Yes, sir.
Good. Go away. Im busy.
Yes, sir. She made it about four steps from the desk when he said, quietly, Good luck, girl.
Severn said, much more quietly, If nothing good comes of Mallory, at least youve made peace with the Quartermaster. Try to make it last.
Even before they made it to the heart of the office, Kaylin noted one change: the duty roster. It had been rewritten on a pristine roll of paper, in a fastidiously tidy hand, and the only holes in it were the ones beneath the pins. She saw that she was still marked for Imperial Palace duty, as was Severn. If shed hated the idea when shed first seen it, she was grateful for it nowit meant time away from the office.
To one side of the roster, in an equally neat hand, was a smaller piece of paper. On it, under a prominent heading that said Code of Conduct were a bunch of lines with numbers beside it. Usually, this was exactly the type of document the Hawks ignored, if they noted it at all. Kaylin, aware of how much she would have to change in order to remain a Hawk, grimaced and read.
1. All official documentation is to be written in Court Barrani.
2. For investigations in process: All reports are to be tendered no more than forty-eight hours after the relevant investigation takes place.
3. For arrests: All reports are to be tendered no more than twenty-four hours after the relevant arrest takes place.
4. There will be no betting or drinking on the premises. There will be no betting or drinking while on duty anywhere.
5. The Official City languages are not to be used to promulgate obscenities.
6. Before beginning your rounds, you will clock in. There are no exceptions to this rule. When finished, you will clock out.
7. Regulation dress and grooming is mandatory while on duty.
Kaylin said nothing while she read. She said nothing after she finished, taking a moment to school her expression. When she was certain she looked calm, she turned to face the rest of the office. The first thing she should have noticed was Marcuss absence. But the first thing she did notice was that Caitlin was missing. At the desk beside the mirror from which most general office business was done, an older man sat. He was trim and fit in build, with a very well-groomed beard; his hair had grayed enough to be salt-and-pepper, but not enough to be white.
She hesitated for a moment, and managed to stop herself from running up to the desk and demanding to know where Caitlin was. But it was hard. Had Severn not been at her side, it might well have been impossible.
The rest of the office seemed to have taken the change in stride, if you didnt notice the silence that hovered above a group of people famed for their gossip and chatter. One or two of them met her eyes in silence.
Who is he? she asked Severn, her voice a muted whisper.
Caitlins replacement. Sergeant Mallory wished to work with a man whos accustomed to him. It comes with the job, he added, before she could speak. His name is Kevan Smithson.
He worked in Missing Persons?
For eight years. Before that, he was part of the office pool here. Lets get this over with, he said, and began to walk toward the desk that Mallory now occupied.
Shed burn in hell before she called it his desk.
Corporal Handred, Sergeant Mallory said, looking up from his paperwork. Kaylin was barely willing to give him this: it was half the size of the stack shed last seen, and it was a good deal more tidy. Private Neya. He rose as he said her name. She stood at attention. She wasnt particularly good at standing at attention on most days, but on most days, it wasnt demanded.
He didnt, however, seem to notice. You are both on call at the Imperial Palace.
Sir, Severn replied.
I have attempted to ascertain the duration of your work at the Palace, but the Imperial Court could not be precise. He turned, then, to look at Kaylin. You are not the Hawk I would have chosen for that duty, he said, reaching behind him to pick up a folder. There was no immediately visible writing on it, but Kaylin had a pretty good idea of what it contained. And I have spoken with the Hawklord about this matter. Apparently, you were specifically requested.
Sir, she said, hoping she sounded as curtand as correctas Severn.
You will report to the office before you leave for the Palace while you have duties there.
Sir.
And you will tender a report of your activities to Mr. Smithson at the end of each day.
Its neither an investigation nor an arrest, she told him.
Yes. Im aware of that. But given the delicate nature of relations with the Palace, and given the probability that I will be called upon to explain your behavior while there, I require a report.
