Sitting on a crate, I rubbed the bridge of my nose, trying to quell the onslaught of thoughts that were beginning to hop around like rabbits in a carrot-filled barn. The key now was to avoid rushing into any hasty actions; it was important to think things through and clarify the situation as much as possible. I glanced up at Thora, her posture seemingly relaxed. Yet, the way she was shifting from heel to toe belied a different state of mind.
"Let's skip any drama: I won't yell or curse, but could you please fill me in on everything step-by-step? If I need to wait for Kael to do that, then I will." Perhaps waiting would be beneficial, as it would give me time to calm my thoughts.
Thora bowed her head, seemingly deep in thought. After about ten seconds, she looked around and took a seat beside me. This was a positive sign, and I didn't rush her. Almost a minute passed before she started her tale.
"About eight or nine days ago, we…"
"Hold on," I interrupted her quietly but firmly, "Could you be more specific? So, was it eight or nine days ago?"
"Nine," Thora replied after a moment's thought.
"Thank you, please continue."
"Nine days ago… in the evening," she clarified, nervously tapping her knee pad, seemingly recalling the details. "My sister and I were 'strolling' in the Break."
"Strolling?"
"Well... we sometimes run around the city in Projection for training. And if we encounter one of the Knights, we might stop for a chat!”
"I see," I concurred. Yes, these two were always eager for any opportunity to gossip.
"Anyway... we noticed a familiar shadow in the distance. We decided to sneak up on him and surprise him."
"For what? Why surprise him?"
"Halley has been avoiding us recently; he says he's tired of our constant chatter. But we had questions for him."
"What questions?"
"Who would be the new head of BKDW? How did the last negotiations with the Castle representatives go? Is it true that Crixus is moving into our new office? Is he really dating Maya? Did the Knights of the Eastern Suburbs really get into a fight after Sunday training…"
"I get it; you don't need to go on," I cut her off, judging by her rapid-fire delivery, the list of questions was seemingly endless. "So, nine days ago, in the evening, you were in the Break and spotted Halley."
"Yes."
"Was Halley also in the Break?"
"Yes! And we only noticed him by chance. Like most of us, he usually runs, leaping across rooftops. It's faster that way!" Thora paused momentarily but continued before I had the chance to prompt her. "He was moving quickly, but tried to stick to the shadows. It was pure coincidence; there was a crash at an intersection, so we turned in the direction of the colliding cars and saw Halley. We both thought it would be a good idea to catch up with him and maybe get some answers to our questions."
What I find fascinating about the sisters is their spontaneity, which teeters on the brink of sheer rudeness. Yet, they always manage to stop just short of crossing that line, miraculously balancing between "oh, that's adorable" and "what audacious brats!"
"So, did you manage to catch up with him?" I ask, breaking the silence that Thora had allowed to stretch out.
"No," she responds, shaking her head so vigorously that the plumes on her helmet brush against her shoulder pad. "We lost him. And we had a minor disagreement... Kael thought that Halley had given us the slip because of me. She suggested we take a shortcut, but I refused... It's not important." Once again, the feathers on her helmet trace a swift arc through the air. "While we were arguing, we ended up on this rooftop." She points upwards. "About half a minute into our quarrel, Kael spotted Halley coming out of this library."
"And you pursued him again, did you?"
"No... We... We got a bit carried away, arguing with each other and weren't focused on him."
"Did he notice you?"
"No, we weren't shouting... It was more of... We were hissing irritably at each other. Also, we were behind a ledge, making us hard to spot from below. Plus, he didn't seem to suspect that he was being watched. Although, it appeared to us that he didn't want to be seen."
"Why did you think so?"
"He kept looking around, like characters do in terrible spy films. And he was constantly moving in the shadows. Sometimes he would suddenly speed up, then almost stop and look back."
"He was looking around and didn't see you?" I was surprised by this, considering the sisters are not exactly inconspicuous, especially Thora with her red brigantine and vivid plumes on her helmet.
"Yeah, he hardly ever looked up," she nods. "And we were chasing him across the rooftops."
