Ch18
It was the day of the heist. She woke up early to meet Rhys and confirm he wasn't backing out. She was behind on potions for Albin, but brought what she had. She walked through the quiet, just waking streets. The first flurries of an impending snowfall filtered down. Winter came soon here. Back in Sudeland some winters didn't have any snow at all. She pulled her cloak closer as she watched snowflakes land at her feet and stick. This could add complications to the plans especially if they were pursued in the escape. All the more reason to speak to Rhys. She gave Albin the potions and he didn't seem to mind the few less. She wandered around the shop waiting.
"What's got you so distracted?" Albin asked.
"Nothing."
"You are pacing."
"I'm just a little nervous. I have a job tonight."
"Good luck 't get caught."
"Don't get caught doing what?" said Rhys.
"What are you doing here?" Said Albin concerned.
"So it's still tonight?"
"Yes, none of the plans have changed."
"Wow," Albin laughed "I didn't take you as going dirty?"
"I'm not a traitor." he snapped.
"Please, we both know you made the right choice."
"Well even if it is I don't want you to be involved." He Walked back out of the shop waiting for May to follow.
Once they were out walking in the street she crossed her arms, but wanted to move on "You don't need to do much tonight. If all goes well we will be long gone before anyone ever knows we were there."
"And if it doesn't go well?"
"Delay anyone coming for as long as possible."
"How do you know the Ambassador will be gone?"
"He will be attending a party. We have someone there to make sure he doesn't leave early. We will head in shortly after sunset and will be out before midnight. I will fill you in on what we find at Albin's again."
"What are you going to do with what you steal? Don't lie to me I know this wouldn't be happening if there wasn't money in it."
"If you are referring to any potential magic artifacts, they will be shipped to Sudeland. They won't be let loose in the city."
"Fine, do what you want, but this better lead to something."
"All we need is correspondence with their signatures about imprinting or the victims he takes for it."
"Good," he sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Alright see you tonight."
She returned to the warehouse and sat in the common room shoveling her weight in porridge into her mouth despite her familiar proddings to stop. She knew Tiernan wouldn't be there, but she could help worrying about if he was. It happened last time. Still she couldn't just watch them enact their plan from the shadows. Reah came in to join her already in her party dress.
"Excited for your first big job?"
She swallowed slowly "do I look excited?"
She laughed and pulled the bow away from her. "You will be fine. Worrying never did anyone any good."
"You say that but not worrying is a little harder than just deciding not to."
"Just focus on what you have to do, trust the others to do their part, and count on Lugh for a little luck and everything works out."
"It's all so unknown."
"Most things around here are. Just follow your intuition. I have gotten out of a good many scrapes with an educated guess."
"I hope you are right. I will be making a lot tonight." Despite all their recon and preparations she knew everyone was counting on her to solve the inevitable problems that would come.
"We both will. I had to pull in a lot of favors to get an invite to this party."
"What Geoffry's illustrious name didn't get you in?"
"You say that but it was your successful debut that helped me get in. Especially after Tiernan was so obsessed with you. If only they knew why."
"Well, you're welcome."
"I have to finish getting ready," she smiled, pushing the bowl back to May. "Don't eat too much."
"See you." she continued eating but slower than before."
It was time. The sun was low and she gathered her tools. A few elemental stones, a healing potion, the knife Bran gave her and a few other odds and ends. She walked to the reduvu, a spot just beyond the river bend park, alone. Her feet crunched though several inches of snow. I was cold enough that even with both cloaks on she felt the cold. She was glad the job was inside at least. She couldn't imagine fighting a monster in this weather. The group huddled in a darkened alley as everyone slowly convened. Each person came at a different time from a different route. Surprisingly Tam, the last to arrive, showed up right on time as the bell struck the half hour. Bran silently clapped at the rare feat. The group including Berwyn's mane wove through a plotted path of back alleys to reach the rear of Tiernan's house. She peeked out to the front of the house. She locked eyes with Rhys waiting for them across the street. He nodded and that was enough to move forward. A low wall contained a courtyard of gravel with delicate wrought iron furniture and a variety of colorful decorative blown glass balls. The house beyond sat dark and silent.