Ah, and I wish you to lift your right arm.
She did as he ordered.
He walked over to her and rolled up her sleeve. The golden surface of the bracer caught the ambient light, reflecting it perfectly. I will also require you to show proof of your compliance with the Hawklords orders when you report.
You are aware, perhaps, that the former Sergeant and I did not see eye to eye on many things. I have spent some time perusing your file, he said, lifting and waving it as if it were a red flag and Kaylin were a bull, and while I better understand some of his decisions with regards to your behavior, I feel that he placed too much emphasis on your possible import.
I will be watching you, Private Neya. Do one thing to embarrass this department, and you will no longer be part of it. Is that understood?
Sir.
Yes or no, Private.
Yes, sir.
Good. Im glad we understand each other. Dismissed.
Kaylin took a breath and walked away from his desk.
Private! That is not the way to the carriage yards.
She turned on heel. No, sir. Im reporting to the Hawklord.
No, Private, you are not. I report to the Hawklord. You report to me. Is that clear?
She was almost speechless. Having to walk past Malloryand be interrogated by himwas one thing. Being told that all communication between the Hawklord and herself was forbidden was another. Her hands slid up to her hips.
Severn stepped on her foot. She met his gaze and saw the warning in it.
Was about to ignore it entirely when Severn said, If youre cashiered, you cant help Marcus.
Sir, she said, in a slightly strangled tone of voice.
Good. Do not be late for your assignment. He went back to the desk that, damn it all, he shouldnt be behind, and took the chair. I look forward to your report this evening.
Kaylin, I dont think this is a good idea, Severn told her quietly. Theres every chance that Mallory will keep an eye on you for the first couple of weeks.
Kaylin said nothing. Instead of making her way to the carriage yards, she had made her way to the Aerie. In it, high above her head, and just below the vaulted ceilings, the Aerians were flying. She knew most of them by name. Certainly all of them on sight.
I know what Im doing, she told him, each word a little bolt of fury.
I know what you intend to do as well, he replied. I just dont think its wise.
Im not asking you to come.
Im not asking you to come.
No. You are not, however, on your way to the Palace.
Rennick wont even be awake.
True.
So theres no point in going there now.
Less true, Severn said.
You didnt tell Mallory that were not required until well past lunch?
No. I thought we might make use of the time.
I am.
In less obvious disregard of your superior officers orders.
She made her way to the middle of the Aerie and waited. In about five minutes, three of the flying Aerians began to circle lower, and eventually they landed. Two of them were Hawks; one was a Wolf. The Wolf nodded carefully at Severn, who returned the nod.
If the change of leadership doesnt suit you, Corporal Handred, the Wolves are waiting.
Its an internal matter, Severn replied, with care. But Ill remember what youve said.
The two Hawks watched Severn for a moment, weighing him. Severn had been a Hawk for a couple of monthsat mostand most of his duties didnt bring him in contact with the Aerians. Most of Kaylins didnt, either, but that hadnt always been the case, and with the Aerians, history counted for something.
Kaylin, one of the two said. He was a younger man, Severns age, and his skin was the same deep brown that Clints was.
Perenne, she replied. Will you come outside with me for a second?
He said something suggestive, and she smacked his chest with her open palm. Very funny. Im serious.
If I can be excused from my drill practice, yes. He turned to the older Hawk.
Its heading to break anyway. Do not do anything stupid. That said, the older Hawk launched himself into the air.
Perenne was not as stocky as the older Hawks, and he was taller. He had arrived on the force some five years past and, while technically hed been a Hawk for longer than Kaylin, was well aware that shed been dogging the feathers of members more senior for years.
You want me to what? he said, when she told him what she needed him to do.
Just fly up to the top of the tower and dangle me over the window.
Kaylin
Perenne, I need to talk to the Hawklord, and Mallorys standing guard in front of the usual door.
Meaning he ordered you not to talk to him.
