“We’ll be on it tonight.” Heron nodded. “But what do you want us to do in the meantime?”
“You can help Harper with research in the library,” Jax replied. It hit me then that he wasn’t in the best of moods. It was often difficult to read him, but sometimes his irritability was obvious. I had a feeling it could be related to the tension between him and Hansa, but since neither of them ever talked about it, there was no point in asking questions and getting myself thrown into the library with Harper and the others.
“Why? I mean, why?” Heron rolled his eyes, clearly displeased. “I asked how we could help, not how to get bored while waiting for the Spring Ball.”
“You are helping. We need research.” Jax raised an eyebrow. “Still allergic to books, huh?”
“You suck,” Heron shot back.
“Maybe, but I’m in charge.” Jax smirked.
Avril and Fiona glanced at one another, trying hard not to laugh, while Heron crossed his arms over his chest. Hansa cleared her throat, then nodded at Patrik.
“Patrik, Jax and I need to talk to you,” she said. “We need that beautiful Druid brain of yours to give us some protection spell options for the entire city. Swamp witch magic, too, if anything comes to mind.”
“For the entire city?” Patrik scratched the faint stubble on his chin, and I couldn’t help but stare at his lips, until he saw me. I quickly looked down at my hands. “I can think of a few, but they’ll require some materials and some team effort.”
“That’s doable, I hope,” Hansa replied. “Whatever you need, we’ll help. I’m thinking we could first protect the city, then go into offense mode on these… daemons.”
“Makes sense,” Jax agreed, then looked at Blaze and Caia. “Based on the info you gather from the families today, and on what we already know, we’ll put some pins on a map of the city and its surrounding areas. Hopefully, we’ll identify an attack pattern and radius.”
“Uh, guys?” Fiona said, demanding our attention. “I think we need to get back to the inn. Vincent said he was sending his tailors to help us with our outfits for the Spring Ball tonight.”
Hansa groaned, obviously displeased with the concept of dressing up for a ball.
“Patrik,” Jax said, “we’ll go and get this fancy dress business out of the way first, and then we’ll come back and talk about those protective spells. Do you need us to bring you anything from your room?”
“Yes, my travel bag,” he replied. “There are things in there which I’ll need for the spells.”
Jax nodded, then headed for the door.
“Coming, Scarlett?” Hansa asked. “Bet you’re tired of this infirmary by now.”
“No, I’m good.” I smiled and shook my head. “I’ll keep an eye on Patrik and Minah.”
“There’s no need,” Patrik replied bluntly, deliberately not looking at me. “I’m fine. I’m conscious and able to move—I can watch over Minah. The team needs you more than I do right now.”
I couldn’t help but feel rejected, and I wasn’t sure I was good at hiding the stinging disappointment that he’d caused in me. I looked at Fiona and Avril, who were both smiling knowingly at me.
“Come on,” Avril said. “Time to get you all dressed up for tonight. We’ll need to blend in and observe the hell out of these Exiled Maras.”
“The more we understand, the less weird they might seem.” Fiona giggled.
I forced myself to smile back and got up without bothering to look at Patrik again. I was afraid he’d be able to see right through me if I got trapped in those intense blue eyes of his.
I followed the rest of my team outside and up the stairs leading back to the Broken Bow Inn. Whatever happened next, I had to be on my toes and ready to perform. My team needed me; my friends and my family depended on me. Most importantly, that fragile, wounded Iman girl in the infirmary needed me.
She’d lost her father to these invisible daemons, and she’d nearly died herself. I felt like I owed it to her to shed light on this mystery and stop those creatures from taking more innocent people.
Fiona
(Daughter of Benedict & Yelena)
Vincent was waiting for us in front of the Broken Bow Inn, accompanied by a dozen tailors with portable wardrobes, chests of additional garments, and sewing kits. House Roho sure knew how to keep a promise. The tailors were all Maras, dressed sharply in bright colors and wearing broad smiles as they measured us from head to toe.
