“Oh, nothing much,” Lykomedes leaned back on the pillows, humming and hawing at his cards and pretending great interest in the game. “We were talking about local places to visit.”
Idris dropped down on the carpet with a sigh.
“I’ve been traveling this route for years, and every time there’s always someone who wants to explore the ruins. While it is not my business to limit your activities on your unpaid days off, I’d like to remind you that the last earthquake happened two decades ago. There was a gold rush at the beginning. Most accessible sites are already excavated, and the guides will lead you there for a fee. I’ve been told it is still an experience worth paying for. For as long as the guide isn’t in with a bandit gang.”
“Sounds like more fun,” Oswald gave a dark chuckle.
“Hessa said the ruins are dangerous,” Nua piped up. “That there are monsters.”
“It’s Hessa’s job to look out for threats,” Idris waved at the servant; the woman nodded and hurried back to the kitchens. “So she knows. There are still plenty of unexplored areas. But these are fraught with challenges beyond your abilities. The passages that even the Antiquarians with their sorcery don’t go into? You probably shouldn’t.”
“People try,” threw in Quintus.
“People end up dead or missing,” Idris retorted. The mercenaries glanced at each other. Nua was surprised to see that they were seemingly just as eager to invite trouble as her, only their skills were on an entirely different level. And also, she was shocked that Idris judged the group too weak; after all, they had killed three ghouls without getting as much as a scratch on them. Or perhaps they have been wounded, but Raya’s concoctions were enough to bring them back to full health without the surgeon’s attention.
“I see there’s no talking you out of it,” the captain shook his head. “If you bring me a map of the area, I’ll tell you where my other mercenaries have been looking before. They left a few doors that are maybe still closed and you could open them…” he hesitated. “If Nua agrees to donate a couple of drops of her blood to Raya for preservation. Unsagga blood is told to unlock Forsaken safety mechanisms.”
“Is this widely known?” Nua frowned. “I mean, there’s no shortage of my kin in here.”
“No. I worked for the Antiquarians once,” he answered. “Also, these corridors are located outside of the most frequented routes. I won’t guarantee none have been breached, but there’s still a chance.”
A chill passed through Nua.
“But you aren’t working with them now?”
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“Not for a long time. My license is still valid, though.”
The servant came back with the plates. A large bowl of steaming soup, twice as big as Nua’s, landed before the captain. In addition to the foodstuffs that the girl had already tried, there was also a whole platter of honey-soaked pastries. Seeing the mercenaries reaching for the sweets that were disappearing at an alarming pace, Nua got distracted. She grabbed four, then reached for the fifth just in case it wasn’t enough. Then she realized why Idris was helping.
He could trade relics. He wanted a cut, too.
Idris shoveled a pile of deep-fried eggplants onto his plate.
“Now, I’m telling you this because it is a reasonable middle ground. These passageways are explored, after all. For the Guild any potential finds out there are pocket coppers; they won’t bother. Just don’t go in too deep, loot the first unopened chamber and come back. That is the way to do it.”
Nua was munching on the pastries when a blue spirit appeared in her field of view. He floated over the mercenaries, shamelessly ogling their cards.
“Oh, Anki. I’m not playing, in case you didn’t know.”
“That is regrettable,” the king answered. “I could help you devise a decent strategy. Although, I would not recommend playing against professional crooks; they hire muscle. Now, I’ve heard the last few phrases. Am I correct that you have found a way to get into the fortress?”
“It sort of happened.”
“Good.”
“They want to play it safe,” Nua gauged the mercenaries’ reactions. Oswald nodded at the captain’s words, while Quintus and Lykomedes seemed to take a slight offense. Zaina was showing disinterest, or perhaps, feigning it. “Or at least some of them do.”
“I applaud their caution. In fact, broken facilities down there confer risk for biohazard. Fortunately, you have me keeping you company to avoid it.”
Nua hid her face in her hands, then masked her reaction by pretending she did it to swallow the pastries, and stuffed another in her mouth.
“Anki, language. What the hell is a biohazard?”
The king contemplated her question.
“Ghouls, for example. Ghouls are biohazard. From what I had the opportunity to see, it is a military experiment gone wrong. I’m not certain about the details.”
He whirled above the cards again. There was a nervous energy to him right now as if he cared more than he wanted to show her.
“Ashraqat’s still not sure about you,” he said. “Although, saving Hessa twice gives you credit, even if she is aware that the Antiquarian was after your life. They exchanged a few words about the group called the Falconers. A resistance movement located in Vengeance, most likely, and a cult at the same time. There is some past between them and your mentor.”
He smirked.
“Ashra wanted to use you as a source of ether for sale, but Hessa shot down the idea pretty fast. Obviously, it won’t work without a specialized array, designed to draw power from a person. They are expensive and licensed. Those Falconers have a black market one.”
“Oh!” Nua pursed her lips. “These devices. Are they portable? Small or large?”
“In this era? I am not certain. Odd question. Why?”
The girl gave him a knowing look.
“Oh. Ooooh.”
“A card to use in the future,” Nua added.
“I can see that your ambitions go beyond a couple of fish these days.” The king pondered. Nua noticed that all that time, he was giving wistful looks to playing mercenaries and the plentitude of dishes. His excitement - was it about gaining a potential body? “Let us realize them by driving these good-natured chaps much deeper than they intend to.”