Imogen went to report to the archmage while Alden sought out Holly. He found her asleep in the little cot he’d set up for her right by the kitchen. The scents of baking bread and frying bacon mingled in the air and set Alden’s stomach rumbling. It had been close to twelve hours since he or Imogen ate anything. While his partner sometimes went days operating on nothing but anger Alden planned to grab a snack before they headed back out.

He looked down at Holly. Her mouth hung partway open and she clutched her pillow like a stuffed animal. She looked so peaceful he hated to wake her. Unfortunately they needed information and she was the person most likely to have it.

A gentle shake of her shoulder brought a groan and one open eye. When she registered his presence Holly rubbed her eyes and sat up. “Have you found Jonny?”

“Not yet. I hoped you could help me. Was there any place your brother and Carmen liked to go? Somewhere special?”

“You mean when they…you know?”

“That or just somewhere they liked to have a drink and something to eat. Maybe somewhere they went on a date. Anything you can think of that might give us a place to look.”

She tapped the tip of her nose, her face scrunched up as she thought. “Jonny didn’t talk to me that much about Carmen. It’s like he wanted to keep us separate. There was a bar called the Iron Pig where he went with the other guards sometimes, but I doubt he’d take Carmen there. It wasn’t fancy enough for her.”

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“She liked fancy things?”

“Oh, yes. It seemed like every time I saw her she had a new silk scarf, or a new dress. I don’t know how she afforded it. After all she doesn’t make that much more than me and I couldn’t buy a new scarf if I saved for three months. Jonny didn’t buy it for her either. All his money went to keeping a roof over our heads and food in the kitchen. And now the roof is in the kitchen.” She let out a hysterical giggle.

“Do you know any of Carmen’s friends?”

“No. The girls in the linen room don’t like her. They always say she thinks too much of herself. Like she was better than them.” Holly shook her head. “I just don’t know.”

“It’s okay.” He patted Holly’s shoulder. “You’ve been a great help.”

Alden slipped into the kitchen, collected two bacon and egg sandwiches, and headed to the throne room. Imogen stood off to one side, arms crossed, scowling. If she didn’t let up her pretty face would develop some deep wrinkles. He walked over and handed her a sandwich.

“Thanks.” She accepted the food and took a bite.

When they finished eating Alden said, “What did the archmage have to say?”

“Not much beyond keep at it. She sent three of the others to patrol the skies in case the redhead shows up to collect the urn. Damage reports have been coming in pretty steady. Sounds like just about every building in the city took some damage, but deaths have been minimal.”

“Thank heaven for small mercies. Holly didn’t know much else, though it sounds like Carmen wasn’t very popular with her fellow workers. If any of them know anything they’ll probably tell us.”

“Let’s find out.” Imogen led the way over to Dale Allen.

The tired old seneschal was dozing on a bench on the far side of the throne room. If Imogen had any qualms about waking him she gave no sign. She bent over and shook him.

Dale sputtered and sat up. “Yes?”

“Where might we find the ladies that work in the linen room?” she asked.

Dale yawned. “That’s a day job. I suspect you’ll find them at home cleaning up. I can look up their addresses if you like or you can wait a couple hours. They should all be in at dawn.”

“We’ll take the addresses,” Imogen said in a tone that added, now.