Even in a city of knowledge there is industry pushing it through the days. Guilds and workmen putting that knowledge to work. And industry, even without riches, creates the rich.

  - Lee Yang

  The Dean hadn’t specified whether they would be meeting Selim at his home or office. The imp had flown off towards the homes of the luxury district however, so home was the safest bet. The area was the most recent addition to the city, built by the rich without an official association to the university. Placed between the seacoast and the pleasure district, it pointed out of the city like a fin. It was close enough to the sea to let the fresh salt breeze work away at the dusty air and for the lapping, sea waves break up the monotony of the desert horizon, if you looked from high enough. It was also far away enough to be free of the inevitable rotting smell of low tide that plagued the city harbor. It had similar relationship to the pleasure district. Close enough to get there quickly and discreetly if needed, far enough to avoid the wandering drunks and other vagabonds that called it home.

  The outlying location meant it was too far to walk there. Instead, they flagged something down from the street. Jingling the Dean’s payment made it a quicker process that Komena had ever experienced. Their money ended up renting a palanquin, carried on a brightly colored carpet hovering inches off the ground, and piloted by an old man promising the fastest ride in the city.

  Inside the palanquin was an assortment of small, overstuffed silk pillows, laid out over the carpet. As the driver tied down the drapes that kept the grime and peeping eyes of the city out, the three laid down. Komena took a lounging position on her side looking at the other two. Kave was on the other side, laying on his back and hand at his sides to prop himself up. Struth had taken the middle and laid on his stomach. He kicked his feet a little as he readjusted. Both of them looked ready to spring to their feet. Komena grimaced and stayed how they were. It would have been quite comfortable if it had been bigger. As it was, they were all stretching and compacting themselves awkwardly to avoid touching the others.

  “First time on a flying carpet?” She asked. Struth chuckled and turned his head up to look at her.

  “Is it that obvious? There never was a need for us to ride one before.”

  “Well, then you’re in for a treat then. It’s like nothing else.” She answered, like it wasn’t only her third time. The second had been in celebration after Badhan had destroyed the other competitors in a race. They’d rented one for an hour, large enough to fit everyone who’d cheered her through and ridden it around the city walls. Trying to re capture the ship’s speed in the night.

  The first time had been on a slower, rattier thing. An attempt by her aunt and uncle to distract her from why they were taking her in.

  True to his word, the driver raced through the streets. There was no need to come up to speed. One instant they were still. The next, rocketing forward on the magic under them. Fast enough to force them all to brace as much as they could to avoid rolling against one another. Komena could feel the wind pushing through the covers, and them drifting from one side of the road to the other whenever they took sharp turn. The carpet itself was fluttering under her fast enough that felt more like quaking earth than rippling fabric. Outside, she could hear rapidly fading curses as they passed. She briefly wondered what would happen if they hit anything, then immediately began repressing the thought.

  Besides her, Struth was grinning ear to ear, the barest scrap of pride keeping him from laughing and hollering in delight. In contrast, Kave was grimly alert, still ready to pop up or roll out of the carpet at moment’s notice. Komena would have taken the opportunity to talk, discuss the case or what the Dean had meant by Struth’s “experiment”. But she didn’t trust the wind to be loud enough to drown them out entirely to outside world. Instead let herself drift to sleep, which came surprisingly quickly, despite the feeling of speed. Honestly, it was more of a daze than proper sleep, but it was more restful than nothing after her long night.

  Komena jerked awake when the carpet came to stop as suddenly as it had started. The curtains shook enough to let some light stream through, dyed orange by the setting sun. At the breakneck speed the carpet was going, crossing the city only took a little less than an hour. When they rolled out of the palanquin, the three found themselves in front of a mansion. Four stories of luxury that Komena never expected to see in her life. But compared to the others that surrounded her this one was simple. Instead of the high walls or extraordinary thickets his neighbors had as fortifications, Selim seemed satisfied with a short, stacked stone wall. A small wooden gate served as the entrance. A child could have climbed over it. Inside, a path of white stones, polished smooth and almost shining, led to the front door.

