Page 88 of Thorn Season
He huffed with vindication, like my five-word response confirmed every ugly thought he held of me. “I thought to make the exchange in person since you’re clearly too busy to respond, but I see you’re just as immature as I’d—”
“You have the information?” I stopped short.
Scowling, Junius handed me a folded note from his jacket.
As a member of Dawning’s ruling family, Junius could access the records of the Dawni bladesmith who’d forged my attacker’s knife. The bladesmith who I suspected was now working for the copycats.
“His address?” I asked.
“No.”
My eyes snapped up. “I asked for his address.”
“And it would’ve gotten you nowhere.” He released a long-suffering sigh that implied I was the most incompetent person in the kingdom, then he unfolded the note to reveal written coordinates. “Kevi Banday was due to make a weapons delivery to this location. The client had refused to give their name, and since the blades were of a rare, expensive metal, Kevi had been wary of the transaction. He sent the coordinates to his wife as a precaution. She said he never returned home.”
I read the coordinates. Read them again. “This is in Vereen.”
Junius nodded. “Kevi’s wife traveled there after he didn’t show, and found nothing but ‘a slat of grassland.’ It seems Kevi should have trusted his instincts regarding this client.”
My heart sank. Kevi must have possessed useful information after all—information that could have led to the copycats. Because rather than commission him for more weapons... they’dsilencedhim.
And my final lead ended at a slat of damned grassland.
“This is more than I asked for,” I mumbled, deflated. “Thank you.”
Junius’s eyes widened, like my thanks had shocked him. “You asked me to find Kevi,” he said slowly. “I wanted to ensure you’d fulfill your end. Speaking of which...”
I nodded, shuffling to my bedchamber. Garret had sent the information late last night.
Junius’s attention was pinned on the parchment when I returned, but I didn’t relinquish it.
“Who did you send to question the wife?”
“Loyal acquaintances,” he said absently.
“They obtained this information humanely?”
His gaze flicked up, alert once more. “She received three purses of gold for her trouble. I am not a monster.”
“No.” I handed him the parchment. “I don’t believe you are.”
Junius’s eyes misted as he scanned the coordinates of a Dawni forest.
Despite the Jacombs’ growing alienation, Junius hadn’t wanted to know who’d accused their staff of Wielding. I could almost understand. I’d forever known that the Hunters had executed my mother, yet it hadn’t brought her back. Even knowing which of them had dealt the killing blow wouldn’t mitigate the loss.
Vengeance was an empty meal. What the Jacombs really wanted was the chance to say goodbye.
“The graves are unmarked,” I said softly. “You’ll have to search a while.”
“We will be honored to serve them now as they served us all our lives.” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. “How did you get this information?”
“I take care of my friends.”
Satisfied with my answer, he tucked away the parchment with great care. “Thank you,” he said sincerely, and turned.
“Can I ask...?” I started, uncertain. Junius paused. “You would—would do all this”—I wrung my hands—“forWielders?”
Junius faced me fully, and I braced for his scathing reply. Instead, the corner of his mouth turned up with a sad smile. “You are young,” he said gently. “One day, you might find that there is no difference.”
