The Grimjinx Rebellion by Brian Farrey

Author:Brian Farrey
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2014-08-17T16:00:00+00:00

25

The Abbot and the Answer

“Hasty theft pleases only the Castellan.”

—Sareth Grimjinx, pillager of the tin mines of Rexin

The right side of Edilman’s face looked like a map: waxy pink scars ran like roads from his chin to just under his eye. The skin sagged a bit, like it was barely clinging to his skull. I vividly recalled the day he got burned. More accurately, I remembered burning his face. He’d tried to stop me from destroying a magic tapestry with an acidic solvent and got hit by accident.

I must have been gazing a little too hard at his injuries because he grunted and said, “Don’t worry, Jaxter. I don’t blame you for this any more than I blame your parents for the years I spent in prison.”

I steeled my jaw. “But you do blame my parents.”

Edilman laid the mask aside. “Oh, yeah. That’s right.” He sat back in his chair and shrugged. “Well, then I’ll try not to let it come between us. Have a seat.”

I took a step back, my eyes scanning the room for an escape. There was only the door to my rear and the outside balcony. I had no idea how high up we were. But I seriously considered flinging myself out the window and taking a chance. It seemed better than if I stayed within arm’s reach of Edilman.

The “abbot” tsked. “Jaxter, if I wanted to hurt you, I had all night while you slept.” His foot snaked out from under the desk and pushed a stool at me. “Sit.”

Resigned, I did as he said. “If you touch Aubrin—”

“Aubrin’s fine,” Edilman said. “She’s enjoying breakfast right now in the dining hall with my monks.”

I laughed. “‘Your’ monks? How are they ‘your’ monks?”

Edilman smiled. “I’m the abbot of Blackvesper Abbey.”

“Very impressive. Certainly one of your better cons.”

He folded his hands and lay them atop the book on his desk. “Believe it or not, it’s no con.”

“I don’t believe it.” The idea of a garfluk like Edilman having command over a league of assassins was terrifying. But it appeared to be true.

He sighed. “Your arrival has placed the Abbey in grave danger.”

“What do you mean?”

“It should have come as no surprise to anyone that the Palatinate was planning a takeover. The monks and I had seen the signs for months. The disappearance of the Shadowhands, the theft of magical relics from the High Laird’s most secure vaults . . .”

“How do you know about that?”

“The assassin-monks have informants everywhere. Like I said, the takeover was no surprise to us. The fact that the Palatinate’s first order of business was to hunt down your family . . . Well, now, that was a little surprising. I should have guessed that you and your parents would be mixed up in it all. Only a Grimjinx could incur the wrath of every mage in the Provinces.” He leaned in. “Once I knew how badly the Palatinate wanted you, I knew I had to find you first.”

I frowned. “To kill us before they can?”

Edilman rubbed his eyes tiredly.

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