She didn’t speak for a long moment. “He was marked by Travian.” A hand rose to her cheek. “I told him that when he was born, the god came to see him in his cradle and was so pleased, he spilled a bit of wine. Durian liked that story.” She smiled, lost in memory.
“Why did he go to Kota Gelangi?”
Her face darkened. “He said he’d found something valuable. That he was taking it to the gem brokers in the city. It’s the last time I saw him alive.”
“What did he find?”
She shook her head. “He was cagey. Wouldn’t say. But that’s usual. Don’t want competition, do they?”
“Did he go alone?” Morningstar asked.
A bitter smile. “Durian never went anywhere without Kal.”
“Who’s Kal?” Cathrynne asked, a dark suspicion forming.
“Kalisto Machena.” Her lip curled. “My boy’s no-good friend. Always talking him into some new scheme. They had a crazy idea about buying a ship, becoming traders.”
Cathrynne exchanged a look with Morningstar. “Where can we find her?”
“She was just here,” the mother said, gesturing toward the back door. “She lives in the next house over.”
What a thrice-cursed day this was turning out to be! Morningstar had Durian’s partner in his grasp—literally—on the quay and they’d let her slip away. Now Cathrynne understood why she’d sent them to the wrong part of town. She was buying time to get away.
Cathrynne ran to the next house and pounded on the door. After a moment, a young man opened it. He was tall and slender with long, tight locks. Thick-rimmed spectacles gave him a scholarly air.
“Where’s your sister?” Cathrynne asked, peering around his shoulder.
He feigned puzzlement. “Um, sorry, but I haven’t seen Kal in weeks.”
“Don’t mess with me, she was just at the wake!”
He shrugged and stood back. “Feel free to look around. But she’s not here.”
Cathrynne stormed through the house, searching all four rooms and the basement crawl space. Empty, just as he’d said.
Kalisto Machena had rabbited again.
She returned to the front room, frustrated. “What’s your name?”
“Bastian,” he answered warily.
“Listen to me, Bastian. Your sister is in deep trouble, which I think you already know. If we don’t find her soon, she could end up like her friend. So if you want to save her life, you’ll tell me where she went.” Cathrynne held his eyes, willing him to believe her. “I’m not one of the bad people. I’m trying to catch the bad people. Hear my accent? I’m from Kirith. You can trust me.”
For a moment, she thought he might relent. Then his gaze flicked to the window, to the sun lowering over the Zamir Hills. “I’m sorry, but I have no idea where she is.”
The door closed in her face. Cathrynne met Morningstar coming out of the Padulski home, his wings once more glamoured.
“No luck, I take it,” he remarked as they fell into step, heading back toward the riverboat landing.
“The brother’s covering for her.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t hang him upside down and shake the answers loose.”
Cathrynne felt affronted. “He’s a witness, but also just a kid. I would never do that.”
He arched a brow. “So you have standards.”
“Of course I do. Besides which, I have a feeling she’s headed into the hills. If she’s smart—which she must be since she’s still alive—she wouldn’t have told him where she was going anyway. Did you get anything useful from the mother?”
