A smoky haze filled the air and the smell of bunt wood lingered. Last night, the fires glowed red against the low clouds bathing the city in a hellish red glow. There was another incursion into Mudtown, but this time the rain hadn’t come to quell the destruction. The haze that lingered tickled the back of the throat and stung the eyes. Prince Ohacha of Gaag moved through the nervous streets. His thoughts were as turbulent as the crowded streets and alleyways. There were rumours spreading through the city that Mudtown had been leveled to the ground. That the fires had burnt every last remaining piece of the dirty slum outside the walls. That there had been real fighting this time instead of rampant arrests. Clashes in the streets between the guild against a real armed and organized counter-force. Whether or not the rumours were true, it was impossible to tell. Either way, most of the city gates had been closed and remained closed. Soldiers manned the walls, keeping an eye for men trying to climb the fortifications or boats trying to bypass the walls by sea. There had been a collision between two ships in the harbour and the bay was clogged to near standstill while sailors worked to repair the damage. It felt to Ohacha that the whole city of Caso sat on a knife’s edge. A razor thin line between stability and chaos.

There was, perhaps, no worse time to leave the safety of Patzau Yohati’s estate to cross the city. Unfortunately, the choice was not theirs. Ohacha thought that stepping through Patzau Yohati’s fortified gate one last time would give him closure. That it might make things easier. It hadn’t. Ohacha’s argument with the old Patzau had been the final straw in their tenuous relationship. He had expected that finding another patron in Caso would be easy.

Ohacha considered his group powerful, with waning but still significantly deep coin-purses. They had notable tiles and valuable skills. Ohacha’s uncle had negotiated many times without issue. However, Ohacha severely underestimated just how difficult the transition would turn out to be. And when he failed again and again in his negotiations to find them a new patron, his confidence fathered. Worries became shame. Shame became doubts. And by the end of their final week, Ohacha found himself out of time and questioning everything. He had never been the best shot with a bow, or the best sailor, or swordsman, or speaker, but Ohacha had always thought himself decent enough in all facets to get by. Now that these presumptions had been put to the test, he felt ashamed at his ineptitude. Time and time again, his requests and parleys were met with “no.” His rash choices had left them in a precarious situation and Ohacha felt himself crumbling under the pressure to fix it. Uncle Aramuk would have handled it better, Ohacha thought to himself. He would have negotiated, kept them in the estate. But Aramuk was dead, and that too felt like his failure.

What Ohacha hadn’t considered when he had confronted the old Patzau was the damage Yohati could inflict on his social credibility within the important circles of Caso. With a few quick messengers, Patzau Yohati had sewn the seeds of distrust against his former beneficiary. It seemed the easiest way to drive someone out of the city. Ohacha had spent nearly the entire week speaking with lord after lord, noble after noble, only to be turned down again and again. The encounters began to mirror one another. Each person met, those who agreed to meet in the first place, echoed the same sentiments and feelings. It got to a point where Ohacha already knew what was about to be said by the look in their eye, well before words were spoken. Each time he sat down to talk, the odds felt stacked against him. When he shared these feelings with Cask, the swordsman suggested the very same thing Ohacha had been considering himself; that Yohati had damaged their reputation in addition to kicking them out. Gaba’ké insisted that people were simply more cautious and on edge due to the current crisis outside the walls. Ohacha wasn’t convinced.

It wasn’t until their final night that their luck finally turned. Ohacha finally managed to coordinate a meeting with Patzau Hadashenta of the Auction House. It had taken considerable effort to even arrange the meeting. And despite his persistence, once again he was met with a polite but indifferent refusal. Similar to each of his previous meetings, Ohacha left feeling defeated.

However, as he made his way out of Patzau Palace, his luck finally turned. While descending the steps into the gardens outside on the Palace, Ohacha crossed paths with the noblewoman he had met in Patzau Yohati’s gardens all those weeks ago; Piitra Hadashenta; Patzau Hadashenta’s wife. She was accompanied by several household soldiers and was also on her way to see her husband. Piitra, as it turned out, had both a soft spot for Ohacha and a swaying influence over her husband. Upon hearing of Ohacha’s predicament, she marched up angrily to speak with her husband on his behalf. When she returned shortly thereafter, Ohacha was offered the use of her family’s residence in The Spires. An apartment, Ohacha would learn later, that the Patzau could not refuse him, as was not his to withhold.  

And so it was that Ohacha found himself trekking across the city through the thick smoky haze with Rolena, Gaba’ké, and Cask in toe and one of Piitra Hadashenta’s retainers leading the way to their new home. Gaba’ké had departed early in the morning and returned with several young men and a hired cart to help haul their belonging across the city. As they walked, the tension was palpable. Even the young workers who carried their belongings refrained from chit chat. People milled through the streets, coughing. Few conversed.

