Free The Eyes of a Doll (The World of Shijuren Book 2) by Rob Howell Page B

11
Afternoon, 2 Blommemoanne, 1712 MG
     
    Svetislav’s barracks sat only a few streets away from Gibroz’s office, so it took only a few moments to reach them. Somehow, though, the light became so much brighter as I walked out of the Stracara.
    The Lakewarden docks were at the north end of the harbor area, carved from the cliffs that rose from Achrida’s beach. A small path ran up to a gate where two Lakewardens stood guard.
    They tensed as I approached.
    “My name is Edward.”
    “We know who you are.”
    “Have we met?”
    “No, but every Lakewarden knows who you are.”
    I waited, but they did not move. “Are we just going to stand here, or are you going to get Svetislav for me?”
    “The protokarabos is busy.”
    “I’m sure. So am I, and I think he’ll be wanting to hear what I have to say.”
    They snorted.
    “I doubt that, Sevener,” one spat.
    “You’re not welcome around here,” growled the other.
    “Did Svetislav tell you that?”
    They looked uncertain.
    “Ah. Did Vesela say I was not to be allowed?”
    They shook their heads.
    “Did any of the, what do you call them, the bow officers, give you orders to stop me?”
    “Any proreus?”
    “Uh, no,” muttered the first guard.
    “Nobody specifically ordered you to turn me away?”
    They looked at each other.
    “Uh, no,” repeated the other.
    “But you still should leave now.” This guard spoke in a growl about as intimidating as a puppy rolling around in a field of daisies on a sunny day and barking at the darting bees.
    I looked at him for a long while. They looked at their feet.
    “Your old zupan, Pal, sent a score of men to kill me. They killed my closest friend in this wretched city instead. Truth to tell, there’s only one of you damned Enchelei I want to see and that’s Svetislav. Now, will you please go get your protokarabos before I get angry and break your spears over your heads?”
    The one who had growled nodded hastily and went up the pathway into Lakewarden docks. I turned to watch the sun shining off the deep blue of the lake. I turned back when I heard Svetislav’s voice.
    “Sevener.”
    “Svetislav.”
    We let memories keep us for a moment.
    “I haven’t seen you at the Faerie.”
    He grunted.
    “Been busy here, I suspect?”
    He shrugged in agreement.
    “You should give these two orders about me. Give them the spine to actually turn me away.”
    They looked down again.
    “They got the right orders,” Sebastijan muttered.
    I sighed with deep relief at that. We stepped up the path, away from the guards, to talk privately.
    “You know I’m in the middle of something new.”
    He smiled. “Amazing.”
    “To me as well.”
    He waited.
    “Honker and his family might be threatened. Especially his youngest daughter.”
    He sharpened his attention.
    “They went to the springs you showed me out on the lake that one day and Ludmilja found a body.”
    He shook his head with a hard smile.
    “And she left her doll to watch the body. Honker didn’t know why, but he knew that she wanted her doll so he sent me to find it.”
    “A doll.”
    “Don’t you start.”
    His smile did not waver.
    “I just need to know something. Has Vesela has given you any special reason to watch the Lezhans?”
    He shook his head.
    “Heard anything else that might make you pay more attention to Lezhans?”
    He shook his head again. “Don’t see them much.”
    “You don’t see them much because most of the trade on the lake is controlled by Gibroz, who actively prevents Lezhans from interfering in his bailiwick?”
    He nodded.
    “I expected as much. I just spoke to Gibroz, but I don’t trust him. Just confirming things.”
    He nodded and waited. I finally sighed.
    “I’d do it again. I could not protect Pal without breaking my oath to Ragnar.”
    This time it was Svetislav who looked out to the lake to collect his thoughts. Eventually he turned to me.
    “I asked you to not apologize a week ago. That’s enough.”
    I sighed and