Page 70 of A Trade of Blood

“Oh, so we just have incompetent murderers trying to kill him and infect his brain with fungus!” said Fotia. “Quite a balm to my soul!”

“His poisoning might have even been accidental,” I said. “The only source we’ve found that’s infected is at the Burav estate. We’re trying to test as thoroughly as we can now—without causing a panic.”

“Din!” snarled Fotia. “None of this is reassuring! Stop trying!”

I fell silent. Again, they clasped hands and sat together.

“What do they want from us?” asked Ippeas.

“We don’t know,” I said. “But I doubt they’ll stop. They seem unnerved and will move faster now. We believe that’s why they acted against the Buravs as rashly as they did.”

“So we don’t know what they want,” said Fotia. “And even though they’ve been killing Burav and Armenta alike, no one has actuallyseenthese bastards at work, not even once.”

“No,” I said.

Ippeas swallowed. “W-well. That’s not completely true, is it?”

“Pardon?” I said.

“What about Castus? He said he’d heard someone sneaking about him after…Well. After Zansay.”

“True, that’s so,” I admitted. “But he didn’t see anything of the person. And the custodi were keen to pursue him that night, andtrampled any evidence that might have been available. I myself didn’t see any sign of a second person around the wood there. And I’ve no idea why the killer would be there at all, really. If you wish to frame a man for murder, why hang about him after the job’s done?”

Fotia sat up. “Where was Castus found, exactly?”

I described how Seriv had led me to the location, just off the Great Spoke Road leading west.

“And…and you’resureyour killer was operating in the Burav estate?” she asked.

“That’s what we’re assuming now, yes. Or one was, at least. Why?”

The two of them glanced at each other.

“Are you thinking, Fo,” said Ippeas, “of Gaddar’s glade?”

“What’s that?” I asked.

Fotia thought for a moment and turned to me. “Din—do you really think these people can movethroughthe wood?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been told time and time again that the wood is impassable. But I saw the lights in the distant forest, and…my immunis has suggested she thinks it’s possible.”

“Then, if that…if that is so,” said Fotia, “I think this person might have been going to Gaddar’s glade that night, where the shrine is located. That was where Castus was going as well, seeking to be cured of his curse. I think this second person wasn’t following him, they just happened to be going to thesame placeas him.”

My eyes fluttered, and I recalled Castus’s testimony to me about how he’d sought to be cleansed of his madness:I thought if I could find my way to the shrine of Gaddar, master of orchards…

“Yes…” I said. “Castus did say he was going there. But why would the killer be going there as well?”

“Because, Din,” said Fotia, “that’s where the forest isnarrowest! The shrine lies about a quarter league into a strip of trees that runs between Lacanthim and the Burav spreads, where the old forest creek runs. If someone was trying to slipoutof Lacanthim, and backintothe Burav lands, that’s where I’d do it—ifI could pass through the trees, that is. The wood is very thin there! It’d be easy to cross over.”

I sat very still as I processed this. “So you’re saying that…that there might be some secret passageway through the forest, connecting the fields outside Lacanthim with the Burav estate?”

“Yes! Which our killer would have used, if they wanted to pass from the Burav grounds into Lacanthim without anyone spotting them!” She stood. “I can take you there now.”

I looked her over warily. “I don’t want you involved, Fo. This is a devilish weapon, and this killer is monstrous.”

“And I don’t care,” said Fotia, indignant. “They poisoned Ip! They tried to kill him! Neither of us will be safe until they’re gone!”

Ippeas closed his eyes. “If…if it’sjusttaking your brother to the shrine…I suppose that will be safe. But I agree with him, love. I’m half tempted to send you away from the whole damned canton!”