Page 26 of Veil of Vasara (Fate of the Five #1)

CHAPTER 26 - NATHON

“C ome on, pretty.” One of the women working at the Solar Inn placed her hand on my upper arm. “Don’t you want to play with me? We’d have so much fun.” She bit her lip, blinking at me incessantly.

“I’m not interested.” I removed her hand.

She came closer and pressed both her palms to the table I was sitting at. “Sure I can’t do anything to change your mind? Someone like you shouldn’t be sitting here all alone.”

This was a nuisance, but it was to be expected, after all, the last time I had visited the Solar Inn, there had been no shortage of individuals engaging in intimate activities, or of people propositioning others to join them. Still, this woman’s insistence was beginning to test even my patience.

“For the seventh time…Tabatha. I am perfectly happy to sit here by myself. You’re wasting your time and skills on me, I’m afraid.” I grinned.

“Don’t like the ladies huh? We’ve got plenty of men…pretty like you, perhaps you’d like one of them?”

“Have I made any indication I would?” I leant further back into my chair, trying to distance myself from her clutches.

“Perhaps you like to keep it a secret.”

“What I would like… is to be left alone.”

“Picked a bad location for that handsome. Someone with a face like yours couldn’t hope to be left alone in a place like this.” She giggled, falsely and twirled a part of her brown hair around her finger, her hand reached for my leg.

This was growing more difficult. I couldn’t draw attention to myself here, and so, I could not refuse her as harshly as I would have wished. While it would hardly have been the first time I partook in such activities against my desire to obtain knowledge or reach a target, I was here for a purpose.

I grabbed her hand and took it in mine with both palms. From the outside, it would simply appear to be a tender and gentle gesture.

“I won’t be repeating this again. I am waiting for someone. I have not the time or money to test out your services, nor am I particularly inclined to. Leave this table now. If you attempt to touch me once more, I doubt you'll be able to make any money for the remainder of the evening. Or the month.”

Tabatha quickly withdrew her hand from mine and tutted.

“Vile man,” she murmured to herself as she hurried away, bumping into others as she did.

“Now, now, Nathon, didn’t your father teach you better manners than that?”

I knew I should look up, meet the eyes of the person whose voice had just demanded my attention. But this voice, his voice, was enough to make me freeze. Enough to impede my ability to think, to reason, to process information.

I lifted the mug of alcohol to my mouth and took a sip. This was one occasion where I did require alcohol. I laughed into the drink, at the realisation Sarlan had deliberately sent him here.

“I should have known it would be you,” I said as I placed the mug back down.

Mathias, who was also disguised somewhat, sat down in front of me with his own drink. “Don’t sound so disappointed. We work well together, don’t we?”

Mathias had wanted to fuck me since I was old enough to be taller than him, which, wasn’t very old at all. He was the worst of all my father’s advisors. Cruel, completely depraved, and perverted. Of course, my father didn’t care about his nature, his activities, or his advances, since he was willing to do whatever my father asked of him, relished it even.

“She seemed to like you,” he continued.

“She touched me without my permission. Something I don't take very kindly to,” I took another sip of my drink.

Mathias laughed salaciously. “That's not what I remember.”

I swallowed air. “I think we remember certain events of the past differently.”

“I remember them fondly.”

He was trying to unsettle me. I loathed to admit his presence alone was rather effective at the task. I decided to remain silent. That was possible, in fact, in this instance, it was preferable.

Mathias looked from side to side, ensuring nobody was listening as he asked, “How is she?”

I involuntarily held my breath for a moment. “She’s well.”

“Let’s hope she stays that way, mmm?” Matthias took a sip of his drink.

I peered at him. “Your concern is touching, but there’s no need to worry, I’ll make sure she does.”

“I have no doubt,” Mathias replied. “After all, it affects you as well.”

“Exactly,” I said, forcing a close-lipped smile, and forcing myself to look into his dark, small eyes.

“How do you find Vasara?” he asked. How far have you progressed with your task?

“It’s crowded but it has its charms.” Slower than I would have liked, but progress has been made.

“You really think so? Name a few.” Really? What have you discovered?

“There is much to do, and see, plenty to grab your attention, and hold it.” She’s got his attention, and I’ve got my ideas about the motivations of the others.

“All things become boring after a while. Don’t you think so?” Will she hold it?

