Spy Glass Read online

  They

  agreed.

  Tama walked me to the door. “Is this…mission for Irys

  dangerous?”

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  “It shouldn’t be.”

  “Shouldn’t?”

  “I’ve learned to expect the unexpected.”

  “Does it work?”

  “No.” Although it wasn’t funny, I laughed at the sad

  truth.

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  I opened my mouth to decline her offer, but I realized she

  had become a trustworthy friend. “Actually, there are two

  things you can help me with.”

  My one request was granted without hesitation, but the other

  took Tama a few minutes to consider before she agreed.

  Carrying a backpack with her meager possessions, Reema

  trailed behind me. “Are you sure?” she asked for the hundredth

  time. “I can stay with Tee. The barracks are huge. No one

  would notice me.”

  “The barracks are filled with student magicians. They’ll

  notice. If I’m not back by the hot season, you can move in

  there with him until I return.” Only a handful of students

  remained at the Keep over the long break. A few stayed to

  work; others had no place else to go.

  When we reached the door, Reema grabbed my arm in a

  panic. “You’ll be back before then. Won’t you?”

  I had reassured her before. With travel time, I estimated my

  trip to last about thirty days. “What’s really worrying you?”

  “Nothing.” She shifted her backpack to her other shoulder

  and scuffed her foot on the ground.

  Putting myself in her place, I imagined how I would feel

  moving into a stranger’s house and having the only adult you

  trusted leave. “I promise, I’ll be back.”

  “Don’t promise,” she said. Moisture glistened in her eyes.

  “You can’t control fate. If she wants you, you can’t stop

  her.”

  “Did your mother—”

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  “Promised us everything would be fine. Don’t worry, she

  said when we were kicked out of our apartment. Don’t fret,

  she told Teegan when he got sick. I’ll return with enough

  money for a season, she promised. She never came back.”

  Sorrow gripped my heart and squeezed. I knelt next to her.

  “You’re right. I can’t stop fate, but I can stay one step ahead of her.”

  She squinted at me. “Can you really do that?”

  “Already have.” I winked.

  Faith opened the door and welcomed us inside. She had

  a plate of cinnamon cookies on the table, and she addressed

  Reema as if she were an adult, gaining bonus points from the

  girl. We chatted about nothing in particular until I needed to

  leave.

  After I said my goodbyes, I stood in the doorway.

  Faith led Reema upstairs to her new room and office.

  “You’ll be my assistant. First Adviser to the First Adviser.”

  Faith’s laugh f loated down the stairs.

  Confident Reema would be safe, I returned to the Keep

  and saddled Quartz. I mounted and patted her on the neck.

  “First stop, Fulgor. You know the way.”

  As Quartz walked to the Citadel’s east gate, I enjoyed the

  sunny day. Only seven days into the heating season, the cool

  temperature would warm as the sun climbed the sky. No

  humidity and a light breeze kept the f lies from annoying

  Quartz. The hot sticky weather wouldn’t arrive until late into

  the season and by then, I planned to be back at the Citadel.

  And then? No idea. I hoped this trip would be decisive.

  Five days later, I arrived in Fulgor. Again. No matter how

  far away I traveled or what else was going on in my life, I

  seemed to return to this town. Mixed emotions f luctuated in

  my chest as Quartz navigated through the morning business

  crowd.

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  The familiar streets comforted like home and upset my

  stomach like a horrible nightmare. I did have friends here, and the factory, which I should sell. And Devlen was here. Why

  was I so… Impulsive? Confused in Fulgor? At least, this stop

  would be short. In other words, no visiting Devlen.

  I had missed the morning training at Fulgor’s Security HQ.

  The new annex looked complete from the outside, but various

  workmen carried supplies into the building. Not wanting to

  see Devlen, I hustled into the reception area.

  The same bored receptionist sat behind the counter. Would

  she recognize me as the prisoner Rhea Jewelrose?

  “Can I help you?” she asked.

  Guess not. “I’d like to see Captain Alden, please.”

  “Name?”

  I told her.

  “One minute.” She swiveled around in her chair and shouted

  through the opening in the wall behind her. “Collin, tell the

  Captain Opal Cowan’s here to see him.”

  So much for a quiet return. Chairs scraped the f loor and

  Nic and Eve filled the doorway.

  “The Captain more important than us?” Nic asked in an

  unfriendly tone.

  I sighed. “I’m here on business. If I asked for you first, the

  Captain would be upset. Besides, I thought you’d be out.” I

  pointed toward the door. “You know, working?”

  While Nic scowled, Eve cut to the heart of the matter.

  “What business?”

  “I need to check with the Captain first,” I said.

  “Come on in.” Eve gestured toward two desks facing each

  other in the back corner.

  “Cozy,” I said.

  “Not my idea. Believe me. It’s bad enough I have to work

  with the guy,” Eve said.