"I see..." I say, trying to hide the skepticism in my voice. "What happened next?"
"By the time Kael and I had stopped bickering and made up, Halley had long since disappeared. We were just about to leave when we spotted Mersk. And we, I must say, have quite an interest in him..." She suddenly gesticulates wildly. "No, not like that!.. Because of 'Masks of Novilter.'" I suspect she blushed beneath her helmet at that moment. "While we were considering how to approach him and what questions to ask... to avoid scaring him off immediately... Anyway, he also vanished into the same library." She points at the building as if I needed additional directions or as if every other building on this block houses a reading room. "He stayed inside for a minute, at most, and then, to our surprise, he exited not from where he entered but through that narrow alley over there." She points again. "Then he must've picked up speed because we lost sight of him."
"Wait a minute," I interrupt her. "So you're saying that Halley first entered the library, then left, and a few minutes later, the head of the 'Masks' visited the same building?"
"Exactly!" Thora almost screams.
"So, Halley and Mersk didn't interact, since they were in the building at different times. Am I understanding this correctly?"
"Yes," The girl nods in response and immediately continues, "But! This 'coincidence' seemed very odd to us! And Nein, the chief investigator on the Eshin case, always says, 'There's nothing more curious than coincidences!'"
Indeed. After the operation to dismantle the Eshin bases, in which the sisters participated, they remained on the investigation's support team, representing the city's raigs. I noticed the girls often hovering around the Third Palm's investigator. But this suited me, as it gave Nein less reason to focus on me. Apparently, his investigative fervor had infected this already restless duo.
"Continue," I nod to Thora.
"Well... We... Kael and I... We decided to investigate whether it was a coincidence or not."
"How? Did you follow Halley?"
"Yes," Her answer was firm; there wasn't a shadow of doubt about the righteousness of their actions. "And we were right! A similar situation occurred four days later. And it was supposed to happen again today!"
"Does Halley make regular visits to this library?"
"Yeah!" Thora is a terrible actress - she couldn't conceal her pride in the answer. "He comes here after every major meeting between him, Crixus, Maya, and the curator from the House on the Hill. Not immediately after, but a few hours later. There was such a meeting scheduled today, and we thought... we sent a message to you... But for some reason, Halley didn't show up."
"What if I hadn't come today? Say, I didn't have time to read your message or I was busy with something else."
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
"Then, next time, we would have approached Maya," She didn't pause to think about the answer, so they likely did have such a plan.
"Thanks for the information," I lean towards her and continue. "Could you clarify one thing?"
"Yes?" Thora responds eagerly.
"How did you know that Halley wouldn't show up? You didn't leave the Break. You've been here the whole time. You couldn't have received a message from your sister, yet somehow you knew that Halley wouldn't appear at the library today. How?"
At this question, the young 'detective' jerked as if someone had given her a resounding slap in the face. Then she instinctively stepped back and scanned for an escape route. But since I deliberately stood still, with my hands folded behind my back, showing no hint of physical aggression, she remained in place.
"You don't want to tell me," I say without raising my voice. "That's a shame..." I draw out the last word with an intonation that immediately makes it clear she can now forget about the trust between us. Thora is not just a chatterbox and a gossip, but an intelligent girl who can pick up on subtle cues. She catches onto my tone immediately.
"It's not just my secret," she quietly replies.
She doesn't deny the fact that she's been in contact with her sister while simultaneously in the Break; that's already a good sign. From what I've gathered about these two, each would willingly lay down her life for the other without a moment's hesitation. So the question is, should I push further? Demand a detailed explanation of "how exactly"? There's a chance she might reveal more, but it's slim. But if I push too hard, I risk losing the sisters entirely.
"Not just yours," I clarify, rapidly weighing my options in my head.
If circumstances were different, I'd be better off not pushing. I would simply make a mental note that the sisters have a few tricks up their sleeves and leave it at that. But things aren't that simple.
"You have to understand, this situation is full of peculiarities and mysteries," I carefully increase the pressure. "Any additional secrets are just adding fuel to the fire."
