Eresthanon had to wonder. It was not just anyone who could become close enough to a highly placed member of such a secretive society to develop this much bitterness.
Whatever the history between them might be, a surreptitious glance from Aaliyah was enough to let him know her behavior was at least partly for show, which meant it was his time to once more step into the role of the ‘good’ cop.
“I’m afraid I can’t speak to the recent history between the Vigiles Creaturae and the Drakon,” he began. “While I don’t want to discount or minimize the failings of this organization and its actions towards your people in the past, the reason we are here today is because of a series of attacks all over the city that appear to largely be targeting drakus. We would like to find those responsible and, hopefully, prevent the violence from continuing or escalating, but we need your help to do that.”
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“I don’t know what help I can really give,” Barrett replied. “I can get you reports on each of the attacks, but for security’s sake they’d have to be scrubbed of identifying details about my people. I imagine that would make them next to useless for your investigation.”
“Let us start with what we can tell you,” Eresthanon said. “First, you should be aware that there is widespread anticipation in the city of an imminent conflict with the Drakon. Numerous mercenaries have been hired in preparation for this conflict and, after yesterday, it seems unlikely you are expected to be the aggressors.”
The drakus chuckled. “I figured as much. You don’t generally see the kind of irregular forces our people had run-ins with unless someone’s been hiring freelancers.”
“Can you think of any reason someone may have felt motivated to go to such extremes?”
“Isn’t it enough we’re dragons?” Barrett replied. “Most folks don’t usually need much more reason than that and the only things that have kept the peace so well are the deterrence of our retaliation and the connections we’ve forged through banking and other services.”
“Most people will avoid disrupting the status quo — especially if it involves attacking a strong opponent — unless they think their chances of success are high, they feel there’s no other choice, or both. Given the highly specific targets of these attacks, understanding why they chose them could help us put a stop to them.”
“I have absolutely no idea what purpose it could possibly serve to go after tourists and people traveling on business,” Barrett said. “Unless there’s some kind of prophecy or something that I’m unaware of.” The drakus sat up in his chair, an excited twinkle in his eye. “Is there some kind of prophecy or something? I’ve always wanted to be involved in one of those big prophecies, you know?”
“Not as far as I am aware,” Eresthanon replied. “But perhaps there is a more mundane root to these acts. Is the Drakon on the threshold of some great change, perhaps a diplomatic or business endeavor that could have far-reaching consequences?”
“Or maybe it has something to do with The Sleeping Dragon?” Aaliyah added, her tone casual, bored, even nonchalant, like she was talking about a stolen car and not some ancient text of drakus magic.
“The Sleeping Dragon,” Barrett repeated. “That’s a book, our book. It was stolen centuries ago, though. Why would it have anything to do with drakus being attacked now?”
The lines of Barrett’s forehead had crinkled in confusion as he looked between the two vigilum. Eresthanon didn’t get the sense the man’s surprise was feigned, but the old drakus was undoubtedly crafty to be so highly placed in the Drakon, so Eresthanon wasn’t confident it was a reliable indicator. Thankfully, Barrett wasn’t the only representative of the Drakon in the room.
Eresthanon had kept an eye on the other person at the table, Samuel, throughout the conversation and was fairly confident the younger drakus wasn’t particularly adept at controlling and concealing his reactions. He was decent, but he didn’t have the kind of fine control over his eyes or body language that truly expert liars did. As far as Eresthanon could tell, Samuel’s surprise and confusion at the mention of the pilfered grimoire were genuine.
That was still no guarantee Barrett’s reaction was earnest — plausible deniability often required front-facing people to be intentionally left out of the loop, after all — but it lent it an air of credibility.
“That depends on what’s in the book,” Aaliyah answered. “What can you tell us about it?”
For a few seconds, Barrett considered the vigilum in silence. Finally, he seemed to come to a decision.
