When Truth Fails Read Online Free Page B

“Silk?”
    Magnus nodded.
    “Like the type of silk that was used as blindfolds during the murders.”
    Magnus nodded again. “Since you can no longer be seen in town, I went to one of the shop owners to ask a few questions. She was more than eager to bend my ear about one of her patrons who often complains of having small batches stolen. Guess when the last batch was stolen.”
    “Just before the last murder?”
    “Yes, and more yet. I asked the talkative woman if a batch was stolen last spring – that was when my sister was murdered – and she said yes. She remembered because she just had a shipment of floral pink silk sent in from the east. Expensive. Of course, that was what was stolen.”
    “You do good work, Magnus.”
    “I am not just a pretty face,” he said with a smile.
    “I wish I could get out there though.”
    “There must be something that you can do to sway the hand of Augustus, in order to get this bounty dropped from your head.”
    “He doesn’t know who I am. I can’t convince him to do anything. He won’t listen to his men, not that they would listen to me anyway.” She laid back in the grass and closed her eyes. Even with her eyes closed she could feel Magnus’ gaze as he searched her body. Her eyelids fluttered open. “What are you looking for?” she asked him. “I don’t have a magic wand or anything.”
    “A wand?” he said, not really paying attention to what she said. “I’m sorry. I find myself in awe of you at times.”
    Ellie furrowed her brows. “Me?”
    “You are an incredible woman. I do not know anyone like you. In a predicament like this, any other woman I know would just fall down in a heap on the floor.”
    “I suppose I’m not like the other women around here, am I?” A smile crept across her face. “Woman.”
    “Oh, that smile is unnerving. What are you plotting?”
    “A woman. Would a women be able to stray Augustus’ mind? Perhaps his mistress, Lucilia?”
    “Lucilia? Perhaps but she lives alone in a villa guarded by some of Augustus’ best men.”
     
    Ellie stepped into the bedroom from the balcony. She took a deep breath. Lucilia was sitting at a vanity brushing her hair. She stood as silently as possible, just inside the doorway, waiting for Magnus to drop down from the roof. She didn’t even hear him as he snuck up on her and tapped her on the shoulder. Ellie squeaked in surprise. Lucilia spun around and screamed.
    They both jumped toward her waving their hands. “No, no, no,” Ellie said. She placed her hand over Lucilia’s mouth to keep her silent. The guard at her bedroom door burst through the door and met face-to-fist with Magnus’s knuckles. He fell backwards.
    “I will take care of this fine gentleman out in the hallway,” Magnus said. “You two can talk.” He dragged the man into the hallway and shut the door.
    “Are you here to kill me?” Lucilia asked. Tears welled up in her blue eyes.
    “No, I’m not here to hurt you.”
    “Why not?” asked Lucilia. “After all of that, you are not even going to bother to put me out of my misery?”
    “What are you talking about?” asked Ellie. She looked around at the lavish room decorated in the finest silks and the jewelry box full of gemstones of all colors. “You’re Augustus’ mistress aren’t you?”
    Lucilia nodded. “I will not tell you his secrets.”
    “I am not interested in Augustus. I want you to give Augustus a message for us.”
    Lucilia sat down on the bed, her dress flowing outward, revealing layers upon layers of the finest fabric. “You speak as though you are not from here.”
    “I’m not.”
    She gasped. “You. You are the witch. The sorceress that he warned me of.”
    “I am not a witch.”
    “That is exactly what he said you would say.”
    “Oh for goodness sakes.”
    “You can get me out of here.”
    Ellie’s shoulders drooped. This was the most emotion that she had seen the young woman express. Even as she was brushing her long blonde hair with