Page 125 of A Trade of Blood

“That is not satisfactory, then,” said Tauri. “I’m obliged to protect the lands of this canton. If I can’t account for how such a dangerous augmentation came to be used in every field of crops, then I am in a devilish position.”

“No fear!” said Ana, grinning. “We shall find out soon enough, once Din can walk without yelping like a kicked dog. And besides, good sir, it may take time for you to fetch your thuribles. We shall be bound back to the wood, you see. I believe I know where the web came from.”

Epilogue

The Cup of Heaven

Chapter 34

Tauri and I sat ingloomy silence as the carriage rumbled north across the pastures of Lacanthim. This was hardly unusual, as gloom and silence had swept across all the canton in the days since Trikao’s unmasking. Everyone in the cattle industry, from top drover to the trough-mops of the flensing halls, now felt deeply uncertain about what the future held: in but a week, both of the great families of the cattle industry had been overthrown, and all was thrown into chaos. Even Ana now seemed affected: though she often appeared utterly indifferent to the suffering of others, some doleful air stole over her as we rolled on toward the wood, and she bobbed and nodded and rocked not at all.

But I had found some oasis in Tauri in the past days. It was forbidden for officers to have liaisons within their own Iyalet, but dalliances between the orders were often scrupulously ignored. As we’d all gone about clearing up the vast wreckage that Jalin Burav and Trikao Armenta had left behind—cleansing the wells of web, and finally administering the Apoths’ cures to the infected, as awful and horrid they were—Ihad found succor in my handful of moments with him, consuming his strange teas and concoctions in his bed chambers, smiling idly and listening to his banter as the world of Lacanthim streamed on outside his window and my skull cleared of fungus.

Though a voice had spoken within me—not my memories, merely my experience—whispering:These things never last.

To which I had responded:Nothing does.

We shared a small smile as our carriage rolled on, but even that faded in the face of the task beforeus.

Tauri cleared his throat. “So. Where are we bound, Dolabra? Besides the wood, I mean.”

“Mm?” said Ana, distracted. “Ah, yes. Well! Recall that when you first tracked Jalin Burav through the altered forest, you found him at an old, crumbling fountain within the Daljen ruins—one that had been dry for centuries.”

“True. I tested it thoroughly but could find no hint of moisture—nor the web.”

“Of course. But recall that you also found pickaxes, shovels, and other such tools in Burilis Burav’s crude laboratory! I believe hedugto find the web.”

“So I assumed. But we did not see any sign of excavation about us.” He narrowed his eyes. “You think you know where he dug, then?”

“I do. I believe if you return to the fountain, and proceeddirectlynorth-northeast from it, you shall find the site.”

“And how are you so sure?” asked Tauri.

“A guess, sir,” said Ana. “But a very educated one. And one I think shall lead to many truths.”

Tauri frowned but seemed to accept that answer.

“What will you do while we seek these truths, ma’am?” I asked. “Will you just wait in the carriage?”

“Well, I certainly don’t intend to join you on the expedition, boys. Rather, I was hoping you could drop me off at the shrine of Master Gaddar. It is a bit out of the way, but I can wait for you there—and reflect upon all that has occurred in this place.”

Tauri appeared to struggle with exasperation at Ana’s oddities but then sighed and smiled at me.I cannot exactly cast stones when it comes to eccentricities,he had commented to me the night before.So I shall bear her. And you, I suppose.

I smiled in return. Though I, much like the drovers of this region, did not know what the future held, I took comfort in knowing what pleasures the next few days held.

My contentment dimmed as we came to the path leading to the shrine of Master Gaddar. Few pilgrims walked the shadowy steps now: perhaps the complicity and demise of the Armentas, most devout of all the Daljen-keepers, had doused the faith of others. To see Ana enter the altered forest, the way ahead so empty, the trees shivering in the wind, put an unpleasant chill in my bones.

“Are you sure you don’t wish me to accompany you, ma’am?” I said, sliding an Orbiis mask upon my face. “I can help you to a seat.”

“I can get about well enough by listening,” she said, waving a hand at me. “If I couldn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to put that lance in Trikao’s back! And I can manage the airs of this place. They do not offend my soul as they do for so many. Go, and report to me all the revelations you may find, boy.”

There was something stiff to her face now. A careful, guarded sorrow, like someone awaiting a medikker’s pessimistic opinions of a loved one’s illness.

“You know what’s in those woods, ma’am,” I said.

“Ohh? DoI?”

“Yes. So why not just tell me?”