Part 22 (1/2)

The bond between himself and Artemisia was narrow and he got nothing from ita”though it took no special Flair to feel the hint of despair radiating from her.

He was concentrating on her so much he didnat much notice the other items on the deska”a scattering of several equal-armed crossesa”until Fol Berberis stepped up, chose one, and handed it to Garrett.

He looked at the wooden cross in his hand, made the deduction. aThis is an altar knife?a aYes,a Rosa Milkweed said.

Garrett turned it over in his hand. The arms were rounded and carved with what he now saw were elongated faces. He grimaced, not to his taste. He saw the crack around the bottom of one of the arms where it joined the rest in the middle.

He pulled it apart, saw a narrow pointed blade with sharp edges, and raised his brows. aHmm.a He didnat look at Artemisia, who was probably the only one familiar with such a weapon.

aItas an altar knife. Used as we would use a bolline, a white-handled knife in our rituals. A tool,a Artemisia said.

aItas a concealed weapon,a Fol Berberis said.

Garrett sheathed the thing and put it in another belt pocket. aThe murder weapon was like this?a aBigger, prettier.a Berberis shrugged. aOur weapons specialist is still studying the actual knife.a aAnd it came from Primary HealingHall,a Garrett stated. His gaze skipped across those of the three guards in the room. aWeall go check out the chapel ourselves.a Again Winterberryas brows went up when he looked at Artemisia. aSounds good.a Garrett held out a hand to Artemisia. aShall we go?a Her round chin turned stubborn. Her emerald eyes were cool. aWhy do you think I should go with you?a aAre you familiar with the cross-folk chapel in Primary HealingHall?a aYes.a Her mouth turned down. aThere will be traces of my presence.a She looked at Winterberry. aI occasionally visit the chapel. Itas a sacred place and usually empty, unlike the Ladyas and Lordas Temple. A good place to relax.a aAnd your mother is cross-folk, so you are used to the vibrations of such a religion,a Winterberry said.

aYes.a Winterberry waved a hand. aThen you will notice if there is anything unusual about the chapel.a aThe altar missing the knife is unusual,a Artemisia said.

aBeyond that.a Winterberry was unruffled at her irritation.

aI suppose,a she said. She took a pace so she was outside Garrettas reacha”an action that made the back of his neck heat. She glanced at him, then at Winterberry. aI donat know the chapel well enough in all light to be able to teleport there now, but I can teleport to the pad outside my office cubicle.a Garrett stepped up and took her hand. Warm and soft and feeling right in his. She frowned. He ignored that. aWeall head out, then.a He nodded to Winterberry. aIall give you a report in a septhour or so.a aFine,a Winterberry said. aI prefer you take a guard also.a Guardswoman Milkweed inclined her head at Winterberry. aIall accompany them.a aA lot of time and effortas going into this investigation,a Fol Berberis said.

Rosa Milkweed nodded. aYes. If wead caught the guy with the others, all those years ago, head have been dead like his cohorts. Youa”wea”all missed him for years.a aEvery guard in Druida regretted that, wanted to close the case,a Winterberry said stiffly.

aGuy who killed him should get a medal,a Berberis said.

aFor murder?a Artemisia asked.

aJustice, not murder,a Milkweed said. aJustice has finally been done.a The rest of the guards nodded, then the guardswoman continued, aLetas head to the HealingHall and get on with it.a Garrett nodded. aRight.a aOn three.a Artemisia began the teleportation countdown, lacing her fingers with the guardswomanas. aOne, GentleSir, two, Guard Milkweed, three.a And they arrived in the corner of one of the most miserable working s.p.a.ces Garrett had ever seen, including at the beginning of his own career. The room was large but depressingly filled with rickety-walled part.i.tions around desks. Bright, harsh light emanating from Flair-tech panel squares showed every flaw in the furniture, and there were many. The ceiling was only a few inches above his head and there were no windows. His nostrils stung with the odor of astringent cleansers.

He was nearly shocked. Head have never considered such a place would exist in Primary HealingHall, known for its luxury.

The guardswoman pulled her hand from theirs and took a stride from the teleportation pad before setting her hands on her hips and looking around. aNot inspiring.a Artemisia did a hunched-shoulder shrug and went to a counter in one of the few tiny s.p.a.ces that appeared occupied. aThis is for the temporary staff. There are only three of us up here.a Milkweed sniffed. aThe rest of Primary HealingHall is lavish enough. I have friends who work in AllCla.s.s HealingHall who have better offices than this.a aYes, well, I donat antic.i.p.ate staying here very much longer. Hopefully, I will share an office on the administrative floor.a She glanced at an old-fas.h.i.+oned scry bowl. aI have no messages in my cache that I need to deal with.a She said nothing but crossed to an opening between the cubes that Garrett realized was a main thoroughfare between them. Milkweed followed Artemisia, and he fell in last. As they walked to the stairwell, he understood that they were on the top floor, the third, of the HealingHall.

The wide stairs were equally vacant as if they werenat much used. When they reached the doors to the main floor, he saw Artemisia take a big breath and glance at the guardswoman and himself. He couldnat help but smile back at her. She shouldnat worry so much. True, she was escorting a Druida guard, but Garrett himself was with Artemisia. And he was sure by now that he was the talk of all the Healers in Druida. Him being seen with her would remind everyone how Artemisia had taken part in the project that would stop the Iasc sickness.

But when they walked through the richly appointed hallways, more gazes went to the guardswomanas uniform than to Garrett and no one greeted Artemisia. His jaw clenched. Even when he was a guard for merchant traders, head never let anyone treat him like thata”as if he didnat matter.

It irritated him that she accepted the slights.

After a couple of long corridors, they reached a double door with a sign over it that read, aSacred s.p.a.ces.a Artemisia pushed through, and the fragrance of incense tanged the air.

