Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Where are we going?” Vasren's eyes glittered in the dark and not just from their natural luminosity. He was excited. I could feel it.
“I need to have this thread analyzed.” I bent my head, hunching into my hood.
Behind us, the three Brandva brothers put on their own style of masks—joking, pushing each other, and generally behaving like a bunch of idiots who were also related. When you're that big, trying to look unassuming only makes you more suspicious. Speaking of which . . .
“Pull up your hood,” I whispered to Vas.
His fine clothing was covered by a worn wool cloak, but that golden-brown waterfall of hair was hard to ignore, especially against the dark fabric.
Vas didn't argue, just pulled up his hood.
He was still large, with the build of a Dragon warrior, but near the docks, that wasn't too shocking.
It was only when we entered a nicer neighborhood that we had to alter our behavior.
Once we traded dirty alleys for narrow gardens and the smell of dead ocean for freshly baked bread, I flung back my hood and lifted my chin.
The brothers instantly stopped the tomfoolery and went serious.
Rigin slipped in front of us while Baelxa and Grekan stayed in the back, transforming from ruffians to bodyguards. I tapped Vas and nodded at his hood.
“Now you want it down?” Vasren frowned.
“The best disguise works with your environment.” I motioned at his clothing. “You can let that show now. Open your cloak. You'll help us look as if we belong here.”
With our Brandva guards, Vas and I looked like a fine couple out for a stroll. The clean sidewalks took us through a nice neighborhood and into an even nicer one. At last, we came to the house I was searching for.
“We're here, Rigin.” I waved toward the left.
Rigin surmounted the steps, knocked on the classy carved door, and then stepped aside, his stare searching the street. The other two Brandva took up positions at the bottom of the steps, facing out, while Vas went to the door with me.
The door opened. A human butler looked us over and then doubled back to Vasren. “How may I help you, my lord?”
“Tell your master that Hallaxgral is here to see him,” I said.
The human swayed on his feet, his tan skin going pale, but then he recovered. “Yes, my lord! Right this way.” He opened the door wider and allowed all of us entry before closing and locking it.
Grekan took a post beside the door in the entry, his stare locked out the window. The other two men followed Vas and me as we followed the butler into a parlor.
“May I fetch you refreshments?” The butler glanced at the Brandva men as they spread out to inspect the room.
“Yes, something warm to drink would be nice.” I took an armchair.
Vas wasn't pleased by my choice, but he took the other armchair, leaving our host the couch. I shot him a look, trying to convey that Hallaxgral wasn't a man to cuddle up with his lover in front of others.
Baelxa and Rigin finally settled against the walls—one near the door and the other near the window. Then we waited.
A few minutes later, a Brujai man came striding into the room, his butler right on his heels.
The Brujai met my stare and nodded. I nodded back, pushing away memories of the Brujai couple I had murdered.
They had been cannibals, part of a tribe that was supposed to be extinct. This man was not like them.
I stood up and offered him my hand. “Crav, it's good to see you.”
“Ka—” Crav cut himself off before he spoke my name, his stare shooting to Vasren and then the brothers. “Uh, Hallaxgral. Welcome.”
“They know who I am. This is my mate, Vasren, and two members of my crew—Rigin and Baelxa. ” I motioned at Vas and then the Brandva. “And this is Crav Gujal. We're old friends.”
Crav's brow wrinkled under a layer of transparent scales that protected his kind from the harsh desert winds. “You're mated to a Dragon? When did that happen?”
“Recently.”
Vasren stood up and offered his hand. “How do you know my mate?”
“Vas.” I shook my head. “It doesn't matter.”
“It does to me.”
“Your mate saved my life once,” Crav said.
“I was visiting Kochan and had ventured into the wrong part of the city.
A group of ruffians thought I was an easy target.
I would have been, if not for the fearsome Hallaxgral.
Katai was alone, but he dropped those men in seconds. I've never seen anything like it.”
“Yes, I've witnessed his skill in mu-tao.”
I glanced at Vas before saying to Crav, “He was even more shocked than you were.”
“I can imagine.” Crav chuckled as he waved at the seats.
“Sit down, please.” Then he waved his butler over.
As the man set down a tray of steaming mugs, Crav picked one up and handed it to me.
He waved off his butler as he did the same for Vas, and then he took the last mug and seated himself in the center of the couch.
“Milt, bring more drinks for Rigin and Grekan. Oh, and the one in the entry too.”
“Baelxa,” I supplied.
“Baelxa,” Crav repeated.
“Yes, sir.” The butler hurried off.
“I'm sorry, boys. Milt thought you were just guards. He'll be right back with something to warm you up. It's a cold night.”
“Thank you.” Grekan nodded. “We're whatever the boss needs us to be in the moment.”
“As you should. You don't want to upset this man.” Crav winked at me. “Now, tell me why you've come to visit, old friend.”
“I need your help, Crav.” I pulled out the spool and set it on the low table. “Can you analyze this for me?”
Leaning forward, Crav put his mug down and picked up the spool of thread. “What in the names of all the Gods is this?”
“That's what I need you to tell me, Crav.”
He looked over at me. “This may take a while.”
I nodded. “My ship is docked at the wharf. The Reprisal. Send someone with word when you can.”
“I will.” He set the spool down. “I can tell you this much immediately, Katai. Whatever this is, it is natural and singular.”
“That's impossible.”
“Why?”
“If it is natural, then the source holds the magic, and the source of that magic cannot be spun. It must be a compound product.”
Crav picked it up and inspected it again.
He unwound the thread and rubbed it between his fingers.
“I'm sorry, but you're wrong. These fibers are natural and bear none of the marks of enchantment.
If you pushed me to give you an immediate answer, I'd say they were silk. But I know of no silk fibers that glow like this.”
“Silk.” I stared at him as I thought of the Hunter's manifest and the name of the pleasure house.
“Yes, silk. So, you know what type of magic illuminates the thread?”
I chewed on my lip. “I'd rather not influence your findings.”
Crav nodded. “You're right. My results will be more accurate if I work blind.” He set the spool down again and sat back. “Are you in a rush, or can we catch up?”
Milt returned just then with mugs for the brothers and a plate of sweets.
As he set the plate down on the table beside the spool, I let my curiosity go for the time being.
I had learned that fostering friendships was just as important as gaining information when it came to taking down criminals.
And it had been a long time since I'd seen Crav.
“Of course, I have time for you, my friend. We haven't seen each other for months. How are Hinla and Rucrel?”
“My wife and son are well, thank you. They're visiting Hinla's parents in Gusha.” As Crav went on, telling me about his family, my gaze strayed to Vasren.
Vas met my gaze with a tender expression. He was doing remarkably well so far. He'd even sounded proud when he mentioned my mu-tao skills.
On the table between us, the thread taunted me. So unassuming. Pretty, even. But my instincts told me it was something truly terrible. This spool of thread would unravel secrets that would shock my lover to his core . . . and bring out the Hallaxgral in me.
How would Vas look at me then?