THE FORTUNIST

54. Rayton

“Lemohn's Mirror is halved by its mirror and its frame.”

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"I think the first lady of Zia has a crush on you," Anarella teases. Merys' exclusive portal had taken them directly to Lemohn's House complex. Throughout the duration of their stay in Zia, Anarella had been a true kisser of asses but in a matter of time, Rayton guesses she'll be back to her normal prudish self. "Why you looking so awkward? You fine enough to have a 'mummy'."

"She has a husband, three children, wealth, status. I can't imagine her wanting me."

"But that's the point isn't it? We can never know what anyone truly wants."

"You know what you truly want."

"I like to think I'm an exception Ray," she gives him a cheeky smile. "So where would Lemohn's Mirror be, Lover Boy?"

Lemohn's Mirror takes the form of a miniature hand mirror. The mirror is in Lemohn while the frame is in the Bureau. While Rayton had used his status to keep himself thoroughly informed, Jaise Lemohn, the First Lord of Lemohn House remained an evasive personality.

"To be honest, I don't know," he says truthfully. "It should be somewhere around. We just have to wait until the assassin comes to get it."

"Why do you even assume we are here before him? He could already be gone. We could be waiting for nothing. Do you see how he also seems to know where all the cryfixes are? I don't believe it's because he's privy to information like you are. I feel like he is connected to all of them. In some ways more than one, he's as powerful as the Fortunist."

"You know how the Fortunist looks like."

"And you know we all live up to a code. Whoever sees the Fortunist must never reveal the identity or they'll risk negating their fortune. I can say one thing for certain though. Purple is a ridiculous color for a Fortunist."

"The Fortunist wields all the cryfixes, doesn't that mean if purple shrimp is the… well, doesn't that mean… I don't even know what that means. I seem to be coming up with absurd and wild speculations."

"Not just you Rel, not just you."

Rayton had received a coded letter from the palace. His aunt Merys had been prudent enough to not open it but Rayton had no idea of knowing if Merys had not sensed its contents. Rayton had destroyed the letter the moment he was done reading it. He could not afford Anarella getting her hands on it.

The letter was from Leign, who had some pretty wild accusations about Xihan Dropp and his wife. It is turning out that Lay could have been right after all and that Rayton had made a big mistake leaving the country in Xihan's hands.

"Deserter, you've deserted me!" Anarella whisper yells at him.

"What?"

"I asked if we can enter the truth field." She is smiling and Rayton can tell along what plane she wants to ask her question. He groans. "So, you and Merys were once in a relationship right? Everything you know about the cryfixes, she must have told you."

Rayton winces while knowing even he cannot dishonour the truth field. If he tells her the truth about Merys being his aunt, the odds are not in his favour that she would not put one and two together. Yet, he cannot lie.

"How about I do you one better?"

"Ooh," she grins, believing his deflection to be admittance. "Why not? Tell me about your lover."

"I don't really like calling her that anymore."

"She must have done you one in," Anarella snickers.

"She wanted to marry me."