“Sometimes, I really hate this job,” Liam said to no one.

He actually loved his job as a city warden, patrolling the streets of Peridan with his partner, Mal, and doing his part to protect the city he knew and loved. It provided a sense of accomplishment. That and it gave him the perfect excuse to wander the city. Everyone else complained about the night shift, but he loved it. The city was quieter then, more peaceful—not including drunken brawls or lover’s spats because someone came home late, usually reeking of booze.

But those moments didn’t bother him. The moments when the peace was utterly ruined, and he was reminded of the ugliness the city and its citizens needed protecting from that made him question his choices.

He knew that when he took the job. That it would require staring in the face of atrocities capable of breaking the stoutest minds. That it would require staring into the eyes of true monsters who prowled the streets in broad daylight and wore friendly faces. It didn’t happen often but it was always the worst when it did. Those cases gave him nightmares.

He waved away the cloud of flies buzzing in his face and gazed upon one of those moments, tightening his stomach at the grisly sight. After eight years on the job, he still couldn’t stand the sight of a dead body.

“Wait, don’t we know this guy?” Mal asked. Even in the middle of the night, the red scales of the Ramscale dragon stood out like a blood-soaked beacon. “Oh! He’s that guy who keeps shouting shit from the streets.”

“The Blue Dragon Guy?”

Everyone knew the “Blue Dragon Guy”. For weeks, he spent hours every day preaching in the streets to all who would listen about the blue-scaled demon who was going to rise and take over the world. The man was clearly out of his mind, but no one ever claimed responsibility for him. Any attempts to get through to him were always met with more preachings, so everyone just left him to himself. It was easier since technically, he wasn’t doing anything illegal or trying to hurt anyone.

Mal looked up at the only open window of the nearby building. “That’s where he fell from. Guess someone finally got sick of him. Or he couldn’t handle being right.”

“Not funny.”

“It wasn’t a joke. You remember what happened when that blue dragon showed up here. After the mess she caused, I’m surprised more people aren’t shouting in the streets.”

He remembered because it wasn’t that long ago and he couldn’t forget otherwise.

He paid the warnings no mind like everyone else but everything quickly went sideways the day he passed a blue dragon on the street. He could still recall the screaming and the chaos. People panicking and hurting themselves in desperation to find shelter from the senseless violence. He had never seen anything like it and to this day, no one could figure out what happened.

The next day had been even stranger. He still had nightmares about it. They had been up all night re-establishing peace when an intense pressure that threatened to crush his organs came from nowhere. A command echoed in his mind, one that spoke with absolute unquestioning authority: “Give her to me.” And then silence. But nearly everyone in the city had lined up, creating a lane from one end of the city to the other. They all stared straight ahead, said nothing, and wore the same blank expression. Then everyone went back to normal as if it never happened. No one seemed to remember it taking place. He had been one of the few seemingly unaffected by it although his head remained foggy for the rest of the day.

Liam hoped to never go through something like that again.

Seeing the body on the street, however, made him feel as if that wish wouldn’t come true. After the incident, the Blue Dragon Guy hadn’t been seen. Everyone assumed he had run for the hills.

Not that anyone blamed him. A few people had packed up and left themselves.

“Something’s not right,” Liam said, turning towards the building. “I’m going upstairs to take a look around. You mind keeping an eye on the body? We need to examine it before the rats try to get to it.”

He couldn’t get the thought out of his mind. The dead and empty eyes staring up at the sky. He had seen a few bodies of people who felt so trapped they only had one option left. But none of them decided to leap through a window backward. The idea alone sounded incredibly difficult.

The door to the victim’s apartment being unlocked further supported his theory. It seemed unlikely anyone would still be there after all this time, but he drew his club all the same. They were allowed a firearm and a small blunt weapon. He found the club to be much more effective than the pistol in many cases except when dealing with dragons since close-quarters combat with them was a death sentence.

In this case, a human had to be involved. Dragons had enough natural weapons that they didn’t need to push someone out of a window.

A first glance at the apartment, it was obvious something was very wrong. He expected the place to be a mess, likely tossed by the attacker or at the very least signs of a struggle. Instead, the apartment was neat and practically empty. A single bed, a small table with one chair, a short dresser, and a small travel trunk were all that cluttered the space. The table was bare except for a single place setting and the bed housed some disheveled sheets.

Liam rubbed the top of the dresser and inspected the thick coating of dust on his finger. The same could be said of the table. “The only thing that looks like it’s seen some use is the bed,” he said to no one.

The window was wide open, not that it mattered since the glass had been broken out of it. A cool night breeze flowed in, making him shiver. He holstered the cudgel and stuck his head out the window and looked down at his partner below. The red-scaled drake stood out easily amongst the crowd of people surrounding the scene.

Liam swore to himself and ducked back inside. His partner would need help keeping the crowd away from the scene, but first, he wanted to search the apartment for clues.

The dresser was empty but the small trunk by the bed contained dozens of loose pages and some wrinkled clothes. Sitting on top of the pile was a single broach in the shape of a dragon. Unlike the rest of the items, the broach looked expensive and well-cared for save for a single deep scar down the front. Despite its defacing, it shone with the same brilliance as anything showcased in a jewelry store.

He knew that broach. It was carried by people who still supported the idea that dragons were descent of divine beings. Seeing people with it wasn’t uncommon in Peridan but he heard it was an item of controversy further east.

“So you were a believer. But if you had abandoned your faith, why do you keep this around?”

That and other mysteries could be investigated later. Collecting all the evidence possible and getting downstairs took priority. Liam closed the trunk and brought it with him outside. He could better examine the items inside the station. Thankfully, the trunk was much lighter than expected.

More watch wardens had arrived by the time he returned to the street. While they corralled the crowd, Mal had returned to examining the body.

“Any luck?” Liam asked, setting the trunk down to rest his arms.

“This guy smells funny.”

“He’s dead, Mal. I don’t think he’s going to smell good.”

Mal cut an annoyed glance his way then returned to the inspection. “I meant he doesn’t smell like most humans.”

“Oh? And what do most humans smell like?”

“Ass, booze, and sweat.”

Liam chuckled sarcastically.

“I’m serious.”

“Yeah, sure. Anyway, what’s he smell like then?”

“It’s hard to describe. Just trust me on this. He smells like he spends a lot of time alone. He doesn’t drink or hang out with others. And he stinks of plants.”

“That sounds about right. His place is practically empty. Just a bed and this thing.” He nudged the trunk with his foot. “It’s like he spent his days eating, sleeping, and warning people about the blue dragon.”

“And now he’s dead after a blue dragon stomps through the city.”

“Yeah, hopefully, it doesn’t cause too much of a fuss. We really don’t need folks panicking. Anyway, you finish with him. I’m gonna ask any of these gawkers if they saw anything.”

