Free Stones Unbound (The Magestone Chronicles Book 1) by Richard Innes

Imperial
subject, with slightly tilted eyes and narrow cheekbones hidden behind a razor
thin goatee.
    “Report please captain,” came the gravelly but calm voice. 
The man’s eyes flickered briefly over to the Rak’soraa and the Scaazi standing
to the side, but returned quickly to the captain.
    “The raid in the Merchant’s Square was a success, capturing
all of those within the building,” the captain began nervously, and continued
quickly as one of the Rak’soraa stepped forward “except for two women who
reportedly vanished into the shadows.  One was fighting this brute until the Fear
Squad arrived.”  The captain pointed at Brows. The Rak’soraa stepped back to
its previous position.  Hoyle snuck a quick glance at the man on his knees
beside him.  Brows had dropped his head to cover his smile.  He knew that Whisper had escaped.
    “Was anyone able to get to their magemirror?” A threat hung
unspoken in the air.
    “No, your Honour.  Not that we know of.” the captain
clarified.  Hoyle was confused by the title.
    “Good.  Tell me of these two.  The large one is obviously
Goralonian by the black hair, overhanging brows, and mean disposition.  The
other man obviously has some Goralon blood in him, but more imperial blood,
based on his features.  I would guess that he hails from one of the Eastern
Provinces.” The robed man paused. 
    Hoyle was confused.  Goralon blood?   His mother had never
mentioned anything about the father Hoyle had never known.  Could his father
have been Goralonian?   He drowned out the next words as his thoughts
drifted.  His sisters had both been fair of skin and hair the same as their
mother.  He still had her features around the eyes, and cheek bones, but his
darker hair set him apart.  He had tried asking his mother about it one day,
but she had distracted him with errands and chores, and he had forgotten that
she had not answered his question.
    Something that was said brought him back to the present
moment.
    “ – and this man was reportedly stunned on the floor when
taken, just after the two women disappeared into the shadows.” finished the
captain.
    “So let me summarize what you have told me captain, just so
I can be clear when I report to the Emperor,” began the robed man as he
strolled over to the taller Rak’soraa and had a quickly whispered
conversation.  Hoyle noted that the robed man never made eye contact with those
glowing yellow eyes of the Rak'soraa.  Walking behind the pair, and around the
guards surrounding them, he continued, “A large man, fitting his description,
was seen by witnesses leaving a scene of a disturbance this morning, though
truly yesterday morning by now.  He left in a dark carriage with a taller,
thinner, older man, who is obviously not this man.”  He gestured at Hoyle,
having rounded the group and now stood in front, one hand to his thin goatee,
apparently thinking.  “Within the back room of the domicile on the second floor,
there was the body of whom the neighbors describe as the owner and shopkeeper
of the shoppe below.  Also found on the premises were: a single crossbow bolt
and a magestone, carelessly dropped beneath the bed.  A magestone I have been
assured was one of the ones stolen from the Dar'Shilaar Embassy not two days
prior.  Is this correct so far?”
    “Other than the magestone being stolen, as you are far wiser
than me your Honour, that would be correct,” replied the captain deferentially.
    Hoyle had wondered how the Fear Squad had been able to find
them at the Merchant’s Guild, but if they had left the crossbow bolt in the
bedpost, then that would have led the Scenter straight to the guild
soldier, and thus the guild.  The magestone was a surprise though.  He would
have thought that even in a hurry, they would have spent the time to collect
them all.  They were each worth a small fortune, unbound.
    “So, knowing that nine magestones were stolen two –
no... three days ago, and we have