“Ah, there you are!” Vincent beamed at me. “I asked the receptionist about your whereabouts, and I was instructed to await your return.”
“Hi, Vincent.” I smiled back. “I hope we didn’t keep you waiting. We just got back from the infirmary.”
“How is the Iman girl?” he asked with genuine concern. The rest of my team stared at the tailors and the impressive amount of clothing they’d brought over for us. “How is your friend, the Druid?”
“They’ll both recover,” I replied. “Thank you for asking.”
“Good, I’m glad to hear that! Now! Who’s ready to look fabulous for tonight?” He grinned, looking at all of us as he spoke.
I had to admit, he was a sight for sore eyes, given the way in which our night had ended. Today he’d opted for a lighter outfit consisting of beige trousers and waistcoat, tall brown riding boots, and a navy-blue shirt, which was loosely unbuttoned to reveal a triangle of pale skin on his chest. His green eyes settled on me for a moment before he got distracted by Hansa’s groan.
“Ugh, I can’t be bothered,” she said, rolling her eyes, then went inside the inn and up to her room.
We all followed, along with the tailors, who seemed confused about her reaction.
“Milord, what shall we do?” one of them asked, startled by the sound of the door to Hansa’s room slamming shut.
“I suggest one of you take what you need and go up to her room,” Jax said with a smirk. “She’s not keen on fashion, but she will comply. Eventually.”
Vincent nodded at the tailors, who carried their kits and wardrobes upstairs, then patiently waited in front of each of our rooms. One of them knocked on Hansa’s door.
“Argh, fine! Let’s get this over with—fast! I’m busy!” Hansa’s voice boomed as she opened the door and dragged the tailor inside.
I couldn’t help but giggle. I heard him yelp before he disappeared into her room along with the wardrobe and sewing kit.
“I shall see you tonight, Fiona,” Vincent said as I reached the top of the stairs. I glanced over my shoulder and watched him bow politely before he left.
I smiled, mostly to myself, as I went to my room, where I met a female tailor with her dressing kits. The awnings were fully extended over the entire level of the city, so I pushed open the dark shutters to my windows to let some natural light into my room. As long as there was no direct contact with the sunlight, we were good.
“Thank you for taking the time to receive us, milady,” the female Exiled Mara said with a delicate smile.
“No, no, thank you for coming here to assist us.” I nodded respectfully. “As you can see, we really weren’t prepared for a Spring Ball…”
“That’s fine,” she replied. “It’s my job to make you look stunning tonight! I’m Aspen, by the way.”
“I’m Fiona,” I replied, smiling.
Aspen was a beautiful creature, significantly taller than me, with long black hair, iridescent blue eyes, and a slim neck. She’d chosen colors that did wonders for her pale complexion, her slender body snug in a simple, sky-blue outdoorsy ensemble—a long skirt, short waistcoat, and even shorter jacket with golden buttons and decorative embroidery. I had a hard time taking my eyes off it, as all the pieces were hand-sewn from generous strips of blue silk and decorated with genuine gold thread.
She removed the black cover of the clothing rack she’d brought up, revealing several gorgeous dresses in different styles, of varying lengths, and in a variety of colors, ranging from pale yellow to an intense shade of violet.
“Thank you, milady,” Aspen replied. “Made them myself.”
She gazed at me for a minute, taking in all of my key features—my auburn hair, my amber eyes, and my petite frame—then selected a turquoise silk dress, its upper part fitted with a bejeweled bodice and its skirt covered in fine floral motifs, embroidered with gold thread and a multitude of small soft red and pale pink gemstones. The bodice followed the same floral design, and it was fitted with a generous amount of pale yellow tulle meant to cover my shoulders and my upper back.
“I think this will look fantastic on you, milady,” Aspen said.