The haze persisted well into the morning but the sea breeze eventually made ground, pushing the smoke inland. Despite the relief, people coughed noisily everywhere they went. Cask scanned the crowds, his hands never staying far from the hilt of his swords. Each person emerging from the shops and side alleyways struck an anxious chord. Gaba’ké never strayed more than a few paces from Ohacha. Even Rolena, despite her recovering strength, appeared vigilant. Even the servant leading the way looked nervous. Whether or not he and the prince shared the reason for uneasiness, Ohacha couldn’t be sure.

As they approached the old spires district, the buildings changed from the modern square cut black stones to walls of dark volcanic river stones. The buildings clung closer together and the alleys on either side grew narrower, just large enough for a single person at a time. Thin doorways and nooks were the only places that allowed strangers to pass. Some of the oldest looking buildings seemed to bend and twist unnaturally, as if time had worn them down in more ways than one. Despite their age, the buildings in The Spires were stylistically unique. They had a quaint character and architectural flare that the newer tenements lacked in their details but tried to made up for in grandeur.

The party crossed the southern canal and turned south towards the sea at the next crossing. There they came upon their destination. The house, tall and narrow with a sharp roof, appeared unassuming on the outside. Dark stains marred lines of the stonework where water regularly escaped the old eaves. Ivy clung to the south side of the front façade and moss grew atop several of the roof tiles. Piitra’s servant opened the door invitingly, then offered the polished bronze key.

Despite its appearance on the outside, Piitra’s home was well renovated and extravagant on the inside. The floors were made of polished wood that shined under the reflection of the light filtering in through the narrow windows. The walls were adorned with pieces of art and painted sculptures decorated several of the rooms. The main floor had multiple compact rooms with narrow doorways that led to a servant’s kitchen, a dining room, and sitting room. Below the main floor, a set of dark narrow steps led down to a half cellar where jars and pots stored all kinds of preserved foods including pickling vegetables and sacks of rice, bulgar, emmer, and flax. One larger urn contained a store of salt-cured fish and duck eggs.

Four small bedrooms took up the entirety of the second story and a larger fifth bedroom with steep slanted roof-walls filled the entirety of the narrower top floor. As they spread through the house, Ohacha elected to take one of the smaller bedrooms overlooking the older narrow canal below.

Through the window, ivy and creepers clung to the exterior walls of the buildings that backed onto the canal smaller older canal. Layers of pale green moss clung to the canal walls and several small boats moored against the narrow street opposite Ohacha’s window. An old tree with gnarly roots grew out of the stone canal walls below and, in the distance, Ohacha could just make out the lonely Casoyan fortress perched atop the sheer stone cliff overlooking the city.

Piitra’s home was easily the smallest Ohacha had stayed in. Even the guest house in Patzau Yohati’s estate had been larger, even after subtracting the grounds and outdoor spaces. The constricted spaces felt like a novelty to him, and Ohacha found himself drawn to the house with a nostalgia for something he had never before had.

It was past midday when they had finished unpacking their belongings and set forth to ascend the mountain towards the Casoyan Fortress. The conversation with Sergeant Ashill still lingered in Ohacha’s mind. There was something in her words that she hadn’t been willing to tell him, but he couldn’t fathom what or why. With little else to accomplish this day, it felt appropriate to follow through on her advice. Gaba’ké was apprehensive. He thought it remiss to expose Ohacha to the public more than necessary, arguing “we have already been attacked in these streets once. It is unwise. We take unnecessary risks in leaving the safety of the house so regularly.” Cask took the opposite stance, encouraging Ohacha’s confidence. Rolena, as always, neglected to take a side. Despite her lack of comment, her face revealed a distrust of the Casoyan military and Ohacha found it hard to fault her for it.

After redonning their weapons and armour, they set out in haste. Enormous cotton-wad clouds dotted the sky and their steady creep cast dark shadows that shifted the ambiance of the neighbourhood between cheery and gloomy. The dark stones and darker shadows made the narrow streets of the Spires feel claustrophobic. Fortunately, it wasn’t far until they reached the oldest and smallest of Caso’s public squares, Gorini Plaza. The plaza was lopsidedly hexagonal and was surrounded on five of its six sides with rows of tall narrow houses with the same spearpoint rooftops. Flowing canvas canopies reached outwards to cover small merchant stalls and carts. In a ring around the center, two dozen massive old palm trees stretched out of breaks in the cobbles to reach their pinnated leaves skyward like the rooftops that surrounded them. Several, aged and dying, remained as lonely trunks. In the center of the plaza, a black obelisk carved of a single piece of stone pierced skyward, casting a dark uninterrupted shadow across the dark cobbles that had been worn over the years to a near glossy shine.

On the sixth side of the plaza, a long-ramped roadway, known as the climb rose up the old Casoyan fortress atop the steep cliff. Ohacha followed the road with his eyes. At the summit, unseen from the plaza below, Ohacha knew the imposing fortress loomed large. The Casoyan fortress, like the two palaces and the city’s grand walls, stood as the final imposing structure of the city. It was perhaps the only building that could be seen from anywhere in the city. Ohacha considered the effort it would require to storm and capture a building that well positioned and fortified, and quickly determined the task just shy of impossible. The only hope a general might have would involve starving the enemy out. That, or scaling the hundred-foot cliff face in the hopes of infiltrating undetected.

