JК
The Wizardwar :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 183 из 208Matteo noted thesmall scroll case strapped to the dove's leg. He quickly removed it and shook out the bit of parchment. It was a note from Tzigone, asking him to come at once to Keturah's tower.
He hurried from the room, oblivious to the bird's aggrieved coos-such messengers were trained to wait for a reply. The green marble tower was not far from the palace, and the streets were still quiet under the fading night sky. Matteo sprinted down the street, intent on his goal. After the attack on Basel's tower, he suspected the worse.
He ran past a stand of flowering xenia bushes and didn't see the out-thrust foot until it was too late. He deftly turned the trip into a roll and came up in a crouch, daggers out.
Branches parted, and Tzigone's small face peered out at him. She gestured for him to join her. After a moment's hesitation, he edged into the small hollow.
"Procopio Septus is in the tower," she said.
Matteo's brows rose. "You're certain?"
"He just walked in." She shook her head in self-reproach. "I haven't had time to change the wards since I took over the tower."
He caught the implication at once. "Procopio knows Dhamari's wards! How could this be? A diviner might be able to see through some of them but certainly not all."
"I imagine Dhamari handed him the counterspells," she said grimly. "They're best of friends these days."
The jordain huffed. "You didn't see fit to mention this?"
"Do you want to hear what I have to say, or would you rather fuss?" she said sharply.
He held up both hands in a gesture of peace. "We'll come back to Procopio later."
"We always seem to," she agreed. "Anyway, last night Dhamari came to Basel's tower after you all left. He was very surprised to find anyone still alive. My guess is he knew the attack was coming."
Matteo looked troubled. "If he did, most likely Procopio knew as well. Proving that, however, will be difficult. Diviners are notoriously hard to read through magical inquiry."
"Maybe this will help." Tzigone handed him a small packet. "I got this from Sinestra Belajoon's room. She found it hidden in Procopio's villa."
"Oh?" he said cautiously.
Tzigone shrugged. "Sinestra had some notion about learning thieving skills. You might say she was my apprentice."
"Sweet Mystra," he groaned. "Twice-stolen proof is not much better than none at all."
"That depends on the proof. This is mummy powder."
Stunned enlightenment crossed Matteo's face. "Only the Mulhorandi embalm their dead.
He hurried from the room, oblivious to the bird's aggrieved coos-such messengers were trained to wait for a reply. The green marble tower was not far from the palace, and the streets were still quiet under the fading night sky. Matteo sprinted down the street, intent on his goal. After the attack on Basel's tower, he suspected the worse.
He ran past a stand of flowering xenia bushes and didn't see the out-thrust foot until it was too late. He deftly turned the trip into a roll and came up in a crouch, daggers out.
Branches parted, and Tzigone's small face peered out at him. She gestured for him to join her. After a moment's hesitation, he edged into the small hollow.
"Procopio Septus is in the tower," she said.
Matteo's brows rose. "You're certain?"
"He just walked in." She shook her head in self-reproach. "I haven't had time to change the wards since I took over the tower."
He caught the implication at once. "Procopio knows Dhamari's wards! How could this be? A diviner might be able to see through some of them but certainly not all."
"I imagine Dhamari handed him the counterspells," she said grimly. "They're best of friends these days."
The jordain huffed. "You didn't see fit to mention this?"
"Do you want to hear what I have to say, or would you rather fuss?" she said sharply.
He held up both hands in a gesture of peace. "We'll come back to Procopio later."
"We always seem to," she agreed. "Anyway, last night Dhamari came to Basel's tower after you all left. He was very surprised to find anyone still alive. My guess is he knew the attack was coming."
Matteo looked troubled. "If he did, most likely Procopio knew as well. Proving that, however, will be difficult. Diviners are notoriously hard to read through magical inquiry."
"Maybe this will help." Tzigone handed him a small packet. "I got this from Sinestra Belajoon's room. She found it hidden in Procopio's villa."
"Oh?" he said cautiously.
Tzigone shrugged. "Sinestra had some notion about learning thieving skills. You might say she was my apprentice."
"Sweet Mystra," he groaned. "Twice-stolen proof is not much better than none at all."
"That depends on the proof. This is mummy powder."
Stunned enlightenment crossed Matteo's face. "Only the Mulhorandi embalm their dead.