“Good question,” I said. “We didn’t do it, because we have no motive. We want the panacea. Making sure Desandra safely gives birth is the only way to get it. Why would we attack her or your guards?”

Hibla clamped her jaws shut and didn’t answer. We climbed the stairs, made our way through more hallways, and finally emerged onto the roof of the main keep, a square of stone.

Derek turned and sniffed. Hibla did, too.

“I smell urine,” Derek said for my benefit.

They walked to the edge of the roof, and the stench hit me, a musky, ammonia-soaked odor, like someone had mixed vinegar, onions, and fresh urine, given it a good shake, and let it fly.

“Ugh.” Derek grimaced.

“Cats.” Hibla loaded so much scorn into the word, her voice was practically dripping with it.

A stain marked the stones by the west edge. Derek shook his head and paused by it. “Marks.”

Long white scratches scoured the stone, where a cat had dragged his claws across the floor. The scratch marks were four feet long. Tall bastard.

“How did your people not hear this?” Derek asked.

“The castle is full of strange people,” Hibla said. “They probably heard it but didn’t note it.” She bared her teeth. “He marked in our territory. In our house. When I find him, he will die.”

Shapeshifters. The fact that he’d killed two of their people was less important than some scratches.

I surveyed the landscape. On the left the sea stretched to the horizon, blue and inviting. I would have to go swimming before this was over. On the other three sides mountains rose, like tall folds of green velvet.

“How many ways can you get to Gagra?”

“The port is the best way. Most of the roads have been destroyed by natural disasters, but there is a mountain pass to the northeast. And the railroad. The trains don’t run, but one can walk it. Also there are small private train cars. They go slowly, but you could hire one in one of the bigger cities.”

“These shapeshifters are strangers. Suppose a group of them came here. You said they’re not local, so they wouldn’t know the mountains and they likely have equipment and gear. They don’t know the land. They could’ve flown partway, but gliding always lands you lower than your starting point. It doesn’t seem very efficient or very fast. And they would be very noticeable, especially if they flew during the day.”

Hibla nodded. “They didn’t come through the port. I am notified of everyone who arrives.”

“That leaves us with the railroad or the pass. Is there a way to check if anybody came through either?”

Hibla nodded. “There is a fort at the pass. I can tell you by tomorrow if anyone came through.”

“What about the railroad?”