Ben and Jae entered the house, and Jae looked around with a deep sigh.
“I don’t remember this man, but any violent death is terrible.”
Ben wondered how the humans on the island that seemed to love peace and nonviolence so much reconciled that fact with the immutable truth that they worshipped and served creatures that were capable perpetrators of brutal and efficient violence.
Because if there was one thing Ben knew without a doubt, a vampire did not attain the status of a god among immortals without being willing to do what it took to maintain their power. Sure, they’d taken vows of nonviolence on Penglai and dedicated themselves to peace, but that was now.
Everyone had a history.
Jae pointed to the saddles and the harnesses lying around the house. “Clearly Haitao was a hard worker, and he played an important role in the village.”
“The men who came to get him seemed to be friendly, but they said he didn’t have a family.”
“It’s not unusual.” Jae started poking around the house. “People on the outer islands have larger families. The craftsmen and artisans here on Penglai might have one or two children, but more than one is considered an indulgence. Many don’t marry at all but focus only on their work.”
“Interesting.” In theory, someone without any living family didn’t have bonds that could be used against them. They could be more reckless. Would a single and childless harness maker have risked the wrath of the elders to steal the Pearl Seal? Maybe he wanted a new life? Maybe he was just greedy.
Ben poked his head outside and asked one of Myung’s men, “Where did this man spend his time? Did he have friends?”
Both the men looked confused. “We didn’t know him, master.”
“Who would?”
“Perhaps you could ask at the tavern,” the other man said. “I smelled beer inside. Maybe he didn’t always like to drink alone.”
“Good thinking.”
The man looked pleased. “Thank you.”
Ben went back inside to see Jae crouched on the ground, looking at the pool of blood.
“Ben, come look at this.” He pointed at something just barely touching a drop of blood on the edge of the stain. “Do you see it?”
Ben bent down. “It’s a tiny piece of wood.”
“It’s a curl of wood.” Jae picked it up delicately between two fingers. “Like it was chiseled or possibly came from a manual drill.”
“Okay.” Ben looked around the room, up at the ceiling, then back at the curl of wood. “I don’t see any woodworking equipment in this place. So someone brought it here.”
“And it was on top of the blood.” Jae said. “The wood is fresh and lay on top of the blood. That means whoever left it here possibly worked with wood or was around a woodworker and picked it up on their clothes.”
“Then they left it here after Haitao was dead.”
“Yes. According to Elder Han’s head of guard, the body was found by a fisherman who was walking down the docks before dawn and saw the door open. He went inside and saw the dead man, then immediately went to the village guard who reported it to Myung.”
There was Myung’s name again. “The fisherman is not likely to have wood shavings on his clothes is what you’re saying.”
“Not likely at all.” Jae sat back on his heels. “But a carpenter or woodworker is, and they might even have a connection to the Pearl Seal.”
Ben smiled. “The men who were working on the renovations.”
“Exactly.” Jae stood. “Let’s go back to Myung’s. We need to know the name of the carpenter who worked on that gate.”
Tenzin had known love in her life. She remembered her mother’s songs when she fell asleep at night. The young man who had been her first husband had loved her. Nima’s love had comforted her and coaxed her toward life after thousands of years in darkness.
And Ben’s love? His love was the wind at her back and the fire that made her heart beat.
But what she saw before her?
Her sire put a firm hand on her shoulder. “It does not belong to you.”
Tears threatened the corners of Tenzin’s eyes as she stared at the neatly organized rows of gold artifacts, mountains of jewelry, glass, gems, silk, and porcelain. The treasury of the Eight Immortals was a well of riches while the grandeur of the palace above it was only a faint trickle of water hiding the true depth of ancient wealth.
“But it does belong to you—in part—and I am your heir.” Tenzin couldn’t tear her eyes away. “You granted me that role two thousand years ago, and you can’t take it back. So in a sense—”
“This treasury belongs to the Eight Immortals,” Zhang said. “The office and the island, not the elders as individuals.”
“Details.” She let out a slow breath and eyed a ruby the size of her fist. “Where is that from?”
Zhang looked at the vampire treasurer who held a massive ledger. “Maria?” The woman was a child of Elder Cao’s, the earth vampire who had dug this treasury from the rock of the island and whose children were entrusted with its safekeeping.
“The blood ruby of Konark,” the treasurer said. “A gift to the Immortal Woman in the early fourteenth century.”
I want it.
“Tenzin.” Her father’s voice was a warning.
She sighed and turned to the treasurer. “Have you noticed anything missing from the treasury?”
Maria frowned. “We keep track of any item in the treasury that is loaned or borrowed for ceremonial purposes. None of them—”
“I’m talking about a thief,” Tenzin said. “The Pearl Seal was stolen under the eyes of the elders; I am trying to determine if other items were taken.”
Maria blinked. “You suspect a thief has found their way into the treasury?” She narrowed her eyes. “Nothing has been reported to me, but give me a few moments.”
The vampire left Tenzin and Elder Zhang waiting near an intricately carved table with velvet trays, glass cases, and paperwork scattered along the top.
Tenzin turned to Zhang. “What is she doing?”
“Maria has a unique gift.” Zhang watched the blur of movement that erupted in the rows of gold, glass, and gems. “Elder Cao found her and turned her for this specific purpose.”
“What is her gift?”
“Eidetic memory,” he said. “Some call it total recall. Maria was working in a clerk’s office in Manila when Elder Cao’s son met her and discovered what she could do. Elder Cao saw her potential at once.”
“So she doesn’t just have a ledger,” Tenzin said. “She is a ledger? She remembers what every shelf in the treasury looks like?”
Zhang nodded. “She’s organized it over the past century,” he said. “Quite a remarkable feat considering its size. And highly useful. When official visitors are arriving at the palace, the palace staff can always come to Maria to see what artifacts or works of art should be put on display in the gallery. She knows the history of every one.”
“Fascinating.”
Tenzin and Zhang had no sooner finished chatting about Maria’s remarkable accomplishment than the vampire finished her survey of the treasury.