As they passed through the old plaza, Ohacha noticed that most of the stalls were empty. Many of the merchants had closed shop already. As the sun reappeared from behind one of the large clouds, sweltering heat returned. With the humidity baked away, it felt hot enough to fry an egg on his armour. Worse, the ascent up to the fortress was grueling. The steep road felt endless. Sweat dripped down from his brows into his eyes. It clung to his nose and mouth and chin. Ohacha looked over to see Cask rather delighted by the burn in his legs. Rolena, at least, shared in his struggle. Gaba’ké fared worst of all. Ohacha encouraged regular breaks to quench their thirst, but mostly he wanted to give his old friend some much-needed rest.

As the summited the long road, the gatehouse to the fortress loomed. It was a large two-story structure manned by a dozen soldiers that watched with keen eyes. Ohacha turned and saw Gaba’ké huffing several steps behind. The older Aginjigaade looked near ready to collapse. Large sweat stains clung to his chest and back, visible even through his thick robes.

A few steps further and the low brush gave way to reveal the vast expanse of the city below and the island beyond. It was spectacular. The city of gold wrapped around the sparkling bay below like the crescent moon. Never before had Ohacha stood in a place so extraordinary in its magnificence. From here, Ohacha could make out the distinct forms of the palace and the auction house. Coiling around the city like a snake were the grand stone walls built to defend against raiders long vanquished. Outside the walls, farms and hamlets dotted the landscape as far as the eye could see. The mountain beyond, brimming with jungle trees and stark cliff faces, loomed tall as if endlessly stretching into the horizon. Clouds shrouded its distant peak.

It was a sight, Ohacha felt, he could look upon for a lifetime and forever glimpse something new. That was until he peered down over the nearby cliff face. A violent wave of vertigo came and flooded him with discomfort. His mind spun. When comprehension came as to just how high he stood and just how far and deadly the descent would be, it filled him with fear and an unnatural dread. Lord Anup’s estate atop the headlands of Onera was but a scarp when compared to the precipice before him. And Gaag, his true home, was a flatter land still.

Rolena grasped Ohacha’s shoulder. The action brought much needed stability. “Are you okay?” she asked.

Ohacha released a breath and nodded, “I’ve never before been this high.”

“May I be frank,” Rolena asked. Ohacha’s brows creased but he nodded assent. “I don’t feel comfortable going inside. Not after…” her words trailed but Ohacha understood. “You won’t need me in there” she continued. “Not with Cask and Gaba’ké by your side. With your permission, I’d like to wait out here until you’re finished.”

“I understand” Ohacha said. “You’ll be okay out here by yourself?”

“Of course,” Rolena said, gesturing with her head towards the scenic view, “I’ll be fine.”

Once Gaba’ké regained his breath, the three men left Rolena at the outlook and crossed the small stone bridge that led to the gate. The fortress was built from layers of earth-coloured bricks. The bricks were aged and crumbling in places. Dark stains ran down from the crenellations. Two soldiers stepped out from the gatehouse with bemused expressions. Several more watched from inside the building and four more leaned over the battlements above with curiosity. One brandished a loaded crossbow. It did enough to serve as a casual warning. 

“Can we help you?” the first soldier asked, his accent thick. Both soldiers wore salt-hardened padded armour that covered their chests and shoulders. Ohacha eyed the garments longingly, now understanding why plate and mail were uncommon. Bronze grieves protected their legs. Both men carried short two-handed spears with sword-catching prongs below the blade.

“I’m here to speak with Patzau Ashill” Ohacha said, stopping a few short steps from the two men. “My name is Prince Ohacha Krimas. This is Gaba’ké, the Stone Aginjigaade and my sword master, Cask.”

“This isn’t a place one can simply walk inside. Our Patzau is a busy woman.” the man said. “Do you have a scheduled meeting?”

“No,” Ohacha admitted, “but it is very important we speak with her.”

The two men shared a look that Ohacha couldn’t decipher. “Patzau Ashill isn’t here” the soldier continued. “You should return another time.”

Ohacha turned to Gaba’ké and swapped to Gaagian so that the soldiers wouldn’t understand their conversation.  “Can you feel her? The Aginjigaade Yuromi mentioned? Is she here?”

Gaba’ké answered, “I don’t know for certain it’s her, but there is an Aginjigaade inside the fortress. It seems reasonable that it would be the woman you were told to seek in place of the Patzau.”

“Send for Elvi Batari” Ohacha said, turning back to face the soldiers. “I know she is inside the fortress. I was advised that she can pass on my message to the Patzau.” The two soldiers shared another look and then instructed Ohacha to wait. A few minutes later, Gaba’ké revealed that the Aginjigaade inside the fortress was on their way. And just as he advised, a woman in unform appeared shortly after.

