Page 47 of Veil of Vasara (Fate of the Five #1)

CHAPTER 47– NATHON

T he Captain had never come to see me.

On the third night, he hadn’t visited me, to ask for the Noxstone. There were three possible explanations for this. The first, was that he had taken some himself from Mathias. Although the Captain didn’t strike me as the thieving kind, if he were truly desperate for the material, it was feasible that his morals could be bent somewhat.

The same kind of morals that made him strike me as the ‘save a lone victim from assault' kind of person.

I chuckled to myself, throwing the enolith up and catching it in my palm, repeating this process over and over.

I caught it, and clenched my fist around it, sighing and leaning back into the pillows on my bed. My face fell, after all, this was what led me to ponder the second possibility, one that I had been pondering a few days.

That the Captain was still suffering from his wounds and had been too unwell to visit.

And there was a third possibility, that the Captain had never returned to the Palace at all.

But unlike with Jurasa’s escort, where the candidate herself had been aware of the man’s disappearance, if the Captain had not returned to the Palace for days, then the Lady who clung to him would already have alerted the entire Palace staff. In fact, it was likely that the entire population of Vasara would have heard about it by now.

Which made the third possibility impossible.

I had considered visiting the Captain to confirm which of the first two theories were correct, however, I could not think of any pretext on which to do so. Asking him why he had not arrived to ask for the Noxstone would have been completely out of my public character, after all, since the Captain retrieving it clearly did not benefit me in any way. The Captain was astute enough to understand this.

Yet still, it bothered me. I knew what would have transpired, what Mathias would have done, if the Captain had not intervened. I did not like to owe any debts. I was already roped into a large enough one with Sarlan. The Captain hadn’t known who he had been saving and so, I technically owed him nothing.

But I knew, and remarkably, and inexplicably even to myself, I felt I owed the Captain. I would have preferred to know he was not mortally wounded. It bothered me that I was without this information.

It also bothered me that it had taken me far too long, longer than usual to deduce the information Mathias and Sarlan had ordered me to retrieve was, without a doubt…

In the Captain’s possession.

My first impression of the Captain as ‘not the thieving kind’ was proving to be utterly incorrect.

It had struck me during Mathias’ and I’s alleyway conversation. Of course, I had said nothing, since it would have been unwise to inform Mathias of anything that was solely based on my suspicions alone. Both he and Sarlan would only accept facts and evidence.

But the Captain wanted access to Noxstone, and up until that moment, I hadn’t been able to guess why. I hadn’t believed that his request was connected to anything in Vasara, or the information that my father had lost. After all, there were hundreds of ways information could be transmitted and communicated, stored, and stolen.

Noxscroll was one of these methods, but it was even rarer than Noxstone and thus, was very rarely used. I had not seen or heard of Sarlan using it in at least a decade.

For a man who had never handled a Noxstone weapon before, who knew of the dangers of doing so, there was no reasonable explanation for his desire to possess some.

Other than to read something that had been written upon Noxscroll.

Why Mathias had withheld this information from me was not something I could currently comprehend and so, withholding my suspicions from him was entirely justifiable.

What had the Captain become embroiled in? I thought about Arton, about the men I had been ordered to kill just over one moon ago, about all of the people I had tortured, killed, and hunted because they had become embroiled in Sarlan’s schemes.

I banged my head slightly against the back of the bed frame a few times.

I truly did not want to have to kill the Captain. I truly did not want to have to torture him. I…

I wanted to be wrong.

But I knew that I wasn’t.

I had even contemplated warning him, or bargaining with him, asking him to hand over whatever information he had on his person in exchange for his life. But the Captain would not trust such a promise, and I could not blame him for his doubt. Which meant that if I confronted him, either with a bargain, or a warning, he would attack me, and I would invariably end up taking his life.

Perhaps I was simply putting off the inevitable, but against all logic, I felt I owed the Captain an opportunity to live. And so, I was opting for another alternative.

To steal the information back from him.

This would of course lead to questions regarding where I had found it and who I had stolen it from. Lying about this to Mathias and Sarlan was possible. Jurasa’s escort would be a wonderful choice, since he was no longer breathing. However, that would lead to a chain of events which would most likely involve retaliation on Jurasa in some-way.

The only reason I could think to provide, was that it was a sorcerer whom I had found the information on, but the chances of me defeating a sorcerer who was not a Vessel were already questionable, and I still hadn’t uncovered the draining centre’s activities.

And finally, the reason why the Captain had stolen the information would remain unknown. That did not sit well with me, at all.

Still, I had decided that for now, I would steal the information from him, and consider the rest later.

Only, I could not steal it myself.

I smirked, gripping the stone tightly. “I was wondering when you would return.”

The sorcerer was crouched in my window. I had left it open for several hours every night for the past few days, remaining awake during the duration that it was, waiting for her to come back.

“You have something that belongs to me.” She sounded displeased and landed softly on the ground.

“Ahhh, yes.” I was about to throw the stone into the air again, when I realised the sorcerer could easily enhance her speed, and grab it before it fell back into my hand.