Not exactly.
What, exactly, did he say?
I cant remember.
Corporal Handred?
He told her that she is not required to report to the Hawklordthats his duty.
In exactly those words?
More or less.
Perenne grimaced. I like this job, he said. Id like to keep it for a while.
You dont have to do anything else, she replied. I justI need to talk to the Hawklord, and Ill be in the dumps for insubordination if I ignore Mallory to his face.
Youll be in the cells for insubordination if you ignore him behind his back, Perenne replied reasonably. But he opened his arms, and his wings went from their light, airy fold behind his back to a full tip-to-tip stretch.
Dont expect much, he said, as he caught her in his arms and adjusted for her weight. Mallory was appointed with the Hawklords approval.
The mans an arrogant prick.
True. But hes not a homicidal one.
Marcus isnt homicidal.
Much. Look, I know theres some history with Mallory, but the Hawklord trusts him enough to let him run and staff Missing Persons.
The ground receded.
Perenne, hes going to insist that the Barrani cut their hair.
Perenne winced. I didnt say he was sane. But let him. He wont last long if he does.
I couldnt talk him out of it if I tried.
The dome that enclosed the Hawklords tower grew larger as they approached it from above. It was closed. Kaylin swore.
Look, justdangle me above it while I knock.
Knock?
Kick.
Better. Have you put on weight?
Very funny.
The Hawklord could be called many things. Stupid was not one of them. Almost before Kaylin had finished kicking the domeand it was actually easier said than done if she didnt want Perenne to drop herthe dome itself began to slide open, eight parts receding into the stone of the towers upper walls. Perenne took the open dome as an invitation to relieve himself of his burden, and very gently set her down, his wings beating slowly.
He landed behind her and snapped the Hawklord a salute. The Hawklord nodded at Perenne. Circle the dome, he told the Aerian. Private Neya has no other way of leaving, but I assume she thought this out beforehand. His white wings were folded at his back, and his hands were at his sides.
But his eyes were ringed and dark, and he looked tired. He waited in silence for Perennes ascent, and then turned his regard on Kaylin. I believe you were told not to report to me.
Im not.
Ah. And what, exactly, are you doing?
I want you to report to me.
I see. He turned and walked toward the mirror that graced the tower. You refer to Marcus Kassan.
What happened? Why is he
I dont know, Kaylin. I know that he is currently in the custody of the Caste Courts. The Leontine Caste Court. More than that I have not been able to ascertain. But his arrest is within the purview of the Caste Courts, and unless Marcus demands a public hearing or a public trial in the Imperial Courts, it is not our concern.
You cant believe he
It doesnt matter what I believe. It doesnt matter what you believe. The Caste Courts have the right to convene in this fashion. If we decide to disrupt Caste law, we risk too much. The city cant cope with two Caste difficulties. He paused and then said, You visited Ybelline Rabonalani.
Yes. At her request. And shes not going to file an incident report.
Good. And you found her well?
No.
And your duties at the Imperial Palace?
Im not allowed to report to you, she reminded him.
Sergeant Mallory would not consider something this informal to be a report, the Hawklord replied.
She started to argue, and stopped herself because it was true.
Acting Sergeant Mallory, she said instead.
As you say.
Why in the hells did you choose him? Why not promote someone from the department? Hes handled Missing Persons reports for the last gods know how many yearshes not
The Hawklord lifted a hand. Do not question my judgment in this. And before you embarrass yourself by asking, Sergeant Mallory does not have any information he can use against me. He was put forward as the most senior candidate who could fill the position on no notice.
By who?
Its not your concern, Kaylin.
Hes never liked the fact that Im a Hawk.
No.
Hell do whatever he can to get rid of me.
Hell allow you to do whatever you can to give him the excuse, yes. A year ago, that would have taken a day, two at the outside. I expect that it will now take him much longer. Especially given the nature of your duties at the Palace.