euphridia
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Book 4: Chapter 42: All That Glitters
🕑 Added 2025-08-30 22:20:36 +0000 UTCWhile I tried not to look too giddy at the thought of finally learning what the rest of the Order of Gold was up to, Nora turned a bit icy.
âOur time would be better spent gathering intel for our journey ahead,â she muttered, folding her arms.
I put my hands together in faux prayer as I glanced between them both. âBut⊠we can try to do both, right?â
Nora pursed her lips. ââŠIf thatâs what you want.â
âWhy wouldnât I?â
Why wouldnât she?
Her eyes lingered on me, concern clouding them before she straightened and gave a slight nod. âYouâre right. They could be trying to oppose us.â
âWhat? No! I onlyââ
âRae, Iâd love to be proven wrong, but for now, we should consider it as a possibility,â she advised, wagging a finger. âIn their mind, you befriended their eternal enemy. Remember?â
âBut theyâre not like thatâŠâ I glanced at Relias for reassurance.`
His brows drew together, and he took his time before replying. âShe counsels not from malice, but prudence.â He started to smile, but it wasnât one of his better attempts. âBut take comfort, for truth shall enlighten our joyful reunion.â
Despite his agreement, Nora turned her glower on him. Before I could investigate further, however, the Will of Euphridia twitched in its scabbard. Given the irritation inherent in the movement, I was almost sure it was Oliver more than the blade.
âAlright, alright. For the sake of argument, Iâll keep it in mind.â
***
The marketplace between Fort Turriâs walls was a resounding riot of noise and motion. Merchants of all means shouted themselves hoarse over piles of dried grain, knick-knacks of all kinds, and unblessed blades that probably werenât worth the polish rubbed into them. Hybrids and humans elbowed each other for space between cramped stalls. The smell of dust and frying food permeated the entire area, and I found the combination unappetizing.
Threaded through the chaos were the knights of the Order of Blue. Again, I silently marveled at their bright capes and polished armor, realizing the Turri Accords most likely afforded them the new duds.
They barked orders, broke up scuffles before they got interesting, and checked packs with practiced casualness. But when their eyes fell on us, their vigilance melted away. A few even turned their mounts aside, pretending not to notice our passing.
The marketplace seemed to grow fancier the farther we moved in. At a polished oak doorway that looked far too respectable for any thiefâs hideout, Relias once again produced Noraâs dagger with a discreet flick of his wrist. A pair of uniformed men exchanged a glance, then stepped aside, gesturing us through without a word. We ushered upstairs as if this were the most natural arrangement imaginable.
Where was the back alley? The smoky den of neâer-do-wells? The whispered password and the shadowy informant with a dagger under the table?
Instead, Vultureâs suite opened onto a balcony above the market, with airy shutters wide to let in the din below. Inside, though, it was another world entirely. Thick crimson rugs muffled our steps. A carved desk gleamed with orderly stacks of ledgers. And at the center of it all sat the dark-haired man himselfâlean, sharp-eyed, and utterly at ease with us.
Not even a quirked eyebrow! And whatâs with the open shutters? Isnât he afraid of assassins? Erâassassins that assassinate assassins, maybe?
Honestly, the whole thing felt downright asinine.
âŠSorry.
âApple juice?â he offered, gesturing to a silver tray at a nearby table holding a glass jug and four cups.
Isnât wine more customary?
âAhâŠâ Relias sighed, suddenly crestfallen.
âAn older sigil, though still valid,â he explained, pouring a glass for everyone. He kept one cup for himself and took a small drink before setting it aside. âDonât fret, it wasnât your disguises that tipped me off.â
âI trust youâll be discreet?â Relias asked with a sour tone. âOur endeavors areââ
Vulture held up a hand. âNone of my business, and you could not pay me enough to jeopardize my innocence over them. But did you wish to hire me for a simple task?â
Relias sighed again and rubbed his temple. âWe wish to send a message.â
Vulture frowned, then turned to Nora. âIâd wager you have a discerning eye. Perhaps youâd care to see my crystal collection?â
Huh?
Nora jumped. âWho, me?â
Vulture stood up slowly, his lanky form overtaking my height. After pulling out a small key from his pocket, he unlocked a wall cabinet, from which he retrieved a giant orb along with its wire base.
âFeel free to⊠interact with it,â he said. âThough Iâm not sure of its current range. The center is somewhat cloudy, and the local animus appears to be affecting its tuning. Youâd be best to confirm receipt, my Lady.â
Nora grimaced. âSo you even know about me.â
Itâs a small world, after all. Smaller than Earth, for sure.