Aginjigaade Elvi Batari had a diamond shaped face and small tired-looking eyes. She moved with an earnest youthful strength, but as she drew closer it was easy to see the age on her face sun-kissed. As she approached, the other soldiers split ranks to let her through. She held a neutral stare, but it was clear from her untidy appearance that she hadn’t slept well. Not for some time. She stopped just behind the two soldiers and put a hand on a shoulder, indicating she would take it from here.

She looked back and forth, assessing the odd and unfamiliar group. Then, she addressed Ohacha, who stood at the head, “You are Prince Krimas.” It wasn’t a question. “What do you want with Patzau Ashill?” she repeated.

“Her daughter, Yuromi, has become an unexpected friend to us. It was under her recommendation that we have come to speak with Patzau Ashill” Ohacha said, hiding the frustrating truth that she had refused to explain why it was so important. “She told me it was a matter of importance.”

Elvi rubbed a finger in her right eye and muttered softly to herself. “Are you able to share with me the details of what makes your visit important?”

“I cannot say” Ohacha answered, and it was true. “Sergeant Ashill simply indicated that the information we have compliments the information you have. And that sitting down to speak would be to our mutual benefit.” That wasn’t exactly how their conversation had gone, but Ohacha wasn’t willing to turn around now.

Elvi seemed to ponder his words, then turned and exchanged a few words in Casoyan with the solders behind her. They answered and Elvi turned her attention back to Ohacha, “Good news, Sergeant Ashill is here, inside the fortress. She can explain herself. Follow me inside, and I’ll have her join in on our little conversation. Please, leave your weapons with the men here at the gates. They will take good care of them and will be returned upon your departure.”

Ohacha stripped of his sword belt and handed it over to a soldier, who eyed the unfamiliar curved holster with curiosity. Cask followed suit. The Casoyan swords that the soldiers wore were shorter and fatter than the longer thinner blades Gaag was known for; the style Cask was a master of. When Gaba’ké produced no weapon of his own, the soldier searched him hesitantly. Elvi watched the whole while.

After they were finished, they followed Elvi inside through the fortress gate into a dark corridor. Carrying on, they emerged out the other side of the fortress atop a second and more impressive bridge that crossed to a central keep. The view out across the city was even better here than atop the cliff’s outside. Even more of the city was revealed to the eye, but so too increased the vertigo Ohacha felt. The entire city glowed under the late afternoon sun, but Ohacha kept back enough to keep himself from looking down.

They entered the round tower and Elvi led them into a large room on the main floor. The room was lit by several illum stone lamps. The small windows that faced outwards seemed more for airflow than for light or looking through. “Please, make yourselves comfortable” Elvi said, gesturing to several chairs on the opposite side of a large table in the center of the room.

The table was covered in several blank wax tablets and writing styluses. Elvi moved them aside as they took their seats. Ohacha caught her making curious glances, primarily at Gaba’ké. These Aginjigaade always have their unpredictable customs and conduct, he thought to himself.After they were seated, Elvi took a seat across from them and spoke, “As you are clearly aware, I am Elvi Batari; High Aginjigaade to the Soldier’s Guild. It is a pleasure to meet with you, Prince Ohacha and friends. Introductions are necessary, I think.”

“I am Ohacha Krimas, rightful King of Gaag.” Ohacha said. “This is Gaba’ké, the Stone Aginjigaade. And to my other side is Cask Gohara, the greatest swordsman Gaag has ever known.”

“You flatter me, my Prince” Cask said, casually leaning back in his chair.

Elvi looked them over back and forth. “It is a pleasure to meet you both” she said. “And the soldier outside, the woman, she won’t be joining us today?”

Ohacha looked to Gaba’ké for support. Gaba’ké answered diplomatically, “No, she said she preferred the view outside. Remarkable marksman. Less comfortable as a diplomat.”

“I see” Elvi said evenly. “I’ll cut straight to the point. You asked for a conversation and I’m here to have one. But you also told me that you have information that would help me. I believe in equivalent exchange, so let us start there.”

Ohacha shared a look with Gaba’ké, who gave a supportive nod. “You want information about the criminals who attacked… Patzau Yohati” Ohacha suggested. He resented the reframing of the attack. Patzau Yohati was never in any danger, Ohacha thought derisively.

“Go on” Elvi said.

Gaba’ké spoke, “During the attack there was an Aginjigaade present. Maybe two” he half realized as he spoke the words. “Right before the attackers sprung from the side streets, there was some kind of Aginjigaade interference. The air seemed to warp and blur. Then another Aginjigaade attacked me with the full force of their agindan. I think they intended to immobilize me or knock me unconscious. To my good fortune, I was already on edge due to the impairment on my vision. When the attack came, I was ready. I countered with my full strength.”

“Did you pierce her agindan?” Elvi asked. Ohacha frowned, not understanding her meaning.

“No” Gaba’ké answered. “She’s alive.”

“Was there imprinting? Could you discern an affinity? If you could, it would narrow down who we might be looking for. I have a list of all the Aginjigaade in the city.”

