He demonstrated, which made Steris put her hand to her face. Marasi sighed, but didn’t say anything. If he was sitting then he was less likely to steal something. She did check her pocketbook just in case.
“All right,” she said to the group. “I have the bones of a plan—imitating the Cycle to lead a local gang with a delivery scheduled to Bilming.”
Wax leaned forward. “Are we sure that interrogating the current captives won’t be enough?”
“They seemed like local flunkies,” Marasi said.
“Who will barely know anything,” Wax agreed. “So you’ll want some constables on your sting, ready to capture any Metalborn.”
“I keep telling Reddi we need a specialist team,” Marasi said. “A squadjustfor dealing with Metalborn. He keeps resisting. I think… he considersusthat squad.”
As those words hung in the air, VenDell finally strode in, shaking his head. “I have,” he said, “been re-ordered to avail myself to you, with much urgency, in your current plans.”
“What did he say?” Marasi asked. “Does he know anything about the explosion?”
“Harmony is… worried.” VenDell paused. “Trellium has a repulsing effect on other forms of Investiture. Merely touching it to harmonium is dangerous—but doing as you did, heating and stretching the harmonium first, created what he called ‘an Invested matter-energy transference.’ That’s… very bad.”
“Did the news surprise him?” Wax asked. “Did Harmony seem shocked we were able to do this? Or did he expect it?”
“I couldn’t tell,” VenDell said. “He only said what I’ve relayed. More than that… well, Harmony can be difficult to read. I suppose I don’t need to tell you that. Did he send you a note, Lord Waxillium?”
“Yes,” Wax said. “I think he implied that I should make an earring out of trellium.”
“Whatever for?” Marasi said, frowning.
“I don’t know,” Wax replied. “I think he’s trying to get me interested, since I’ve ignored his last couple of invitations to commune with him.”
“This time it’s different, Waxillium,” VenDell said softly. “This time… Harmony is frightened.”
The room fell silent, aside from Wayne slurping his tea through the nozzle of the teapot. Marasi thought she saw him adding something from his flask to it, and she tried not to let that make her nauseous. Who spikedtea?
He’s hurting,she thought.The breakup is final.Rusts, despite everything else going on, she decided to find time to take him out to that noodle place he loved. Bring along a few of the other constables that he liked; remind him he had friends.
“My sting needs to happen soon,” she said to the room. “The book says the next shipment to Bilming is to go out in three days, and I want to be ready.”
“It’s a good plan, Marasi,” Wax said. “Steris and I have something we can work on while you’re planning.”
“Talking to Harmony?” she asked.
“Maybe,” he said, seeming distant. “I haven’t decided if I’m going to respond to him yet.”
Curiously, he didn’t indicate he wanted to be part of her mission. She’dhave let him in, but she couldn’t quite get a handle on Wax these days. The way he’dhung those Roughs coats in the entryway had an air of finality, like a shrine to his old life. That said, when his deputized status had come up for renewal last year, he’dasked Reddi to maintain his position.
Wax glanced at Steris, who was leaning against him as she scribbled notes. “We thought of something earlier,” he said to Marasi. “It’s vital that we know if the Set has discovered the explosive potential of mixing harmonium and trellium. We’re going to do research to see what we can find.”
“Sounds good,” Marasi said, nodding.
Well, that confirmed it. A few years ago, she might have been happy to hear he was staying out of her investigation, but she’dquashed that feeling. She was proud of not letting his shadow—long though it was—blot out her accomplishments. Besides, she’dhad her chance to become the hero in Wax’s place—she’dheld the Bands of Mourning herself before turning them over to Wax. That simply wasn’t who she was.
So today, she was sad to hear he wouldn’t join her. Even worried, as she realized she’dassumed he would be there on this one. If she actually had a chance at high-level members of the Set… well, this could finally break the case open. And lead to answers.
But… she couldn’t force him. Shouldn’t force him. If he wasn’t feeling as spry as he once had, then who was she to object?
“I’ll go do some more listenin’ to those fellows in prison,” Wayne said. “VenDell, you want to come with? Maybe I could give you tips on your accent?”
“Master Wayne,” he said, “I am an immortal kandra withhundredsof years’ experience doing impersonations.”
“And you always sound snide and upper class,” Wayne said, “in every body I’ve seen you use. So… want some tips or not, mate?”