“The kidnappings?” Marasi asked, her stomach turning.
Over the last ten years, the Set’s primary activity—the one that had first drawn Wax and Marasi’s attention—had been a series of kidnappings of women with strong Allomantic genetic lines. Research over the last few years had proven they weren’t alone. Others, both men and women, had been vanishing—mostly from the Roughs, where such disappearances weren’t reported. Always Metalborn, or with Metalborn in their family lines.
Wax and Marasi’s worries about why had been disturbing. Now, to find members of the Set with access to so many powers…
“We tried following the kidnappings, Wax,” she said. “Dead ends, every one. Are wesurethat Harmony didn’t see anything about this? Maybe before he was blinded?”
“He can be cryptic, even to us,” VenDell said softly from where he sat by the wall. He glanced up at them, his broken face moving strangely. “But I don’t think he knows where those people went. When we were hunting for them, we wondered why Harmony didn’t feed us more information. Why he didn’t look into the secret parts of the world and tell us. I think he’s been unable to see details for some time. But he’s been… concealing his disability from us.”
The kandra sighed, suddenly looking tired—his skin going transparent and faintly green. “And… there’s more, Waxillium. He tries to hide it, but I think… something is wrong with Harmony. I see a dark shadow behind him.”
“What good is it having God on your side,” Marasi said, folding her arms, “if he doesn’t do anything to help?”
“Hediddo something to help,” Wax replied. “He sent us. A lesson he keeps trying to teach me.”
“I will contact him,” VenDell said, “and request further aid. But Waxillium is right… Constable Colms, wearehis attempt to do something.”
Wax turned to the side, his expression again distant. He hadn’t told her everything that had happened to him years ago. She thought maybe Wax haddiedfor a moment. Before she’dfound him broken in that cold, forgotten shrine. He’dmet with Harmony.
Now Wax talked likethissometimes. With an authority regarding religious matters that she hadn’t heard from priests.
The door opened, and Captain Blantach walked in. She’dchanged to a clean uniform, and had obviously run a comb through her short blonde hair, but she still appeared frazzled. Perhaps because of the man who walked in behind her.
Oh hell,Marasi thought.She brought the mayor.
27
Wax sighed. This had just become a political matter rather than a jurisdictional one. Granted, the entire day had been heading that direction like a galloping stagecoach with no driver. He glanced at Marasi, who nodded. He should take the lead here.
He stepped forward to meet the lord mayor of Bilming, Lord Gave Entrone. A man that Wax had encountered on several occasions now—each more repulsive than the last. And that was saying something, since at their first interaction Entrone had insulted Steris to her face.
Gave had come up in the world, outgrowing his hometown of New Seran. Two years ago he’dlanded in Bilming—at the very center of Outer Cities politics—and had somehow proven himself to be the exact sort of person they wanted “standing up” to tyrannical Elendel.
Today he was dressed in formal wear, and even checked his cufflinks as they entered—no doubt to show off the sparkling diamonds set into the wood. Slicked-back black hair, a chin you could use to cut the tops off tin cans. And, of course, his characteristic smug smile.
Lord mayor of Bilming was an important position—probably the most important one outside of Elendel. Which meant Wax had to be careful not to insult him. This would be a delicate conversation.
“Oi!” Wayne said, sitting up. “Hey, Wax! Somebody done sewn a sack of dicks together and made a person! It’s even walking!”
The room fell silent. Then VenDell snickered.
“Are you going to apologize for that, Ladrian?” Gave asked.
“Oh!” Wayne said, heaving himself to his feet. “It’s Gave Entrone. Sorry, Lord Mayor! I mistook you for something else. Though the resemblance, it’s downright uncanny, it is.”
“Wayne?” Wax said.
“Yeah, boss?”
“Please stop helping.”
“Got it.”
Wax’s and Entrone’s eyes locked. Wax was certain the man had ties to the Set. A partial explanation for his exceptional rise through Outer Cities politics.
“So, here we are,” Gave said, rubbing his hands together. “Waxillium Ladrian. The great lawman of the Roughs. Involved in anillegaloperation in my city!”
“We have jurisdiction here!” Marasi said. “By the code—”