The wind streamed through Jen’s hair when she leaned over the side of the golden chariot. Her heart raced and she couldn’t stop smiling. She’d never flown before and the sensation exhilarated her.

Below them the sprawling expanse of Port Valcane squatted in the dying sunlight. The oldest city in the kingdom, Port Valcane was the first village the settlers carved out of the wilderness when they arrived from the Old Empire. It had grown a thousand times since then, and now covered a mile north to south and three-quarters of a mile east to west.

She’d gotten to know the city well in her year there, from the stink of the fish market to the perfume of the merchant villas. Jen preferred the fish. At least they weren’t apt to bite you. Most of the merchants she’d met would put a dirk in your kidney for an extra copper.

Jen’s good mood dimmed a little when she considered what awaited her down there. Her former commander, Watch Captain Tosh, expected them to report in the moment they landed. A competent administrator, Captain Tosh had a bad habit of touching his female subordinates. If he laid a hand on her this time she’d knock his teeth down the back of his throat. She was visiting the city as an independent investigator for the crown and he had no authority over her. Of course, he could make her job a lot harder if he ordered his watchmen not to cooperate.

A groan pulled her mind back to the present. Edward slumped against the side of the chariot, his skin a sickly green. They hadn’t flown out of sight of The Citadel before he’d thrown up over the side. To say flying didn’t agree with him would be putting it mildly. She knew people got sick on boats, but she’d never heard of anyone getting sick while flying. In Edward’s defense, the only other person she knew that had flown before was Damien, and nothing much bothered him.

She patted her subordinate on the shoulder. “Just a few more minutes.”

“Yeah, after we check in we should get something to eat.” Alec grinned. Like Jen he seemed to have enjoyed the flight. “I hear good things about the fish stew.”

Edward scrambled to get his head over the side of the chariot before he gagged. Rhys and Talon laughed.

Jen shook her head and frowned at Alec. He winked back. She turned away so he wouldn’t notice her smile. The youngest member of her team had a crush on her and she didn’t want to do anything to encourage him. Romance between teammates never ended well and once in a while it ended with someone dead. If she could help it, no one in her command would die.

The chariot descended toward the city. From the front Master Shen said, “You enjoyed the flight. You and your brother have the same smile.”

She left Edward to his gagging and moved up beside the dark-haired sorcerer. “It’s wonderful.”

Edward let out an especially loud gag.

“I enjoyed it anyway. I can’t speak for everyone.”

Master Shen laughed. “I know a couple sorcerers who don’t like to fly, though neither of them so loudly as your man. It’s not for everyone.”

He reached into an inside pocket of his gray cloak and pulled out a six-inch stick of pale, polished wood. She took it and found it warm in her hand. “What’s this?”

“It’s a call stick. I infused enough of my soul force into it to last a week. Just break it if you need me and I’ll come as fast as I can. If the investigation takes more than a week we’ll need to meet up so I can reenergize it.”

Jen slipped the stick into the pouch on her belt. “I assumed you’d be working with us.”

Master Shen shook his head. “Sorcerers make people nervous. You’ll have better luck on your own. I have a task of my own, straight from the archmage no less.”

He offered no details so Jen assumed he had orders to keep them to himself. That didn’t bother her. She had things of her own she couldn’t talk about. “Do you want to plan a spot to meet in six days to compare notes and recharge the call stick?”

“Good idea. Are you familiar with The Mermaid?”

“Sure, everybody knows The Mermaid. They have the cheapest drinks and best food in the city. Not exactly a private place for a meeting.”

“On the contrary, it’s a perfect place for a meeting. The crown owns the tavern. We have a sorcerer on duty at all times, listening in to the gossip. You’d be amazed what you can learn if you just listen. When you arrive, ask the barman for the capital suite. He’ll give you a key and walk away. Go to the third floor and turn right, it’s the last door on the left. If I’m not there when you arrive, I will be shortly.”

Jen tried not to stare and failed. She’d worked in the city for a full year and had no idea the government owned The Mermaid. “Does Captain Tosh know about this?”

“No one in the city government knows.” Master Shen turned to face her, his usually smiling face serious. “The city government doesn’t always have the capital’s best interest at heart. Don’t mention the tavern to anyone. You never know who might be listening.”

Jen stepped back to let Master Shen concentrate on landing the chariot. What had seemed a simple mission now looked a good deal more complicated.