The Guild of the Cowry Catchers, Book 1: Embers, Deluxe Illustrated Edition Read Online Free

the
more exciting. Grishnards disappear every year while hunting on
Maijha Minor, but this never seems to stop the flow of traffic, and
the island is a source of both income and prestige for the kings of
Maijha Major.
    —Gwain, The Truth About Wyverns
    Gerard followed the guard back through the
cells to the entrance of the dungeons. He wasn’t sure he’d done the
right thing with the prisoners, but he didn’t think he had the
stomach for Silveo’s style of interrogation. His subordinates would
have been called in—shelts who did not yet know him—and it would
not be wise to appear weak in front them. The Police were often
dredged from the lowest reaches of society and might decide to
dislike him for his background, just as Lamire seemed to. Besides,
Gerard knew that shelts lied under torture. He had an idea that
intimidation, if handled correctly, would produce better
results.
    The guard unlocked a door in the antechamber
of the dungeons. “This is the traditional office of the captain of
Temple Police. If it is not suitable, other arrangements can be
made.”
    “I’m sure it’s suitable,” said Gerard. The
guard preceded him into the room, lighting lamps. Gerard saw a
small, cluttered office, bookshelves, a desk.
    “What is your name?” he asked.
    “Marlo Snale, sir.”
    The lamps were burning brightly now, and
Gerard stared with dismay at the piles of paper and roles of vellum
around the edges of the room. “How long have you worked in the
dungeon?” he asked.
    “I was recruited as a child of six,” said
Marlo, who looked to be in his late teens or early twenties.
    Gerard frowned. “Better than starving?” Better than being hanged as a pickpocket, more like. At least
you seem to know when to keep your mouth shut, and you aren’t
afraid of Lamire.
    “As you say, sir.”
    “Are you interested in working for me,
Marlo?”
    Marlo looked momentarily confused. “I already
do, sir. All the dungeon guards are part of the Police.”
    Gerard nodded. Obviously, I don’t know
much about my new command. Hopefully I was right about this one
keeping his mouth shut. “What I meant is that I will need a
secretary. All this paperwork should be catalogued, preferably by
someone who knows the history of the Police better than I do.”
    Marlo inclined his head. “I would be happy to
assist, sir. As a matter of fact, I did something of the kind for
your predecessor on occasion.”
    “On very rare occasions by the look of
it.”
    Marlo smiled crookedly.
    “Let me look through the papers first,” said
Gerard, “and then I’ll tell you what I want done.”
    “Very good, sir.” Marlo withdrew and closed
the door.
    Gerard went to the desk. Montpir… He
would not have even remembered the name of his predecessor, had
Silveo not mentioned it. What kind of shelt were you? Just a
thug to strike at random? A rumor of fear to keep shelts obedient?
Or were you smarter than that? Did you know what you were looking
for?
    On an impulse, he called Marlo back into the
room. “How many captains have you had in the last five years?”
    Marlo thought for a moment. “I believe we’ve
had six, sir, and more than a dozen since I’ve served in the
Police.”
    Gerard shook his head. “More than one per
year. And how did they all die?”
    Marlo considered. “Perhaps half were killed
openly in fights with the Resistance. The other half…” He shrugged.
“The Police investigate, sir. They go into hostile places.
Sometimes they don’t come back.”
    “Were any of these captains killed in
non-hostile places? I mean, were they murdered?”
    Marlo hesitated. “Captain Ranon was shot in
the streets of Dragon’s Eye two years ago. Captain Hal died in a
brothel on Sern, presumed poisoned, last year. Captain Ando died in
his bed in Dragon’s Eye. No one can say what took him, except that
he was not ill a few days before.” He paused. Gerard was pacing the
room, his black tufted tail twitching. “Am I distressing