"Go on," confirmed Tam.
She reluctantly took off her cloaks and let her hair loose. The cold helped her eyes and nose run. She waved through all of the minor magical berries only triggering the main defensive ward about two feet from the house. Surprisingly there were no wards bolstering the house other than those blocking the windows and doors. She curled up on the wall and waited for the single live-in servant to come. It wasn't long. She heard the rattle of keys and started to cast her spell. After a moment the warding on the door dropped as it was unlocked. The muscular servant walked out holding a large mace. She huddled closer to the wall hiding her spell words as hiccuping sobs. He paused, letting the mace head rest in the snow. As he looked at her, he leaned down closer and the spell was ready.
"Are…" she shot out her hand as fast as she could, grabbing his hand. He shuddered as the spell passed over him then fell limp in a deep sleep. She caught his head before it hit the ground. The others emerged from behind the wall hearing him fall.
"Keep to my footprints. Not all of the protections are down," she told them.
Tam crossed first and returned her cloaks and took the magic key ring. Bran helped lift the sleeping man off May and helped her drag him into the house tying him up in case the spell wore off unexpectedly. The first floor should be relatively safe from using fey sight to inspect it before and knowing he hosted parties often. She scouted around just to be safe. She placed her bird on her shoulder to watch her back. They were in a small but elegant hallway lined with mirrors and portraits in heavily carved frames. The familiar scent of rose hung in the air. She looked through Areon's eyes to see the hidden magic of the place and led Tam deeper into the house. Bran's light footsteps were not far behind as she looked for targets. Three dim lights pearce the shadow were far too faint to be seen from a distance. They hovered at waist height . She pointed in their direction.
"There are three things on that table. They will be small."
"This?" said Ruth and one of the lights waved.
"Yes." it settled probably in her pocket. The other two were also quickly gathered. She held onto Ruth's shoulder looking for more objects in the rest of the first floor. She found only two more Bran was off looking for any correspondence and Tam Kept an eye on the others who were cleaning the house of normal valuables. At what felt like the center of the house two brighter lights glowed. They were a couple feet apart and at her eye height.
"Where are we?"
"The stairs."
She retreated from fey sight to her own vision. The red flock wallpaper jared her vision with its vivid color. A blue runner draped over the darkwood steps, but she was more focused on what sat in place of the magic. Two small dragon-like gargoyles wrapped themselves at the top of the banisters. Their stone eyes focused outward like sentinels. She hadn't seen a warding line to trigger them, but she didn't know what other protective magics there might be. Without knowing the nature of the enchantment she didn't know what they could do.
"What are you waiting for?" asked Ruth.
"The dragons."
"Hey boss, do you think this is any good?" She turned to one of Berwyn' men, not speaking quietly. He held up a ceremonial pendant with the green tower insignia on it.
"Let's see." Berwin took the piece, turning it in his hands. He moved to sit on the stairs for a proper inspection. He put his weight on the steps before she could stop him. The was a soft but definit click followed by a crackling grinding sound. She looked at the dragons. Their heads were turned inwards to Berwyn. Long reptilian bodies raised themselves from their carved positions and stretched their wings. She started a strong dispel, but Ruth put a hand out to stop her.
"Save your strength. We can handle these." She took the short club off her back. Berwyn and Tamm followed suit taking out their own weapons and she took a step back. Now free from their resting spots the stone creatures about the size of a cat napped out a berwyn. He sprung back barely deflecting the attack. The second Jumped on Tam using its weight to knock him back as he wedded his ax head in its mouth as it tried to bite. Ruth whacked on its back cracking a wing and sending it flying. It didn't have any care for self preservation and launched back into the fight. Berwyn had the other by the neck, but struggled to contain it. Tam helped and stomped it on the ground. Cracks widened with each footfall and as Berwyn joined the dragon only stopped moving once it was reduced to rubble by the two. The three of them took care of the surviving one in a similar fashion, before Bran could come running in hearing the noise.
