Swordplay

Part 27

Author's Note:

I need reviewers for a YA Science Fantasy novel that I'm about to publish. Readers who think they could read and review it in the given time frame should look here for details: http://aweber.com/t/BmUU2

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A little later, the emergency healer arrived. On his shoulder sat a nerl not much longer than a cubit who was also wearing the white-red striped lab coat of a healer. Both praised Moira for her fast reaction and hurried away with the severely injured when they had taken care of his wound as best they could. When they were gone, Moira's knees buckled. Druidus dropped the case with the evidence and caught her. The case opened, and the meticulously numbered bags spilled out.

Open mouthed, Moira stared at a sword in a super sized bag lying between the other pieces of evidence. "But that is …" She freed herself from Druidus grip, crouched, and reached for the weapon. It was true. The decorations on the hilt and blade were the same she had seen on the pictures in the file of the burglary. There was no doubt; this sword was the one from the stone urn. "The cases are connected!"

"Which cases?" Druidus asked.

"The burglary in the museum, Lif's and Bastide's death, and this slaughter."

Sabio appeared beside her as if from thin air. He pulled her up, and his eyes sparkled. "How did you figure that out?"

"The box from the burglary was found at Lif's apartment, a dagger at Bastide's," Moira pointed at the sword, "and this was part of the booty too."

"I think it rather unlikely that Monsieur Ramasseur took part in the burglary," Sabio said.

Druidus reminded him that some collectors didn't always make sure the item they wanted to buy was available legally.

Sabio nodded and patted Moira's shoulder. "Thanks to you we're one step further. Now, it gets more and more important to find Pete Huudien. I am sure he's the key to these cases."

Buds entered. He paled when he saw the spilled evidence. "What have you done now?" He pushed Moira aside and began to examine the bags and replace them in the case. "Luckily none of the seals broke."

"Sorry, but it was me," Druidus said, but Buds didn't listen.

Moira pulled him aside. "Will it take much longer?" She was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open.

Druidus looked at Sabio and pulled up an eyebrow.

"You can go," Sabio said. "I'll take care of the evidence until Excelsior reports for duty."

Moira and Druidus said their farewells and took the shortest route to Moira's flat. Like a miracle, there was a free parking space right in front of the building.

"I'll accompany you upstairs if I may," Druidus said.

Moira nodded. In the stairwell, she took her post from the box. There was a single letter – no sender address. While they waited for the nerlift, she opened it and read.

"Dear Moira, enclosed as promised a list of all collectors who bought illegal wares last week. Please keep me anonymous. CdM" Wordlessly, she handed the letter to Druidus and scanned the list of names. The dead collector was the last. "It looks as if you were right. Monsieur Ramasseur illegally bought art for his collection," she said.

Druidus handed the letter back. "Who is CdM?"

"I'm not at liberty to tell you." Moira knew well that CdM stood for Charles du Mar, but a promise was a promise. She entered the nerlift and looked up to him. "Are you angry?"

"Why should I be? There are many things we can talk about and some we can't. That's the way with out job." He told the nerls the storey number of Moira's flat and put his arm around her shoulders.

Moira leaned her head against his chest and watched the nerls hurry to their cables. She felt incredibly secure and protected, as if she had come home after a long journey. Was this love? Druidus' breath caressed her cheek, and a warm tingle spread throughout her body. Should I risk asking him in? Moira ignored her mind's alarm bells. She was sure Druidus loved her truly. With a pounding heart, she waited until they reached the door to her flat.

Druidus bent forward and kissed her. "Good night, darling."

"Would you like some coffee?" Moira's voice trembled but she didn't miss the happy glitter in Druidus' eyes.

"Very much," he said. "A coffee from you will surely be better than anything I can get at a hotel."

"Hotel?" Moira hung her coat on a hanger and looked at him questioningly. "Won't you go home?"

"No way!" Druidus slipped out of his shoes following her example. Barefoot, he went into the living room and sat down on the sofa. "The way my parents treated you this evening, I wouldn't be able to meet them without another fight."

"Won't you tell them at least?" Moira put the regulator of her coffeemaker on three cups and woke the nerl.

"Don't make it too strong," she whispered to it.

Druidus folded his hands behind his head and stretched. "I think it's rather good for them if they fear something happened to me. It might bring them to their senses."

"What if they ask the Gendarmerie to search for you?" Moira took two mugs from a cupboard and put them on the table in the living room.

"Sabio knows how to reach me."

"You could sleep here tonight." Blood pulsed through her veins so strong, it roared in her ears, making it difficult to understand Druidus' answer.

"That’s' really nice of you. I promise not to bother you."

"What if I want to be bothered?" Moira cocked her head, fluttered her eyelashes, and opened the topmost buttons of her blouse.

Druidus stared at her as if he'd never seen her before. He reached for her with one arm, and Moira realized with satisfaction that his hand trembled.

"Moira!" His voice was husky. "Are you sure you want this?"

Instead of an answer, she took off her blouse. With one stride, Druidus stood beside her and pressed his mouth on hers. His kisses burned on her lips, and his hands burned her skin. Moira fought against loosing control – in vain. Something like this had never happened in any of her relationships before. She panicked when Druidus' hands slipped under the waistband, and she gasped.

"I love you so much." He whispered and hid his face in the curve of her neck.

Moira's panic drowned in a wave of love. She put both arms around his neck and kissed his forehead. "We should make ourselves a little more comfortable," she said.

Wordlessly, he picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. The calls of the coffeemaker nerl faded away unheeded.