It was almost always a waste of time, but he did it anyway on the off-chance of being wrong. Unfortunately, this time did not turn out to be one of those times. The only responses he got were “I didn’t see anything”, “I just got here,” and “Isn’t knowing what happened your job?”

It was the same when he tried to question the residents of the building about their neighbor. But no one knew his name, only that he kept to himself and acted strangely so they stayed away. The landlord admitted that the guy kept his head down and paid several months in advance so no further prying was done.

“You didn’t think to at least ask the name of the guy living in your building who spends most of the day shouting in the streets?” Liam asked the landlord.

The tall balding man shrugged. “He kept the sermons out of the halls and didn’t make a mess. I figured the guy earned his privacy.”

“Yeah, and a fat lot of good that did him,” he mumbled as he returned to his partner. Mal seemed to have finished his investigation. The mortician had shown up and the body was covered. That killed most of the crowd's curiosity and they had begun to disperse.

“Please tell me you got something because all I found were more questions,” Liam said.

“He didn’t jump; the body’s been cut. And he smells dead.”

“Uh, he fell through a window, and I’m pretty sure smelling of death is a side effect of dying. I’d be more shocked if he wasn’t.”

“Unless the glass cut him on the way down, someone sliced him before the dive. And he’s been dead too long.”

“He’s right,” the mortician added. “I’d say he’s been dead for two days at least if not longer, but I’ll have to examine the body to be certain. There are also three parallel cuts on the torso.”

“I don’t remember seeing any cuts on his body.”

“Because these aren’t the clothes he died in. But as I said, I’ll know more once I’ve examined the body more thoroughly.”

Liam sighed heavily. “So we have a murder made to look like a suicide of perhaps the most mysterious man in the city. This is gonna be a long night.”

****

“This guy was seriously paranoid,” Liam said.

The moment they returned to the watch barracks, they got to work going through the contents of the trunk. Mal couldn’t read so the task of sorting through the papers fell to Liam. Anyone looking at it could tell their victim was deeply disturbed. The contents were ravings and rants, some of them not even in complete sentences. Trying to make sense of it all made his head hurt.

Liam sighed and rubbed his eyes and then got back to reading. “Listen to this: ‘Had another dream last night. The dragon with blue scales pulled me into her embrace and said comforting words much like a mother soothing a child. But it was wrong. I began sinking into her breast.  She pinned my arms and legs and wrapped her wings around us so I couldn’t escape. Her heartbeat sounded like a countdown to my death. When I was completely smothered, I woke up. The blue demon cannot comfort and cannot protect. She is coming and will consume us all.’ ” He sighed again and sat the page down to rub his eyes once more. “And there’s a whole pile of this stuff I have to go through.”

“We need to know what happened,” Mal said.

“I know, I know. But this would go a lot faster if you knew your letters or at least bothered to learn.”

“I’ll pass. That’s what you’re here for.”

Liam was certain the real reason Mal didn’t want to read was because he found it boring and it gave him the perfect excuse to avoid paperwork.

“Anything else in the trunk we need to know about?” Liam asked.

“It stinks of lavender.”

“Does that matter?”

“I can’t smell anything else. It’s like he was covering his tracks.”

“Wouldn’t smelling of lavender make him easier to track?”

“Maybe he was more worried about someone knowing where he’d been.”

Liam straightened up in his seat. “Or maybe there was something in that trunk he didn’t want anyone to know about. Let’s hope our friend was crazy enough to write it down. I think I just found my reason to keep reading.”

Reading the other letters turned up more nonsense. More ravings about dreams of the blue dragon absorbing him into her body or tearing him apart. It started giving Liam a headache again because to make sense of it all, he had to read between the lines and determine the meaning behind the metaphors.

The more Liam read, the clearer it became that this blue dragon was likely more than a figment of imagination. The older documents shifted from nonsensical dreams to descriptions of real places and conversations with someone whose name couldn’t be remembered. This dragon, whoever they were, was real. Not just the one that had made a mess of the city a few weeks ago, but even before then.

One page, in particular, caught his attention. He immediately sat up and re-read the entry aloud:

“ ’The blue demon visited me again today. She gave me a bundle of blankets and told me to keep it hidden. I was to be extremely careful with it and guard it with my life. I don’t know what she gave me but it was heavy and it required both hands to hold. I didn’t dare look inside despite every urge telling me to. I buried it deep in my belongings and covered it with plants to mask the scent.

“ ’But when I awoke in the morning, it was gone. There was no such bundle in my belongings. It was just a dream but this feeling of dread will not leave. I fear I have lost something precious. Something important. And when the demon finds out, there will be a reckoning.

“ ’I must warn people. They have to know. It’s too late to retrieve the sacred object I had been entrusted with. The blue demon is coming. We must prepare.’ ”

Mal, who had been curled on the floor, lifted his head. He had concluded his inspection of the trunk hours ago but remained to keep Liam company.

“That explains why he was shouting in the streets and why that trunk stinks,” Mal said.

“It does, but what if this is what got him killed? We know that his death was staged. They knew where he lived. He was deliberately stalked and hunted.”

Mal tilted his head. “He was killed over an imaginary package?” He yawned loudly. “You’ve been reading those papers too long.”

“C’mon, I’m being serious here!” He dropped to the floor so he could better look the drooping drake in the eye. “Look, we know that blue dragons are real. We know that at least one of them is very dangerous, and we know that for some reason we’ve been forbidden to look into it.” He shook the winkled papers in his hands. “And look at the date on this, it was written almost a decade ago.  He’s been having this dream for years. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s been doing this in other cities as well.”

Mal yawned again. “If that’s true, the case will just get buried. You know they don’t like anyone asking questions about the blue dragon.”

It was what Liam hated most about that day. Not long after the incident, they had received orders from on high to stop qusestioning witnesses and stop looking into the “Blue Dragon Incident”. No explanation why, just threats of severe consequences for any who didn’t listen.

While Liam wanted to disobey that order, there were no leads to follow. Not without crossing the bridge and he would never get clearance for that. Things were handled very differently in western Peridan.

“Look, we gotta get to the bottom of this before it gets buried,” Liam continued. “We know this kind of dragon is real. What if our guy encountered a blue dragon who gave him something to hold on to?”

Mal tilted his head. “Why would they do that? The guy’s off his rocker.”

“Maybe they’re the reason he’s crazy. Either way, someone thought it was worth stealing.” He plucked the dragon-shaped broach off the desk. “If this was just a robbery, they wouldn’t have left this behind. It was the most expensive thing in the room. He was killed because he had something they wanted. And I have an idea where to look.”

Mal’s expression questioned what Liam was getting at but quickly, the drake’s eyes widened showing he understood. “No. You know how the temple gets.”

“They’re the only ones who would give a damn. He said it himself, ‘a sacred object’, and he’s been badmouthing dragons for weeks. Who else would want him dead besides dragon worshippers?”

“The captain’s gonna be pissed.”

“Let him. I’m more worried about doing my job. But first, we need to do some research into this broach. I don’t want to walk in there blind.”

