Scooping up several empty plates, Bryn carried them back to the bakery counter. “She didn’t say, but personally I don’t see why anyone would ever want to leave Caltrey.” There were ragged cheers from the other customers, all the Caltreyans. The other imperials watched the streets and the houses, as if on guard against attack.From who?she wondered.The cats?
“Have there been other recent arrivals?” Captain Varrik asked.
Kiela felt Larran tense beside her.
Before Fenerer could jump in with any kind of accusation, Eadie said, “We could help you better if we knew why you’re asking. Who are you looking for?”
“Of course.” He bowed his head politely. “We are looking for Ravandil Etra L’sari. Due to . . . recent events, she is currently the only living heir to Emperor Mevorin. It is imperative we find her.”
They really were sent to find Radane.
“So you can crown her or kill her?” Eadie asked.
Bryn bustled out again. “Eadie.”
“What?” Eadie asked. “I can’t ask questions?” To the captain, she said, “Forgive an old lady’s bluntness. We get so little news out here. How did you misplace the sole living heir? Seems like that’s the sort of person one wants to keep track of. It’s not like she’s a pretty bauble that got stuck in a box.”
“She’s certainly not a bauble,” Captain Varrik said. He touched his hair spiral as if soothing himself and then sighed. “Frankly, if she doesn’t wish to be found, she shouldn’t be. But I have my orders. And I come offering a substantial reward: a deed to a recently vacated palace in Alyssium. It comes with all the furnishings and treasures of its former owner, as well as the title Baron or Baroness.”
Fenerer jumped to his feet and pointed at Kiela.“She’snew to Caltrey.”
Her heart clenched.So much for that lie working.
Larran stepped in front of Kiela, and she tried to look shocked. She did feel shocked. That was a very substantial reward. It could tempt anyone in Caltrey. Even Bryn or Eadie. She wondered if either of them had guessed that Radane was this heir. It was no more or less plausible than that she was an investigator who wanted to leave her job. Still . . .They don’t know where she’s hidden.
And besides, she didn’t think either Bryn or Eadie wanted to leave Caltrey.
Captain Varrik crossed the courtyard to Larran. The two men eyed each other, and the captain said mildly, “I would like to speak with your wife.”
Kiela laid her hand on Larran’s arm. “It’s all right. I’m obviously not heir to anything, except a cookbook.” She stepped out from around Larran. “I’m Kiela Orobidan, daughter of Atlan and Binna. I was born on Caltrey.” All true.
Varrik studied her for only a heartbeat—took in her blue skin, her hair, the shape of her face, her eyes, her new freckles—and dismissed her. “She’s not the imperial heir.”
She began to breathe normally again.
Fenerer shook his finger. “She’s suspicious, though. Came to this island and things started happening. You should search that cottage of hers. She keeps unnatural things. Bet she knows what really happened to the imperial investigator. Probably did something unnatural to her, to make her stop asking questions.”
Eadie smacked his finger with a napkin. “That’s enough, Fenerer. Captain Varrik . . .”
At the same time, Larran said, “Captain Varrik . . .”
Bryn said, “Ignore Fenerer. He’s suspicious of everyone.”
Captain Varrik inclined his head. “My mandate does not include the investigation of local island matters. I have one priority.”
“Mark my words,” Fenerer said, “that woman is hiding secrets.”
With the air of someone who was used to interviewing the islands’ most irritating residents, Captain Varrik said, “Describe this investigator to me, please.”
Fenerer happily jumped in with a description: height, shape, skin, eyes, hair. It was so detailed that he might as well have painted a picture of her. Kiela watched the captain and saw the moment that his suspicion was confirmed.
Until that instant, she’d had the sense that the captain was simply going through the motions, humoring the islanders while they discussed the latest event—the shipwreck and the absent imperial investigator. He hadn’t truly thought it had anything to do with his mission. Now, though, he looked like a hunting dog who’d scented a rabbit.
Oh, this is not good.
“Who was the last to see her?” he demanded.
His sailors sensed the change in his tone as well, and they became more alert. Kiela noticed their postures straightening, their eyes darting to observe everything and everyone. She didn’t doubt that they’d report back the slightest suspicion.