  With the physical gate just there to mark out the property, it was obvious that true security came from the enchantments on the property. But even they were simple to the point of gentle. Just a pure wall of force that kept anyone from coming in except through the front gate, an alert for whoever was inside when they came in, and something to bind whoever stepped off the path through the yard. As far as Komena could tell, there were none of the little curse and dangers that the rich usually liked to sneak into their security systems. If this was Selim’s home, he was either barely wealthy enough to live here, or he just had more rustic tastes. Or the real dangers were inside.

  Komena tossed a gem from her purse to the driver, overpaying. After the three of them rolled out, he left them for busier streets. She stretched her shoulders, working out some stiffness, before unlatching the gate. The three of strolled down the path. Just before they arrived, the mansion’s door was opened up. A man wearing in well-made, cream-colored robes and pants stood in the frame.

  “Hello, you must be the visitors we were told to expect.” He said, giving a polite little bow. “We received your messenger a little while ago. As such, my master is still concluding some business and getting ready to see you. May I take you to the lounge to wait?”

  “Will he be long?” Komena asked. “I’m sure you were told how important our work is.”

  “The note wasn’t forthcoming with details, but Master Selim is very eager to speak with you. Unfortunately, a major project for his company has been bombarded with setbacks lately and he simply must make arrangements to compensate. Of course, he has provided some dinner some and coffee for while you wait.”

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  Komena stifled a yawn, then grimaced. The carriage nap may have done more harm than good, if she was both exhausted and waking up. No reason to not compensate for the mistake then. “Well, it seems we simply don’t have a choice. Lead the way.”

  The servant led them though a few halls of the mansions. There was no sign that anyone else lived here. The mansion was clean enough to host a feast at a moment’s notice, but that seemed to be both because of meticulous work cleaning and infrequent use. They quickly came into a side room, decorated with an elegant but impersonal minimalism. A table and a few plain but plush cushions were laid out on the floor. There was art hanging on the walls, but it was the kind one picked for respectability rather than personal meaning. Just enough care to make sure the many pieces didn’t clash, but not enough to build a theme. A sunset here, a great ship or a rendition of the Simurgh there. The table in the rooms center was overflowing with platters of food. Fresh oysters on half shells, whole roasted fish, figs, dates, pomegranate quarters and loaves of flat bread as large the plates Komena had at home. All of this was surrounding a long-spouted, silver pot of steaming coffee and set of small, enamel cups.

  “Hopefully this will be sufficient. If you require anything restocked, please don’t hesitate to ring for me.” The butler said, sketching another small bow. Kave returned the gesture.

  “Thank you. If anything, this an overabundance. I can’t overstate our appreciation.” He said. Professional respect went a long way for him apparently.

  Komena nodded vigorously as she walked over to the cushions and sunk down into them. She immediately got to work, pouring a cup of coffee and pulling the smoked meat platter closer. The butler left the room while Struth and Kave took their own seats across from her. Struth was near the oyster tray and began sipping them out from their shells. Kave didn’t touch anything.

  “Shouldn’t you be a little concerned about poison, inspector?” He asked. Komena answered by grabbing a few slices of meat and dropping them into her mouth. It was goat by the flavor, salt cured and spiced. It was quite good, chewy but not tough.

  “If this was some conspiracy to get rid of us, there would have been easier meeting places to send us to then his home. And I doubt they could have anything arranged this quickly. We’re more likely to be stonewalled here then murdered.” She said. “You might as well enjoy the food. It might be all we get out of this.”

  Struth had started stacking his empty shells into towers. “From what Taim’s told me, the Dean of Summoning isn’t the type to cooperate with anyone. It would be in character for this to just be her pushing us off on someone else instead of her.”

  “Speaking of the Dean, she mentioned something strange. She called Kave your ‘experiment’.” The boy in question stiffened and locked eyes with her. He was trying to glare, but it was undercut by a nervous energy in his eyes.

  “Now, I understand that etiquette isn’t her strong point or interest. I don’t want to guess what she’ll call me by the time this is over. But I thought it was strange that she went for Kave instead of you.”

  “It’s not uncommon to upset a father by insulting his son.” Struth said.