"I thought this was supposed to be a stealth assignment?" he smirked seeing the three with their weapons out.
"Get back to your own assignment," said Ruth.
"There is nothing down here."
"That is fine, the stairs are now cleared. Right?" asked Tam.
She shrugged but her familiar hopped in alarm. behind their feet a gray dust rose from the shattered dragons. It reached out long tendrils to collect the broken pieces and solidify them into an urchin-like ball. It shot out pointed stone shards in our direction. One grazed May as she turned to see it. Another stuck Tam in the Thigh The ghostly gray line still connected the serrated shard to the ball and Tam cried out as it reeled Tam in like a harpooned fish. He slashed at the thread and severed it from the ball. May helped him back out of its range and Bran and Berwyn took the offensive. They parried the rocketing out projectiles then severed the connections as they slowly were pulled back to the body. Ruth used her club to turn the ball back to rubble. By the time they had pulled the rock out of Tam and wrapped the wound the gray mist was already pulling itself back together. She pulled out a windstone and used the gust to disperse the gravel. Releasing all its wind at once the blast pushed her back and dispersed the stone and its essence across the house.
"If it happens again I will have to break the enchantment."
Tam Limped up the stairs with May and Bran close behind waiting to catch if need be. Ruth stayed with Berwyn. Once at the top May used fey sight and Bran took her around the floor while Ruth healed Tam. One door was warded. She left that for last. All the other rooms were empty, nothing but feathery shadows and an allure of the glow in the locked room. If she wasn't looking for magic she would see opulent bedrooms and sitting rooms. Beds with so many mattresses and duvets it reached chest height. Enameled wash basins and silk curtains contained colors more vivid and saturated than a rainbow. Bran snickered as he searched a wardrobe.
"What" she asked.
She felt a weight rest on the top of her head. "He has a crown."
She dropped to normal sight and took it off to see. The crown was a thick golden circlet with enough rubies and amethyst stuffed in to make it gaudy. She placed it on Bran. It was quite a juxtaposition between his worn winter clothes and the meticulously polished crown. For all its silliness she always thought he had a noble face. Looking at him crowned with his earnest smile she thought she would follow him if he was a king.
"Do you think I could pass for a king?"
She laughed, "the king of fools maybe."
"Eh, I would take that. But seriously Tiernan has to be one self important idiot to make himself a crown."
"I could have told you that before, you should see him at the party. But we should keep moving and find whatever other weird things he has."
They went back to searching for magic with their arms linked. No luck in the last two rooms, though Bran did take his time rummaging through. Meeting back with the others they stood before the warded door. She closely inspected it for potential pitfalls that might trigger, but it was a simple ward. After lifting a crest at the top of the doorframe, Tam cautiously tested the keys. It unlocked at the third Key on the ring. They walked in and in the center of the room was one of the magical objects powerful enough to see from the street. They collected a few other items as well. Looking at the object properly it was a cloak fastening of surprisingly simple make. It was quickly put away along with the others. The room had many books held in glass cases, most written in sybil. As the rest searched for valuables she scanned the titles selecting three. None were about imprinting, but this appeared to be more of a showcase library. If anything was going to be found it was on the third floor with the other two powerful objects.
One of Berwyn's crew asked "What are those?"
"Spell books hopefully."
"Are all of these?" He looked around.
"No but they are all valuable."
He nodded and picked out a thick one one in common about the imperial period, then they all sifted out into the stairwell. Another set of dragons guarded the path to the third floor. This time she took the time to properly break the enchantments. It was a struggle for her. She still didn't quite know the nature of the enchantment. She spent a good five minutes studying them before she did, it was at a slow deliberate pace. At the edge of her consciousness she heard dissatisfied murmurs, but Tam's more familiar voice silenced them. As she reached out to pick apart the spell the stone itself was imbued with magic not the carvings or any sort of coating. It was deeply set. She expended a lot of effort , more than casting a fireball even more then calling lighting. She had to do it not once but twice. When the statues fell to dust she was left red faced and breathing heavily. She could tell she was almost at her capacity just from that. After letting her cool down they moved on. Her muscles were still trembling as she started to search Tiernan's personal quarters. More than just guiding her she leaned on Bran and he supported a not insubstantial fraction of her weight.
