Page 83 of A Drop of Corruption

The kettle began to burble atop the stove. I watched the flickers of steam from its spout, lost in thought.

“Never, ma’am?” I asked quietly.

“Never!” said Ana. “This rule proved ironclad, across all years, all months, and all thefts. Pyktisneveremerged from his den in the first week ofanymonth. And that I cannot explain. So strange was this pattern that I almost wondered if he was bound by the cycles of the goddamned moon!” Her blindfolded head snapped to face Malo. “Can you think of any explanation for this, girl? Anything related to weather, or tides, or some movement in the wilds?”

Malo thought about it for some time. Then she shook her head. “I cannot, ma’am.”

“Mm,” Ana said. “And you, Din? Can you think of any timeline or date you have encountered in your days here that could explain it?”

I watched as the flickers of steam grew thick about the kettle’s spout, until finally it reached a rolling boil and began to whistle. I grasped the wooden handle of the kettle and poured the water over the leaves, and the room filled with an aromatic fragrance of spice and leaf.

The first week of the month,I thought. My eyes fluttered as I searched my memories for that phrase, for I knew it felt familiar—and then I found it.

“Din?” said Ana.

“Sorry, ma’am,” I said. “I was adrift in memories.” I lightly shook the strainer, and clouds of rich amber filled the cup. “I cannot think of a date that explains this pattern. But…I can think of one thatcorrespondsto it.”

Ana sighed heavily. “Ah…corresponds, you say?”

“Yes.”

“Mm,” she said. “The Treasury, then?”

“Yes,” I said. “You’ve already noted that, ma’am?”

“I have,” Ana said, sighing once more. “But I would prefer it be nearly anything else…”

Malo looked back and forth between us. “What? What is this you mention?”

Ana waved to me. “Recount it, boy.”

“It was something Prificto Kardas said to us when we first met him,” I explained to Malo. “An offhand comment, about when he would meet with the king of Yarrow.” My eyes fluttered, and I recounted the prificto’s words, helplessly mimicking his Sazi accent as I did so: “The king is proving to be a master of evasion, if not outright punishment! For a good time we made progress, meeting during the first week of the month for the past two or so years. Yet in the most recent months, it has all stalled out…”

There was a long silence when I finished. Malo had even stopped chewing her hina root.

“So,” said Malo finally. “The only time that Pyktisneverattacked an Apoth barge…”

“Was the exact same time when the Treasury was at the High City, meeting with the king of Yarrow,” said Ana lowly. “Yes. Quite an odd coincidence, is it not?”

“Well, yes, but…but what does itmean?” asked Malo, frustrated. “It aligns, but what are we to take from it?”

I studied the teacup, judged the light brown shade as a sign the leaves had fully steeped, and gingerly removed the strainer. “But we have now found an oathcoin in Pyktis’s possessions,” I said quietly. “Suggesting he either stole it…or he hasbeenthere, in the High City.” I placed the cup before Ana and stepped back. “Perhaps as an invitation. Perhaps he was meeting with someone—and many times at that.”

Another long silence.

Malo stared at us. “But by hell…do you know what you’re saying? You are telling me there may be collaboration between Pyktis and…and thecourt of Yarrow?”

“Which is where Prificto Kardas is now…” I said softly.

“I tell you nothing,” said Ana with an indignant sniff. “For we have mere correlation, which is not evidence! But here are my orders. You are to go to the scribe-hawk roost, Malo, and send Kardas my letter. Then—and this is very important!—I want both of you to find and assemble your dress uniforms before tomorrow morning.”

“Our…dress uniforms, ma’am?” I asked, puzzled. “May I ask why?”

“Perhaps to see if you can follow a single fucking order without comment!” snapped Ana. “Do that, and then rest. Both of you mustrest.Sleep long, and sleep well. You have had hard days. I think the ones to come shall be harder still. After all…” She gestured with a greasy finger. “Why do you think I have dined so, if not to prepare?”

Chapter 31

Malo and I exited Ana’squarters and tarried for a moment, both of us troubled by her words. So lost was I in my thoughts that I hardly noticed Malo’s wardens waiting for her in the street. They approached her uncertainly, seeking news, I guessed.