by B. T. Narro
“He would’ve killed you if it wasn’t for Souriff. It might’ve taken some time, but he would’ve done it eventually. I don’t want you thinking you can face him again if he comes back.” Then he asked Charlie, “Does the king have any idea why Gourfist was awakened?”
“None so far.”
“I think we all will soon enough, and I’d wager it has something to do with this army in the forest.”
I was still confused about something that had not been answered. “I know the king needs the support and taxes of the people here in Koluk, but is there another group of people he can use to get rid of the thieves? I feel like we should be doing something more important.”
“Like what, Jon?” Leon asked mockingly. “You want to run into the forest and throw your life away to the traitor, Endell Gesh? I’m sure that’s exactly what he wants.”
“I don’t know what, but something. It doesn’t seem like the time we spend here is amounting to anything.”
“It has, and it will,” Leon said as he waved the king’s open envelope. “Just trust me and find out what you can today. More than ever, we need to know where the thieves are hiding. Like you said, this has gone on long enough. It’s time to end it. If the blacksmith has no leads, just keep him happy by making sure no one steals from him for a little while longer. We need the support of many people here, especially him and the woodsmen. Koluk is the most vulnerable city in Lycast, being so close to Curdith Forest. We have to be able to defend it, or it will be taken and used to fortify our enemy’s army. Then there will be no hope of stopping them from taking the capital. The tax collectors are out getting coin from the people of Lycast, and an army is in training thanks to the Yorns and the Chespars. There is much you don’t know about what’s happening, but your job isn’t to know. It’s to do as you’re told. We could spend all night discussing this, or you could do something to actually help. Do you understand now?”
I nodded. I was glad to hear that there were many things happening to help protect Lycast that I hadn’t known about. I looked at Kataleya. At her mansion, she had mentioned how her family and the Chespars could maintain an army, but I didn’t know that they were actually training one.
She still looked at me as if she had something she very much wanted to tell me, her mouth opening without words coming out.
“It’s getting late,” Jennava said. “All of you go now. We need a location as soon as possible of someone important in the Thieves’ Guild.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
As Remi led me through the city, we both kept an eye out for anything suspicious. Koluk seemed to be even more crowded than the capital, the streets busy with people. There were more people who had visible dirt on their clothes than those without. I imagined that this was a place where people worked hard. So was the capital, but something about Koluk seemed very different. It took some time for me to figure out what it was.
There was a feeling of rivalry every time I walked through the capital streets. It was like there was a finite amount of coin and everyone knew this, and they were all in competition with each other to get it. Shopkeepers aggressively pursued customers with loud voices and offering “great deals.” In Koluk, there was less chatter, fewer interactions, and no one trying to sell anything to people walking down the street. Most people seemed like they wanted to be left alone, and the shopkeepers seemed to know this. I had no idea what these people had witnessed, with Cason and so many dark mages controlling the city, but it appeared to have left a mark on them.
“Jon?” Remi asked with a squeak of her voice.
“Yeah?”
“Um…did something happen with Kataleya while you two were away?”
I was wondering when she would ask that. “Just what you already know. Her father was murdered while we were both there.”
“You and Kataleya didn’t…kiss or anything?”
“No.” I was glad I didn’t have to lie. Now if she asked if Kataleya and I had done something long before our trip, then I would have to.
“Oh,” Remi said, sounding surprised. She was silent for a little while before she asked another question. “Can you tell me more about when her father was murdered? Is that when Eden attacked also?”
I looked over at Remi closely. It was hard to get a read on her thoughts, but she must hate Eden. Her friend had betrayed her and had just about killed her with a knife through her neck. I could still remember the feeling of Remi’s chest cracking when I was pushing on it to pump her heart. It was a testament to mana that not only was she standing here today, but she was also completely better.
“Eden and Valinox attacked later,” I informed her, “when it was just Hadley and I traveling to the castle.”
“Can you tell me what happened exactly?”
“I would, but shouldn’t we be watching out for traps?”
“Perhaps, or perhaps not. It could be better if they think we’re not ready for an attack.”
“Why is that?” I asked.
“Because then they might try something.” She paused. “I can’t imagine you would let anything happen to us. We might actually capture someone else.”
It was nice to hear that she put so much trust in me. I supposed I trusted Aliana’s earlier statement, as well. These thieves did not wish to kill us. And if they didn’t want to kill us, then Remi was right. Nothing would happen to us with me around.
She continued to lead me to the blacksmith’s forge as I told her about the event. I had to make a decision right away about how accurately I would describe Eden’s hesitation.
I was tired of keeping things in around people I trusted, and who trusted me. The truth was best.
I described the event from beginning to end, telling Remi exactly where Eden had impaled me with her dagger each time. I also told her how I hesitated when I had a chance to kill her and found that I couldn’t. I expected Remi to share her thoughts, but she didn’t speak. Even after I finished, she just showed me a glance here and there with a blank expression.
“I strongly believe Eden didn’t want to kill me,” I said.
