When Reese became the Crownsmith leader, the whole operation changed. Before, each person had their own responsibility. The point was in charge of searching out hidden coins and most valuable items; the baggers, along with everyone else, were in charge of collecting anything that looked remotely valuable. Now, everyone was a bagger and Reese used his truth-finding relic to find where the treasures were hidden, which made the traditional assassinations less than helpful.
Upstairs, Benj walked into what appeared to be Axe's personal chambers. He was gathering some ornamental walking sticks together when Lucia walked in and started looting, pretending he wasn't there.
"Can you please stop being mad," Benj said, putting an empty goblet into his bag. "I didn't even do anything."
"I was going to fake-marry you. I wouldn't just fake-marry anyone, and you won't even show me your stupid gliding through the air relic," Lucia vented, picking up a silver plate from the floor and putting it in her bag."
"I took our fake engagement very seriously, and you know that," Benj said, opening a closet door and stuffing his bag with clothes. This is bigger than us; it's a village secret. I can't tell you if you're not a part of the village."
"So, your old village is more important than me?" Lucia threw an extra bag at Benj, who needed it. "I guess I'll always be an outsider to you."
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"You were never an outsider to me," Benj took the extra bag and began filling it with shoes. "You're more of an insider than most of the people in my village."
"But you'll tell them about your gliding relic and not me." Lucia dragged her and Benj's full bags to the door.
"Actually, that's not true. There are only two people in the village that I can talk to about my gliding relic."
Lucia stopped what she was doing and glared at Benj. "I thought you said you had to be a part of the village. I know there are more than two people there. I've met them."
Benj walked over to where she was standing. "Not everyone makes it to the top of Mt. Asven. Some of us try, but not all of us succeed. We are not allowed to talk about our journey. It's hard, it's miserable, it's painful, and the rule is that we don't talk about it. If you make it to the top, we can have a conversation. Until then, I just can't, and you have to respect that."
"You're saying that if I climb this mountain, I can see your gliding relic, and you'll let me try it out?" She asked.
"For the purpose of your question, yes," Benj said, holding his sack loosely to his side. The fact was, his ability to glide didn't come from a relic, but he couldn't tell her that. Especially if he wanted her to find the mountain table for herself. "When we take your dad, you can climb the mountain and join the club." He added, "But you have to make it to the very top, and you can't talk about it to anyone."
"I'll do it." Lucia broke eye contact and got back to work. Now that the snow was nearly gone, they had planned on heading back to the village soon anyway.
"Are you still mad at me?" Benj asked.
"Yes."
Pots pushed open the door. "He's awake if you want to punch him."
Lucia tossed her sack to Benj. "I'll be back. Try not do disappoint anyone else while I'm gone."