  “Cap’s in with some bigwig from the Councilor’s Hall. Take

  a load off.” Nic pushed a chair out with his foot and patted

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  the seat. “So… Besides the new hairdo, what have you been

  up to?” He acted casual, leaning back and resting his arms on

  his waist, but his gaze pinned me with keen interest.

  “Not much.” I yawned, playing along. “I went down to

  Booruby for my sister’s wedding and then to the Citadel to

  hang out with the Master Magicians. Boring stuff.”

  “Too bad.” Eve tsked in mock sympathy. “You missed all

  the fun here.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh yeah. Lots of laughs,” Nic said without humor. “There

  was a prison break at Wirral.” He studied me.

  I kept up the inquisitive facade. “Did anyone escape?”

  “One person. And she left a mess in her wake.” Hard lines

  formed on his face. “Five max security prisoners dead, two

  missing officers and one enraged warden.”

  “We’re still dealing with the consequences and the cleanup,”

  Eve added.

  “Sorry to hear that,” I said with genuine sorrow. No matter

  what anyone else said, Ulrick’s death rested on my shoulders.

  It wasn’t guilt. It was regret.

  “Are you?” Nic asked.

  “Of course,” I snapped. “Spit it out, Nic. What are you

  implying?”

  “Evidence led to one of the hotshots as the killer, but he

>   could have taken them out at any time and made it look like

  suicide or an accident. I suspect the escapee planted the evi-

  dence to cover her tracks.”

  He thought I killed them. I glanced at Eve. She looked

  curious and not hostile.

  “Why?” I asked.

  “For someone who allegedly committed a crime of passion,

  she certainly knew what she was doing. She smuggled in lock

  picks and darts treated with a sleeping drug. The deceased

  prisoners had no connection to this woman, who, by the way,

  doesn’t exist except on paper. I would bet a month’s wages she

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  was a hired assassin, paid to eliminate them, except for one

  thing.”

  “Go on, you’ve created quite a story.”

  “You.”

  “How am I involved?”

  “You’ve been asking about the prison. You disappeared the

  same time she appeared. You had an excellent reason to see those men dead.” Nic clutched the chair arms.

  “Easy, Nic,” Eve said.

  I locked my gaze on him and leaned closer. “Do you really

  believe I am capable of cold-blooded murder?”

  No

  answer.

  “I’ve met only one person in my life that I would have

  gladly killed if I’d been given the chance.”

  “Who?” Eve asked.

  “Devlen.” I stood. “Good thing I don’t know how to hold

  a grudge.”

  Captain Alden’s door opened. He shook hands with an

  elderly man. Without saying another word to Nic or Eve, I

  crossed to the Captain. He invited me in and I closed the door

  behind me.

  “I guess this isn’t a social call,” the Captain said when I

  refused to sit down. He stood behind his desk.

  “No.” I pulled Councilor Moon’s letter from my pocket

  and handed it to him. “I’ve a request.”

  Alden scanned the document. “Shouldn’t be a problem.

  Take Nic and Eve with you. The three of you seem to work

  well together.”

  I barked out a humorless laugh. Originally, I had planned

  to request them. “I don’t think they would…enjoy the assign-

  ment. I’ll take your two best officers.”

  He gave me a sardonic smile. “They are my best officers. I

  don’t assign people based on enjoyment, but on skills. When

  do you need them to start?”

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  “Right away. I should brief them.” I suppressed a cringe.

  This was not going as I had imagined.

  Gesturing for me to take his seat, he strode to the door.

  “There’s no privacy out there, I’ll send them in for the

  briefing.”

  I sat down, placed my elbows on the neat desk and rested

  my head on my hands for a moment. The air thickened when

  they entered. A surly resentment pulsed from Nic, but Eve

  seemed more annoyed at her partner than at me.

  Tossing a small sackful of coins across the desk, I outlined

  what I needed them to do. They nodded in understanding.

  Eve tucked the purse into her pocket, and they left to prepare

  for the assignment.

  I had completed my business at HQ before noon. Glad for

  the extra time, I led Quartz to Justamere Farm and groomed

  her. The owners were happy to see her, but I explained she

  would be there for one night only. After I had brushed all the

  road dirt from her copper coat, I checked on my factory.

  Stale air and dust puffed in my face when I entered the

  factory. Darkness filled the first f loor and I groped for the

  lantern, hoping it remained in the stone alcove. I found and lit it, breathing a little easier when the soft light illuminated the kilns. Walking around, I inspected the equipment. In order

  to return this place to a true glass shop, I would have to tear down the boards on the windows and install shutters.

  The apartment upstairs looked undisturbed. I pulled back

  the curtains and the late-afternoon sunlight revealed the dust

  motes. Valek had left a few of his belongings behind. I straightened a couple things and rolled up the blueprint of Wirral.

