“Out!” I pointed at the door. “Get him out. Now!”
The King nodded at his knights. They helped the General to his feet. Surprisingly, the man didn't protest. He went with them into the hallway as passive as a kitten. And I got to work.
“You too!” I pointed at the door. I didn't have the patience or self-control at this point to deal politely with the King. “Get out! Summon me a team! Have them secure the house.”
The King left, but he didn't go far. I heard him passing on my orders to his knights. Then came a woman's voice. Her scream was next. Weeping. More weeping. A child crying. I shut the door.
That helped a little. Then I stood and looked, just looked. Cracked my neck. I wouldn't rush this, despite what had happened with the Brujai woman. I had until the next night. The boy would be fine until then. If I wanted to save him, I had to do this properly.
So I got on my knees and processed the scene.
I left the note for last because I knew that once I read it, I would be rushing out of that house. And I couldn't leave without fully investigating the boy's room. Normally, I would have searched the entire home, but I would leave the rest to the Talon team. I didn't have time for that.
I found nothing despite my thorough search. Still, I didn't regret it. I had to know that there was nothing there before Icould move on. At last, I stood beside the bed and picked up the note. Before reading it, I turned on the bedside table lamp and held the note over it. The watermark appeared. Pruleng.
Then I read the note:Getting quicker, Tekhan. But the clock is ticking. Tek, tek, tek. The hourglass has been turned. Sand is running out.
At first, I grimaced at the note, wondering why everyone wanted to reduce my name to a sound. Then it registered. Not only had he used the same nickname the King had given me, but he had also used my response to it.
“Dear Gods,” I whispered. “He's watching us.Listening. How the fuck is he listening?” I looked at the window. My inspection of the sill and the roof outside had revealed nothing. But I went to look again. Not at the window, but out of it.
The street was empty. The windows of homes across the way were dark. He could have been watching from the shadows, but I didn't think so. Not Hallaxgral. Maybe an underling. But not him. He'd be with the child.
“Tek, tek, tek,” I whispered. “When did I say that?” I thought back. Remembered. “The restaurant.” I nodded.
At least it was a public place. If it had been in the carriage or castle, it would have been more difficult and upsetting. Granted, it would have narrowed down our suspects, but it would have also put the King in jeopardy.
I went to the lamp and turned it off, then the overhead sphere. With the room dark, I went back to the window. Standing to the side, I peered out. There. Movement in the alley. We were being watched. I watched back. Waited. A face appeared, mostly shadowed, but enough that I could tell it wasan Eljaffna man. I didn't take it personally. There were criminals in every race, including mine.
Most claws would have chased the watcher or tried to follow him. I didn't bother. I had chased the Brujai because I thought I could catch him. I wouldn't catch that Eljaffna. He'd be gone before I got across the street, and he'd leave no trace behind. But I couldn't have him following me while I tried to find the child. So, I would have to be as stealthy as my watcher.
Done with the room, I left. That’s when the silence registered. With my focus so intense, I hadn't noticed when the screaming and weeping had stopped. The General and his family had vacated the corridor, but the King stood there with Sir Gilhu.
“He's got someone following us,” I said. “There's an Eljaffna man in the alley across the street, watching the house.” I held up a hand. “Don't send a knight after him. He'll be gone. We need to evade him instead.”
“Evade?” King Tor'rien narrowed his eyes. “That sounds like running away.”
“I am not running away. I am runningtowardsomething while tricking a spy. Now, it would be helpful if you and your knights returned to the castle and drew his attention away from me.”
The Dragon King narrowed his eyes.
“You must have other matters to attend to. Go and be the King. It will be easier for me to finish this alone.”
“And what will you do when you find Hallaxgral?”
“I will arrest him.”
“What if he overpowers you?”
“He will not.”
“You don't know that. He could be a Dragon.”
That gave me pause.
“You are dealing with a murderer holding a child captive. You cannot do this alone, Tekhan. Let me help you.”
I sighed. “Then you must move quickly and follow my every instruction.”
