Part 3: Eido’s Shadow
Part 3: Eido’s Shadow
Louise Rustinell, the territory’s leader, hurried through the dark city with her guard. Night was only just setting in, and she had meant to take some wine and relax after finishing the last scraps of work she had left. Her butler had been reviewing her choice of wine when she received an emergency message from one of her vassals: Rustinell’s minor lords had reported that Deet and his men were raiding the hideout of a reprehensible group.
Reports of bandits in the territory had been increasing lately, and they weren’t just targeting small villages or travelers. They’d gone after armed merchant caravans and anyone else who happened to cross their path. These attacks happened so often that the sharper-eared merchants were starting to spread rumors. The bandits appeared all over the territory, and once they fled the scene, they were impossible to find again.
Lady Rustinell fought back by tightening measures on food and other necessary resources and putting a complete stop to the flow of military provisions—but these policies fell very short of the intended result. All it did was discourage economic activity, push people to stockpile, and force prices up. It was a frustrating situation, and all Louise could really do was sit there grinding her teeth.
Meanwhile, the bandits were getting more and more confident and increased their activities, leaving behind neither hide nor hair for the authorities to grasp. It was at that point Louise started suspecting there was something bigger going on behind the scenes, and it was at that point she received her vassal’s good news.
Porque Nadar, count of the neighboring Nadar, was the mastermind behind the bandit epidemic. He had set up merchants and bandits to steal silver from Rustinell and other territories, and Louise was shocked to find that the merchant who had come to apologize that very morning was one of them.
When his part was done, the merchant would have gone on to undertake work in another territory under a different name until the heat died down. He’d build up his reputation to earn the trust of the local lord and then continue to curry favor with them.
Now that I think of it, this “Pilocolo” came with a letter of introduction from Count Nadar.
If the count sent him back to Nadar to work under a different name, Louise doubted she would suspect the merchant at all.
The “hideout” Deet was storming was apparently where they meant to ship the stolen silver from. On top of that, it sounded like the group intended to attack the prince later, who was presently on his way to Nadar. The count would come out to “greet” the prince before attacking, while the bandits would then pincer him from behind. What would have happened to the prince if Deet hadn’t found this group’s hideout that night?
Louise had nothing but gratitude for the silver-haired noble boy who’d informed Deet of the entire scheme as soon as he realized what was happening. He was young and well-dressed as any noble, with a sweet face that could easily be mistaken for a girl’s. His name was Arcus Raytheft, the eldest son of House Raytheft.
While Deet’s men worked to tidy things up in the warehouse district, Arcus waited with his servants for Louise to arrive. The moment he saw her, his mouth dropped open. He likely never imagined a lady might look like this: unkempt red hair, an eye patch, and to top it all off, a greatsword. The cloak around her shoulders was made from a wild beast’s pelt. Not only was Louise not dressed like a lady, she lacked very much femininity at all.
Galanger smiled knowingly as he approached. “The young man thinks you look like a bandit, ma’am.”
“Hm? He hasn’t said anything yet.”
“He doesn’t need to. The look on his face says—ouch!” The clown was rewarded with a painful smack upside the head—perhaps deserved, as he was the highest-ranking vassal in Rustinell and had no right speaking to his leader like that. Less so in such a smooth and put-together tone. The lady hit him again, this time in his paunchy gut. Apparently deciding it was enough, Galanger clutched his stomach and doubled over.
Louise turned to the boy kneeling before her. “You are Arcus Raytheft, yes?”
“My Lady!” After witnessing what he had, Arcus’s face was taut with anxiety, and he stood up unnaturally straight.
“I’m Louise Rustinell. I’m thankful for your information about these wrongdoings in our territory. I see now why the Raytheft House is so highly regarded.”
“Please allow me to apologize for acting with so much impertinence within your ladyship’s territory.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. Without you, we’d have been in real trouble.”
Arcus bowed his head again.
He’d shown his integrity from the moment he reported the bandits’ location and helped Deet to suppress them. More importantly, he had the opportunity to deal with the bandits and take all the credit himself, or even work to bring Rustinell down. The fact that he hadn’t done either told Louise he might have been a little too naive for a noble boy.
That has nothing to do with it. It’s because he’s so young.
As Louise became engrossed in more superfluous thoughts, one of her vassals stepped up with documents in hand.
“My lady. We’ve seized their instructions.”
Louise skimmed the materials. Everything written there matched Arcus’s report.
