Hiems and Aureum stood across from each other. Hiems looked at her, and Aureum looked at the ground. Her hand twisted around her wrist. She tried to hide her embarrassment.
Don't we have more important things to worry about?
Aureum's words almost echoed in the silence.
"I guess," Hiems said. "I suppose there's a lot going on."
"You really have a way of picking your timing, don't you?"
"I'm… I guess that's true too," he said. "Hey, can you take me back to Spesavia? There's a few things I need to discuss."
"Where do you think I'm going?" Aureum replied. "Just follow if you want to talk to her."
She was all haughty about it in her tone.
All of it was bravado. Thinly veiled bravado.
She was still shaking in her boots from his earlier questions.
What? What? Are we just going to walk now? How is that fair?! Is this something normal you can walk by?
But Hiems seemed to believe it was. They walked side by side as if it wasn't awkward at all. She glanced at him. The only indication that something was amiss was his eyes, flitting from one corner to the other.
Am I supposed to do something? Didn't I kind of reject him? Did I give him too much hope? Should I have lied?!
"You seem to have gotten better at the spear," he said.
"Maybe! It's a little hard to tell. I can't see myself, after all."
She was startled and bristling about it.
"I've heard about you practicing so much. All of the servants have taken notice."
"Are you serious? Why would they care about me?"
"You're a new face. You came along with Spesavia… and Mors. Of course, they're talking about you."
"Fine. I'll believe it."
"...They've been talking about Gemmo too. Odd name."
"Hey. I said I wasn't telling you anything."
Hiems nodded.
But you've just let it slip that he has a secret, he thought.
It took too long to enter into the building where Aureum and Spesavia were staying. Aureum let out a sigh of relief as soon as she stepped through the door.
"Do you know how Vitreum is doing?" She said. "She never used the stone."
"Well, I never saw her for long," he said. "But she seemed happy and safe before she left. Same brat as before."
"You didn't use saving her as… leverage?"
"What do you think I'm doing here?" Hiems said.
"I don't know. That's why I'm asking."
"I had to tell Maledic everything that he asked. But he was only interested in Nix and Caducus. You came up little, and Vitreum didn't come up at all."
"You didn't offer anything up?"
"No."
They came to their hallway. Spesavia was waiting.
"You idiots," she snarled.
"Hello to you too," Aureum said.
Spesavia waved them in a hurry inside the room. There was already a cloud of mist inside it.
Aureum went to sit next to Gemmo, who was reaching for the swirling fog.
Hiems was cornered by Spesavia as soon as the door closed.
"What are you doing?!" The old woman said. "Riling everything up and coming here?!"
"I just thought I should come to the cause of the disturbance," Hiems said, his head turned away as he kept his eyes on Spesavia. "I must not have gone along with what you were expecting, but since it wasn't something I agreed to, don't you have the blame?"
"Step carefully, boy," Spesavia said.
"I'll step where I like," he said. "If all of you can do it, why can't I? Tell me, Spesavia, what have I got to lose?"
He took a step forward. He had a feeling that the crone wouldn't kill him.
And he was done with the scraping.
At least for now.
Spesavia paused and caught his eyes.
"Tsk!"
It was her mistake. She hadn't judged the board correctly. She was no master manipulator.
Now is not the time to admit that, Spesavia thought.
"Do you have a plan or just a death wish?" She spat.
"Maybe I can help you, help yourselves," Hiems said. "Heh. Consider it on the house."
"You can't have a way out of here," Spesavia said. "Maledic is no slouch for small details here. All the focus he doesn't spend on Lapis is concentrated in this little village. Leaving won't be easy."
Hiems nodded.
Then that implies the lack of the guard's reaction to me was a decision? Or indecision? Hiems thought. What made him hesitate?
Or was it all the leniency the Lord Maledic would afford Hiems?
"Where are they looking?" Hiems said.
"They've sent a search party for you," Spesavia said. "A few men checked here but left. At least you're lucky."
"What's going on?" Aureum said. "What did he do? Why would they come here if they're looking for him?"
Spesavia looked away.
