Crown of Shadows by Arthur Keri

Author:Arthur, Keri
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KA Publishing Pty Ltd
Published: 2022-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“Who was it, if not Annwfyn?” I asked.

“Thugs for hire.”

“Then they’re obviously not very bright. I mean, I don’t know much about dark elves, but I sure as hell know you’re all big believers in revenge and retribution.”

I kept my reply low and calm. He stared at me for a heartbeat and then made a soft sound that wasn’t quite a laugh. “Perhaps they hold to the current view that we have all been civilized.”

A smiled teased my lips. “Oh, I think we proved that to be a lie last night.”

This time, his laugh was rich and full, and that fierce wave of fury began to ebb. Relief slithered through me. Anger could make even the most placid of people unpredictable—something I knew from growing up in this place. “I take it your sister is okay?”

“Her leg was broken and her ribs bruised, but yes, she’s fine.”

I studied him for a minute, sensing a touch of guilt under the anger and suddenly realizing why. “The attack on her was just a distraction, wasn’t it?”

“I now believe so. When I think back, I remember seeing seven people, but only six attacked Treasa.”

“Six against one? That’s overkill, isn’t it?”

“In truth, had they known anything at all about my sister, they would have sent more. She’d taken three down by the time I’d run out of the bar to help and would have taken out the rest if not for the bastard who hit her from behind and stomped on her leg.”

“Note to self—never piss off your sister.” I paused. “Have the six been questioned?”

“Yes, but they could shed no light on who employed them. That particular portion of their memories has been wiped.” Frustration flitted through his expression. “And while a warrant has been placed for the seventh person, there’s been no sign of him.”

“Then they were all men?”

He hesitated. “The six who attached Treasa were, but to be honest, my attention was on the men attacking my sister rather than the person hanging back in the shadows. My bad, as it turned out.”

“And it was the seventh person you were chasing?”

He nodded. “I have no recollection of how I ended up in the canal, though. I was obviously hit from behind, but I never saw or heard my attacker.”

“If your attacker was the same person I was chasing, then that’s no surprise given the shielding he was using.”

“They are unlikely to be the same. The timing is all wrong.”

“True.” I pushed up and walked over to the bar. “Drink?”

“A mineral water would be good. I need to keep a clear head for the meeting.”

I pulled two bottles from the refrigerator, then walked back and handed him one. “So, the attack on your sister was merely a distraction to ensure they could drug and question you about the Claws location?”

He took a drink. “I would presume so.”

“Assuming Jalvi is working with the people seeking the Claws, why would they think you’d have more access to information than her?”

“Because there are certain files only an heir can access.

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