“This here is solid proof that Nadar’s been betraying the kingdom for the Empire. He can’t have picked particularly sharp men for it if they left evidence like this lying around.”
Not taking the proper measures to destroy evidence was more than just an oversight, but perhaps hiring intelligent personnel was not a luxury treasonous thieves could afford.
Louise spotted Deet at the warehouse entrance, and he locked eyes with her.
“Ah! Mom!” He waved his arms in the air with glee as he ran up to her. He seemed exceedingly happy for somebody who had just been through a violent raid after a long patrol.
“Deet! I’ve told you a hundred times to stop calling me ‘Mom’!”
“What?! But you’re my mom! What else am I s’posed to call you?!”
A fist came down on the stubborn Deet’s head. Tears filled his eyes within seconds as he crouched down.
“Owwwwww!”
“You call yourself my son, and yet you still can’t grasp how to speak properly!” Louise grumbled. She noticed her vassals looking at her coldly, like they always did for some reason when this topic came up.
Louise looked back at Arcus, who was stroking at his own head. What Louise didn’t know was that he knew the pain of such a strike all too well himself.
“You did a good job, Deet.”
“Nah, it was all thanks to Arcus. I just rounded the bad guys up after.” Deet gave her a sheepish grin, but his smile soon faded. “It looks like these guys were kidnapping women as well.”
“They were?”
“We found a young woman stuffed naked in a crate and trembling.”
“Their lack of respect for our territory is worse than I thought. Make sure that girl gets home safely.”
“I will.”
These bandits’ outrageous crimes stretched far beyond stealing silver, and they had their sights set on harming the prince on top of it all. Louise found herself angrier and angrier at Porque Nadar by the second.
“I’ll take a closer look at things here, and then I’ll gather the soldiers to track down and report to Prince Ceylan. Do you want to come, Deet?”
“Yeah, I’ll go! Arcus? You’re coming too, right?”
“What, me?”
“You shouldn’t make such rash invitations, Deet.”
“But Mom! They were saying how some super strong magician was going after His Highness, and only Arcus and his servants know what that magician looks like!”
“It does sound like their presence would be useful. Okay. Will you come with us?”
“Yes, please, if we are permitted.”
“Sorry. I know you’ve probably got your own problems to worry about,” said Louise.
“We are grateful for the concern, ma’am.”
Galanger had already told Louise that Arcus would prefer this matter be dealt with as quietly as possible. She felt the sweet-faced, silver-haired boy could be genuinely naive at times, but he had a shrewd understanding of things where it mattered. It was almost as though he was acting the innocent child on purpose. Comparing him to Deet, you wouldn’t think they were similar in age.
“Clayton!”
“Milady. The soldiers are all up and waiting outside the city gates.”
“Good. Make sure they’re in formation and ready to depart by the time I’m done with my quick look at the warehouse.”
“Yes, milady.”
The next stage would be the most critical. They would have to race across the border with Nadar so they could head off the prince and his troop before the count could make contact. The vanguard would need to prioritize speed over numbers to join with the prince posthaste. If necessary, reinforcements could come in to bolster their defenses and help with extracting the prince. A successful escape would be the best possible outcome. Catching up with the prince before he got too deep into Nadar was vital.
They would need to inform the prince of the severe error they’d made by allowing Nadar to steal their silver, of course, but if they played the role of epic heroes come to save the prince, he would likely turn a blind eye to their mistake. Making the threat seem as big as possible would minimize any lasting damage.
That would also raise this boy’s status, I suppose... Hm?
Louise was looking around the warehouse with Galanger and planning her next move when she noticed something odd—a crushed iron beam and broken building materials. It looked like there had been a very fierce but very localized attack. The nearby window had been smashed and the glass blown outward. Most of the wooden fixtures were in pieces. On closer inspection she spotted charred flesh burnt fast to the floor and surrounding objects.
“What’s this all about, Galanger?”
“This is the result of Arcus Raytheft’s magic.”
“Oh? The boy did this?”
“Yes, ma’am. During the fight with an opposing magician.”
The utter destruction made sense if it was caused by magic, but it also raised further questions.
“This looks,” Louise paused, “a little too strong for fire magic.”
“It was quite the spectacle. There wasn’t much of the magician left at all afterward. These ribbons of flesh are all that’s left.”
“Oh.” That just made things even more curious. “What sort of spell was it?”
“I asked our magicians about it, but they didn’t have a clue.”
