The Relic Guild (32 page)

‘The Ambassador is ready to receive you.’

With a nod of gratitude, Denton led the way to the room beyond.

Remember, Marney – question everything
you see, hear and feel.

In a spacious drawing room, Ambassador Ebril welcomed his guests by opening his arms and beaming a smile. ‘My friends – greetings.’

He stood mostly silhouetted before a tall window that gave a view of the gardens outside, and through which sunlight gleamed. He wore robes of a light material, perhaps better suited for desert conditions. His beard was long and grey, and his hair was covered by scarves. His Aelfirian features were lined with age, but his huge, round eyes were bright blue, clear and seemingly honest.

Before him was a low, square table, around which cushions were placed for sitting. Upon the table were baskets of pastries and breads, and two silver platters of fruits that weren’t often seen in Labrys Town nowadays. There was also a tall teapot with a long spout, around which were placed six small, clay cups without handles. Marney got the impression that the usual decor of this drawing room had been altered to make the Ambassador feel more at home.

An Aelfirian girl was already seated on the cushions at the table beside Ebril. Clad similarly to the ambassador, but without head scarves, she had long hair dressed into a tight plait that hung over one shoulder like a dark snake. Her face was petite. The usual triangular features of the Aelfir were, on her, a more subtle heart shape; her pointed ears were small and delicate. Her huge eyes were soft green, unblinking and innocent, yet her expression was oddly noncommittal. She looked younger than Marney by a few years.

Without introducing the girl, Ebril said, ‘Master Denton, it is good to see you again.’ His tone was clear and confident. ‘But I have not had the pleasure of meeting your delightful companion here.’

‘Marney,’ Marney said before Denton could introduce her. She moved forwards and offered her hand across the table. ‘It’s an honour, Ambassador.’

Ebril took her hand in both of his and gave it a gentle squeeze. ‘The honour is all mine,’ he said, his smile perfectly charming.

It was curious; Marney hadn’t been able to sense the ambassador’s emotions on entering the room; and now, even with the use of touch, he still felt closed and empty.

Nice try,
Marney,
Denton’s voice chuckled in her mind.
But I
did warn you. Ebril will reveal nothing that he does
not wish us to know.

‘Come, sit, take some refreshments,’ the ambassador said. He waited until his guests had settled themselves on the cushions – a feat which was by no means easy for a man of Denton’s size and age – before seating himself beside the young Aelfirian girl.

‘Can I offer you some pastries or fruit?’ he asked Marney.

‘Thank you, but I’m not hungry,’ she replied with a grateful smile.

‘Ah, then how about some tea? It is from the foothills of Green Sky Forest.’

Marney was about to decline again, but then Denton, who was already in the process of selecting a large pastry, answered with no small degree of desire in his voice.

‘Tea from Green Sky Forest? I should think so.’ He added a mental note to Marney:
Have a cup, Marney – it’s
both customary and polite.

‘Yes, please,’ she said.

Ebril nodded at the girl beside him, who set about pouring four cups of dark green tea. She did so with a pleasant air, and only then did the ambassador introduce her.

‘Master Denton, I don’t believe you’ve met my daughter before.’

‘Indeed not.’

‘This is Namji. She is training to follow in the footsteps of her father.’

‘And no doubt making her father proud,’ Denton said. ‘A pleasure, Miss Namji.’

‘Likewise, Master Denton. And to you also, Mistress Marney.’

Her voice was as soft as her eye-colour.

Marney smiled at her in return. Although Namji’s emotions were as closed as her father’s, there was a quick, subtle movement of those innocent eyes that Van Bam had taught Marney indicated deceit.

I noticed it too,
Denton thought to her as he accepted a cup of tea gratefully.

What’s she hiding?
Marney said.

Your guess is
as good as mine. I didn’t know Ebril even
had a daughter.

Denton sipped his tea, and then smacked his lips. ‘Perfect,’ he said. ‘Only this morning, Ambassador, I was bemoaning the recent decline in food quality.’ He took a second sip. ‘Absolutely perfect.’

Ebril chuckled. ‘As part of her training, my daughter became an observer to my duties. Sadly, this trip to the Labyrinth was also her first time away from Mirage. It proved to be a much longer visit than anticipated – due to unforeseen circumstances, of course.’