“Yes” Gaba’ké answered, sighing. “But the imprint was weak. I think, because the Aginjigaade herself was quite weak. She wasn’t channeling any power. The only impression I had was the general scent. It was sharp and acidic, suggesting either decay: poison, wilt, or rot. Or Nyama: fibers, waxes, oils, and bones.”

“That’s a lot of overlap” Elvi said.

“These are broad classes, I know. But more concerning to me was the second Aginjigaade. I could feel their influence, but not sense their proximity.

“But if there had been a second, and they were coordinating, I see no reason why only one would attack you mentally” Elvi said. “I would expect that any additional Aginjigaade would have worked in tandem with the first. You would be the largest threat to their plan, it would think it foolish to expect a lone and, by your account, weak Aginjigaade could handle you alone. Especially as no other Aginjigaade was with you to divide their attention.”

“What you say is reasonable” Gaba’ké said, who dismissed Ohacha’s confusion with just a look. Ohacha frowned, unhappy with feeling left out of the conversation. “But the real world rarely tracks to soundness.”

“I must admit, what you share has use. A few soldiers who were there mentioned anomalies in their accounts, but what you say confirms their stories and points me in the right directions. There should be enough here for me to identify potential matches. Is there anything else?” Elvi asked.

“Yes” Ohacha said, rather eagerly. “But first, I want to understand more information about Bartiin Foxstring. The leaders of those soldiers you arrested from Gaag. I heard he’s escaped your prison.”

Elvi frowned this time. “Where did you hear that?” she asked. “Janos?” Ohacha remained silent long enough to demonstrate he wasn’t going to answer. “Fine” Elvi said, sternly. “The man Bartiin did escape. He was aided by one of our soldiers, abandoning his men, and was replaced with an imposter. Whover sprung him free had knowledge of the trials–” she stopped speaking abruptly. “Never mind. That’s not important to you. Because we caught his men, under questioning they were able to give enough information to identify the corrupt soldier who released him. However, that lead is dead.”

“How so?” Ohacha asked.

“He’s literally dead” Elvi answered. “We found him yesterday. It looked a lot like a suicide, which makes me more convinced it wasn’t. It’s my guess that whoever paid him to release Bartiin, didn’t want that information leaking out.”

“And Bartiin?” Cask asked.

“Bartiin has likely fled the city. I’d wager he’s on a ship halfway home by now. We stumbled onto his disappearance rather by accident” Elvi admitted. “If we hadn’t been visiting the cells for another purpose, I don’t think we would have ever noticed his absence. Which, must have been the point.”

Gaba’ké spoke, his voice low and thoughtful, “That begs the question as to who in Caso had the power, influence, and motive to have him freed and his liberator killed. You must have an idea…”

“We conducted a raid on the Careyago Ambassador’s residence” Elvi admitted. “She seemed the obvious benefactor. It was clear, however, that she knew we were coming. Bartiin’s men didn’t reveal much, but they knew about Ambassador Durali. Their testimonies exposed that Bartiin had met with her at least once. However, our raid revealed no evidence that supported that the ambassador provided any kind of aid to Bartiin or his men, nor that she had those kinds of connections to the city’s underbelly.”

It was at that moment that a knock came from the door behind Elvi. It opened, and Yuromi Ashill stepped inside. Only when a second Yuromi Ashill followed the first in did Ohacha realize that the first entrant was in fact the twin sister he had once met, Kida. Yuromi looked bashful, a look Ohacha had never seen on her. Her twin, however, looked rather confused by the summons. They were spitting images of each other. The only difference between them seemed to be the cut of their hair, a subtle difference in height, and the long scar that marked Yuromi’s face and unblemished her sister’s.

“Now this is unexpected” Elvi said, turning to face the twins. “Has there been a mistake or were you also looking to speak with me, Kida?”

“You didn’t request to see me?” Kida asked, a glint of annoyance flashing across her face.

“No” Elvi said frankly and Kida frowned. My understanding is that Yuromi was the one who suggested these gentlemen seek out your mother for a meeting. Is this true, Sergeant?”

“Yes” Yuromi admitted. “I had hoped they would be able to reach mom–”

“Patzau Ashill” Kida cut in, correcting her sister. Yuromi scowled and Kida returned the glare.

“I had hoped these men would be able to reach the Patzau or yourself with regards to the recovered silver.” Yuromi explained, deliberately hoping not to draw attention to how she had come about that information. It didn’t work. Elvi furrowed her brow in confusion. Ohacha’s eyes lit up from across the small table.

“What do you mean when you say, ‘the recovered silver?’” Elvi asked. Yuromi opened her mouth to speak then hesitated, closing her mouth again. It was clear to even Ohacha that she was uncomfortable elaborating. Kida’s disappointed frown slowly twisted into anger.

“What did you do?” Kida interrogated. “I know you and I know that look.” If there was a hint of guilt on Yuromi’s face, Ohacha wasn’t able to recognise it. Clearly, Kida could. “You snuck into the tower again, didn’t you?” Kida said in stern accusation.

