Free The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman Page A

shrouded her head, and only the edges of her white hair were visible at her forehead. Today she was in a stark sleeveless robe of smooth, dark-brown velvet that left the full length of her carved-wood left arm visible. It was the same shade of sallow oak as her natural right arm, but an entirely different texture - all joints and clockwork. ‘A poor report,’ she said, with a faint wheeze. ‘Unless you really don’t know any more than you’ve told me.’
    ‘I deliberately gave you only the bare bones,’ Irene said resolutely. ‘Given the importance of the situation, I assumed you’d want to hear the rest in person.’
    ‘As opposed to sending a detailed email that anyone could read, is that it?’ Coppelia enquired.
    ‘You’re making that assumption,’ Irene replied. ‘I didn’t.’ Coppelia had chosen to leave Kai’s controversial dragon heritage mostly undiscussed the last time they met. But Irene wasn’t sure if it was in fact known by everyone at the appropriate level, or still genuinely confidential.
    Coppelia raised her flesh-and-blood hand to rub at her forehead. ‘Tell me what you know, then.’
    Irene ran over the details quickly. She had to mention Vale’s involvement, of course. But Coppelia already knew about Vale, and that he knew an uncomfortably large amount about the Library. Coppelia nodded slightly at a few points - the invitation from Kai’s family, the warning from Lord Silver, the Guantes, and Vale’s comments on the letter (also supposedly from Kai’s family) - but otherwise she was silent as she listened.
    Finally she commented: ‘Dubious circumstances. I can hardly argue with that definition. Your thoughts?’
    ‘The letter’s a fake,’ Irene said frankly. ‘It’s not just the format. I would expect more
style
if it was from Kai’s people. From what he’s said of them, they’re royalty. Royalty does not send piddling little “Make no attempt to see him again” warning notes. They either wouldn’t bother with the commoners at all, or they’d sweep by and graciously inform us that we will be deprived of his presence. So it’s not even very good misdirection.’
    ‘And yet you’re here,’ Coppelia remarked. ‘And you’re asking about his family. If you’re so sure that it’s misdirection, why bother?’
    ‘Because we need to find him,’ Irene said. She folded her hands behind her back, hiding her clenched fists. ‘If Vale can trace the Guantes, or whoever they are, that’s good. But if not, then how do we track him? He’s my responsibility.’ The words hung in the air like a promise. ‘And since he was kidnapped while under my protection, his family may hold us responsible.’
    Coppelia steepled her fingers, flesh against wood. ‘It’s true that the Library has absolutely no wish to enter into a feud with Kai’s kin,’ she agreed. ‘And a dragon’s revenge is a serious business. Hurricanes, storms, tidal waves, earthquakes … I witnessed a world being destroyed in such a way and was barely able to escape. So what do you want from me?’
    Irene put aside some deeply unpleasant mental images. This was taking too long. ‘I need anything that we have on Lord Guantes that isn’t in the public records. And I’m assuming the Library knows more about Kai’s family than I do. Is there any chance the abduction
could
be their doing?’ A thought struck her. ‘Or the doing of someone connected to them? A rival faction? Or an over-enthusiastic servant?’
    ‘Hmm. A pertinent question. Nine out of ten.’ Coppelia considered, not taking her fierce eyes off Irene. Irene didn’t dare look away. ‘It is unlikely that his direct family would abduct him or leave a note to say he’d left. It would probably be beneath them. However, any royal family does have subordinates, junior relations, and in general people who would take on “Will nobody rid me of this turbulent priest?” suggestions with too much enthusiasm. One of them could have … And there are