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a bunch of outsiders drawn into it."
Hathura tapped his fans, his eyes distant. Well, we are now."
Erskine looked worried as Pandeena's people started grabbing their cloaks and
heading for the door. If you don't mind..."
At Pandeena's gesture, everyone paused and glanced at Erskine. What?"
"Should Belgair ask, I only came to ask you to pray for her safe return. You
took it out of my hands. Otherwise, I'll spend the next month scrubbing
privies."
"Understood."
Toniqua arrived with her satchels slung across her chest, a sword at her hip,
and the javelin she used like a walking stick. I'm ready."
People were about despite the earliness of the hour. When they reached the
commons, they found Belgair standing in the middle of the green forming search
parties to look for Searlait. The Guard Captain spotted Erskine and gestured
at him. Where the hell have you been?"
* * * *
Pandeena sat in the Great Hall with Aisha and Fianait. While Aisha had a tense
look, edged with determination; Fianait's eyes were red-rimmed from weeping.
"I'm glad you came, Aisha said. Claw wanted to send for you yesterday, but
Belgair and Malthus... She spread her fingers in a gesture of helplessness.
I feel like I'm losing control of my own home."
"I'm sorry. Where's Merissa? Pandeena squeezed Aisha's shoulder.
"Sheradyn sedated her. He's worried the stress will cause her to miscarry."
"I see."
Toniqua settled her satchels on the table. When was the last time anyone saw
her?"
Fianait lifted her head, rubbing at her eyes. Yesterday. Just before
breakfast. She's always liked watching the sunrise at the river."
"Was there a special place she went to there?"
"Yes. We used to sit on this rock as girls, tossing cedar chips into the water
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with our sweethearts initials on them."
"Can you show me?"
Fianait hesitated. The path has gotten too hard on my legs the last few
years... Her head lowered and she sucked in a deep breath. I'll need my
stick."
Meleajys squeezed her arm. I'll carry you."
Fianait regarded the handsome yuwenghau with a girlish smile. I'd like that."
He swept her up, grabbed her cloak, and covered Fianait warmly.
Fianait guided them to the Bonnie Draw where she and Searlait used to sit as
girls and pointed to the smooth rock by the willow tree. Up there."
Toniqua climbed to the rock, waving the others to stay back while she examined
it. Look around and see if you spot any footprints."
Meleajys lowered Fianait to a smooth boulder and sat with her.
Toniqua examined the surface of the rock with a Guildsmon investigator's sharp
eye and keen instincts. She spied a spatter of tiny brown stains in an
irregular pattern, took out her knife and a crystal. She scratched the
particles of the stain up and stored them.
"What did you find? Pandeena asked.
"Blood."
Fianait paled. Meleajys put his arm around Fianait's shoulders, murmuring
comfort noises in her ear. She leaned into his shoulder with a sob.
Toniqua glanced at Fianait. Not enough to have come from a wound. More like
drops from a pricked finger. Still..."
"Over here! shouted Hathura.
Toniqua climbed down and joined Hathura at the water's edge. He pointed and
she saw two isolated footprints, one booted, and the other barefoot. She
glanced about for more, but failed to find any. Toniqua opened her satchel,
took out a jar of powder, a bowl and a small canteen. She mixed the powder and
water in the bowl, forming a thick paste.
"What are you doing? Hathura watched her closely as she poured it into the
footprints.
"Making a cast. Then we can match the foot or shoe to someone."
"I've never heard of it."
"It's something new. Aramyn has been experimenting with the idea. So far
plaster works best."
Moonlight-haired Gyongy had aquiline features more appropriate to a male than
a female and carried herself like the bird of prey she resembled, with a
shield at her back and longsword at her hip. She stepped through a stand of
pine trees with a bit of blue cloth in her hands. I found this caught on some
rocks in the river."
Fianait's eyes widened and she swallowed several times, her voice cracking
when she finally spoke. That's the color of her dress."
Everyone went still for a moment. Pandeena took the bit of cloth from Gyongy
and carried it to Fianait. Could this have come from her dress?"
"Yes."
Gyongy stared at her feet. It was far out in the rapids. I had a hard time
reaching it."
Pandeena threw her head back and released a long ululating howl to bring
others. As the sound died out, she spoke again. Then she drowned."
Fianait burst into uncontrolled keening, tearing at her hair.
As more searchers arrived, Pandeena sent them down along the river. The sound
of horses and the jingle of harnesses drew Pandeena to the worn footpath
beyond the Bonnie Draw. Belgair rode up at the head of his myn with Malthus at
his side.
"What the unholy hell is going on here? Belgair dismounted and stalked to the
rock where Fianait wept in Meleajys arms. Get back to the manor, Fianait."
The fragile bitch cringed against the dark-skinned yuwenghau. He lifted her in
his arms and held her close, her face buried in his blond hair. She'll go
when I take her."
"She'll go when I tell her, outlander. We don't need your kind around here."
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