“Really? So we don’t know?”
“Those who were present said it looked more or less like fire magic to them. But they can’t be certain, because it caused massive destruction in only a second.”
Galanger was a man who liked precision and clear-cut answers, but even he didn’t have an explanation. The first offensive fire-based spell that sprang to Louise’s mind was Flamrune. It was popular among the kingdom’s fire-magic users for its one-two punch of ravenous flame and a skewering blow.
It was also part of Lainur’s arcane military portfolio; its destructive power was feared by other nations. However, its main effect was burning the target rather than destroying it—that effect came second. There was always a chance of something exploding with Flamrune, but it shouldn’t have left behind what they were seeing now. The damage was more in keeping with what a conjured boulder might leave behind, but that wouldn’t make sense either.
Louise looked at Galanger and spotted a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead.
“It’s rare to see a reckless man like you breaking out in a cold sweat.”
“I just... I’m thinking back to when the spell was used. I’m not ashamed to admit it’s making me break out in a cold sweat.” Galanger lowered his voice as though muttering to himself. “According to our magicians, a short incantation like that shouldn’t have been able to create such a powerful spell. It was half the length of Flamrune’s incantation, and yet it created something just as—if not more—powerful. If only I were more like the young master, and could keep smiling in the wake of such a horror.”
Simply put, Arcus Raytheft was a skilled magician.
“That’s odd,” said Louise. “The rumors say his aether amounts to scrap, and that he was disinherited for lacking any sort of talent.”
“I’ve heard the same.”
Did that make the rumors false? Something didn’t quite add up.
“What’s your opinion on the boy, Galanger?”
“Arcus Raytheft is intelligent far beyond his years. Not only is he skilled in the art of seals, but he has the courage to step right into a situation like this evening’s. His magic is as Your Ladyship has seen here. I can only think his disinheritance must be some kind of unfunny practical joke, because I can see no other reason for it.”
“I’d have to agree.”
“On top of that, his servants are both top graduates from the Institute. Even the greatest nobles would have trouble getting their hands on servants like that, so I can’t help but wonder how a boy like him managed it.”
Craib Abend, one of Lainur’s state magicians and perhaps better known as Crucible, was also a former Raytheft, so the servants were likely a result of his connections. Even then, affording a boy who was famously “talentless” such prestigious personnel would have been far from easy.
“What is Arcus Raytheft doing here in Rustinell?”
“I’m not sure yet. He has a letter from King Shinlu for Your Ladyship, but of course I haven’t read it. Like I said, he was supposed to explain his reasoning in his audience with you tomorrow.”
“Hmm...”
Such letters were usually shared between people of a similar status, and yet it was a disinherited noble boy who had one for her this time. He shouldn’t have any business carrying a letter from the king, which only went to show how highly the king thought of him.
“Ma’am?” Galanger prompted.
“Milady. I told you ‘ma’am’ sounds too much like ‘mom.’ You’re reminding me of Deet.”
“Oh, um. Apologies.” Galanger smiled sheepishly.
“Honestly. Anyway, you’ve heard the rumor concerning Lainur’s magic infantry and their exponential growth in power, haven’t you?”
“Yes, I have. Apparently, their command and operations are going exceedingly well, possibly because they’ve refined their formations. I’ve also heard there’s a bumper crop of skilled magicians within the medical sector lately.”
“There’s said to be some link to silver there as well.”
“Silver? Could that be what this Arcus Raytheft is after?”
“He’s here with a sealed letter from the king. The timing matches up. Most people come here seeking silver, after all; he could be involved in all of this.”
Louise realized it might be a bit of a stretch to link Arcus to the improvements in Lainur’s military, but the same could be said for a young disinherited boy showing up with an official letter in the first place. It was still supposition on her part, but the possibility was there.
“But then why do they call him talentless?” Galanger wondered aloud.
“Who knows. Maybe it’s a front. Perhaps his loving parents ‘disinherited’ him because they recognized his true power and wanted him to establish his own house.”
“That makes no sense at all! The way that rumor’s spreading, there has to be something more to it.”
“I think so too. Maybe they favored their daughter to take over the family for whatever reason,” Louise murmured. “That viscountcy has a long history in the kingdom. If that boy isn’t good enough for them, then their chosen heir must be very special indeed.”