‘Of course,’ replied Denton, and he then addressed Namji. ‘Your exile from your homeland is most regrettable.’

‘Thank you, Master Denton. Though, in truth, I have been told there are much worse places to be in exile than Labrys Town.’

Denton smiled at the reply. ‘I see you’ve had a good teacher.’

‘Indeed. The wisest.’

Ebril gave his daughter a look of pride. ‘But now to business, my friends.’ He cast a shrewd gaze over the two Relic Guild agents. His emotions remained blank. ‘I have to tell you that Merchant Forester and her family do not appreciate having their home watched by the police – and nor do I.’

‘My apologies, but the Resident thought it prudent,’ Denton said. ‘It was a precautionary measure only, I assure you.’

‘I see.’ The Ambassador looked disbelieving. ‘I read this morning that a wild demon has found its way into Labrys Town. Is your visit here today merely coincidental to this news?’

Denton placed his empty cup down on the table. He paused for the perfect amount of time, giving the air of respectful consideration. ‘Ambassador, we are investigating someone whom we believe belongs to your House.’

‘Ah, then you must be talking about an Aelf by the name of Ursa?’

Openness
?
Denton thought to Marney.
That’s an interesting tactic.
She felt his mixture of surprise and suspicion, but he didn’t elaborate further, and said aloud, ‘Someone by that name is causing you trouble, Ambassador?’

‘Not especially, but let’s not be coy with each other, Master Denton. Ursa is my record keeper. He has been missing now for three days.’

‘Three days?’ said Denton.

Ebril nodded, and Marney said, ‘Forgive me, Ambassador, but if your record keeper has been missing for so long, why didn’t you report it to the police?’

‘A fair question,’ Ebril sighed. ‘Ursa is an intelligent Aelf, but also sensitive. Our exile here was difficult for him to accept, and he frequently seeks escape by immersing himself in the seedier side of Labyrinth life so readily found along Green Glass Row. This is not the first time he has … taken the long way home.’

‘I see,’ Denton said. ‘His exile has made him bitter, angry perhaps?’

‘Sad is probably closer to the truth,’ Ebril replied. ‘I have always turned a blind eye to Ursa’s nocturnal activities simply because he is discreet, and whatever release he finds along Green Glass Row seems to do him good. He has never given me a reason not to trust his judgement.’

‘Really?’

The Ambassador sighed again and gave the approximation of an embarrassed smile. ‘In truth, I have often wondered if it was a matter of time before Ursa landed himself in trouble. Given that this house is being guarded by police, I am willing to guess he has bitten off more than he can chew this time. Trouble has followed him home, as it were? In the form of a wild demon?’

Denton’s expression suggested he was impressed by Ebril’s deductive skills. ‘That is a fair assessment, Ambassador.’

‘Ah. Then can I also safely guess that because two agents of Relic Guild have been sent to me, Ursa has also involved himself with characters of the treasure hunting persuasion?’

Denton’s tight smile gave affirmation.

Interesting
and
clever
, he thought to Marney.
To
be so forthcoming with his suspicions, he is either honestly
clueless to the situation, or he is trying to misdirect
us.

To Ebril he said, ‘You know nothing of your record keeper’s movements for the past few days?’

‘Not a thing,’ Ebril assured him firmly. ‘So let us cut to the quick.’ He seemed disappointed. ‘Ursa is in some way responsible for the presence of this wild demon. He is being held at the Nightshade and the Resident requires my official approval for whatever punishment he is due?’

‘Not exactly, Ambassador.’

‘Oh? Then what, Master Denton?’

The old empath’s expression became sad, and even Marney couldn’t tell if it was genuine or not. ‘You are quite correct in most of your suspicions. Treasure hunters recently smuggled an artefact into the Labyrinth. Your records keeper was trying to purchase this artefact.’ He paused as if mustering his tact. ‘I regret to inform you that he was found dead at the scene of the transaction.’

For a room that was already emotionally cold, the temperature dropped palpably. Ebril shared a long look with Namji, and Marney felt a fleeting sense of surprise and fear coming from her. Was it genuine?

‘Dead?’ Ebril said to Denton

‘Killed by the demon hiding inside the artefact, yes,’ Denton assured him. ‘All that it left of Ursa was his skeleton.’

‘By the Timewatcher,’ Ebril whispered. ‘What manner of demon is this?’

