There were at least three men in the room. Holding my breath I heard Leana unsheathe her blade before slamming into one of the soldiers. In the clamour I drew my own and, as my eyes grew better adjusted to the darkness, I took my chances against one of the men, but merely ended up striking metal in the dark. After I heaved one of them up against the wall, I followed Leana, sprinting back out the way we came.
‘The wall,’ she snapped.
I sprinted after her breathless, and when we came to a wall that was about my height Leana gave me a hand to get over it, before scrambling up after me.
‘They will not easily climb over in their heavy armour,’ she said.
We ran without purpose or direction, losing ourselves in the crowded plazas and the hectic morning trading, turning this way and that before finally taking refuge in the shadow of a tavern.
I was exhausted and sweating; my breath came in great heaves. Leana recovered swiftly and asked, ‘Who were they?’
‘The King’s Legion, I think.’
‘Why come after us now?’
‘Because someone, somewhere, has given the order for us to be stopped. I think we shouldn’t really have been permitted to enter Optryx in the first place, which explains their initial confusion.’
‘But the king, he said we can go there whenever we like, yes?’
‘Yes,’ I agreed. ‘That’s what he told us. But I suspect, if he now knows we’re on to something, he’s going to be desperate to stop us. He wouldn’t dare touch me at the start of the investigation. Two Sun Chamber officials dead in the same city, a week apart? He knew that would invite the wrath of the Sun Legion and have agents, spies and officials all over Tryum. He probably thought he’d let me try to investigate as much as I could, but suspected I would not be able to solve his mystery.’
‘His mystery?’
‘I’m convinced that he’s at the centre of this – it couldn’t have been done without his knowledge. It’s impossible for all things involved in this affair to have been so without his knowledge, and his influence or manipulation. Now he thinks we’re close he will probably try to stop us, and not care at all that the Sun Legion might come. He must have assumed the crime appeared so impossible to solve that he could have his fun with me. I’m annoyed now, though. The king will eventually dispose of that body on the funeral pyre.’
‘Then no one will believe you,’ Leana observed.
‘Once it’s burned the only evidence will be for me to produce Lacanta herself.’ I searched my mind to work out what my next move would be.
‘Lillus,’ I whispered.
‘You want a haircut now?’
Getting out
At the salon on the edge of Polyum, in front of the fabric stall, Lillus was busy berating a middle-aged woman with an incredibly weathered face and garbed in a dark shawl.
‘Never do I want to see you here again!’ Lillus bellowed. ‘Away with you.’
‘Charming the ladies as always,’ I called out.
‘Ah, Lucan, my boy. A pleasure to see you – though is that stubble I see? This must change.’
‘I tried shaving at home, but it’s not the same. What was the issue with the woman?’
‘She was a witch. I caught her trying to gather human hair off a client so that it could be used for a curse. But this is not the only problem, it seems – you are troubled, Lucan. You and your friend have been running. Step into the cool shade. Drink something. Talk to me.’
‘Lillus, it’s an important matter,’ I said. ‘Do you think we could have a moment of privacy?’
He regarded me with a renewed sense of professionalism. ‘It will be so.’
Drinking a cooling tisane, sitting on the benches, beneath the frescoes of sporting heroes and large purple paper lanterns, I enjoyed a moment of peace to gather my thoughts.
Leana stood by the front door keeping an eye on the street and, after seeing her for the first time, Lillus informed me that his mother, too, had come from Atrewe. I told Lillus of my situation, knowing he was fantastically well connected: he was the eyes and ears of the city, and I needed them. He simply nodded, gently brushing his moustache, inclining his head now and then.
‘Quite the situation,’ Lillus whispered.
‘We’ll have to leave Tryum immediately. I need some messages putting about the city if you could manage that for me?’
‘Of course, of course.’
‘I would like it said that I have been called back to Venyn City on urgent Sun Chamber business, but will return shortly. Meanwhile, I would appreciate it if you contact the priest of Ptrell and let him know that the priestess was found dead some time ago. He needs peace of mind, at least, but please urge him that it’s in his interest not to press the matter further.’
‘This is simple enough.’
‘I have a member of staff back at home, Bellona, who is a fantastic cook. Should she find herself out of a home, can I send her to you? I’ll see that you’re paid, of course.’
‘I was thinking of branching out, as it happens, into the culinary business. That fabric stall is useless. Is she good?’
‘Incredible,’ I replied.
‘Though my female customers are plentiful, I need more men to come here, and too few appreciate good-quality fabric. Filling their guts on nice food, however, is good for business.’
‘Thank you, Lillus. I truly appreciate the favours.’
He dismissed my thanks casually. ‘The least I can do. Will you return to Tryum soon?’
‘I will, but I don’t know how long I’ll be. I need to meet up with the Sun Chamber in the safety of the countryside and wait for their guidance.’
Lillus gave a gentle grin. ‘To see the boy grow is a marvellous thing.’
‘Well, the boy might stop growing if the king’s men get hold of him,’ I replied. ‘Lillus, there’s one final thing, one more message. There was a woman I once knew, who I was lucky enough to meet again.’
‘You found love at least!’ Lillus declared, beaming now. ‘Tell me of her name.’
‘She’s called Titiana.’
Lillus frowned. ‘Describe her, if you will.’
I did, giving details of her physical appearance and of her character.
Lillus nodded slowly. ‘And how did you meet her?’
‘She was dancing at a tavern that Senator Veron took me to.’ I told him of the evening and how I used to know her.
‘My guess is,’ Lillus continued, ‘that she told you she was a poor lady?’
‘More or less.’
‘And did she dress like a poor lady?’
‘Well, not quite… I assumed she wore her best clothing when she came see me. Lillus, please, if you know of her, tell me.’
‘I don’t know her, but the name is familiar to me – because she, too, works in the information business. She sometimes dances, sometimes is a courtesan. She spent some time in the theatre, learning the dark arts of acting and of disguise. She comes and goes. Information is a dirty business.’
I placed my head in my hands. ‘Blinded,’ I breathed.
‘If Veron was blabbering about where he was going that night, it would have been easy for her to find you and make it look as if you were the one to find her. Who set her on you, is the question.’
‘Probably on the king’s orders,’ I sighed. ‘He would have sent someone to get close to me, to observe my movements. To see if I was getting close to solving the matter or still had no clue. It was a good plan, come to think of it. It meant he remained in control of matters.’
‘You investigate criminal affairs,’ Lillus said, ‘you’re not a spy. You weren’t to know, my boy. You weren’t the first to be fooled – you won’t be the last.’