Page 61 of Bannerless (The Bannerless Saga 1)

“But you must have done something to set him off.”

She furrowed her brow. “Does he get set off often? Does he have a temper, then?”

“He’s a kid. You know how they get. I’m just trying to clear up all the rumors flying around.”

“Ah,” she said. “Here for the gossip.”

“Do you think he had something to do with it?”

“Not sure yet,” she said, studying him. Why was he here? Like, not just here talking to her now, but in the town at all? Why had he settled down, and why here? She glanced at Tomas, and yes, he had a hand by his pouch, ready to reach for a patch if Dak decided to get squirrelly. She didn’t expect him to—he would try to charm them. “Actually, I wanted to ask you . . . Ariana said you could confirm that she was at her household the morning Sero died.”

His expression froze. “Did she.”

“But you said you were . . . where was it, Porto? So where were you?”

“Maybe I got back from Porto the day before. It was right around then. I don’t remember exactly.”

“Don’t remember if you were at home when news came in that a man had died?” When he didn’t say anything, she moved on. “Tell me again—you ever talk to Sero? Ever have a reason to go down to his house?”

“No, none. I never went there.” His hard gaze never left hers.

She didn’t believe him. He should have been laughing at her, at what she was suggesting. How hard could she push him, before he just ran? Not that hard, she decided. “Ah. All right, then. Thanks. If you want to catch up on more town gossip, why don’t you come with us? We’re about to go to Bounty to have a word with Philos.”

She walked past him, Tomas following, and Dak scurried after a moment later.

“What about?” he demanded. “What’s Philos done? You think he had something to do with what happened to Sero? Is there anyone in town you’re not harassing?”

“Do you know Philos bribed me with a banner?”

Tomas murmured, “Enid, calm.”

But Dak’s open-mouthed shock told her—he didn’t know. “A banner. Really,” he said flatly, rubbing a hand across his hair. He had a few silver threads among the brown. Her dashing bard was going gray. “I thought—I thought he was angry because he resented the intrusion. That he wanted the committee to resolve the problem on their own. A town ought to be able to fix its own problems.” He sighed. “Does Ariana know about the bribe?”

“I’m sure she will as soon as you tell her.”

“Enid . . .” He didn’t like investigators on principle, she knew that. If two strangers had come here on this investigation, would he have fled like he had back at Fintown? Would he have been trying to wheedle information like this?

“Yes, Dak, a town ought to take care of its own problems. But when someone on the committee is the problem, towns need us.”

“Ariana will want to know what’s going on,” he said, and left them, trotting back to Newhome.

“I imagine she will,” Enid murmured.

Tomas asked, “You okay?”

“You know the worst part? I can’t remember what I ever saw in him. Why I ever wanted to follow him to the end of the world.”

“It’s because he hasn’t sung at you this time around,” Tomas said.

Yeah, there was that, she supposed.

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Tomas set the pace, which seemed slower than his usual. A calm trek rather than an authoritative march, then. Enid hadn’t thought him so worn out, and she wondered if she should say something. After—when this was over, she’d talk to him. By the time they reached Bounty, word had spread and an audience gathered. A few folk came from other households when they saw two investigators walking past with a sense of purpose. Dak arrived shortly after them, with Ariana alongside. Miran was there, shawl wrapped around her shoulders even in the heat, as if it shielded her. The gathering didn’t want to come close enough to get involved, but they wanted—needed—to see what was happening. Enid wasn’t sure what gossip they had heard. Dak should have been as clued in to rumors as anyone, and he hadn’t known about the potential quota violations.

She wished they didn’t have a crowd, but she couldn’t do much about getting rid of it. Only thing for it was to behave well. And to be right.

First thing they had to brace for: Philos, storming out of the Bounty common room as soon as Enid and Tomas entered the yard. Since they expected it, they were ready for him.

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