****

The bell rang above the door for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Liam had grown tired of hearing it. His legs hurt from walking all day and he had been running on next to no sleep.

Each jeweler they visited told them the same thing: that they didn’t fulfill those kinds of orders and didn’t know anyone who did. They were pretty sure it was a lie to protect clients. No amount of explaining would convince the jewelers they weren’t trying to arrest anyone.

Finally, they had no choice but to cross the bridge into Western Peridan which was dragon-controlled. Liam had hoped to avoid doing that as neither side was allowed to cross and conduct investigations without putting in a formal request. But that took time they didn’t have. That and Liam was pretty certain any such request would be denied.

Mal assured him that so long as they were quick and kept their heads down, they would go unnoticed. It wasn’t as if they would be recognized on the other side. So long as no one saw their badges, they would be none the wiser.

So far it was working but the results were pretty much the same. No one seemed to have any information for them.

It had grown tiresome and disheartening.

Now they stood in the last remaining jewelry store they knew of. The place was much older than the other shops they had visited and it showed. The sign outside, the shelves, the cabinets, and even the floor were outdated and showed signs of intense wear. Another thing about the store was how spacious it was compared to the others. Mal could easily walk the show floor without fear of bumping into anything. Décor like that usually meant it was designed with dragons in mind, a good sign.

The shopkeeper, on the other hand, was a woman who had to be in her early 20s. She greeted them with a wide smile as they came in. Next to her on the counter sat the grungiest grey-and-black striped cat Liam had ever seen.

“Hello, kind sirs,” the young woman said. “What can I do for you today?”

Liam returned the friendly smile and approached the counter, trying to avoid eye contact with the cat that watched them suspiciously. “Hi, maybe you can help me. My grandfather recently passed and I found this in his belongings. I’m hoping you could tell me about it.”

The cat sniffed the broach placed on the counter and narrowed his yellow eyes.

The store clerk picked up the broach, her eyes widening every second. “Oh, this is…One moment.”

She disappeared into the back before anyone could ask. Moments later she returned with a much older woman, most likely approaching if not past 60. Liam assumed she was to be the owner of the store.

“You say your grandfather gave you this?” the older woman asked.

“Well, I found it in his things. He’s not in a position to be giving anyone anything. Is something wrong?”

“Did he tell you he was a draconian?”

“Well, we all figured, but he never said anything. Bit of a hot topic in my family,” he added with a nervous smile.

“Hmm, all right. Well, all you need to know is these are given to the most trusted and loyal kobolds serving under a Matriarch. If it’s marked like this it means the Matriarch has released them from her service.”

“That happens?”

“Rarely, but it does happen. The broaches are scarred to let others know they are still allies even if they don’t officially serve and that they may pledge themselves to a new Matriarch if they are willing.”

“Oh, I had no idea,” Liam said. Glancing at Mal it was clear the drake hadn’t known either. “Is there anything else you can tell us about it?”

The older shopkeeper was silent for a moment. “Well, I shouldn’t, but there’s no rule against it. But in the future, you might want to remember that people don’t like to discuss these things with outsiders. Man’s dead so I don’t see the harm. The broaches are designed after the Matriarch they serve, and sometimes, they’re marked with initials on the back.” She flipped the broach over and motioned for them to examine it under the lamp.

Liam swore under his breath upon seeing the underside bare. The old woman, on the other hand, swore loudly. She practically threw the broach back at them. The young woman paled and backed away from the counter as if contaminated. The cat hissed and leaped off the counter.

“Get that thing out of my shop,” the older shopkeeper said. “And if you know what’s good for you, don’t mention this to anyone.”

“What do you--?” Mal began.

“Please leave,” the young woman said, her eyes begging them to listen. “An unmarked broach is never a good sign. If the Matriarch doesn’t want to be known, she will not take kindly to people asking questions.”

“And I don’t want my business burned down because of some family drama we’re not a part of,” the old woman added. “Now, I beg of you, take your broach and never come back.”

Liam wanted to protest further but seeing the frightened looks on the women’s faces told him it was a losing proposition. And they couldn’t afford to draw attention to themselves. With a heavy sigh, he tucked the broach into his pocket and motioned for Mal to follow him outside.

“That’s not good,” the drake said once they were outdoors. “The other jewelers knew.”

“Yeah, they took one look at this thing and realized it wasn’t worth the trouble. I’m starting to see why our victim was paranoid. What was he into?”

“Nothing good. We should go back. There’s nothing for us here.”

Liam agreed they had no reason to stick around and likely word had begun to spread that a pair of fools was asking questions they shouldn’t. The time when they officially overstayed their welcome approached.

Going to the temple was their only option. Liam hoped to go there armed with more knowledge, but that was no longer an option.

****

There were three dragon temples in Peridan. Two on the west side and one on the east. Liam and Mal knew that asking questions on the west side was a surefire way to get caught so they crossed back into their jurisdiction to the temple in the east. It also helped they had an informant on this side.

No matter how many times Liam set foot inside the temple it amazed him. Massive, detailed murals of humans and dragons had been carved into the walls. Large statues of the various dragon species looked down at passersby. Shadows cast by the large braziers made the carvings dance and the statues seemed to move in his peripherals. At the far end of the chamber stood a statue that reached the ceiling. It depicted the All-Mother, the creator of the world and all the creatures within it. The legends state that she took of a dragon and all dragons were created in her image. This one had been designed after the typical dragons seen today but also a human-dragon hybrid. According to legend, she could either form at will. Between the pair sat a large sphere that Liam could only assume was meant to represent the world.

He turned his attention away from the impressive carvings to the large crowd before them. At the head of the group stood a large silver-scaled dragon known as a  Silver Horntail. Even at a distance, there was no mistaking the signature spiked tail the dragon held high, the studded gems hanging from it shimmering in the light. In front of the dragon, stood a row of kobolds, the humans who have dedicated their lives to serving the dragons and upholding the teachings of the temple. Each one wore long silvery robes. A few had their hoods raised which covered their faces.

Liam sighed and began making his way toward the front along the edge of the room. They would need to wait until after the sermon was over before approaching their contact. She was easily visible in the front row as one of the kobolds with their hood lowered. The last thing he wanted was for Kala, the dragoness in charge of the temple to know what they were up to. The draconian dogma was famous for being protective of its own. Not that he could blame them. The last time the faith had been challenged it resulted in the bloodiest war in known history.

The Keeper’s voice carried easily across the quiet chamber: “And remember, dear children, to follow always the teachings of the All-Mother. For it is during times of strife that our faith is tested. That our foundations are shaken. But the All -Mother has graced us with a powerful and unshakeable will! No matter the hardship, we have survived! We survived when the world was fresh, new, and lawless. We survived when the world was being torn apart, soaked in blood, death, and fire. And we will continue to survive now!”

