Thread Slivers

Chapter 8 Keys Open Paths

-Ticca-

Ticca and Lebuin both looked at Ditani before asking simultaneously, “Should we go in?”

Lebuin asked, “Would Genne care if we nosed around in that room?”

“Genne has a hard policy about spying and thieving, m’Lord.”

Lebuin felt his neck and shifted a little as he asked Ditani, “Weren’t you staying with Magus Vestul here?”

“Yes, I was. In Magus Vestul’s room.”

“Ditani, that is perfect! It isn’t stealing or spying, because it was a shared room, and Magus Vestul is dead. You said he didn’t have any relations who would claim his legacy, right?”

Ditani’s eyes watered as he said, “Master Vestul was more to me than an employer. I knew him well, and we grew to be good friends. To speak so plainly of his murder....”

Need to pull him along. She sat straight and squarely faced Ditani adding her commanding voice, softened as a concerned officer should, Ticca asked, “Ditani, wouldn’t your friend desire that we live to find the meaning of his death?” Waiting for him to mull it over, she kept her eyes firmly on him and her poster straight. Ditani nodded, finally meeting her eyes. She thought she caught a brief flash of light deep in his eyes, like a wolf’s, reflecting the light. Again, she had the odd feeling they were larger than normal.

Ditani’s voice trembled as he answered, “Yes, Magus Vestul outlived all his relations, and he had no children I am aware of.”

Oh, this will kick him. Self-interest is usually a good motivator. “Well, then, it isn’t thieving to enter your room and take your stuff. It also isn’t thieving to claim any remaining personal belongings, as you were his servant, and without an heir, a personal servant may claim everything. Congratulations, Ditani. You just inherited the entire legacy of a great wizard.”

Instead of being excited by the news, as she expected, Ditani looked scared. “Ticca, Master, no. I couldn’t claim it all. I would be afraid to approach any of his research, and I wouldn’t know what to do with his library. I do not want for much and have no need of his wealth.”

What kind of servant would deny what is likely a small fortune? Turning to Lebuin, she saw he wasn’t thinking the same. His eyes were lit like the noon-day sun, giving away the fact that his mind was racing with possibilities.

“Well, then, Ditani, perhaps you would grant me what you don’t desire. This could resolve many issues for me. I would be immeasurably helped by his library. I could even ensure his legacy of knowledge is not lost. And I could finish the work he started, but now will not be able to complete. I would, of course, give him full accolades with the Guild. His name would not be forgotten. Where is his research?”

If he follows through with the credit, it would be a good legacy. I hope we can trust this wizard.

“Master, everything save what he intended to give to the duke is at his home in Algan. I know how to open it physically, and with his death, many of his magical protections should be gone. Perhaps with you to investigate, it would work well. My wife will not believe our good fortune.”

Lebuin smiled deeply for the first time. Lady, he is a handsome man when he smiles. “Ticca, Algan is leagues away up river, too far for Magus Cune’s ally to continue attacking. If we can get there, all this mess could blow over, and I can find everything I need for years to come. There is even a Guildhouse there, so I have no need to return to Llino for some time.”

Algan is a large enough city to have a Dagger Home. I could probably get some kind of guard or messenger commission back to Llino. Lebuin would be safe with his own base of operations. So all I need to do is get him there in one piece, and…job done. Her heart agreed it was a good plan. “True. It would solve that problem and some, if not all, of your questing requirements. What about who killed Magus Vestul? Do you want to investigate that?”