There were only three doors, two on either side of the short hall and one set in a curved wall ahead of them that was obviously a regular round Temple. To the right there was a square cross over the door, and to the left, a series of symbols of religions that Garrett didnat quite recognize. Most people of Celta were comfortable with the culture that their colonist ancestors had established. He understood that the cross-folk beliefs spun off from other Earthan religions. There were a few other faiths that had followers. And some folk didnat believe in any sort of religion at all.

Artemisia automatically swung to the right.

The voice of the HealingHall came. aOne moment, please, SecondLevel Healer Panax. FirstLevel Healer Ura Heather noted that you arrived with a guard and requests you await her. The door to the cross-folk sacred s.p.a.ce has been spells.h.i.+elded against all entry.a The HealingHall wasnat so much a sentient ent.i.ty as an automatic monitoring system. Garrett wondered how close Primary HealingHall was to becoming an intelligent being, but decided no one would answer the question if he asked.

Artemisiaas face had hardened. aHas anyone needed the chapel?a she asked.

aThe s.h.i.+eld has not been disturbed since it was placed,a answered the system.

The doors behind them opened and FirstLevel Healer Ura Heather swept in. Garrett noted that she was wearing elaborate n.o.ble robes with long pocket sleeves, a long tunic, and heavily bloused trous billowing over the ankle cuffs. All in a lush purple-and-gold-patterned silk.

He bowed a little short of what the woman should have received. aGreetyou, FirstLevel Healer,a he said.

aPrimross? I thought Winterberry was handling this mess.a Garrett angled his head. aAs he handles all FirstFamily messes?a The womanas mouth turned down.

Garrett continued, aIt appears that this mess is connected with the murder of the last Black Magic Cultist.a He aimed a smile meant to irritate at her. aYou must have forgotten that his wife was a victim of that cult.a Heatheras lips soured more and she set her hands in her opposite sleeve pockets. aSo?a aSo, it was thought by the FirstFamilies Council that he should not be the primary investigator on this case.a aAnd you should?a He made his smile more patently charming. aThe FirstFamilies Council has faith in my skills.a aDo you often work for the Druida guards?a Heather asked.

aOccasionally,a he lied. aAnd I must tell you that this project is much more to my liking than the previous one I was involved in.a Artemisia made a small sound. aA man has been murdered.a FirstLevel Ura Heatheras brows lowered. aWhy are you here at the HealingHall so soon before your s.h.i.+ft, SecondLevel Healer?a aShe has been requested by the guards to help with the investigation,a Garrett said smoothly. Another way to keep close to her.

The Healer pivoted to glare at Rosa Milkweed. aIs that so?a With an arch of her brows, the guardswoman said, aYes.a A slow smile showing teeth appeared on Heatheras face.

aThe guards have requested you, Artemisia Mugwort, as a consultant in this matter,a Ura Heather said with a satisfied smile. aSo you are released from the staff of Primary HealingHall to fulfill that position.a

Twenty-seven.

Shock. The death of her career echoed in Artemisiaas mind, as did Ura Heatheras words. You are released from the staff of Primary HealingHall to fulfill that position.

Artemisia had never known why the FirstLevel Healer didnat care for her, and lately the womanas malice had gotten worse. A wave of cold nausea washed through Artemisia and she locked her knees to stay upright, opened her mouth to gulp more air.

aTemporarily,a Garrett insisted, his voice sounding too loud to Artemisia. Head moved very close. Supposed to be supportive?

FirstLevel Healer Ura Heather bridled. aI donat thinka”a aIf SecondLevel Healer Panaxas consultation will impact her career poorly, the guards will, of course, understand and forego her help on this matter,a Garrett said.

Anger, accompanied by vicious threata”toward the FirstLevel Healera”throbbed along the bond between Garrett and Artemisia.

A too strong bond. Artemisia would have to do somethinga”she didnat know what, but soona”about that.

When she looked up at him with eyes that had dilated due to the emotional blow, she saw he was projecting an easy manner. Not even the guardswoman seemed to notice how furious he was. That Artemisia had was a warning sign.

Then she blinked as his words repeated in her mind. He was keeping her career as safe as he could. Her head went a little light. Would the guards have requested her help, like he had? Yes. And Ura Heather would have used that for dismissal, as she did.

Sounded like Artemisia was hanging on to her place here at Primary HealingHall with her fingertips. She let a breath sift out. Life as usual with the FirstLevel Healer.

aVery well,a Ura Heather snapped. aThe SecondLevel Healer can consult with the guards and keep her position here.a aGood,a Garrett said.

aThatas good,a the guardswoman said. aWe should proceed into the Temple.a aYes,a Garrett agreed. aWho discovered the altar knife was missing?a aOur FirstLevel Housekeeper, who personally checks these rooms every eightday.a Heather stared at Artemisia. aSheas been on our permanent staff for thirty years.a aIs she cross-folk?a Garrett asked.

aNo, but she knows the inventory of each room,a Heather said.

Artemisia winced at the word inventory but said, aThen you donat need me to tell you what might be missing.a All of them looked at her.

aPlease, stay with us,a Milkweed said and gestured for Artemisia to open the door. She turned the k.n.o.b and went in first. Milkweed followed, looking around. Garrett held open the door for FirstLevel Healer Ura Heather, but she shook her head and marched back to the main doors at the end of the hallway and through them.

Garrett entered and scrutinized the room with a glance. Definitely religious, with the heavy fragrance of candles and incense; tiny tiles made up a mosaic on four sides of a plinth. He sc.r.a.ped his grovestudy memory for something on the cross-folk and finally recalled they had a four-spirited G.o.d. He still didnat know what that meant.