Page 33 of Mistress of Bones
A blue tabard came for Azul and guided her up the staircase to a room with a sturdy desk and Captain de Macia standing behind it.
Instead of a tabard, she wore a blue waistcoat with silver embroidery and silver buttons down the front, and the same type of breeches and boots as the guards.
Draped over another chair was her half cape, dark blue with more silver accents.
De Macia nodded at the guard, who retreated into the hallway. After a warm greeting, she indicated another free chair, which Azul made use of.
“So,” De Macia said, occupying her own seat behind the desk, “how is your mother?”
“Very well, thank you,” Azul replied. “How is my little sister?”
De Macia gave her a rueful smile. “Keeping my household busy. How long have you been in Cienpuentes?”
“A few days now.”
“And you must stay a few more and come to supper with us. Now, tell me, how can I help?”
Captain de Macia hadn’t advanced in the ranks for lack of a sharp mind.
“I was subject to an attempted kidnapping earlier today,” Azul said matter-of-factly, “so for the sake of my well-being, I thought I should let someone I trust know I am currently staying with one of my half brothers, the Marquess de Gracia.”
“Were you harmed?” De Macia asked, all business now.
“No, they were very polite.” At the captain’s answering snort, Azul added, “Yes, my thoughts too. They intended to use me as a lure to arrange a meeting with my brother.”
“‘Attempted kidnapping,’ you said.”
“I escaped.”
“Is the Marquess de Gracia aware of all of this?” Then, in a loud voice, “You came alone, yes?”
Azul glanced over her shoulder to catch the blue tabard peek in and nod.
“Should we send word to His Grace that you’re here?” De Macia asked.
“No need. I already sent a message with my destination.” To the detriment of Azul’s purse. Nereida had assured her they had more coin, while Sergado alluded to a stipend—but where was all this money supposed to be? Nowhere within her reach.
After a curt, dismissive nod of the captain’s head, the blue tabard returned to his previous position somewhere down the corridor, and she focused again on Azul. “Give me the details.”
Azul was glad to comply: “There were two masked captors and the servant who lured me from the gathering. Although it’s possible that the servant was simply asked to deliver a message and wasn’t aware of the implications.”
“What gathering?”
“My brother’s friends were having one. He must’ve sent word that he meant to introduce me, because nobody was surprised by my attendance.” Azul studied De Macia’s expression—serious but not shocked. “Are kidnappings in Cienpuentes common?”
“While all kinds of crimes happen in the city, yours is not the first kidnapping for the sake of simple talks in the last couple of weeks.” Seeing Azul’s disbelief, she elaborated, “Three men cornered the Count de Anví not long ago, seeking a similar result.”
Azul remembered the count, standing stiff and looking miserable at the exhibition. “He came to you for help?”
“Hah. No, of course not. He’s a Golden Dog and we’re the Blue Bastards. He would rather choke on his guts, I’d imagine, before coming to De Mavén for any sort of help.”
“Then how do you know—? Oh, he thought you, the City Guard, had a hand in it?”
“Not quite,” De Macia said, “but close enough. It’s hard to keep such things a secret. Knowledge tends to get around.”
“Should I be worried they’ll attempt to kidnap me again?” Azul didn’t want to be confined at Almanueva or gain more guards.
De Macia studied her closely. “You should be, I think.” After waiting for the words to sink in, she added, “Coming so close after your father’s murder… De Gracia is a dangerous name to be associated with nowadays. I know you aren’t used to these kinds of—”
“Murder?” Azul exclaimed. “I thought he died from an issue with his heart.”
It was now time for Captain de Macia to be surprised, then hesitant.
“Tell me,” Azul demanded.
“He was stabbed in the…”
An eloquent pause ensued, and Azul finished for her, dryness in her voice: “In the heart. Why did my brother lie?”
“He might not have wanted to frighten you. And to be frank, I shouldn’t have told you, if you weren’t already told. It wasn’t my news to share. But given the current situation, it’s better for you to be aware of the danger you face.”
Troubled, Azul mulled the captain’s words. “Thank you. And his bones? In the ossuary?”
“I imagine De Gracia took care of it all.”
“I’ve been trying to visit the ossuary to pray to my sister’s—another sister’s—bones. A family tradition. Perhaps I could see both her and my father? But nobody will grant me entrance.”
“I am sorry to hear that.”
Azul didn’t doubt Captain de Macia’s sincerity and shook her head when she was offered some water. “I’m fine, thank you.” Then, allow ing some frustration to seep through, “I wish I could see my sister’s bones and be assured that she rests with the gods.”
“Have you talked with the dean?”
“Yes. Well, no. She wasn’t there when I went to the Temple, and I don’t think she’ll grant me a meeting, judging by those who took my request in her stead.”
“And your brother? What did your brother have to say?”
“He said it might take some time to grant me entrance.”
De Macia grimaced. “The bigger the city, the slower time crawls. It’s bad timing.
With the royal mourning lifted, things are going back to normal and everyone is busy.
Celebrations, balls, politics… The court will be back in season proper, and there are a lot of dealings that need to be finished before that happens. ”
Which explained , Azul thought, why it wasn’t so outlandish that people in Cienpuentes kept getting kidnapped . “I was told Noche Verde this year will be popular.”
“Yes, there will be street celebrations and plenty of balls.” De Macia sounded pained at the thought, possibly because the blue tabards would be the ones to answer for it if the events got out of control. “De Gracia should’ve received invitations, of course, but I’ll make sure you are included.”
“Could you make them for two, or is it too late?”
“That shouldn’t be a problem.” She glanced behind Azul, and her frown deepened. “What is it?”
Azul turned in her seat to find a new guard at the door.
“Someone has come for the sirese, Captain.”
De Macia looked at Azul, brows arching. “Shall we go see if you know them or if my guards must take care of some trash?”
With a grin, Azul agreed. They went down to the entrance, recruiting another couple of men on the way, the sum of their heels thudding loudly on the wooden floors.
Her shadow stood outside, hat in his hands, at ease even with the two tabards flanking him.
Azul had expected this, but she hadn’t anticipated the anger the sight brought out in her.
“I know him,” she told Captain de Macia. Curt words the woman didn’t deserve but didn’t seem to mind.
She squeezed Azul’s arm. “I will make sure the invitations are delivered to your hands.” And she’d make sure Azul was there to receive them.
“Thank you,” Azul said, knowing she should be relieved, but unable to shake the fury razing her veins.
Her shadow. Alone.
The emissary couldn’t be bothered to check on her himself, so certain Azul was incapable of anything more than being an annoyance.
Sharply, she crossed the entrance and exited into the plaza. Stopping right beyond reach of the guards outside, she glared at her shadow. “I see you come alone. Is he so sure I’ll do as he commands every time I slip your reach?”
The shadow nodded in one direction. Azul followed it to find Virel Enjul standing on the opposite side of the plaza, his expression unreadable, but his posture bored enough as he turned and walked away.
He had come, after all. Perhaps he wasn’t so sure of what Azul could do.
Perhaps he was frustrated that he had made no inroads into figuring out who the other necromancer was, and it was dawning on him that Azul was not so fearful of his status as Emissary of the Lord Death.
Or perhaps it was the fact that he could no longer steal her from Cienpuentes on a whim.
She could use this.
Bringing two fingers to her mouth, Azul let a loud whistle go, commanding the attention of everyone in the vicinity. But it was only Enjul’s attention she kept for more than those few moments of stillness when she lifted her hand and showed him the small bone in her palm.