Frost and Flame, Foes in the Dark (book 2)

Chapter 21, Traps laying in the Dark

Year 783 Octavus, day 38 of the seventh month of Domorus

Naga purred as Akana stroked his scales, rolling onto his back like a giant puppy while Dornill rolled his eyes at the young dragon. A more disgraceful sight has never been sighted.

"Now, now. He just a child," hummed Akana and gave Dornill a pet over the head as well, Dornill leaned into the touch showing that the older dragon wasn't against petting either.

"I have always wondered how you handled the Forst King, but seeing how you handle his dragons I might have a clue," Ceva chuckles.

"Sidastir prefers belly rubs," Akana said, smiling at the dragons before turning to his friend. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes, and no. I have some interesting news."

"Oh?"

"The merchants, Amai, and her father is acting rather suspicious. They are packing at great haste, making no trouble to hide their flight."

Akana nodded, not surprised by this revelation. "I suspected this would come. I never fully trust a Huzhidian and decided to check on the information she had given me. There was a crucial lie told for her convenience."

"I suspected as much, but I couldn't find any trace of what it can be."

"I trust neutral information than that of man, I looked up the poison we asked her about, she told us it could be cured easily and was therefore not a good poison. True in itself but she forgot to mention that it can be modified to act as more efficient poison. A skill only a master alchemist from Huzhidi have and only one is currently in the city."

"Amai?"

"Her father."

"Then I don't need to tell you that the, not a spy, Alacer has told me that the so-called merchants are walking into a trap not set for them."

"With other words, they are the bait," Akana said, feeling Ceva's gaze on him.

"You are not surprised."

"Well, in this case, the not a spy, Alacer is a bit late," Akana peered at Ceva," which you can tell him if you want."

"You already knew?"

Akana nodded, handing Ceva a letter without saying a word. Eyes darting along the paper, a frown faded into view on her face. "Aurea Sideris?"

"Atra Serpentis mentor who she has taken refuge with. Serpentis claimed that she was framed and when Sideris found out that it was a lie, she gathered that information and send it to me as a peace offering, claiming that Serpentis had nothing to do with it."

"Do you believe her?"

"At first, no, but Alacer confirmed her story. Sideris is apparently paying for all of Serpentis expenses and she has an iron fist around the economy. Serpentis wouldn't be able to hire assassins without her knowledge."

Studying the letter, Ceva let out a sigh," If not Serpentis then who? The trap is obviously meant for either you or Sidastir and considering that Sidastir isn't likely to leave the city, that leaves you."

Akana smiled, tilting his head," And what do you think Sidastir would do if I were captured?"

Eyes going wide, Ceva snorted," He would leave the city, trying to free you."

"Yes, the target is still Sidastir."

"Why?" Ceva asked."No offense to Sidastir, but what has he done to make someone dare attack him? He might not be a paragon, but few would dare attack him. None has done so since he wiped out the Winter Fox."