Free Mistworld (Deathstalker Prelude) by Simon R. Green

pounding and her hands shook. She folded her hands together in her lap and stared into the fire. The day was slowly wearing on, and tired as she was, she still hadn’t gone to bed. She had tried, but found on entering the bedroom that she couldn’t stand the thought of sleeping alone in the empty bed. She didn’t feel like sleeping anyway. She leant her head back against the chair and stared unseeingly up at the ceiling. Thoughts moved sluggishly through her mind, drifting here and there, unable to rest. Memories, plans for revenge, theories of guilt and murder… none of them made any sense. The memories cut at her like so many knives, but she couldn’t get away from them. Everywhere she looked brought back another memory. And anyway, she wouldn’t give them up even if she could. They were all she had left of Michael now. Emotions roared within her like great consuming flames, but still her face remained calm and composed. She’d worn her mask a long time, and knew that without it she’d break down completely. And she didn’t have time for that now. She’d do her mourning later, after she’d tracked down Michael’s killer. She had no faith in the Watch finding the murderer. Mistport was full of murderers. And besides, the Watch dealt only in justice. Topaz wanted revenge.
    She reached out to the table beside her chair and picked up a small wooden casket. She held it before her for a long moment, just looking at it, remembering, and then she snapped open the catch and raised the lid. Inside the casket was an ornately fashioned steel bracelet. Topaz took it out and hefted it in her hand, then slipped it round her left wrist and locked it firmly in place. It was a personal force shield. They were rare on Mistworld, even more so than energy guns. Topaz had brought it with her when she and Gunn had escaped from Darkmoon’s Standing and headed straight for Mistworld. She hadn’t worn it in Mistport; with Gunn and the Watch to guard her back, she’d never felt the need. Now he was gone, and she had a killer to find, alone. The bracelet weighed heavy on her wrist. Michael had been working on it for the past few months, trying out an idea he’d had. Michael loved to tinker.
    Topaz stirred restlessly, needing to be going somewhere, doing something.… But as yet she had no clues or leads to follow. Her mind was still too shocked to work logically, and she knew it. Until the shock wore off she was in no condition to begin her search. She sighed quietly. In the meantime, she needed something to do, to occupy her mind and keep her from thinking. She knew she ought to be gathering up Michael’s things and sorting through his… effects, to decide what she was keeping, and what would have to go. But she couldn’t do that yet. That was too final, too much like saying goodbye forever.
    The monitor screen on the far wall chimed discreetly, and Topaz jumped at the sudden noise. She waited a moment to be sure she had control of herself again, and then she got up from her chair and walked unhurriedly over to the monitor. She entered her code and the screen lit up to show her a familiar face: John Silver, the duty esper at Mistport command centre.
    “Hello, John.”
    “Hello, Topaz. I heard about Michael. I’m so sorry.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Have the Watch come up with any leads?”
    “Not yet.”
    Silver hesitated. “Topaz… are you all right?”
    “I’m fine, John. What was it you wanted?”
    “Port Director Steel asked me to call you. We have a problem with a refugee ship that landed here earlier today. Steel wants you to come and take a look at it.”
    Topaz smiled coldly. “He must really be in a panic if he asked for me.”
    “Topaz, if you don’t want to do this, I quite understand. We can always find somebody else.”
    “No, I have no other commitments. I’m free to take the assignment.”
    “If you’re sure… “
    “I’m sure.”
    “Very well. The Director will meet you on the main landing pad in