Martin Scott - Thraxas and the Ice Dragon

«Is there any chance of that?» asks Makri. «I didn't know you were close.»

«I've got a good idea what's going on. Demelzos's daughter Merlione is interfering with her son's inheritance in some way. I don't know how, but she is.»

Makri looks puzzled. «How do you know that?»

«Nothing else fits. Merlione's brother's getting married into Baron Vosanos's family, and he's taking a chunk of money with him. Vosanos needs that money badly. Somehow Merlione's spoiling things. That's what her friend Alceten discovered. That's why she was killed, and that's why someone's been trying to kill Merlione.»

«I suppose it would make sense,» says Makri. «But aren't you just guessing?»

«No. I'm sure. More so since I learned that Zinlantol at the Royal Record House is a cousin of Magranos, Baron Vosanos's Chief Steward.»

We share some bread on the way. Makri hands me a bottle she brought from the kitchen. I take a drink.

«Water?»

«What did you expect for breakfast?»

I shake my head in disgust. When we arrive at the Record House I leave the carriage outside and march past the guards without looking at them. Inside the Record House, Zinlantol is sitting behind her desk, as always. When I approach, she regards me with loathing. A lot of people have done that recently.

«Did you pass information about Alceten's work to your cousin Magranos?»

«I have nothing to say to you!» says Zinlantol. She stands up quickly and disappears through the door behind her, into some private staff area.

«I'd say she was,» I mutter to Makri, as we make our way upstairs. «She was already getting rid of evidence about the Baron's debts, destroying the papers. When she learned that Alceten had discovered something that was going to cost Baron Vosanos a lot of money, she passed that on to her cousin too.»

Upstairs, the corner where Alceten was working is still surrounded by books and scrolls, many of which I haven't even opened yet. I pick up the large book of Samsarinan Commercial Law and hand it to Makri.

«This is the book that was out of place. Alceten might have been reading it before she was killed. Go through it and see if there's anything relevant. I'll make a start on the scrolls.»

«How long do we have?»

«About three hours.»

«I can't get through this in three hours.»

«Do your best.»

We sit down and read. As soon as I pick up a scroll I start to remember how much I ache. These Samsarinan Sorcerers really gave me a battering. I glance through the scroll, find nothing relevant, throw it to one side and pick up another. The Law of Tort regarding Interference to Property Rights with Regard to Trespass by Hostile Orcs . I shake my head. Already my eyes are starting to swim. Can't these legal clerks make their writing a little bigger? I put the scroll to one side, being fairly sure that no Orcs have been interfering with local property. I notice Makri has gone off to the far end of the room, where she's hunting through cabinets. I pick up another scroll. It deals with property disputes between Barons and their subjects in times of famine. Again, it's so densely written I can barely read it. I struggle on for as long as I can, then shake my head in despair. I'm beaten. If there's some legal secret here, we're not going to find it.

«Found it,» says Makri.

«What?»

«Alceten made a note in the third appendix of the law book. It referred to another book from three centuries ago. I've just read the relevant part.»

«And?»

«It referred me to another legal tract. I found that too.»

«Are you ever going to come to the point?»

«Listen.» Makri reads from a very old scroll. «In memory of Queen Eferinis, who first discovered queenstone, and arrayed her daughters splendidly in jewels, all queenstone will pass from mother to daughter, and be inherited in the female line.»

I take the scroll from Makri. «This was drafted by King Moslos. He reigned about six hundred years ago. Could it still be current?»

«I suppose so, if it was never repealed. Everyone must have forgotten about it till Alceten came across it.»

«Alceten discovered that Merlione should inherit her mother's Queenstone mines.» I produce a magic purse from my tunic pocket.

«Where did you get that?» asks Makri.

«I borrowed it from Lisutaris while she was still sleeping. Let's go. We have to stop a wedding.»

We smuggle the relevant documents out of the Record House using the magic pocket, then ride swiftly towards Baroness Demelzos's mansion. Outside the mansion are numerous carriages, ready to carry the family to the wedding.

«Have you ever destroyed a wedding before?» asks Makri.

«Once or twice. It never goes down well.»

A servant at the gate tries to get in our way. I brush him aside. «Thraxas of Turai, Chief Adviser to Lisutaris, Mistress of the Sky. Here as guest of Baroness Demelzos.»

Inside, the house is in the sort of uproar you'd expect when the eldest son of an important family is about to get married. Though neither I nor Makri look like wedding guests, everyone is too busy with their own problems to pay us much attention. I lead Makri upstairs to the Baroness's reception rooms. I burst in to find the Baroness having her hair done by two servants.

«Thraxas! How dare you burst in when» -

«Sorry Baroness. I have important news.» I look pointedly at the servants. The Baroness dismisses them with a nod of her head.

«Well?»

«Someone from Baron Vosanos's household has been trying to kill Merlione. Whether it's the Baron himself, or his steward, I don't know. But they're responsible.» I take the scroll from the magic purse. «By ancient law, Merlione inherits your queenstone mines, not your son. Baron Vosanos is bankrupt. He's depending on your son bringing wealth into his family. But your son will only be wealthy if Merlione is dead.» I hand the scroll to the Baroness.

«But this is so old,» she says.

«I think it's still legal. Alceten was killed because she discovered it. The Baron knew all about her work because his Chief Steward has a cousin in the Record House. She was keeping him up to date with Alceten's research.»

«I really can't believe Baron Vosanos would try to kill my daughter.»

«I don't know if he's directly responsible. More likely he just asked his Steward Magranos to deal with the problem. Magranos is capable of arranging a murder. He tried to arrange mine. If your son marries into that family, I don't think your daughter will ever be safe.»

Baroness Demelzos calls for her servants and asks them if her husband has left the house yet. Part of his role in the wedding is to escort his son to the church. They tell her he's almost on the point of setting off.

«Wait here,» the Baroness says, then hurries off. Makri and I are left alone in the reception room. I pour myself a glass of wine.

«What now?» says Makri.

«Either the Baron believes me and cancels the wedding, or he decides I'm a liar and throws me out. Either way, I've done all I can.»

Makri reaches for the decanter, and winces with pain. She can still feel the effects of the fight, even if she's pretending she can't. We sip wine from silver goblets, waiting for the Baroness to return. After almost an hour, we're still waiting.

«Is she coming back?»

«Doesn't look like it.» I rise from my chair. «Let's go home.»

I ask a servant outside to tell Baroness Demelzos that we've departed. The house is still bustling with activity, but I can sense apprehension among the scurrying servants and tradesmen. They know something's wrong. Makri takes the reigns as we drive home. We pass a squadron of heavily armed troops who've just arrive in Elath. From Hadassa in the South, I think, judging by their armour. Many more troops should be arriving soon.