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CHAPTER 31

Magdalena

During the days that followed, Magda sat in the tavern-area of the Mystic Sonata, pouring over books in Flaustran. It was the only way to keep her sane while waiting for news about Odie. The words she heard on the streets were significantly different from those she had been taught in textbooks by her private tutors, and she knew she needed to increase her vocabulary in order to navigate the city. Every day, she made her way to the marketplace and bought food so that she had an opportunity to interact with more Flaustrans, practicing how a real native would speak. While she was there, she trailed Ishani and her guild officers, trying to understand more about their daily routines so when the time came she could make another attempt at stealing an invitation to the birthday ball.

In the meantime, she asked the owners of the Mystic Sonata to bring a bouquet of flowers to her room, and she experimented with her magic. She crinkled the stems and petals, before instantly bringing them back to life. Pretty soon, she had mastered manipulating small plants.

She considered sending a letter to Dagmara, or to her mother, but realized it would be too dangerous without using the Scribestone. Anything—even if it was written in code—could easily be intercepted. Especially since she had accidentally displayed magic in the city, she would just have to wait until she got to the palace.

A few days later, Magda was sitting in a booth at the Mystic Sonata, sipping the signature herbal tea while she poured over another book in Flaustran—this time about the guardians. She needed to know everything about Flaustran lore and Flaustra’s perceptions of Soul magic.

“Thought I’d find you here,” a familiar voice said as he slid into the booth across from her.

“Did you get it?” Magda’s head piped up from her book.

Ravi slid an envelope across the table.

Quickly, Magda tore it open. It was a receipt confirming the bet that Ravi had made as an entry fee for Vex’s upcoming gambling party. In addition, it confirmed the time and location—in two days time at the farthest dock from the marketplace.

“You did it,” Magda said, nearly jumping up and embracing Ravi at her excitement. Somehow, she refrained. She could almost hear Vex’s snarling voice cracking in her head: “Everyone has their price, and every secret has a buyer.”

Then she asked Ravi, “What did you do to get this information?”

“It didn’t cost me too much,” he laughed.

“I don’t want you to get in trouble,” Magda responded sincerely, hoping that he wasn’t putting himself in danger on her behalf.

“Don’t worry about me,” Ravi assured her. “I have a few friends in the Marauders.” His response offered her a bit of respite, but she wasn’t sure why she was letting herself put so much trust in this young man. It was too easy, as if they were already old friends.

“Why are you helping me?” she asked.

“Truthfully, I would like to accompany you to the royal birthday celebration at the palace. You know, with an official invitation you can bring a ‘guest of the invited’. I was hoping you would bring me as your ‘invited’.”

“You want to be my date.” Magda knew what he was asking. “You never told me…why do you want to get into the palace? Scouting out a new location to play your music?” she asked lightheartedly.

“Do you really think you’ll get through the palace checkpoint and pass for a native Flaustran invitee?”

Deep down, Magda knew he was right, but he didn’t exactly answer her question.

“I’ll come to your room two hours beforehand, and we can leave from there,” he finished.

Magda nodded. She was ready to get Odie back.

Magda and Ravi circled down the narrow streets of Eloquas, heading toward the district that housed the Marauders Guild. Vex’s gambling party would be held on one of the docks that he owned, far away from the center of the city or the marketplace. In the night, tall ships could be seen, their masts reaching up to the heavens. While their sails were down, the area buzzed with quiet activity, signaling that they were in the right place for the upcoming gambling match. They were entering Vex’s massive arena—about to be thrown onto the enemy’s game board.

At the end of the dock was a warehouse, and connected to it, like it was some sort of special occasion, was a large tent. The sea-green tent connected back to the warehouse where Vex stored his contraband. Its outside layer flapped in the cool evening wind, and the doors were guarded by two officers, who appeared to be checking a list of guests.

“Follow my lead,” Ravi said beside Magda.

He held out his arm, and Magda linked hers in his as they walked down the center of the pier, approaching the tent.

“Name,” the man said.

“Ravi Kalal.”

“Bet.”

“Number 862. On the greyhound.”