The land of the Gods (Complete)

Chapter 6 - Thaleara

Thaleara's mind was racing as she and Edan walked through the streets of the city slums together.

When she'd read his note a week earlier, somehow knowing information he shouldn't have, no one should have, she knew she needed to meet him. Decide whether he was a threat or risk to the guild and most importantly, her work. What she didn't expect was for him to repeatedly ask where his ring was. She'd told him the truth right away, wanting to cut to the chase with as much trust as either of them could muster.

Of course, he'd seemed to enter denial. She didn't understand the importance of the ring, but then he'd offered five million gold and Thaleara knew she would take this job. Pay off her debts, and leave the city with enough gold to start a life somewhere else. It should be fairly easy to get the ring too.

It was a Friday, so she had no doubt that Trystin was in the speakeasy.

That's where she was leading Edan now, through the streets and into a laundress. It was late, so there was no one in the building except for the watchguard, a woman about thirty years old, who sat with a bucket of coins at her feet, and a piece of paper in her arms.

"Unless you accidentally left the ring in your pocket and bought the clothes to the laundress, then I don't know what we're doing here."

Thaleara shot Edan a glare, and he gave her a pointed look that said, well why else are we here? Thaleara turned back around, fishing out two gold coins and flicking them into the bucket at the women's feet. She didn't look up from her paper as she spoke to them.

"Through the back, have fun," she droned.

Thaleara moved into the laundress, heading for the door at the end of the room that led to the speakeasy. Edan followed without hesitating, speaking to her loudly over the click of his shoes on the floors.

"Are you trying to subtly tell me something? Because for your information, I washed this suit not two days ago-"

"Will you shut it?" she seethed at him, not even bothering to turn around, all venom in her voice.

He fell silent immediately, the only noise was his obnoxious steps on the floor. She wanted to tell him to walk quieter, but not everyone was used to being constantly silent, so she let it pass. They got to a door at the back, and Thaleara opened it. The door swung outwards, and led into a tiny office with one wooden chair and a desk.

"Is this where you kill me and ditch the body?" Edan whispered.

Thaleara huffed and stalked around the desk. Edan didn't move from his position at the doorway.

"Well, come on," Thaleara sighed. Behind the desk was a flight of stairs that led down to the speakeasy. They went down for less than a minute before leading into a tunnel. This was the most well-known

Edan's eyes flickered to Thaleara's daggers, for a second before he stepped into the room and peered over the desk. He spotted the stairs. "Ah, I stand corrected," he muttered, not meeting Thaleara's eyes.

Thaleara went down the stairs first, setting a fast pace. Edan followed her, his steps somehow becoming louder. They reached the entrance to the speakeasy faster than Thaleara had thought and she stopped, also halting Edan behind her. She turned to him, giving a stern look before ordering that he stay where he was.

He gave her a small smile, before responding that he wouldn't move a muscle. Thaleara didn't bother warning him what would happen if he did, and left him there, standing against the tunnel wall.

As suspected, Tristyn Gotch was at the counter of the speakeasy, slurring to the person seated next to him about whatever he'd been doing with his life in the last few days. Thaleara didn't sit when she reached him, instead tapped on his shoulder to gain his attention. He spun around in his seat quickly, nearly falling off from the momentum and swinging around his pint of ale as he did. Thaleara was almost kicked by his legs that were flung out.

"Why, hello Thaleara, pleasure, you, seeing here," he slurred, moving his head down to look at her through his eyebrows. If this was how he was talking, he'd obviously had a few too many.

"Hello Tristyn," she responded, taking in his unwashed clothes and greasy hair.

He grinned at her, spilling some of his drink as he swayed on the seat. "To what do I owe this meeting?"

She cut to the chase. "I need that ring back."

Tristyn seemed to immediately sober up. He stared at her for a moment, his hand freezing, and his feet falling to the ground. He appeared shocked and... afraid? Then seemed to gather his wits.

"I, uh, already sold it."

Thaleara pulled out a bag of coins and gems, flashing them in his face. "The truth, please."

Tristyn spun around, placing his pint on the table and turned to look back at her. "Honest, Thaleara. I've sold it. To a fellow who arrived at the docks not two weeks ago."

Thaleara gritted her teeth, this was taking longer than she wanted. "And where is he now?"

Tristyn seemed to pale at the look on Thaleara's face. "I- I don't know."

Thaleara felt the electricity before she saw it. The air swum with it, alive with energy. She didn't have time for Tristyn's antics now. Her debt was on the line, her freedom. She needed that ring back. The shadows around the room seemed to curl in around her, casting as little light on her face as possible. Tristyn had gone still. The shadows, the black seemed to cocoon him. It didn't touch him, but assessed him with a predator's ease. It was waiting.

Thalaeara leaned in close, the rest of the bar oblivious to what was going on.

"Where is he now?" The threat was almost tangible, as well as the promise behind it.

Tristyn glanced around the room quickly, and then looked Thaleara in the eyes.

"He said he was staying at the palace."

Thaleara hesitated. "Explain."

Tryistyn didn't wait, but explained with all the detail he knew. "He said he was an emissary for the Queen in Neodreth. You see, they're trying to build an alliance with us against the Northern continent. He's currently staying at the palace, but I think he leaves just before the winter solstice. He came to me a few hours after he arrived claiming he needed the ring. He offered me a lot, and I mean a lot, of gold for it. After you sold it to me, we met outside the bank and I gave it to him. I have no doubt it's already been given to the King as a gift."

Tristyn told her everything he knew about this emissary. What level they were staying on, what ship they had been sent on, but Thaleara had stopped listening, the cogs already turning in her mind. If the king had the ring, there was no way they were getting it back. To break into the palace was a suicude mission. Not only were there countless guards, but there was only one easy way to get in, and they couldn't very well walk through the front door. That and there was only one staircase leading to the top floors where the ring would no doubt be, kept in the king's own room.

Thaleara couldn't pull this off by herself.

No, the plan she was forming, this game of chess, required a few more players.

That and she needed more information about the palace. She needed more information about the winter solstice. She needed a foolproof plan for getting back that ring and getting five million gold.

After a few minutes of listening to some of Tristyn's obscure and useless details, Thaleara left the speakeasy, gesturing for Edan to follow her. She needed to speak to the twins, needed to convince them that they could pull off this ridiculous plan that was building in her mind. It wouldn't work without them.

With Edan in tow, she entered the cistern.