Page 16 of Storms & Sacrifice
“Anti-scrying enchantments around the city’s perimeter,” she explains. “Strong ones, too. They make it impossible for anyone outside of the city to scry in, but as long as you are inside the enchantments, the magic should work just fine.”
I nod. I’m not exactly sure if anyone back home is looking for me, but at least I know my location is secure for now.
Nikka reaches up to remove her necklace, a simple gold chain attached to a small animal fang, no longer than an inch. She wraps some of the chain around the fingers on her other hand before opening the jar and placing the cloth scrap in her palm. Closing her fist, she holds it palm-down over the map, letting the necklace dangle freely from her fingers.
We both look up at the sound of the door opening and see Khazak entering the lab.
“Just about to get started, sir,” Nikka callshim over.
As Khazak moves to join us, Nikka begins to chant to herself as she moves her hand slowly over the map. The fang on the necklace glows as the spell activates, swaying in the air over the city. A second later, the chain goes taut, and with a gentlethunk,the fang plants itself onto the map, standing straight up.
“Got them!” Nikka declares excitedly. “It looks like they are in a warehouse… Lot 549. Let me see if I can bring upa visual.”
Nikka moves her focus over to the mirror, placing her hands on either side of it. I see the surface of the mirror start to look cloudy, like smoke is swirling around on the reflective side, but nothing else happens.
“Damn, they are blocking me,” she gripes.
“Why didn’t it work?” I watch the mirror go backto normal.
“Magic is not foolproof,” Nikka explains. “There are still ways to hidefrom it.”
“It may also mean the thief is aware we are looking for them.” Khazak inspects the spot on the map where the fang still stands. “Officer Silentfang, please pull all records we have for that lot and bring them to Deputy Keenguard’s office. David, you and I are going to the warehouse, now.”
After splitting from Nikka, the two of us leave the station and head south, walking at a quick pace. Judging from the map, it’ll take us ten minutes ifwe hurry.
“So, did everything go alright with the priest?” I can’t help but ask, I’m stillreallycurious about a young temple-going Khazak.
“Hmm? Oh, yes, everything was fine.” Khazak turns to answer me. “After I updated him, he asked me about volunteering at the temple again. Thankfully, my job and all its duties are more than enough of a valid excuse. However, Ididlet him know that my sister was back in town, and that she has nothing but free time on her hands.”
“Oh, I’m sure she’s going tolovethat.” The twin in me understands: when you’re given an opportunity to pull one over on your sibling, yougottatake it.
“Should at least make for interesting conversation next time we see her at dinner.” He sounds pleased with himself.
“And what’s this I hear about a festival happening next weekend?” I ask about the other thing on my mind. The high priest and Nikka both mentionedsomething.
“Yes, that.” Khazak smiles coyly. “Iwasgoing to let that be a surprise, but I suppose it is a littlelate now.”
“Yeah, cat’s outta the bag,” I add.
“Who puts cats in bags?” Khazak asks, puzzled.
“It’s just a saying.”Who does put cats in bags, though?“What is thefestival?”
“TheShatu Uzu’gor.It begins Aquaday evening and continues through Solisday,” he informs me as we walk.The name sounds familiar.“Translated, it means the Festival of Steel & Thunder. It is a celebration of relationships like ours.”
“What happens?” Celebrate how, exactly?
“A lot of outdoor parties. Drinking, eating, more drinking. There will be street vendors and demonstrations.” Now I’m curious: whatkindof demonstrations? “I still want to leave some things a surprise, but let us say that we will finally get some use out of that harness I had made for you. It is one of the few times the city actually gets any kind oftourism.”
“People really come here for all that?” Would people from home come if they knew what itwas about?
“There are more people like us in the world than you think, David,” heresponds.
“You mean people who are twins?” I joke, giving Khazak a cheesy smile when he looks over to correct me. Then he looks concerned and quickly pulls me over to him, the sounds of horses galloping on my left. I turn just in time to see a blur of black as a horse-drawn carriage flies past us.Why does this feelfamiliar?
“Slow down!” Khazak shouts after them as he lets me go, then nods toward his right. “We are almost there.”
We stop before we enter the next lot. Most of the buildings in this section of town are workshops or warehouses of some kind. This next building is no different, but it looks much more run down. The color on the walls has faded and some of the windows are broken. I think the roof might even have a hole in it.
