Page 38 of A Trade of Blood

“Ah!” said Ana when I described these to her. “Those are offertories, avarias. Religious structures, built to attract the attentions of the unearthly. In the inner rings they build them quite tall—Ibelieve the assumption is that thebestspirits are very, very high up in the sky—as if such entities purchased property the same way ordinary humans do, and the least accessible is best!”

“But why are there dead birds in some? And urns in others?”

“I cannot quite say, but—Isuspect Velona Armenta is attemptingto earn favor with the Daljeni spirits, yet isn’t exactly sure how to do so. Thus, she is pulling from several different pantheons…The birds are for Yaprak, the Rathras deity of forests, who so delights in their plumage. The urns likely contain the ash of blessed trees, and are surely for Ochima, one of the old Tala gods of the hollow hills—you probably know that one, Din.” A cruel smile. “My guess is that Velona doesn’t know what will make the fates stop persecuting her, but she’s willing to try anything!”

“Odd to know, ma’am,” I said as I glanced outside, “that the culprit is human, and the weapon the guiding web.”

“Know? We do notknowanything, Din! Rather, westrongly suspect.Recall our goals here, please—we must learn more of how Castus’s siblings died. Perhaps our killer arranged their deaths, too—but it might be mere chance! Regardless, we seek apattern.If we cannot determine who our killer might be, we at least need to find a way to identify who they’ve infected! All this will bequitepertinent when we finally cut up Zansay Burav’s corpse and take a peek.”

Another discomfiting bubbling in my belly, but this one had nothing to do with tallow.

“So stay watchful, and speak with care, boy!” said Ana. “Do not upset the lady of the house—who is, as we’ve been told, both delicate in body…” She turned her blindfolded face to the closed window. “…and, apparently, in mind.”

—

The home of the Armentas—the structure known as “Aimafall”—was a massive, sprawling thing that had obviously been added onto for over a century, as the styles of fretvine, stonewood, and old-fashioned brick were strikingly different from portion to portion. The southern great hall was the most recent bit, and sported enormous glass windows of pane glass—still a rare luxury in most of the Empire. But all the glass windows were blocked on the inside, with great sheets or curtains pinned up to keep out the light. A strange choice, to build features of such elegance, then cover them entirely.

Though the house was a grand thing, it had its ghastly touches.An immense number of horns were arranged over the main entryway, all grouped together in twists of ivory and keratin and bone, until the entire face of the building seemed to be bristling. It was in no way a welcoming sight for a visitor.

We came to a stop before the entryway. Then the great doors below this ferocious display flew open, and Trikao Armenta came striding out.

For a moment it was odd to see him without his leather armors, dressed as a country gentryman might on any day—but because of his size, and the naked anger in his countenance, I found him no less intimidating than when I’d seen him yesterday, wielding his great lance.

“So!” said Trikao as I opened Ana’s door. “I made my wishes known to you, Signum Kol. I did not wish you to go about digging up all my sister’s sorrows. Yet you have gone behind my back and used other influences to circumvent me.” He squared up to me, his great beard bristling. “In my own home. During thistragedy.This offends me, sir. So much I wonder what defense you may offer.”

“I’d say, sir,” said Ana, stepping out with her customary blindfold and grin, “that he was followingmyorders. I am Immunis Ana Dolabra, and I am commanding this investigation.” She bowed, one hand extended in a courtly flourish. “I thank you for not spitting my assistant here on the spot! I have kept him alive for nearly three years now. That is something of a record for me.”

Trikao’s tremendous brows converged as he looked her over. “It is you who wishes to pester my poor sister?”

“It is, I’m afraid to say. I wish to do so because we have spoken to Castus’s friends—to Din’s sister, and your son, I mean—and they can no more explain his actions than you! Given the gravity of this investigation, we are obliged to askallinvolved their opinions. And what a dereliction of duty it would be, Master Armenta, if we did not at least call upon the suspect’s mother but the once!”

He stepped close to Ana. “You do not understand. I am seneschal of this family. It is my duty to protect them in all things. You would cause her pain by discussing this. I cannot allow it.”

“You protect her even though you will not inherit?” said Ana. “I find such devotionveryfascinating, sir. Rare to find true loyalty amid the verdant fields of the Empire nowadays. But was it not Velona who bested you to win the prime seat? If so, she’s surely a woman of strength. I shall bow to her will—when she delivers it to me, sir.”

Trikao’s eyes, which had so often seemed both weary and warm to me, turned icy. His huge hands flexed, as if dreaming of wrapping his fingers about Ana’s neck. Then, without a word, he turned and marched back into the darkness of the hall.

We waited. A servant emerged, bowed nervously, and gestured for us to enter.

“I suppose, ah, we are permitted inside, ma’am,” I said.

“I’m not sure why you worried so, Din,” said Ana with a sniff. “My diplomacy skills seem to be very adequate so far.”

—

The air withinAimafall was close, dark, and musty. The number of lamps were few, and almost no window was left open, so the light was very poor. I squinted to peer about—and then realized hundreds of glass eyes were staring back atme.

Hanging about the high fretvine walls were dozens and dozens of preserved urhosi heads, each one fixed to stare down at us, their eyes glimmering in the weak light of the lamps. They had fond-names below them, etched on little plaques—“Glad-Walker,” or “Proud-Milk,” or “Fly-Chaser”—and below each plaque was a square of hide, set within a frame.

I was so perturbed by this sight that I almost leapt when the Armenta servant shut the door behind us, bowed, and whispered, “This way, sir and madam.”

We followed him through the hall, the glass eyes observing our procession. I whispered what I was seeing to Ana, and my words seemed very loud in this silent place. I had passed through great halls in my time, but never one as deathly still as this. I glanced at the servant who led us through the entry passages and saw that his face was pale and downcast. It was as if this hall dwelt in endless mourning,all windows veiled, all lights dimmed, and if you wandered through here it dimmed your very soul as well. I could not imagine my sister dwelling in such a place.

We entered one grand passage—like the others, this one sported a wall with a small forest of horns and trophies—and Fotia herself emerged from the darkness ahead, her face just as pale as the servant’s. She waved to me, hissed, “There you are!” and gestured to the servant to leave. She waited for him to depart, then turned tome.

“You’ve no idea how much work it took me to get you in here!” she whispered. “I practically wore holes in my trousers from begging. Trikao is still raging about it—though I’m sure he’s already given you an earfu…” She glanced at Ana, then paused, taken aback. “Ahh. Might this be your…”

Ana grinned and bowed. “Good morning! Though I cannot behold you myself, might I assume that you are Din’s sister? Very good! I am Immunis Ana Dolabra, dear Din’s commanding officer. I wish to offer my congratulations and commendations on your burgeoning nuptials! I understand Din here missed his chance to do the same for you—very tragic, that. I shall not make the same mistake. May your home be forever warm, and filled with a great, squalling brood of healthy, fat little urchins!”