Vulture smiled brightly, and still, I could find no physical reason for his moniker.
âWhereâs it connected to?â
âChairo, High Temple.â
Nora glanced at Relias, who shook his head. Nora then put her hands behind her back. âAh, not interested, then. Itâs very pretty, though.â
âI stole it myself,â he said with a sense of pride. âRight off Councilman Proculâs desk while his chair was still warm.â His eyes flicked toward Relias. âI misjudged your designs. A rarity for me, but then, you have a different air about you now. Much livelier, Iâd say. It seems returning to the real world has been good for you.â
Relias refused to meet his gaze. âBy sky,â he muttered.
Vulture held up his hand.
Relias replied by holding up three fingers.
Vulture shook his head and held up his hand again.
âAre you haggling?â I asked, a bit dumbfounded. âJust pay full price!â
Make the church pay for it.
âHeâs indulging me,â Vulture explained with a laugh. âA certain someone would never let him live it down if he didnât at least try.â
I bore my eyes directly into his, noting that his were a lighter shade of brown than most. âAnything else about this certain someone?â
Vulture pursed his lips, his eyes dimming. âWe all have amends to make with her, thatâs certain. But Goddess willing, weâll all get drunk together someday and have a good laugh about it.â
That means he knows sheâs somewhere safe, still a bit put out with meâŠ
But sheâs not⊠actively seeking to harm us?
Chairo would be the worst place to start that kind of thing, right?
Nora started to rock back and forth on her heels. âAll drunk together⊠That would be quite an Order to fill, wouldnât it?â
Relias nodded. âEspecially since we would require an additional three goblets of Gold, not just one.â
I held my breath, mostly because I couldnât decide if this was witty or overwrought.
âWhere would we get them from?â Nora beamed.
At that, Vulture stopped smiling. âTwo from Chairo itself, one encrusted with emeralds, the other crowned with ox horn for the occasion⊠The other one⊠Iâm not sure.â
Tetora?!
I started to look around in a panic.
Paper and something to write with!
âWeâre already on the lookout for the perfect piece to complete the set,â Vulture assured me. âWeâll procure its whereabouts soon.â
Relias gave me one glass of juice and began to pull out a tiny piece of parchment. âIâve written the message alreadyââ
Nora grabbed it out of his hands. âWhatâs it say?â she asked after she had already unrolled it.
I scowled. âShouldnât you have asked to see it firstââ
âPayback for stealing my dagger,â she muttered under her breath as she showed it to me.
Old Wolf,
The newest harvest appears dull yet innocently fair, but if handled, it develops a black rot that spreads slowly from within to throughout. Let all lanterns draw on the wise fire of antiquity, knowing the anointed shadows surrounding them are friends, not foes.
My head hurt just thinking about it.
Even Nora looked a bit puzzled, at least to my trained eye.
âIt speaks of what we learned recently,â Relias explained carefully. âThe recipient is to tell his colleagues to take precautions, no matter their discerning skills.â
Oh, the Ereborite!
I guess he had asked Master Landon to study it...
âThatâs all you want to say?â Nora asked, twirling a lock of hair between her fingers.
Relias nodded. âEven so, it is perhaps too much. My earlier counsel must be overturned, and the Old Wolf isâŠâ His eyes flicked once toward Vulture. âDiscreet.â
Caught glancing over our shoulder at the note, Vulture cleared his throat. âSpeaking of discretion⊠I would advise against marching through the Wastelands to reach the Land of the Dragons. You should turn north earlier and hop a boat to the island of Nivarra. You'll be able to pick up another northbound for the area proper.â
All three of us flinched, but I was the first to find my voice.
âNobody said anything aboutââ
âNo one had to." Vultureâs face fell as if we had insulted him. âWhatever that new ore means to your Purpose, people are throwing their lives away to mine it out of the large deposits recently discovered in the north.â
âLarge⊠depositsâŠ?â
Relias groaned. âNo doubt the ancient handiwork of SparklesâŠâ
I blinked. âSâŠSparkles?â
He nodded gravely. âSparkles.â
Vultureâs frame turned taut. âSparkles! You mean dragons are real?â
Comments
rhekke
You can't steal what's freely offered! :D
Euphridia
Ohhh dang I gotta! Thank you and sorry for the steal!
rhekke
Welcome Back! Sparkles? Sparkles. Sparkles!
