"What on Amathera are you talking about?" Zigferd replied, looking very confused.
"Simply, what I stated. You must marry Isavil within the next 36 hours. If you don't marry Isavil, you will lose her forever. Her hand has been promised by the elven king to an elven lord who is currently on his way from the elven capital to collect her."
"What? And how do you know this?"
"Petunia and Tanias came and saw me."
"When?"
"Two days ago, before you disappeared. The lord was due to arrive in 72 hours, but it will now be nearer 36 hours."
Zigferd began pacing his room. His brow furrowed, and a stern look appeared on his face. Stopping, he turned and looked at SJ. "Why now? Why so suddenly?"
"I don't know the exact details. You would have to speak to Petunia. What I can say is that both of them were concerned. This elven lord isn't a very nice elf, apparently, and Tanias fears for his daughter."
"They can't just come and take her away from her life and family?"
"Listening to Tanias, I suspect they can. You said that you had always been worried about asking Isavil because you didn't want to pull her away from her life and family. Do you believe she would willingly follow you to Killic through her own choice? Or prefer to be dragged off to the elven capital as a showpiece for a lord."
"This is preposterous. I will speak to them when they arrive."
"Do you think talking will stop this elf lord? If he has travelled from their capital, I doubt he would take no for an answer. The king has decreed it. The only way that she can't go with him is if she is already married."
"But..."
SJ cut Zigferd off. "Do you love her?"
"Yes. I always have."
"Then stop being such an idiot and ask her to marry you then. She has never wed another even after you rejected her. That, to me, says that she only has feelings for you. Can't you get past your chivalry for once and just allow nature to take its course?"
"But I swore I would never take her from her family."
"Did you ever ask her what she wanted? Did you allow Isavil to say how she felt? Have you ever considered that she would be happy to join you? It isn't as if Killic is that far from Asterfal. It's not like travelling to Luxoria. Allow your heart to speak for once instead of your stubborn head."
Zigferd dropped his head. SJ could see the turmoil he was going through, his shoulders slumped.
"Don't you deserve a little happiness in your life?" SJ asked gently.
Looking up again, Zigferd said, "I am happy."
"I mean genuine happiness with the being that you have loved for only gods know how many years. You have done so much for so many over your time as mayor of Killic. It's about time you did something for yourself. No one would ever criticise you for being happy and living your life as you wish. Also, think of the benefits."
"What benefits?"
"Isavil is the sister of the head of the trade council for Asterfal, who I am confirming the first conglomerate trade deals for the regions with. In the future, having Isavil working with Killic will only benefit the town, which you have already put your heart into."
Zigferd frowned. "I wouldn't ever do it to bring an advantage to Killic. That is dishonest."
"Why? What is dishonest about someone's ability and contacts? Is that not what you and Alice have spent years doing? Building relationships with those in Asterfal, using your skills and knowledge to benefit the town you lead."
"Well, yes, but.."
"But nothing. You have only ever thought about this from your perspective and your thoughts, haven't you? You have never considered the thoughts and feelings of Isavil and the benefits that she would bring to Killic, especially with our continuing growth."
Zigferd frowned, looking at her, "What do you mean discussing trade deals with Fasvil?"
SJ sighed, shaking her head. "You have missed a lot these past two days, and now isn't the time to catch up. You have a proposal to make. So stop trying to change the subject."
"I need to see Petunia."
"She will only tell you what I have, and I think she fears your reaction if the elf lord reaches the city before Isavil is married."
"Why would she fear, oh..." Zigferd trailed off.
"Exactly. Now finish getting dressed and I will see you at breakfast. Where you can tell me what you have been up to the past two days?" SJ said as she walked to the door, leaving Zigferd staring after her. Heading back to her room, she went to the balcony, shrinking and flew down.
"I think that went well," Dave said.
'I felt as though I was scolding a child speaking to Zigferd in that manner.'
"You only told him the truth. I could see by his reaction that he knew he should have said yes or asked her again. I think he has allowed his pride to get in the way for all the years since."
'Knowing the pride Zigferd has, I can believe it.'
Entering the dining hall, SJ moved to a table where there was space, and she recognised the councillors. Sitting, she shared pleasantries while she awaited her breakfast to be delivered. On entering the hall, she had realised how hungry she was, and this morning had gone for a full breakfast and, of course, coffee.
Her breakfast arrived, and she was tucking in when a goblin councillor she didn't know but who sat in the front row of the council chamber, meaning he was in a high position, walked over to another at her table.
"Have you heard the news, Kobias?"
"No," Kobias replied.
"Fretun was found murdered this morning, early hours in District 5. He had been at the Bugbears drinking all night apparently and killed when he left."
