Read The Inquisitives [2] Night of Long Shadows for Free Online Page B

up to your usual standards.”
    Wren looked around wistfully. “I know. I don’t know what happened. I think I’ll hold the next one in the Cogs, maybe combine it with a hunt. What’s the problem?”
    “No problem. Why would there be a problem?”
    “Larrien, I’ve played cards against you. I know your stonewalling face. Now, are you going to tell me what’s going on, or do I have to find out myself?”
    Larrien sighed. “Actually, I could use your help on this one. It appears that a murder has been committed back at the university.”
    Wren frowned. “A murder? What were they fighting over? A book or something?”
    “I have no idea. I’ve just been told about it myself.”
    Wren clapped his hands together. “Let’s be off, then. Let’s see if we can catch ourselves a killer!”

    Wren strode briskly down the dark, wood-paneled corridors of the university, Larrien stumbling to keep up with his longer strides. When he saw this, Wren slowed down a fraction.
    “What information do we have?” asked Wren.
    “Not much. The person who stumbled onto the murder has kept everyone out of the rooms.”
    “Smart. Who was that?”
    “An acquaintance of yours, actually.”
    “Really?”
    “Yes.” Larrien’s tone took on a slightly accusing note. “Wren, I’ve asked you before to clear it with me when you need access to the libraries. I won’t turn you down.”
    Wren stopped walking. Larrien forged ahead before realizing he was on his own. He turned back.
    “Are you saying Torin discovered the body?” asked Wren.
    “Not just discovered the body. He interrupted the murderer.”
    “Excellent.”
    Wren started walking again. He rounded a corner and found his dwarf partner lounging against a closed door while four members of the ordained clergy from the Hall of Aureon tried to get him to move. Torin grinned when he saw Wren.
    “You know, I was cursing your name all night, making me do research while you were off partying.”
    Wren waved his hand dismissively. “You didn’t miss anything, believe me. The party was a flop.”
    “That’s because I wasn’t there.”
    “No. Because you weren’t there, we still had some drink left over and there were no fights.” He shooed the clergy away. “Don’t you have some praying to do? Go on, move, move.”
    The clerics spluttered and glared at Wren, but Larrien just sighed and nodded at them to leave.
    “What happened to your face?” asked Wren, indicating thebruise that had spread over Torin’s right eye.
    “Bastard got a blow in while I was trying to get my knife.”
    “Makes you look prettier.”
    “Very funny,” said Torin.
    “Right. Are you going to move or should we stand out here all night?”
    Torin pushed himself up from his lounging position and stepped to the side. “After you, O Great One.”
    Wren opened the door. “Everyone else stay outside till I’ve had a look around.” Without waiting for a response, he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.
    Wren closed his eyes and breathed in the silence, opening his mind and letting his senses probe. He felt—
    Panic. It suffused the air in the room, impregnating the atmosphere with a heavy feeling that settled in the pit of his stomach.
    Anger.
    Fear.
    Pain. So much pain.
    Of course, these feelings would hover around any murder scene, but for Wren, they were something more. Torin had once asked if it was a magical talent, but it wasn’t. It was pure instinct.
    Wren opened his eyes, staring at the exact spot on the carpet where the murdered professor lay. He took in the room, noting the pillows on the floor by the unlit fire. He crouched down and saw the faint shimmer of powdered glass. He looked under the couch close to the door and saw broken shards scattered around. He swept them together gingerly. Crystal. Enough for two glasses.
    He walked along the wall, trailing his fingers over the expensive wallpaper. A couch was lying on its side. He looked to thecarpet where the indentations