"I understand," Thora nods but doesn't elaborate, making it clear that her understanding doesn't extend to revealing the secret she shares with her sister. Even though she stands before me in armor and a closed helmet, I can clearly imagine her lips tightening into a thin line, her brows furrowing, and her forehead creasing with stubborn resolve.
No, pressure isn't going to work. Whether I apply it all at once or gradually, it won't make a difference. She won't talk, she won't give up her secret. This is bad, very bad! I've painted myself into a corner. I should have realized from the start that she wouldn't answer and that pressing her would be pointless. And now... If I keep pushing, I risk alienating both sisters, if not from BKDW, then certainly as sincere allies. Because they'll realize that I can't fully trust them anymore. However, if I back down now, I'll lose face and authority in their eyes. I've already made my stance clear, and if I backpedal the moment I meet resistance, I'll show weakness. Novilter society, heavily influenced by Eastern traditions, values face-saving greatly. I need to change my strategy, and fast. But how? Every second that passes solidifies Thora's resolve to keep denying everything. My mind draws a blank, save for one absurd, childish, and naive thought. And with no other options, I look into the visor of Thora's helmet and voice it, mimicking the intonations of a children's cartoon[1].
"Do you trust me?" Sometimes, though very rarely, such childlike naivety, deliberately displayed for the other person, shatters their prepared responses and bypasses all the barriers they've set up. I feel like a despicable manipulator. Because if she doesn't answer even now, it will seem that her stubbornness stems specifically from her personal distrust of me.
"I..." From the distinctive movement of Thora's helmet, I can practically "see" her gaze darting around. Her left hand grips the hilt of her sword. But this isn't a display of aggression, not in the least. Rather, it's something instinctive, bordering on panic. I've managed to shake her conviction that she wouldn't tell me anything. Now the key is to use this properly.
Before I can say anything, Thora's hand on the hilt twitches, as if jolted by a mild electric shock. If I hadn't been so focused, I likely wouldn't have noticed this small jerk which caused the girl to shift into a more relaxed and confident stance.
"Don't say anything," I raise my hand, a faint smile playing on my lips. "You really are sisters. This isn't an act or a disguise, as it might appear to an outsider. If one observes you closely, it becomes clear. You behave in such an overtly sisterly manner that everyone gradually comes to believe this is a role you're playing, not the truth. Also, your fondness for rumors isn't because you're such typical gossips, who just love to chatter about anything. No. You're curious and intelligent, and the 'gossip girls' facade simply masks the fact that you want to know everything and as much as possible." Judging by her posture and the tremble of Thora's fingers, I understand that so far, I'm on the right track. "And you're not just sisters. Your armor in the Projection is identical in every detail, differing only in color. And it wasn't you who chose this armor, but the Break. You are twins." Yes, bingo! Such a reaction can't be faked. "I've heard stories that twins, even without being sensums, can sense each other's emotions and intense feelings from halfway across the world. The Break amplified that ability, didn't it?" Thora remains silent, standing as if she's swallowed a steel rod. "Honestly, I don't understand why you're hiding it... Yes, it's not customary for us raigs to share what abilities the Break has given us. But we're not exactly strangers. Besides, exchanging messages between Knights in the Break could be a key tactical element, especially during large-scale Breakthroughs! Your connection with your sister could probably save dozens of raigs. And in field operations against ordinary criminals, your ability is worth a dozen special forces soldiers!"
"It doesn't work like that!" Thora almost shouted, then caught herself, but immediately realized it was too late to deny. "These are not messages in the usual sense! Directed emotions, feelings, mood..." And since there was no point in hiding now, the girl continued. "Kael sent me her disappointment, and I realized that Halley will not appear today."
"Don't worry. Until you give me permission, I will not reveal your secret to anyone. But, nevertheless, I ask you to think. A connection in the Beak, even one like yours, can change the strategy for dealing with major Breakthroughs."
"We..." The girl bowed her head and continued after swallowing the lump in her throat. "We will discuss this."
"I don't ask for more."
Thora shook her head and changed the subject.
