CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
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Alaric Sampson
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22nd of Decepter, 935 PC
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Finding a dry patch of land along the Dirt Spine in the winter was a rarity, so when they’d passed a square of brownish-greenish grass without puddles and mud, the reins had naturally been pulled. Alaric lay flat on his back on Lily’s wool blanket, Therrin’s hand gently pouring magic into his chest.
As always, Alaric took a hard candy from his pocket and offered it to the young healer, and, like usual, Therrin rejected the sweet. Alaric couldn’t understand why Therrin never allowed him to give him anything for his help. His colleagues in the Crimson Nine viewed every interaction as an opportunity for mutual earnings, creating constant negotiations and infuriating arguments. He’d tried to change the culture at first, but doing anything for anyone without expectations of receiving something in return had always resulted in a long line of hungry diplomats waiting to ask for a favor.
When the warmth of Therrin’s magic finally faded, Alaric remained still, staring at the dark skies that had been trailing them for the last few miles. The thump, thump, thump in his head and chest set a perfect beat for the bad omens that marched along with the storm clouds. He rubbed the scars beneath his tunic and begrudgingly let the tiniest drops of magic he could drip from his soul.
“All clear,” Manaya said to Tripelthin then dropped from her horse.
“Start a fire and cook us something,” Tripelthin said as if the woman could simply make delicacies appear from thin air. “Something good.” His last words disappeared into the blackness that was the back of the woman’s coat.
“I don’t sense anything either, sir,” Lily said. She sat in the half-dead grass beside the blanket. The last hints of the sun’s golds and oranges and yellows were shining through the thick clouds behind her, framing her in a lovely mural.
“Might you check in that direction?” Alaric asked, pointing toward Pearl City to the south. “As far as your magic can reach, please.”
She closed her eyes, a peacefulness fell over her face quickly. “Nothing more than roadside burdens, sir.”
“Finally, we’ll sleep in real beds,” Tripelthin said, referring to the luxurious inn he’d been encouraging Alaric to stay at in Pearl City.
“Make periodic checks in that direction when we’re back on the road,” Alaric said to Lily.
She nodded respectfully but there was nothing she could do to hide the resentment for him that lived under her gentle surface. Understandable. In her eyes he’d taken her from her family against their will. Of course, the truth was Giorgi Pattick had jumped at the opportunity to rid himself of the dangers that came with having a Purist in your household. Not a horrible mindset when the man had five common children to think of but still, it had been hard to see a father sell his relationship with his daughter so easily. So, Alaric had made himself the bad guy. That way, when he finally put the empire back in order, Lily could return to her father and there wouldn’t be any animosity between them.
Tripelthin rattled Alaric from his thoughts with a whisper that slithered into his ear. “Now might be a good time to speak with the others.”
“What?” Alaric asked.
Tripelthin made one of his faces that suggested there was no way to fathom how Alaric had forgotten something they’d discussed days or weeks before. “You said you wanted to get their opinions on entering Locke.”
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It didn’t take much effort to know Tripelthin felt asking the others for their opinions was an indictment on his role as Alaric’s advisor but Alaric was a man of committees and majorities. Giving people their voices often strengthened the bonds between you and them, and there would come a time when he needed to be bound to his soldiers tightly.
“Oh, yes, you’re right,” Alaric said and raised his voice so the others could hear him. “Gather round, if you would.”
Therrin crawled close to Lily while Diedro stalked over from the horses. Manaya who listened to Tripelthin and Tripelthin only, remained at the fire, having not been summoned by the advisor.
Alaric used his finest voice. “I’m sure you’re all well aware but we will be presented with a difficult obstacle when we arrive in Locke. You see, the gates that stood open to the world for so many years have been closed by a frightened queen named Iris Everton.” The name tasted like sour grapes on his tongue. “How we intend to get through the gates with Lotus patrolling them day and night, while possible, is risky to say the least.”
“Risky enough that we feel it is necessary to have another course of action prepared,” Tripelthin said, refusing to simply observe. He reached into his pocket and brought out a miniature tube filled with a dark red alchemical. The idea of the dastardly science and all it had done to the empire prodded Alaric’s short temper. “This is a concoction made by the Marsallas. It is capable of eating through stones like the ones surrounding Locke. I show you now because there is no telling who will be alive when we arrive at the walls. If the responsibility falls on you to apply this alchemical to the stones, do not, I repeat, do not let it touch your skin. Or your clothes for that matter. You will undoubtedly blow your own cover with shrieks of agony if you do.”
“If we have what it takes to avoid interacting with the Lotus altogether, why don’t we just make this stuff our main plan?” Therrin asked. Not a horrible question, it was in fact why Alaric had brought the group together. However, Tripelthin treated him as though he was an idiot.
“Because the Lotus patrol the walls day and night. Using this will bring unnecessary attention to us,” the advisor said, scowling at the boy in disgust. “Hence, we intend to only use it if absolutely necessary.”
“However,” Alaric said, pulling the attention back to himself. “I believe Therrin raises a fair point. And that is my question for the rest of you… Should we try to go through the gates as planned or avoid the Lotus but leave a very visible sign of our entrance?”
“Hole in the wall,” Diedro said simply. “Talking to the bastards you want to kill never ends well in my experience.”
“I agree with Diedro,” Therrin said, offering no more to the discussion.
Tripelthin’s face was one of astonishment. As if the rest of them were dense and foolish. “As soon as the hole is discovered the entire city will be alerted of our presence.”
“Someone’s presence, but not ours exactly,” Diedro said. “Not like they’d jump right to suspicions of Alaric.”
Tripelthin scoffed. “You don’t know Iris then.”
Diedro shrugged. “Still feels better than letting them get a look at our faces. Practically tells ‘em we’re there.”
“Do you forget we intend to visit a Purist that can help disguise us?” Tripelthin asked.
“She can change our faces?” Diedro asked.
“She can do much more than simply dress us up nicely if that’s what you were thinking,” Tripelthin said.
“I know about as much of what you plan on having us do as that tree over there,” Diedro said. “And I ain’t askin’ to know but I ain’t interested in listening to ya talk to us like we’re idiots either.”
“How big is Locke?” Lily asked. The others wondered where she was heading. “Is it a large enough place that we can slip into a crowd?”
“It was,” Alaric said. “Before Iris turned it into a ghost town. Only a few commoners are still there. She rounded up the Purists that didn’t flee or were too unlucky to do so and the vast majority of commoners were coerced to join her army or left out of fear that they would be.”
“Which means any unusual visitors will not go unnoticed,” Tripelthin said. “We need to put a cork in the use of our magic and present a good reason for visiting the city when we reach the walls. It’s not like the Lotus don’t let anyone in, they simply have observant guards positioned at all the gates.”
Still not convinced, Therrin said, “Is there a place along the wall that might make it easy to cover our tracks?”
“Dammit, boy. Do you not assume I would have thought of that if there was?” Tripelthin said.
Recognizing the discussion as the type that led to stand stills in the High Chamber, Alaric spoke up, “We still have time before a decision is necessary. We will table the discussion for now but keep it in mind, if you would.” He’d already made up his mind, but hearing where others stand on an issue goes a long way.