There were looks of shock from those at the table.
"Fretun is dead?" a human councillor said.
"Yeah. Stuck like a hogling from the rumours," the goblin chuckled.
Kobias smiled. "Couldn't of happened to a nicer being. The problems that man caused me in the past."
SJ was trying to stay calm, her hands feeling clammy, and she felt as though everyone was looking at her, her pulse racing, although common sense meant they weren't.
"Do they have any ideas who may have done it?"
"Looked professional, apparently. Probably some disgruntled customer he had upset, who heard he was no longer under the tower's protection. His body was discovered by a beggar who used the alley to sleep in. From the rumours his body was still bleeding, means the beggar was lucky not to have stumbled on it happening. The guards investigating, they found a trail but lost it almost immediately. You know what tracking is like in the city."
"I am surprised they even bothered investigating. They don't usually."
"Apparently, one of the guard recognised him as a councillor. So they had panicked, concerned about the wrath the District may get. So were actually doing a proper job for a change. They even woke Paris up. We all know his temper normally, never mind being awoken from his beauty sleep, which he needs a lot of." Several at the table laughed at that comment.
She had heard the name Paris and knew he was the Lieutenant for District 5. He was a rather grotesque-looking dwarf. SJ was working back through her movements from the previous evening. She knew she had only been in the alley briefly while she dealt with Malaki at all other times since she had flown.
'Can flight be tracked?' she thought.
"Not really. A very high-level ranger with seriously advanced tracking skills could possibly, for a very brief period, only while a scent trail exists. As soon as you fly, your scent is dispersed, making it virtually impossible."
'That's good to know, and flying is a huge bonus.'
"It certainly is."
Kobias spoke. "Ambassador, I expect you are happy that Fretun is gone? After what he tried to do to you."
SJ took a moment to realise the comment was directed at her. She hadn't even been aware that others may know what he had tried to do to her. "I wouldn't have wished for his death." The lie left her lips naturally.
"Forgiving of you'" Kobias nodded. "I know I would have. There will be many happy to hear he is no more."
"I didn't know him well to comment. Sorry."
Zigferd arrived as the conversation continued around the table. SJ had sat quietly, listening.
"Full breakfast and also a coffee this morning, please," Zigferd said to a server.
"Zigferd. Fretun is dead," Kobias said.
"What? How?"
"Last night, apparently."
"I had no love for the man, but death is not something I would have wished for. He never used to be like he became."
"He has always been the same since I knew him."
"Malaki is, sorry, was an amazing alchemist. Some potions he developed have changed the lives of many in Amathera. He was the only ever human taken into the apprenticeship of Darthinia the Great."
"Darthinia, you say. I wasn't aware he had been taught by her."
SJ felt uncomfortable listening to the conversation, sitting and picking at a bread roll from a basket on the table to keep her hands busy and nerves hidden.
"Yes. He started in Luxoria under her guidance. She had always had a strict rule of teaching only elves until she took Malaki on as an apprentice."
"You would never have thought so with his behaviour."
"No," Zigferd shook his head. "He was tainted by power and wealth over his calling. Alchemy became a means to an end for him. He stopped producing many of his potions, and now I think his recipes may be lost forever after his death. He was a great mind."
SJ looked up at Zigferd. "What potions did he create that helped Amathera?"
"His greatest creation was a potion of filtration. It would allow those who consumed it the ability to work in the lava pits and survive the poisonous fumes. For many mining operations, it became a standard potion that all miners drank. Only a few toxins could ever penetrate it."
SJ didn't respond, feeling terrible now she had learned about his past.
Zigferd's breakfast arrived, and he wolfed it down. Picking up the coffeepot and mug, he looked over at SJ. "Shall we go to the garden? We have things to discuss."
SJ had been sitting, contemplating Malaki's death. The notebook she now had in her inventory may contain some of the potions that Zigferd had referred to being lost. She would have to find out, but was now concerned who she could trust. If Zigferd or others discovered she had killed Malaki, what would they do?
"Yes." Standing, she picked up her coffeepot and mug and followed him to the garden.
Finding an empty seat, they sat in silence for several moments before Zigferd began.
"You wanted to know where I have been. I have been with the Carlati."
"Carlati?" The name didn't trigger with SJ.
"The beast wardens we spoke of on our journey."
"You found them?" SJ's melancholy was replaced with excitement. "What did they say?"
"They have agreed that Cristy may perform their trials. If she is successful, then they may, and I say may, consider taking her on as a member."
"That's amazing news. She will be so happy."
"Perhaps. The beings I met and their members are powerful, seriously powerful, and the territory levels are 30-40, where the conclave is situated. My concern is you. You won't be able to see her for as long as her trials and, if successful, basic training takes."
