Page 44 of The Necromancer's Prisoner

Alistair frowned. “Surely, determining the fates of your missing villagers and forestalling any additional calamities is your highest priority?”

“That is why we broughtyouhere, so that we need not trouble ourselves with that mess. Winter or not, I have dozens of orders to prepare in time for Spring. Our clients could care less about our woes, and with fewer hands on deck than expected, every day counts.”

There we go.Alistair seized the offered opening. “You mean Matrim Jarik, Master Erys’ former apprentice?”

Her grip tensed around the edge of her workstation. “Aye, him and the others. They were artisans here. Far from our best, but not our worst, either. And even our worst are expected to carry their weight.”

She glared toward the staircase, perhaps remembering her recent argument. Alistair’s sympathy went out to the poor worker who’d invoked her wrath.

Beside him, Iggie sucked in a breath. “Wait a minute. You mean allfourof the disappeared villagers worked here?”

Liliana studied the necromancer like he was a particularly disgusting insect she couldn’t wait to squash. “I don’t remember giving you permission to speak, fiend. Your paladin might be content to trot you around town like a treasured pet, but that doesn’t mean I have to pretend you’re anything more than a Light-spurned aberration.”

Iggie flushed, looking away. Alistair clenched his hand into a fist to stop himself from reaching for the hilt of his sword. “Watch your tongue, artisan. Ignatius is here under my protection. To insult him is to insult me.”

Liliana barked a laugh, not seeming the least bit perturbed by his ire. “It’s not you I have a problem with, Sir Knight. You’re free to investigate to your heart’s content. But thatthingcan wait outside. I will not have it sullying my workshop.”

“Iggie is a valued part of this investigation, and unless you want me to place you under arrest for interfering in a Knight’s duty, I suggest you stand down and answer his question.”

A hand lightly touched his arm. “It’s all right,” Iggie whispered, his voice near panicked. “I don’t mind waiting outside.”

“No, it isnotall right.” The frustration that had been building in him during the walk over was finally close to overflowing. He’d allowed the villagers and everyone else to walk all over Iggie since they’d arrived, butthiswas a step too far.

Liliana hesitated. Her eyes flicked between them while a curious frown tugged at her lips. Alistair wished he could read her thoughts. She wouldn’t dare call his bluff…would she?

More than a minute passed before Liliana harrumphed and shoved to her feet. Her attention fixed on Alistair as she pointedly avoided looking at Iggie. “Fine. The necromancer can stay so long as you keep him on a tight leash. As for your question…yes, all four of the missing villagers worked here, including Erys’ old pupil. He was never much of an artisan, but his knack for magic helped him interact with the harmonite, so I kept him on to do some of our easier tasks.”

“And you didn’t think it odd that all of the missing villagers shared this clear connection?” Alistair asked.

Liliana shrugged. “It’s not as surprising as you might think. Harmonite is the lifeblood of this village—its sole reason for existing. Fewer people in Singer’s Restdon’tmake a living off it than do, and even those generally exist to support our work.” She raised an eyebrow. “Besides, I believe Ididmention it when you first arrived. You obviously didn’t find it any more noteworthy at the time than we did.”

Alistair frowned, trying to recall that initial council meeting. If she’d brought it up then, he couldn’t remember. Just like Erys, he’d likely been so focused on the undead threat that he hadn’t paid enough attention to anything else. A mistake he’d have to be careful he didn’t repeat.

“Was Matrim close with the other missing artisans? Or with anyone else you’re aware of?”

“How the Light shouldIknow? You think I make it my business to keep track of who socializes with whom in their spare time?”

Alistair strained to keep his voice calm and composed. Further confrontation would get them nowhere. “I’d assume you have some inkling of what your artisans get up to, even if you don’t particularly care about the information.”

She shrugged again, and he clenched his jaw. “Matrim might’ve had a couple associates among them. Many of the other artisans idolized him, especially the younger ones. I suppose even a washed-out mage evokes a certain sense of awe.” The way she rolled her eyes made it clear whatshethought of that. “None in particular stand out, though.”

Suppressing a sigh, Alistair inclined his head. “Thank you for your—”

“Hold on.” Liliana’s brow furrowed as her gaze settled on the workshop’s entrance. “Now that you mention it, I do remember another artisan who started hanging around Matrim these last few months: Julian Lerange.”

Beside him, Iggie perked up. Matching excitement flared through Alistair.Finally, a concrete lead.“Great! We’d love to speak with him, see if there’s anything he can tell us about Matrim before his disappearance. You said he’s an artisan here?”

“Formerartisan if things keep up the way they have been. The Light-blinded man can’t even be bothered to show up for work when we’re already struggling to keep to our schedule, especially with the added preparations for Dawncoming thrown in.”

Alistair’s stomach sank. “You mean, he’s not here? When was the last time you saw him?”

Liliana scoffed. “The lazy oaf called out sick two or three days ago, but his work’s been slipping ever since he started hanging around Matrim. That’s why I remember the connection. I should have let that wannabe mage go months ago, magical talent or not.”

Iggie leaned into Alistair, the nearness causing Alistair’s heart to quicken. “Ask if Julian was close with anyone else who was taken.”

Alistair considered telling Iggie to ask her himself before he caught Liliana’s sneer. Perhaps Iggie had the right idea after all. He repeated his question, earning another infuriating shrug.

“Like I said, what my workers do in their own time is their business. But if Julian hung around that good-for-nothing Matrim, it’d make sense that they shared the same acquaintances. Perhaps he’s taking their disappearances harder than the others.”