Tiernan's bedroom was primarily empty. Lots of jewels and fancy clothes but only a weak bottle of sleeping salts had magic. No surprise, it was probably for safety. Even weakly imbued objects have a certain level of instability. Most of the time this didn't matter but no matter how well schooled the caster things can happen in sleep. Once magic has been awakened in you it is easy to call upon. Her parents warned her it happens in sleep from time to time. There was no point in risking keeping them so near. Even she kept any enchantments on the opposite side of the dungeon from where she slept.
They moved on to the study but only found a few objects of practicality but nothing special. She scanned the bookshelves while the others finished reading his mail. Many promising samples were found and lots appeared to be written in some code. She hoped once they deciphered them they could find the identity of the blue sashed man. She didn't find any book on dark magic but she still pocketed a book.
There was only one room left and she knew already it contained the powerful objects. In the front of the room was a mid level object, but it was strange. Instead of the expected uniform glowing sphere, she saw a ring of light. They could study it more closely later. She directed them to the blinding light of the magic, but no one could find them. She was frustrated they were so clear to her, but as she looked with her eyes the plain storeroom's back wall was too close. The items were behind it. They shoved a bookshelf out of the way to expose symbols that looked like warding but weren't. She wasn't the best with warding to begin with only scraps of information about it in her book. That with the blinding strength of magical artifacts so near she couldn't inspect any warding lines that might exist.
"What is it?" asked Bran as he crouched beside her.
"I don't know.'' She wanted to beat her head against the wall. Every time she thought she found something it was just gibberish.
"Funny aren't they? It almost looks like a tumbler lock."
He reached out to touch it before she could stop him. The ring of glyphs rotated sliding across the wall's stone. Magical locks usually weren't so literal but this one was. Fortunately Bran was an expert lockpick. They were able to open it using his knowledge with a little help from May translating the Sybil letters. When the last ring slid into place, the runes started swirling inward like water down a drain. Then the wall itself followed, flowing into nothing till an opening revealed a small safe. Inside was a stone that looked like a simple elemental stone but with all the elements contained in it and an enchanted dagger these were the things she had seen from the street. That wasn't all there was a book with an unmarked cover, but all of the pages were empty. They took that and a stack of letters emptying the safe completely.
"Time to go," said Tam.
They ran down the stairs. The dragons remained dust on the second floor but reaching the first floor an army of stone swords waited for them. Everyone pulled out their weapons to defend. She tried to break the enchantment but was interrupted every few seconds having to dodge for her life. Everyone struggles to fight the disembodied weapons. Only Ruth was having any success with her crushing club, but even as she broke them the merely continued on as many more smaller knives. By then she was covered in a thousand tiny cuts and she was a lucky one hidden in the center of the group. Many had more severe wounds. She gave up on breaking the enchantment and tried to think of a quicker spell that could at least give them enough time to escape. There was nothing fast enough to cast without risk, but there was no way to defeat this with force. She heard grunts and panting from everyone wearing out. She had no choice but to drop her dagger.
"Cover me" she asked Bran who was the closest. She shut her eyes, ignoring the biting of stray hits on her. She cast as fast as possible but it still took long minutes. She put all the strength she had left into the spell as she released it. The blades disintegrated into fine dust as did many other objects around the room, but she didn't care she wasn't about to miss one. Even as the spell ended the dust began to collect itself, but this was their chance. No one needed to be told and they raced for the back door. The servant still slept. Tam left the keys beside him as they ran out.
The group stopped a little ways away from the house to tend the more pressing wounds. Before the two groups parted ways Berwyn and his men nodded their respect to May before disappearing into the night. Their group headed back to the wearhouse except Tam who took the most valuable magic artifacts to their hiding place outside the city. It was a slow trek even with Ruth's medallion they were all hurt and as the adrenalin left May she felt the many cuts sting. The blizzard now in full force didn't make travel any easier but at least it hid them from view and covered their tracks.