Goblin Precinct (Dragon Precinct) by Keith R. A. Decandido Page B

“However, I have already cast a Teleport Spell today that brought me from Barlin to here. Inanimate Residue is a complex spell, and Teleport is a powerful one, with the power increasing with distance. To cast both in one day is simply beyond my means.”
    Torin decided not to point out that Boneen had teleported to many a crime scene, performed the peel-back, and then teleported away. Besides, that was generally within the boundaries of the demesne, whereas Barlin was a two-week journey, so it wasn’t really the same thing.
    “I fail to see how—” Fanthral started.
    Danthres pushed herself off from the wall and stood between Boneen and Fanthral. “Ignore this idiot, Boneen.”
    “Excuse me—” Fanthral started again.
    However, Danthres just interrupted again. “What did you find?”
    “Bliss is not a natural narcotic. It was created with magic.”
    Fanthral squinted with apparent confusion. “Aren’t most recreational drugs of this sort enhanced by magic?”
    “You’re not listening!” Boneen was so agitated he almost fell off his stool. Torin moved to hold his arm so he could steady himself. “Thank you, ban Wyvald. In any case, my point is that it hasn’t been enhanced by magic, it’s been created by magic. Bliss is the creation of a wizard. And that’s a problem.”
    “Who cares who created it?” Fanthral asked. “What matters is who gave it to lothSerra!”
    “That matters to you ,” Boneen said tersely, “but of far more import to myself, and to everyone who is taking this drug in Cliff’s End is who made it in the first place.”
    “Why is that, Boneen?” Torin asked.
    “If a member of the brotherhood created something like this—in fact, if any wizard wished to create this—they would need sanction from the brotherhood, and I know for a fact that they don’t have it.”
    Snidely, Fanthral asked, “How can you be so sure?”
    Boneen closed his eyes and sighed. “As I was forcibly reminded recently, the brotherhood manages everything via committee. The sanction I mentioned comes from one of those committees, and I’m a member of it. So I’d know if something like this was submitted to the brotherhood. I’m afraid that Bliss is unlicensed magic, and it must be stopped.”
    Danthres closed her eyes and started rubbing the bridge of her nose between her thumb and index finger. “Please, Boneen, tell me you didn’t alert Gunderson to—”
    “I sent him a mage-bird shortly after I sent the one to you lot.”
    “Dammit!” Danthres pounded on the nearest surface, which happened to be the table lothSerra was on. “Now the brotherhood will stick their noses—”
    Holding up both hands, Boneen said, “No, they won’t. I’ve already spoken to Gunderson, and he assures me that he will not be inserting himself into the investigation. His exact words were that he prefers that those who were trained for such things handle it.” He smiled. “I can only assume he meant you two.”
    Torin sighed. “That’s something, at least.”
    “You must discover the source of this drug,” Boneen said forcefully.
    “As it happens,” Torin said, “we have a lead on that, which we had just received when you summoned us.”
    Danthres nodded. “So it’s back to Goblin to find Kempog and see if he’s really the distributor.”
    “What if he isn’t?” Fanthral asked.
    Torin grinned. “Oh, worry not. We’ll find something we can detain Kempog for, and then he’ll either talk, or send one of his cohorts to find out what we need to know.”
    Fanthral moved toward the exit. “Then let us be off. I wish to find lothSerra’s murderer once and for all!”
    Danthres shook her head. “Idiot. And now we have this lovely new wrinkle.”
    “Here it comes,” Torin muttered.
    “I hate magic!”
    Torin shook his head as he followed her out the door and up the staircase. His partner was eminently predictable. Sometimes that was even part of her charm.
     

TEN
    ON OCCASION, KEMPOG WISHED HIS FATHER