I slipped out of my combat suit and started putting on the undergarments that she handed to me, which were beautiful dark green lace and silk lingerie that seemed to have been made for my body and my pale complexion.
“Have you been working for the Roho family for a long time?” I asked, while Aspen fitted the bodice around my torso and started pulling the strings back, tightening the piece around my hips.
“About two hundred years, milady,” she replied.
“What do you think about them?”
I figured I might as well ask some innocent questions while I was here.
“I’m honored to have chosen this career path, milady,” Aspen said. “House Roho oversees the arts, and they’re wonderful patrons to begin with. I love making dresses and suits, and they sure love wearing them. I’ve made a good name for myself in this city, thanks to them.”
“They oversee the arts?”
“Yes. You see, the Five Houses of Azure Heights have patronage over specific fields. It’s been like that since our people first built the city. House Roho looks after the arts, of all kinds. Painting, sculpting, fashion, designing our finest jewelry and home décor… It’s all theirs to oversee. Their fortune funds our art school, and their endorsements of our skills often boost our individual businesses. House Obara, on the other hand, deals with law and administration. They write the laws to rule our city, and they oversee the very system that keeps Azure Heights running so smoothly.”
“What about the others?”
She finished tying my bodice, then helped me into the broad skirt, which was filled with countless layers of the same pale yellow tulle that was caressing my shoulders. The gold-and-gemstone embroidery at the top seemed like a continuance of what was on the bodice. She fastened the back buttons, and the fabric settled on my hips.
“House Xunn oversees architecture, infrastructure, and development,” Aspen said, checking every gem, every crease, and the hem on my skirt. “Our buildings, our roads, the tunnels and elevators, lighting, and everything else that makes this city work, it’s all thanks to them. House Mabaya deals with agriculture and hospitality. The inns, the taverns, the banquet halls, the farms, and food stores for both the Exiled Maras and the Imen, they’re all managed by Lady Mabaya.”
She opened her sewing kit, then pulled out a needle and gold thread, getting on her knees to fix a couple of small errors just above the hem.
“House Kifo is all about defense, law enforcement, and correction,” she said, the tip of her tongue sticking out as she labored with the gold thread between the red and pink gems.
“Can you tell me more about Kifo?”
“To be honest, I don’t know all that much, milady. You see, we do have our share of bad apples, and so do the Imen living here. We have a strict set of rules, and those who disobey are taken away. Their families are, of course, notified, but no one ever sees them again.”
“That’s a bit harsh!” I muttered.
“Maybe, yes,” she sighed, “but this is our new world. Our ancestors committed terrible crimes, and we do not wish to repeat them. We will do everything we can to avoid it. If the rules need to be harsh for us to keep our society under control, so be it. We accepted this a long time ago.”
“So, if your brother does something wrong, that’s it? You never see him again?”
“If my brother breaks the law,” Aspen made the difference clear, “I never see him again, no. Of course, appeals can be made. In some cases, clemency is possible. But that’s all I know. We don’t trouble ourselves with these issues any further. Call it a group mentality, if you wish. It’s how we live.”
A minute went by as Aspen pulled a tall mirror over for me to admire her craftsmanship. She was good, and she deserved all the credit for how good I looked. I nearly didn’t recognize myself, but the dress was a perfect fit.
At the same time, I couldn’t get this whole legal aspect out of my head. It sounded somewhat authoritarian, but they all seemed okay with it. I figured reading those laws would help me better understand what was considered taboo and didn’t merit forgiveness. I was suddenly looking forward to digging through their library with Heron, Avril, and Harper. More answers were bound to be in there, tucked away between pages of history and Exiled Mara legislation.
“Do you think the disappearances have anything to do with Corrections?” I asked, while Aspen helped me slip into a pair of simple but elegant pale yellow sandals with six-inch heels. “Like, I don’t know, those missing broke the law and were taken away and no one bothered to notify their next of kin? Or some overzealous Corrections dude enforcing his own interpretation of your laws?”
