Page 79 of Keeper of the Word

He knocked before pounding on the door.

Slowly, it opened a crack to reveal Marga, holding a lighted candlestick. Her face was bruised, and she had a repulsive sore on her bottom lip.

“Eh?”

“Remember me?”

Her eyes widened, and the door opened to reveal the rest of her disheveled appearance.

“He said you was comin’, but I didn’t believe it.” She left him in the doorway, turned to place the candle on a nearby table, then rifled through a jumble of parchments and laundry that sat on its surface.

“Who?”

“Cannot say, really. A man in a hood. He was carryin’ a long, thin case.”

“An instrument case?”

Marga shrugged before returning to the mess on her table. “Dunno. He said that when you came, if I gave you a message, you’d give me a sack o’coin.” Evidently, she found what she searched for because she held up a sealed message. It did not have the seal of the Order of Siria like the other message. Strange.

What are you playing at, Ghlee?Tolvar gritted his teeth.

Like her borough, Marga was in worse shape than years ago. No doubt, if he gave her coin, it would only go to ill pursuits.

Tolvar sighed and fished out a coin purse from his pocket. He took out four coins, put them back in his pocket, and held out the rest of the purse to her. “The message?”

In the doorway, Marga held out the message and extended her arm, which shook as she stretched it out.

“Wait.” Tolvar took the folded message and held the coin purse at his side. “Where is Himmex buried?”

“Eh? How should I know?”

Tolvar lifted an eyebrow and shook the coins.

“Why you want to know? Ain’t it enough that you ruined his life? Put him in a grave?” She spat out the last question.

“I did not kill Himmex, Marga. You knew what would happen when he got caught up with the Assemblage.”

Marga snorted. “What it matter what you call ’em. There’s always a new band showin’ up here ruinin’ things. Make life the abyss for everyone. That new group is rough.” She put her hand to her swollen lip.

“What new band?”

“You sure got a lot of questions for someone who’s s’pose to be in charge of everything.” She reached for the coin purse. “You ain’t payin’ me to answer every question you got.”

Tolvar took one of the coins from his pocket and let her see that it was gold. “Where is Himmex buried?”

“In the northside of the graveyard. ’Bout seven to the left from the center, I’d say. But I still dunno why you want to know. There ain’t no marker there. His brother ne’er put one there.”

“And the new band?”

“Hardly know much ’bout ’em. ’Cept they keep to themselves on the southside of town.”

“The southside?”

“’Tisallshit here now,m’lord.” She curtsied dramatically. “There ain’t nothin’ high and mighty ’bout the southside anymore.” She snorted again. “Stars, I s’pose it has been a while since you was here.”

She grabbed at the coin purse again, but Tolvar held it above his head. She made a little jump, and he immediately regretted making her appear so degraded. “Anything else?”

Marga rubbed her hands together nervously. Her eyes shifted. “Aye. Theyfeelstrange.”