“It’s a grimoire, a spellbook,” he said. “I don’t know all that much about magic and spellcraft, but there is someone in town who knows about as much about The Sleeping Dragon as any drakus living.” He turned to Samuel. “Can you tell my attaché we’re in need of their expertise?”
The younger drakus nodded and, with a small bow to the vigilum, left the conference room. An awkward silence descended as soon as he was out of the room. Aaliyah began tapping her fingers on the table almost immediately.
“Is this gonna take long?” she asked with a sigh.
“No, not long at all,” Barrett said, his tone muted and thoughtful.
Barrett’s demeanor was markedly different as they waited. Instead of the boisterous fellow who smiled affably and laughed often, he kept his eyes downcast to the table and even fidgeted in his seat. It was almost like the old drakus was feeling guilty, even ashamed, which was a complete departure from the surefooted candor he’d projected earlier in the interview.
“Why so quiet, old man?” Aaliyah teased. “No down-home, folksy wisdom you want to impart while we wait?”
Rather than respond, Barrett pressed his lips together in an apologetic smile and shrugged at the question. His silence seemed to take Aaliyah aback, and she regarded the older man intently through narrowed eyes.
When the door to the conference opened a few seconds after this odd exchange, a woman stepped through. She was tall and thin, but still curvy with long legs. Her hair was wavy and reached past her shoulders, the color like the soft orange of a sunset, much warmer than the dark crimson Eresthanon had seen on Kiara. Her eyes were emerald green and her skin was flawless.
She also carried a glamour which, to Eresthanon’s senses, marked her as a fae.
It was diluted, however, and weak, not nearly potent enough to truly test someone’s resolve, but Eresthanon could feel the weight of age on it. It was a glamour that had been sustained for a long time — years, most likely — without interruption.
As much as Eresthanon was surprised to encounter fae sorcery in the den of dragons, it was Aaliyah who was truly unsettled by the woman’s presence. She stood up from her seat and slapped her hands on the table, leaning aggressively towards Barrett.
“What the fuck is she doing here?” Aaliyah demanded.
Barrett held his hands up in a placating gesture, sighing deeply as he did.
“She’s my attaché,” he said. “She’s also the person best suited to discussing the book you’re asking about.”
“Bullshit!” Aaliyah spat, her fiery stare boring into the old drakus.
Barrett shook his head. “I promise you, it’s not.”
Eresthanon rose slowly from his seat and turned to the woman at the door, who had not yet stepped fully into the room. She was determinedly looking anywhere except the confrontation between Aaliyah and Barrett. He took a moment to consider how to proceed, what to say that would keep them focused on their goal without revealing too much.
“I realize I am an outsider to your past relationships,” he said. “That is a role quite familiar to my people, for our lives rarely intersect with other Creaturae for more than the most fleeting of moments. It can be an uncomfortable position, but it also offers clarity in times of turmoil.”
He paused for the span of a breath to let their attention fully settle on him, then continued. “There has been violence in our streets and the threat of more to come looms heavy on the horizon. Whatever strife exists between us for the slights of the past, let us set them aside for the moment to pursue the most worthy of goals: peace. Now please, sit, speak, and seek peace with me.”
There was a long beat of silence as the occupants of the room weighed Eresthanon’s words, measuring them against their own wants and needs. He didn’t know how effective his plea would be in the face of such heated resentment, but it was the best approach he could think of that wouldn’t alienate anyone or put their backs up.
“Alright, alright,” Aaliyah said, sinking back down into her seat. “You don’t have to get all eloquent and shit at us.”
The red-haired woman moved to sit beside Barrett in the seat Samuel had occupied.
“This is Alice,” Barrett said. “Alice, this is Tribune Eresthanon. He’s Quaesitor Dean’s new partner in the Vigiles Creaturae. They wanted to know about The Sleeping Dragon.”
“Really?” Alice asked, her voice a gentle wind through silver bells. “What would you like to know?”