Gifted Hunter

  "Right," he said, his attitude changing completely. He gave the widow a long look. "Thank you, Mistress Pusila; I think we can leave you in peace."

  Sallis left Olista trailing as he bounded back up the stone steps and caught the smartly dressed sylph, where she had been eavesdropping.

  "And who are you?" asked Sallis.

  The infertile's earpoints wilted and her eyes went wide. Sallis noted a single gold fleck in one of the otherwise flawless silver-gray irises.

  "Implette," whispered the sylph, the name hinting at mischief.

  "She was Jarron's," said Pusila, putting a hand on the infertile's shoulder. The sylph flinched.

  "You were not with your master?" asked Sallis, gently.

  Those eyes, shining like polished silver, brimmed with sudden tears and Implette shook her head.

  "She carried a message to our son, Gelfar," said Pusila.

  Implette looked like she wanted to say more, but instead bit her lip and stared at her feet.

  Sallis nodded. "Well thank you again," he said. "You've been very helpful."

  Crallin followed Olista and Sallis back out into the strong sunshine.

  "If only we had some way of questioning Implette without her Mistress present," remarked Sallis. "That girl had something to say, but dared not with Pusila there."

  "Not very relevant anyway," interrupted Crallin. "She's just a sylph."

  "She's Jarron's sylph," countered Sallis. "She ought to have been with him, so why was she not? And who on earth makes their house sylphs sleep outside?"

  "Your landlady for one," Crallin pointed out.

  "Those sylphs work in the stables, countered Sallis, "they're not house sylphs."

  "Not everybody likes their sinabra," replied Crallin. "And in fairness, those stables look very comfortable."

  "What happened in the armory?" demanded Olista, uninterested if sylphs were forced to sleep in stables or not. "You came over all different."

  Sallis turned and wagged a finger at the Senator. "Unless your thief is careful enough to make his way through locks without damaging them, then we seek two criminals, not one."

  "What do you mean?"

  A second finger joined the first. "Jarron liked to spend time sharpening those swords and daggers."

  "Yes."

  Sallis nodded. "Was anything found on his body? In the wound or clothing?"

  "You must ask Lieutenant Vayburn about that," replied Crallin.

  "Thank you," smiled Sallis.

  "So you did find something," said Crallin.

  Sallis's smile broadened. "There's always something to find. Let's go, we're done here."

  ***

  At his lodgings, Sallis used the back of a hand to test the large board set up in his room. Kerran had painted it black as requested - or more likely, the two stable sylphs had painted it black - and the gunk had thankfully dried at last. Even so, it still smelled pretty bad. The powder crayon squeaked terribly on the wood, but Sallis could now write out his notes.

  Done, he sat back and stared at what he had written. He had nothing definite: no item of the thief's to give him the scent, and little more than an idea. But Sallis had already realized there was more to this commission than the obvious. He was still mulling over his idea when he went downstairs to his evening meal.

  One of the things he liked about Ulena's lodging house was that everybody ate together. The large wooden table had been scrubbed almost white over the years, surrounded by well-used and battered wooden chairs. A black range squatted in one corner, with chopped wood stacked floor to ceiling on either side.

  It reminded him of home.

  Sallis's chair scraped on the tiled floor as he squeezed between Kerran and the sylph Errim. The other infertile, Westin, served the meal. Ulena sat opposite, flanked by her daughters. Sallis glanced at the vegetable stew before he looked at his landlady.

  "What do you know about the murdered Senator?" he asked between mouthfuls.

  Ulena stared. "Jarron?" she asked. "Popular with the people. He wanted to give more of us voting rights, not just those who hold property above a certain value."

  Coming from an island proud of its universal democracy, Sallis lifted an eyebrow. "And not everybody agrees?"

  Ulena made a dismissive gesture with one hand. "Some of the richer families are happy with things as they are," she replied.

  "They want us kept out of politics," put in Kerran. "They say we don't understand everything that's involved."

  "Perhaps they are frightened you will understand," added Sallis.

  "Whether we understand or not, Jarron had the legislation going through the Senate and it scraped by with one vote. That meant there had to be a second vote. Until this happened, anyway."

