“What about Ajenmoor?” Ser Yrsa asked. “Mayor Vagran perhaps, or Galdiff? Enough money passes through their hands to pay for the spells.”

  “Galfiff certainly seems the type,” Ser Beornric said.

  “But how would they have discovered the gold?” Kentigern asked. “Ajenmoor isn’t noted for overland expeditions.”

  “Put Ajenmoor on the list, all the same,” Aefric said. “Until we can clear them, someone there might be involved. Someone on the city council, maybe.”

  “That brings us back to Nelazzi,” Ser Yrsa said.

  “Back to?” Ser Calder asked. “Why might the so-called pirate queen be involved in Dragonscar gold?”

  Aefric wolfed down more breakfast while Ser Yrsa caught them up on what they’d learned about Gwawl and Captain Brusi, and Nelazzi’s definite connection to the smugglers, and likely connection to the slavers.

  “Doesn’t make a connection,” Ser Calder said. “You had to travel a day into the Dragonscar to reach the caves with the gold, and you only found them because…”

  Ser Calder frowned, perhaps unable to finish his sentence.

  “Because Ge’rek and Po’rek could smell the gold,” Aefric said. “Yes. And why should we assume that there aren’t any borogs sailing with Nelazzi?”

  “Why should we assume Nelazzi entered the Dragonscar at all?” Ser Calder asked. “If her ship came within a day of Ajenmoor—”

  “She wouldn’t need to come near us herself,” Ser Yrsa said. “Nelazzi has agents in every major port. And we all know it. We also know that if smugglers and slavers intended to use the Dragonscar as an exchange point, someone had to explore it first. Likely going farther in than a day’s travel.”

  “And yet,” Ser Calder countered, “if all they wanted was a safe exchange point, they’d hardly need to explore every cave. Just make sure no threats were coming out. Ridiculous to think they’d go deep enough to find gold.”

  “The gold’s not that far back,” Aefric said. “And no pirate becomes as successful as Nelazzi without caution. I think she’d look at those caves as both potential threats and potential tools. She’d want to know what’s in them.”

  “So you think whoever scouted for the smugglers and slavers might have been the ones to find the gold,” Ser Yrsa said.

  “It’s a possibility,” Aefric said. “And since we know the smugglers we caught were working for Nelazzi — albeit under protest, or so they claim — Nelazzi’s people might have picked the exchange point. Which means Nelazzi’s people might have done the scouting.”

  “And Nelazzi could definitely afford the spells,” Ser Beornric said, nodding agreement. “That does track.”

  “I still think Duke Wylyn is the obvious answer,” Ser Calder said.

  “Obvious doesn’t mean right,” Aefric said.

  “Also,” Kentigern said, “it must be pointed out that if Duke Wylyn or Countess Briluufa commissioned those spells, they engaged in an act of war against Deepwater.”

  “Which should have given them cause to hesitate,” Ser Yrsa said. “Though that wouldn’t trouble Nelazzi at all.”

  “I doubt it would trouble Countess Briluufa either,” Ser Calder said.

  “Those spells cost the lives of several of my soldiers,” Aefric said darkly. “And whoever commissioned those spells had to know what they would do. I don’t know what Wylyn Stormsent has been like since he became a duke, but I know his reputation of old. I wouldn’t put this past him. Would Countess Briluufa be as bold?”

  “She would,” Ser Calder said.

  “Well,” Aefric said, “whoever did it will pay. I will see to that. In the meantime, the gold and the caves remain an open question. And based on this conversation, I’m tempted to bring this matter to the king before informing my peer.”

  The three knights knocked the table in agreement. Elkari frowned, looking up.

  “Duke Wylyn will take that as an insult,” Kentigern said.

  “Perhaps,” Elkari said, still staring at the ceiling. “But there is precedent for nobles taking claims to the king before pressing them against their neighbors.”

  She turned her gaze to Aefric. “This sort of claim could be construed as falling into the same category. Perhaps more so, as it involves lands that are indisputably yours, even if it touches on lands that might not be.”

  “Might not be?” Ser Calder asked.