“Not all things.” I believe she will.

“I’m not a fan of crowds myself. Although I can hardly think of a place where Vasara isn’t teeming with people.” What is the nature of your setbacks?

“You’re right, even in the quieter areas, rabble are everywhere.” People operating from the shadows.

For a brief moment, Mathias could not hide the concern from his face.

“It’s a shame what happened to His Highness.” Is it related to his injury?

“He’ll recover, I’m sure. He has plenty of time for peace and quiet.” I suspect so.

“Let’s hope he does so soon.” Deal with them. Quickly.

“He has the finest physicians at his disposal.” I’m already working on it.

Mathias hummed thoughtfully, a trickle of liquid from his mug slipping into his facial hair.

“Yes, that’s true, all Princes do.” End them, or it will be your end.

“I’m fortunate I’ve never required one.” Nor was I ever offered one, even after my worst injuries.

“Have you heard about what’s happening at Kalnasa?” he asked.

I frowned for a moment. I couldn’t decipher the meaning behind this question.

“No…” I replied, tentatively.

“Riots, everywhere. The people have been looting, stealing, and trying to flood the gates of King Dunlan’s Palace.” He sounded disgusted.

“They’re starving. It’s hardly surprising,” I mumbled.

Mathias laughed. “Starving? They’re greedy, that's what they are. Not one report of anyone dying from starvation there at all.”

I contemplated if there was a specific reason as to why Mathias would bring up this topic. Did my father instruct him to inform me? Or was he actually trying to make conversation? It wouldn’t have been the first time his twisted way of thinking convinced him we were colleagues, or even…friends.

“When did you hear?” I asked, curious.

“Just yesterday, gossip, whispers, the usual ways, but it will be common knowledge in a day or two.”

Meaning he had discovered this several days ago at least, through his ‘usual ways.’

My thoughts turned to the Captain and that girl who was Kalnasa’s candidate. This would only make them more determined than ever to succeed, I assumed. I wondered if the Captain knew about these events himself, how he would react. That would be interesting to witness.

“Trade to and from there has been blocked as well.”

“By whom?”

“By the commoners. Uninformed sordid scum. Squabbling like fractious children. How do they help themselves by cutting themselves off from the rest of the world?”

“Kalnasa possesses certain resources no other Kingdom can mine,” I reminded him.

“Let them get on with it. They’ll destroy themselves.”

“Weren’t you the one lecturing me on manners just moments ago? But here you are, reeling off invectives, ready to condemn a myriad of civilians to death.” I smiled, my lips parting slightly in amusement.

Mathias smirked. “Manners are for high society, civilised people. They aren’t civilians, they're nothing more than filth.”

He was the real filth. The real scourge and scum of this world.

But I smiled again and said, “You know best,” while sipping my drink. I placed it down.

“Someone’s going to need to retrieve their merchandise though, Athlion won’t survive without one Kingdom’s draining for long.”

“Their drainings have stopped?”

“So, they say.”

Merchandise? As far as I was aware, Vessels were not bought or sold, simply confined to the Kingdoms of their origins. In truth, I’d had little time or initiative to investigate the possibility. I wasn’t sure whether the slip had been intentional or unintentional on Mathias’ part, but I wasn’t about to inform him of it.

“I saw Jezil last week.” Your father wants to pass a message onto you.

“Ah Jezil. How is he?” What is it?

“Troubled.” Angry.

“About?”

“Someone is stealing from his pantry.” Someone has taken something from us.

“You’d have thought he would have learnt how to better seal his store by now.”

Mathias’s face fell in irritation. “Alas, thieves are ubiquitous.”

“Well, as you said yourself, they’re nothing more than filth. I’m sure the Gods, or the universe, or what was it you implied… self-destruction? Will take care of it.”

Mathias looked unamused. “He’d like to hire someone to catch them.” He wants you to deal with it.

“Good luck to him. I doubt many people will be willing.” I’m too busy.

“I’m sure there are ways they can be persuaded.” Must I remind you of what is at stake?

“Does he suspect anyone in particular? Maybe his neighbour? A business rival? A jaded lover?”

“A rival most likely.” Someone from another Kingdom. Someone powerful.

“How much have they stolen?” What have they stolen?

“Significant amounts.” Information.

“Of what?”

“Vital ingredients, recipes, things he would need to make his product.”