‘Unfortunately, Ambassador, we are forbidden from revealing certain details at this time.’

‘Forbidden?’

Denton bobbed his head apologetically. ‘But I can tell you that Ursa’s identity was revealed to us by his business associate. A man called Llewellyn.’

‘Llewellyn?’ Ebril seemed angry. ‘The name means nothing to me.’

‘You are sure?’

‘Of course I am!’

The Ambassador glared across the table at Denton.

‘I-I know of him.’

All eyes turned to Namji. The young Aelf seemed embarrassed to have interrupted the moment, uncertain in her body language. But Marney noted her face didn’t appear quite so innocent now.

‘Llewellyn used to run messages between House Ambassadors and merchants,’ she said. ‘He and Ursa were friends, I believe –’ to which she was quick to add – ‘though I never spoke to him myself.’

‘Who he was makes no difference,’ Ebril said hotly, and he glared again at Denton. ‘I want to know what kind of artefact could contain a wild demon. I’ve never heard of such a thing.’

‘I have no wish to offend you, Ambassador,’ Denton said calmly. ‘But the Resident has tied my hands on this matter.’

The sudden emotional calm that settled on Ambassador Ebril frightened Marney with its gentleness. It was like still, glassy water, belying the dangers lurking in its depths.

‘What nonsense is this?’ His voice was a purr, his face a stony blank. ‘You say the Resident has tied your hands, but even empaths cannot hide glaring facts.’ His slow gaze moved to Marney and then back again. ‘I recognise propaganda when I see it – as you damn well know, Master Denton – and what I read in the newspaper this morning is nothing more than a smoke screen. It would be embarrassing to continue this game, so I ask you, gentleman to gentleman, what has Ursa really done?’

Get ready,
Denton thought to Marney.
This won’t go down well
.

‘Ambassador,’ he said. ‘I have no wish to insult your intelligence any further, so I will tell you this – Ursa has …’ The old empath paused for effect and licked his lips. ‘Forgive me, Ambassador, but the nature of the artefact, and the demon it contained, indicate that Ursa harboured loyalties to Spiral.’

Marney would’ve staked her life that the shocked silence both Ebril and his daughter lapsed into was genuine.

‘Impossible,’ Ebril snapped. ‘The High Governor and the Aelfir of Mirage have ever been faithful to the Timewatcher.’

‘Faiths can change,’ Marney said before she could stop herself.

Ebril’s expression became stony again, but Namji recoiled as if slapped.

Nicely done
, Marney
, Denton thought.
But don’t push it too far
. You’ve put them on the back foot, but it
could be a deceit.

‘Let me tell you of something, young one,’ Ebril said sternly, defensively. He pointed a gnarled finger at Marney. ‘I am Mirage’s longest serving Ambassador. High Governor Obanai and I are personal friends, and I can vouch that he and his people would
never
treat with Spiral.’

‘But we’re speaking of an individual, Ambassador, not a nation.’ Denton’s tone was resolute. ‘The evidence against Ursa is very convincing.’

‘Then show it to me,’ Ebril demanded.

Denton remained silent, and for a moment Marney thought the Ambassador might explode with fury. But instead he decided to settle on quiet simmering. Marney gave up trying to decide if it was a visceral or calculated reaction.

‘This accusation goes too far, Master Denton,’ Ebril said. ‘And I will not take the word of the Resident on it. Or yours.’

Again, Denton said nothing and matched the ambassador’s even glare.

‘What is your evidence?’ Ebril shouted.

Denton did not flinch.

‘Gentlemen …’

It was Namji who had spoken. She seemed uncertain, perhaps embarrassed that she had somehow overstepped her position by twice interrupting her father’s work. Her soft tone of voice and shy eyes had the effect of drawing Ebril’s attention away from his apparent anger. Even Denton seemed grateful for her interruption.

It made Marney trust her less.

‘Master Denton,’ Namji continued, her eyes downcast, ‘forgive me, but it is obvious to all present that in accusing Ursa of having loyalties to Spiral you are, by implication, raising doubts over the loyalties of House Mirage. Please understand that it has been two years since we last saw our homeland, and we have received very little news. Even so, it is most unlikely that Governor Obanai has switched his allegiance, and be assured that Ursa did not speak for those of us stranded in the Labyrinth with him. If he is as guilty as you say, that is.’