“You failed to mention that you’re a sorcerer.” I gripped the stone tighter and swung my legs around, so that I was sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I fail to see why you needed to know,” she said.

“To work together we need to trust one another, don’t we?”

“It’s because I don’t trust you that I suggested our collaboration.”

“A working relationship based on distrust will not work at all.” I tutted.

“Give me the stone.” She moved closer to me, stretching out her hand. Her outfit remained similar to the last one she’d worn when we’d spoken. Her shirt and hood were crimson, her bodice night black.

“I will, but you will do something for me in return.”

“I won’t kill anyone for you.” She dropped her hand. The edge to her voice was clear.

I chuckled. “Of course not. If I wanted someone dead, I could easily kill them myself. What I need…is for you to watch someone.”

“Who?” she said. She was very blunt, just as before. There were no fillers in any of her words. Her communication skills were…lacking. But it only made this exchange more efficient, so it suited me perfectly well.

“You watch this person for me and come back here, you will tell me what you have found, and during that conversation, I will give this enolith back to you.”

Her lips parted as she let out a small sigh. I had made sure to let her know I was aware of what this object was. “Who?” she asked again.

“Do you know people by name here? Or should I describe them?”

“Describe them.”

“He’s Kalnasan, the escort for the candidate here—"

She raised her hand. “None of this means anything to me. Tell me what he looks like and where he resides.”

I recalled the Captain’s appearance in my mind. “He’s around six foot. His skin is pale, sandy in tone. He has long hair which falls to his waist. It’s silver, almost white, with some hues of blue. He usually has a… top knot, or a small bun tied at the back of his hair, held by an ornate pin of some kind.”

“This isn’t very relevant,” the woman said.

“I’m trying to make sure you watch the right person,” I protested.

“By telling me the way he styles his hair? Do you happen to know the colour of the pins?”

I squinted in irritation.

Describing the Captain in detail was easy, after all. In my experience, even the smallest and finest details of a person were important to take note of. And so, I had been inured to memorising characteristics and mannerisms. The Captain’s were simply some of the most distinct I’d come across, and easiest to recall.

I supposed I did not usually need to describe them to this extent, it was only that this woman had no understanding or knowledge of any of the individuals who resided here, and I wanted to ensure she spied on the correct man.

Although…the Captain was the only man who looked remotely like what I had described within miles, most likely. This lengthy description was not truly necessary, and still, I continued…

“He is slightly broader than myself. He also wears rings, and his clothes are usually pale blue, white, or mint green, sometimes peach, or lilac. He wears garments which are typical for Kalnasa. Robes. Airy, long, and fluid.”

“His eyes?” she asked.

“Violet,” I told her.

“Where is he?”

“He’s somewhere in this Wing if you…”

I then proceeded to give her directions from my chambers to his.

“When do I watch him?”

“As soon as possible.”

“What am I watching him for?”

“He has a piece of Noxscroll in his room. I need you to retrieve it.”

The woman stepped back and crossed her arms. “You said I was to watch him, not steal from him.”

“Yes, well, I’d like you to do both. I’d like to know what he does with this paper, then I’d like you to take it.”

“What is on this piece of paper? I’ve never heard of Noxscroll before. What does it look like?”

“It’s dark, thick, calloused. I don’t know what it contains. That is why I need it. You have the ability to remain in the shadows, to remain invisible. You will be able to do this undetected.”

“I’m sure that is something you could also do.”

“I’m asking you. A favour for a favour.”

“You’re asking me to steal something in return for something you have stolen.” She sounded judgemental.

“You’re a sorcerer. Before, informing anyone about your visit wasn’t particularly beneficial to me. But now that I know you’re a sorcerer, I could gain great favour in exposing you. As long as you remain useful to me, I will keep silent, but if not—"

“Ha.” The woman stepped forwards again. “What are you implying?”

“You’ve already established that killing me isn’t possible.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t do something else.”

“What’s your class?” I asked her. “You’re ability?”

She only smiled in response.

“You won’t tell me.”

“As long as you do not betray me, I have no reason to, or to show you.”

I tilted my head. “Very well. After this is done, we will help each other with our respective inquiries into those draining centres.”

“Aren’t you concerned?” she said, leaning on the large pillar by my bed.

“About?”

“Working with a sorcerer? About my objectives? My motives?”

“Aren’t you concerned about mine?” I asked her.

“Not really.”

“Then why should I be concerned about yours?”

“Because I’m a sorcerer. Aren’t all humans terrified of us?”

“I don’t know. I’ve not asked them.”

She seemed to be studying me carefully, shaking her head. “You’re either very foolish, or very reckless.”

“I am neither,” I assured her. “It’s only that you and I currently have no reason to harm one another. Whatever your plans are, if helping you achieve your goals enables me to achieve mine, and it is the only way in which I can, the consequences can be dealt with later.”

“You’re selfish then?” she said.

I scoffed, although I did not disagree. “You’re a fool if you think the only people who are worth fearing in this world are sorcerers.”

“I definitely don’t think that.” She sounded disgusted.