The Raythefts went back several generations, and yet their house remained a viscountcy. Flourishing was definitely not the first word to come to mind. Viscounts were assistants to higher-ranking houses, meaning each heir had to be powerful and talented. Arcus’s sister must have been just as powerful if she was chosen over him. That aside, what he had done here was astounding for a boy of his age. With the future in mind, Louise surmised it might be advantageous to tell Deet to befriend Arcus.
By the time Louise had finished inspecting the warehouse with Galanger, there was a party already lined up and waiting for them outside. They had with them a great number of warhorses. Their formation was perfect; not a single body twitched.
Louise swept her gaze over the line of her soldiers. “Well done for gathering here when you could have been out enjoying the nightlife. I’m sorry to make you abandon your flagons, but I can assure you I’m in the same position. If only I’d passed out drunk, I wouldn’t have to deal with this nonsense...”
A wave of laughter rippled through the soldiers.
“However, the Prince of Lainur is in danger. If we do well here, we can retreat without a fight, and Rustinell will earn favor with the kingdom. I trust you’ll do your best to make me look good here!” Louise declared.
The soldiers replied with a good-hearted cheer. They had enough morale for the mission ahead, both for the twenty-four-hour journey and for enduring the fight afterwards.
“Retreat without a fight...” Louise’s lip curled.
Not having to fight would be the best outcome. But if they did have to fight... That would make things interesting. The Guillotine was Deet’s now, and she’d not yet had the chance to slake her new weapon’s thirst...
Pilocolo and the bandits had safely been arrested, and Arcus and his companions had joined Louise Rustinell’s march to chase after Lainur’s prince, Ceylan Crosellode. Their path led even further west outside Rustinell and into Nadar. If Louise’s estimation was correct, the prince would already have crossed into Nadar by now, in which case he may already have been facing the count’s soldiers or assassins.
Louise already knew which route they needed to take, so all Arcus’s party had to do was follow her, but that didn’t make the journey an easy one. Their haste meant they had to keep moving with no long periods to eat or sleep, and they needed to change horses several times. Arcus had no experience traveling so urgently, and he found it a struggle to keep up. He was only aware of the scenery rushing past them, with very little idea of what was going on at any one time.
It was the evening of the second day after leaving Rustinell’s capital. There was a single checkpoint on the border between Rustinell and Nadar, and they passed through it surprisingly easily. All Louise had to do was present Arcus’s letter from the king, and they were allowed passage without a fight.
A few hours after passing the checkpoint, the evening turned to night.
Arcus was gasping atop his horse. “I-I don’t think I’m gonna make it...”
He was worn out and ragged from being tossed back and forth atop his horse, which had been at full gallop this entire time. The blurred scenery passing them by made his head spin, and he kept muttering about his fast-approaching death.
Cazzy seemed to be thinking along the same lines. “Yeah, this is real tough. I thought that old man’s trainin’ toughened me up and everythin’, but this emergency military stuff is somethin’ else.” He cackled, but it lacked its usual spirit.
Noah wiped the sweat from his brow. “I must agree with you both in this instance.”
“Even you’re strugglin’, huh?”
“Admittedly, yes. I experienced forced marches like this one several times under Craib, but it is not something one grows accustomed to with ease.”
“How are you guys even talking right now?”
“How are you even keepin’ up?! A ten-year-old kid shouldn’t be able to ride horseback for such a long time, y’know.”
“I’m twelve! Twelve! At least get my age right!”
“Ya know you’re a kid, so what’s your precise age matter?”
“It looks to me as though you have plenty of energy to keep going,” Noah remarked.
Just then, a black charger from ahead dropped its speed to fall in with them. It was at least one, if not two, sizes bigger than Arcus’s horse. It was as though he was riding a dog, and this horse was an elephant. The beastly horse was ridden by the russet-haired Deet. His chaperone Galanger appeared a moment later.
“How’re you doing, Arcus?”
“Okay...kinda. You look fine.”
“This is paradise compared to all that paperwork! All you gotta do is sit on a horse! Easy peasy!”
“It’s not easy! It’s exhausting!”
“Huh. Are you outta shape or something, Arcus?”
“Grgh! N-No! I don’t think so, anyway...”
“You sure? None of us are sweating like that!”
“That doesn’t make any sense! Something weird’s going on here! Wait...”
“We’ve had this conversation before but in reverse, right?!” Deet laughed.
Arcus wished he could laugh like that right now. “Did you wanna talk to me about something?”
“Right. Mom said we’ll be catching up any second now.”
“That means it won’t be long, then.”
“Huh? What won’t be long?”