  The place echoed and I longed for company. After shaking

  out my sheets and dumping my pack onto the bed, I debated

  about supper.

  I had planned to go to the Pig Pen and have a bowl of Ian’s

  stew with my friends. The memory of Nic’s accusation ruined

  my appetite. And I would not visit Devlen. Instead, I lit extra

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  lanterns and brought them downstairs. I practiced blocks and

  strikes with my sais.

  Concentrating on perfecting a set of moves, I almost

  dropped my weapons when a loud bang cracked through the

  air. It took me a second to realize someone had pounded on

  the door.

  I peered through the peephole and groaned. Nic waited

  on the other side. This would not be fun. Wiping my sweaty

  hands on my stained practice tunic, I opened the door and let

  him and the gray twilight in.

  We stood in the front room. Gressa had used this space for

  her store. Nic carried a package wrapped in wax paper, and I

  still held my sais with the tips pointing toward the f loor.

  He eyed them. “Planning to attack me?”

  I glanced at his uniform and sword. “Depends. Did you

  come to arrest me for murder?”

  He sucked in a breath. I waited.

  Releasing the air in a rush, he said, “Damn it, Opal. I’m

  sorry.”

  “Are you really? Or did Eve make you come?”

  “I am. I was mad and had jumped to conclusions.”

  “Heck of a jump.”

  “No it wasn’t. You didn’t trust us with your plans. Why

  would we trust you?”

  “I trusted you with my life, Nic. Remember all those early

  mornings?”

  “Yeah, well…I said I was sorry.” He held out the package

  to me. “Peace?”

  I sheathed my sais and took it. Warmth radiated under the

  wax paper. Curious, I peeled back an edge, releasing a yummy

  scent. Ian’s stew. My stomach growled. “You’re forgiven,” I

  said.

  With those two words he returned to his old self. “Are you

  going to tell us more about this new assignment?” he asked.

  “Is Eve waiting outside?”

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  “No. She thought I should talk to you myself or you’d think

  she made me apologize.”

  “Did

  she?”

  His face creased into his wounded puppy dog expression.

  “No. She just explained a few things, made me remember you

  aren’t the killer type.” He hooked his thumbs on his weapon

  belt. “When I get mad my brain turns off.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know.” I smirked. “And Eve’s right, I’m not the type to murder my husband. He committed

  suicide. Poor guy had rotten aim.”

  I laughed as Nic sorted it out.

  “I knew it was you!” He rubbed the stubble on his chin.

  “But if you didn’t kill those prisoners, who did?”

  “Finn.”

  “You’re sticking with that?” Nic asked.

  “Yep.”

  He grunted, but didn�
�t comment.

  The stew cooled in my hands. “Come upstairs. I’ll give you

  a few more details about our trip to Ognap.”

  Nic shook his head. “Tell us tomorrow. I wasn’t planning

  to stay.”

  “Oh.”

  He smirked at my disappointment. “I know I haven’t been

  that supportive of your…new interests. So I brought you an-

  other peace offering.”

  “A mug of Ian’s mulled ale?”

  Nic didn’t answer. He opened the door and disappeared.

  While he was gone, I tried to guess—a new weapon, a

  bottle of Ian’s house wine—but none of them came close.

  Nic returned with Devlen.

  I stepped back and I think I gasped. “How…?

  When…?”

  Devlen stood in my front room. Devlen. He wore civil-

  ian clothes. His hesitant smile faded and he glanced at Nic in

  uncertainty.

  Nic said, “We can sign prisoners out for a few hours at a

  time. Only the ones who have earned a ton of trust. Your guy

  here stopped a riot at Dawnwood. He received major points

  with the prison along with a nasty gash and death threats from

  his fellow inmates. He’s being housed in protective custody—a

  special wing of the prison.” He looked at Devlen. “I hear they

  have real beds in there. It’s pretty nice, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Devlen said, but his worried gaze was fixed on

  me.

  My muscles had petrified. I couldn’t move or speak.

  “Anyway, I thought you two would like to catch up. You

  have three hours before he has to return,” Nic said. “I’ll be

  back then.”

  “Opal, are you okay with this?” Devlen asked in

  concern.

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  More than okay. That was the problem. I nodded and forced

  myself to relax as Nic left. Devlen didn’t move. An awkward

  silence filled the air.

  “Come upstairs,” I said to Devlen. “I need to heat this up

  before I starve to death.”

  A tentative smile f lashed as his blue eyes shone with hope.

  My insides liquefied and pure willpower kept me from tossing

  the stew aside and…what? Why could I be so rational about

  him when I was with Kade, yet when he stood mere feet from

  me, my heart acted like a teenage girl with her first crush?

  With effort, I concentrated on moving my feet without

  falling as I led him through the factory.

  “Grab a lantern,” I said to break the quiet. “I didn’t light a

  fire upstairs.” Which meant Nic’s peace offering would have

  to wait.