"I couldn't visit?"
"No. I was given directions to a location to meet them, which was false, then blindfolded before being taken to the conclave. I do not know where it is situated."
'Do Amatherean's not have maps that update?' SJ thought.
"Yes, basic form. They are not as detailed as Legionnaires. You will probably find that the conclave is under some form of protection ward, preventing it from appearing on a map," Dave said.
"From what you saw, do you think the conclave is the best place for Cristy?"
"From what I saw of the place. Which was restricted. It is like any hamlet, just with some very strong lycans who run it."
"How strong?"
"I couldn't say exactly. I don't have an identification skill. The leader is a lycan named Matvik and has one of the rarest lycan forms I have ever seen. Have you ever heard of a displacer beast?"
"Now, that is a rare form. The beast alone is rare, never mind a lycan form of one," Dave said.
Frowning, SJ vaguely remembered the name but couldn't remember the details. "I have heard of them before but couldn't say what they can do."
"They can use illusions and can use multiple attacks. I have never fought one but heard tales, and from those I never wish to. Each member of the clan has a beast as a companion. The variety of creatures was quite astounding. Snakes, eagles, hoglings, wolves, horses, and panthers, to list a few. The strangest creature that I saw was a hippogriff."
"That sounds amazing. You say they have wolves there. That will help Cristy then, I assume?"
"They have wolves, but not dire wolves. When I spoke to the overseer and explained that Cristy could speak to a dire wolf, she didn't believe me at first, as only beasts of neutral or lawful alignment can be companions. Dire wolves are renowned for being evilly aligned, but I promised her that Patch wasn't."
"He definitely isn't evilly aligned. He has done nothing but help Cristy and look at what the pack did in finding Alice."
A breeze had picked up in the tower garden, the tree tops gently swaying. SJ shivered, her dress was beyond amazing, but it wasn't the most practical item of clothing when it was cooler.
"When do they want to see Cristy?"
"Matvik said that Reay would come and collect her soon, possibly tomorrow, maybe the day after. A message will be sent to the tower when she is here."
"Who is Reay?"
"She is to the conclave what Alice is to Killic."
"I will speak to Cristy and her family today. You speak to Petunia. Then you can come and meet us to go over any other details with her. This morning though I need to go shopping. We have the final council meeting tomorrow and I still haven't got all the items that I wanted or the things for those back in Killic."
"Are you ok for coin?"
Flushing SJ hadn't told Zigferd what she won at the cage fight or that she had bought a house, and she couldn't mention her windfall from Malaki under any circumstances.
"Erm, the cage fight that Jay won came with a purse. I have enough coin. Enough to buy everything I need. Also you will need to come and visit my new house I bought as well."
Zigferd stared at SJ, "You bought a house?"
"Yes. Lurtew and Yawnee will be living there to look after it for me. Also once I am at level 20 I can use it for a portal to come to Asterfal as I need. I thought it would help with my role as ambassador. If I can come and go as needed reducing travel time."
"And you have done this in the last two.days?" Zigferd scratched his cheek through his beard. "Where is it?"
Smiling SJ stood her coffeepot now empty. "District 11 by the inner wall. If you speak to Jay he can show you. I need to go shopping. I will see you there in a while once you speak to Petunia?"
Zigferd just nodded in agreement staring at SJ in disbelief.
Leaving the garden SJ went outside and back up to her room. Collecting all the items she wished to sell, the list of items others had asked for and most importantly the miniature wyvern egg. Walking back to the balcony a fine rain had started so she removed her cloak from her inventory before heading back down.
"I have been thinking," Dave said.
"Congratulations,' SJ thought sarcastically.
Dave ignored her jibe. "You were attacked in Killic by Greb. You had a contract placed on you in Asterfal twice now."
'I am well aware. What's your point?'
"We know about Malaki, but we still don't know who initiated the other attempts on your life."
SJ was reaching the ground and almost crashed as the realisation of his words hit home. At no point had the identity of who was behind the attacks been discovered. A chill ran down her spine as she stumbled, only just keeping her balance.
'I hadn't thought about it since being sworn in.'
"I have been trying to piece together all of the possible reasons and analysing the details, and still haven't been able to come up with a name of someone who would have initiated the attacks."
Transforming SJ drew her cloak up around her face as she walked from the bushes at the towers base.
'I thought it must have been one of those arrested in the tower?'
"If it was, the scriers would have been able to identify who and I am sure something would have been said. Especially considering how much the chancellor knows about you already, I am pretty sure he would know about the attempts in Killic."
'If it's not one of them, then who?'
