Esmeralda sipped her now lukewarm tea from a thick clay mug as she watched the smugglers’ cave with Agent Aon near Xandelfi.
Aon also sipped from his mug before frowning at the tepid liquid. They have been watching the smuggler’s den from a small cart for over thirty hours, and there has been no movement from the cave other than a runner bringing back supplies.
“Do you think they’ve spotted us?” Esmeralda asked.
“We have decent cover, but if we can see them, they might see us,” Aon replied, pouring his tea outside the cart.
“What do you think Balrik would do if he knew we were here?” Esmeralda asked, aware the den was a decoy and Balrik was likely already in Xandelfi, executing his plan.
“I think he’d bide his time, but eventually, he’d need to act due to his limited window,” Aon replied.
They sat, watching the cave in silence for what felt to be over an hour when Esmeralda spoke again.
“How did you end up dedicating your career to taking Balrik down?”
Aon glanced at her before chuckling and answering.
“I knew Balrik when he was in the Vestigare and even worked with him on a few cases. He was gifted in the art of alchemy and was a brilliant agent. One could say that I respected him greatly, and perhaps because I respected him, his betrayal felt personal.”
“Do you know why he betrayed the Vestigare?” Esmeralda asked. When she was a child, Balrik told her the Vestigare used him and left him for dead, so she was curious how an Agent like Aon perceived the situation.
“Some say it was because the Vestigare wouldn’t let him conduct illegal experiments on live subjects. Others think he was crooked all along. Only Balrik knows for sure. However, I know he meticulously plotted his departure, using his Vestigare resources for years, amassing wealth and assets before departing.”
"When do you believe his involvement in the slave trade began?”
“Started well before Balrik left the Vestigare. My theory is that he used the slave trade to find test subjects.”
Esmeralda nodded, reflecting on how much of Aon’s story was true—and what Balrik might have hidden from her.
“Regardless of how distasteful Balrik’s actions are, there is no denying his genius. He created things only thought possible in the Nawahl age, perhaps even things the ancient Nawahl couldn’t pull off, and his crowning achievement was the extraction of the essence of beasts. Balrik could infuse himself with the properties of creatures via an elixir made from beast materials. I would be lying if I claimed to understand how any of it worked, but his accomplishments have stumped the Academy and several top alchemists for years.”
Esmeralda was not ready to deal with the mysteries of Balrik’s past, so she eagerly welcomed the change of topic.
"So there is truth to the stories that Balrik can turn invisible because he uses the essence of the despanthra?”
“Just so, but he is not turning invisible per se. He is camouflaging himself by bending the light around him just as the despanthra do,” Aon replied.
“How does that work with his clothes? Does he strip naked to camouflage?” Esmeralda asked. It had bothered her for years, and if anyone besides Balrik knew the answer, it would be Agent Aon.
“That is a very astute question, and the answer to it is simpler than you might have imagined,” Aon commented before answering her question, “Balrik’s leathers, crafted from despanthra hide, somehow react to him when he activates his camouflage. The solution is as genius as obvious.”
Aon laughed and shook his head.
“Balrik could just camouflage himself and walk past us if he knew we were here,” Esmeralda said, feeling caught up in the moment. She immediately regretted the words as soon as they left her lips.
“Yes, I suppose you are right,” Aon said as his demeanor changed drastically.
“No. That wouldn’t be Balrik's style. He has a plan that needs individuals and equipment to work. He wouldn’t abandon it just because there were two agents outside. No, it has to be something else.”
Aon suddenly slapped the side of the cart, sending the horses into a nervous prance.
“Bloody hells. We have to go now,” Aon said, grabbing the reins. Before Esmeralda could ask, the cart lurched forward, heading back to Xandelfi.
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Esmeralda had never seen Aon so withdrawn. Their silences were usually a comfort, like a pair of well-worn shoes. But this time, Aon was cold and distant, from the ride through the city to their arrival at the windship docks.
Esmeralda wondered if her cover was blown and briefly considered escaping before Aon finally spoke.
“Esmeralda, my mood isn’t about you. Balrik duped me again, but this time I know where he’s headed. I’ll ask Agent Rowlin for the resources to finally bring him down.”
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“If you know where he’s headed, why are you so worried?” Esmeralda asked as they walked along the docks.
“Balrik always manages to make me look like a fool. I’m angry I didn’t catch the ruse sooner, and now I’m dreading going to Rowlin with my hat in hand,” Aon said, pausing at the windskiff’s gangplank to let Esmeralda board first.
Aon spoke briefly with the captain, and moments later, the crew buzzed to prepare the ship for launch.
“Why worry? You’ve got enough evidence to get your requests approved,” Esmeralda said, leaning on the railing as the windskiff ascended.
Aon sighed and rubbed the bridge of his snout before answering.
“Balrik’s bested me so many times, most agents think I’m incompetent. And Rowlin hasn’t been shy about sharing that opinion for years.”
Esmeralda wanted to comfort him but found no words. Instead, she leaned against the railing, watching the landscape shift as they flew toward Xanth.
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Esmeralda was back in Agent Rowlin’s spacious but economically furnished office. He sat across from them, fingers steepled, eyes locked on Aon.