“Elvi” Yuromi interrupted. “Kida doesn’t need to be here. Please dismiss her.” Now the guilt was plain across her face.

“Spirits! You did, didn’t you” Kida shouted. “How many times–”

“Enough” Elvi said, cutting Kida off. The two sisters looked about ready to strangle one another. Ohacha watched with impatient energy. “Sergeant, there’s no point hiding it” Elvi said. “I’ve caught you myself a dozen times. Now’s not the time to worry about the transgression, now’s the time to share where you heard that kind of information.

“I was only looking for mom” Yuromi complained.

Elvi silenced her with a hand, “We will deal with your transgression at a later time. I want to know now what exactly you are referring to. What silver?”

“The stolen silver” Yuromi answered, confused by the question. “The fortune stolen from Prince Ohacha. There were soldiers on the top floor counting it. They were in one of the meeting rooms. It sounded like they’d recovered it.” When Elvi maintained her confused look, Yuromi’s confidence faltered. “What else could they have been counting?”

“I don’t know” Elvi answered. “I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve heard no news regarding the prince’s stolen fortune. Are you absolutely sure that’s what you saw? You say it sounded like a lot?”

Yuromi thought back to her encounter with the brutish captain. Burm had been obvious in his concern as to with whether or not she had overheard any of his conversation. And with good reason. His squad of elites had been discussing skimming money off the top of the recovered silver. And they had been intending to turn it in to the guild… weren’t they? She wasn’t so sure about that part any more.

Yuromi’s heart sank. She knew, once again, she had made a bad decision in staying quiet. The decision to do so now felt corrosive, as if her spirit was being deteriorated by regret. She had refrained from acting. Fear of Burm and the risk of pitting her word against his would bring. The Burms were a powerful and well-connected family. One as old and influential as her own and held sway in the city’s politics. Crossing him would have been dangerous. He’s a vengeful man, Yuromi reasoned.She knew it was an excuse.

And from that fear she had stayed silent. But to find out that the captain had never returned the coin at all spoke to a larger betrayal than Yuromi imagined possible. It was one thing to skim a little coin off the top. Most soldiers took bribes. Pocketing a few coppers, they’d look the other way or venture elsewhere in their patrol rounds. Yuromi felt it right to refrain from such things herself, but never judged others for their own choices. Not everyone had money like her family did. Even in her own squad, she knew who would, wouldn’t, and did. But she never expected Burm wouldn’t return the money to the guild. But if they were skimming silver off the top, that implies somebody else was going to get it. And if Burm hadn’t kept it, and the guild doesn’t have it… then who does?

“What was the question?” Yuromi asked.

“Are you sure there were soldiers counting silver on the top floor?” Elvi repeated. “You saw this?”

Yuromi frowned. She hadn’t seen it, but she was certain that was what was happening. “Yes, to the first question. No to the second. Where is Captain Burm?”

Elvi seemed perplexed by the question. “What? What does Burm have to do with it?”

“Where is he?” she asked again, more urgently. “Is he still inside the city?”

“As far as I know, he is” Elvi answered. “Why do you ask? Was he the one you saw with the silver?”

“When I… when I crossed the bridge to the keep, I went straight up to mom’s office” Yuromi explained, ignoring the hateful look on her sister’s face. “When she wasn’t there, I started looking around for her in the meeting rooms. I stumbled across Captain Burm and some of his soldiers on the third floor. They were counting silver coins and talking about skimming some off the top.”

“You’re shameless” Kida sneered. “I know you and Burm don’t get along, but to go so far as to slander the man… You’re beyond–”

“Enough!” Elvi ordered. Her voice boomed, propelled by a gust of wind. The room went silent.

“And you saw this?” Elvi asked sternly. “This is a serious accusation. You know for certain it was Captain Gal Burm and the fortune he had was Prince Krimas’?”

“I… didn’t see the silver” she admitted. “I overheard them talking about ‘enough silver to buy a castle.’ Then Burm caught me in the hallway as I tried to slip away. He reprimanded me for being in the keep. I know it was him, but I don’t know who else was with him.” She remembered their being names, but couldn’t for the life of her recall them. “I think there were six of them in total” she added.

“But you didn’t see the silver?” Kida asked.

“Well, no.” Yuromi said, “But they were talking about–”

“So, you don’t know for certain they had anything inside that room” Kida said challengingly. “For all you know, they could have been talking about what they would do with a great sum of wealth. The lost Gaagian treasure is the subject of much talk these days. A modern treasure hunt frenzy.” Ohacha’s heart sank at those words.

“Elvi” Yuromi pleaded. “Dismiss her. You know that Kida harbours a personal distrust.” ‘Of me’ were the two additional words missing but implied. “It influences her opinions and skews her judgement. She hasn’t even given me time to explain without interrupting and making accusations of her own.”

