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“I would like you to answer some questions,” Folcred revealed as he looked us up and down. “Starting with what brought you here.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Will nodded at the stairwell.“A simple tour of the Grimton. My bride had never seen those depths before.”
“Not a very romantic spot to take one’s bride,” Folcred mused. “Are you sure you weren’t trying to see if she could become a bride for someone else?”
“That’s a lie,” Father Silas spoke up as he climbed to his feet. “We no longer hold that ceremony.”
I snorted. “Try telling that to the dead guys down there. They acted like it was just a normal day of wooing for them.”
Folcred looked me over and even grasped one of my sleeves. The mummy had left the marks of its dirty hand on me. “Can you explain this very clear hand print, Father?”
Father Silas’ jaw bobbed up and down. “I-I am sure I cannot, but perhaps the young lady brushed against one of the residents.”
“And a hand happened to wrap around her arm perfectly?” Folcred countered.
Father Silas swallowed a lump in his throat. “I will answer no more questions.” He spun on his heels and marched through the tunnel to the left of the altar. The brothers scurried after him.
Folcred scowled at where the cowards had gone before he returned his attention to us. “Now I would like the truth as to what brought you here.”
Will lifted his chin. “If all you wish is to pronounce judgment on our touring choices then I think this conversation is over.” Will tried to guide me around the man but Folcred stepped in front of our path. Will stiffened and narrowed his eyes at the officer. “One would think you were stalking us, sir.”
Folcred eyed us with a sharp look. “And one would begin to believe you are here to start trouble. That is why I have been following you since we learned of your presence in the city.”
Will lifted an eyebrow. “‘We?’”
“The Corp to which I belong,” Folcred told us as he drew out a badge from his pocket. I had enough time to read the word ‘Prime’ on the top before he tucked it away.
Will didn’t look too pleased with this revelation. “Why is the Prime Corp watching us?”
“It’s not every day a dragon comes rolling into the city, even with Lord Torch being among our residents,” Folcred pointed out. “And you immortals have a bad habit of forgetting the mortals in the city and stirring up trouble which you can wait out after a decade or two.”
“And what trouble do you suspect us of?” Will challenged him.
Folcred nodded at the broken pew and altar around us. “Causing this much mess in the catacombs is a good place to start.”
My mouth dropped open. “But we were the ones who were attacked!” Will’s gentle hand squeezed mine and stifled more indignant words from me.
Folcred nodded. “That may be, but it wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t come here.”
“And you wouldn’t have known about the monk’s illegal marriages without us,” Will countered.
The officer scoffed. “We have suspected for months they were back to their old habits. A few women had disappeared after visiting the catacombs, no doubt whisked away with a bundle of cash and their new ‘betrothed.’”
My eyebrows crashed down. “And you didn’t do anything to stop it then?”
He curled his lips in a sneer at me. “Corp work must follow proper procedure in handling these delicate cases.”
“But we don’t,” Will interrupted as he nodded at the wagon in which the monks were being trundled off. “And if you mean to charge us with an offense then I suggest you stop wasting our time with accusations and make those charges known.”
Folcred narrowed his eyes at Will but I could see uncertainty in them. “I will not charge you today, but I would watch yourself if I were you. You can no longer swing your tail around and expect the mortals to step aside.”
A bemused smile slipped onto his lips. “I have only swept my tail twice in your fair city. One was to defend it and the other was for the children to play jump rope. Now if you’ll excuse us.”
He tightened his grip on my hand and pushed past Folcred. I glanced over my shoulder and saw that the officer glared at us but some of his resolve was shaken.
We soon stepped out into the warm sunlight and back into the lively sounds of the city. Will was very quiet as he helped me into our awaiting carriage. He spoke only a single low word before climbing inside.