“I understand, and even admire, your tenacity to bring Balrik to justice, Agent Aon, but I cannot in good conscience just allow to stage an operation of that magnitude in the presence of the type of individuals who will attend this Academy auction. This charitable event won’t just benefit the Academy; it will serve all the Five Kingdoms. If we scare away tens of thousands of ducats on a hunch, we could be setting back academia for years. Think of what these ducats could do for the next generation of magikians,” Rowlin lectured with a slight shake of his head.
“Agent Rowlin, I assure you, this is far more than a hunch,” Aon retorted evenly.
“Yes, you mentioned that you acquired reliable information but refused to expand on how.”
“Only to protect all of the parties who are risking their lives for the sake of the Five Kingdoms.”
“That is very noble of you, but I am afraid…” Rowlin started before stopping mid-sentence and standing.
“I will take it from here, Agent Rowlin,” a nasal voice said behind them.
Aon glanced over his shoulder, his expression shifting to surprise as he stood.
Esmeralda mimicked the two senior agents and rose from her seat. She turned to see a dumpy Arzan walking into the office. The short, thick-bodied Arzan was light blue, with a pronounced belly and jowls that reminded Esmeralda of a hound. She almost couldn’t believe her eyes when Agent Aon spoke.
“Head Agent Edgen.”
Aon saluted in the Grang fashion of placing his right fist over his heart. The Head Agent waved towards the Grang agent as he ambled across the office.
“I was not aware that you would be in Xanth today, Head Agent,” Rowlin said as Edgen approached him.
“Yes, sorry for the sudden appearance. I traveled to Xandelfi to talk with Agent Aon and his young partner. I had just missed them and hurried here,” Edgen explained, and before anyone could reply, he continued.
“As I said, I will take it from here. If you do not mind, I would prefer to use your office for this meeting.”
Rowlin's lips tightened at the dismal, but he recovered quickly and said,
“Of course, Head Agent. Will there be anything else?”
“No, Agent Rowlin. I will find you when I finish here,” Edgen replied before sitting in Rowlin’s chair behind his desk.
Edgen settled into the chair, waiting until Agent Rowlin left before beginning.
“So it is true, you managed to get a mole inside Balrik’s operation. I admit that is quite impressive.”
“Thank you, Head Agent. However, if we do not act now, I believe it will be for naught,” Aon replied.
“I am inclined to agree with you. Balrik has outlived his usefulness and has taken advantage of our arrangement for the last time,” Edgen said after a moment, toying with the corner of his lip in thought.
“Arrangement?” Aon asked, not even attempting to hide the surprise in his voice.
“Yes, agent. I have been in contact with Balrik for years. He is careful and has avoided my efforts to pinpoint his location and exact operations, but what he provided at the time was worth the distasteful act of dealing with him,” Edgen answered.
“Years? Whatever do you mean, sir?” Aon asked.
If Esmeralda correctly understood what Edgen was saying, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for Agent Aon.
“Indeed. Balrik negotiated certain liberties with me in exchange for valuable information. However, before I continue to explain, I assure you that I never impeded your investigation or work, and you have done the Vestigare proud.”
Aon quivered, but to his credit, he kept his composure.
“Head Agent, this revelation is hard to wrap my mind around. I must insist that you expound on the subject more to make it easier for me,” Aon said tersely.
Anger flashed across the Head Agent’s features for a heartbeat before he smiled and spoke.
“I believe you have earned that much, but I want to make clear that I do not owe you anything, agent. I run the Vestigare to protect the Five Kingdoms, not to spare a Grang of his feelings. Do we understand one another?”
Aon’s body tensed, but he clenched his jaw and nodded for his response.
“Excellent. As I said, Balrik provided invaluable information from the independent City-States and the Wildlands. In particular, he found some disturbing trends that could greatly impact the Five Kingdoms and its interests in the Wildlands. However, lately, the rogue agent has presumed he is worth more than he is and has gone as far as to attempt to strong-arm me.”
“They say if you lay with the hounds, you will get ticks, sir,” Aon commented, and before Edgen could respond, Esmeralda spoke.
“What do you mean he attempted to strong-arm you, Head Agent Edgen?”
“Balrik wanted me to pull all resources from his case. When I informed him that it wasn’t possible, he uncharacteristically became desperate, offering his network in the Wildlands and information about a double agent within the Vestigare in exchange for his freedom. Balrik said that if I did not accept the deal, he would release the information to my political enemies and claimed to have a fail-safe in place if I didn’t honor our agreement. However, now that you two have zeroed in on him, I think it would be best to call his bluff and extract whatever information he has by other means. That includes his fail-safe,” Edgen replied.
Esmeralda couldn’t believe it—Balrik had set her up to reveal her own identity as collateral if he failed.
“Balrik knows the window to get the dragon egg is now or never. Once it enters the Academy, even as skilled and as clever as he is, it will be impossible for him to steal,” Aon added, putting the final piece of the puzzle together for Esmeralda.
The revelation hit Esmeralda harder than she expected. Balrik would trade her for the dragon egg. She had believed they would disappear together, as he promised, that somehow she mattered. But now, it was painfully clear—she had been a fool, and she had always been expendable.
Her heart ached with the weight of betrayal, but there was no time to dwell on it. As horrible an individual as Balrik was, he had been a good teacher. If he had taught her one thing, it was how to survive. So, while Aon and Edgen discussed their plan, Esmeralda silently crafted her own.