“But what if that dragon comes back?” a person in the crowd cried, silencing the wave of cheers. “What if she does more damage than before?”

A flash of anger crossed the Keeper’s face. “I admit, I failed in protecting you that day, but not again. Should that dragon return, we will be ready and we will endure. Just as we always have. But I ask you not to hate the blue dragon, the ‘blue demon’ as a certain someone had liked to call her—”

Liam raised a brow at the use of past tense. It was something but a weak lead at best. Word could have easily spread by now.

“—but the All-Mother has reminded me that this dragon is one of her children, like all dragons. But this one is misguided and confused, corrupted by hatred and prejudice. What else can she be but a demon if everyone claims it so? No, do not hate her, dear children. Instead, welcome her, embrace her, and help her find her way back into her mother’s love.”

“But I heard she’s caused even more trouble further east!” a new person cried. Liam wished he could pick the speakers out of the crowd. People who dared to speak up were often the most forthcoming with useful information.

“And would you abandon a child simply because it misbehaves?” Kala asked. “Have you never acted out in your youth or even now? Does the All-Mother abandon you when you question her word? Stray from her teachings? She did not abandon you when the world ran red from the bloody crusade to exterminate her children. She did not abandon you even as others today are subjugated and forced into servitude. So tell me, why should we not follow that example? Should we not offer help and forgiveness to those who need it? We shall. The world cannot be rebuilt on anger and spite. Vengeance cannot heal, only destroy.”

She paused as if waiting for a response, but her gaze said otherwise. It was the look of a parent who had given the final word and dared the child to argue further. As expected, no one spoke up.

When it became clear that she had established order, the dragoness continued her sermon. “Remember, dear children, it is easier to shake a fist than to offer a helping hand. There are many who are just as lost, confused, and angry as you. Continue to help them and direct them here so they may find protection and absolution in the All-Mother’s embrace.”

“All this to draw new members,” Mal mumbled.

Liam nodded although he kind of agreed with the Keeper. If it got people to help each other instead of pointing fingers and plotting revenge, what did it matter?

He turned back to the crowd and noticed Kala sending a sidelong look their way. He could have sworn the faint hint of a smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. She couldn’t possibly know their reason for being there yet. To distract from the depressing thoughts, he turned his attention to Claire, their informant, who stood among the row of kobolds at the head of the crowd. She avoided eye contact and they made no attempts to draw her attention.

Once the sermon ended and the crowd began to disperse, Kala approached Claire. They were too far away to hear the exchange but the ashamed look in Claire’s eyes and the way she furtively glanced their way said enough.

Any more doubts were put to rest when the pair approached them.

 “It is rare that members of the city watch grace us with their presence,” Kala said. “So what brings you here? I doubt the two of you came for spiritual guidance.”

“We just have some questions, Keeper,” Liam said. “Is there somewhere we can talk in private?”

“Are you here for a confession?”

“It’s business,” Mal said.

The dragoness nodded and led them deeper into the temple until they arrived at a large office. One glance at the various shelves filled with books and the desks cluttered with loose papers and inkwells revealed what the place was used for.

“So what is it you wish to know?” Kala asked.

Liam hesitated before removing the broach from his pocket. He didn’t want to get the dragon involved but there was no getting around it now. “I was hoping you could tell us something about the Matriarch this represents.”

Claire received the brooch and held it up for the Keeper to examine. He liked to think he was good at reading others. The subtle unconscious body hints that told what a person truly thought.

In Claire, he saw nervousness. The stiffness of her movements and the constant shifting of her weight gave it away. She could possibly know something about this broach or her mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t tell which.

Dragons were a bit harder to read because they didn’t quite express themselves quite the way humans did. The obvious tell was usually the tail, but for Horntails, they learn young to keep the deadly appendage still to avoid accidents. Kala’s body language gave away nothing. She was perfectly relaxed and she examined the broach with a nonchalance as if looking at some mundane item.

“Oh, well this is interesting,” Kala said. “This was created using a style I haven’t seen in quite some time. Where did you say you found this?”

“We didn’t,” Mal spat.

“Do you recognize it?” Liam asked Claire, hoping to draw the conversation back on course before it deviated further.

Unfortunately, the kobold refused to even look at him, and only the barely perceptible shake of her head showed she even heard the question.

Kala quickly interrupted before Liam could push for a response. “In any case, the broach is unmarked so there is no way to know who issued it. I recommend you leave it at that. Matriarchs who don’t want to be noticed do not take kindly to inquisitive minds.”

“Unfortunately, the nature of our work doesn’t allow for that,” Liam said. He shot a pleading look at Mal to let him handle the talking then continued. “I’m sure you understand. Not everyone wants a helping hand and it’s important to protect ourselves and deter those who disrupt the peace we’re working to build. That’s where we come in.”

“Well spoken, but one must be careful not to cause trouble in their quest to prevent it. Sometimes it is better to leave things alone.”

“And as we’ve said before, we can’t do that. If someone told you not to help a soul in need, would you listen?”

The Keeper smiled. “Very well, then I can say this: the Matriarch you’re looking for is not in Peridan and likely never was. These broaches are modeled in our image, but I do not recognize this one. And it doesn’t matter since she released him from her service. No, I would instead look to those who would take offense to dragon worshippers. They are more likely culprits.”

“Really?” Liam asked. “That’s quite the observation. Maybe another believer didn’t take kindly to him calling the All-Mother’s descendants demons.”

Kala motioned for Claire to return the broach before replying. “If that were the case, the broach would not have been left behind. Even in death, such a thing would not be left in the hands of a blasphemer. If the Matriarch were involved she would have demanded it is reclaimed. No, the only logical conclusion is someone else is responsible. Now, I’m afraid we must return to our duties. I hope this helps and I wish you luck in your investigation. Claire, please see them out.”

“One last thing,” Liam said. “Could you tell us where you were last night around midnight?”

Kala paused long enough to reply, “I was here, asleep. My duties often require getting up quite early so I prefer to rest when I can.”

“And someone can verify that?”

“My entire congregation can attest to it.”

“They’ll say anything you tell them,” Mal mumbled.

The sudden frown showed she heard him. “In that case why ask for my whereabouts at all? I wouldn’t bother to bloody my claws if I have such obedient subjects at my beck and call.. And I of course would have ordered them to lie if questioned. Now if you’re done with these ridiculous questions, I have work to do.”

 Liam bowed and let the dragoness leave without incident and was glad Mal let the matter rest as well. He didn’t know what had gotten into his partner but it would have to wait. They had learned a lot from that conversation like that Kala knew the gender of the victim and that a murder had taken place. But bringing it up now would get them nowhere. The dragoness clearly didn’t intend to reveal what she knew and nothing short of hard evidence would make her crack.

The moment they were alone, Liam turned to Claire. “Is there something the Keeper isn’t telling us?”

“Forgive me, but I shouldn’t speak out against her.”

“It isn’t against the rules if she didn’t tell you not to say it.”

