Chapter Nine

  Part Six

  It had already been a few hours since they had arrested Felicity Golding, so they now only had forty-five hours. Plenty of time.

  Line and Ali were still at the travelling market, while she had sent Vax’dian and Hyde to take Felicity Golding to be held at the prison. But since a few hours had already past, there were fewer people at the market and Line felt like she could actually breathe again.

  She led Ali through the market to the tent she was looking for. The green and purple one that smelled like the perfumes that could be found in Felicity Goldings sample bag. Inside, there were tables and glass shelves showcasing the various perfumes that were sold here. At one of these tables there was a middle-aged woman, who appeared to be in the beginnings of packing up for the day.

  She gazed through her stark blue eyes at the two newcomers who had just entered her tent, she blew some of her light blonde hair out of her face before speaking “If you’re looking for a specific sent, don’t hesitate in asking for any help to find it”

  “Actually, we’re here to ask you some questions” Line showed off her monastery token “Inspector Line, and this is my partner Ali. Does a Felicity Golding work here?”

  “...She helps out sometimes, yes. Why? What’s this about?”

  “She’s under arrest for suspicion of murder”

  The women’s eyes widened.

  “May I ask for your name?”

  “...Claudia Jain”

  “Claudia Jain, how long have you been working with this travelling market?”

  “A few years, maybe. I’m sorry but, is Felicity alright?”

  “Yes, she is perfectly fine. How long have you known Felicity Golding?”

  “Since I joined the travelling market. She’s the one who helped me start my business”

  Line gave a nod and noticed that Ali was roaming around the tent, smelling all the perfumes. Line eyed Ali before speaking up again.

  “So I would assume that you two are very close?”

  “I would say so, yes”

  “So would you know where a young woman such as Felicity Golding, would get her hands on a very potent poison?”

  “...Oh, umm...I wouldn’t”

  “I apologise Mrs Jain, but you don’t necessarily seemed all too surprised”

  “I’m not talking to you anymore. Not until I’ve spoken to a solicitor”

  Line faltered.

  “You can’t be serious?” Ali asked.

  “I think you two should leave” Mrs Jain said.

  “But-“

  “Ali, its fine. Lets go” Line didn’t bother saying her goodbyes, she just turned on her heel and left the tent.

  *

  “Let’s meet back up with Vax’dian and Hyde” Line said after watching Claudia Jain finish packing up her tent.

  Ali sighed “She can’t just do that, can she?”

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  “She can”

  “But, its so, so...Annoying”

  “There’s nothing we can do about it, not yet anyway”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The Red Tassel”

  “...”

  “The Red Tassel would let us ignore solicitors”

  “Then how do we get one of those?”

  “Patience”

  Line began leading the way to the outskirts of the field of tents, but before they could fully leave, Seethers continuous humming slowed to a stop. Line looked down at the sword in her hand, that hum was Seethers way of telling the wielder that it was still tracking the target. But now that Seether wasn’t humming anymore, meant only two things.

  Either the wielder had stopped tracking the target, or the target was no longer alive. And Line certainly had not stopped tracking Felicity Golding.

  “We have a problem” Line said.

  **

  Line led Ali through the stone prison, until they came to a commotion. There were guards actively carrying a cloth covered body on a stretcher. Line didn’t have to remove the cloth to know who was under it, she knew it was Felicity Golding. Vax’dian was following close behind and close behind him was Hyde.

  Line wasted no time in asking “What happened?”

  “The guards didn’t search her properly, she had a vial of Deaths Touch on her”

  “She killed herself?” Ali asked “Why would she do that?”

  Line sighed “I have a feeling that she was a Nightshade”

  “What!?”

  “It’s rare enough that someone would have a vial of Deaths Touch, let alone two. Plus, didn’t you hear her accent? She wasn’t from around here” Line looked at Vax’dian “Let me examine her. I’ll be able to confirm my theory”

  “Guards, put her down” Vax’dian commanded, and the guards conceded.

  Line knew what she was looking for, so she knelt down and pulled the white cloth away to reveal the body of Felicity Golding.

  “Vax, I need magically created heat”

  Vax’dian knelt down opposite Line and clicked his fingers, generating a spark that grew into flames. Line thought it impressive that Vax’dian didn’t even need to draw any runes to do that. Line guided his hand closer to Felicity Goldings face, where invisible runes appeared. They were a pastel blue and expertly drawn, truly tattooed by an expert.

  “These tattoos will last at least five years. But some can last at most eight. It just depends on whether the tattooist is experienced or not. And if they’re caught, Nightshades are trained to kill themselves” Line explained “Nightshades also work undercover. They are way more secretive than The Sect”

  “And what about Claudia Jain?” Ali asked “Do you think she knew?”

  “Claudia Jain is more experienced than Felicity Golding was. She is probably long gone by now”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Where there’s one Nightshade, another is always close by”

  “Then what do we do now?”

  “My father will want to cover this up as much as possible. So there is nothing to be done” Vax’dian said.

  “Wait. Why is he killed in the first place?” Ali asked.

  “He isn’t from here either. The two Nightshades probably followed him” Line explained further.

  “How can you tell?”

  “Ali, you really need to read the personal records in the monastery library”

  “Line, not all of us like reading”

  Line sighed and stood “Ali, we should probably go. We not needed anymore”

  “Is there really nothing we can do?”

  “No”

  ***

  Just as they were about to leave the prison, Vax’dian had pulled Line aside.

  “Ali, go on ahead. I’ll catch up”

  Ali nodded, and went ahead without Line.

  “Have you done your experiment yet?” Vax’dian asked as soon as Ali was out of earshot.

  “No not yet, I’ve been busy. But I promise I’ll start it soon”

  Vax’dian nodded with a sight “Alright, just before careful”

  Line smiled “I’m always careful”

  “What? Like how you were careful when you almost had your arm cut off?”

  “Well as you can see, my arm is still securely attached to me”

  “How can you joke about something like that? Line, I’m serious”

  “And so am I”

  Vax’dian sighed again “What am I going to do with you...?”

  Line leaned forward “Vax, you worry too much” She offered another smile “I’ll be fine”

  Now Vax’dian leaned forward, so now their faces were only a few inches apart “I can’t help but to worry”

  With their faces so close, Line had an inexplicable urge slowly grow inside her. Vax’dian’s gold flecked eyes, all the contours of his face, and his soft looking lips. All of those things were extremely hypnotising to her. She pulled her head back and took a step backwards, pulling herself away from Vax’dian.

  “I’ll be fine” Line said before turning and following Ali out of the prison.