“I don’t trust you, sister, because you have proven yourself untrustworthy time and time again” Kida said with disdain. “You’re supposed to be on leave and instead your caught breaking the rules… again. Not to mention attacking those gangsters in Mudtown!”

Ohacha curiously wondered what the gangsters in Mudtown comment meant. Elvi brought up her hand once again and Kida fell silent. “I think, Yuromi is right in this instance. Your continued goading of her is unproductive to the conversation I wish to have. Thank you for coming, Sergeant, but you are dismissed.”

Kida stared daggers at Elvi for a moment. She looked ready to argue further but wisely held her tongue. “Yes ma’am” she said and left the room. Yuromi sniggered.

“And you, Sergeant Ashill, wipe that grin off your face. I’ll need a word with you after we’re finished here with the prince and his men.” The sergeants smile vanished in an instant.

“You’re both sergeants?” Cask asked. “Isn’t that confusing?”

“It wouldn’t be an issue if I got that promotion to lieutenant” Yuromi nudged.“I’d sooner demote you to corporal” Elvi countered. Yuromi’s face soured. “Yuromi is a Patrol Sergeant, and Kida is Sergeant in the Barracks” Elvi explained. “They are different ranks in our tongue. Tralang has little nuance.”

“Can we get back to Captain Burm and how he supposedly has my silver?” Ohacha asked. “Is he not required to hand it over to the city?”

“That’s why I want to ensure he’s still in the city” Yuromi said eagerly. “What if he fled with the whole treasure?”

“Then there would be repercussions” Elvi said. “But there is no sense dwelling on speculations. How is it you are so certain he has the coin?”

Yuromi drew in a deep breath. “The first part of the conversation I overheard was a debate” she explained. “The soldiers inside were debating whether or not to return the money. That’s not a subject I would debate if having it were only fantasy. They voted to return it, but to skim some off the top. That’s why I encouraged Ohacha to come to see mom. I thought the silver would have been turned over to The Guild already.”

“But it hasn’t” Elvi finished.

“Then they stole it” Ohacha said hurriedly.

“Perhaps” Elvi said. “Yuromi, you truly didn’t see the silver?”

“I tried to get a look inside the room but Burm deliberately obstructed my view” she explained. “But I promise what I’ve repeated here today is the truth. What reason would I have to lie about this?”

“I understand” Elvi said, “and I believe you. But without proof it will be very difficult to verify anything. It will be your word against his. And if it can’t be proven, there will be significant consequences. Are you sure you don’t recall who else was in the room with the captain?”

Yuromi brought her hands to her face and rubbed her eyes. “No” she groaned. “I think, maybe if I heard the names again but I don’t remember them now.”

“What is the risk of simply bringing Captain Burm here to answer questions?” Ohacha asked. “Surely with just this information there should be sufficient cause to bring him in for questioning. Or better yet, arrest him under suspicions of theft.”

“Your being here makes it difficult for me to speak honestly” Elvi admitted. “But what I can tell you, is that doing so would be complicated and risky. “What you need to understand is that our system of guild governance is complicated. The eight Patzau share rulership over the city and the surrounding territories, but each Patzau is raised to their position through the support of their guild. There is a duality of leadership. The Patzau leads the guild, and by leading the guild, they represent the guild and its members in the council that leads the city. Each of the eight guilds have their own rules and internal politics.”

“Do the laws that govern action and consequence differ for each citizen?” Gaba’ké asked.

“No, that’s not what I mean” Elvi replied. “What I’m trying to explain is that our guild is different than the other seven.”

“How so?” Ohacha asked. Gaba’ké leaned forward in interest.

Elvi continued, “After the fall of the last Casoyan king, the original Patzau wanted make it difficult for any future commander of the city’s soldiers to leverage their military control in efforts to gain more power or to conquer the other guilds. The original Guildmaster for our Soldier’s guild shared this concern for his future successors. Perhaps not the first or second person to follow him as Patzau, but eventually down the line there would be one seeking the position for the power it could grant as commander of the military. And so, they placed rules and restrictions that make the role of Patzau of the Soldiers’ Guild an easier position to find oneself removed from. Later amendments also detached the financial management of the guild from the guild itself, placing it in the shared control of the entire council, but primarily the Administration Guild.”

“So, functionally, the Patzau of the Soldiers’ Guild is the least powerful of the eight” Cask said.

“Exactly” Elvi answered. “Patzau Ashill is a brilliant leader and has maintained steady control over our guild for more than a decade now. But Patzau Ashill is the only Patzau who must satisfy not only her own guild members, but must maintain support from the wider city populus. This is a harder line to hold. At this time, there are many allies of convenience that simply tolerate her. More than that, there is a small but vocal minority that has been campaigning for a more steadfast leader in her position; one that will take a harder stance on certain issues. She has many allies, but there are significant players who could use their power and influence to erode her support should they choose. The Burms are the greatest among this group. Their family is old, wealthy, and well connected. Gal Burm’s great grandfather was the second Patzau of the Soldiers’ Guild and members of the Burm family have continuously held high positions inside our ranks. If they warred over this perceived slight, there is a good chance Patzau Ashill could lose her position as Patzau of the guild and be replaced by someone else.”