She stared at them for a moment torn her expression betraying the conflict taking place in her mind. Eventually, she replied, “A few days ago, a man came by asking about the purpose of the broaches. It’s not uncommon for someone to come with questions but he seemed agitated and his questions were strange. The Keeper told us not to feign ignorance if he came by again.”

“What kind of questions?” Liam asked.

Claire led them into the hall before speaking again. “He wanted to know the specific kind of metal used, how they were distributed to kobolds, and how to find the Matriarchs they belong to.”

“Did you get a name?”

“He refused to say but we know he’s a member of the New Scale Guild.”

“The what?”

“A new group of people claiming to be for the continued peace of dragons and humans and humans,” Claire answered angrily. “But they have no dragon members and their activities are questionable at best. Whatever they want, it can’t be good.”

She fell silent and nothing more was said until they left the temple.

“Please forgive the Keeper if she seemed impatient. She has been under a lot of pressure even since the dragon attack.”

Mal snorted but didn’t retort Liam moved quickly to salvage what remained of the pleasantries between them. “Thank you, we’ll keep that in mind.”

Thankfully, Claire let the matter end there and went back inside. Liam turned on his partner.

“What was that?” he asked. “They’re not going to give us a straight answer if they think we suspect them; you know that.”

“Kala lied to us.”

“Yeah, I know but you were being difficult even before then.”

Mal regarded him with a serious look. “I knew her before she became Keeper. She’s a liar.”

“Yeah, she’s hiding something, sure, but she made a good point. What would she gain from killing our guy?”

“She’ll find a way.”

Liam worried his partner was losing perspective due to some lingering resentment for the past but he chose to leave it alone for now. The top priority now was to research this New Scale Guild and determine if they really had something to do with the murder.

****

Research into the New Scale Guild and its predecessor was sparse and worrying. It was as if the city watch avoided the group at all costs. Even checking records of current investigations made no mention of the group.

They were forced to refer to Kyle Reeves, the current master of the archives or as everyone called him, the Librarian. A man well past the age to retire, but he knew more about the city’s records than anyone else and happened to be the oldest member of the city watch.

“So you want records on the old Scale Guild, huh?” the old man asked. For someone pushing eighty, he didn’t look it. Except for the wrinkles on his face and hands, his body showed no other signs of getting older. Even when he moved to grab a dusty tome off the shelf, he had the spryness of someone less than half his age.

“Yes, sir,” Liam said.”We think they killed a man.”

“Oh ho, I can assure you they’ve done a lot more than kill a man.” He dropped the book on the table and released a cloud of dust with it. Mal sneezed. “I’m telling you now, there’s nothing in that book worth looking up.”

“What?” Mal asked.

“Y’see, 40 years ago when the old group disbanded, we had a fire that destroyed all the records we had on them—not that we had much to begin with. Sounds might suspicious if you ask me. Back then we would often get orders from on high to bury an investigation, lose evidence, or find it someplace it shouldn’t be. And when that order came down you obeyed or you were out of a job. If you were lucky. I know some good wardens who went missing poking their noses where they shouldn’t.”

“And the Scale Guild was involved?” Liam asked.

“Of course! We all knew it even if no one said it. But back then times were different. Lots of back door deals were going on like someone was planning for something big. If you wanted to find out anything you had to make deals with the wrong kind of people. Once the Scale Guild went up, things just quieted down.”

“We’ll give it a look anyway,” Liam said. “Maybe there’s something in there useful.” The book felt much heavier than it looked and he nearly dropped it. He quickly recovered, his ears burning with embarrassment.

“Listen, piece of advice, if the Scale Guild is really involved in whatever you’re investigating, leave it alone. Some things are best left buried.”

“You sound like Kala.”

“Oh ho! Now there’s a name I haven’t heard in a while!” he cried, slapping the desk. “A real piece of work, that one. I remember when she wanted nothing more than to be in charge of the wardens on the west side. She was damn ruthless back then. Then out of the blue, she ups and crosses the border and becomes the Keeper! Maybe she found religion and mellowed out.”

“Not likely,” Mal said.

“Yeah, if that one changed, I’m a dragon in human skin,” Kyle said. “Anyway, I wish you boys luck. And keep your heads down, you hear me? We lost too many good wardens to those shady Scale Guild bastards. We don’t need to lose more!”

****

The book as expected revealed nothing. It contained a history of the old Scale Guild and its official mission to enforce the peace between humans and dragons. The rest of the book’s contents were about the city’s history and complex political structure. Liam knew it was a lie even without hearing it from others. The fact that the book couldn’t detail one public accomplishment the group did was proof enough.

It only reinforced his resolve that this New Scale Guild couldn’t be allowed to rise into power or else dark times were on the way.

So they doubled down in their search of tracking down the group’s headquarters. Finding it didn’t take as long as Liam had feared. A quick bribe from an underworld informant told them all they needed to know about where to find their quarry.

Unfortunately, it was all the informant could give them. It seemed the New Scale Guild was very picky about its members and even more secretive about what information it leaked.

That was fine by Liam. He’d rather get the information straight from the source anyway.

At first glance at the building, he knew he didn’t like it. Everything about the place, the well-decorated windows, the polished walls, the large awning and carpet over the entrance, screamed tacky high-end establishment. The neighboring buildings seemed dirty and poorly developed in comparison.

The moment they approached the door, the doorman, a tall and thin individual, the exact opposite of someone expected to hold a sentry position stood and barred their passage. Liam wouldn’t be shocked if a gentle breeze could knock the man over. When he stood up was obvious he needed to duck to enter doorways. It didn’t make him more intimidating. The bushy eyebrows and bushier mustache reminded Liam of a poorly trimmed tree. If he were more immature, the man’s appearance would have been funny.

“Can I help you?” the doorman asked.

“We’re here for your boss,” Mal said.

The doorman turned to the drake with a threatening sneer then back to Liam. “You need to teach your pet better manners.”

Before Liam could intervene—not that he was going to—Mal snarled and headbutted the doorman in the chest. The man flew against the wall and slumped to the floor with a heavy groan.

Now Liam stepped between them before things escalated further. “It’s funny because someone forgot to teach you manners,” Liam said. “That is a respected member of the city watch and a good friend of mine. He’s no one’s pet. Don’t get up. We’ll show ourselves in.”

The doorman made no attempt to stop them.

As expected, the interior was packed with fine furniture and gaudy wall decorations. Inside were only humans but they wore expensive, well-tailored clothing. The place reeked of cigar smoke and booze. The din of conversation was outmatched only by the music of the band in the far corner.

“Looks like someone’s not hurting for funds are they?” Liam asked no one. He recognized some of the faces in the room. A few nobles, some well-respected shop owners, and even various members of law enforcement made up the population.

They didn’t get far before another larger man blocked their path. This one better fit the idea of a large imposing individual meant to dissuade would-be troublemakers.