  "Why does that make the difference?"

  Ulena sighed. "Now the sponsor is dead, the legislation will die with him. Unless someone else pushes it through in Jarron's stead."

  "So that is why the city is in uproar?"

  "Yes," replied Kerran. "Marka is like a dry forest in high summer. One spark, and the city will burn."

  "I see. Thank you."

  Sallis finished his meal in silence and let the others' conversation wash over him.

  Returning to his room, he pondered the board a while longer before he picked up the squeaky powder crayon. He scraped two words on the board.

  "Two criminals."

  ***

  After sleeping on his questions (and eating a hurried breakfast), Sallis picked his way through Marka's streets towards the South Gate. Kerran's words at the evening meal haunted him and he watched people carefully.

  Two men on the street corner might be exchanging pleasantries, or did they plan to rouse a mob and riot? The three women outside that shop front might have been discussing prices, or where best to find stones to throw at the Coronation Building. That handful of ragged children might be waiting to steal some vegetables, or else carrying hidden weapons to supply a group of young men at the other end of the street...

  Sallis concentrated so much on groups of humans dotted about, that he almost missed the infertile sylph who sat pouting on a small pile of luggage, her arms crossed. He recognized the smart tunic and neatly pressed breeches.

  "Implette?"

  The infertile looked over her shoulder and her earpoints wilted further.

  "What are you doing here?" asked Sallis, secretly delighted at this opportunity.

  "Going to Gelfar-ya," replied the infertile. She blinked a few times as Sallis eyed the luggage.

  "Looks like a permanent move," he remarked.

  The sylph nodded. "She wanted me out yesterday, but you came."

  "That is a shame. Let me help you carry your things."

  Implette shook her head. "I'm fine."

  "Of course you are," Sallis smiled. "Which is why you're sat on your luggage, panting and sweating."

  "You are observant, for a human," remarked the sylph.

  "Thank you. Why do you all really have to sleep in the stables?"

  Implette looked wary and shook her head.

  Sallis hefted the largest bag. "Look, this is important. Do you want your old owner's killer to face justice or not?"

  Implette's face crumpled and, for a moment, it looked like she might cry. She recovered her composure almost as quickly. "So we would not hear enya and anya arguing."

  "They argued a lot?"

  The sylph nodded.

  "Nudge me the way we want to go," said Sallis, as the infertile collected the other two bags. "We can talk as we walk."

  "Anya sent me to Gelfar-ya on that day," she said. "Enya usually takes me to the Senate, but he said there might be a fight, so he left me at home."

  "A fight over his legislation?" asked Sallis.

  Implette blinked and shrugged.

  Sallis supposed infertile sylphs might not be too interested in affairs of State. "I take it Pusila wanted you out of the way."

  "She said I got too much of his attention." This time a tear
leaked free.

  "Don't take on," smiled Sallis, who already had the answer he needed. "Don't cry, or you'll make me cry too."

  The sylph giggled at that.

  "Now, you tell me where you need to go, and I'll see you there safely."

  ***

  Lieutenant Vayburn smiled at Sallis as he entered his office.

  "Congratulations, young man. Seems your wish got granted. And by Olista himself, no less."

  Sallis nodded. "Does that mean you're going to stop trying to recruit me into the Guard?" he asked.

  "Not a chance," chuckled Vayburn. "You keep on walking in like you work here and I'll give you a uniform. Most bounty hunters are shown the door straight away."

  "I learned you're the officer in charge of the Senator Jarron business," said Sallis.

  "That's me," said Vayburn, sounding cheerful. "And if you're as good as you claim, when you catch the thief, you'll have caught the murderer."

  "Maybe."

  Vayburn blinked and some of the good cheer faded. "You sound unconvinced."

  Sallis nodded. "Is there anything that ties the thief to the murder?"

  "Jarron's home was plundered the same night he was murdered. I don't believe in coincidence."

  "Any physical evidence to put the theft and murder together?"

  "Apart from the thief being there the same night, nothing," replied Vayburn. His gaze flickered briefly aside as he spoke.

  Sallis narrowed his eyes. That flicker meant Vayburn had had to think of an answer, which therefore translated "nothing at all" into a lie.