Remi looked back at me silently, still. I didn’t know how else to get her to speak up, but I tried again.
“I’m pretty sure she missed my vital spots on purpose.”
Remi’s eyebrows bent downward. “She didn’t spare me.”
“I know.”
“And we were close.”
“I know,” I repeated.
“Then why do you think she spared you?”
“I can only guess that she’s starting to change her mind about following Valinox.”
“Or she thinks you’re more important than I am.”
“It’s not that, Remi.”
“It’s fine,” she told me to my surprise. Her tone was as if she really meant this. “I’m not as important as you. No one is. I think it does mean that she’s changing her mind, but I still wouldn’t trust her if we have the choice. She’s made her decision.”
I didn’t feel right accepting what Remi had said about me. “I’m not more important. I just have a wider range of mana, so I’ve been more useful in certain situations.”
“You shouldn’t be so modest. You know it’s not just your mana. There’s something about you. Everyone sees it. You should, too. You have to. If you don’t, you might end up sacrificing yourself for one of us. You mustn’t let that happen, Jon. You are more important.”
I didn’t know what to say.
“It’s all right,” Remi continued. “You don’t have to say anything.”
I nodded. “Then instead let me tell you what happened in Granlo. I’ve been wanting to for some time now.”
“I’d like that.”
By the time we made it to the outskirts of the city, I’d finished divulging the events that had unfolded. Remi then made it clear that she did plan to visit Granlo and make sure there was no further abuse. She might even share a few words with her parents.
“But I might not be able to visit until all of this
is over,” she told me. “I have a feeling that the hardest part has yet to begin.”
I knew what she meant. Every week seemed to be harder than the last, our challenges multiplying.
“I really hope Shelly Berger will be alright until then,” Remi said. “She was one of the few girls who was nice to me growing up. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.”
“Do you think I should’ve left her and Gerald alone?”
Remi seemed to be in thought for a moment. “I believe whatever Gerald would do to her would be the same whether you’d visited or not. At least this way, there is a small chance that his fear of me might protect Shelly. And I certainly like the idea of him thinking about me with fear.” She looked at me. “You made the right choice.”
I was glad to hear it.
Soon we reached the northern edge of the city, and I was amazed at what I saw. I thought we were visiting a simple forge, but this was more like stepping into another world.
“Whoa,” I uttered.
“It is something, isn’t it?” Remi said.
On the other side of the short river, over a small bridge, was a massive structure I had never seen or heard of before. It seemed to be a furnace, given the heat I could feel even fifteen yards away, but there were so many parts involved that I couldn’t be sure. A massive wheel, moved by another nearby river, appeared to be part of a unique system of ropes and planks. I figured everything I saw was working together just to send concentrated air into the furnace, as I noticed the ends of massive blowers connected to the moving water wheel, while the other side of the blowers disappeared into the furnace.
A second bridge led to the top of the structure, this one coming from the hill that led into the woods. I could see the woodsmen Leon had spoken about, their camp at the edge of Curdith Forest not far from here. A couple of men were carting what looked to be charcoal over the bridge to the top of the enormous furnace.
“What is all this called?” I asked. There was so much more to it than just a furnace.
“It’s the industrial complex,” Remi explained. “It’s one of the reasons Koluk is important. There isn’t anywhere in the capital that metal can be produced at the same quantity and quality. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but the late king worked with Cason to take control of Koluk. This whole industrial complex served Cason’s will, and therefore Oquin’s as well. We’re sure much of what was produced was sent to Rohaer, or it was sold for coin.”
“Who exactly is we?”
“Leon and Jennava. Mostly Jennava. She lived in Koluk for a long time, gaining Cason’s trust.”
I had almost forgotten that she must’ve used dteria in order to do this. She was more proof that there could be other people like Hadley, who had the willpower to resist corruption from the forbidden sorcery.
“Charlie must be very fascinated with this place.”
Remi held a small smile. “He certainly is.”
That made me wonder if something had happened between Remi and Charlie. I had seen them kiss each other passionately during the night the king cursed all of us in hopes the traitor would reveal herself. But Remi had seemed embarrassed around Charlie afterward. Perhaps that had changed.
“It’s about time,” said a heavyset man with a blackened apron. He was leaving a stone-walled shop, a structure more resembling what I had expected to find upon visiting a blacksmith. However, this structure was much larger than the one of my imagination. Through the open door, I could see a number of shields overflowing out of chests.
“You the guards from Leon?” he asked.
“We are,” Remi said.
“Where’s the rest of you?” he complained.
“It’s better if there are fewer of us,” Remi explained
“Why is that?” he asked skeptically.
“Because the thieves are more likely to try something that way. You should keep us out of sight. Where will we be staying?”
He put his hand to his chin for a moment. Then he began to nod. “Yes, all right. I have sleeping quarters in the basement, but my young boy’s there as well, separated by a wall. I don’t want him hearing anything uncouth from the two of you. You got it? You’re supposed to be listening for thieves, anyway. You’d best not—”
“Please,” Remi interrupted to stop him. “That’s more than enough. We are here on business. It’s in our best interest to catch the thieves. That’s all we will be trying to do.”
