Chapter 70: Auction II

Leo leaned forward as the curtains shifted. Atticus remained standing in the center of the stage, still beaming that wide smile, as four workers wheeled a cart out from behind the curtains.

As the cloth moved, Leo caught a brief glimpse of rows and rows of shelves brimming with gleaming objects, but they were quickly obscured again before he could get a better look. He frowned.

The workers rolled the cart until it was next to the podium. Atop, sitting in an open plush box that looked like it would probably go for a ridiculous price by itself, was a round black oblong object. It was a little larger than a head, and its leathery surface gleamed a rich red hue when the light hit it at just the right angle. Leo’s eyebrows rose. Was that…?

“First up we have a real, authentic wyvern egg extracted from a nest in the deserts of Dorryn!”

Murmurs rose around the audience. Leo had to admit he was impressed.

After the Fall of the Ancients, wyrms were among the rarest of the four major species. Fae numbers had dwindled significantly, but a decent chunk survived in forests and lakes, secluded away from human civilization. Giants could still be found in the most extreme regions of the continent, like the ice giants of northern Scaga and the deep sea titans to the south.

Wyrms and demons, on the other hand, had fared much worse after the war. The latter group was completely wiped out, and the dragons—once the most powerful of the wyrms—had also gone extinct. Only a few sea serpents and desert wyverns remained of the group, and they certainly weren’t found anywhere near Avel.

Snatching a wyvern egg from Dorryn would’ve been no small feat, if the stories of the creatures’ viciousness were even half true. Leo shuddered at the thought. He couldn’t imagine living in Dorryn with those things wandering around; no wonder the country was always in turmoil.

Opening with the egg was certainly a statement on the auction’s part. If they were starting out with something like this, what else was in store?

Atticus stepped out from behind the podium and gestured to the egg, tapping a hand along its hard shell. A few audience members gasped. Leo flinched, but the egg remained still and unmoving. The [Auctioneer]’s eyes gleamed.

“No worries, folks. This egg was confirmed nonviable by our experts. You won’t have to worry about a little wyvern wrecking your mansion, but the shell would certainly make quite the dazzling centerpiece!”

A few laughs sounded at that. Allan leaned closer to Leo, voice quiet.

“You think the fragment’s in there?”

Leo shook his head. “They wouldn’t bring it out first thing,” the former [Thief] whispered under his breath. “Let’s wait some more.”

On the stage, Atticus announced a starting bid of 5,000 gamils. Leo winced. He hoped that painting Lenore wanted wasn’t that expensive, or the 6,000 gamils she’d provided wouldn’t be enough.

Bid cards rose, numbers shouted out and echoing around the enclosed auditorium. As guests placed their bids, Leo continued to stare at the curtain, trying to guess what else might be behind it.

He was fairly confident that the fragment would appear later on in the night. It would have to be hidden in an expensive item, too, for the bids on it to make sense for everyone not in the know. Well over 5,000 gamils, he wagered.

Atticus struck the gavel against the podium. Leo glanced over just in time to see the noble family he’d noticed earlier at the masquerade rise from their seats, the first winners of the night. They were definitely powerful—probably powerful enough to know about the fragment. But would they bid on something else so early on if they were waiting for it? Leo wasn’t sure. He had no idea what these prices meant for people that high up the ladder.

The next item was wheeled in. Leo looked away from the family and redirected his attention to the stage. Focus, he told himself. He couldn’t afford to miss anything.

As the auction continued on, Leo started to get more and more nervous. What if he was wrong about the fragment being at the end? What if he’d already missed it? There’d been a couple of necklaces and gems auctioned off that would be easy to conceal a fragment in. His gut instinct told him those hadn’t been the ones, but that was no guarantee.

The curtains shifted again as the next piece was wheeled out. Leo sat a little straighter.

“Next we have this gorgeous original painting framed in pure gold.” Atticus stepped forward and gestured at the artwork.

From a distance, Leo could make out rough, bold paint strokes overlaid across a dark background depicting what looked like the half-decomposed corpse of a giant. The creature sat hunched in on itself, its stomach carved open and spilling out, the innards rendered in abstract splashes of red that were somehow even more unsettling than if the painter had drawn the actual organs.

The whole thing was grotesque, unsettling, and haunting. Leo shuddered. Yeah, that was definitely the one Lenore wanted. It had the exact same uncanny atmosphere that the paintings in her room did. Why she was so interested in them, Leo would never know, but he grabbed his bid card nonetheless. A deal was a deal.