“Master, we will be running into some magicians soon. The most dangerous positions will be at the front or rear of the group,” said Galanger.
“Oh...”
The moment before they made contact with the prince would be the best opportunity for them to be attacked. It was likely that Count Nadar had considered his own party would be ambushed, and the detachment from Rustinell needed to act with that in mind.
“We’re nearly there now! Don’t let your guard down!” Louise called from ahead to rouse her soldiers.
All of a sudden, Gown’s lantern started shaking.
“Careful! There’s an enemy nearby!” Arcus cried.
“What?!”
“Is that thing you showed us at the warehouse reacting?” Deet asked.
“Yeah. There’s gotta be someone approaching us.”
“Galanger! Go tell Mom!”
“Yes, Master! You should form up with Her Ladyship as well!”
“Get ready to fight, Noah, Cazzy!”
“Man, I’m gonna die if I hafta fight after all this horse-ridin’!” Cazzy cackled.
“This sort of situation is to be expected. We must hold out a short while longer.”
They kept their horses moving while keeping a steady watch over their surroundings. They soon arrived in a clearing surrounded by dark rocky cliffs. Its appearance suggested that lava used to flow here. There was something mystical about it; a dark energy gathered and stewed there, as if they stood at the mouth of the land of the dead.
The lantern started shaking even more violently than before. Their enemies must have been hidden here; Arcus could see several spots where they might be concealed. He braced himself, and it wasn’t long before they caught up with the rest of the group stopped in front of them. The knights formed a circle around Louise, their riders wary.
“Mom!”
“Deet. This place seems dangerous. Keep your guard up.”
“Got it!”
Arcus led his horse to Louise. “I believe there are enemies hiding here, My Lady.”
“Galanger told me. How did you come to that conclusion?”
“I was alerted by the tool passed to me by Gown. It reacts when there are hostile forces nearby.”
“Oh? The Grave Sprite? That sounds like a very interesting tool indeed.” Louise sounded intrigued at first, but then she took a deep breath and let out a roar. “We know you’re here! Stop hiding and show yourselves!”
Louise’s cry bounced off the dark rocks. A single shadow slid out from behind one. He wore a knitted hat and black clothing.
“The Headhunter Witch, I see.”
“Are you the assassin sent to eliminate the prince?”
“I am. Well, one of many.”
“Eido...”
“Arcus. What a surprise to see you all the way out here. Maybe I should have expected as much; you are unlike any other child your age.”
“Pilocolo and those bandits have been caught.”
“It would appear so. My luck must have fallen short this time.”
“Arcus!” Deet yelled. “Is this that magician?”
“That’s right! Be careful! He’s way more powerful than the magician back at the warehouse!”
“Galanger, Clayton!” Louise called. “I’m leaving this to you. Assist Deet.”
“Yes, ma’am!” came Galanger’s response.
“Please take care, My Lady,” said Clayton.
“If he attacks, Deet, don’t hold back,” said Louise. “Tear him to shreds!”
“Yay! I haven’t fought properly in ages!” Deet cheered. Swinging that huge sword on top of that giant horse like that, he looked more troublesome than heroic.
Louise must have been splitting her forces here so that she could carry on after the prince. The prince was her priority; it was a wise decision. She was just about to leave when Eido spoke.
“Do you really think I’ll just let you go?”
Louise paused. The next second, the rocky path ahead was blocked by Eido’s subordinates. Some slid out from the shadows, while others stood in plain sight atop the rocks. Each had a crossbow aimed squarely at Louise.
“So that’s your game, is it? Be warned! I’m pushing through!” Louise cried.
The archers prepared to fire, but before they could, they were attacked by a blueish-white shadow.
“Guarrgh!”
“Wh-What?!”
The beam of light passed each archer one by one and left them unconscious, crashing into each body before slipping right through and moving on to the next target. Eido was the first to recognize it for what it was.
“I almost forgot you had that.”
The phantom dog Tribe stood atop one of the largest rocks in the clearing. Arcus had opened the window the second the lantern started shaking so he would be ready to release it at any time.
Deet’s eyes lit up with excitement when he saw Tribe. “Arcus! Arcus, what’s that?! What is it?!”
“It’s Gown’s hunting dog! Tribe, go after Prince Ceylan with Her Ladyship!” Arcus cried.
Tribe let out an eerie bray and leaped away in a flurry of blue-white arcs of light.
