Chapter 50: Enclave XX
I was not unfamiliar with the way these things worked, though most of my knowledge came from authored retellings rather than the real world. Of course Persephone wouldnt trust me right away. Shed string me along for a bit, test my patience and my ability to keep my mouth shut, then eventuallymaybegive me what I wanted.
The thing was, in the stories Id read the initial favors were supposed to be small. Meaningless things. Like acting as a lookout, or gathering information.
But no, Persephone had skipped a few steps, and now I was roped into a plot to burgle a heavily guarded home, cursing her name, mentally preparing to commit high-risk larceny.
Id stared at the imprints shed handed me blankly, not quite believing what I was seeing. Sorry, you want me to do what?
Its a sapphire. About the size of a pomegranate. A dark, elongated finger stroked the depiction of the sapphire lovingly. I want it.
Yes, I said, my accent thick. And I would love to live in a world where the dark elves did not drive us from Panthania all those years ago, yet we do not always get what we want.
Dont be mouthy. Persephone sniffed.
It is not a matter of being mouthy, it is a matter of survival. I insisted. This thing. It is nothow do you sayproportional.
Oh? And the information you seek is so simple and consequence free? Persephone arched an eyebrow and took a seat on the table next to me. Anyone with any knowledge of the asmodials is to bring it to the attention of the high council immediately. Withholding that knowledge is tantamount to treason. And Im hardly asking you to commit treason. Just bring me one little gem.
I gawked at her. Big gem. This is a big gem. Stolen from a woman I do not know, in a place I am unfamiliar with, with a plan that is not mine and the help of men I do not trust.
Persephone blinked owlishly, as if my observations were completely unfair. I thought youd appreciate the resources at my disposal. Youre welcome to bring an associate of your own if you have any. Her smile was feral and victorious. She had somehow reasoned out that I was operating on my own.
Why do you want it? I asked.
Thats irrelevant.
Fine. This is all I have to do? I get you this sapphire, and in return I get access to the asmodials. You will not go back on this?
You have my word. She glowered at me, then placed three golden rods on the table with a clink. Ill even throw in a bonus. To endow your escape fund.
And that was how I ended up recruiting a fourteen year old into a life of crime. Look, I get it. I know how it sounds. But without Maya, my options were limited. Kilvius was nowhere to be found. Nethtari would have looked at me like Id grown horns. All I had to do, however, was mention the word Heist to Jorra and he was enthusiastically onboard.
He bounded around his room, grabbing a blanket and throwing it over his shoulders like an oversize cloak. This the best day ever! What are we stealing, who are we stealing it from? Do we have a code word?
Head in my hands, I was already regretting this decision more by the minute.
We are not stealing anything. Im going into a situation where there are many external factors and no constants for me to fall back on.
You can just say youre going into a risky situation. Jorra looked at me dubiously.
Yes, but Im trying to avoid exciting you further. I sighed. My point is, I need at least one person I can rely on, and that person is you.
This friendship is paying out already. Jorra grinned and jumped onto his bed, blanket trailing behind him like a cape. I watched, unamused, as he did his best impression of either a dragon, or some sort of large bird, complete with high-pitched undefinable sound effects.
You know what, Ill ask Ralakos for help. I turned to go.
Jorra leapt off the bed and tackled me, nearly toppling me. There was actual desperation in his eyes.
Cairn. You cant just talk about something like that then cut me out of it. Come on. Just give me a shot.
I gave him a level gaze. I need to know youre taking this seriously.
Done. Jorras expression went completely stoic, his voice monotone, doing an excellent impression of his mother.
Fine. I held a sack filled with empty glass beads out to him. Talk to me about the range on your water.
Youve seen it before, in the surface caves. I back up as far as I can until I can no longer sustain it.
I considered that. The cave we practiced in was large, not massive, but at least big enough for our purposes. From what I remembered Jorra covered at least half of it. A hundred feet at the very least. But, as Maya had engrained in me, magic had limits.
Is it affected by line of sight? I asked.
A bit? Jorra scratched his head. If its water Ive summoned with mana, I can almost always sense it for a few hoursmy tutor says thats a rare traitbut sensing it without being able to see is pretty above me.
I frowned. That wasnt quite ideal. I wanted Jorra as far away from the action as possible; functioning externally as a remote alarm system. Id intended to have him fill a glass bead with summoned water, then place the bead in my pocket, so he could use it to alert me if anything seemed out of the ordinary. From what he was saying, that simply wasnt going to happen. As much as I wanted to avoid it, he would need to come with me after all.
What?
Even by wealthy Whitefall standards that was paranoid.
Why the heavy security? I asked.
Shear shrugged. Percy didnt tell you much, did she? Every precious gem recovered from the sanctum and lower caves goes through Mifral. Shes the resident baron around these parts when it comes to the gem trade. Makes an absolute killing.
I reached up to squeeze the bridge of my nose absent-mindedly, fingers knocking off the surface of my mask and further souring my mood.
This was not what Id signed up for. But there was too much time invested to back down now. I was beginning to regret ever meeting Persephone.
And wheres the sapphire located?
Shear and Ginger shared an uncomfortable look.
Thats the bad news. Ginger grimaced.
We dont know. Shear said.
I stared at them both.
Adage? I said. Jorra didnt respond. Adage! I snapped my fingers and he jumped.
Uh, yes? Jorra tried far too hard to make his voice sound deep, and it came out sounding strangled.
I looked back to Shear and Ginger. I think were leaving.
Now, now, dont be that way. Shear held both hands palms out, placatingly.
Let em go Shear. Bunch of short-ass pusses. Ginger said.
Shut up, dwarf, Shear hissed.
Persephone said youd have a plan in place. I shook my head. But this isnt a plan.
You havent heard the plan yet, lad, Ginger said. Maybe listen for a moment, before yeh get your panties in a stevedores hitch
I dont evenWhat? Justnever mind. Fine. Tell me rest of the plan. But keep in mind, while my friend and I are capable, neither of us are miracle workers.
Yeah. Jorra piped in, his voice a normal pitch. Everyone turned to look at him and he shrank back.
Is that a kid? Shear asked, incredulous. Did you bring a kid in here? Wait a minute, are you a kid?
Do I sound like a kid? I asked, putting every bit of frigid, biting ice I could manage into the question.
No, Shear admitted. Lets just, get this over with before we kill each other.
He pointed out two separate areas on the map where the gem could be, and I had to admit they had planned slightly better than Id originally thought. The possible locations included a safe in Mifrals bedroom, and a trophy room adjacent to the downstairs loft.
On the bottom section of the map, there was a downstairs area marked as Panic room.
No chance she has it in there? I pointed to the lower section on the map.
Not a chance in heaven, Ginger confirmed. The whole point of a room like that is to maximize the difficulty of getting in while minimizing the reward.
Of course, we need to stop her from reaching that room. If she gets inside and locks the mansion down, things get very difficult for us, Shear said.
And how do we do that? I asked.
Ginger grinned, and with a grunt, hefted a giant back onto the table and unzipped it. There were a cluster of devices inscribed with runes, filled with blue liquid. Though Id never seen this particular design before, I recognized the purpose.
Are these bombs? I couldnt quite believe it, even as I spoke.
Ginger laughed. Not exactly.
