The sun was hiding behind the mountainous horizon when Ivendir finished his daily responsibilities. Since he arrested Andvari, he couldn't focus even on the easiest, casual tasks. He just locked himself in his chamber and worked from there. He hasn't left his safe place and hasn't let anybody in. The thoughts about Andvari's treason occupied his mind to the core.
He sat at the desk, hiding his face in his hands. His LiqBoard lied next to him but he muted the device.
Who will be next?" he thought. Who's the next traitor?
Hearing a rustle outside, he opened his eyes and glanced towards the window. It was just a withered sprig falling from the tree.
Any of the pen pushers? Someone from law enforcement?
He narrowed his eyes and gazed at the distant city. It looked as usual: it resembled a grey-brown dust resting at the bottom of the valley. Now, Ivendir saw it as a backwater town full of psychos and conspirators.
Some random peasant?
The next though made him feel stinging in his chest, and his heart sped up. Another Vardir? One of their captains?
He turned around quietly as if he didn't want to attract the attention of a potential assassin. He opened his dismayed eyes wider and his pupils dilated even more.
Could they be watching me now?
Ivendir stood up. Something seemed wrong to him. He squatted under the window and looked at the underside of the window sill. Touching the smooth hazel wood panels, he said to himself, Here. The only part of this room without any precaution...
Taking a heavy breath, he straightened his knees like he was lifting up a pack of bricks. He leant on the window sill and stared at the hills on the horizon. The sun cast a gold afterglow on the young grass and the snow on the mountains shone like honey.
What if... He clenched his fingers on the window sill and his whole body froze. ...the traitor is...
Ivendir hissed with anger. His own idea annoyed him. It was too ridiculous, even for his already paranoid mind.
No, not him. He would never do that.
He walked away from the window. Sighing deeply, he rubbed his eyes and brushed his hair off his face.
But the Vardir Commanders? Maybe...
A new idea appeared in his mind. He thought he found an ultimate way to test Vardirs' loyalty. He grabbed the LiqBoard and sat on his bed.
I need to know...
The next two days were ordinary for Erilaz. He sat on a deckchair in his small garden, exploring the subject of The Chromed Emperor. He stared at his LiqBoard, reading some articles.
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"Sixteenth Scroll of Kydoimos... verse one hundred seventh," he muttered, raising his eyebrow.
Then we witnessed the dust settling and heard the vehicle roaring. When the air became slightly clearer, a beam of reflected light blinded us for a moment...
Erilaz propped his chin, smiling slightly. Interesting.
When our vision recovered, we were able to see him descending from the vehicle's gangplank.
"Descriptions?" He twisted his mouth. "Who cares, I want the result..." he mumbled and scrolled down.
...the embodiment of our victory, our liberation and deliverance...
Chromed Emperor, you clever beast," he said to himself with a canny smile, so that's your strategy. Be nice but also scary.
He wanted to continue reading when a door icon popped up and covered the text. He confirmed and the door opened. As he turned his head towards the entrance, Hefri briskly marched inside. Her long, blue dress with a darker corset heaved behind her like a raging sea’s waves. She stopped in front of Erilaz with her arms crossed.
"Do you have any messages from Andvari?" she asked before Erilaz managed to say something.
Erilaz shrugged and put the LiqBoard on the table. "I asked him what's going on and he just sent me a few text messages. I feel terrible, I need some rest."
Hefri averted her sight, a mix of concern and curiosity appeared on her face. "I haven't seen him for two days." She shook her head and looked at him again. "All I got are text messages too," she explained, gesticulating. "No one knows what happened to him. After the last talk with the king, he just disappeared." She sighed and her eyes began to give away her increasing anxiety. She gazed at him pleadingly. "If he doesn’t come back by evening, will you help me find him?"
"Sure. Calm down," he said, putting his hands on his knees and sat on the edge of the deckchair. Andvari's weird behaviour concerned him too, but he kept his face straight to reassure Hefri. "Do you have any suggestions about what may be going on?"
Hefri shrugged. "No. Many things could have happened." She drooped her arms and shook her head. "...or maybe we're just freaking out," she added quietly.
"I know what you're thinking." Erilaz raised his finger. "The Moryans?"
Hefri wiped her forehead. "I have no idea but..."
The door alarm beeped, cutting her words off.
Erilaz raised his eyebrow. "Another guest?"
He took his LiqBoard and looked at the screen. It showed a live stream from the camera above the door. Erilaz didn't recognize the group of Celestians. They all wore long coats and cloaks and they looked like casual townsmen. The leader swung his hand in front of the camera, showing the badge on his LiqWatch. He was a guard in civilian clothes.
Erilaz had no more time to react, because the leader tapped the screen on the wall. He entered the garden, and the others followed him.
Erilaz stood up and turned towards them. He narrowed his eyebrows, ready to ask a few unpleasant questions, but the leader forestalled him.
"By command of His Highness, you both are obligated to meet with him in The Eastern Prison Wing."
"Now?" asked Erilaz, unclenching his fists. "We have to..."
"Now," repeated the guard, hiding his hand under his coat.
Erilaz sighed. "Fine," he said and glared at the guard. "It better be something really important."
He gave Hefri a knowing look and both of them followed the guards.
Prison? thought Erilaz. The Eastern Wing?
It didn't make any sense to him. Vardir had nothing to do with the prison system. All they had to do was to protect their world and their king. There were many other factions who took care of the criminals.
Hefri thoroughly hid her surprise. Guards in civilian clothes barging into Vardir's terrace weren't a common view here. She kept her mouth shut because she was in Erilaz's area. If that happened in her territory, she would give them a pretty harsh earful.
She marched after her friend, peering at each guard to understand their intent.
Bjarni Arnorsson strolled down the corridors when a group of Celestians marched down the stairs with a loud stomping.
Just in case, he stepped behind a pillar and watched them from a safe distance.
Does the king know? he asked himself.
The two Vardir walked freely so it didn't look like arrest. Their pace was quick, and they seemed to be nervous but nothing else raised his suspicions.
Or... do Vardir know?
He turned on his LiqWatch and called Captain Ermdahr.
"Send the smallest spy drone to me," he whispered. Before Ermdahr said anything, he had hissed, "Now! I'll explain later."