“Excuse me, but we have a strict dress-policy here,” the man said.

Liam flashed his badge. “I think you can make an exception. Now tell us where your boss is.”

The bouncer’s face twisted but he stepped aside and pointed to the window on the upper floor. They made their way through the lobby, avoiding eye contact with the other patrons. He suppressed a smirk at the nervous tension in the air.

Yeah, that’s right. Whatever deals you’re making, whatever back-door plans you had, they’ve been compromised. Be afraid.

The room upstairs contained the most expensive furniture but the arrangement suggested the room was meant more for comfort than aesthetic appeal. One man sat behind the large desk before a row of bookcases. He had the broad shoulders of a trained soldier rather than a businessman.

The man glanced up at their entrance and then continued with the paperwork scattered before him. “I will be down in a moment. I thought I made it clear I was not to be disturbed.”

“Yeah, we didn’t get that memo,” Liam replied, showing his badge again. “We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

The man’s expression remained unchanged.

Damn, this guy must clean up in poker games. Getting a read on him will be hard.

With a tired sigh, the man rose from his seat. “I’m Jimi Kofi, the owner of this establishment—”

“And leader of the New Scale Guild,” Mal finished.

There was a brief flash of annoyance in Jimi’s eyes. “You’ve done your homework it seems. But why would that interest the city watch?”

“Because your group has a problem with dragons,” Liam replied. He lazily strolled about the room, examining the various paintings of landscapes on the walls. Nothing stood out. “The Scale Guild doesn’t have the nicest reputation.”

“Contrary to popular belief, the Scale Guild did not hate dragons,” Jimi said in a tone that suggested he had grown weary of hearing that argument. “Nor did they oppress them. Their mission was to foster peace between our species.”

“Through blackmail, intimidation, and espionage,” Liam said. “Please, they were no better than thugs trying to control the streets.”

“I’m sure you didn’t come all this way to discuss the morality of a now disbanded group. If you’re questioning whether or not I intend to follow in their footsteps, the answer is no.” He dropped back into his seat and went back to the papers. “Now if you’re done with your questions—”

“We’re here about a murder,” Liam said. He studied their quarry for any signs of nervousness. Jimi’s defenses remained unbroken. He was far too calm for Liam’s liking. That usually suggested something. Even innocent people reacted to accusations. “I’m sure you heard about the man thrown from the window of his own apartment?”

“And you think my organization is responsible.”

Liam noticed something had caught Mal’s attention and the drake was examining the walls, so he purposely moved to the far side of the room to draw attention there.

“Actually, no. I’m just trying to find out who the guy is,” Liam said. “We still don’t have a name since no one bothered to ask for it. And you being part of the New Scale Guild, dedicated to fostering peace between humans and dragons, would most likely have that information.”

“And what, pray tell, gave you that impression?”

“I mean, it’s pretty obvious. A guy screaming about demonic dragons would get in the way of peace, wouldn’t it? A group dedicated to bringing us closer together would care about someone like that, right?”

Jimi leaned forward on his elbows and fixed him with a steely gaze. “That’s right, Unfortunately, I cannot help you. I do not know his name or where his delusions of a blue demon came from. As for him disrupting the peace: he was a raving madman. Giving him any attention would be lending him more credence than he was due.”

“Well someone thought he earned enough credence to be murdered.”

“And determining who that someone could be is your job.”

“Liam,” Mal said. He had migrated to the back of the room by the bookcases. “I smell lavender here.”

Liam turned to Jimi. “Care to explain that?”

“I wasn’t aware the use of lavender was illegal. I had a lady over. As someone who is not married or in a committed relationship, I didn’t think it’d be worthy of such attention.”

“It’s not except our victim smelled of it, too.”

Jimi shrugged, his expression still unreadable. “I’m sure it’s a very popular fragrance.”

Mal said nothing and continued closely examining the bookcases. Jimi continued his stoic demeanor but Liam noticed the cracks forming. He tapped his index finger in an uneven rhythm and his gaze was too focused. Most people did that when they were struggling to keep from looking at something else.

Eventually, Mal stopped, reared up on his hind legs, and pressed his weight against the wall. There came a loud pop and a twang as the locks popped and the secret door swung open revealing a set of stairs.

“The smell is stronger in here,” the drake added.

“What do you know, a secret passage,” Liam said, drawing his cudgel. “Get up. We’re taking a tour.”

Jimi said nothing and complied without resistance. The shock on his face should have made Liam smile but he felt uneasy. Jimi didn’t seem the kind of man to be caught off guard easily.

The descent was short but led to a small room cluttered with shelves stuffed full of documents. Off to the left stood a very imposing wooden door. A gated window allowed one to peer inside. Looking through the portal, Liam saw all kinds of torture devices and instruments of pain laid out on the tables beyond.

He turned back to Jimi. “You’re into some really rough stuff, aren’t you?”

“As if the city watch doesn’t employ such aggressive interrogation tactics,” Jimi shot back.

“Save it for the courts. Mal, did you find what you were looking for yet?”

The drake was buried deep in one of the cabinets. A flurry of random objects flew behind him as he emptied the space. He soon emerged with a narrow wooden box in his jaws.

Liam brought Jimi with him to the table and opened the box. Inside was a three-pronged weapon meant to be held in someone’s hand.

“What do you think that’s our murder weapon?” Liam asked. Turning to Jimi he added, “Care to explain before we drag you down to the barracks for an ‘aggressive interrogation’?”

Jimi stared gap-mouthed at the weapon, his face pale. All of Liam’s joy at their victory faded. He saw the events playing out even before it happened. Jimi’s eys had all the signs of a cornered animal left with one option.

He tried to restrain him, but Jimi squirmed free and drew a pistol from underneath his shirt. Liam drew his weapon as well. Mal growled but remained where he stood.

“Hey, don’t be stupid,” Liam said. “Even if you kill me, that gun won’t stop Mal. And if you run, you won’t make it to the door. Just put the weapon down.”

“And then what?” Jimi shot back. “I imagine the dragons will come to extradite me the moment you lock me in a cell, assuming I don’t have an unfortunate accident first.”

“Why do the dragons want you?” Mal asked.

“You don’t know? Allow me to enlighten you then. You two are nothing more than another set of pawns in a grand game that’s been going on for the last 20 years. Perhaps longer given the impressive lifespan of dragons.”

“What game?” Liam asked. He slowly circled closer to the stairs to cut off escape and further divide his attention between them.  “And what do you mean 20 years ago? What does that have to do with now?”

“20 years ago your victim, Stefan Nevans, was a mercenary. I acted as the broker between him and a client who wanted to transport important cargo. He left for the job and I never heard from him again. When he resurfaces, he is the shell of a man you know ranting about the blue demons coming to kill us all.”

“And you have no idea what he’s talking about?”

