Page 29 of The Unweaver

Straddling the line of honesty and survival, she floundered for words. “I-I went to the Emerald Club. And, er, confronted him. Bane.”

“Pray tell, why did Ms. Walcott confrontyou?” Mother asked Bane in a saccharine voice.

Bane’s gaze cut Cora to the quick. Under the scorch of his scrutiny, she wanted to sink into the floor and disappear. “That would be a question for Ms. Walcott.”

The Realmwalker had tossed the ball in her court and it smacked Cora straight between the eyes. “I-I assumed he did it.”

“And why is that, dear?”

“Teddy—” His name caught in her throat. “Bane had attacked him. Before he di— But I don’t think Bane did it anymore. I think someone else did it.”

Mother’s lips were the thinnest Cora had ever seen them. Not the right lines for her play, then. “And after you confronted Mr. Bane, you returned to poor Teddy’s flat?”

Cora’s gaze slid to Bane and away. “And his body was missing. In the time I was gone, someone must’ve scrubbed the place clean, body and all.”

“Undeniably, it was the Profane Arts.” Mother trained her gaze on Bane. “Forbidden magic killed my sweet pet. Given your history with the Profane Arts, your combative relationship with the deceased, and your particular affinities…Well, Mr. Bane. With both the motiveand the opportunity, you are the mostlikely culprit. Who else could have killed poor Teddy and cleaned up the scene with such haste?”

Cora drew in a sharp breath. The second act was ending on a climax.

But for a slight lift of his brow, Bane remained impassive. “That depends, Edwina. How long does it usually take for your pets to move a body?”

Mother’s lips welded into a line. The Doberman bared his teeth. Mother hushed him. Growling low, he settled back on his haunches. Both Bestiamancers glared at Bane.

“I do not appreciate your insinuation, Mr. Bane. Ilovemy pets. And you killed my most precious pet with forbidden magic. You will be held accountable.”

“No body. No proof.”

Mother sat back stiffly, hands fussing over the flyaway strands in her bun. Bane was not following her script either.

“We don’t need a body when you got plenty of violations against the Covenant,” Verek said. “Everyone knows your smuggling operation runs on dark magic. No other way you could transport across every bloody continent and your cargo’s never lost or confiscated. Even with the law in your pocket, there’s only one way to move that much contraband without alerting the authorities. The Profane Arts.”

Bane sighed. “Everyone here has violated the fuckin’ truce and Covenant. You want to waste my time, I’ll leave. You want to renegotiate terms, I’ll listen.”

“The only thing we will be negotiating, Mr. Bane, are the terms of your surrender. Which brings us to our third matter of business. To prevent another bothersome war, you will surrender your territories and operations to us. Acompleteforfeiture, or we will have no choice but to notify the Tribunal of your many crimes.”

A terrible hush fell. The final act was beginning. For Bane’s alleged crimes, execution without trial was the best outcome.

“Mother running off to tell Father, is it? Your hypocrisy is tedious, Edwina. I still see no proof.”

Verek stabbed a sparking finger at the dock’s ownership documents. “The Covenant says mages don’t meddle with human business, and humans stay the hell outta mage business.”

“Some might consider you arming human militants in a human conflict with Ferromancer-modified rifles as a violation of that same Covenant,” Bane said. “The Tribunal, perhaps.”

Verek’s retort devolved into a coughing fit. The thugs stepped forward, eyes locked on Bane. After a strained moment, Verek shook his head and they retreated to their posts.

“Yourhypocrisy is tedious, Mr. Bane,” Mother snapped. “You’re likely delivering those confiscated rifles into IRA hands as we speak.”

“And what would you call your human political assassinations, Edwina? Social calls?”

Amber eyes flashed. The Doberman’s claws scraped the table, lips curling back and baring sharp fangs. Bane didn’t spare the hound a glance. “It’s an empty threat you’re making. Verek’s a fuckin’ idiot but you—”

“Bastard!” Flames crackled over the Pyromancer’s fists. His thugs closed in, hands poised on their scimitars. “Next time you insult me, Paddy, will be the last.”

Bane didn’t spare him a glance, either. “As I was saying, Verek suffers from a severe case of idiocy—” The Pyromancer launched to his feet and doubled over with hacking coughs. Bane continued over him, “But without evidence you won’t risk bringing the Tribunal down on your own head.”

“Have you forgotten who I am?” Mother forced a tittering laugh. “Believe me, Mr. Bane, whether buried or planted, Iwill find the evidence. Willingly forfeit your territories and businesses to us now, or be executed by the Tribunal. This is your ultimatum.”

That was not an empty threat. Mother ran the most comprehensive intelligence network in England.

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