Trick of Shadows (The Duskhunter Saga Book 2) by Sara Roethle (free e books to read .TXT) 📕

I grabbed his arm, just in case he was thinking about going anywhere. “We don’t know that it was him. Vannier, the duke’s servant, could have been paying that man for any number of reasons. The duke wanted us here to investigate his wife’s murder, I don’t know why he would try to kill us.”

“Unless we were getting too close,” Steifan said. “He probably expected us just to come in and hunt a vampire.”

“You’re right,” I conceded, letting go of Asher’s arm. “He seemed surprised that we wanted to question her friends and read her journals, but that doesn’t mean he tried to have us killed. Still, he is covering up something larger than his wife’s murder, and we need to find out what that is.”

Asher shifted a little closer to me as voices came near our alcove, then faded away. “The Sidhe mentioned a Nattmara earlier. How is that related?”

Steifan really didn’t tell him anything. I was so proud. “The Nattmara I slew in Charmant had a brother. Their father was Sidhe.”

Asher’s brow furrowed. “That is an unfortunate combination. A predator with gifts only a peaceful race like the Sidhe should possess.”

I nodded. “And possess them he does. I encountered him earlier and he managed to control my mind to the point where I could not move. No one around could see us, and not even my sword could mutter a warning.”

“And why have you only just encountered this creature recently?” Asher asked. “I imagine it would have been killing often.”

I gave Steifan an apologetic look, knowing it was a sore subject for him, then answered, “His father had limited his powers, but unfortunately was killed.”

“By me,” Steifan added. “I freed the beast.”

Asher barely acknowledged Steifan. He was still staring at me. “And you approached the Sidhe hoping for a way to limit the effects of glamour.”

“You do catch on fast,” I said. “And my hopes were answered, she taught me how to overcome the Nattmara’s glamour. I can only hope I am strong enough.”

“I would give much to learn what she told you. Yet because you’re my servant, your mind is closed to me.”

I snorted. “Well that is fortunate, isn’t it? Because if I told you, I’d have to kill you. And that would kill me too.”

I noticed Steifan watching us with amusement and my mood soured. “Let’s get out of here. I think it’s time we paid Vannier a visit.”

Both men nodded their agreement, and we left the alcove, heading back toward the newer part of the city.

In truth, the servant was probably the least of our worries, but we would focus on him while we could. I had no idea how to hunt down the Nattmara, but I knew soon enough, the Nattmara would be hunting me.

Chapter Ten

We walked along the wall bordering the estates in silence, with Asher on my left, and Steifan on my right. It seemed Asher would be joining us for the rest of the evening. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. At least there were no other hunters around to see me walking with a vampire.

It was late enough now that few people were out, so we were alone as we rounded a bend and the two guards posted in front of the wrought iron gates came into view. I stopped walking, then retreated out of sight, pressing my back against the wall. Steifan followed my movements like a normal human being, but Asher was like a shadow. As I moved, he moved, needing no time to catch up. It was horribly unnerving.

Steifan didn’t seem to notice. He stood at my shoulder, leaning near to keep his voice low. “How are we going to get in? I doubt they’ll believe we are going to visit the duke at this late hour.”

I didn’t want to admit that I hadn’t even thought about the guards. Between the mercenaries, Egar, and Ryllae, it had been a long day.

Asher’s silver eyes sparkled with moonlight as he leaned close to me and lowered his voice. “The man who met with the servant went through the canal beneath the wall. That is perhaps an option you would like to consider.”

I blinked at him. “You followed him through an underground canal?”

He shook his head. “No, only to the entrance, as I wanted to keep an eye on the servant. I picked up the unsavory man’s scent again after leaving the inn. There is a canal entrance behind the guild hall.”

“And what were you doing at the inn?” I pressed.

“Looking for you. After that I followed your trail to where you stabled your horses, then to the Sidhe.”

“My you’ve been busy,” I said tersely.

“We should take to the canals then,” Steifan interrupted pointedly, giving me a look which implied I should behave myself.

I would have argued, but he was right. If there was an underground way into the White Quarter, we should explore it. “Yes, back to the subject of the canals,” I sighed, turning to Asher. Then my mind caught up with my mouth and my jaw fell open.

“You’ve had a realization,” Asher observed.

I just shook my head, not in response to his question, but to my own stupidity. I knew the canals existed, but I hadn’t considered them. “That’s how they must have moved Charlotte’s body. That’s why it was wet.”

Asher tilted his head. “Charlotte is the murdered woman? If one wanted to move a body through the canal, one might do so without getting wet.”

Steifan nodded along. “But if she was killed with Jeramy, that would have been a long way to carry a body, especially if it was just one person carrying her. It would be easier to float the body through the water.”

I looked back to Asher. “Can you show us the way into the canal?”

He gave a small bow. “As my lady wishes.”

Steifan let out a soft chortle at my indignant expression, lifting