“Then I’m sure you’ll believe me when I tell you, I’ve dealt with dangerous humans several times in the past. The only difference between you and them is that your ability to enact your dangerous intentions is much more easily realised, and therefore, harder to control. You are harder to control, to manipulate, to deceive. That makes you more dangerous than some humans, yes, but not all.”

She moved forwards, away from the pillar. “I’ll watch him tonight.”

“Tonight?” I leant forwards and stood.

“I need that enolith back as soon as possible.”

“Ahh, yes. I suppose there’s a poor sorcerer waiting at the other side who thinks you’re dead. They won’t be interfering now, will they?”

“The sooner I have the stone, the far less likely that is to happen.”

“But it is a possibility?” That was a problem.

“If you’re that concerned, you can return the stone to me now.” She stepped forwards with her hand outstretched again.

“Tonight it is.” I smiled and ignored her hand.

She closed her palm again. “And if he detects me?”

“That won’t happen, will it?”

“It’s not impossible. So, if he detects me? Do I kill him?”

“You told me that you wouldn’t kill anyone.”

“I would prefer not to, but if he sees me, then I don’t see any other alternative.”

“You did for me.”

“That is because your disappearance would be too noticeable.”

“So would this individual’s, he is also an important person.”

“How?”

“He is…you stated that such things meant nothing to you earlier. If I tried to explain his position or status you wouldn’t comprehend it.”

“So, if he detects me?” she repeated again.

I sighed and looked down at my leather boots. I hadn’t thought too hard about this, since to my knowledge, a sorcerer could easily conceal themselves.

“I won’t risk being exposed,” the woman said. “You are one thing, you can be bargained with, but another individual? That is too much of a risk.”

“If you kill him, you can forget about us working together.” I had unconsciously ground my jaw.

The woman jerked her head back, observing me. “If he lives after seeing me, I won’t be able to work with you regardless. Do you truly believe he would keep knowledge of a sorcerer in the Palace to himself?”

I pondered. I would previously have assumed not, but the Captain seemed to be more secretive than I had imagined.

“Even if you say that he would, I cannot guarantee it myself,” she spoke. “So, if this man sees me, I will kill him, and you will not see me again.”

I looked up and took several steps towards her, closing the distance between us.

“Yes. Yes, I will see you again, for if you kill this man"— I took a few steps towards her— “I will find you and kill you myself.”

Her mouth twisted in suspicion. “You don’t want this man to die,” she murmured.

“I have already explained his status—"

“Yes, you have. But that doesn’t explain why you would promise to kill me in return for his death.”

I fell silent. It didn’t. It didn’t explain that.

“Is he a friend of yours?” she asked.

“No,” I replied quickly.

“You need him for some reason then?”

Silence for a few moments.

“You could say that,” I replied flatly, unsure.

The woman backed away towards the window. “It seems as if I’ll need a list of all the people you need, so that I can make sure to avoid them, and their detection.”

“There is no such list,” I said with a blank expression.

“No list. Just one name then? What is this man’s name?”

“You do not need his name. You have his information.”

The woman let out a bemused and irritated sigh.

It didn’t matter. I didn’t need to convince her of anything, I only needed her to do as I wished.

“Keep your window open. I’ll return later.”

“I’ll be waiting,” I smiled.

“And all of your guards are asleep,” she told me. “They don’t appear to be, of course.”

Interesting. “Corshick powder?” I asked.

“They’ll remain that way for an hour or so,” she confirmed.

Corshick powder was incredibly useful. And incredibly rare. If you could blow a small amount directly into someone’s face, they would be rendered unconscious without appearing so. To all passersby, the guards that roamed the nearby hallways would appear dutiful and alert. It wouldn’t have been hard for the sorcerer to do this undetected at all.

She had disappeared as I was contemplating the brilliance of this strategy.

I sat back down on the bed and placed my hands through my hair.

She would kill him, if he saw her, and there was nothing I could do about it. It seemed that the Captain was doomed to die as soon as he crossed my path.

An unfamiliar feeling settled in my abdomen, an unease, a restlessness.

This was generally why I preferred to conduct all tasks myself.

But I usually cared little about who lost their lives in the process, as long as it wasn’t myself, or anyone Sarlan had ordered me to spare.

I didn’t pray. I didn’t believe. But, if there were any Gods, and they bore any favour towards me for whatever twisted and strange reason, I hoped they would intervene and allow this night to end smoothly.

No. That wasn’t it. I hoped they would intervene and allow the Captain to live.

I laughed to myself, placing my head in my hands. I hadn’t dared to hope for anything in years. Hope was dangerous. More dangerous than any human or sorcerer, and its lack of realisation was the most dangerous thing of all.

How could I dare to hope the Captain would live? Why? What purpose did hope in his survival have? Perhaps I was guided by an instinctual desire to keep him alive, knowing he might serve a purpose in the future.

I was usually sure of my own motivations, my own mind when it came to such things, but this task, this mission, ever since I had arrived in Vasara, I had felt increasingly less sure of myself.

I couldn’t afford to feel that way.

This would work. This was the best method to apply to my current circumstances.

I lay back and closed my eyes, not falling asleep, but waiting, waiting for that statement to be proven right.

Waiting for the night to be over. Without any casualties.

Not waiting.

Hoping.