Yabool had been killed some time ago — perhaps yesterday, perhaps even the day before. The crust of blood on the floor showed a couple of footprints, but they’d been badly distorted by the swishing of a tail through the mess.
On the way to Yabool’s apartment, Afsan, Cadool, and Dybo had had to pass near Gathgol’s establishment, so they had brought him along as well.
Gathgol used his claws to pry the mirror out of the crust of blood. "We’re in luck," he said, holding the mirror up to a lamp flame. "There is a maker’s mark this time. ’Hoo-Noltith, Chu.’ "
"Chu’toolar," said Afsan.
"That’s right," said Gathgol. "As I’d suspected."
Cadool, Gathgol, and Dybo scoured the scene for further clues, while Afsan stood by, listening intently to their running commentaries.
"This one would be a lot harder to pull off than the last," said Gathgol.
"How do you mean?" said Afsan.
"Well, Haldan had been seated on a stool, facing a wall, her back to the room. It would not have been too difficult to approach her from the rear. But this dayslab is quite central in the room, and so Yabool would have had quite a wide field of view. Either he was very absorbed in what he was writing — his left middle claw is covered with ink, so that is doubtless what he was doing — or else his assailant approached with great stealth."
"What had Yabool been writing?" asked Afsan.
"I’m afraid we may never know," said Gathgol. "His piece of writing leather was completely covered with blood, and, as if that weren’t bad enough, his pots of ink and solvent have been knocked over and spilled upon the sheet. He might have been quite intent on the work, but there’s no way to tell."
"And if he was not intent, then the killer approached…"
"With stealth," said Gathgol. "You know, like a hunter."
"A hunter," repeated Afsan.
"That’s right."
"I can’t imagine a hunter committing murder," said Cadool. "The hunt purges feelings of violence and aggression."
"Usually," said Afsan, perhaps remembering his own few, spectacular hunts. He looked in the direction of Gathgol’s voice. "A hunter, you say?"
Gathgol nodded. "It’s a possibility."
"A hunter," Afsan said again, filing away the idea in a corner of his mind. "Any other possibilities?"
"Not that I can think of."
"He’s…" began Cadool.
"Yes, I was lying," said Gathgol. "I’m sorry, it’s just that, well, I’m afraid to mention this suggestion out loud." He looked nervously in the direction of Dybo, who was leaning back on his tale, listening intently.
"What you say will go no farther than this room," said Afsan, "and, believe me, I’m the last person who would punish someone for expressing an unpopular thought."
"Well," said Gathgol, "have you considered the possibility that the murderer might be a disgruntled bloodpriest?"
"No," said Afsan, "I have not. What makes you think that?"
"Well, forgive me," said Gathgol, "but, umm, I’ve heard the tale of how your eight children came to be allowed to live. The bloodpriests thought you were The One foretold by Lubal. Perhaps now, ah, some bloodpriest feels that judgment was a mistake, and a renegade may have tried to set the matter straight, so to speak."
"And kill my children?"
"It’s a thought."
"A disgruntled bloodpriest," said Afsan, thinking. "But the current imperial bloodpriest is missing…"
"In the historical records, murderers often disappear," said Gathgol. "The imperial bloodpriest is Mek-Maliden, isn’t it?"
"Yes," said Dybo from across the room. "But Maliden is out of town."
"Oh. You’ve sent him away on a mission, then?"
"No," said Dybo. "It’s just that his bags are missing."
Gathgol nodded. "Forgive me, Your Luminance, but, ah, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s left Capital City. Perhaps he only wants to give the appearance of having done so."
Dybo turned to Afsan. "Maliden is a criminal once already, in many people’s eyes," he said, "if he in fact was responsible for a deception involving the hatching of myself and the other imperial egglings. If he’s committed one crime, why not another?"
Afsan appeared to consider this. "Mek-Maliden," he said softly. "Perhaps." He looked at Gathgol. "Any other thoughts?"
"No," said the undertaker.
"Your muzzle…" said Cadool.
"I cannot speak this one," said Gathgol.
"Come on," said Dybo. "Whatever it is, go ahead."
Gathgol shook his head.
"You have nothing to fear simply by stating an idea," said Afsan. "Speak up."
"I can’t. Not with…"
"Not with what?" said Afsan. "Not with — not with the Emperor here, is that it?"
"You can say anything you like in front of me, Gathgol," said Dybo. "I give you leave to do so."
"But you will be angry…"
"Perhaps. But I will not punish you for your words."
"It’s all right," said Afsan. "Tell us."
Gathgol swallowed. His tail swished back and forth. "Well, until your children came along, Afsan, The Family was the only group that knew who its relatives were."
"Yes."
"Forgive me, Your Luminance, but that was a very special privilege. Perhaps some member of The Family objected to the same privilege being accorded to someone else." He looked briefly at Dybo, then dropped his head.
"That’s all right, undertaker," said Dybo. "It’s a valid thought." The Emperor turned to face Cadool and Afsan. "I did not commit the murders," he said out loud, and turned his head from side to side so that all of them could see his muzzle. "What about those who are said to be my siblings?"
"They’ve been showing up for the challenge battle with the blackdeath," said Afsan. "Several have already arrived."
Dybo nodded. "They don’t have to be here until the 666th day of this kiloday, but, yes, Dedprod and Spenress are already here."
"Spenress," said Afsan. "She’s the apprentice governor from Chu’toolar, isn’t she?"
"Yes," said Dybo.
"And the mirror used for the killings came from Chu’toolar."
"Indeed," said Cadool. "But, of course, Chu’toolar is very close to Capital province, especially if she came by boat. It’s not surprising that she’s arrived early."
"None of the others are here yet?" said Afsan.
"Well, Rodlox, of course," said Dybo, "who started all this challenge nonsense."
"Yes," said Afsan. "He certainly has enough anger in him."
"And he has flouted our laws already in defying the Emperor," said Cadool.
"Yes," said Afsan. He was silent for a time. "First Haldan, then Yabool," he said.
"That suggests," said Gathgol slowly, "that, whoever the killer might be, your other children are perhaps at risk."
"I’ll order imperial guards to accompany them," said Dybo.
Afsan nodded. "Thank you."