The Guild of the Cowry Catchers, Book 1: Embers, Deluxe Illustrated Edition by Abigail Hilton Page B

Still, I’ve suspected for
some time that there’s a spy somewhere in their organization. Could
be one of your wardens on the ship. That’s one reason I haven’t
encouraged their participation.”
    Gerard thought about that. And someone
searched my office.
    Silveo grinned. “I bet you thought it was
just to slight you, but that was only an added bonus. I’ve treated
everything and everyone from the Police as suspicious for years. I
suspect it’s kept me alive.”
    “You treat everyone as suspicious anyway,”
said Gerard, deciding that he’d been reckless enough already in
this conversation that he might as well speak freely. “It sounds to
me like the Resistance’s attack on the Police was even more
effective than I thought—it’s kept the Watch and the Police
isolated.”
    Silveo shrugged. “Could be. You obviously
understand the situation so well, after examining it for an eighth
watch.”
    Gerard sighed. “Trying to talk to you is like
trying to climb a hill with someone at the top throwing rocks.”
Before Silveo could say anything, he continued. “Those grape
presses—”
    “Ah, yes, the grape presses. You were right;
they’d been modified. The block that does the pressing had been
made to hold some kind of tray or panel. It didn’t look like
anything that could be called a weapon. I think the Resistance were
probably just using the warehouse as a meeting place. I’ve already
asked our dear magister to detain the owner. His shelts are
searching, but I doubt they’ll find anything.”
    Gerard was about to ask if they knew the name
of this person, when he looked up to see Thessalyn coming towards
them, walking carefully with her hands out as she threaded between
the tables. Gerard jumped up to help her, but she’d already
navigated most of the distance. “I want to speak to the admiral,”
she told him. “I thought I heard him over here.”
    Gerard would have liked to tell her she was
mistaken, but Silveo piped up. “Keen ears, a sense of humor, and a voice like a goddess. The lady has it all.”
    “All except for sight,” said Thessalyn with a
smile.
    “Sight is overrated,” said Silveo. “Any fool
can have it and often does. What may I do for you?”
    “I’d like to sail back to Lecklock aboard the Fang, if that’s alright.”
    Gerard shook his head. “Not a good idea,
Thess.”
    “Ah, but she asked me, not you,” said Silveo,
eyes dancing, “and I would be happy—more than happy—to have you
aboard, Thessalyn. I’ll even refrain from trying to drown Holovar
for the duration.”
    Thessalyn hesitated and then seemed to decide
this was a joke. “How very generous of you.” In fact, Silveo’s
threats were becoming more difficult to distinguish from his jokes,
and Gerard thought that was a good sign.
    “I know, I know,” he said. “I am willing to
pay a high price for your company.”
    Gerard cut in. “I would like to return to
that warehouse this evening and take one of those presses back to
Lecklock for further inspection. Will you loan me a few shelts to
carry it?”
    Silveo stood up, stretching like a cat. “I am
beset by requests from Holovars. A grape press. Why not? We have
more useless things aboard ship—yourself, for instance.”
    “I would not be useless if you would let me
do anything!” exclaimed Gerard.
    Silveo tutted. “Don’t lose your temper in
front of the lady, Captain. As it happens, you will be useful this
evening. I’ll give you your grape press if you take me back to that
teahouse. I promise to try very hard not to light anything on
fire.”

Chapter 16. Lost
Ground
    The most populous species of shelts in the
Lawless Lands are the hunti—hyena shelts. They are fierce, barbaric
warriors, continually fighting with each other and everyone else.
They are renowned slavers and supply many of the trained slaves of
Wefrivain, as well as the poor wretches who row the galleys. The
Lawless Lands have a population of panauns that includes lion
shelts—called