The Ivanov Diamond by Charlotte E. English

Author:Charlotte E. English
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: murder mystery, ghost story, fantasy mystery, fantasy detective, supernatural mystery, detective ghost story, fantasy ghost story
Publisher: Charlotte E. English

Konrad’s research uncovered nothing obviously incriminating about the jewel, but it did give him plenty to think about as the clock ticked around to past midnight and still he heard nothing from Irinanda. He was about to go to bed when he heard movement in the doorway, and a long shadow crept across the floor of his study. He jumped violently, his heart beginning to pound; but then a familiar voice said, ‘Good evening.’

‘Nanda,’ he muttered. ‘Do you have to scare me like that?’

‘Sorry,’ she grinned, coming all the way into the room. She handed Weveroth to him and took a chair.

Konrad looked down at the little golden-furred monkey he’d ended up holding. ‘Why do I have this?’

‘He likes you.’

‘I’m flattered. How did you get in?’ He set the monkey gently in his lap, and the creature promptly huddled up, fluffing out his fur. Konrad realised that the fire had all but gone out some time ago, and it was rather cold.

‘I slid under your front door. There’s a gap almost half an inch wide, did you know that? It must be draughty in here.’ She shivered. ‘It is draughty in here.’

Konrad eyed her. All right, so she wasn’t going to tell him how she’d got in without alerting any of his servants. ‘Do you know, this is the second time you’ve come here, and in the same week? It is disturbingly out of character.’

Her smile widened. ‘We must all make sacrifices. I have brought you some names.’

‘Ah!’ Konrad sat forward, relieved and eager. A clear lead, at last!

‘Hold on,’ Irinanda said, making restraining motions with her hands. ‘I don’t know how much use it will be to you.’

‘Why don’t you tell me what you’ve got, and then we’ll decide.’

She nodded. ‘I asked around. Three names came up in connection with a Seeing of the sort of scope we were talking about.’

‘A seeing?’

‘A Seeing. As in, into the future.’

‘Oh.’

‘It’s what Oracles do.’

‘All right, I get it. Who are they?’

Nanda arranged herself into a cross-legged position and sat up straight. ‘Aleksi Grempel is one. He’s half Marjan, half Assevan. Elderly. He lives in a hut out in the wilds of Marja and it’s said he hasn’t spoken to a human being in about ten years.’

Konrad nodded. ‘Legends have lied before, of course.’

‘Of course. The other is Kerttu Nylund. That’s a she, in case you were wondering, and she’s a bit younger, though nobody seemed to know much about her other than that.’

Nanda sat back with an air of having finished her recital.

‘That’s two,’ he prompted.

She nodded wisely. ‘It is two. Your skill at counting is irreproachable.’

‘You did say there were three?’

‘Did I? I’m fairly sure I said two.’ Her ice-blue eyes glinted at him dangerously.

Konrad wasn’t cowed. ‘This is important, Nanda. I need to know everything you’ve got if we’re going to solve this mystery.’

‘The third name is irrelevant.’

‘If this mysterious third person is capable of this kind of Seeing, then the name is not irrelevant.’

‘But I know that she didn’t do it.

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