Even I was baffled by that answer. When it came to information, that could mean anything.

“Well, he has several products, doesn't he? Can’t he live without selling one?”

“Yes, but there’s one patisserie, he’s famous for it, it’s the thing that keeps his business running. Nobody else makes another like it. They’ve stolen items related to that.” Something no other Kingdom is aware of or was meant to be made aware of.

“When was the last break in?”

“Four weeks ago.”

“Nothing since?”

“Nothing needed since. He can’t make them without those ingredients.”

“Can’t he get them back?”

“It’s not a matter of getting them back, but a matter of them being gone in the first place.”

I rubbed my eyes briefly. “He must think himself rather important, if he believes an investigator is going to help him over some stolen flour. They have more important things to look into here, don’t they…what with all the rabble and the crowds.” I have enough to do here as it is. Send someone else.

“They’re the only ones who can do anything about it, what choice does he have?” You need to do it. You are in a position to do it. “He has people to provide for,” Mathias said. “People who are counting on him.” Don’t forget what we’ll do to your sister, to Kazal, if you disobey us.

I peered at Mathias, my face from the outside would have seemed calm, soft, but my eyes betrayed my frustration at this request, which I did not try to hide for his sake.

“I see.” Fine.

“You know…it’s impolite to refuse such a fine lady’s attention.” He pointed to Tabatha who was now on the far side of the room. “It’s unfair, isn’t it? To deprive them of affection. Of their… desire?” He looked me up and down. His gaze was a slick poison, running over my skin.

“I’m sure they’ll manage,” I said tersely.

“Manage? Yes… but you might find them to be rather persistent.”

“They might find that to be rather unpleasant.” My hand gripped tighter around the mug’s handle. I smiled at him. We were both smiling, sitting naturally, casually, always aware of our surroundings, of our appearance.

“Still…you can’t say no forever.” Remember you need to blend in here.

But I also felt an unspoken to me, hanging at the end of his sentence.

“I can do whatever I want.” I knew that was a lie. It tasted sour on my tongue as I said it.

“A caged bird can fly, but it's still in a cage.” Mathias took great pleasure in reminding me, lingering on every word.

“As long as it has wings, it can always escape.”

“Not if those wings are clipped.”

“Perhaps even then,” I met his eyes, smiling. “Even birds with broken wings still look to the sky.”

Mathias frowned. He leant in closer, so as to speak more freely. “A little bird shouldn’t get any ideas about being anything other than that. It’s not an Erebask, or a lion, or a wolf, it’s just…a little bird. Ready to sing and look pretty for passersby.”

I leant in as well. “Tell me. Have you heard of Pitho?”

Mathias didn’t answer.

“I thought not. It’s a small bird, black, with a bright golden breast. It looks rather beautiful.” I held out my hands a short distance away from each other to indicate its height.

“But it’s one of the deadliest and most toxic animals in Athlion.” I lifted my finger. “That’s because…their bodies and feathers produce a deadly toxin which can kill people within a day. It’s a very slow and painful death. At first, you might not notice. Your fingertips turn a little cold, and then numb, and then your lips. Your muscles begin to ache, and your gums begin to bleed. But soon you’re in searing agony and begging for death. And all you have to do is” –I flicked my own hand – “touch them. Just once. Isn’t that fascinating?”

Mathias looked anything but fascinated.

“You shouldn’t underestimate little birds…old friend. Some wolves will wander away from you, some lions will pay you no heed, but some little birds, some little birds can do the greatest damage of all.”

Mathias didn’t say anything, he simply glared at me now, with a mixture of both predatory and aggressive intent.

“Still perhaps you’re right…it wouldn’t do me any harm to relax.”

I stood, beginning to make my way towards the score of women. It was time after all, to put on the facade, to make my reasons for being here seem reasonable, and unquestionable.

Mathias looked up at me and whispered through gritted teeth, “You’ll always belong to him.”

I stopped and turned around. “You pretend that pleases you, but we both know you wish to own me yourself.” I leant towards him. “And I’d clip my own wings to avoid that fate, but…not without letting you touch them first… of course.”

I faced away from Mathias and strode over to the Inn’s counter, flashing my brightest smile. I let the people touch my arms, my body, my face. I laughed at their jokes. I complimented their appearances, entertained their advances.

I was singing yes, singing for them all.

And all the while, Mathias was watching.