Page 67 of A Drop of Corruption

I stood, still wrapped in my meager blanket. “Am I free to go?”

“Not quite, sir.” He slid my clothes through the slot in the wall. “There’s an investigation, you see, sir.”

“Has my immunis been notified?”

“I’m not informed of that, sir,” said the militis.

“If she isn’t included in whatever this is, there’ll be hell to pay,” I said. “This is not a threat, but just…physics. When defied, she breaks things.”

“I’m…not informed of that, sir,” said the militis again.

It was either the wrong thing for me to say, or I was talking to the wrong person. I let it lie.

Once I’d arranged myself, I was led through a hallway and out into the streets of Yarrowdale. I cringed at the daylight—the first sun I’d seen in hours—and climbed into a waiting cart. The militis and I rode together, but I did not bother to ask where we were going; I’d summoned up the map of the city in my mind and knew there was only one possible destination this way.

I eyed the outline of the advanced fermentation works as we pulled up. It looked much the same as the day Ana and I had come here to see Immunis Ghrelin, the fretvine orbs gleaming like fish eggs in the brittle afternoon sun. Yet as we climbed out, I sensed the entire attitude of the place had changed: all felt fraught and anxious, with Apoths darting about like panicked ants whose mound had been trodden on.

I was led through the front gates, then through yet anotherhallway, winding around until we came to a set of closed doors. The militis knocked, and the doors opened to reveal a meeting room much like the one with the percolator, the vine walls suffused with the watery gray light from the windows above; yet this room was far more crowded.

Malo, Tangis, Sabudara, and the other wardens were seated at one end of the table, properly dressed, their faces either frowning or stoic; on the other end sat Commander-Prificto Thelenai, green-eyed and green-lipped, still arrayed in brilliant robes of red and yellow. Beside her were her three frowning little ducklings, as I’d thought of them last: Commanders Biktas, Nepasiti, and Sizeides. Several other functionaries sat along the wall behind them, captains and signums and princeps I did not know. They mostly busied themselves with notes. I did not see Ghrelin anywhere.

Everyone looked up as I entered. Malo shot me a look as if to say—Get ready.

“Ah,” said Thelenai quietly. “Signum Kol. Thank you for joining us.”

I stepped in, stood at attention, and bowed. “Ma’am.”

“I apologize for your treatment, Kol,” Thelenai said. “Containment is always necessary after such exposures, however. We cannot risk some contagion taking hold here in the city.”

“Understood, ma’am.”

“And that, indeed, is why I’ve asked you here today. Your testimony as an engraver will be most valuable for our safety. Especially given that it shall likely not need extensive translation…”

A shadow of a scowl crossed Malo’s face.

Thelenai gestured to the far end of the table. “You may take a seat, please.”

I did so, sitting beside Malo. Thelenai’s green-tinged eyes studied me as I did so. With her bald pate and the light from above, I was reminded of a skull engraved upon a tomb’s door.

“Now…” Thelenai began. “You are aware that the phenomena you witnessed in the jungle were a symptom of profound transmutation, Kol?”

“I am, ma’am.” I considered saying that the cause was surelytitan’s blood but sensed that this was a meeting where I was to give information that was asked, rather than volunteer my own.

“And you are aware that such phenomena are terrifically dangerous, and uncommon,” said Thelenai. “Thus, it is imperative we know everything about it.”

“Of course, ma’am.”

“Then please review the events you experienced on the canals—starting with the body that floated downstream. Leave nothing out.”

I hesitated. “I would, ma’am, but…”

A wrinkle emerged in the pale expanse of her brow. “Yes?”

“Being as my head was bound up in a warding helm for most of the events, I could not anchor what I witnessed with a scent. Thus, it may take some time for me to, ah, recount them. And what I recount may not be entirely comprehensible, ma’am.”

“We shall take what we can get. Proceed.”

I recounted the events exactly as they happened, but because of my lack of a scent, my testimony was stuttered and halting. I felt my eyes fluttering, my face twitching, and I listened to myself awkwardly belching out phrases like “Weather hot, very stilted. Six beads of water on Malo’s helmet. Warden beside her, right-handed,” regardless of whether this information was of use to anyone.