Free The Warrior's Bond (Einarinn 4) by Juliet E. McKenna Page A

Temar to me and back again, eyes horrified. “There’s nothing to suggest Elietimm, is there?”
    “No, but nothing to suggest it wasn’t, as yet.” I heaved an irritated sigh. “But how by all that’s holy can we tell? Could Demoiselle Tor Arrial tell if these men had been enchanted?”
    “I am afraid not.” Temar looked thoughtful. “But she can look for anyone working Artifice hereabouts.”
    I stared at the warehouse. “Copper is copper, and melted down it could have come from anywhere, so I don’t think we’ll see that again. But furs are too easily identifiable to risk selling them here, if our thieves have any wits.”
    “So they ship them out with goods honestly bought and paid for?” Temar guessed.
    “Organise a search!” cried Casuel. “There’s only one road out of here, so anything going overland can be stopped. Isn’t there some chain to close the harbour to pirates? Get that in place and turn every ship inside out!”
    “On whose say-so?” I enquired mildly. “Planir’s? Archmage he may be, he has no authority here, not over Tormalin citizens when nothing’s been proved against them.”
    “Is Messire D’Olbriot’s word not good enough, even by proxy?” Temar asked hesitantly.
    “No, not for a general search.” I tried to recall the little I knew of Old Empire law. “A Prince’s power is still absolute over his own tenants and property, but that’s as far as it goes. Houses on good terms with D’Olbriot would cooperate, but those that aren’t would refuse, whether or not they had anything to hide. Self-governing traders and artisans will hardly compromise their independence by yielding to D’Olbriot influence like that. Forcing the issue will set them appealing in every court up to the Emperor himself.”
    Temar was looking puzzled. “Are many people living outside the security of tenantry?”
    “A great deal changed as a result of the Chaos,” said Casuel officiously. “The autonomy of sufficient men of business is an important check on the influence of Princes.”
    “Casuel’s father is a pepper merchant,” I explained. “Anyway, even where someone’s officially beholden to a Name, the ties may be no stronger than ribbon sealed on a parchment.”
    “But who safeguards their interests?” Temar looked genuinely concerned.
    “The Emperor and the justiciary, naturally.”
    I interrupted as Casuel drew breath to explain twenty generations of precedent and custom. “The best way to be sure we’ve no Elietimm creeping in the shadows is to find those stolen goods. I’ll call in the few markers I have hereabouts and see if the strength of the D’Olbriot name can get the most likely places searched at least. Temar, go back and have your breakfast, then see if Avila can find any sniff of aetheric magic. Casuel.” I gave him a warm smile. “Go and ask Velindre if she has any contacts among the free-traders.” I raised my voice over his incensed protests. “I don’t suppose she was involved in anything, but free-traders are most likely to be offered unusual goods at half their market value. We might get a scent that way. If she refuses to help, that might be worth telling Planir.”
    Casuel’s indignation subsided as Temar managed to control a smile I could see tugging at the corners of his mouth.
    “Feathers!” the mage said suddenly.
    “Of course!” I snapped my fingers. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
    “I don’t suppose your lady has much time for the heights of fashion,” Casuel smirked.
    I let the jibe go as I saw Temar looking at me and the mage as if we’d both taken leave of our senses.
    “Feathers, bright ones in bold colours are worth, oh, I don’t know how many times their weight in gold,” I explained.
    “No lady would dream of going out without a fan of plumes carefully chosen to match her dress or in the colours of her House,” Casuel broke in. “And then there are the combinations that signify—”
    “If someone thought you’d