“Thank you.” I picked up the air stone that had kept Katai alive.
It was a simple enough piece to make. An average magic-user could have enchanted it. But it wasn't a simple stone. Holding it up to the light, I noted its beauty and clarity.
“That's a blue topaz,” the King said.
“Yes, I think it is.” I lowered it. “And the band around it is real gold.” I squinted at the band, then pulled my little magnifying glass out of my pocket and employed that. “Interesting.”
“What?”
“This is a Brujai band.”
“A what?”
I waved at my skull. “One of the gold bands worn by Brujai men of the local tribe—the Keten.”
“Why is it around the stone that supplied Katai with air?”
I lifted my brow.
“Yes, I know it's a clue. You were right. Of course, you were. The clue is in the case. This case. But what I'm asking is what this clue means. Why is a Brujai horn adornment around a breathing stone?”
“An elite breathing stone,” I corrected. “This is something you would get from a jeweler.”
“So he's connecting Katai to these other men?”
“I believe so. But I'm not going to draw any conclusions yet. I need to work this through.” I handed him the stone. “Please hold this while I search the case.”
The King took the stone, and I pawed through the large wooden box that could have become a coffin. It was padded like a coffin, with silk cushions. The lid hadn't been clawed at since Katai had spent most of his internment asleep. I slipped my hand into the seams between the padding. I felt everywhere. Finally, I found something—a little ball of fabric.
I pulled the item forth and inspected it. The fabric was merely a wrapping. After untying the bow holding it together, I found the real clue inside.
“What is that?” the King asked.
“This is nectar ball. Condensed pollen and nectar from the Frang flower, cooked until it becomes resinous.”
“That's a dream sphere.”
“Yes. The very drug the Eljaffna wanted to make and sell.” I stared down at the case again before adding, “To humans.”
“What the fuck is going on?” The King narrowed his stare at the drug.
“That's what I must ascertain, Your Majesty.” I tucked the ball back into its wrapper, then put it in an evidence bag. I did the same for the air stone, and then slipped them both into my pocket. “Right. I need to see a couple of dead men.” I strode away.
“Which ones?” The King kept pace with me, his guards tagging along behind.
“First, the Chelli and then, the Brujai.”
The King nodded. “What about the Eljaffna?”
“I don't think they'll help me. Not yet.”
I hurried through the corridors and then down to the basement where the bodies were stored until they could be claimed by loved ones or buried. Kun-lo's body would be down there as well. But I didn't think his corpse would hold any revelations for me. I had already inspected it thoroughly. Not that I hadn't done the same for the Chelli and the Brujai. But I'd known more about who I was dealing with when I inspected Kun-lo.
“May I help you?” the morgue attendant on duty got up from his desk. Then he saw the King. “Oh! Your Majesty!” He bowed. “What can I do for you?”
The King waved at me. “I'm with him.”
I lifted a brow at King Tor'rien before I said to the officer, “I need to see the remains of Lansho Panne and, uh, I don't know the last name of the Brujai man who killed Lansho, but his first name was Wuten.”
