Neversfall - Ed Gentry [48]
"Who?" Loraica said, stepping back, her face wrinkled in confusion.
"His source didn't tell him," Adeenya said. "But if it's true, that person is helping the attackers and we must stop them," Adeenya said.
Loraica arched an eyebrow and said, "And who is this source?"
"The formian," Adeenya said, continuing to speak so as to cut off Loraica's objections. "Yes, I know. It's probably nothing. They're probably just angling for their freedom. But what if he did see something? Isn't it worth trying to find out? We could all be in grave danger."
Loraica shook her head but said nothing.
Adeenya could not say the words she truly wanted to say: The Maquar, bastions of law and order that they were, could not see what Adeenya saw. It was only her perspective as an outsider that told her for sure that Guk was not lying. She didn't think the beast capable of it, actually. In perhaps the biggest twist of irony she had ever seen in her life, Adeenya knew that the Maquar and the formians had a great deal in common. They both cherished law and hated disorder. But she doubted the Maquar would see it that way, so she painted her plan in a more hypothetical light.
"We need to lure that person out," Adeenya said. "Lure them out? Why not just interrogate the formian?" Loraica said.
Adeenya stared at the woman for a moment before saying, "Do you honestly believe that would help after having met the formian?"
Loraica shook her head. "But if there is no one, if the formian is lying, then how do you lure out someone who doesn't exist?" Loraica said.
"Then we're not luring them out. We're proving Guk is lying and that Jhoqo is correct. And, if Jhoqo is right, then what harm does it do? We can't do anything about a dead wizard who broke under torture, but we can do something if there is a traitor," Adeenya said.
Loraica rolled her eyes and turned away, saying, "This is pointless. There is no traitor."
Adeenya reached out to stop the Maquar woman and placed a hand on her shoulder. "There's something else," she said.
"What?" Loraica said, eyeing Adeenya's grip on her. "Something was stolen from me during the fight. Something no one should have known about," Adeenya said. "What was it, Orir?" Loraica said. "A pendant."
"Well, I'm sure it was valuable or held meaning for you, but-" Loraica began.
"No, no. It was magical. I used it to communicate to my commanders back in Durpar," Adeenya said.
Loraica looked at her for a long moment and said, "Go on.
"It was hidden away in my pocket, but they knew exactly where to look. They restrained me specifically to look for it," Adeenya said.
Loraica nodded and said, "I've always been told that items like that give off some sort of aura if you know how to see them. They probably just saw that aura when they looked and decided to take it."
"No," Adeenya said, shaking her head. "They specifically came after me. They knew what they were looking for, I'm telling you."
"Who else knew about this pendant?" Loraica asked, leaning in closer.
"Only a handful of my own soldiers and your wizard," Adeenya said.
Loraica jerked back at the mention of her comrade. "Khatib? How?" the large woman said.
Adeenya shook her head. "I'm not really sure. He approached me shortly after I used it to contact Durpar. He made it clear he knew about it, but said nothing else."
"This doesn't make any sense," Loraica said, easing herself against the wall.
"I agree, Terir. That's why I need your help. I don't believe any of my soldiers would have given out that information. Nor am I suggesting that Khatib betrayed us," Adeenya added, cutting short Loraica's objections. "But he knew about it and now he's dead. Perhaps whoever killed him didn't want him able to talk anymore."
Loraica drew herself to her full height again and spoke. "If the formian is telling the truth, then who would be fool enough to show themselves as Khatib's killer, regardless of what lure you use?" Loraica said.
Adeenya said, "I find foolishness is never in short supply."