  “The caves belong to Deepwater,” Elkari said with a shrug. “And what is within the caves has been understood to be part of the caves. The question, then, is merely where the cave stops being a cave and begins being part of Silverlake.”

  “I’ll send a messenger to the king about it today,” Aefric said.

  “You would do better to go yourself,” Ser Calder said. “The king favors you.”

  “A fair point,” Kentigern said. “And the king will wish you to see Netar soon.”

  Aefric’s reply was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Karbin.

  One thing Aefric had to give his knights. No matter where they were or what they were doing, they were always ready to do battle.

  The moment that Karbin appeared in the room — teleporting in, with a skill and precision that Aefric hoped to have one day, if he ever learned that spell — Sers Yrsa, Beornric and Calder were on their feet in a flash, weapons in hand.

  “Hold!” Aefric called out, both hands coming up as he stood.

  “Good,” Karbin said with a weak smile. “I made the meeting.”

  Karbin looked exhausted. He was clean, of course. No doubt he used small spells he’d learned during apprenticeship to drive away dirt and grime, the same as Aefric did.

  But he still wore the same clothes he’d worn in the Dragonscar. Robes of sand and dusk. Hard leather boots that reached the knee. Only five of the six wands he’d started with remained on his belt, but he still had that strange obsidian rod he’d found in the ruins beneath Sulkrekeep.

  What was more, his posture told the tale of his exhaustion. So while the others composed themselves after the sudden appearance of the ducal wizard, Aefric saw him seated and fed.

  Ser Calder wanted to press Karbin for news immediately, but Aefric wanted to let the man rest and eat first, so he had the others recount the earlier part of the meeting for him.

  Once everything had been covered, Elkari raised a point.

  “I meant to ask earlier, y—” Elkari checked herself from using Aefric’s honorific. “Those spells you encountered in the Dragonscar. Do you know how old they were?”

  “Somewhere between two seasons and a year old. Why?”

  “No specific reason,” Elkari said. “But when I return to my office, I can review what we know of the events of that time frame and look for synchronicities.”

  “Please do,” Aefric said, then turned to Karbin. “So. What news, old friend?”

  “The day we took her,” Karbin said, “the Swift Wave last docked at Redport.”

  “That’s in Countess Briluufa’s lands,” Ser Calder said sharply.

  “It is,” Karbin agreed. “But the smugglers behaved themselves in port. In fact, I couldn’t find any evidence that they ever conducted any illegal activities there. Seems most likely that it was just a conveniently close port, for the wait.”

  “You determined that in a handful of days?” Ser Calder scoffed. “Determining that with certainty takes a season, at least.”

  “And if I had a season to spare,” Karbin said patiently, “I might have spent it. As it was, I was busy trying to track their movements, and the slavers.”

  “How did you do?” Aefric asked.

  “Well,” Karbin said. “I was able to find out that the Swift Wave docks at Redport every few aetts, which means it’s a regular stop for them.”

  “As I said,” Ser Calder started, but Aefric hushed him and gestured for Karbin to continue.

  “While I was there, I also learned that the Gull’s Bride docked there at least once a season as well.”

  “The Gull’s Bride?” Aefric asked.

  “Never bothered learning the name of the slaver ship you demolished?” Karbin asked with a smile.

  “Did they do business in Redport?” Aefric asked.

  “No,” Karbin said. “Or if they did, I couldn’t find any trace of it before I had to move on.”

  “Had they been there recently?” Ser Yrsa asked, earning a frown from Ser Calder, likely because she got to ask a question without censure.

  “No,” Karbin said. “Which was the interesting thing. From what I could learn, the Gull’s Bride only stopped there for supplies, and always stocked up as though starting a long voyage.”

  “So,” Aefric said, thinking, “they would stock up, go … gather their slaves, sell or otherwise dispose of their slaves, and not return to Redport until their hold was empty.”

  “Which means we need to know where they stopped after making their supply run,” Ser Beornric said.

  “Well,” Karbin said, “there’s no way to be sure of how many stops they made, especially since we don’t know whether they raided for slaves, or simply carried them for other raiders.”

  Aefric growled.

