The Poison Song by Jen Williams

Author:Jen Williams [Williams, Jen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: HeadlinePublisher
Published: 2019-03-19T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-six

The lobby of the Efrinka Counting House was cool and shady, an oasis of apricot marble and artful little pools of trickling water. Vintage patted at her hair, too aware that they had been travelling through the grasslands of Jarlsbad for days, and the orange dust of the region had apparently bonded itself to every part of her body. Chenlo seemed less concerned, looking around the lobby with keen interest, while Helcate they had left to the skies.

‘Madam,’ the man behind the desk pressed his lips together, preparing to say something mildly impolite, ‘you will forgive me, but this is an old family account, one of our most treasured, and we cannot simply take your word.’

‘I have told you once already. I am Lady Vincenza de Grazon and I am the key holder of this account. As it happens, I don’t have my identifying papers with me and this particular key has been mislaid, but I assure you, I have been here many times before to withdraw funds.’ When the man only looked more pained, Vintage sighed noisily. ‘Haven’t you got anyone who has worked here longer than a week?’

The man retreated into the labyrinth back rooms and returned with a stately-looking woman with sooty black eyelashes and a gold key around her neck. She looked as though she had been interrupted during something important and her mouth was pursed into a forbearing expression, but when she spotted Vintage her eyebrows shot up and she scampered forward.

‘Lady de Grazon?’

‘Ah, darling, at least someone remembers me.’

‘We could hardly forget one of our most celebrated customers. But Ernes here tells me that you do not have your key or your papers?’

‘I have had a rough week or so, my dear. Which is partly why, of course, I must access my account immediately.’

The woman nodded vigorously. ‘Absolutely, and we will be pleased to help you in any way we can, Lady de Grazon. However, you would not trust us with your funds if we weren’t very careful about our security, so perhaps on this occasion we could see . . . the mark?’

Vintage grimaced. She glanced once at Agent Chenlo, who was now watching with interest, before lifting the ragged tails of her shirt and pushing down the top of her trousers. Low on her hip was a tattoo of the de Grazon family crest, combined, through a series of flowing lines, with the sigil of the Efrinka Counting House. It was drawn with very special inks, crafted from the bones of Wild-touched sea creatures, and at the sight of it, all hesitancy vanished from the woman’s face. From within her shirt she pulled a long brass chain, on the end of which was a small round lens. Very briefly she pressed it to Vintage’s tattoo, and for a moment another pattern was revealed within the inked lines. It looked a little like a bunch of grapes – Vintage had chosen the shape herself, years ago. The woman straightened up.

‘Very good,’ she said shortly.

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