“How could I? The client I sent him to was a human, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the man was a go-between for the dragon who wanted to keep their identity a secret. I never heard from him again either. Sometime later, I learned people were asking questions, so I packed up and left Diamus for good, coming south to Peridan and starting anew.”

He continued to backpedal despite being up against the wall. His eyes darted between his opponents, never lingering on one. Liam saw how it would all play out. Jimi’s mind was made up. This would end bloody. The distance was too large to get to him in time and any attempt to inch closer could end badly.

“I’ll let you in on a secret: the New Scale Guild was nothing more than a front. I needed power and status to protect myself, so I created this group, banking on the power of the name to draw supporters and chase away potential enemies. And it worked…for a time. But it seems I was only fooling myself. It was simply a matter of proper timing. I forget that dragons are masters of playing the long game.”

“Okay, we believe you. The fact that we were led right to the murder weapon proves that,” Liam said. He kept his weapon raised because Jimi continued to sweep the pistol across the room. “But we can’t help you unless you put the gun down and come with us to explain your story.”

Jimi chuckled humorlessly. “Oh, I can’t decide which is funnier, your naivete or that you believe I’m that stupid.  If you lead me out of here, I’m a dead man.”

“Then how do you plan to leave?” Mal asked.

Jimi shrugged as he turned to the drake. “I don’t.”

“Wait!” Liam cried. He rushed forward but before taking two steps, Jimi turned the pistol on himself and pulled the trigger.

****

“And that’s pretty much what happened,” Liam said in a monotonous voice. He had just finished giving his report to his superior, prefect Chidiebere Shannon, but none of it felt real. The events played out in his mind, even talking about it, the whole thing seemed made up.

The prefect listened with rapt attention and didn’t interrupt or question as was his style. He was the kind of man who preferred to hear the whole story before passing judgment. In this case, Liam wanted anything but. He wanted someone to interrupt him, poke holes in his story, and call him out on his lies.

Everything had played out too well, too perfectly. Jimi’s secret room contained several incriminating documents involving the highest members of Peridan’ government. Bribes, cover-ups, blackmail, and threats by everyone going all the way up to the city’s council. He never believed the corruption spread so far.

They had also uncovered several more documents detailing other murders. It involved a wide range of victims across multiple classes, ages, and genders, but they were all killed with the same three-pronged weapon. This, too, couldn’t have been a coincidence. Someone was building an airtight case against the New Scale Guild and all those affiliated with him.

They were missing something important. Something crucial, but he couldn’t piece it together.

It brought to mind the conspiracy Jimi spoke of. Except now they had lost their best lead.

Mal had also been silent the entire time. That was normal, but Liam could just tell that this was different. He had been this way ever since they uncovered the other documents.

“Something else is on your mind, warden,” Prefect Shannon said.

Liam snapped out of his stupor. “I…It’s just…I feel like we missed something. Everything played out too well. I mean, what are the odds that the exact same odd scent on our victim led us straight to the murder weapon?”

The prefect folded his hands on the desk and regarded Liam with a serious stare from beneath his dark brown eyes. “Do you have any evidence to the contrary?”

“I…no, sir.”

“Any leads to potential suspects?”

“No, sir.”

“Eyewitnesses who can attest to this theory?”

“None,” Mal said.

“Then leave it alone. File your paperwork, close the case, and call it a day.”

Liam’s mouth hung open at the suggestion. Even Mal wore a stunned expression. In all his years as a warden, the prefect never suggested such a thing. He was usually the type to encourage the aggressive pursuit of all possible angles and ensure they had gotten it right. The last person caught cutting corners and rushing through cases was fired on the spot and investigated for corruption.

The prefect seemed to read their minds as he leaned casually back in his chair and added, “I’ve held this position for nearly 30 years now and the most useful thing I’ve learned is when to recognize a bad case. Some secrets are not worth investigating, even if it goes against the oaths we took as peacekeepers of this city.”

“So, we just pin the bodies on a dead man to make our lives easier?” Mal asked.

Prefect Shannon seemed unbothered by the accusation. “Do you know how I got promoted? The prefect before me went missing. To this day, we never found his body. He was investigating the dragon temple believing the Keeper was corrupt but could never prove it. When he disappeared, we investigated, but of course, we found nothing and were eventually forced to let it go. Pretty soon we were forbidden but the higher-ups to not even mention the case. All files were to be delivered directly to the Marshall.”

He hesitated as if to let his words sink in. It was unnecessary as Liam understood perfectly. Most likely the Dracaena put the word out and like good puppets, the leaders of Peridan obeyed to avoid causing conflict.

Once the dramatic pause ended, the prefect continued. “When I took over the position, the first thing they told me was not to ask questions I didn’t want to know the answers to.” He leaned forward in his seat again, his expression grim and hard. “And that’s what I’m telling you. Anyone who could’ve arranged this is obviously not some random citizen. They have many connections we likely aren’t aware of. Normally, I would say that doesn’t matter but everyone in this room knows better. Are you certain you want to pick this fight with nothing else to go on besides a hunch and a hollow theory? Do you think your careers can survive it?”

Liam gripped the edge of his seat, unable to respond. What was he supposed to say? What was he supposed to think? How could they just be expected to walk away, knowing what they know?

“You both seem confused so I’ll say it plain,” the prefect said. “Even if you can prove it, what then? You just made the biggest bust of your career. If you cast a shadow of doubt on that, it all goes away. All those accused will walk and go right back to what they were doing. Is that truly what you want for two dead men who were far from clean?”

“We get it,” Mal said with a low growl. “We’ll bury it.”

Prefect Shannon nodded, his face showing no joy in his victory. “That sour taste in your mouth will wash out with a few drinks. I suggest you take the rest of the week off to do so. And keep your heads down in the meantime. I don’t what to hear you’ve been investigating this in secret, understand?”

They understood. It was clear obedience was no simply expected but demanded. They didn’t need to respond or confirm.

Liam was in a sour mood for the rest of the day. He struggled to comprehend what they had learned. He hurried through the paperwork. It was sloppy and poorly worded but what did it matter? Anything sufficed so long as he was done and could go to the nearest tavern and forget the events never happened.

Once they were outside again, Mal nudged his arm. “You still got that broach?”

Liam mechanically fished it out of his pocket, surprised that it had been there this whole time.

“We need to give it back,” Mal said.

“I don’t think a dead man cares.”

“No, to who it really belongs to.”

Liam raised a brow. “Oh? Did you realize something?”

“I’ll tell you on the way.”

****

No matter how many times he entered the temple, it never ceased to amaze him. Even now, knowing what he knew, he felt a sense of calm and amazement at the impressive architecture.

Kneeling at the base of one of the dragon statues was Claire, scrubbing the floor. Her expression turned worrisome upon seeing Mal and Liam approach.

“Are we that bad of company?” Liam asked, half-joking. He knew exactly why she’d be worried. “Look, we’re just here to talk. We have some news we think the Keeper would like to hear.”