“I am in your debt!” Louise called, before following Tribe and disappearing into the darkness with her men.
Arcus was left in the clearing with his servants, Deet, and his handful of powerful lords. They faced Eido and a few of his subordinates.
“The ability to command a beast from The Spiritual Age. Just who are you, Arcus?”
“Just some kid disinherited by his parents.”
“You were disinherited for being ‘talentless.’ That is not a word I would use to describe somebody capable of such extraordinary magic, and who has received such a power from Gown. You remind me of the protagonist of some epic saga.”
“Thanks. If only my piece-of-crap dad thought the same way.”
“Oh yes. But you see, fate is cruel to absolutely everybody.”
Arcus led his horse in front of Deet’s.
“Arcus?” Deet asked.
“Can you give me some time?”
“Huh? Uh, I guess so. Sure.”
There was something Arcus wanted to confirm with Eido. Gilles had said that there was something about Eido which set him apart from Pilocolo and the bandits.
“Eido. Why are you targeting the prince? Do you answer to Porque Nadar? Or are you from the Empire?”
“You should have worked that much out yourself by now.”
“You act alone. You don’t take orders from anybody.”
“That’s right. I am not Porque Nadar’s subordinate, nor am I from the Empire. If you must know, I was born and raised in Lainur’s capital just like you.”
“Why are you after the prince, then? Are you a hired mercenary?”
“Yes and no.”
“Stop speaking in riddles.”
“I have a personal grudge,” Eido explained without hesitation. “Not with the prince, but with His Majesty the King.”
“A grudge against King Shinlu?” Arcus was so taken aback that he’d asked the question before even thinking about it.
Eido nodded, and his eyes took on a faraway look. “It all happened a very long time ago—more than twenty years now. I led a group of vigilantes in the capital at the time.”
“Vigilantes?”
“Yes. Back then, in those more troubled days, slums sprang up in the capital where many good-for-nothings made their home. It was too dangerous for children to just walk the streets as they liked.”
“I’ve heard the same sorts of stories from older people.”
“I’m sure you have. The government officials back then were dogs chasing after the scraps at the nobles’ dinner tables. They were useless, and on top of that, the royal military wasn’t as well-regulated as it is today. That time was probably the least influential the crown had ever been.” Eido sighed before continuing. “Others, like me, refused to stand by and let things continue as they were. Since we were powerful enough to do something about it, we formed a group and claimed territories that the nobles and bureaucracy knew of, but refused to acknowledge.”
“What’s that got to do with your grudge against the king?”
“If you’re willing to hear me out, you have to understand that this story isn’t a short one.”
Arcus felt a prick of indignation, but he knew there was value in the fact that Eido was willing to speak to him in the first place. Eido was their enemy, and he didn’t necessarily deserve a chance to explain himself, yet Arcus found himself wanting to know what the magician stood to gain in all of this. That feeling stemmed from the time they’d spent on the road together—even if that time was a very short one.
“There were two large vigilante groups in the capital at that time. Mine, and one led by a man who named himself Lai. Our groups formed at different times, but we both held the same desire to protect the capital. Lai’s group was strong right from its conception; Lai himself was an absurdly powerful magician. The men who followed him were talented and independently minded, but they idolized him from the deepest depths of their hearts. There was a mysterious air about him. He was so crude, but for some reason everybody found him exceedingly charming—I as well, now that I look back on it. Lai’s group gradually gained control over the darker corners of society. Our group came before his, and I clung to the fact we had been contributing to public safety long before he had. It sparked a competitiveness in me, and I led my group to continue suppressing evil-doers in our own way.”
“As time passed, our two groups’ bonds deepened. We needed to exchange information, share our territory, and cooperate in order to carry out our work. We clashed now and then, but we drank together and fought together to protect the capital. In some ways, it was the most fulfilled I’d ever been in my life.”
“It all changed under King Shinlu’s predecessor, when his policies to reform the rotten aristocracy and bureaucracy started to take effect. Their golden hour was over, and the entire capital was cleansed of its villains in one fell swoop. I was identified as their leader.”
“Huh? But you were the one catching them!” Arcus protested.
“Yes, I was. Everything I’ve told you so far is true. Nevertheless, I was branded a criminal. They put up wanted posters all around the capital, and even the surrounding towns and villages.”
“You mean you were sacrificed so that the bureaucrats could claim your capture as an accomplishment?”
“Yes. You catch on quickly.”
