“Records,” Kaylin said. When the man continued to speak, Margot repeated the word, and then returned the capture to the feather. “Enlarge.”
Kaylin glanced at Severn. “Did he leave the feather here?”
“No. If you’re wondering if it’s an Aerian feather, it almost certainly was, given what followed.”
“We may have lost a very fine hunting bird,” the man continued, when Records capture resumed its play. “We wish to locate it. However, it may prove difficult without more information. This,” he said, fishing another item out of an interior pocket, “was the bird’s favorite toy. It has been handed down through generations of those who are tasked with the welfare of the breed.”
Kaylinreallydid not like this man.
“You’ll break teeth if you keep grinding them like that,” Margot told her. She ordered another freeze and enlarge, but this time, the object was a bracelet or an armband. It was either meant for large hands or slender arms; Kaylin couldn’t be certain. Circular, it appeared to be made of silver or platinum. It contained evenly spaced gemstones of a pale blue color.
“And last.” He held up a collar. “Now, I have a few questions I wish you to answer.”
“Areallyour wealthy clients this odious?”
“A handful would probably pass your judgmental muster,” Margot replied. “This one, however, was in a class of his own.”
“And if word gets out that you turned him in?”
“I’ll deny it, of course. The Hawks and I have a known adversarial relationship. Those who matter would believe me.”
Fair enough. “I don’t suppose you know where he got any of these items.”
Margot shook her head, impatient now. Kaylin stared at her, frowning. She glanced at Severn; Severn was paying careful attention to Margot—but almost all men did that. “Records,” Margot said.
“I don’t suppose you could grant me temporary permission to give commands?”
“What do you think?”
Kaylin poked the familiar. He sat up, growled in her ear—which was practically a new sound—and then looked balefully at the crystal. He ignored the mirror. He ignored Margot. Kaylin paid attention to what Margot was saying in the Records capture playback, but what she now wanted to see was the end of this session, not its beginning.
“It’s dark,” Margot in the past said. “It’s dark, but the sky is clear. Over Elantra, it’s blue.” This made as much sense as most of what fell out of Margot’s mouth. “There are Aerians in the darkness.”
“Can you see their wings?”
“I can see that they have them,” was Margot’s curt reply. Her voice held an edge of something that sounded suspiciously like fear.
Kaylin lifted a hand, and Margot paused playback. “You weren’t making that up.”
“Good of you to notice.”
“You’re saying that this visitor somehow compelled you to have a—a vision?” She poked the familiar. The familiar sighed, bit her finger just hard enough to make a point, and launched himself off her shoulder.
Past Margot said, “No.”
“How many do you see?”
“Enough that it’s difficult to count.”
“I will warn you,” the stranger said in his velvet voice, “not to lie to me.” He walked away from Margot and resumed his seat. Past Margot’s voice was clear, but she was no longer visible.
“Dozens,” she finally said. “They’re not hovering, and they’re not flying in the patrol formation. There’s also a Dragon.”
The man’s face became instantly stone-like. After a pause to digest this obviously unwelcome information, he asked, “What color is the Dragon?”
“I’m not certain. I did mention it’s dark.”
“Is the Dragon gold?”
