“I have my theories, but I think I will be offered to Emoris or they will ask me to become a king. A former brothel male would be easy to sculpt to their liking. A clean slate in a way. King Konrad must have been giving them trouble back then.” Terrence shook his head. “It will not come to pass. King Roland has kept them at bay for many years. I made the mistake of walking into a trap, but it has allowed me to cross paths with you, so I cannot be too disheartened.”
“What do you mean by ‘offered to Emoris?’” Faust asked.
Terrence paused. “I see why King Konrad wants information. A deity needs a consort, and one may not be enough.”
Faust nodded slowly. He’d never seen Emoris’s consort.
“That is a conversation meant for another time, Lord Arcus. King Konrad will want to hear this information as well, and a simple conversation will not be enough to tell you all I know. We must deal with this situation first.”
Faust reluctantly agreed. “I will fix all this. I wish for you to spread the ways of the Guild of Masters throughout all three kingdoms, using whatever means of good business you need.”
“That is quite the freedom,” Terrence said.
“If I am not willing to take risks to better the lives of the people, I do not deserve to rule.”
Terrence stood by Faust and extended one hand. “I vow to spread the goodwill of Lord Arcus in your name, Your Highness. Even the smallest of rumors in the wind, carry power to bring about change.”
Faust gave a charming smile and took Terrence’s hand. “And I vow to you, Lord Clare, to right this wrong Emoris has caused you and bring about a brighter future for the people.”
Terrence nodded and let go. “I have a few more things to grab, but will you help me carry these suitcases?”
“Yes.” Faust stretched his senses out, aware Ignas wasn’t too far from his location, and Rene was once again at the front entrance. “I believe Rene is done with his task.”
“Excellent.” Terrence clasped his hands. “Let us hurry before Lord Verdine changes his mind.”
“Or Ignas gets too impatient.” Faust chuckled.
Terrence turned with his hands on his hips, a sly smile lighting up his face. “Let him wait. The longer he is made to wait, the more he will want your attention.”
“I like the way you think.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Faust admired the quaint little town. Terrence’s estate sat in the distance, overlooking it, and must have been a breathtaking sight at dusk and dawn. It was a pity they couldn’t stay there instead.
“Lord Clare.” Samuel stepped up next to the guild master. “I will go ahead and inform the king of your arrival and of your guests.”
Terrence smiled. “We should be fine here. Your guards are plentiful, and we will leave at dawn. I only need a small caravan.”
Samuel sighed. “You did not have to gather everything. We would have taken trips to get things for you.”
Terrence ran a hand through his hair, eyes narrowed. “And let you go through all of my things for secrets? I think not, Lord Verdine. Either all of this goes now, or I will not return at all.”
Samuel straightened. “Fine.” He gathered a few of his men and headed to the stable to prepare for his departure.
“Why are we not taking a Volliare to the castle?” Faust asked.
“The airspace around Whitrose is protected, no Volliare or Volar are allowed in the vicinity,” Terrence explained.
Rene’s eyebrows disappeared under his bangs. “When was that law enacted?”
“A few years ago. It must have something to do with whatever the king is planning. Lord Verdine requested it,” Terrence said offhand. “I can explain more if you’d like once we find proper lodging for the evening.”
“Please allow me to secure it,” Zara said and stepped up next to Faust. “I wouldn’t mind Yoan’s help as well. He knows this town better than I.”
Yoan eyed his father.
Terrence nodded.
Faust caught Zara’s arm. “Can you get an extra room for Ignas and me?” he whispered.
Zara’s eyes flickered with amusement. “You bet I will.”
Faust slipped her a few extra coins and glanced at the town. “What should we do in the meantime?”
Zara laughed. “I think you’ll have fun in that store over there, Lord Arcus.”
Faust followed her line of sight, and he bounced on the balls of his feet—an antique shop!
“Within reason,” Rene clipped and pulled out a small bag of coin. “We don’t have much left.”
Faust swiped the pouch.
Zara chuckled, and an amused Yoan joined her, walking off to secure lodging.
“That store is not yet affiliated with the guild,” Terrence said, eyes narrowed. “If you believe that his shop is a good fit, please invite him to see me. I must meet with one of my merchants to gather our caravan.”
Faust hesitated. “Who will guard you?”
Terrence tugged on Rene’s arm. “I think he will do quite nicely.”
“I must stay with Lord Arcus,” Rene said.
“That is why he has the big lug over there.” Terrence gestured to Ignas.
Ignas posed with a grin. “Lord Arcus will be safe with me.”
Rene scoffed, but Terrence was already dragging Rene toward the stables. “Not a single scratch on him, mercenary.”
Faust ignored Rene’s threat and looked to Ignas. He extended one hand and wove their fingers together with a smile. He jogged toward the shop, tugging Ignas along with him.
“Not so fast.” Ignas chuckled and stumbled along after Faust.
Faust opened the cast-iron door, pleased with the small chime that echoed behind him. He looked at every shelf with bliss. There were so many ancient artifacts. If he had known such a shop existed in the Kingdom of Roltan, he would have asked to visit.
Ignas laughed.
Faust put his hands on his hips, his ears burning hot. “What?”
“Nothing,” Ignas said. “I like seeing you happy.”
Faust rubbed the back of his neck with a light chuckle. “As you know, these shops never lasted long back home, and with all we have seen, I cannot help but be excited. There is a whole past out there just waiting to be discovered, and with what we know now, it could help us with our current situation.”
“Are you sure that’s not Rene talking?” Ignas asked.
Faust huffed. “I liked history well before Rene became my teacher.” Faust went back to looking and paused. There was a faint warmth toward the back of the store. It felt like Ignas.
Ignas touched Faust’s arm. “What’s wrong?”
Faust shook his head at first. Ignas wouldn’t leave something and then forget about it. His gaze drifted, but he couldn’t find the item in question. It pulsed far too faintly, but it reached out to him, beckoning him to find it. “Something,” he paused, “something in here is warm.”
“Warm?” Ignas asked.
Faust nodded. He stood still and concentrated on the magic lingering in the air. The chimes rustled near the door, despite it being closed, and the natural magic of Alimphis swept toward the back of the shop. Faust grabbed Ignas’s hand. “This way.”