Moon's Artifice by Tom Lloyd Read Free Book Online Page A

for Enchei to dismissively wave his words away.
    ‘That there’s a child coming, sure, but the man’s not going to announce to the whole of House Wyvern he’s been cuckolded, is he ? Remind me why he thinks you’re the greatest Investigator of all time ?’
    ‘Ah, because you saved him from assassins and made me take all the credit ?’
    Enchei wagged a finger in Narin’s face. ‘Try again.’
    ‘What ? What are you talking about ?’
    ‘Poor Kine, the child’s likely to be simple,’ Enchei sighed, shaking his head theatrically. ‘Saving his life was one thing, but covering up the fact his balls got cut off for not paying a gambling debt ? That’s what made you the shining sun of the whole Imperial House, in Vanden’s eyes.’
    Narin was so bemused he didn’t even bother objecting to Enchei’s irreverent turn of phrase comparing him to the Emperor. The old man had joined the House of the Sun gladly enough, but had only ever managed a sort of gruff affection for their young Emperor descended from Gods.
    ‘So I helped …’ Suddenly it all fell into place and Narin gasped. ‘Oh for Pity’s sake, I must need more sleep. Of course – it’s the only heir he’ll ever have ! He’ll not endanger that, no matter how angry he is with Kine. It’s not as though he can prove the child isn’t his, someone’ll ask why. He’d most likely take his own life than live with the shame of the truth getting out. Wyvern skin varies quite a lot – might be he can accept the child as his own even if I am the father. Kine’s darker than he is. So what do I do ?’
    Enchei looked down at the unconscious goshe beside them. ‘You’ve got more pressing problems, hey ? There’s a God waiting for answers from you and when this one wakes up, my guess is you’ll not have time to worry about Kine for a week or so.’
    He headed back over to the stove, beside which he’d deposited a hessian bag. From the bag he pulled a clay wine bottle and several wrapped packets which were each set out in an orderly line. ‘Go find the lovely Sheti, ask her if she wants to eat with us after she’s finished her duties. There was squid and dappled crab at the market today – what I’m planning requires a more appreciative audience than you.’
    Narin didn’t move from his seat, watching the man with astonishment. ‘You hear all my problems and all you care about is cooking to impress a widow ?’
    ‘The best solutions are always found over a meal,’ Enchei said with a flourish of a kitchen knife. ‘Have I taught you nothing these last two years ? If you think it’s just the sum of my wisdom on the dachan court you should be picking up, you’re more simple than any of us are willing to admit.’
    ‘And what about him ?’ Narin demanded, pointing at the goshe. ‘What do you propose I tell Sheti about him ?’
    Enchei shrugged and fished from his bag a knobbly vegetable Narin didn’t recognise. ‘Tell her the truth, or some approximation of it. That woman’s seen life in all its colours and was no fool to start with – plus, she does chores for this whole compound,’ he said, gesturing to the square of housing Narin’s rooms were within.
    ‘That means not only is she around during your shift hours to keep an eye on him, she also hears gossip from all over the city.’ He smiled and looked up with a comically wistful expression. ‘Us lonely old men love to gossip with a pretty face – and anyways, it’s not as if she’s the only one you’ll have to tell.’
    ‘What do you mean ?’
    Enchei laughed. ‘Investigator Narin Deshar, your life is not your own. You might be the rising star of the Lawbringers, but there’s one star risen higher than yours that you still bow to.’
    ‘Rhe ?’ Narin said with a sinking feeling. ‘Stars of Heaven, why ?’
    ‘Aha ! The one and only Lawbringer Rhe,’ Enchei exclaimed, arms raised in theatrical adulation. ‘Scourge of the criminal classes, slayer of generals and insufferable