Page 116 of Cursed Dreams
“Everything okay?” she asked, clearly reading the tension etched on the other girls faces.
“ Yes. Did you bring the floorplan?” Nyla asked, letting Cellen out the bathroom.
Marand nodded, pulling a tightly rolled parchment from her satchel and spreading it across Thalia’s desk. “Borrowed it from the temple records,” she said. “Don’t worry, I'll return it tomorrow.” “ Cellen, where are your robes?”
“ What’s with the interest in my clothing tonight, Gods”
“ Look robes are great for the dormitory and temples but we ned to blend in once we are on the streets, this works better and I just so happen to look hansom while wearing it. Win all round”
Despite her initial irritation, Thalia couldn’t dispute Cellen had a point . Four apprentice healers wandering around the streets at night would draw unwanted attention. Quickly she headed to her wardrobe, rummaging out plain clothes for herself and Marand. Finally once everyone was changed she gathered around with the others, staring down at the inked lines of a building she’d never seen in its entirety.
"This,” Marand said, tapping a small rectangular section on the left of the floorplan, “is the boarding lodge Vaelith keeps in the city. My self and Cellen took a look earlier and as we suspected It’s warded.”
Of course it was Vaelith wasn't stupid.
“ But notallof it. Marand managed to get us inside pretending to be newly weds from the south looking for some lodgings for the night, and I was able to slip away to try and figure out where the wards where and how strong they were.” Cellen chimed in.
Thalia didn’t miss the blush creeping along Marand’s cheeks.
“ Vaelith has the whole left side of the building, both lower floor and upper. The wards are concentrated around his sleeping chambers and what I think was a locked study.”
Thalia’s mind drifted back to the night she thought Aric was dying. She had been in that study.
“Which means,” Cellen continued interrupting her thoughts, “he’s hiding something in the study.”
“The map,” Thalia murmured.
“Or a collection of disturbingly erotic poetry,” Cellen said, earning a sharp elbow from Nyla.
Marand pointed to a small courtyard off the back. “There’s a servant’s entrance here, used by the staff who clean and deliver meals. There’s a chance it’s unguarded at night.”
“He has staff?” Thalia asked, eyebrows raising.
“Probably not often, we didn't see any while we were there” Marand replied. “But his rooms are well maintained. Someone keeps it that way and I don’t think its Vaelith himself.”
Cellen leaned closer. “Here everyone take one of these “ he handed everyone a small round stone with runes carved into its smooth surface. Thalia jolted from the unexpected hear radiating from it hen it touched her hand. “ These will help us check for traps, patrols, magic wards, I’ve got added in a charm that masks magical signatures for about twenty minutes.”
“Where did you even get that?” Thalia asked.
Cellen grinned. “Let’s just say the female who sells talismans behind the market thinks I’m charming.”
“You probably fucked your way into a discount.” Nyla scoffed
“And I’d do it again,” he said proudly.
“We’ll need a lookout,” Marand added sounding more serious than she had previously. “Someone near the front to give warning if Vaelith returns early. We know he’s in a tavern at the moment, but we don’t know his schedule.”
“I’ll do it,” Nyla said.
“I’ll go with Cellen,” Marand offered. “I’m good at sneaking around, and he’s better at detecting magical wards.”
Thalia bit her lip. “What about me?”
“You stay here,” Nyla said in a tone that brokered no argument.
“No,” Thalia snapped. “This is my mess. My fate. I’m going.”
“You’re too close to this,” Marand said gently. “If you panic—”