By the sounds of it, when the reforms came around, there weren’t any villains left to round up because Eido and his men had already done the job. That left the nobility and the bureaucracy wanting for proof that they were doing their work properly. Eido’s group was large and unauthorized, making it a perfect target.
“I asked Lai for his assistance. I feel foolish for it now, but back then I felt like he might be able to bail me out. Instead, he spurred on his men to kill mine, and the rest of us who survived were driven out of the capital.”
“But what’s that got to do with His Majesty?” asked Arcus.
“You live in the capital, so you should know: the true identity of Lainur’s prince is kept a secret until he is of age.”
“Right. That’s a customary—Wait!”
“You realize it now? That man, Lai, is in fact Lainur’s current king: Shinlu Crosellode.”
“So that’s where the connection is! Was that when you met my uncle too?”
“Yes. Craib Abend and Stronghold—Renault Einfast. They were Shinlu Crosellode’s right-hand men at the time. Your uncle hadn’t developed his famous molten magic yet though.”
“Uncle Craib was a vigilante?”
“It’s true. Whether you believe or not, it’s not really any of your concern. Whatever you take to be the truth, you and I remain enemies.”
There was no point doubting Craib or his past doings right now, and all Arcus had to go on was Eido’s word anyway. Whichever it was, the two of them would have to fight once this conversation ended.
“I’ll grant I never expected Craib’s nephew to stand in my way like this. What a strange twist of fate.” Eido’s lip twisted sardonically. “This is why I am doing all of this, Arcus. Does my explanation satisfy you?”
“Yeah. I learned everything I wanted to.”
“Good.” Eido’s eyes scanned the forces standing behind Arcus.
“Are you still planning to fight?” Arcus asked. “I think it’s clear we’ve got the advantage this time.”
“Of course not. I’m facing the fierce warriors of Rustinell, you, and your servants. I am clearly outmatched, so I will be taking my leave.”
“You think we’re just gonna let you?”
“Perhaps not...without some sort of offering.” Eido pulled something from his breast.
“Huh? What’s that?” Arcus asked, but he then realized he recognized it.
To anybody else, it would look like an ordinary bundle of papers, like the sort you might find in an office. But when Arcus looked at it, he felt like his heart had stopped. Those documents concerned his aethometer, and they should have been in the Magician’s Guild.
“This is what you came to Rustinell for, isn’t it?”
“Wait... How did you get those?!”
“There are people in this world who make a profession out of snatching items like this. People like me.”
“You mean you broke into the Guild?!”
“There are only two places in the capital I cannot gain entrance to. They are the king’s and the prince’s bedrooms, and the Holy Tower. The Guild has been reconstructed and moved several times, but as long as the hole I made in its defenses long ago remains undetected, well...”
Arcus felt the color drain from his face. He couldn’t be sure Eido was just bluffing, and if his story were true, he’d measured up with Shinlu and Craib before. With that experience, assuming he’d spent his fair share of it honing his stealth, slipping into the Guild would have been easy.
“I have to admit, I’m surprised this was all I could find. Spreading out the information like you did rather than guarding everything tightly made things all the more difficult. If I weren’t a magician, I’m sure I wouldn’t be holding on to these papers now.”
“What’s that, Arcus?” Deet asked with a puzzled frown.
“Don’t ask. You’ll lose your hand if you touch a fallen star.”
“R-Right...”
That was all Arcus needed to say for Deet to understand how dangerous those documents were. The idiom came from a story in the Ancient Chronicles: a fable about a man so greedy for gold that he lost his hand to the fires of a star that had come loose from the heavens. It was a warning that acting on superfluous greed or curiosity could do real harm, often used in this world to rebuke somebody about to make such a mistake.
“Well?” Eido prompted.
“If we beat you in battle, we don’t need to make a deal.”
“Correct. But if that were to happen and I or somebody else with these documents escaped, you’d be in real trouble.”
“Those documents will become public knowledge eventually anyway.”
“Eventually. Not yet. Why else would you still be content sitting back while the rumors of your lack of talent fly incessantly overhead?”
Eido was right; those rumors were useful in keeping Arcus out of the spotlight while the right time to announce the aethometer was decided, according in no small part to Shinlu’s judgment.
“Is that all you took?” Arcus asked slowly.
“What’s the point in asking me that?”
“Answer me.”
“This is everything; I have yet to make any copies.”
