Page 97 of The Lost Reliquary

“Trouble?” Ramiro finally catches on. He may not have seen our faces clearly, but he’s not a total fool. “Wait—I know these two! They’re the smugglers I told you about.”

“I suspected as much,” Caius says. “Though your choice of wares is… interesting.” He turns calmly to Ramiro. “I assure you, as troublesome as this pair might be, they are here on the Goddess’s authority. Whatever they’ve done, it’s with a good reason.”

Oh,nowwe get the benefit of the doubt. “Yeah and that good reason was that ass and his ass-kissers attackedus.”

Ramiro goes tomato red. “I’m going to cut that tongue right out of your smart mouth.”

“You will do nothing of the sort.” Caius’s words harden with Arbiter authority. “Not unless I say so.” He pauses. “I understand the sentiment, though.”

“Don’t we all,” Nolan mutters.

I shoot him a sour look.

“Theykilledmy men!” The Caerula leader isn’t giving up. “And they were peddling vile, forbidden contraband, made fromyourkin.”

I roll my eyes. “Goddess, you are slow.Ourkin too.” I sidle over to him and use one finger to push aside his sword, cocking my head questioningly as his eyes widen with surprise. “And as I recall, we left a vial of that contraband behind. Did you happen to mention where that ended up? Or who tipped you off to what we were up to in the first place?”

“Hmm,” says Caius. “He did not.”

A frown drags Ramiro’s mouth down so much that he looks like a very put-out frog. “At times, we are forced to deal with… low—but inconsequential—sorts in order to maintain order in Cyprene.”

“Maintain your pocket money,” I slip in.

Ramiro keeps going. “And I didn’t want to concern you with the vile substance. We destroyed it, of course.”

I snort. “Sure you did.”

“I—”

“Enough.” Caius cuts off his new ally, returning to his seat at the table. “We can discuss any impious liberties that might have been takenafterI sort out some more pressing issues with my brethren here.”

“Caius…” Nolan says, the one word carrying enough meaning that the Arbiter nods.

“Yes, okay. Everyone out.” When Ramiro hesitates, Caius glares at him. “Out, Ramiro. I appreciate your cooperation so far, and yourdevotion to our Goddess in such a blasphemous place, but this particular discussion is not for your ears.”

For a moment, it seems like Ramiro is seriously reconsidering his “cooperation.” But he sheathes his sword and exits the suite, the Thorn Guard following. They won’t go far, of course, but when the door closes, it’s just Caius, Nolan, and me.

“Nice little family reunion,” I say.

Caius smiles dryly, picking up his glass again.

“What are you doing here?” Bless Nolan, he gets right to the point. “That letter wasn’t an invitation.”

“No. But it was very interesting. Especially in the wake of your visit.”

Nolan’s mouth thins. “Why did you follow us?”

Caius scoffs, as if the answer is obvious. “I’m hunting heretics, same as you. I admit, curiosity got the best of me, especially after I discovered the destination of your ship. And Ramiro’s report about recent happenings here was… intriguing. Whatareyou two up to?”

“You shouldn’t be here,” says Nolan. “The Goddess didn’t send you. No one in Lumeris did.”

Caius’s eyes narrow at the thinly veiled accusation of disobedience. “I serve them, even when they don’t know it.”

“Oh,” I interject. “So, what you’re saying is that you’re butting in where you know you’re not wanted.”

Caius scowls. “Why the Goddess thoughtyouwere worthy for their favor, I will never understand.”

I shrug dramatically. “They work in mysterious ways.”