Sparnas

Blossom

The door was flung so hard it slammed back. A tall dark figure strode to the table near the bar. "Rosso you have such a big mouth. I shouldn't have-" Dimma stopped talking when he saw Gwyn sitting in front of Rosso.

Gwyn smiled apologetically. She had gone to Caelum to personally deliver a response letter from the Matron to Lord Rooi. The Matron did not want to see him so she sent Gwyn to meet him instead. Rosso received the letter and he invited her for a lunch in front of Lord Rooi who just entered the room. She felt surrounded and she said yes without thinking. By luck or misfortune, they were at Beltzak.

She had spent the entire meal listening to Rosso boast and name-dropped all the big names he knew. All the big shot who he dined with, the parties he went. Worst, at the end of the meal he had asked her to persuade Liath to agree for a day out with him the next weekend. She silently thanked all the forefathers for the unfortunate moment when Dimma barged in, walked straight to their table and yelled at Rosso.

In the dim light, Rosso had straightened himself and Gwyn could see his face reddening. Dimma was still looming over Rosso. "Ah, I see you two have got things to straighten out, I'll take my leave now." Gwyn placed some coins on the table, careful not to touch the tabletop.

"Goodbye Mais Gwyn. Take care, may Atavus bless your day." Dimma said, waving his hand in a wide arc. Gwyn nodded and left.

Dimma did not sit. He continued to stare at Rosso. "Why did you tell Liath about the investigation? If you could tell her just because you can, who else did you tell?" Without looking, Dimma raised his hand and Marie, a longtime waitress of Beltzak wordlessly place a huge glass of ale in front of him. He was so stressed, his left temple pounded like crazy.

"What are you talking about, I didn't. I didn't tell anybody, I hadn't even started asking around."

"Good. You don't have to start. I don't need your help. If I hear anything about this from anybody else, I know it would come from you. So watch your mouth." Dimma finished the whole glass in one swig and left.

"Is that a threat? Hey Dimma! You can't threaten me you Bla-!" Rosso sat down when he saw most of the diners were looking at him. They were all armband-wearing BlackWings. He clenched his jaw. Dimma had no right to humiliate him in front of anybody let alone Gwyn. He was sure the WhiteWing would gleefully tell Liath about it. Dimma had no idea who he was messing with. He would teach him a lesson, as humiliating as he felt then. He threw some change onto the table and stormed out.

Dimma left the bar through the service door. Hegal was standing outside his kitchen, arching his brows in question.

"The idiot Red told Liath about the arsons. Keep an eye on him" Dimma said. "The Onyx Necklace was taken on the eve of the new year. I have this."

Hegal looked at the silk but didn't take it. "That's rich."

"Yeah, no otherWings can afford this. The buyer list was filled with RedWings and GrayWings."

"Taking the necklace was a cocky job," Hegal commented. "As cocky as a dumb RedWing, don't you think?"

Dimma did not answer. He knew what Hegal was implying at. It was too early to jump to conclusions.

"The Raudonas also lost the Gold Coin. No clues whatsoever. I'm stumped. I hope this silk will direct me to the right path. We need to discuss this properly soon. Can we talk tomorrow? At your aerie or mine?"

Hegal nodded. "No problem, Brother. We'll talk at my aerie. You can have lunch with us. You look thin. Is somebody sucking you dry? Heh"

Dimma smiled. "I know I shouldn't have done that at the market. There's nowhere that I can bring her where you don't have any eyes or ears around."