Arcus couldn’t just let Eido go; he was an enemy. However, the risk of him escaping was a hefty one. Should the Empire get ahold of these documents, then even if they didn’t include instructions on how to create tempered aether themselves, they would learn of its existence. That would certainly encourage them to send more spies into Lainur.
Accepting Eido’s trade was an option, but he had no guarantee that the document in the magician’s hand was all he had, and that he hadn’t made any copies. Everything could be solved if they managed to capture Eido and his men. Eido wouldn’t be suggesting such a deal if he didn’t feel he was in danger of losing.
If Arcus turned him down, the chances of victory were high. The problem lay with how powerful Eido’s companions were, and to what extent they were willing to risk their lives in battle. Arcus couldn’t rule out the worst-case scenario if they fought. He was starting to regret sending Tribe ahead with Louise.
“Do not worry. I am not lying when I say this is everything I took, and I didn’t take it to pass to Porque Nadar or the Empire either. I merely borrowed it to protect myself.”
“To protect yourself?”
“Yes. To stop either the count or the Empire stabbing me in the back.”
“So you’re keeping those documents to show them you can still be useful?”
“Yes—and to strike deals like this one.”
Eido’s position was a precarious one. His relationships relied on being mutually beneficial. Once his work was done or he stopped being valuable, there was nothing to stop the other party from eradicating him.
Arcus was still grappling with indecision. Whatever he chose needed to be the right answer.
“I’ll accept on one condition.”
“What condition?”
“Arcus!” Deet protested loudly, but Arcus was already out of options.
“If we let you leave, you can’t go straight after the prince.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it. I wouldn’t want to get caught between you and the Headhunter Witch.”
“Arcus!” Deet called out again. “I can’t just let him go!”
“We have our positions to think of.” Galanger added his voice. “I’m afraid we can’t let you do this.”
“Sorry, but I need to do this. You can ask His Majesty about this matter later, if you need to.”
“His Majesty?” Galanger echoed.
A thin smile stretched Eido’s lips. “Lord Galanger Uiha. Would you understand if I were to say this concerns the little trick the royal military is using to power up its magicians? That this boy created something revolutionary like that?”
“Eido!” Arcus snapped.
“Please, I’m trying to save my skin here.”
A flicker of understanding appeared in Galanger’s eyes. “I see. So that’s what this is about.”
“Um, er... Galanger? What’s going on?” Deet asked.
“If Nadar or the Empire got hold of those documents, it would be very bad indeed,” he explained. “Lady Rustinell was right about this all along...”
It was clear to Galanger now too how precarious the situation was. The Magician’s Guild messed up by allowing the documents to be stolen in the first place, but this could also have serious repercussions for Rustinell and its authority. Rustinell was a vassal territory that had been granted autonomy from Lainur’s king, but that didn’t mean they could defy his rule. As such, the king’s own values and potential judgment had to be considered at all times.
Their best bet would be to defeat Eido before he had the chance to sell the information on, but while they had enough men here to suppress him, they didn’t necessarily have enough to eliminate him. There was more than enough reason to think twice before making such a decision.
“It’s decided, then? I’ll put these papers on that rock over there. Don’t move until I’m done, and don’t even think about casting any spells. It only takes one or two of us escaping for these documents to disappear.”
Eido vanished into the shadows behind the rocky outcrop, and a few moments later the documents appeared on the rock he’d pointed out.
Arcus darted forward to pick them up and looked around carefully, but Eido was already nowhere to be seen. Neither were his fallen companions. “Ugh. He got us good.”
Deet sighed. “What’s Mom gonna say when I tell her he got away?”
“It was my fault. I’ll explain it to her.”
Arcus stared at the rocky area Eido disappeared from. There was nothing stopping him from running away and taking the documents with him. Instead, he had chosen to trade in those documents to allow his companions to get out too.
“Huh. He really isn’t such a bad guy after all.”
“Perhaps he isn’t,” Noah agreed.
“Who knows,” said Cazzy.
But Arcus was sure now. There had to be some good in him, or he wouldn’t have struck that deal, nor would he have tried to save the heat-stricken villager. It was only because of his past that he ended up on a more crooked path.
The group got into formation again and set their sights back on the road ahead.
“Now we just gotta hope the prince’s rescue’s going well.”
“Don’t worry about that!” Deet beamed. “Mom’ll take care of it!”
Deet’s optimism gave Arcus confidence. Still, he couldn’t shake the knowledge that he would have to square things up with Eido one day—and he didn’t yet know what form that confrontation might take.