"So, we brought you here not in vain?"
Such a trick, an attempt to jump to another less disturbing topic, was easy to read, but I decided to play along with it.
"Not in vain... But, hasty conclusions should not be made yet. Even if Halley contacts Mersk for some reason, this does not make him a traitor. The 'Masks of Novilter' are also Break Knights, just like us. Yes, they have a different ideology, but they regularly appear to repel the Breakthroughs and have not been seen in hostile actions against us."
"Pf-f-f..." Thora snorted immediately and continued. "On the other hand, they consider all BKDW members the dogs of the authorities."
"They never said it directly." I corrected her.
"There are enough hints about this position on their website."
"By the way, why didn't you and your sister join them? The basis of their ideology is free information, and sometimes it seems you want to know everything about everyone."
"Know?" She couldn't help but smile a little. "Everything about everyone... Sounds tempting... Sharing this knowledge with everyone?" The girl laughed outright and then abruptly cut off the laughter. "No."
"Why am I not surprised?" I asked this rhetorical question, raising my eyes.
Thora let me complete the miniature scene and only then spoke:
"Yes, and we don't like anarchists."
"Are the 'Masks' anarchists?"
"Of course, it is enough to read a few articles on their website and think about them a little." I ultimately agreed with her but had never expressed my opinion on this topic. "Besides, completely free information, their fetish, we don't like it." After a pause, she finally completed her thought. "We prefer secrets."
"Do you think Halley noticed your constant attention?"
"No, I don't." Thora must be broadly smiling under his visor. "Kael pretends to be attracted to him and tries to always be near him... And since Halley, apparently, is flattered by this attention..." She did not finish, slapping her thigh with her palm; however, the meaning was understandable.
"You two are quite dangerous..." This was both a jest and an undeniable fact.
Thora, having already recovered from my pressure and regained her composure, quickly picked up on the dual meaning of my words.
"Not as dangerous as you." She playfully volleyed the "compliment" back to me.
"Answer me this then. Do you see Halley as some sort of traitor?"
"No." Thora responded after a brief pause. "It doesn't really matter what we think." I didn't quite follow her line of thought, and she seemed to take particular delight in noticing my confusion. After a brief pause in which she savored the moment, the Red Knight carried on. "Halley can't possibly be a traitor in the truest sense of the word. He took an oath when he joined the BKDW, and his sword remains untarnished, free of rust."
Damn! When she first mentioned these meetings, I should have asked about Halley's blade right off the bat. Now she gets to gloat at my oversight - I suppose I had it coming.
"However," Thora continued, "these meetings are clearly not held without purpose, and the Masks have always tried to distance themselves from the BKDW as much as possible. Something's definitely brewing. And considering that Halley is the leading candidate for the BKDW's head..."
She trailed off, but her silence spoke volumes. I grasped her implication all too well, as Halley is only the frontrunner because of my backing. This situation was becoming rather uncomfortable for me personally.
"Is the vote next week?" I sought to confirm.
"Yes."
"Do you remember the properties of my sword?"
"It's the Sword of Truth."
With a fluid motion, I unsheathed "Word" so that the pristine blue steel was fully revealed to Thora. Then I stated, "Before you mentioned it, I knew nothing about Halley's meetings with Mersk, and besides browsing their website, I have no ties with the 'Masks of Novilter'."
She scrutinized my blade intently, then raised her head to fire off another question.
"Is it true that you were once a monk?"
She was a crafty one to deal with! In a defiant manner, I slowly sheathed "Word," then looked up at her and calmly stated, "I won't say."
"Don't take offense! I had to try!"
"If you're not in a hurry, let's take a seat and go over some details."
I settled again and gestured to the box opposite me. Thora gripped the hilt of her sword, lost in thought for around ten seconds, then finally took the seat I had suggested. Had she exchanged messages with her sister? I didn't notice any outward signs of their connection this time, but that didn't necessarily mean anything.
"So, let's review the specifics..."
[1] TLN: It seems this is a reference to Aladdin and Jasmine, https://youtu.be/102pGYQ09eE?t=84