Read Online The Glass Gargoyle (The Lost Ancients Book 1) by Marie Andreas - Free Book Online
Authors: Marie Andreas
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spit at for that suggestion since I’d just gotten out of jail.
“No reason to be rude,” he said as he settled back into his seat. “It’s nothing illegal. Just need you to pop in, see what they are doing, then pop back out.” He motioned toward himself and the three old farts behind him. “We’re far too old to be clambering over fences.”
“Fences? There aren’t any fences over the south dig…” I dropped my face to my waiting fists. “When did they put in the fences, Harlan?” Amazing how information had to be dragged out of such a gossipy individual.
“I was getting to that.” He bristled his fur in annoyance, a sure sign he was keeping still more information from me. “They put up the fences this morning. By ruling of the high council no less. A horrible affront—”
“You want me to climb fences put up by the council ?” I leaned forward so only he could hear. “Do you want me dead? Or just want me back in prison for good? You do know the faeries will come live with you if anything happens to me.”
He had the decency to look worried at that one. As much as he enjoyed his visits with the girls, he wouldn’t want them around all the time. No sane person would.
“I wouldn’t ask if I thought there was a risk, Taryn, you know that.” He looked around, making sure even his cronies couldn’t hear us. “I think it somehow might be tied into the ransacking of your home. And Perallan’s death.”
Shit. He knew just what to say to get me interested in risking life, limb, and the pursuit of not living in a tiny box with bars.
“Perallan died of natural causes.” But the doubt that was creeping around my gut on little rat feet was clear in my voice as well.
“We all thought that.” Harlan patted my hand gently. “We don’t anymore. He’d been digging in the south zone long before he took you on as his digger. He was looking for something, always took on newer diggers, and he would switch out folks like you’d change underwear.” He tapped the table with one extended claw. “He was looking for something and he didn’t want anyone to know.”
I took another long pull of my ale. Surprisingly it was a lot closer to the bottom than I thought. “But somebody knew.”
“That’s what we think,” Harlan said and nodded back toward his cronies. “Somebody knew it and killed him for his secrets. When he didn’t tell them before he died, they went after his place. His widow said she had no recollection of selling all his belongings, but I think she was spelled take those actions and forget about them. High level too, as none of her friends picked up on it. Then they shut down the dig and went after you.”
“Damn it,” I swore a few more creative selections. “Do you think Alric is involved? What am I saying, of course he’s involved. That’s how my life goes.” I finished my remaining ale in one long swig then went back to holding my face up with my fists.
“Who is Alric?” Harlan sounded concerned, and looked that way as well when I finally looked up.
“The biggest mistake I’ve ever been paid for.” The ale was hitting me far harder than it should have. Of course aside from one or two of those miserable ration bars I hadn’t had any food in…far longer than I could recall. After a few minutes of wishing the excess alcohol out of my bloodstream—that didn’t work, by the way—I finally opened my eyes. “He’s my collar from last night. Or my attempt anyway.” My thoughts finally fought their way through the layers of Old Sod. “There’s more going on than you know, and I’ll bet you it somehow ties in to that bastard.”
I finally convinced Harlan to chase away his cronies and told him about Covey’s attack, the missing scroll, and my kidnapping. I’d tried to gloss over that portion quickly, but of course Harlan caught it like a three-legged blind mouse that fell into a vat of fresh cheese.
“You were kidnapped? You. Miss-I-Can-Take-Care-of-Anything was
“No reason to be rude,” he said as he settled back into his seat. “It’s nothing illegal. Just need you to pop in, see what they are doing, then pop back out.” He motioned toward himself and the three old farts behind him. “We’re far too old to be clambering over fences.”
“Fences? There aren’t any fences over the south dig…” I dropped my face to my waiting fists. “When did they put in the fences, Harlan?” Amazing how information had to be dragged out of such a gossipy individual.
“I was getting to that.” He bristled his fur in annoyance, a sure sign he was keeping still more information from me. “They put up the fences this morning. By ruling of the high council no less. A horrible affront—”
“You want me to climb fences put up by the council ?” I leaned forward so only he could hear. “Do you want me dead? Or just want me back in prison for good? You do know the faeries will come live with you if anything happens to me.”
He had the decency to look worried at that one. As much as he enjoyed his visits with the girls, he wouldn’t want them around all the time. No sane person would.
“I wouldn’t ask if I thought there was a risk, Taryn, you know that.” He looked around, making sure even his cronies couldn’t hear us. “I think it somehow might be tied into the ransacking of your home. And Perallan’s death.”
Shit. He knew just what to say to get me interested in risking life, limb, and the pursuit of not living in a tiny box with bars.
“Perallan died of natural causes.” But the doubt that was creeping around my gut on little rat feet was clear in my voice as well.
“We all thought that.” Harlan patted my hand gently. “We don’t anymore. He’d been digging in the south zone long before he took you on as his digger. He was looking for something, always took on newer diggers, and he would switch out folks like you’d change underwear.” He tapped the table with one extended claw. “He was looking for something and he didn’t want anyone to know.”
I took another long pull of my ale. Surprisingly it was a lot closer to the bottom than I thought. “But somebody knew.”
“That’s what we think,” Harlan said and nodded back toward his cronies. “Somebody knew it and killed him for his secrets. When he didn’t tell them before he died, they went after his place. His widow said she had no recollection of selling all his belongings, but I think she was spelled take those actions and forget about them. High level too, as none of her friends picked up on it. Then they shut down the dig and went after you.”
“Damn it,” I swore a few more creative selections. “Do you think Alric is involved? What am I saying, of course he’s involved. That’s how my life goes.” I finished my remaining ale in one long swig then went back to holding my face up with my fists.
“Who is Alric?” Harlan sounded concerned, and looked that way as well when I finally looked up.
“The biggest mistake I’ve ever been paid for.” The ale was hitting me far harder than it should have. Of course aside from one or two of those miserable ration bars I hadn’t had any food in…far longer than I could recall. After a few minutes of wishing the excess alcohol out of my bloodstream—that didn’t work, by the way—I finally opened my eyes. “He’s my collar from last night. Or my attempt anyway.” My thoughts finally fought their way through the layers of Old Sod. “There’s more going on than you know, and I’ll bet you it somehow ties in to that bastard.”
I finally convinced Harlan to chase away his cronies and told him about Covey’s attack, the missing scroll, and my kidnapping. I’d tried to gloss over that portion quickly, but of course Harlan caught it like a three-legged blind mouse that fell into a vat of fresh cheese.
“You were kidnapped? You. Miss-I-Can-Take-Care-of-Anything was
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