“…going for the low low starting price of 1,000 gamils! Do I hear 1,000?”

A few bid cards rose in the audience, and Leo was internally relieved that the painting didn’t seem quite as popular as the other objects already auctioned off that night. It looked like it was a little too disturbing for anyone not deep into the art scene.

“1,050!” someone yelled. Another bid card belonging to the older gentleman Leo had seen earlier rose.

“1,100 gamils.”

Leo waited until the bidding had slowed down, only a few active bidders remaining, before throwing up his own bid card.

“2,200!” he called. His voice sounded awfully loud in the enclosed auditorium, but he made sure to keep his head held high.

Leo felt several eyes glance in his direction. Another bidder slowly lowered her sign. Atticus pointed at him, much to Leo’s annoyance. He’d prefer not having any more attention directed his way, thank you.

“2,200 from #41! Do I hear 2,300?”

“2,400,” the elderly man called out in a crisp, clear voice. Leo frowned, but kept his card up.

“2,500,” he yelled. He’d barely finished speaking when the man made another bid. The [Fragmentholder] gritted his teeth. All this for a gross looking painting? It figured it wouldn’t be easy.

On and on the two continued, the number steadily climbing higher and higher and probably well past what the painting was actually worth. Still the man stubbornly continued, undeterred. At this point Leo was bidding less to get the painting for Lenore and more for the sake of his own pride.

The [Fragmentholder] could feel Allan watching him amusedly, but he set his jaw and threw up his bid card a final time.

“5,000 gamils!”

The noble paused. His arm, already half way up by reflex, stilled, and his lips thinned into a frown. Leo tried his best not to look too smug.

A few moments passed. After no one else moved, Atticus slammed his gavel down. “Sold to #41! Congratulations on your new painting!”

Leo rolled his eyes, but he slid out from his seat and into the aisle to go collect the piece as instructed. He handed over the coins as quickly as possible, not wanting to give anyone a chance to stare at him too long in case they started questioning what noble house he was from or something. He was grateful the painting wasn’t too large, at least, otherwise carrying it would’ve been a hassle.

Wrapped painting in tow and pockets noticeably lighter, Leo slid back into his seat. Up on the stage, they were auctioning off a rare flower found only in the Issa Isles.

“Was that what Lenore wanted?” Allan whispered. Leo nodded.

“Yep. Don’t ask why, though.”

“I don’t know, it’s kind of nice. Might look good in a dining room.”

Leo shot the [Healer] an unimpressed look, which the man responded to with a beaming smile. He snorted and shook his head.

After the flower (sold to some noble who’d probably throw it at their gardener to deal with) came an old set of armor, a faded book of ancient history, a pearly comb carved out of fae bone, and a glass sphere not unlike the ones atop Alnwick’s walls containing powerful spellwork.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

At this point, Leo’s nerves were buzzing. The auction had to be nearing its last stages by now. Based on the brief glimpses when the curtains moved, the number of items had dwindled significantly. If the fragment was going to show up, it would probably be soon.

“Next up we’ve got some real stunners!” Atticus gestured behind him as the cart was wheeled to a stop. Its top had been covered in a plush velvet cushion, and nestled amidst the cloth were three distinct objects that shone in the light. Leo sat up straighter.

“These three items were donated by the same generous sponsor, but they’re being sold separately. More chances for all you lovely bidders,” Atticus said with a wink. He stepped over and gestured at the objects.

“This magnificent set comes from the personal belongings of the legendary Iron Empress herself, directly imported from the Solomere Empire! They’ve got historic and monetary value, and they’re one of a kind!”

He picked up the first object, a gleaming crown covered in glittering jewels. Its metal prongs were twisted in a knotted pattern, giving the piece a rough look that contrasted against the smooth gemstones adorning its surface.

“Here we have the late Empress’s crown with all its original jewels intact.” The [Auctioneer] lifted it higher, turning it to allow the light to bounce off the gems. The audience oohed and aahed.

“Next up, a dagger said to have slain a demon lord!” Atticus picked it up, revealing a silver, engraved handle embedded with a line of stones sitting beneath the dull, stained blade. “As you can see, the blade has been perfectly preserved; those stains may very well be some of the last remaining traces of demon blood left!”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, an almost visible energy electrifying the air in the auditorium. Leo’s jaw clenched, gaze remaining fixed on the stage.

