Chapter Twenty-Two
After we returned to the palace from Sahir Square, I excused myself. Jucai wanted to have sex, of course, but I needed to speak with Duke Daha. I sucked him off instead and hurried off to find the Duke.
He was in his lab in the west tower. Surrounded by glass jars, bubbling pots, and leather-bound books, Daha worked at a heavy wooden table, grinding herbs. He looked up when I entered.
“Lord Nadar, welcome.” He put down his tools. “Did you need something?”
“Yes, Your Grace. I need to ask you about sorcery.”
Daha's eyebrows rose. “Truly? What do you need to know?”
“The Blue Heron bore magic residue. Claw Mahdred and I believe the attackers used a spell that made them appear to be Sea Dragons. A witness stated that one of King Jucai's guards looked exactly like a man who'd attacked the ship.”
“Fascinating. So, you need to know what spell they used.”
“I was hoping you might know what ingredients they'd need. If there were something more difficult to obtain on the list, we may find their supplier.”
Daha was already searching his library. He pulled out a book and flipped through the pages.
“Ah, here it is. It's a twin spell.” He set the book on his worktable and tapped it.
“The ingredients are common except for one. It requires a hair or a piece of a fingernail from the person you wish to impersonate.”
“Hair or fingernail.” I grimaced. The fingernail might be difficult to acquire, but a hair would be easy enough to get, especially in Jucai's court.
“You won't be able to track the sale of the other ingredients, but at least you know that it's someone who has come into contact with that knight.”
“Yes, that might help. Thank you, Your Grace.”
“It's no trouble at all.”
I headed for the door.
“Lord Nadar.”
I stopped and turned back to him.
“Ever since I began studying sorcery, spirits have visited me. It's taken some time, but one has proven itself trustworthy.”
“How incredible. Does it help you?”
“Yes, and sometimes it tells me things. The spirit has a message for you.”
“For me? From a dead relative?”
“No, Lord Nadar, it's a warning.”
I went still. If anyone else had told me a spirit had asked them to relay a warning to me, I would have laughed myself breathless. But Duke Daha wasn't the joking sort. And I trusted him. “What's the warning?”
“When you see the red fish, duck.”
“Wait, am I going to see a red fish duck, or am I going to see a red fish with a duck?”
Daha made an annoyed face, but it wasn't for me. He spoke to the air on his right. “I told you it's a confusing warning.” Another grimace. “Yes, of course I'll explain it.” With a sigh, he looked at me. “You will see a red fish. When you do, you must duck.” He hunched forward to show me.
“Oh! When I see the red fish, duck. I understand.” Then I frowned. “I'll be going back to Kansu. There will be a lot of red fish there.”
Daha shrugged. “Well, when you see your next red fish, duck.”
“All right, I'll remember. Thank you, Your Grace. And thank you, spirit.” A gust of icy wind blew past me, and I went still. “Was that . . . ?”
“Yes, he's upset. He doesn't think you'll remember.”
“I will. I swear it.”
Daha nodded. “Now, you will. Good luck, Lord Nadar.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” I said once more and then left the tower.