“Then how exactly do you plan to verify the validity of these claims?” Ohacha demanded. “If we can’t arrest the man for his crimes, and we can’t confront him for information, what option are we left with?”

The room sat in silence for several long breathes. “He can’t have acted alone” Gaba’ké said. “Yuromi mentioned their being others present in that room. There is no such thing as a secret once more than one person knows it. People talk and people show signs. Instead of focusing on the captain, perhaps it is wiser to identify his co-conspirators and target them for information instead.”

“This is a wise solution” Elvi acknowledged. “Yuromi, I will collect the names of the members in his squad. Perhaps one or more will jog your memory. We can focus those persons first. It seems more than likely that one of them was involved in this conspiracy. I think it would be wise for Sergeant Ashill to visit Patzau Minoc in this matter. Go directly to his home. Don’t go to the guild.”

“Patzau Minoc?” Ohacha asked, confused. The portly Patzau with the fancy rings? The one would wouldn’t stop calling me boy, Ohacha thought crossly.“I thought Patzau Minoc was the leader of the Artisans Guild?” Ohacha asked. “How is he supposed to be of help to us?”

Elvi danced carefully with her words, “The guild system of government lacks certain… specific professions that don’t fit neatly. There are some jobs in society that require doing nonetheless. Such jobs are therefore done in an unofficial capacity. Do you follow?” Ohacha didn’t. But he found himself too embarrassed to ask for further clarification as she moved on. “Patzau Minoc will be able to assist in our search.”

“Elvi, I would like to send someone with Sergeant Ashill to see Patzau Minoc tomorrow. I want us to be more involved in this investigation and recovery. This is my family’s legacy and fortune, after all.” I’d be a disgrace to uncle Aramuk’s memory if I failed here.

“I won’t object so long as Sergeant Ashill is comfortable with it.” Elvi said.

“Where are you staying?” Yuromi asked.

“In the Spires” Ohacha answered. “Piitra Hadashenta’s old house.”

Yuromi looked surprised by that answer. “I’m okay with it” she said. “I’ll drop by tomorrow morning to get you?” she suggested.

“Actually, I’ll be sending Rolena with you” Ohacha said. “She’ll be the least conspicuous.”

“I must make one stipulation” Elvi announced. “Our services in supporting you, Prince Ohacha, cannot be done for nothing. With troubles looming, money is already tight. If and when we are successful in recovering your stolen money, I ask that my guild takes two percent. This should cover the costs the guild will incur. I also intend for this money to go to the soldiers’ families that died attempting to protect you. I believe this is reasonable request.”

Ohacha looked to Gaba’ké, who nodded. “Two percent seems reasonable” Ohacha agreed.

Elvi spoke, “Then I wish you and Sergeant Ashill good fortune tomorrow and safe travels tonight.”

Ohacha rose and reached out for Elvi’s hand, which she offered reluctantly. He clasped her hand inside both of his and placed his forehead to it. It was a Gaagian custom. One of binding respect to an agreement. He cared not whether she fully understood its meaning. It was for him, as much as it was for her. She seemed to comprehend the gestures meaning despite her initial perplexion. Cask and Gaba’ké repeated the motion in turn.  

Yuromi smiled and bid them goodnight as they left. After which, Yuromi turned back around to Elvi with a sober smile. “That went well, I think” she said. “If there’s nothing else, Elvi, I think I’ll collect my things from the barracks and head home myself.”

“Not so fast” Elvi said. “Don’t think I haven’t forgotten your transgressions.”

“Elvi” Yuromi pleaded, “Please.”

“You can’t keep doing this” Elvi scolded. “It’s hurting your reputation, and it’s hurting your mother’s reputation. If she can’t keep you in check, others will see it as a sign of weakness.”

“I understand there is decorum for soldiers in our guild, and I apologize for circumventing the rules.” Yuromi said softly. “I don’t do it from a place of contempt, I promise. But with dad gone, and with Kida always…. I just don’t have anyone else to turn to. Do you understand. Half the time she doesn’t even come home at night. She’s always tired and always stressed. You know as well as anyone that she works so hard. I just worry about her. And sometimes, I need her too. And it feels so selfish, since she has so much responsibility to bare. But I’m her daughter. I just want her back sometimes.”

A silence hung between the two women. The soft glow of the illum stones above shadowed Yuromi’s face in darkness as she hung her head. Finally, Elvi responded softly, “You know that you can come to me too. If you ever need someone or something, you know you can count on me. I’ll always be here to help you out.”

Tears welled in Yuromi’s eyes. She let out a sound that was half-laugh half-sob. “I know” she said, wiping the tears from her face. “And I appreciate everything you’ve done, Elvi.” Yuromi said. “For me and for her. I don’t know what we would have done without you. But sometimes, I just need my mother back.”

“Me too” Elvi agreed.