As the sun began to set, casting Qarth in that peculiar golden light that made even the plainest buildings appear magical, Kaelan sat in his courtyard, enjoying a simple meal purchased from a nearby food stall. The air was warm and heavy with the scent of spices and the sea, a pleasant contrast to the perpetual dust and must of his father's house.
His peaceful reverie was interrupted by a sharp knock at his door. Instantly alert, Kaelan sent a contingent of flies to investigate, having them slip through cracks to identify his visitor before he approached the door.
The man outside was expensively dressed, with the distinctive blue-tinted lips of one who had dealings with the warlocks of Qarth. Not a warlock himself—the lips weren't blue enough for that—but someone who had partaken of shade-of-the-evening, the strange liquor that was said to expand one's consciousness.
Cautiously, Kaelan opened the door. "Good evening," he said, keeping his expression neutral.
"Kaelan Dhasir?" the man asked, his voice carrying the distinctive accent of Qarth's upper classes.
"I am he."
The man inclined his head slightly. "I am Quaithe zan Ryllos, steward to Mathos Mallarawan of the Thirteen. My master requests your presence at his estate at your earliest convenience. He has heard of your... unique talent for finding things."
Kaelan concealed his surprise. Word traveled quickly in Qarth—but then, a city built on trade and secrets would naturally have efficient channels of information.
"I'm honored," Kaelan replied carefully. "May I ask the nature of this consultation?"
"My master has lost something of great value," Quaithe said, his expression revealing nothing. "He believes you may be able to recover it. He offers one thousand honors for a successful retrieval."
One thousand honors—equivalent to two hundred and fifty gold dragons. A princely sum for what would likely be a simple task with his abilities.
"I would be pleased to assist," Kaelan said. "Shall I accompany you now?"
The steward nodded, gesturing to a sedan chair waiting in the street, carried by four muscular bearers. Kaelan took a moment to secure his home, instructing his scorpions to remain vigilant in his absence, then followed the man outside.
As they traveled through the city, Kaelan extended his awareness through his swarm, noting landmarks and building a mental map of their route. They moved from the modest district where he had taken residence into progressively more opulent areas, finally arriving at a walled estate near the center of the city.
The Mallarawan estate was a vision of wealth even by Qartheen standards. The walls were inlaid with lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl, forming intricate patterns that caught the last rays of the setting sun. Inside, the gardens were a riot of exotic blooms, many of which Kaelan had never seen before. Fountains played in every courtyard, their waters scented with oils that filled the air with sweet perfumes.
Servants in diaphanous silks guided him through the estate to a vast chamber where Mathos Mallarawan awaited. The merchant was corpulent and pale, draped in silks that left one side of his chest bare in the Qartheen fashion. Gold rings adorned his fingers, and a heavy chain of interlocking platinum links circled his neck—the symbol of his membership in the Thirteen.
"Ah, young Dhasir," Mallarawan greeted, his voice surprisingly melodious for such a large man. "I appreciate your prompt response to my summons."
Kaelan bowed respectfully. "I'm honored by your interest, my lord."
"Not lord," Mallarawan corrected with a indulgent smile. "We have no lords in Qarth, only those who have wealth and those who do not." He gestured to a low cushion. "Please, be seated. Wine?"
Kaelan accepted both the seat and the offered drink, though he barely sipped the latter. Even as they exchanged pleasantries, he was expanding his awareness throughout the estate, cataloging the insect life and beginning his search.
"I understand you have a remarkable ability to locate lost items," Mallarawan said finally, setting aside his empty wine cup.
"I have had some success in that area," Kaelan acknowledged modestly.
"Good, good." The merchant leaned forward, his expression growing serious. "Three nights ago, a golden bracelet disappeared from my mistress' chambers. It is of singular design, crafted in Yi Ti and set with pearls from the Jade Sea. More importantly, it was a gift from me, and Nyla is... distressed by its loss."
Kaelan nodded understanding. "Have you any suspicions about who might have taken it?"
"I employ over a hundred servants," Mallarawan said with a shrug. "Any of them could have seized an opportunity. Or perhaps it was merely misplaced. In either case, I want it found."