“And finally, we have this lovely hand mirror—the Empress’s favorite.” Atticus raised the object in question. It, like the dagger handle, was made of silver. When the [Auctioneer] moved it, the surface shone a bright turquoise mixed with flashes of gold. “This was polished in ice dragon breath; it’ll never stain or dull!”

Atticus set the mirror down and moved back to the podium, but Leo didn’t take his eyes off of it.

“It’s that one,” he whispered. Allan turned to him, frowning.

“You’re sure?”

Leo nodded. The odd shine from the ice dragon polish would perfectly mask the unique way fragments gleamed in the light. That particular golden sheen had been exactly the same as the specks found in the fragments so far.

That, and the mirror was probably the least valuable object in the set on its own. Leo doubted the [Auctioneer] would miss a chance to add to its value by hiding the fragment inside, and it was still rare enough to justify whatever ridiculous prices ended up being bid on it. It was perfect.

Around the auditorium, bid cards flew up as bidding began on the crown. Leo could be wrong, but his gut told him the fragment was in the mirror.

“Sold to #1 for 14,600 gamils!”

Leo looked over to see the woman in red that he’d spotted at the masquerade stand up. He cringed internally at the price. That confirmed it; there was no way they’d be able to win a proper bid on the mirror. Stealing was their only option.

The dagger was auctioned off next for 13,900 gamils. After that came the mirror.

More bidding cards rose. Leo tilted his head just enough to be able to see who was bidding, activating [Fade into Background] for good measure.

Atticus’s eager voice soared over from the stage as the numbers climbed higher and higher. More cards went down with each increase until only a few remained. Leo’s gaze shifted between the remaining bidders, finally landing on one as Atticus struck the gavel and only a single sign remained in the air.

“Sold for 21,100 gamils to #22!”

Name: Noah Suchet

Age: 27

Level: 31

Class: [Noble, Tier 2]

Personal Skill: [Locked]

Leo’s eyes narrowed as he took in the information from [Judgement]. A young, wealthy noble who hadn’t received his personal skill yet. 28 was very late to still be waiting on a personal skill, and if he was feeling particularly insecure about it, then it made sense to Leo that the man would be seeking out fragments at any cost.

The noble stood up and headed over to the side of the stage to finalize his purchase. The auction continued. Leo barely paid attention to it; he kept his eyes fixed on Noah Suchet for the rest of the night.

By the time the final object was auctioned off and Atticus delivered his unnecessarily long “closing remarks” (he was pretty sure the man just liked to hear himself talk), Leo was ready to bolt out of the room.

The former [Thief]’s fingers flexed around the wrapped painting before he remembered he should probably be more careful with it and forced himself to relax again. Behind them, the doors remained shut, the guards still standing in their designated places. Spade had done an impressive job of remaining completely stone faced the entire time.

When they returned to the Pearl, they’d need to look into Noah Suchet. Spade might even already know who he was, depending on how old and powerful his family was in Alnwick. After that, they’d scope out his manor, maybe even tonight.

The faster they stole the fragment, the better. Leo didn’t want to give the man a chance to absorb it and gain the [Fragmentholder] class. It didn’t seem to be widespread knowledge, but he wasn’t taking any chances. He wasn’t even sure how to retrieve a fragment from a [Fragmentholder] yet.

Images of the wrecked village and the limp bodies flashed in his mind, their chests carved open. Sonia above him, pointed dagger gleaming in the light. Allan’s questioning voice.

“You can rip the fragment out of someone?”

Leo set his jaw. They’d cross that bridge when they came to it.

“—wish you all a lovely night and safe travels! See you next year!”

Atticus’s booming voice followed by two sharp slams of the gavel marked the end of the auction.

Leo practically jumped to his feet and quickly slid out into the aisle, then moved to the side to let some of the other guests out first. Noah was seated near the front, so he’d probably be one of the last ones out the door.

“It’s on him?” Allan whispered, dark eyes peering at the noble between the throng of guests. Leo nodded.

“That’s what my gut says.”

“What about your brain?”

Leo glanced over to see Spade watching them with a raised eyebrow. Around them, the crowd flowed towards the door, the guards following—likely to keep an eye out for thieves. The movement combined with the chatter allowed them to blend in without drawing unneeded attention, but they’d have to get moving soon.

“Brain says 50%,” Leo said with a frown. In the corner of his eye, Noah was halfway to the door on the opposite side of the auditorium. If they left now, they’d still be able to keep an eye on the man in the crowd.

“Let’s go,” Leo muttered. He gripped the painting closer, lest it get jostled, and made his way over to the door with Allan. Spade walked a little further behind, putting some plausible distance between them as they filed out the door.

