Chapter 401: The City of Gold

Chapter 401: The City of Gold

One day ago.

Wizen let out a rattling breath. He leaned back in his stone chair, his hand tightening at his side as the connection to his puppets sputtered and wheezed. Silvertide had done a lot more damage to Evergreens runes than hed initially thought.

The old woman wouldnt last much longer. Hed already ripped every shred of power that she had to spare from her body. It was only right. Shed cheated him. The key hadnt been on her.

Perhaps I should have seen that coming. I can only blame myself. Why would the puppet of the Torrin family be carrying around an artifact like that? I should have gone after one of the important ones but it hardly matters now.

The information flowing from the puppet sputtered to a stop. The last thing Wizen saw through its eyes was the plant matter filling its core seeping out and souring the Torrin Familys library.

I knew it, Wizen breathed. His fingers twitched at his sides and old wounds burned his back. He ignored the pain and rose to his feet, stepping past the cracked bulbs and striding out of the room.

The darkness pulled away from him, as if in fear of his shadow. He strode down the hall, turning the corner and pushing through an old doorway to enter a kitchen. A middle-aged woman stood at the counter, her hands covered in flour and a ball of dough on the counter beside her.

Several finished pastries laid on the wooden table between them, stuffed full of glistening cherries. The womans hair hung around her face in a bob, and her face was slightly rotund. She smiled and brushed her hands off on the apron hanging from her neck.

Wizen, honey. How have you been doing? Youve been working really hard lately.

I have, Wizen agreed with a dry laugh. He took one of the pastries from the table and bit into it, a delighted expression pulling across his features as the bright, sugary flavor of the fruit mixed perfectly with the flaky pastry. And it seems you have as well, Barb. Youve outdone yourself once more.

Oh, you flatter me, Barb said with a soft laugh. Id be honored if it was my cooking that brought you out of your hole, but I suspect that I havent gotten that good.

Wizen polished off the rest of the pastry before responding. Im afraid not. Something far more important gives my feet flight.

Barbs eyebrows lifted. You found it, didnt you?

I found it, Wizen said. His smile stretched even further across his face and he picked up another pastry. At no cheap expense, mind you. Hundreds of puppets. An entire set of Rank 6 Runes, wasted.

Wasted? Id hardly say that, Barb said. She stepped around the counter and took one of her pastries, taking a bite from it. After chewing for a moment, her lips pursed and she shook her head. Too sweet. I need less sugar.

I rather like them sweet, Wizen said. And perhaps wasted is the wrong word. They did what I needed them to. I just didnt expect to lose so much at this stage. Silvertide is stronger than I thought.

Hes an old codger. What did you expect? Barb shook her head and laughed. Its unfortunate that hes going to be in our way. Ive met Silvertide before. Hes a good man.

Most men are, Wizen said. He finished his second pastry and wiped his mouth off with a napkin. But good men turn blind in the plight of those they care not for. We have no need for good men.

Everyone can be used, Barb said. Youre just too black and white, hon. Learn some shades of gray.

Barb glanced down at her dough, then back up at Wizen as he headed for the door. With a huff, she walked after him. The two returned to the room with the bulbs, where Wizen lowered himself into a chair.

Dirt rippled at his feet, rising up into a chair for Barb across from him. She sat down as the dirt continued to bubble, forming into a perfect replica of Arbitage.

Arbitage is my favorite of the bastions, Wizen said, a smile drifting across his face. So many different goals, all of them competing. Their schooling is inadequate. Their teachers are fools. Their researchers are greedy and horde knowledge instead of sharing it. They steal from even their own families.

Wizen, hon, did you forget what favorite means again?

Wizen let out a huff. No matter how strong he got, Barb never seemed to enjoy wallowing in arrogance for too long. It was good. She kept him grounded.

The reason Arbitage exists is not for any of the reasons above, Wizen said. Arbitage is a storage. It exists to give the top noble families a location to put their artifacts the ones they want studied, but the ones they dont want near their actual homes. They send their children the ones that look important but lack true value as a cover. In truth, nearly everyone in Arbitage is replacable. A few rise above the rabble, but the rest are only there to take up space. Arbitage is not a sanctuary or a school. It is an agreement between the top noble families to designate an area where they could store the weapons that proved too great a threat to keep close to chest. It is an armory.

So they all pitch in some garbage to make it seem like a proper school, then stick all the bad news into it somewhere in hopes that the problem becomes someone elses issue to deal with when it goes wrong?

Wizen nodded. Yes. They obviously want some students to be successful as well, but they take no risks in their training. Those who have talent occasionally succeed, but their purpose is merely to keep the attention of other noble families and even some members of their own families averted from the Bastions true purpose.

So wheres the key? Barb asked. A vault?

Hidden in plain sight. Wizens smile returned. He waved a hand and the buildings faded away until only a single one remained. A thin tower, cannon at its top pointed to the heavens. What better place to store a spatial artifact than a cannon that uses its powers as a battery?

Clever, Barb said. Youre sure? Thats bold. Even for them.

The information lines up. I am certain. You will go.

I figured as much, Barb said. She pulled her apron off and folded it up, setting it down on the arm of Wizens seat. Youve got things arranged to get me into campus?

Of course. Be hasty. Do not let yourself get caught up in a long fight. Arbitages students may be largely worthless, but its protectors are not. You will not survive a fight if they all come down on you.

I can handle myself, hon. Dont you worry, Barb said. I might need a little help if things go south, though.

Already handled. Ive had an agent in Arbitage for some time now.

Is there anywhere you dont have an agent?

No, Wizen replied with a dry laugh. Finish your preparations, Barb. The key will be mine by nightfall.

Barb gave him a sharp nod, then headed out of the room. Wizen watched her leave, then drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Twinges ran down his back, but he ignored them. He was so close. After all these years, everything was finally sliding into place.

Count the days, old friend, Wizen breathed. The City of Gold awaits us.