  "What did you find?" he asked, quietly.

  "You doubt my word, boy?" Vayburn's dark blue eyes hardened. "I told you we found nothing." The man's gaze was direct enough now.

  Sallis inclined his head. "My apologies." He changed the subject. "When the Senate votes, is there a record of who votes which way?"

  "No," replied Vayburn. "Most votes are secret ballots and those that aren't are done by a show of hands. The results are recorded, but not who votes how."

  "A pity," muttered Sallis.

  ***

  "Yes, I laid out Senator Jarron's body."

  Sallis smiled at Dowl, the imhotep's assistant priest. "Was there anything unusual about it?" he asked.

  They sat in Dowl's small office, an annex to the main temple. The dead usually came here to be prepared for burial, provided the family could afford it. Sallis had waited most of the day to meet with Dowl and he still had another visit to make.

  Dowl eyed Sallis neutrally, taking in his obvious youth, and finally deigned to answer. "Having a hole poked through the middle is unusual in this city," he replied. "When I wash a body, it's not normally covered in blood."

  "What happened to the clothes?"

  Dowl's graying eyebrows rose. "They were burned."

  "You worked alone?"

  "No, an officer from the Guard worked with me."

  "Who?"

  Dowl blinked. "Really, I do not see -"

  "The Senate commissioned me to work this case," said Sallis. "Your cooperation is much appreciated and may help bring the perpetrator to justice."

  Dowl's upper lip curled. "You're a bounty hunter. All you care about is the money."

  Sallis smiled. "I'm different," he replied. "Now, who was here?"

  "Lieutenant Vayburn," replied Dowl. "He rummaged through everything. All the clothes anyway. And he pressed around the... the hole. Why would he do that?"

  "Looking for something that shouldn't be there," replied Sallis absently. He lifted his shirt and bared his midriff and lower chest. "About where was the wound?"

  Dowl reluctantly touched the lower left part of Sallis's ribcage.

  "Here," he said. "A deep hole about here, and a tear in the skin. Terrible, quite terrible. In thirty years of preparing the dead for burial, I have never..."

  Sallis nodded and let his shirt drop. He almost smiled, before he remembered the discussion's subject. "Did Vayburn find anything?"

  Dowl shrugged. "No idea; he said nothing if he did."

  Sallis inclined his head. "Thank you, Priest Dowl, you have been very kind, and most helpful."

  Dowl blinked and managed a half-smile. "I have?"

  ***

  Sallis's last visit was to the Coronation Building. He walked through half-familiar corridors until a hard-faced woman, perhaps a decade older than himself, halted him. Her hair was a lighter brown than Sallis had come to expect from Markans, but her dark blue eyes regarded him coldly.

  "I'd like to see Senator Olista," explained Sallis.

  The woman's hard face tightened. "That will not be possible without an appointment," she replied.

  "Can I make the appointment now?" asked Sallis, not one to be fobbed off easily.

  "You must request the appointment in writing and a reply will be given within seven days. I assume you can write?"

  "Days?" Sallis's voice squeaked. "I need to meet the -"

  The woman silenced him by raising a finger. "No letter, no appointment. No appointment, no meeting. Good day to you."

  Summarily dismissed, Sallis retreated to the main hall. Even Senators had homes to go to and must leave the building sooner or later. He finally spotted the man he had come to see.

  "Good evening, Senator Olista," he said.

  "Ah, Sallis! Anything to report?"

  "Just a couple of questions, Sir."

  "Thought you might already have sniffed out our criminal." Olista smiled.

  "Somebody has done a good job of cleaning up after him," replied Sallis. "I must wait until he strikes again, unless he's fled the city. For now, I'm trying to follow up on the murder."

  "Probably all the work of the same man," said Olista.

  "I'm convinced we're looking for two criminals," insisted Sallis with a grimace. "Did Senator Jarron have enemies?"

  Olista stopped in surprise. "Are you serious? Every Senator has enemies."

  They left the Coronation Building together and jogged down the wide stone steps.

  "Enemies who would kill?"

  "What are you getting at?"

  "This plan to give more people the vote."