I asked, “Have they been coming every night?”
“They’ve been poking about each night, yes. Haven’t taken anything. I think they’re scoping the place out while waiting for my shipment. The woodsmen have about as much patience as I do regarding these thieves. They’ve had to put in more work to make up for what they’ve lost, and they’re not happy about it.”
“Jon, maybe you should see if any of them need healing?” Remi suggested.
I nodded. I had been thinking the same thing.
The blacksmith had a surprised look. “Is he the healer I’ve heard about?”
“I am,” I said. “Do you or anyone you know need healing?”
“A number of the woodsmen have their usual issues, and my boy has got a cut that doesn’t look too good.”
“That’ll be no problem.”
“Well, I’ll be.” He smiled for the first time since seeing us.
*****
Remi and I decided to sleep in shifts that night. I didn’t like the idea that I would be missing out on sleep, but I was starting to see why keeping this industrial complex safe from thievery was worth losing sleep over.
There were many woodsmen with aching arms and backs, some with cuts and bruises, and one man with an illness that had stopped him from working. They sent for him while I was healing the others and taking care of the young boy’s infection. All the while, Remi stayed vigilant. If the thieves had sent a scout to watch, she didn’t find him or her.
Spirits picked up when I started healing and even more by the time I finished. I received many thanks, especially from the blacksmith, but it was the other phrases spoken from the woodsmen—about how good the king was to send the healer around Lycast—that really lifted my heart. Considering how dejected the woodsmen and the blacksmith had been before I’d started healing, it was nice to see my actions making real change. And of course, I never grew tired of easing people’s pain and curing their sicknesses.
“Well done, Jon!” Remi said as we went back to the blacksmith’s place of business. “Sometimes I still can’t believe what you can do with mana.”
“Thank you, Remi. But I feel the same way sometimes when I see you make those huge fireballs. Have you been keeping up with training here?”
“I tried in the beginning, but my fire was making people nervous. I’m very much looking forward to getting out of here and returning to the castle.”
“Oh yeah, it was really nice to return, even for a little while.”
She nodded. “Michael and I were a little jealous that we weren’t the ones who had been debilitated and taken back to the castle.”
I gave a laugh.
“I was actually serious,” she said.
“Oh.”
We both laughed this time.
Trying to sleep in the blacksmith’s basement was a little like trying to sleep in a prison cell, in that there were no windows and no furniture. There was just a bed, and some rusted weapons and shields against the walls.
Remi left me alone in the room after assuring me she would be fine on her own because she wouldn’t stray too far.
“I’ll come back to wake you up,” she said.
“Thank you.”
It took me a little while to fall asleep, but I eventually did. Remi woke me up hours later.
“Your turn,” she said in a tired voice.
I sat up, rubbed my eyes, then pushed myself up from the bed. She climbed in, and I was pretty sure, from the sound of her breathing, that she was asleep before I finished putting on my shirt and pants and left fo
r my shift.
I spent the better part of an hour walking around the industrial complex in the dead of night. These thieves seemed brazen from everything I’d heard about them. I imagined if there was something here they wanted to take, they would do it whether or not one person was on patrol. There was plenty of light from the still-burning furnace, though I didn’t see anyone feeding the flames. I wondered how long it would take to die out.
Eventually, I chose a spot on the hill near the high bridge leading to the top of the furnace and sat down. I didn’t expect anyone to come. Remi and I were mostly here to appease the blacksmith.
I wanted to know more about this Valaer steel that the krepps had traded to the king, a material so hard that it could not be melted by flames or even a metal mage like Charlie. How heavy would such a substance be if we were actually able to turn it into armor? I figured the king did not expect to make a weapon purely from Valaer steel but from some sort of alloy of metals, though I didn’t know enough about smelting to be sure.
I noticed someone coming from the city. I wasn’t sure if he or she saw me, so I remained still, sitting in the shadows.
Eventually, she was close enough for me to see that she had long hair. She was familiar, as if I might know her just by her silhouette. Soon the light fell upon her blonde hair. I stood up when I recognized her.
I walked down the hill. I didn’t think anything was wrong, as she didn’t seem to be in a rush, but I had no doubt that she was here to see me.
“Jon,” Kataleya said as she finished closing the distance between us. “I figured you would be up. I can’t sleep. I have to tell you something.”
I didn’t know what else it could be besides something I wasn’t ready to deal with. “I have to be watching for thieves,” I said as an excuse.
“I know, but this is important. I have to know if I’m going crazy or if my concerns could be real.”
I was starting to second-guess myself. “What concerns?”
“I’ve been thinking more about my father’s life since the king convinced me to change my way of thinking about his death. I think I realized something, but I’m not sure if I should tell the king. You’re the only one I can talk to who met my father. Do you—” She stopped. Her next words sounded to be forced out roughly, as if she was nervous of speaking them aloud. “Do you think he was capable of treason?”