Page 89 of The Lost Reliquary
“You’re welcome to try—”
“No,” Avery interrupts. “I don’t wish to test it. Not here. If we find it acceptable, though, we will, of course, compensate you.”
Nolan appears to wrestle with the request, as any good seller would. “Even a small amount of my product is worth a fortune. And you want me to simply hand it over to you, a stranger?”
“You came here to find the best buyer for what you offer. And who I represent understands discretion. We stay informed.” Avery pauses. “For example, about the Salt Sects’ renewed interest in you.” I fight to keep my surprise hidden. That was fast. “That knowledge doesn’t run both ways. We can offer true secrecy, along with whatever price you ask.”
Again, Nolan appears to deliberate. But Avery is good. If we were legitimate, this might be the beginning of a lucrative relationship. And all the while, not a hint of our prior familiarity seeps out, not a knowing expression or look that lingers too long.
Finally, Nolan nods at me. I take out a vial of blood tincture and approach Avery with what I hope is a sufficient amount of caution.You’re doing fine, his eyes seem to say, a sentiment I’m not sure I agree with. I slip the vial into his waiting hand.
Avery pockets the profane treasure. “If my associates are satisfied that it is what you say it is, then we can discuss our partnership further.”
“Of course,” says Nolan.
Avery inclines his head. First at Nolan, then, markedly, at me. “We will be in contact.”
When he’s disappeared around a bend in the stone, Nolan lets out an aggrieved breath.
“You want to follow him.” It’s not a question.
“Of course I do. But if he notices, or has anyone keeping watch, we’ll lose all chance of gaining their trust.”
Right. After such a spectacular failure, another chance has presented itself, and it’s clear Nolan will do anything to make his way into the heretics’ confidence. Even be patient.
Unfortunately, I get the sense it’s not him they’re really interested in.
I watch from the window of my room. Near midnight, my persistence is rewarded, a slim figure appearing in the shadowed alley below. It gazes up at my room, and when I make no move to conceal myself, a hand beckons. While I might be able to sneak by Nolan’s room without alerting him, I don’t want to risk Hiram or any late-night customers seeing me leave, so I open the window and climb out. It’s easy enough to make my way down the slope of roof, then scale the ragged stonework (though my still-healing shoulder doesn’t skimp on the complaints). By the time I land lightly on the cobblestones, the figure is gone, but I follow the direction it must have come from. I spot it again on the next street. It lets me pursue, giving no indication of our destination, but never letting me lose sight of them either. With every step I question my sanity, calculate the odds of this being the last foolish decision I make in a lifetime not lacking in them, but not once do I consider turning back.
Finally, we arrive at a familiar location: the shrine of Tempestra-Innara. It’s as empty at night as during the day, gloomy and forlorn. The figure—Avery, as expected—waits for me at the base of the statue. He smiles as if we are old friends; meanwhile, my senses strain for any sound, any movement, anything that might indicate we aren’t on our lonesome. But there is nothing. Only the neglected monument and its sad, rotten offerings.
I stop a few paces away and wait for him to speak. Because I have no idea how to start this.
“Hello, Lys,” he says, not giving me much to work with.
“I see you cut yourself free.”
“Only because I was alive enough to do so.” He tips his head in acknowledgment of my small mercy. “I thought you might want to catch up somewhere we can speak a little more freely.”
Again, I search the area, wondering if we are being observed. Butthere’s no more itch of eyes here than at the shrine. “And what exactly is it that we have to speak about? Oh, is it about how you showed up out of nowhere and didn’t bother to tell Nolan that you were the cleric I’d met outside Novena?”
“I thoughtyouwould have done that by now. Or maybe you have?”
I wait before responding, still trying to pick out his intentions. “No. Have you told your friends here about me?”
He considers me briefly in turn. “I’ve said enough. They know you’re both Chosen, that you’re hunting us. And that you didn’t kill me when you had the chance… which is the reason they agreed to let me contact you. That, and your actions in Cyprene were beginning to draw unwanted notice.”
So, not revealing our prior interlude to Nolan was calculated to show me I could trust him. But this isn’t coming together. “You knew who we were, that we were here, and what we were up to. Meanwhile, we knew nothing about you… until now. I have to be honest, I’m a little surprised we are still alive. Because if I had that unquestionable advantage over someone tracking me, I’d take it.” I pause. “Or were you waiting for your Renderer friends from Sethane to arrive and deal with us?”
“I take it there’s no chance of that?”
I shake my head.
“Ah,” says Avery. “Not the avenue we would have taken, regardless. Just so you know. There are no Renderers here.”
“Comforting.” If it’s the truth. “Did you come here immediately after I left you in the woods?”
“I had planned to remain on the mainland, but after our encounter, it seemed the wisest course of action.”
