The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani (story reading .TXT) 📕

“I offered them my purse, my boots, whatever they wanted. They laughed and took it all. I thought—but then they said they wanted her too. My daughter. My Kirrana!”

“Did they hurt her?” Bren asks. “Or just you?”

The man shakes his head, tears leaking down his swollen cheeks. “They—they leapt on me, beat me—I couldn’t fight them off. One of them grabbed her, got his arm around her neck. They just dragged her away, laughing. She couldn’t even get breath to scream.”

I sag against the doorframe, my hands shaking. I know how easy it is to be taken hostage, to be forced to walk where you don’t want to go. To be dragged by the throat to a hopeless fate. Kirrana might be more able to run, but she had as little chance as I when the Scholar’s men caught me.

“I am sorry,” Bren says. “It’s a good sign, at least, that they didn’t assault her in the alley, or cut her.”

Siyela gives a soft, muffled sob, turning her face away.

“Have you attempted to trace her?” Matsin asks. “Using the services of a mage, I mean. They might be able to locate her. We’ve sent what we found in her room to the Circle, but I haven’t had word back yet.”

Siyela shakes her head, makes herself look back at us. “We tried. He said she’s warded. That’s all we know about her now.”

“Kel,” Bren says, turning back to Kirrana’s father. “How well could you see the men in the dark? Did you notice anything unusual about them? Any inkings, perhaps? Unusual scars?”

“The—the one who spoke, he had an inking on his neck. Near the start of his tunic. It looked—I couldn’t tell. Like a boat, perhaps.”

Bren frowns. “And the others? Perhaps a weapon that stood out? Or a bit of jewelry?”

“The leader wore a silver ring. The other men—I didn’t see them well. They all had their hoods up.”

Bren slides a look to Matsin, who shakes his head. But I have the distinct feeling the look was an act—it was too smooth, too open. Although if these descriptions meant something to Bren, surely he would say something? Unless he’s waiting until we leave Kirrana’s family.

Matsin asks another question. I stare down at the floor, then look up again as Kirrana’s father finishes speaking. “Kel,” I say hesitantly. “Did Kirrana have anything with her?”

“Just an old set of wax tablets in her bag, nothing important.”

I nod woodenly. Would the snatchers have known she had it with her? Would they have even known it existed? It seems impossible, and yet her disappearance shouldn’t have happened at all. The real question is how they could have known.

I’ve made a mistake somewhere, I just don’t know where. And Kirrana is paying the price of it.

Chapter

48

We depart less than an hour later, our questions largely unanswered, and with even less to give in return. I take my leave of Siyela with a gentle embrace, and clamber up into the carriage. A moment later, Bren climbs up behind me, settling on the opposite bench with a smirk—not for me, but for Matsin, who steps in behind him with a fearsome glower. Because of course it’s inappropriate for a young man to ride alone with a woman, never mind that I’ve been alone quite a bit with Bren.

While Matsin certainly doesn’t qualify as chaperone material, he can’t leave me alone with Bren either. He seats himself on the opposite bench as well, the seat long enough to allow some space between them. Judging from Matsin’s black look, that’s a good thing.

“Did that description mean anything to you?” I ask Bren as the carriage starts forward. “The man with the inking?”

“You’d be surprised how many men have inkings on their necks,” Bren says dryly. His expression is easy, but there’s a warning in his eyes. He doesn’t want me to ask, which means the description does mean something to him. Whatever his secrets, I want Kirrana safe.

“Does the silver ring help narrow it?” I push.

“That’s what I intend to find out.” He turns to Matsin. “Do you have any leads? I’ve already had my men comb the area of the attack. We haven’t located any witnesses.”

“You expect me to tell you if we did?” Matsin says, raising a brow. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re not with any guard. You’re a street boy, and with all your talk of having men, you’re part of one of the thieving rings. What makes you think I’ll even let you off this carriage?”

“Captain—” I begin, equal parts infuriated and worried. He can’t arrest Bren.

“You don’t trust me?” Bren interrupts, amused. “Come now, if the princess herself approves of me—”

“Why would I believe that?”

“Because I am the one our dear Rae has been working with these past couple of weeks. If you want to keep her safe now, you had better share what you know. Or has it not occurred to you that she may be next?”

Our dear Rae? Was that calculated to infuriate Matsin, or is Bren not thinking clearly?

Matsin says, “Kelari Amraeya will be safe enough in the palace.”

“I have my doubts regarding that. However, assuming you can keep her safe, that doesn’t help the girl who’s already been taken. Let’s say my men turn up some evidence I think you could use. How shall I let you know?”

“Afraid to walk into the palace?”

Bren grins, all sharp teeth. “Not at all. Are you sure you want me walking in?”

Gah! These—these children. “You can route your information through me,” I tell Bren sharply. “And you”—I glare at Matsin—“can stop baiting the man who is helping us. Whoever he is, he is trustworthy in this, and I expect you to treat him as your ally.”

“Do you.”

“As the princess does,” I grate. “You can worry about his vocation once we’ve recovered Kirrana.”

“Excellent advice,” Bren chirps.

“And you can be quiet,” I snap.

Matsin’s lips twitch. He glances sideways at Bren, who shakes his head slightly.