Cracks in the Shell

Chapter 14

They received a frosty reception at the entrance to the gardens. An elderly priest silently unlocked the doors for them and then sneered over his shoulder as he left. Carlos wasn’t surprised. They had accused Zui, a high priest, of complicity in murder. And now they had the gall to search the holy gardens. That made them an enemy of the high priesthood and unwelcome guests here. Well aware of the politics, Hungar had urged them to keep a low profile and only assigned three guards to assist in the search. 

“They act like the gardens belong to them,” Ayzili said, balling up her fists.

“They don’t?” Carlos asked.

Hungar shook his head. “They belong to the city.”

“And right now the city belongs to the baka,” Ayzili said.

Hungar bristled at her remark. “We’re doing all we can.”

Sensing the impending argument, Carlos changed the subject. “Let’s start at the edges and work our way in. We have a lot of space to cover.”

They headed along the outer wall, following it until they arrived at what looked like a Japanese dojo, surrounded by lily-clogged ponds. A tall man emerged from the compound to greet them. Carlos immediately recognized him from the council meeting; it was Sarn, the priest who had argued against them so vehemently. He’d rolled up sleeves, as if he’d been gardening, but there was no sign of a watch on his wrists. 

“Ayzili, I see you’ve brought more of your excellent luck into the city.” This time it was Hungar who stepped forward in anger, but Ayzili gently laid a hand on his arm.

“Sarn, don’t get in our way,” she said.

“You expect I’d stand idle? While non-believers defile the gardens?”

Ayzili kept her voice steady and even. “I don’t expect much from you, Sarn. I really don’t.”

“Yet you wish me dead,” Sarn grinned maliciously, “for sending your husband out on expedition.”

Ayzili reached for her sword hilt, but Sarn only widened his smile. He seemed to relish the anger he was provoking. However, he still took a step backwards.

“One of our priests had to go - to say the harvest prayer. Believe me, I took no joy in it.”

“You took joy,” Ayzili whispered under her breath. Carlos could barely hear her finish. “You took all my joy.” Her eyes had become wet and fierce. She wiped them on one of her sleeves.

“He supported our cause,” Sarn continued, “drafted many new laws, shared our vision of order. By defying me, you dishonor him.”

Ayzili walked to within a foot of Sarn and locked eyes with the tall priest. “You may have fooled my husband, but you won’t…” She didn’t bother to finish her sentence. Instead she turned and addressed the others, “Come on. We’ve no time for this.” 

They left the high priest’s hermitage and continued along the outer wall. Sarn remained behind and watched them go. 

“You owe me a watch,” Carlos said, pointing to his wrist. 

“Should we start with the garden’s torches?” Henry asked. Ayzili glared at him, still smarting from her encounter with Sarn. It made sense that Zui would hide the baka along the torch route; she just wished the suggestion hadn’t come from a priest. Carlos could read the hostility on her face.

He scratched his chin, unsure himself of Henry’s plan. A half hazard search could miss something. They should do this by the book. 

“No,” he said, “let’s split up into two groups. Work from opposite ends of the gardens.” He found a stick and drew a search grid in the dirt. “Zigzag back and forth, hitting each box. We’ll rendezvous at the falls.”