Who The Fire Favours (ONC2023) gxg

Chapter 8: Aria

“Why would you say that? In the middle of all those people?”

Aria flinched at the sound of her own voice, stepping back a little to allow the cluster of people to get by. The Peddler’s Inn was neither an inn or a trading house, but it had four walls and a secure door surrounded by her own Excelliars. Despite the drafts and the hideous smell, it was better and more stable than anything she had seen in hours. The only problem was the topic of conversation.

“Ari, I saw her. I saw Rider. I know you saw her too. I thought she was dead. You said she died.” Ixis insisted, trying to find her footing against the rickety floorboards.

“It wasn't her. Some…some imposter sent her here. But it doesn't matter. It's out there now. I’ve already dealt with it.” Aria said, sighing with more than just exhaustion.

She longed for a bath or at least a hot meal to settle her frazzled nerves but Ixis refused to let it go, pacing incessantly despite the stains in her hair. Their pristine white armour was now scraped beyond recognition, the gold inlay blotted out by rotten vegetables, trash and whatever else those ruffians had thrown at them. They had been dragged through the mud without warning, forced through the tiniest of gaps through ramshackle houses and alleyways so disgusting not even a demon would squat there. How they lived like this she’d never understand.

“What do you mean?” 

The sorrow in her Regent’s voice made her facade crack a little. The look of fury she had given Ixis in the moment still haunted her, but the look of shame in her eyes was enough for her to want to forget the entire argument. Her fingers itched for her source of power, her Trait, to help deal with this awkward situation but she took a deep steadying breath and continued on as a Throneholder should.

“I’m…I’m sending out an order to capture all those present on site the night of the Scholar's Keep disaster. Specifically, all those who are Shadow Traited.”

Aria didn’t expect the full minute of silence that followed.

Her Regent’s expression morphed from nervous to incredulous to angry to confused all at once in a collision of unreadable yet distinctive emotions that Aria could never give herself the freedom to express publicly. 

The smell of singed hair and musty ale became stronger as the scuttling attendants idly listening in rushed out of the room and swung the door closed. Aria pinched her nose in frustration, completely forgetting what idle gossip would do to her reputation that was already on a cliff edge. All she could do was try to get Ixis back on her side and away from her delusions from the incident in Scholar’s Keep.

“What? But surely, that'll cause mass panic. They'll blame every one of them in a five metre radius.” Ixis reminded her incredulously, surprising Aria with how quickly she had thought ahead.

The meagre oil lamps above her flickered while what little staff remained kept well out of their range. Aria barely acknowledged the change in atmosphere even as her fingertips glowed white. She needed to shut this petty argument down. Now.

“Which is exactly what you did! Calling them out specifically on a day like today is cause for war, Ixis! We were supposed to unite against the demons, not accuse other countries of colluding with a murderer!”

Aria couldn’t bear to see the fear in her Regent’s eyes.

Her smile grew harsh, both struggling to keep their own emotions in check despite the simmering frustrations they kept clenched in their fists. It was hard to tell the difference between a blazing gout of flame or a sunbeam that razed the ground asunder, but both had exactly the same effect. Devastation.