THE FORTUNIST

43. Rayton

“People who can tap into Lemohn's Mirror have varying magical abilities like turning invisible, stealth, body multiplication minification and magnification, controlling plants and animals. Feng Lemohn's connection to this cryfix allows animals to obey him.”

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Rayton and Anarella stare at the most notorious building in the whole of Dian. Gay laughter and music spill from within. Scantily dressed girls stand on the balconies and beckon to passersby on the streets. The duo are in a hidden place where none of the prostitutes can spot them to consequently hoot at them.

"Why is it called the Townhouse?"

"You are a bounty hunter. I'm sure you've been here before."

"Oh many times, but I still wonder."

"Well Rel, how do you think the queen would feel if an elaborate sex business is being run under her nose?"

"Wait, she's not in on this?"

"She's a queen but she knows she can't please everyone if she does just what's in her mind. Besides, she knows the place serves a greater purpose."

A calm look of musing descends on Anarella's face. "All the times I… I never imagined the half of Dian's Teardrop to be here."

"That's kind of the point. The cryfixes are hidden in places that no one would ever suspect."

"Hmmn, but you suspect."

"You would have a window for a truth field question when we're done here Rel but I hope you know what kind of answers you want to hear."

"I'm not scared of truth Rayton," she hisses while tapping him, "let's go."

The plan is to sneak into the Townhouse and up the stairs to the topmost floor which contains two celestial suites. "Remind me again what we are looking for," Anarella requests.

"Nothing spectacular. A clasp, about the size of my fists. Just swirls of jacque stone, obsidian and gold. Shaped like a tear."

Dian's Teardrop takes the form of a purse. The purse is in the Bureau but the clasp is in the Townhouse.

"Tai is second only to House Dian. I would've thought Dian would want to be personally involved in the guarding of their cryfix."

"Oh but they are. They are the Townhouse's main investors behind the screen, try to keep up. We should search Godswood's room first since he's not around. Then we search Nua's."

"Godswood isn't around?"

"Doesn't particularly like this place. He has a main spot in Albenarum. He'd be very busy. This is usually the time they host their yearly tournaments to crown the champion for the session. You look worried. I'm sure your sister's alright. If we're done with all these and she's still there, we'll go get her."

"I'm not worried about my sister," Anarella scoffs, "I have my mind on someone I found to fulfil a contract about a year ago."

"Oh? Why now?"

"I've always had my mind but yes, she's a daughter of Godswood Tai, lives in her uncle's custody. She ran away."

Rayton frowns, "I never heard."

"Nobody did. The matter was shushed. Nua hired me and I found her within a day. Snarky little thing hates my guts. She said she'll cut off my hand if she ever sees me again."

"Little? How old is she?"

"Last year, she was nine."

Rayton cannot help the laugh that escapes his lips as Anarella gives him a dry look. "Sorry, sorry, you're scared of a child. I'm sorry really. We'll be in and out of the place in a moment." After pinpointing her age, it is only a matter of deductions before he can specify the child as Vella Tai, Godswood's last born. He never heard much about her. "A child wouldn't be in a place like this. The Townhouse doesn't deal with minors. Besides, when you worry about something too much you worry it into existence."