Page 95 of Dawn Caravan
“Enough that she will want to lie low for a century or two. They’ve been lovers—of course, what female in Central Asia hasn’t slept with Arosh? —but he’s pretty angry with her for cutting one of his children out of a trade deal.”
“Have you?”
She looked confused. “Why would I get involved in a trade deal?”
“Have you had sex with Arosh?”
Tenzin raised an eyebrow. “Do you really want to know?”
“Actually, no.” Ben turned back to the paper. “So Madina is kicked out of Samarkand and what? She’s now looking for new territory? A new job? The Poshani seem pretty insular. From what Radu said, they’re not going to follow a leader from outside the clan.”
“Of course Radu would say that because he wants to believe it. But if she had enough support and could make a good case, it’s not out of the question. She’s very rich, and they have many young people. Money matters.”
“And taking the goblet would help her case?”
“It’s a divine symbol of leadership. Of course it would.”
He marked Madina’s paper with a star. “Okay, so she’s the lead suspect so far.”
Tenzin leaned her chin on her fist and tapped her lower lip with a finger. “I’m so curious about Tatyana.”
Ben dragged his eyes away from her mouth. “Me too.” He taped a paper with Tatyana’s information to the cupboard.
“Why is she here?” Tenzin asked. “She’s younger than you are. Is she Radu’s pet? Purely a distraction?”
“I’ll try to get to know her a little tomorrow night.” He tapped her name. “Maybe play up the ‘fellow new vampire’ thing.”
“Good idea.”
Ben turned and realized Tenzin was staring at his ass. “Hey.”
She lifted her eyes. “Yes?”
“Uh… never mind. What do you know about Fynn?”
“Almost nothing. He seems generally evil, but I don’t know anything about him. You might ask Carwyn and Brigid. They’re more knowledgeable about immortal politics in South America.”
“I will.” He put up a paper with Fynn’s name and a large question mark. “And finally…” He wroteTenzinon a piece of paper and stuck it to the wall. “There’s you.”
“Are you serious?” She sat up straight and smiled. “You’re really going to investigate me?”
Ben sat at the table and started taking notes. “Known thief.”
“Accomplishedthief.” She leaned over the paper. “Make sure you write that. ‘Known, accomplished thief.’”
“Noted.” He kept writing. “Multiple connections to human and immortal criminal networks. Military experience. No known ambitions to rule, but she does enjoy causing general chaos and breaking things.”
“Who doesn’t?”
“For reference, see Naples and Puerto Rico.”
“Those were both more convenient timing than intentional chaos.”
“Political alliances are… disparate.”
“That’s one way of putting it. Or you could just write the truth: I have none.”
“Bullshit.” He looked up. “You’re loyal to your father. You don’t want to be, but you are. You’re loyal to Giovanni.”You used to be loyal to me.
