Masquerades - Kate Novak [124]
To Alias's questioning look the paladin explained in Saurial, "I've been to see Mintassan about a few matters."
"Anything in particular?" Alias asked as she slipped the diamond-patterned baldric over her head.
Dragonbait shot a glance at Jamal. The actress was beginning to fuss with Alias's hair. "It would be better in private," he answered.
On the pretext that Dragonbait was too modest to change with the actress about, Alias asked Jamal to excuse herself. The actress agreed, promising Alias she'd be waiting in the hotel lobby to see them off.
"Well?" Alias prompted once she'd closed the door behind Jamal.
"Olive was here earlier," the paladin explained.
"And?"
Dragonbait shifted uncomfortably. He didn't really know that he credited Olive's story, which made it very difficult for him to present it at all. Of course, if he actually believed the halfling, the truth would be even harder for him to reveal.
"She doesn't trust Victor Dhostar," the saurial said.
Alias chuckled as she worked her way into the white slippers Jamal had loaned her. "Neither does Jamal. It seems to be a way of life in Westgate-mistrusting all the noble merchants. According to Jamal, it should be a crime for people to make that much money for so little labor or talent."
"What do you think?" Dragonbait asked.
Alias tied her scabbard to the baldric she wore. "Well, I'm sure there's more than a few Haztor Urdos among them."
"I meant about Victor," the paladin explained.
Alias smiled. "Victor's different," she said. Dragonbait said nothing, but continued to stare at Alias until she felt obliged to elaborate. "He's wonderful, charming, clever, thoughtful, and, to use a phrase Jamal's fond of, he's a fine figure of a man."
"Olive thinks he lied to us about the key, that he did not enter the Faceless's lair the way he claimed, that he knows his father is the Faceless, that he is using you to depose him"
Alias glared at her companion. "That's ridiculous," she snapped.
"You do not think he suspects his father?"
"Of course he suspects his father. He's just loyal to him, the way I was to Finder, like you said. Remember? The day you told me how sky-blue virtuous he appeared?"
Dragonbait nodded. "Suppose I hadn't told you that. Would you think the same of him?"
"Of course I would," Alias said in an exasperated tone. "Because he is. It's not his fault his father might be a criminal."
"Olive thinks Victor must have used a different entrance to the lair and bed to us about using the key."
"Oh, and Olive has never been one to jump to conclusions," Alias said with sarcasm. "I'll find out about the key from Victor tonight. We'll get this settled then. You should be getting dressed. Victor will be here soon." She turned to the window and began vigorously yanking a brush through her hair.
Dragonbait changed into his best tunic and strapped on his sword. As he peace-bonded his weapon with a cord of silk, he said, "I spoke with Mintassan about the magic that
makes the Faceless and the Night Masters undetectable."
Alias turned about. "Probably something like what makes me undetectable. Cassana could have bought or stole the skill from the priests of Leira. Durgar won't believe in the Faceless because he can't be detected by magic. I wonder, if he tried to detect me, would he conclude I don't exist, do you think?"
"No," the paladin replied. "Not if it contradicted the evidence of his eyes. Mintassan suspects that the Faceless's helmet of disguise was not the only piece of magic looted from the Temple of Leira before it was burned. There might have been objects that could misdirect other sorts of magical detection. Perhaps even something that could blind my shen sight."
From the street outside came the sound of carriage wheels rumbling on the cobblestones.
"That could explain why you read the croamarkh as completely neutral, if he is the Faceless, " Alias noted as she turned to look out the window.
Dragonbait nodded, but did not add his worse suspicion. He was unwilling to