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Authors: Andrew Rowe
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beyond a practical wall of junk, Jonan led them to the reading room. A single bookshelf held a dozen books on subjects ranging from local history to esoteric sorcerous theory. They represented the bulk of his personal collection, and the most valuable of all of his possessions.
Beyond the reading room was his own bedroom, which he showed them hurriedly, explaining that he was embarrassed by the mess. Lydia maintained her usual dubious expression, but he didn’t think she detected any of the irregularities that the room hid.
Opposite the reading room was a stairway leading to the upper floor. The two upstairs doors led to the “private room” – which contained a bath and chamber pot – and the guest bedroom.
The sorceress paused in each room to mutter a brief incantation, which Jonan assumed was a knowledge sorcery spell similar to the one she had used earlier. Afterward, Lydia still appeared nervous, but satisfied that there was no one else to eavesdrop.
Nothing on her garb to identify any affiliations aside from her current cover , Jonan considered. She’s cautious enough to be one of ours, though.
With the tour concluded, each of them returned to the front room, taking seats. In the absence of a third chair, Lydia sat on the table across from the two men, still looking like she might draw her blade and murder either or both of them at any moment.
“All right. If we’re satisfied, I believe it’s time for some honest discussion,” Jonan offered, gesturing magnanimously with both hands.
The masked man glanced at Lydia one last time, to which she responded with a curt nod. With that, he pulled down his hood and removed his mask, revealing a surprisingly young man with dark hair and bright eyes.
“You can call me Taelien,” the unmasked youth said in a new voice, still somewhat deep, but much smoother in tone. “I came here to meet someone. My arrest was, so far as I can tell, a simple misunderstanding.”
Jonan laughed for just a moment before shaking his head to stop himself. “Sorry, sorry. A misunderstanding. Ah, my friend, you are far too kind to the people of this city.”
“What do you mean?” Taelien asked, furrowing his brow and leaning forward on his knees. Without the mask and the intimidating voice, he seemed a completely different person, almost child-like.
Is he just playing another character now? Jonan wondered, but it was too soon to tell.
“Jonan is right,” Lydia began before Jonan had a chance to explain. “Following the Tae’os Pantheon is illegal, but it’s such a minor crime that it’s almost never talked about. Typically, they’re just given a small fine and sent on their way. You carried a sacred relic into the city. The court sorcerers believed this was an intentional act of aggression from Velthryn, a provocation meant to trigger an action on Orlyn’s part. I’m not sure I disagree.”
Taelien shook his head. “I had no idea about the law. I’m not a spy, nor would I be interested in starting any sort of conflict.”
“No, but what about whoever sent you?” Jonan asked.
The dark-haired man reeled back as if he had been struck. “My parents? They would have no motive for that. I don’t think they’ve ever even been here.”
“That would explain their lack of knowledge of the law,” Lydia said. “But your average civilian doesn’t just carry around a weapon like that.”
Taelien nodded. “I apologize for inconveniencing you. I will be more careful about disguising the weapon in the future.”
Jonan quirked an eyebrow. “You’re missing the point, friend. Even if your parents didn’t have any idea about the law, it sounds as if someone set you up. Perhaps whoever you were sent to meet in the city.”
“Erik Tarren?” Taelien mused aloud.
“The scholar,” Jonan said incredulously.
Lydia glanced at Jonan, offering him a wry grin. “That’s what I said, too.”
Ah, she can be amused. Progress.
“Okay, so your parents told you to come to
Beyond the reading room was his own bedroom, which he showed them hurriedly, explaining that he was embarrassed by the mess. Lydia maintained her usual dubious expression, but he didn’t think she detected any of the irregularities that the room hid.
Opposite the reading room was a stairway leading to the upper floor. The two upstairs doors led to the “private room” – which contained a bath and chamber pot – and the guest bedroom.
The sorceress paused in each room to mutter a brief incantation, which Jonan assumed was a knowledge sorcery spell similar to the one she had used earlier. Afterward, Lydia still appeared nervous, but satisfied that there was no one else to eavesdrop.
Nothing on her garb to identify any affiliations aside from her current cover , Jonan considered. She’s cautious enough to be one of ours, though.
With the tour concluded, each of them returned to the front room, taking seats. In the absence of a third chair, Lydia sat on the table across from the two men, still looking like she might draw her blade and murder either or both of them at any moment.
“All right. If we’re satisfied, I believe it’s time for some honest discussion,” Jonan offered, gesturing magnanimously with both hands.
The masked man glanced at Lydia one last time, to which she responded with a curt nod. With that, he pulled down his hood and removed his mask, revealing a surprisingly young man with dark hair and bright eyes.
“You can call me Taelien,” the unmasked youth said in a new voice, still somewhat deep, but much smoother in tone. “I came here to meet someone. My arrest was, so far as I can tell, a simple misunderstanding.”
Jonan laughed for just a moment before shaking his head to stop himself. “Sorry, sorry. A misunderstanding. Ah, my friend, you are far too kind to the people of this city.”
“What do you mean?” Taelien asked, furrowing his brow and leaning forward on his knees. Without the mask and the intimidating voice, he seemed a completely different person, almost child-like.
Is he just playing another character now? Jonan wondered, but it was too soon to tell.
“Jonan is right,” Lydia began before Jonan had a chance to explain. “Following the Tae’os Pantheon is illegal, but it’s such a minor crime that it’s almost never talked about. Typically, they’re just given a small fine and sent on their way. You carried a sacred relic into the city. The court sorcerers believed this was an intentional act of aggression from Velthryn, a provocation meant to trigger an action on Orlyn’s part. I’m not sure I disagree.”
Taelien shook his head. “I had no idea about the law. I’m not a spy, nor would I be interested in starting any sort of conflict.”
“No, but what about whoever sent you?” Jonan asked.
The dark-haired man reeled back as if he had been struck. “My parents? They would have no motive for that. I don’t think they’ve ever even been here.”
“That would explain their lack of knowledge of the law,” Lydia said. “But your average civilian doesn’t just carry around a weapon like that.”
Taelien nodded. “I apologize for inconveniencing you. I will be more careful about disguising the weapon in the future.”
Jonan quirked an eyebrow. “You’re missing the point, friend. Even if your parents didn’t have any idea about the law, it sounds as if someone set you up. Perhaps whoever you were sent to meet in the city.”
“Erik Tarren?” Taelien mused aloud.
“The scholar,” Jonan said incredulously.
Lydia glanced at Jonan, offering him a wry grin. “That’s what I said, too.”
Ah, she can be amused. Progress.
“Okay, so your parents told you to come to
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