Brille Covella's Arc

Chapter 12 of 13

By dawn the company was moving again, wagons creaking down the old cobblestones. Brille rode point in her striped hide cloak, hood up, bow across her knees. Grok had walked away last night. That meant someone had told him to. She had until the next attack to find out who, or the next ambush would take Siobhan. She watched Cassian on the flank. He fed his lizard a scrap of dried meat and did not look at her. He had ridden with her from the gate. He had paid for her pottery in a bronze coin she had later pulled from a dead man's palm. If a hand was pulling Grok's strings, she needed to know if it was that one. She dropped back to Rhyme. "When we stop, hold Cassian at the wagon. I need his purse turned out." Rhyme's brows went up. "A heavy charge from a scout so young. What proof carries the weight of that tongue?" "A coin. Bronze. Foreign letters. Same as the muggers carried." Rhyme's smile went flat. He nodded once. They stopped at midday to water the horses. Rhyme called Cassian over on some excuse about a girth. Brille cut in behind and pulled the flap of his saddlebag. Cassian turned, quick, but Rhyme's hand was already on his shoulder. "Easy," Rhyme said. "The lady wants a look." Brille tipped the pouch into her palm. Silver. Copper. A folded paper. No bronze coin. She dug into the inner pocket. Empty. She checked his belt purse. Nothing but realm coin. Cassian watched her without anger. "You wanted to find me guilty. I'm sorry to disappoint." "You gave me one before," Brille said. "I did. I took it off a man I killed on the Coldwater road two months back. I thought it was a curiosity. I paid you with it because I was short." He met her eyes. "If I ran with Grok, would I ride at your flank with my back to your bow?" She held the look. His lizard flicked its tongue. She had wanted him to be the answer. He was not. That evening a rider caught them from behind, alone, waving a white strip. The company drew arrows. He reined in and threw down a sealed packet. "For the red-haired one. From the third gate." Siobhan broke the seal. She read it twice. Then she passed it to Brille. The hand was tight and clean. Caelthir Silvershield. Brille knew the name before she read it. Grok takes his orders from a man who buys council seats. I want that man ended. You are being herded toward him. The bronze coins are his mark. Ride to me at the third gate before you ride to Darkspire. I will name him. Brille lowered the letter. Her enemy at the south gate had just handed her the string. She did not yet know if the hand at the other end was worse.