Thief of Twilight

Part Three: Chapter 98

Xulian and Gorou watched from a tower as a man loaded up a wagon with wooden crates. Xulian furrowed her brows as she noticed that none of the men were people she recognized.

"What's wrong?" Gorou questioned.

"Dahi has changed his crew. These aren't the normal men. But I'm sure they're headed to the new location."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I-."

"What are you doing here?"

Xulian spun sharply at the familiar voice. "Viper...what are you-?"

"Why are you here? You are supposed to be with Zurine."

"Zurine is fine. But right now, I have a question. What's going on?"

"It would seem that the final items are being relocated to Lord Baldwin's estate." Viper explained.

"He is finally moving to Ainde..."

"What?" Xulian gasped. "Now?"

"You need to get out of here. Everyone thinks that you are on a job." Viper looked at Gorou. "Who is he?"

"His name is Gorou. He is helping me locate that box that Lord Baldwin keeps locked away."

"A box? What does it look like?" Viper asked.

"It's a dark brown box." Gorou explained. "I saw it when I was watching a caravan load up some cargo."

"A dark brown box..." Viper crossed his arms. "When was this?"

"A few weeks ago."

Viper pursed his lips. "Those were...ashes..."

"Ashes?" Gorou perked up. "Then that must mean that they were the ashes that the emperor was looking for."

"The emperor is looking for the ashes?" Viper narrowed his eyes.

"I believe he wants to get them for Zurine." Xulian said.

Viper took a breath. "I see..."

"It will be hard to get them..." Xulian said. "If he relocates them to Ainde, he will most likely have guards securing the area. And I won't know who those guards are. This is going to be difficult."

"I will help you collect the ashes." Viper said.

"No." Xulian shook her head. "If you do that, you-."

"I don't care. I want to help. I have already sold my soul to Lord Ayad. He won't kill me. He can't. I'm his best informant. If he does that, then all of his networking goes down the drain. He won't know who to trust or who to work with. If anything, I will be punished for assisting you."

Xulian sighed heavily.

"Are you going to be staying nearby?"

"Yes, we will be staying in the lower district."

"I see...go back now. I will try and find out what I can and meet the two of you after sundown."

"Will you whistle once you are nearby? Should I tell you where we'll be?" Xulian suggested.

"No, I know exactly where you will be." Viper breathed. "But yes, I will whistle when I am nearby. But you must leave now before you are spotted by the others."

Xulian nodded her head. "Let's go." she took Gorou's wrist and ran along the rooftops.

"Can we trust him?" Gorou asked.

"Yes, he has never disliked Zurine or caused her any trouble. In fact, he is the one who told her who we should and should not trust. So don't worry."

Gorou nodded his head. "If we do locate the ashes, how will we get them back to the emperor?"