"Is it important? What's important is getting him out of here now."
"Of course it's important—
"What did you want me to do?" He asked Spesavia, cutting Aureum off.
"Urgh!" Aureum let out her frustration.
"It doesn't matter," Spesavia said. "The time for that has passed."
"Then we need a new plan. One where none of us gets killed."
Spesavia and Hiems ignored her.
"How about I kick you out? Maledic kills you. We go about our daily lives."
Aureum froze.
"Isn't it too late? You already let me in, Spesavia. What's your plan?" Hiems said.
"…How about we tell the truth?" She said. "Explain that you two know each other. Disperse suspicion. You could pretend to be lovers."
Hiems burst out laughing.
"Hahahah!"
"No—
Aureum's denial was cut off.
"Too late for that," Hiems said. "We've spent a little too much time avoiding each other to come across as lovers."
"Lovers have disputes—
"Lovers have intimacy… and convoluted stories will trip up any liars," Hiems cut Spesavia off.
Spesavia snorted.
"Give me an idea for your life then," Spesavia said.
The room was quiet.
"Booahh," Gemmo said.
"What if we really told the truth?" Aureum said. "We helped save a child of Lapis once. I told you some of it. Me and Mendax did it together. Vitreum, the girl, was actually here too. She could verify it when she comes back."
Hiems and Spesavia looked at her in dismay and hesitation.
"He said that he would give us more if we came to him!" Aureum continued. "Not that I have the letter of it."
"To call in a favor from people of power is pointless," Spesavia said. "They like to make it twist in your tongue."
"Well, I don't see how every figure in power can be evil, either! We can't force our way out of this!"
Both Hiems and Spesavia turned their heads away.
They had been considering it.
Hiems' gaze fell on Gemmo. He sighed.
"Once Aes returns, his word should match our own and Vitreum's," Hiems said. "It might buy us time until they come back. But—if we're going to do this, let's do it publicly. If we can manage it."
"Us?!"
Spesavia's tone was incredulous. She shook her head as she continued.
"Maledic doesn't care about looking good. You're confusing him for Caducus."
"Every leader cares about appearances," Hiems said. "They don't have power unless we give it to them. So they need us to believe in them."
"Some leaders are there by ability," Spesavia said. "He would kill you if he thought you were a threat to his people. No matter how bad it made him look."
"It's good we're not a threat then," Hiems said. "Let me and Aureum go and plead. Without you, we're a joke to him."
"As if I would let her go with you into this madness—
"I'll go," Aureum said. "Of course, I'll go."
These words were spoken without hesitation. Or, without much thought.
Hiems nodded his thanks to her. Spesavia looked like she was going to burst.
"You aren't even needed!" Spesavia said to her.
"My words mean nothing to anyone," Hiems said. "She's necessary to make it plausible."
"Still, you don't have to risk everything for this, Aureum!"
Spesavia's "everything" had layers to it. She glanced at Gemmo as she spoke. Aureum also looked at the boy.
Should I just let Mendax get whatever is coming for him? It's not exactly like he doesn't deserve it.
But Aureum shook her head.
"Come on, we're not risking that much," Aureum said. "Any more than we're at risk here to begin with, at least. We keep hiding, things will just get worse. Maybe this could help. Keep Gemmo out of sight, Spesavia."
"Fine," the old woman said. "I won't stop you if you want to give up on life. Ungrateful!"
Aureum was already getting up from the moment Spesavia said "fine." She turned back.
"Giving up? That's not me. I'm doing what I think will help."
"Good luck," Spesavia spat.
The old woman was already trying to pack things away. Her lack of confidence was nothing if not endearing.
Aureum stepped out, and Hiems followed.
Aureum nodded at him as they both headed out together.
"Do you know where Maledic is?" Aureum said.
"Probably, but it doesn't matter," he said. "We should get stopped. Let's go."
"Do you think begging will actually work?" Aureum said.
You sounded confident a moment ago, Hiems thought.
"You don't have to come with me. You can probably just see how it goes… from a safe distance."
Aureum shook her head and rubbed her face over her eyes.
