Chapter Two
Konrad tried to convince himself that he was free to postpone the next stage of the investigation until the morning. It was Solstice Eve, after all. Not only was he entitled to revel in the joys of the season himself; those whom he needed to speak to were likely to be busy doing exactly that. Would they welcome a visit from a stranger bearing ill-news, on such a night?
He could not carry these ideas very far. For all that his fireside and his bed might beckon, a man had died tonight, and violently. Could he be certain that the person responsible had now completed their brutal errands, and had no further targets in mind? Of course he couldn’t. Proceed he must.
But how? Vasily had not appeared to know of anyone who might wish him harm; he’d had no notion whatsoever as to the i