“No way.” Aspen shook her head, then stood up and moved around me, smiling as she gazed at my complete outfit. “That can’t be the case. I mean, look at Sienna alone. She’s a Roho; she didn’t do anything wrong. The same could easily be said about the other victims. These are innocent people going missing. Besides, our Correction Officers are reviewed every year. And our people are very good at speaking out if one of them gets out of line. It’s impossible. There’s no way they’re connected.”
She then took out a pair of earrings and a necklace that matched the dress—delicate droplets of red rubies and pale pink topaz mounted on fine gold. She grinned as she handed them over.
“These will be perfect,” she said. “You’ll be perfect!”
I chuckled, suddenly excited to wear all this tonight. I wondered what Vincent would say once he saw me.
Aspen was very open and communicative while she helped me out of the dress. She was keen to emphasize the importance of strict laws in the rule of Azure Heights. Some Exiled Maras truly had an issue with drinking blood from the Imen. They were primal and greedy, with a contemptuous nature and a disdain for the law. Some Imen were violent and easily committed crimes, stealing or killing other Imen and, in some cases, innocent Maras. These were all disruptive elements that caused nothing but trouble and grief.
The laws were meant to protect the people of Azure Heights from them. And the Correction Officers were there to enforce them and deliver punishment to those who sought to disrupt the balance of this so-called new world.
It made sense, in the end. If they wanted to enjoy the small pleasures of life, dress nicely, and sip some flavored blood under the triple moonlight, they were well within their rights. They no longer adhered to Eritopian laws, and we had no business changing that or interfering in their way of life.
Looking at it from that perspective, I could easily sympathize with the Exiled Maras. The other, unclarified angles, however, not so much. There was definitely something missing from this picture—our whole team could feel it.
Caia
(Daughter of Grace & Lawrence)
I was the first to finish with my dress fitting, courtesy of a very gentle and skilled Exiled Mara tailor named Laurel. I met with Blaze and Rewa downstairs by the inn’s bar. I knew we’d agreed to get her involved, as her support had been productive the day before, but I still felt uneasy around Rewa.
She was laughing at something Blaze had just said when I reached the bottom of the stairs, back in my leather two-piece combat suit. Her gaze left his and lingered on me for a moment, before she nodded my way.
“Hello, Caia,” Rewa said wit
h a flat smile. “Thank you for asking me to assist you today, as well. It is an honor and a pleasure.”
“Thank you for coming.” I mirrored her expression, then took out a small notebook from my backpack. I’d written down the names and details of the families we were going to interview throughout the day. “We’ve reviewed the list of names that the Five Lords were kind enough to supply us with, and we’ve settled on ten households to visit today. They’ve all lost family members over the last two months and will be more likely to provide us with fresh leads.”
She reached out and took the notebook, briefly scanning the names before she handed it back.
“I understand. Well, they’re all on the second level, at the base of the mountain,” she said, then smiled at Blaze. “Shall we go?”
I was the first to walk out, making sure neither saw me as I rolled my eyes.
The second level of Azure Heights could best be described as the poorer side of the city, mostly consisting of two-level townhouses, a large marketplace, and a small orphanage. Imen mothers who left the city often left their children behind, according to Rewa.
“But the children are always supported by our community,” she assured me. “In some cases, they’re even adopted by the wealthier Imen who service the Five Lords.”
Ten families on this level had lost sons, daughters, and fathers over the past two months. Most of them were farmers who helped look after the moon-bison herds at the base of the mountain, and had last been seen below, out on the plains with the animals—except for two Imen girls, who’d most likely been taken from this part of the city.
The girls were both cleaners, paid by the city to sweep and wash the streets early in the morning, and they’d been assigned to this level. There were no witnesses, but the girls were meant to be working the night they disappeared. None of the victims were Minah, though. We’d asked all the families about her, but no one knew anything about her or her father. I figured she might’ve been from another part of the mountain.
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