"With your permission, I would like to examine your mistress' chambers, and perhaps speak with her about when she last saw the bracelet."
The merchant waved a hand dismissively. "Quaithe will show you to her rooms. She is not present at the moment—she finds the loss too distressing and has retreated to my summer palace by the sea. You will have full access to search as you require."
Perfect, Kaelan thought. Without the mistress present, he could use his powers openly without needing to maintain the pretense of conventional searching.
Quaithe led him through the estate to an opulent suite of rooms decorated in shades of gold and crimson. The bedchamber alone was larger than his entire new residence, with a massive canopied bed dominating the center.
"I'll leave you to your work," the steward said. "Call if you require anything."
As soon as the door closed behind Quaithe, Kaelan expanded his awareness, directing thousands of tiny searchers to examine every inch of the chambers. He maintained the appearance of a conventional search, moving about the room, opening drawers, checking beneath furniture, but his true investigation was happening on a much smaller scale.
After nearly an hour, one of his scouts found something unusual—not in the bedchamber, but in the adjoining garden. A golden object, partially buried in the soil beneath a flowering bush. Kaelan directed more insects to investigate, confirming that it was indeed a bracelet matching Mallarawan's description.
But the location was strange. If the bracelet had been stolen, why would the thief bury it in the mistress's own garden? And if it had been accidentally dropped, how had it become buried?
Kaelan expanded his search further, using his insects to investigate the soil around the bracelet more thoroughly. What they found was illuminating: tiny trowel marks in the earth, and traces of soil under the fingernails of gardening gloves stored in a small shed at the edge of the garden.
The head gardener. Kaelan recalled seeing the man when they entered the estate—an older fellow with weathered hands and a permanent stoop. Using his swarm, he located the man now, working in a different section of the estate's vast gardens.
With the information gathered, Kaelan returned to Mallarawan, who had relocated to a terrace overlooking the central garden.
"You've found it?" the merchant asked, noting Kaelan's confident stride.
"I have," Kaelan confirmed. "Or rather, I know where it is. The bracelet is buried beneath the eastern blood-rose bush in your mistress's garden."
Mallarawan's eyes widened in surprise. "Buried? How peculiar. Are you certain?"
"Quite certain. However, I believe I know who put it there." Kaelan paused, considering his words carefully. "Your head gardener, the older man with the gray beard. The soil beneath his fingernails matches that where the bracelet is buried, and the trowel in the garden shed bears traces of gilt from the bracelet."
The merchant's expression hardened, his earlier jovial manner evaporating. "Xandar has served me for twenty years. Why would he steal from my mistress only to bury the item in her own garden?"
"I don't believe he stole it," Kaelan said quietly. "I believe he was instructed to hide it."
Mallarawan stared at him for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "Clever boy. Very clever indeed." He sighed heavily. "Nyla has been... demanding of late. This little 'theft' was to remind me of her value, I suppose, and to extract further gifts as compensation."
Kaelan nodded, unsurprised. The politics of the bedchamber were the same in every world, it seemed.
"Retrieve the bracelet, if you would," Mallarawan instructed. "I shall deal with Nyla—and poor Xandar, who was merely following his mistress' orders—in my own way."
Under the merchant's watchful eye, Kaelan located the bracelet exactly where his insects had reported it. The piece was indeed extraordinary: a sinuous band of gold crafted to resemble a dragon, with pearls set along its spine and tiny rubies for eyes.
"Remarkable," Mallarawan murmured as Kaelan presented it to him. "Both the bracelet and your skills. I had heard rumors, but to see such skill firsthand..." He reached into his robes and withdrew a heavy purse. "The agreed-upon sum, one thousand honors. And my gratitude, which may prove more valuable in time."
Kaelan accepted the purse with a respectful bow. "I am at your service should you require my assistance again."
"Oh, I suspect I shall," the merchant said with a calculating smile. "A man in my position can always use someone with your particular talents. For now, though, I've arranged for my sedan chair to return you to your residence. We shall speak again soon, young Dhasir."