The fear faded from the kobold’s face but lingered behind her features like a predator peering from beneath cover. “Oh, well, I’m sure she would love that. Please follow me,” she answered in a shaky voice.

They were led to a large open space filled with plants. The floor had been replaced with grass and flowerbeds. Vines clung to the walls and support columns. Brightly colored flowers in bloom sprang from the leaves. Upon closer inspection, they were covered in thorns. The rest of the space had been filled with flora Liam couldn’t identify, but they painted the room in a variety of colors as if trying to create some form of abstract art.

Claire strode into the dense foliage without difficulty, but Liam and Mal constantly tripped over roots and were slapped in the face by large leaves trying to keep up.

In the center of it all was a small pond. At the water’s edge sat Keeper Kala. She wasn’t wearing any of her adornments but still sat posed as if she weren’t alone. Whatever her reasons for being there, she was engrossed in something in the pool, but the water was too dark to see the bottom. But several fish could be seen swimming lazily.

“I take it you two are not here to convert,” the Keeper said, still watching the water.

“Nope. Just wanted to let you know we solved the case,” Liam said.

“That is good to hear, but you didn’t need to deliver the news personally.”

“No, we really did. You see, we figured something out and we’re hoping you could fill in the blanks.”

She continued watching the pool. “I’m unsure what I could tell you. I hardly knew the man.”

“Oh, but you could tell us plenty,” Liam replied, brimming with enthusiasm. Her slip also hadn’t escaped his notice. “Afterall, it was your clue that led us to him in the first place. If you hadn’t mentioned the New Scale Guild, Mal would’ve never picked up on the scent of lavender in Jimi’s office which led us right to the murder weapon.” He turned to his partner and added. “Luckily none of the jewelers all the way to the West Gate would tell us anything, huh? We practically had no choice but to come here.”

“Yeah, very lucky,” Mal answered, never taking his eyes off the Keeper.

She remained more interested in what lay beneath the water than their conversation. “I’m delighted I was able to assist you. The All-Mother truly does work wonders doesn’t she?”

“I’m surprised she cares about a man who would call her children demons,” Liam said. “Then again, she also let him die, so she wasn’t that forgiving.”

That made her lift her head and acknowledge them. But her gaze showed a deep annoyance. “He was a lost soul, tormented by imaginary monsters. Through death, he has finally been released from his torment and found peace.”

“Yeah, a lot of people found peace,” Liam continued. “Like whoever finally tied up a loose end from a job over 20 years ago. Did you know Jimi and Stefan knew each other?”

“I did not,” the Keeper replied.

It was a lie. He could see it in her face. There was no surprise, no interest, only boredom and irritation. They were interrupting her and wasting her time with information she already knew.

“Oh, yeah, they did,” Liam continued. “In fact, Jimi had set him up with the client who likely drove him insane. Funny world, huh? The man was sane until he disappeared two decades ago. When he finally resurfaces, he’s raving about blue dragons. My guess is, he ran into one and it left him scarred. Truly tragic, wouldn’t you agree partner?”

“It is tragic,” Mal said.

Liam grinned and continued, taking no heed of the purple and yellow flowers he walked on. “Yet, they still managed to find each other again. What I still don’t get though is why Jimi even bothered to kill him in the first place.”

Mal shrugged. “Maybe Kala knows.”

“I’m afraid I’m just as confused as you are,” the Keeper replied casually.

“I got a theory,” Liam said. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but what if Stefan was just a means to get to Jimi? I mean what did we really learn about Stefan that really warranted killing him? It was because he insulted dragons, the man’s been doing that for how long now? Why wait?”

“They wouldn’t,” Mal said. “But he was connected to Jimi.”

“That’s exactly what I’m thinking. On paper, the New Scale Guild wasn’t doing anything illegal. We had no reason to even approach them let alone investigate them. Then this guy dies who is a supposed dragon worshipper—which by the way, we never did confirm that, did we?”

“We didn’t. The broach didn’t smell like him either.”

Liam rubbed his chin in mock interest. “Oh? Is that important?”

“He reeked of plants. The broach didn’t. It was likely planted.”

“To make us investigate it,” Liam added, nodding his head. “That’s clever. The killer planted it after dropping him out the window—which we also know isn’t where he died. He was dead before then. They wanted us to look in the apartment. They wanted us to find the broach, and they knew we would follow the trail being the only clue we had. Hey, Keeper, isn’t that clever?”

“I suppose it is,” Keeper Kala replied stiffly.

“Exactly,” Liam said. “I mean, no one else even bothered to learn the guy’s name. But I still don’t get what they had against Jimi. Do you have any insights?”

The Keeper grinned that faux-friendly smile of someone who wanted to do anything else but grin and bear it. ”You said it yourself: sometimes one must intervene to prevent trouble before it is started,” she replied. “The Scale Guild did good work for Peridan and all of Geolga, but they didn’t have the best reputation. It is much better for everyone if that part of the past remained buried.”

“Yeah, they were known to use people like sacrificial lambs,” Liam said. “What’s s random logger’s life for the greater good? A beggar in the alley? Some housewife no one knows? They’re just pawns used to serve a higher purpose. I wonder if the All-Mother approves of her children using each other as pawns like that?”

With a growl, the Keeper rose. Mal took a step forward.

“I will not have you insult the All-Mother here of all places,” the Keeper said.

Liam bowed low. “I’m very sorry. And you’re right, she has nothing to do with this. To get back on topic, you mentioned burying the past. That’s a good point. We think that’s what this was about too. A lot of people had connections to the old Scale Guild. A lot of those are probably in positions of power today because of them. It would be a real shame if that came to light because someone started digging up the past to save his own ass—oh, excuse me. I didn’t mean to swear in here.”

“It’s quite all right,” Keeper Kala said. Her calm, condescending demeanor had returned. “But I’m very busy if you don’t mind. If you are done with your questions—”

“Just one more thing,” Liam said. “How do you figure someone put all this together? I mean, it’s a good theory but how would anyone have known about Stefan and Jimi to begin with?”

“I’m sure you know the answer,” the Keeper replied. “They knew both of them and were likely there 20 years ago.”

“Which implies our victim coming to Peridan to preach from the streets was no accident,” Liam said. “Well, that’s a story for another time. We’ve taken up enough of your day. We’ll show ourselves out. Thank you for your help, your Grace.”

“It was my pleasure. And it was nice seeing you again, Mal. We should catch up sometime.”

Mal stiffened and grumbled under his breath. Liam turned around and fished the broach out of his pocket. Throwing it to the Keeper’s feet, he added. “Oh, and you can have that back. We don’t need it anymore.”

There was no response, not one was expected anyway.

Liam waited until they were outside to speak again. “So what was that about? It sounded like she wanted to do more than talk about old times.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Mal replied.

Liam raised a brow. “Something you not telling me, partner?”

The drake stopped and regarded him with a serious look. “The prefect said to learn how to know when to stop asking questions. You should learn it.”