The Wyvern's Spur - Kate Novak [95]
"What?" Flattery looked surprised.
"That's what the message his uncle left him said. Giogi's father used to use the spur, and Giogi is the only one the guardian talks to. He's going to the Temple of Selune this afternoon to speak with a priestess who knew his father."
"LLeddew," Flattery muttered with annoyance.
"Yes. He tried to see her last night, but she wasn't-" Cat gasped as realization sunk in. "You sent those lacedons after him," she accused him. "Why?" she asked with exasperation. "He can't find the spur if he's dead."
"Lleddew can't help him find the spur," Flattery stated, "He doesn't need to see her. Convince him of that."
"Are you afraid of this Mother Lleddew?" Cat asked with uncharacteristic courage.
Flattery went livid again. His hands shot out, and he pushed Cat backward and onto the floor. "I'm not afraid of any woman. You would do well to remember that. If you value this noble's chances for finding the spur, you will keep him away from Lleddew and the Temple of Selune. I will see him dead before I see him with Lleddew."
"But he was going to have her do a divination for him as well," Cat protested meekly,
"His Cousin Steele already had one done by the church of Waukeen. The message was gibberish. The gods have no more idea who stole the spur or where it is now than my sources in the Abyss."
"How do you know what the church of Waukeen told Steele?" Cat asked, picking herself up from the floor.
"Waukeen's priests are more interested in large donations than in protecting their worshiper's confidentiality. I have ruled out Steele and his sister as suspects in any event. Drone is the most likely candidate for the original theft, since he had chief responsibility for the spur's security. If Drone wanted Giogioni to have it, he would have provided a way for him to find it. The little fool hasn't figured it out yet, that's all."
"Suppose one of the other members of the family stole it?"
"If Frefford had it, he would have used it by now."
"But Dorath would have kept it hidden if she took it."
"Dorath does not have a key to the crypt, and she is too old and feeble to have made it through the catacombs."
"What about other lines of the family?" Cat asked.
"There are no other lines," Flattery said. "Only Gerrin Wvvernspur's heirs and my father's."
"Who was your father? And are you sure you're an only child?"
Flattery laughed unpleasantly. "One of me was all his ego could handle and more than the Realms would accept."
"Giogi thinks I must be from a missing line, since I got past the guardian," Cat said quietly.
The wizard snorted. "The guardian let you pass because you are Wyvernspur by marriage, not by blood. Keep Giogioni fixed on Drone and where the old man might have hidden the thing," Flattery ordered, "not some mythical family member."
"We're going to visit Drone's lab and search for his journal as soon as the servant arranges a carriage," Cat said.
"Good. Remember, Drone was no fool. Be sure you check for ordinary and magical traps before you touch anything. Have Giogioni handle everything first."
"Use him the way you use me," Cat said sarcastically.
Flattery was oblivious to Cat's bitter tone. "Precisely. You are learning something after all. Has it occurred to you that, perhaps, Giogioni is using you as well?"
"He's not that sort of person."
"No? Perhaps he already has the spur and is still trying to figure out how to use it."
"He would have told me," Cat insisted.
"Not if he doesn't trust you."
"If he didn't trust me, why would he let me stay here?" Cat snarled.
Flattery shrugged and smirked. "For a treacherous witch, you can be very easy on the eye," he said with a grin. "Surely he's made you an offer."
Cat brought her hand up to slap Flattery's face, but he grabbed her wrist effortlessly and twisted her arm behind her back. "He has, hasn't he? I suppose this means I'll have to avenge my honor on the little fop," the wizard declared, half taunting,