Page 23 of The Demon Crown

He stilled, his arms spasming around her as he slowly set her back down on her feet. "You did?"

"I did. I didn't think it was possible, but... They had it. It took me three months to find the right group, and the bastards didn't make it easy. They wanted no one to see where they ended up but they made a mistake and I... I..." She shouldn't be talking about this out in the open. Anyone this excited made themselves a target for unwanted attention.

Still. She grinned up at him, relief and hope blossoming in her chest for the first time in ages.

And she saw that same expression in Altan's features as well.

He wrapped a hand around her wrist and tugged her away from the vender. "I'll get you food back at the house. Then you're going to tell me everything that happened."

"Absolutely."

She let him drag her through the streets, giving half hearted waves to the people who knew her as they both raced across the sandy dunes. All the houses were covered in the sand, sinking deeper and deeper into it. Even his house, the one at the very far end of the Shambles, had a sand dune making its way through his front window. At least his doorway was clear as he shoved it open and then pushed her through.

His eyes narrowed as he searched the streets behind them, clearly looking for anyone who might have dared to follow them before he ducked inside the cool darkness beyond with her.

There were four other people in the house. His home was usually a revolving door of some type. There were people who were friends, though, and those who were merely passing through and needed help.

These were all friends.

"Varya!" A cheer went up and she was rushed. Four people throwing arms around her, kissing her cheeks, pressing ale into her hands and shoving her toward the table where there were comfortable seats waiting for her.

"It's been too long," she said with a laugh. They all looked healthier than the last time she'd seen them. No more shadows underneath their exhausted eyes or clothing hanging from knobby bones.

Altan had made good on his promise. She'd said she would leave on this foolish adventure only if he promised to take care of everyone else. Usually she was the one on supply runs, making sure that everyone had something to eat and that they weren't starving.

Apparently, Altan was just as capable as she was. Even better, if the looks on their faces were any proof of it.

And there was the normal sting she felt at someone doing her job and doing it better. She hated knowing that she wasn't necessary anymore to these people. All she did was seek out impossible treasure. Sometimes she brought it back, other times, she failed. But still, her work was meaningful. If she brought back the magical artifacts, then that meant they all had a better life.

Even if it was a little more far-fetched than just bringing back food to those who needed it.

"She said she found the map," Altan declared, slapping his hand on her shoulder firmly. "Our lucky gold coin has found yet another way to help us all."

Another cheer went up, although a little quieter than the last so they didn't raise any suspicion outside of these walls.

She looked around the comfortable room and sighed with happiness. All the furniture had been carved out of the same stone as the house years ago, worn down by hundreds of hands that had passed comfortably over the surfaces. She had sat on this stone bench next to the stone table a hundred times. The windows were covered with stretched leathers, beautiful tapestries woven on the walls, and a room filled with all the people she loved.

Two of them sat on the floor nearby, brightly colored cushions protecting them from the sands beneath them. Four lanterns hung over her head, the metal guards forged to look like stars that sparkled all across the room.

Altan's hookah was in the corner, suspiciously quiet and unlit. Usually he'd be well into smoking by this time of the morning, but she didn't have any time to wonder if he'd finally quit.

Instead, she pulled the map out of her pants and laid it out on the stone table. Unfurling it, she pointed to all the markers that mentioned different artifacts.

"This one denotes the last known place where the Spear of Water was found. Three dots here mention that the Staff of Meadows was last seen in all of these locations. But this one..." She tapped the paper hard over a single marker deep in the desert. "The Eternity Goblet."

Even Altan hissed out a breath while the rest of the people in the room hummed out impressed sounds. "So the rumors are true?"

"One of the last sultans before Greed hid it away in a cave system. Apparently there are countless objects there, so many of them are marked on this map. I can't be sure that the Horde hasn't already taken what they wanted from the loot." Varya met his gaze with a wild grin. "But there still might be something left."

Altan sat heavily on the opposite side of the table, his big body splayed out in shock. "And you think we can find all of it?"

"I do."

"That's impossible."

"Only if we don't try." She ripped off her coat, letting it fall to the floor behind her. The leather was too warm and too sticky. She refused to let it ruin her excitement over this moment. "I just need a week to prepare. All it will take is a few days to rest up, then I need to get everything ready for the journey. It's a long way to go, and unsurprising that I'll need a mount. I don't think there's any venders with horses at the ready, but I might be able to barter one of our previous treasures with someone in a nearby town. Otherwise it'll take me at least three weeks to get there..."

She let her words trail off as she noticed Altan wasn't really looking at her anymore. No. He was staring at her shoulders.

---