  “But,” Karbin continued, “I was able to find at least one other port they’d stopped at in the last few aetts. Kefthal.”

  “Kefthal?” Aefric said, even louder than the others around the table who’d said the same thing. “How do you know?”

  Karbin slapped down a thick, twine-bound roll of pale leather, large enough to make a pair of gloves from. A pair of very soft gloves, if one was willing to overlook the nature of the material.

  “Kefthali leather,” Aefric said.

  “Why do you have that?” Ser Calder said, looking disgusted.

  “Two reasons,” Karbin said. “The first is proof. The second—”

  “Spells can find a connection to someone who carried it,” Aefric said. “I thought they didn’t sell anything in Redport, though.”

  “The Gull’s Bride didn’t,” Karbin said, smiling. “But one of their sailors did, this past spring.”

  “Sounds unlikely,” Ser Calder said. “Why buy the leather in spring and not do anything with it by summer?”

  “Wouldn’t be easy or cheap to find a leatherworker willing to work with Kefthali leather,” Kentigern said.

  “Just so,” Karbin said. “The leatherworker more than tripled her price once she saw the material. The customer had spent his days since trying to sell it.”

  “Get a name?” Ser Beornric asked, bringing the topic back to the slavers.

  “No, but they’re in Ajenmoor’s cells, yes?” Karbin asked. “Not an hour’s flight from here.”

  “Assuming that sailor is still among the living,” Ser Yrsa said. “Not all the slavers survived the fight.”

  “We didn’t kill many,” Ser Beornric said. “The odds are good.”

  “There’s no tie to Nelazzi in that,” Ser Calder said.

  “There’s a tie to Nelazzi in Captain Brusi and Gwawl,” Aefric said.

  “Reminds me,” Karbin said. “Have you had a chance to investigate that pendant?”

  “It’s what I plan to do after the meeting.”

  “Pendant?” Ser Calder asked.

  “I took it from Gwawl,” Aefric said. “Don’t know what it does yet.”

  “You know who else claims to deal in Kefthali leather,” Ser Yrsa said.

  Aefric nodded. “Brangford Couglas. Son of the mayor of Lachedran.”

  “Means he might be tied to all of this.”

  “Or it might mean there’s more of a trade in Kefthali leather than we know of,” Kentigern said. “Which is a troubling thought.”

  “Is all their leather made from human skin?” Elkari asked.

  “No,” Karbin said, frowning. “They also tan the hides of derekek, borogs, taroks, kindaren … really, anything they can get their bony fingers on. Especially eldrani.”

  “All right,” Aefric said. “That’s quite a bit, my friend, but is there anything else I should know?”

  “Yes,” Karbin said. “Our good Ser Calder here asked about ties to Nelazzi. Well, I fought one of her wizards down in Wulfport. Didn’t catch which ship she sailed.”

  “Are you all right?” Aefric asked.

  “Tired, mostly,” Karbin said with a smile. “I’d been asking the wrong questions of the wrong people, in a tavern near the docks. Some hired thugs tried to jump me in an alley after I left, but they were just a distraction while the wizard took aim.”

  Karbin shook himself. “This was late last night. I fought her off, but she had reinforcements coming. I escaped, then laid a false trail for a few hours. Snatched a quick nap, then teleported here first thing.”

  “Good work,” Aefric said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Get some rest, my friend, before you worry about prisoners in Ajenmoor. In fact.” He turned to Kentigern. “Send a rika to Mayor Vagran. Tell him to hold those prisoners until Karbin has concluded his investigations there.”

  “Hold the…” Kentigern started, then answered his own question. “Oh. Yes. Slavers.”

  It was a common practice to send captured slavers to the kingdoms where they’d preyed, for punishment.

  “Speaking of which,” Aefric said, still focused on Kentigern. “Have you had a chance to see to those refugees this morning?”

  “Not yet,” Kentigern admitted, “though I intend to when we’re done here. And I did see Edric fostered to a good ler family just west of Behal. He’ll do well there, I think, and they will do well by him.”

  “Excellent,” Aefric said. “Then unless there’s anything else pressing—”

  “I still think you should take the Dragonscar matter to the king yourself,” Ser Calder said. “Your presence will carry more weight. Plus, you can visit Netar while you’re nearby, which will please him.”