"I'm already sick of hearing about helping you," Aureum said. "After I help you, you'll help us, right?"
Hiems kept quiet for a few steps, thinking.
"Right?"
Aureum's repeated question had an edge to it.
"I'll help you, Aureum," he said. "I'm less sure about Spesavia until I hear more about any details."
Aureum nodded. That would have to do.
Hiems felt the questions on the tip of his tongue, burning to be let out. But he kept his silence.
He didn't want to disillusion himself with an answer now.
It was only a few moments before they came across guards. The two of them likely stood at this wall every day, but Aureum had hardly seen them.
Now the men sputtered as Aureum and Hiems approached.
"You! We're to bring you in immediately!" One of them said.
Aureum stepped in front. She didn't have her spear, but her posture radiated confidence.
"Wait! I'm here to speak on his behalf! Whatever Menda—Hiems did, I have a story that Maledic would be interested in hearing!"
They didn't stop their approach. A couple more on patrol neared. It took only a few glances and murmured words, and the two pairs of guards understood each other. Now the four stood across from them.
Aureum's stomach dropped.
"Girl, step aside! We don't want to involve you. You are a guest."
"This has everything to do with me," Aureum said. "About four months ago, I came across Vitreum. I was the one who sent the letter to this manor. And I, and Mendax, or Hiems, were the ones to keep her safe before Aes brought her here. I was promised a reward by Maledic if I came in person. Let us talk with him!"
The guards paused.
A bit shaky, but it could be worse, Hiems thought.
"Take us to him," Hiems said. "If you were in the wrong, you might get scolded. But it's better to do that than face the consequences of what would happen if Maledic wanted to see us."
"Wait," one of the guards said. "I'll go find the captain."
The other three stood there awkwardly. Well, as awkwardly as those in steel with discipline from hours of training beaten into them could look.
The minutes stretched out. Aureum glanced at Hiems. He held out a hand.
Wait.
The first man came running back.
"Lord Maledic wants to see them immediately!"
Aureum let out a sigh of relief. Hiems tightened his fists.
From there, they were led directly to Maledic. The hallways twisted by as the two strode by, with the guards surrounding them.
The old wheelchair was there. The waiting room was filled with nice furniture that never seemed to get used, and the large windows had curtains drawn closed for the night. Maledic had a distinguished air despite his withered body.
"Leave us," Maledic said.
With two words, the guards bowed and left.
Aureum felt at a loss. With all she had heard about Maledic, this shriveled little man in a wheelchair contrasted her expectations.
I knew he'd be old, but… this…
He looked barely alive.
Hiems stepped forward and kneeled in front of Aureum's hesitation. She followed suit.
Better to not start begging from the old sorcerer in a rude way.
"Young Miss Aureum," Maledic said. "Do you really think I wouldn't remember the name of the woman who saved my grandchild? Or the name of the man, for that matter. Even if that changed."
Maledic glanced at Hiems.
So, he's starting from this, huh? Aureum thought.
If she demanded something, now she might be too rude. The implication was that he had known, and now she was being pushy.
"I guess I wanted clarification, my lord," Aureum said.
Aureum glanced back at Hiems, but he kept his gaze ahead at the floor.
"If you knew, why didn't you tell me?" Aureum said.
"I was hoping for better circumstances for an introduction," Maledic said.
Really?
She held her tongue and swallowed that question.
"You can stand up," Maledic said. "Don't bother with such things."
She looked back at Hiems, but he was being worthless. He didn't even look in her direction. She stood up.
"I… didn't enjoy the circumstances myself, so I didn't bring it up either," Aureum said. "But, in the letter, you did promise a greater reward if we—if I came in person."
After a bit of thought, Aureum tried to minimize Hiems' involvement in this.
Maledic leaned back.
"What do you want?" He said. "I have many things to give you."
"I didn't come here to ask for small trinkets," Aureum said.
She bit her lip. But it was too late to swallow her words now. She tried to relax her shoulders. She released her grip on her wrist.
She jabbed a finger down at Hiems.
"I want you to spare his life," Aureum said.