The hallway felt even more narrow now, with so many guests carrying wrapped auction wins in addition to their evening finery. It was a relief to step back into the light of the ballroom and then, finally, outside.

The crisp night air was a welcome presence after so long inside the stuffy auditorium. Leo breathed it in, allowing himself a moment to simply enjoy the feeling of the breeze.

The [Fragmentholder] veered off to the side so that he was still on the main road, but slightly more separated from the crowd. He had a good view of the doors from here, though to his annoyance the nobles seemed intent on lingering around on the street to continue talking. Noah Suchet was just one person in the sea of figures.

Then again, this might just be part of Alnwick’s culture. There were still plenty of other passersby mulling about, the road lit up with the warm glow of streetlamps and the wall of light above. A city like this never really slept.

Allan peered down the road. “Are we heading back to the Pearl?”

“Not yet,” Leo said. “I want to see what direction he goes first.” He adjusted his hold on the painting, which was a lot heavier than it looked. What was the frame made of again? Allan chuckled.

“Here, I can hold it if you want.”

“Nah, I’m fine.” A bit of stubbornness crept into Leo’s voice. The [Healer] raised an eyebrow.

“I have 4 more points of strength than you.”

Leo snorted. When he opened his mouth to respond, however, the words died in his throat. His jaw clicked shut and his brows furrowed. He tried again. No sound came out.

Above them, the clear note of a bell rang across the city.

Leo’s whole body froze. His head snapped upwards.

Under the moonlight, coiling clouds of monochrome smoke gathered across the sky. He felt someone grab him and looked over to see Allan looking up as well, dark eyes grim, but they seemed to be the only ones even remotely nervous.

Around them, passersby continued walking down the streets even as their footsteps no longer made noise. The nobles, now unable to talk, remained in place, instead looking upwards as though watching a vaguely amusing spectacle.

They didn’t run for cover or flee. They didn’t panic even when the smoke curled into the shape of a hand clawing at the city.

The glass orbs atop the walls glowed, the crooked fingers repeatedly banging against the shimmering barrier as more strands of smoke gathered and even more Echoes formed. The magic held strong.

Leo couldn’t decide if it was more unnerving so see those Echoes pressed up against the translucent barrier, just barely out of reach, or to see how utterly unbothered the people of Alnwick were about it. This was just a normal night for a warded city.

He met eyes with Allan, who looked just as perplexed. There still wasn’t any sound. The field of Silence remained present, and Echoes would continue forming until it vanished.

Slowly, Leo allowed his shoulders to relax. He still kept some tension—it was hard not to when literal monsters were above you—but he glanced around and confirmed that Noah Suchet was one of the nobles who apparently thought watching Echoes try to break through the wards was a leisurely activity. He paused.

With so many people in the crowd and their attention drawn skywards, maybe he wouldn’t even need to track the fragment back to the noble’s home. The [Fragmentholder]’s heart sped up. He still had [Stealth] equipped.

Carefully, Leo propped the painting up against a wall where it would remain a safe distance away from any passersby. Allan shot him a questioning look, but Leo just gestured in the direction of the noble. The [Healer]’s eyes widened in understanding.

Turning to face the crowd, Leo activated [Fade into Background]. The Echoes were still pounding at the ward; there had to be over twenty by now. Leo took a careful step forward. His eyes scanned the area for the easiest way to slip in.

As hazel eyes swept past draping ballgowns and crisp suits, a distant gleam caught his attention. Leo raised his head.

There, crouched atop the rooftop several buildings away, was the man he’d seen at the masquerade.

He’d gotten rid of his suit in favor of a dark cloak and simple pants. His hair billowed out in the wind, and his eyes were fixed on some distant point. In his hands he held a bow and arrow.

Time seemed to slow down. Leo’s eyes traced the gleaming tip of the sharp arrowhead, following its trajectory to the top of the city wall where one of the glass spheres sat, its inside curling and twisting with activated magic.

Leo realized what was happening just as the man let the arrow loose, but when he tried to yell in warning, no sound came out.

It was too late.

The arrow flew straight and true.

In one hit the sphere shattered. The swirling light within faded as sharp shards rained down below. Above Alnwick, the barrier flickered. A few people stepped back in alarm.

The barrier flashed again, then again as the magic struggled to work with one of its components broken.

With one final flash, it disappeared completely.

Now free of obstructions, the gathered Echoes plunged down into the city.