  “He may have a point,” Kentigern said.

  “Perhaps,” Aefric said, sighing. “But that’s a full aett’s travel just going out there. Longer if I go with full retinue.”

  “Which you should,” Kentigern said. “It’s only proper.”

  “I don’t know that I have the time.”

  “You may have to make the time,” Ser Beornric said. “You need to visit Netar soon anyway, and Ser Calder is right about the Dragonscar matter. The king will give the issue more weight if you bring it to him yourself.”

  “Give you a chance to talk to him about the princesses, too,” Ser Yrsa said, frowning. “I confess, I don’t like the idea of your being away for long right now, but it might be the right course.”

  “I have to go to Armityr,” Aefric grumbled. “I have to go to Netar. I have to go to Kivash.” He looked at Karbin. “I’m not sure I did less traveling as an adventurer, and traveling takes longer now.”

  “Why do you have to go to Kivash?” Ser Beornric said.

  Aefric told them about the keep Ashling had given him.

  “Oh, she’s good,” Ser Yrsa said, laughing in approval.

  “It’s too much,” Aefric said.

  “No,” Ser Calder said, thoughtfully. “Yrsa’s right. It’s an excellent move by Duchess Ashling.”

  “In this one gesture, she thanks you and gives you a vested interest in making sure Kivash stays part of Armyr,” Ser Beornric said, shaking his head. “And she helps ensure that you’ll answer, if she calls for help at the border.”

  “Princess Astrid will throw a fit when she finds out,” Aefric said.

  “Do you care?” Kentigern asked.

  Aefric frowned. “Well. She’s a princess. And generally upsetting royalty isn’t my best move, yes?”

  “Upsetting Armyrian royalty isn’t your best move,” Ser Calder said. “Malimfar’s the kingdom whose ass you personally kicked not a season ago. They’re already mad at you.”

  “Ah,” Kentigern said, realizing the point of disconnection. “Upsetting and insulting aren’t the same thing, when it comes to foreign royalty. Insulting them is a bad idea, but you may have no control over whether or not you upset them.”

  “He’s right,” Ser Beornric said. “You don’t insult Malimfar by accepting the keep. Doesn’t mean they can’t choose to be upset by it.”

  “You did accept the keep?” Ser Calder asked.

  “Seemed ungrateful not to, so yes,” Aefric said.

  “Which was the right course of action,” Ser Yrsa said. “Don’t get me wrong. It was a good move on Duchess Ashling’s part to offer it, but it’s a good move on your part to accept it. Duchess Arinda always had problems with Duchess Ashling. Be helpful going forward if you have a better working relationship with her.”

  Kentigern chuckled.

  “What?” Aefric asked.

  Kentigern suddenly seemed to realize that everyone was looking at him. He smirked.

  “Well,” he said, “I was wondering why Duchess Ashling sent her sister Zoleen as a mere messenger. I believe now I know.”

  No one else said anything, but the same idea seemed to flit across all their faces.

  Once upon a time, the Fyrenn family counted almost half of Deepwater as part of their lands. Back when it was the principality of Fyr, before the kingdom of Armyr existed.

  It was well known that the Fyrenn family wanted to rule those lands again. And marrying into the bloodline of the Deepwater duke was certainly one way to do that.

  “All right,” Aefric said. “I’m adjourning this meeting before the lot of you start discussing my bridal options. We all have busy days ahead of us. Let’s get to it.”

  With the morning meeting out of the way, Aefric looked forward to doing something that both was productive for him as a duke, and gave him as an excuse to use some of the magic that was both his calling and part of his very nature as a dweomerblood.

  He could finally explore the depths of the secrets concealed within the bronze pendant he’d taken from the wizard Gwawl.

  While this type of magical investigation could be done almost anywhere — as he’d more than proven over the years — it was immensely easier to do in a properly dedicated and prepared lab.

  With that in mind, he left instructions with Ocheda and his guards — Sers Vria and Micham this morning — that he was not to be disturbed, and entered his personal magical laboratory.