“I’m sorry about your daughter.” I meant it.
Brach nodded. “In any case, I can only advise. But I will tell you that in the Strata we’ve begun to find the value of focusing only on songs like Henry’s—songs that bring us together, help us remember, and speak of common truths.”
I stared back at him. “You mean an ‘all art for the Shiguan’ kind of thing?”
Brach frowned. “I encourage you to guard your tongue with respect to things you know so very little about.”
“You’re right,” I said. “I’m sorry.”
“Whatever you decide,” said Brach, “I will continue to do what’s necessary to protect the Strata and the people who live there. And I would welcome your help, should you become so inclined.”
“How would that go?” I asked.
“Quite simple,” Brach said, holding out a hand to shake, “I formally invite you to join the Shiguan?—”
“That like a gang?” Chuey chimed in.
Brach grimaced. “No, it is not like a gang. And it would come with the added resources you need to protect the Iron Horse.”
I had Henry’s books, but not much else. “Church?”
“The Shiguan do have the Strata’s largest known collection of arcana,” Church said. “Not to mention the training and resources we might need.” “You couldalljoin us,” Brach said, “which would be invaluable to our search for Henry. You couldeven help lead that effort, if you wish.” I didn’t immediately reach to accept Brach’s offer.
“On the other hand,” said Brach, his voice dropping, going hard, “if you choose to go it alone, I’ll advise you not to complicate our search.”
I just wasn’t a joiner, I guess. Plus, I couldn’t read this guy, and that bothered me. “Appreciate the offer. But I think I’ll just start getting a handle on this thanatist thing the best I can ’til Henry gets back.”
Brach slowly lowered his hand. “I believe that to be imprudent, Mr. Solomon, but should you need anything at all, please know that I am at your disposal.”
I’d clearly pissed him off, and maybe I’d just turned down our best chance at finding Henry. But all I had to go on was instinct at this point. Brach drew a black knife and spindle of thread from his bag and spooled out a hand’s length. When he cut it, a spark of gold light flared.
He handed me the bit of thread. “For your veiled friend.”
I knew from my reading that “veiled” meant true mortal.
“Make him a reflection band,” Brach went on, “so he can see the thanaturgic world. Otherwise, he’s at risk, and probably a liability. Though, come to think of it, I’ve been taken for worse things than a priest.”
Chuey looked at me and shrugged.
“And for our part,” continued Brach, “the Shiguan will search tirelessly until Henry is found.”
He strode past me, stirring candle flames as he swept toward the door. He paused there and looked back at me with a smile I also couldn’t read, then disappeared into the crowd outside.
CHAPTER EIGHT
While Blade-Ka (adepts of the Blade) are often recruited as raptorials due to their combat skill and skepticism, it’s humorous to consider their sometimes-career as exorcists.
—William Makepeace Thackeray,
Thanaturgic Amusements: A One-Act Monologue
Then the Iron Horsedoor had closed behind Brach, I turned to my friends. “So were Brach and Henry close?”
“Not something they made a public show of,” said Church, “but they came up together in the ways of thanaturgy, shared a few interests, and got into a scrape or two as young men. Long before Brach assumed leadership of the Shiguan.”
“Well, I was ready for that one.” Chuey pointed his sound design book where Brach had just exited.
I chuckled. “To quiz him on the history of sound?”
