The Jaguar Knights Read Free

a foreign invasion for all we presently know. The Commander recommends you as the best man to investigate. We know,” he added sourly, “that you can be discreet.”
    And ruthless, but no doubt he was hinting that any other investigator might uncover secrets Wolf had known and kept for years. Those would make stale news now, no longer capable of raising the epic scandal they would have stirred up once, yet Athelgar would certainly preferthat his youthful follies remain unmentioned. Spirits knew he had enough others to satisfy anyone. Wolf bowed and murmured gratitude for the royal compliment.
    “You will be granted all the powers you require. Go and see to your brother and then proceed to Quondam.”
    “Your Majesty does me honor.” Wolf wondered if he was being appointed royal scapegoat for something. The King thought of him as a killer, but Vicious knew he did any job as thoroughly as possible, whether it involved killing or not.
    “To expedite matters, Commander,” Lord Sparrow said primly, “pray advance Sir Wolf adequate funds from the Guard’s coffers and apply to Chancery for reimbursement. A representative of the Office of General Inquiry will accompany you, Sir Wolf.”
    “But I will be in charge?” Wolf’s query created an angry pause. It should go without saying that a Blade would not and could not take orders from a Dark Chamber snoop. It also went without saying that the snoop would feel free to ignore, subvert, or misunderstand any orders from a brainless sword twirler like Wolf. Especially Wolf.
    “You will report to the Lord Chancellor,” the King decreed, “and the inquisitor to Grand Inquisitor.”
    “Your Grace is setting up two inquiries?”
    More glares.
    “I do believe, sire,” Sparrow twittered, “that Sir Wolf should be given overall authority.”
    Athelgar nodded grumpily.
    Wolf said, “I will also need the help of a sniffer, my lord.” This business reeked of conjuration.
    “The nearest White Sisters’ priory,” the Chancellor said, “is in Lomouth. Your commission will give you all the authority you need. The Council expects frequent reports, Sir Wolf, but should you conclude that additional assaults are likely, you will issue a general alarm directly to the authorities concerned.”
    “Who keeps the King’s Peace on Whinmoor, my lord?”
    Sparrow pursed lips. “The sheriff is Baron Dupend himself, but you will speak with the King’s voice.”
    “How soon can you leave?” the King barked.
    “The moment I receive my writ and the funds, sire.” Wolf looked to the Gruesome Twosome. “And my assistant?”
    “Inquisitor Hogwood will meet you at the stable, Sir Wolf,” said the one on the left.
    “We will send your commission there also,” said the Chancellor, peering over the clerk’s shoulder at what he was writing. “Momentarily.”
    “By your leave, sire?” Wolf bowed to the King and was dismissed.
2
    V icious stepped out to the anteroom with him. Wolf turned, expecting some sort of explanation, but the Commander just snapped, “Move!” and went back in again.
    So Wolf moved. Heads turned as he streaked along the endless marble floors of Nocare, skidding around corners. He paused at the guardroom door long enough to shout, “Modred, pick me out a horse!” and resumed running. He reached his quarters, dressed in two of everything topped off with a heavy fur robe, and was down at the Guard’s stable with a pack on his shoulder before the groom had finished saddling up under Sir Modred’s needle eye. The yard outside was heaped with dirty snow, and the horses’ breath was icing up their stalls.
    The haste was unseemly but necessary if he were to leave before Inquisitor Hogwood appeared, which is what Vicious had meant. Nobody liked the way inquisitors spied, lied, and pried, but the mutual dislike between the snoops and the Blades ran especially deep, and Vicious morbidly detested them. Wolf, moreover, was the Dark Chamber’s least favorite Blade.
    Modred