Master?
Ootapi spoke so softly, Konrad almost missed his utterance altogether in the noisy theatre.
Yes, dear serpent?
There followed a short silence.
Then Ootapi said: Dear?
Wretched shade? Is that more to your liking?
Yes.
I spoke sarcastically, if that makes you feel better.
A great deal. Thank you, Master.
You are most welcome.
Silence again.
Was there something? Konrad prompted.
Yes, Master.
And? What was it?
Of all things the loveliest.
Specifically…?
A corpse, Master, fresh and fair.
A… oh.
He was surprised, briefly, into silence.
It is… a murdered corpse, I suppose?
Oh, yes! Quite murdered, and carefully hidden.
Murders did not typically follow the Malykant around. It was his job to follow them.
Konrad looked hard at Nanda. What a coincidence, that she should
