Page 60 of Queen's Griffon

“No. I want to see what, if anything, is left.”

“Why?” Simhi questioned with a tilt of her head.

“If we can salvage anything, the funds would benefit Saarpira.” Not a complete lie. Verlorian artifacts would fetch a decent amount of coin. But he also wanted another question answered. Had all those who’d come ashore truly never left? He had his doubts. After all, Verlorian artifacts kept turning up on the market which he’d found odd. Sure, it was possible those who owned some pre-cataclysm kept selling them off and traders snatched them for resale, however, by this point, he’d have expected most folks to hold on to the antiques. Yet, new items kept cropping up.

Griff entered the Emporium, a place he’d loved to visit as a child. Not usually to buy—his father never gave him enough coinage for that. However, he did enjoy the bustle of the store that catered to foreigners looking for intriguing gadgets.

Upon entering, it quickly became evident someone had emptied the place out. Display cases had been shattered, their contents missing. Shelves upon shelves gaped, covered in dust and nothing else. He walked further into the building, finding the same in every section he checked. The second floor, reservedfor unique garments, showed the least pilfering, the fabric left to rot in piles and tattering on the wooden mannequins.

He emerged to find Simhi staring off at the mountain, Mohan sitting with his back leaning on a wall, eyes closed napping, but Monty waited by the door.

“So?” Monty asked.

“Someone’s definitely been here,” Griff stated. “The store is cleared out.”

“Doesn’t mean the thief escaped with the goods,” Monty commented.

Griff pointed back the way they came. “It would have been easy with the bay close by.”

“Just because someone docked doesn’t mean they left. We passed plenty of bodies,” Monty reminded.

“But not sacks or crates. The corpses we’ve seen thus far had nothing on them which makes no sense. I remember that just about everyone I saw fleeing that day carried something. And don’t tell me everything rotted and eroded away. Leather satchels are like shoes.” He indicated the bones sticking out of a dusty pair. “Why do none of these people have any personal treasures with them? No jewelry. Nothing.”

Monty frowned. “But Vinmo and the others?—”

“Obviously got unlucky, and they also visited only a few years after the eruption when things might have been much more volatile. I’m not saying the thieves didn’t experience any casualties, but the lure of treasure probably countered much of their common sense.” No different than a pirate, although Griff robbed more for necessity than just to enrich himself.

“Are you saying the whole city’s been stripped?” Monty questioned.

“Most likely not. It is rather large, but I would wager everything close to the dock has been rifled through.”

“By who?” Simhi asked. “I can’t see someone from Saarpira doing it.”

Griff rolled his shoulders. “Could be anyone.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Mohan had roused himself and crouched several paces away, looking at something.

“What did you find?” Griff strode for him.

“A body that ain’t been here as long as the others.”

The corpse still held remnants of flesh and clothing. The hair, while wispy, still showed its dark color. However, it was the sheath and saber by its side that had Griff sucking in a breath. “That’s a Merisuan soldier.”

“Wait, what?” Simhi scurried over and huffed, “The emperor is the one who’s been stealing?”

“Not necessarily. Could be this soldier came as part of a scouting mission, while the theft was conducted by another group,” Griff murmured. “But it does raise interesting questions. Why would a country halfway across the world be interested in Verlora?”

“To steal,” Monty exclaimed. “Everyone knows Verlora made the finest things.”

“I’ve heard he’s a collector of rare objects,” Simhi added. “Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s had people pilfering Verlorian artifacts for his collection.”

Griff grimaced. “And keeping it secret lest others think to do the same.”

Monty snapped his fingers. “I’ll bet he’s the one who’s been spreading rumors about people dying.”

“We know that part was true. Vinmo and the others are proof,” Simhi reminded.

“But Vinmo escaped,” Monty pointed out.

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