  Olista blinked. "Extending the franchise is never popular with everybody," he replied. "There are always vested interests and always those who want to keep power in their own hands. But I doubt if anybody would kill over it."

  "I suspect somebody did just that, sir."

  Olista gave a dismissive sniff.

  "What are your views on Jarron's proposal?"

  Olista laughed. "A very polite way of asking how I voted in a secret ballot." His eyes hardened. "I was all in favor of extending the franchise and cast my vote accordingly. My constituency has many poorer people and I would always welcome a few extra votes."

  "Somebody was violently against it," pointed out Sallis.

  "A Senator would hire an assassin," countered Olista.

  "No assassin killed Jarron," said Sallis. "Not one you'd pay for. Whoever killed him tried to stab him through the ribcage."

  Olista shook his head. "Concentrate your efforts on the thief," he said. "I think you will find he is also the murderer."

  "Well, thank you for helping, Senator."

  As Sallis increased his pace to return to his lodgings, Olista stood still for a few moments, staring at the youngster's back. He wondered if he had done the right thing when he commissioned Sallis to hunt down their thief.

  ***

  Chapter 9 - New Clues

  Ulena woke Sallis as dawn broke over Marka. Sallis blinked a few times and stared out of his window towards the pyramid.

  "There has been another theft," said Ulena. "A runner came from the Guard and waits outside."

  Sallis threw his blanket aside and rolled off his bed. Ulena pretended not to watch as he struggled into breeches and pulled on a shirt. He snatched his jerkin from the chair while stamping feet into his boots.

  "Hope they've left everything alone this time," he muttered. "What street?
"

  "It's outside the city," replied Ulena. "Not within the walls."

  "Father's breath!" swore Sallis. "The man's about to run!"

  "Probably already running," said Ulena, dryly.

  "Tell Kerran to saddle Glyder," instructed Sallis, afraid his quarry might slip away.

  "He's already doing that." Ulena smiled. "He has a nose for these things."

  Sallis snatched his quarterstaff and sword and took the stairs two at a time on his way out. Kerran was tightening Glyder's girth strap as Sallis strode into the stable. A pair of blue faces peeped sleepily at them from the hayloft above.

  "Thought you might be wanting him," said Kerran, even as Sallis led Glyder out from the stable.

  Sallis smiled. "Thanks," he said. Outside, he turned to the Guard's messenger. "Need a lift?"

  The man bared his teeth.

  "I'll walk as far as the alley," he replied. "Got a horse of my own out there."

  "Where's this theft?" asked Sallis, as the messenger mounted.

  "One of the Senators has a villa 'bout a mila outside the South Gate," came the reply. "It happened there."

  "Another killing?"

  The man shook his head. "Nobody's said anything," he replied, "so I reckon not."

  Sallis vaguely remembered passing the grounds of the villa on his way to Marka and, after riding out of the city, now looked at the place with increased interest.

  The villa looked like an overgrown peasant hut, sprawling in several directions and with a stable block attached. The only remarkable thing was the high fence, which Sallis suspected had more to do with keeping wandering animals out than for security. He saw sylphs scurrying about, most with wilted earpoints, and men from the Guard stood beside the entrance.

  Olista had already arrived and stood with a distinctly irate older man with gray hair and ginger mustaches.

  "Took me years to acquire all that gold," the older man was saying, "and we slept through the whole damned thing. Me, both wives and the sylphs!"

  The speaker glared at the nearest, who shrank away.

  "Do your sylphs sleep in the stables too?" asked Sallis, after a sideways glance at the stable block.

  "Don't be ridiculous." The older man turned to Olista. "You're letting these sprogs out younger and younger."

  Olista smiled and inclined his head. "Sallis ti Ath, this is Senator Mermack. He is usually quite safe, I assure you. Mermack, this, ah, sprog, is Sallis ti Ath, the latest addition to our growing corps of bounty hunters."

  "Bounty hunter, eh?" Mermack stuck his hand out. "Mermack Tarlan Yowver, at your service."

  "I hope to be at yours," murmured Sallis, sliding off Glyder to shake hands. He turned to Olista. "This is our last chance to catch him; he's running now."