The Shadowhand Covenant by Brian Farrey

tent. “Perhaps it would help if I explained. I assume you have some idea of what’s been happening to my people.”
    â€œThe High Laird ordered all Sarosans arrested.”
    â€œAnd do you know why?”
    â€œNo clue,” I said.
    Kolo rubbed his chin. “Neither did we. We sent emissaries to the High Laird under a flag of truce, asking why we were being persecuted. Our emissaries were arrested without explanation. The remainder of us fled across the Provinces to avoid capture. Then we intercepted a message from the High Laird to the Palatinate that suggested we had stolen several ancient relics from the royal vaults.”
    Theft? The Sarosans weren’t thieves. They chose to live simple lives. They had no reason to steal. And even if they had turned to a life of crime, trying to steal from the High Laird was a lousy first heist. The royal vaults were impregnable, a combination of locks, traps, and spells so dangerous the only one who’d ever attempt to steal from them would be—
    â€œThen give back what you stole,” Maloch said, breaking my chain of thought, “and let us go.”
    Kolo shook his head. “We are, I can proudly say, innocent.”
    â€œInnocent of theft,” I said, “but guilty of kidnapping.”
    To his credit, Kolo looked genuinely ashamed. “We heard rumors that the Dowager was sympathetic to our cause. We considered seeking an audience with her, but when we tried the same thing with her brother . . . Well, we couldn’t risk the rumors being false.”
    The Sarosan leader laid a hand on my shoulder. “You will not be harmed in our care. I’ll see to that. But our people have been wrongfully imprisoned, and our only choice is to take drastic measures. The Dowager will have Warras’s message tomorrow morning. Then she’ll have two weeks to persuade the High Laird to release all imprisoned Sarosans.”
    â€œAnd what happens if she can’t do that?” I asked.
    â€œI have faith that the Dowager will do the right thing.Until she does, we’ll do our best to keep you comfortable.” He nodded to Maloch. “And when our people are free, we will do all in our power to help search for your father. Now, please excuse me a moment.”
    The second Kolo stepped from the tent, I leaped straight up. “Kolohendriseenax! Can you believe it? The Kolohendriseenax. It’s just—I mean, I’m—I can’t even—I don’t know what to ask him first.”
    Maloch grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me until my vision blurred. “Would you get a grip on yourself? He’s a kidnapper. We’re his victims. And they don’t even want me! This is all your fault. We’ll never find my father.”
    I pulled myself free. “Are you kidding? We’re closer than ever to figuring it out.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWeren’t you paying attention? The High Laird has accused the Sarosans—who aren’t thieves—of stealing from his impossible-to-enter vaults. Meanwhile, the Shadowhands, the only thieves in the land who could possibly enter those vaults unnoticed, have mysteriously vanished.”
    Maloch threw up his hands in disgust. “You’re not making any sense.”
    â€œIt’s like par-Goblins say: Serris torrna m’yurra, sholla ser ontoron . ‘Those who choose to see coincidence fail to see conspiracy.’ It’s a mite too convenient that the Sarosans were accused of theft around the time the Shadowhands started disappearing.”
    The blank expression on Maloch’s face slowly gave way to understanding. “You think the Sarosans have something to do with my da’s disappearance?”
    â€œNo,” I said, peeking out through a gap in the tent. Nomadic by nature, they were used to pulling up stakes and moving on short notice. They very nearly had the entire camp ready to move. “But there’s