“He’s not here? You’re sure?” Bartolo said. His anger swiftly became replaced with concern. “I assumed he’s been here all this time. I haven’t seen him in three days. Where’s he been sleeping?”
Amelia sighed in exasperation. “It’s probably nothing. This is Tapel we’re talking about.”
“Yes, but three days? Is that like him?”
“I’m starting to worry . . .” Amelia said, turning suddenly frantic eyes on Bartolo.
“It’s probably nothing.” Bartolo exhaled. “Scratch that boy. I don’t have time to organize a search.”
As Amelia rose from the table, Bartolo heard the sound of a throat clearing, and he and Amelia both turned to see a steward standing just inside the doorway. By the steward’s side was a sturdy, round-faced man with a bald pate.
“My apologies,” the steward said, “but this man has been asking to see either you, Bladesinger Bartolo, or you, Lady Amelia. Knowing you were both here . . .”
“We’re busy,” Bartolo said, scowling.
“It’s . . . it’s about Tapel,” the bald man said.
Amelia and Bartolo exchanged glances.
“Who are you? How do you know my son?” Amelia demanded.
The bald man looked nervous. His clothing was plain and faded, but well mended, and his features were Alturan.
“I’m Fergus, a ferryman,” he said, twirling a woolen cap in his hands.
“Do you know where my son is?” Amelia said.
“I’m not sure,” he said.
“Well, do you know where he is, or don’t you?” Bartolo asked.
“Well . . . no, I don’t . . . but, you see, I’ve gotten to know the boy. He often takes a boat from the Pens to the Crystal Palace on Lordsdays. He didn’t come by last Lordsday . . .”
“Let me ask you one more time,” Bartolo interrupted. “Do you know where Tapel is?”
“I think I might have an idea where he’s gotten to,” Fergus said. “That’s why I came, actually. You see, he told me about a one-eyed man . . .”
“What one-eyed man?” Amelia demanded.
“Let him finish!” Bartolo glared.
Amelia’s eyebrows went up and she opened her mouth. “Why, you hypocritical . . .”
“If you keep interrupting, we’ll never hear what he has to say,” Bartolo said. He frowned at Amelia one last time before turning back to Fergus.
“Tapel saw a one-eyed man in the market,” Fergus said. “He said he saw something suspicious about him. I told him to say something to one of you, but he didn’t want to. Then, well, I waited for him on Lordsday—I’ve been keeping an eye on him, you see—and when I didn’t see him . . .”
“So you think his disappearance is something to do with this one-eyed man?” Bartolo said.
“I think it might, yes.”
“How can we find this man?” Amelia said.
“Well, you see, that’s the thing . . .”
“Out with it, man,” Bartolo growled.
“Well, I saw him, today—the one-eyed man, that is. He was buying resin in the Poloplats market. So I followed him all the way to Samson’s Bridge, but then I lost him. I can tell you he didn’t cross the bridge, though.”
“What does he look like?” Bartolo asked.
“Well, he’s got one eye . . .”
Bartolo’s hands moved as though to strangle someone, and he fought to control himself. “Where does it look like he’s from?”
“I wouldn’t say he’s from ’round here, that’s for sure. Even with all the newcomers, I know my Sarostar. I’d say, at a guess, Tingara?”
“And you lost him near Samson’s Bridge?”
“That’s right. Near the big three-legged tower.”
“The signal tower,” Bartolo said, his eyes meeting Amelia’s. “Jehral said he was ambushed by Tingarans near the river.”
“Lord of the Earth,” Amelia gasped, clasping her hands together. “What should we do?”
Bartolo felt his heart race. “Amelia, I need you to go to the Pens. Tell every boy and recruit you can find to head to Samson’s Bridge. Get them to bring my zenblade and armorsilk. Fergus, come with me.”
Bartolo and Fergus crept along the road. Bartolo was uncertain how many enemies he might face, and he knew that above all else, with Tapel potentially in enemy hands, he and Fergus couldn’t be seen.
Samson’s Bridge lay ahead, and just in front of the supports, on the Alturan side, Bartolo saw the tall tower with its shining prism mounted at the apex. He breathed a sigh of relief to see the tower still standing; whatever had befallen Tapel, it wasn’t related to the signaling system.
“Here’s where I lost ’em,” Fergus whispered.