Page 131 of The Tainted Cup

“We build a trap, Din,” said Ana. “Vashta herself said that the only thing that would make Fayazi jump now would be if we said there was another threat to her life.” She grinned. “And that is what I just told her.”

“You lied to her, ma’am?”

“Oh, I did,” said Ana. “But not about that. Thereisa threat to Fayazi’s life—yet not the sort anyone expects.”

“Then…what did you lie to her about?”

“Well, for starters, Iknowwho the third poisoner is, Din. And I now know how those ten Engineers died. And I also know what that reagents key truly was—and where it is now. I do feel a bit bad for lying to Vashta about all that, but…well, there is so much corruption in this canton that I worry an errant word from her could ruin my plot.”

We came to her door. I opened my mouth to say more, but she raised a finger.

“No time to explain, Din,” she said. “I must prepare my rooms for tomorrow, for I worry that all this could very well go awry. Butlisten,boy…” She gripped my arm tight. “I am going through this door, and after that, you are toneveropen it again, understood? Not without my saying it’s safe. Is that clear?”

“I…I don’t understand, ma’am,” I said, now thoroughly bewildered. “Why?”

“Do you understand that you shouldn’t open this door unless I tell you, child?” she hissed. “Yes? Then do as I say! I’d tell you why, but I’m sure you’d just try and stop me, and that would imperil many lives.”

“I’m your engraver,” I said indignantly. “Shouldn’t I be told of your schemes?”

“You’re right—you are myengraver.You are here to look, and see. So be down in the atrium first thing tomorrow, and be ready to look and see! And bring your sword. For if my conjectures prove true, we shall unmask a murderer—and a great deal more than that. Or we shall get all our throats slit.” She grinned again. “Now sleep, boy—if you can.” Then she shut the door.

CHAPTER 37

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IT WAS DAWN WHENI heard the first footsteps from the tower entrance. I looked up from where I stood before the adjudication chamber, my hand resting on my sword, then relaxed when I saw Captain Miljin stumping up, his long scabbard swinging by his side.

He nodded to me. Then his eye danced down to my fingers, which still tarried near the grip of my weapon. “You’re jumpy, Kol…What’s all this about, then? Got a message from Vashta to be here. I thought it’d be about poor Nusis, but…something about an attempt on Fayazi Haza’s life?”

“Or one that’s coming, sir,” I said. “Ana seemed sure of it. Fayazi Haza herself will be here shortly to be interviewed.”

He gazed up the tower stairs. “But Ana’s not here yet.”

“Still in her rooms. Before you ask, no, I’m afraid she hasn’t told me her plots, sir. I’ve no idea what she’s playing at.”

He snorted. “Perhaps today’s the day she finally tells us what’s been bubbling away in that brain of hers.” He turned as six Legionnaires trooped into the atrium. He shook his head. “Just had to happen as the leviathan grows perilously close. Let us hope we all survive it.”

We entered the adjudication chambers, the Legionnaires taking position at the doors and windows. We waited in silence, and then there came a rumbling of carriage wheels. Commander-Prificto Vashta swept in, followed by Fayazi Haza, attired again in her silveryrobes and delicate veil, and flanked by her engraver and her axiom. Fayazi looked nearly as shaken as she had when I’d seen her staring down on me as her carriage had taken me away. Her Sublimes, as always, were utterly inscrutable.

“Where’s Dolabra?” Vashta demanded of me. “Is she not here yet? I thought she would be waiting!”

I opened my mouth to speak—but then I heard a door slam in the tower beyond, followed by small, careful footsteps. I bowed, excused myself, and exited to see Ana slowly, carefully descending the stairs, blindfolded as always, one hand trailing on the wall.

“They all there, Din?” she asked softly as she came to me. “Vashta, Fayazi, and her two Sublimes?”

“They are, ma’am.”

“And how do they look?”

“Rather rattled, ma’am.”

A grin. “Good. Let us rattle them more.”

She took me by the arm. I glanced up the curling stairway, wondering what she had left behind in her room, and why I was not to enter it. Then I led her into the adjudication chambers.

The Legionnaires shut the door behind us and locked it. I glanced around, taking in their positions: two soldiers on either side of Fayazi, one at each of the two windows in this chamber, and two on either side of the door. Fayazi herself sat at the prosecutor’s table, with her axiom on her left and her engraver on her right. Vashta had taken up her usual spot at the high table, and Miljin slouched on a bench behind Fayazi, hand on his sword. I led Ana to the first row of benches opposite Fayazi, who watched with narrowed eyes as she sat.

“So,” said Fayazi. “We are here, as you have asked, Dolabra…You claim my life is being threatened, again?”