  “Right, but Kave isn’t the scandalous failure your old diplomatic peers were. So why did she go for him instead of that open wound?” She asked. “I understand this could be a personal matter, but I dislike being uncertain about my assistants.”

  “He is my son.” Struth said. He was stalwart, voice steady. “That’s the only thing you need to be sure of.”

  Komena shrugged and let it go. The question had been an irritating curiosity more than anything of consequence. Answering it would be like scratching an itch, but if they were going to fight her about it, then it wasn’t worth arguing. The experiment was probably just trying to get a somewhat competent mage back to Corlin. Have him teach them some basic spells and arithmetic. Instead, the boy played butler and served tea out of loyalty. Struth was right. The details didn’t concern her.

  Besides, they might let more slip. The investigation still had a few more days before she could get herself rejected.

  “Of course. I’m sorry for prying.” She said. Struth waved her off and slid back into his normal good cheer. Kave kept glaring. It had returned to its normal sullen intensity.

  “Then let’s talk about something more relevant.” She said, leaning over and pouring out a cup of coffee. “Have you been able to shorten the list of demons that could have been summoned for the murders?”

  Struth pulled a small not book out of his vest pocket. “It’s been difficult. Strength and fire are not uncommon traits, especially for things powerful enough to get through the Dean’s wards. Muarim’s death, fortunately, managed to remove quite a few options. Now we know the murder wasn’t for position. Currently, we suspect an intensely controlled Aillen. We’ll need to see if the rate of murder increases to be certain.” He turned the book to show a sketch of man like thing, blades in each hand. Its torso was filled with holes, some filled with harp like string and others extended out like horn instruments, while it’s mouth acted as a spouted fire. Komena sipped her coffee. It was as good as the meat had been. She felt herself focus again as the caffeine chased the exhaustion away.

  “A Flauros or a Eezhini would also work, depending on what murderer intends for the research. If the reasons behind all this madness turn out to be exceptionally petty, a Zepar or Tlazolte could work.” He said, flipping through the pages. There was a leopard stretched out into the shape of a man, covered with eyes; An empty painted mask put before some cosmic, many mooned body; a creature like an anteater, covered in heavy scales with a heavy blade tail, but walking like a man; and a gaunt woman, riddled with open sores and with a large, flowering headdress covering her patchy scalp.

  “That’s quite a bit shorter than I thought it would be.” Komena said, finishing her cup, pouring another, and returning to drinking.

  “We’ve been thorough in narrowing things down based on their magics and temperaments. But unless your plan is to wait for more murders, the list is only going to get longer.” Kave said. He still hadn’t taken a thing from the table.

  “I agree. We simply don’t know enough about whatever the Dean and Muarim had in common. And every victim is a mark against our honor.” Struth said, putting the book back into his pocket.

  “Then it’s time to try something else. Once we’re finished here, we’ll go over the methods to summon what we have now. I’ll investigate those next. It will like tracking drug dealers by the chemicals they purchase, but with more candles and bat excrement.” Komena said, plucking some figs out. They were so fresh that Selim must have had some contact in the Agriculture faculty giving him priority.

  Kave nodded to the suggestion reluctantly. It was a good plan. It needed to be done and would be essential to solving the case. Even better, it was so vague that it would buy her time. Enough leads that she could chase them all effectively and still make no progress. Struth would get his work; the Dean’s would get leads to foist on their next hire and Komena would get out of this mess.

  “An excellent suggestion. Though I will retain some optimism for this meeting. Selim himself may be missing key to this affair.” Struth said. He took the coffee pot, filling two cups before re-filling Komena’s. He passed one of them to Kave. The boy didn’t refuse but didn’t drink either.

  The trio sank into silence. Komena and Struth focused one eating and managed to finish most of what had been laid between them. Kave simply watched, curled in the cushion in an almost sulking fashion. Komena stood back up to avoid more dozing and took a tour of the room. She went around and to take a closer look at each painting. None of them made an impact on her, but Struth would comment on them. He would criticize their lay out or color choice or question their realism. It helped kill time until the butler returned and led them out.