Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara

Author:Michelle Sagara
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: LUNA
Published: 2011-09-30T22:00:00+00:00

Kaylin was the first person to speak, as she so often was, and the words that fell unplanned out of her mouth weren’t particularly bright. “But—that’s impossible. There’s no way—”

“Oh?” Sanabalis said, proving that fiery breath and icy chill were not, in fact, incompatible.

Tara turned to Kaylin. “Why?”

“Dragons have scales. You’ve seen Tiamaris when he’s wearing them in his human form—it’s armor, and it’d blunt most swords produced in the Empire.”

“Only by mortals,” she replied.

“The scalpels Red’s using were created by mortals, Tara. And if it wasn’t easy, they did cut skin.”

Tara tilted her head to one side. It was mimicry of a human gesture, and it was off. Before Tara could speak, Kaylin said, “Because it looks deliberate, Tara, and I’ll explain more later. Sanabalis will turn me to ash otherwise.”

She frowned and then nodded. “It is true, though. There should be scales.” Her frown deepened, and she said what Kaylin was thinking. “Unless female Dragons have substantially different forms or physical rules?”

“They don’t,” was Sanabalis’s curt reply. “I am sorry, Lord Tiamaris. We must either move the bodies, or bring the Arkon here; I do not think the portable mirror and its recall will prove satisfactory to him.”

“Move them,” Kaylin said, thinking of Marcus and the general relief he’d feel to have this particular set of autopsies off-loaded to someone—anyone—else.

“Bring him here,” Tiamaris said, at about the same time.

They exchanged a glance. Sanabalis intervened. “Lord Tiamaris is correct, Private. The Arkon has had some small suspicion about the results of this autopsy, but matters within the Palace at the moment are such that he has not—that we have not—chosen to disturb the Emperor. Nor will we, unless the Arkon feels there is sufficient cause.”

“Dead Dragons wouldn’t be sufficient cause?”

“Ah, you mistake me. Yes, they would. But the objections you voiced are entirely reasonable, and without the Arkon’s aid, it is likely that they will not be addressed. The fiefs are not, as you are aware, part of the Empire. The Emperor does not control them and he does not claim them.

“The bodies were discovered in the fief of Tiamaris. We have no idea whether similar bodies have appeared elsewhere, although some attempt to confirm or deny is being made. You,” he added, “are part of that attempt. We wish you to speak with Lord Nightshade at your earliest convenience.

“In the meantime, we will send word—by mirror—to the Palace. The Arkon’s part in the other investigations is minimal.”

“If the fiefs are outside of Imperial Law and control…”

“You can’t even finish the thought. Yes, even if they are outside of his control, should our suspicion prove correct, the Emperor may feel a need to act upon this discovery.” He turned to Severn. “Corporal. Private. Please proceed from here to Nightshade. Gather what information you can, but be brief and to the point. I will return to the Imperial Palace and fetch the Arkon.”

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