I Can't Get the Vampire Rogue to Romance Me

Chapter 41 - Never Not Politics

"So, I guess he hasn't been stolen?" Artmond went closer to admire the statue but had the noble manners not to touch it. But he did point out the details of the statue to Sigismund, who was doing her best not to look at it directly.

"No, certainly not. I've been commissioned by the high priest to try to repair him," Harrowheart explained as she gestured for everyone to clear the door so she could shut it.

"I don't understand. If it is not missing, why all the secrecy and drama?" Evangeline asked, again ignoring her special abilities insistent pressure to burn a point.

"Politics," Sigismund said dryly.

"Never not politics," Valerian concurred as he leaned against the wall, crossing his arms nonchalantly.

Harrowheart nodded then gestured at the bands. "Yeah. It's all about the perception. This statue was created and sanctified by Asher himself. It's 'god-touched' as the clerics put it."

Knowledge: Religion. Success.

"Ohhh," Evangeline said. "That's why they can't just sanctify a new one."

"Yes," Sigismund nodded. "This is especially sacred."

"Even though it's cracked like this?" Artmond asked, gesturing at the largest.

Sigismund sighed. "It's not just the religious significance, it's also its historical significance. This statue cracked when Astor was corrupted. It regained its sanctity when his sister saved him."

"But the metal bands, those aren't sacred. Hence why they're deteriorating," Harrowheart added. "Hence why the high priest reached out to me. I was supposed to replace the bands as they aged so that no one would know the difference. The last thing he wanted was a fight amongst his followers about what to do."

"Like one faction for conservation, one against, fight, fight, fight," Evangeline filled in, showing she understood the situation.

Harrowheart nodded. "They used resolutium: the closest thing to a god-metal that mortals can get their hands on. Unbreakable except with god-fire. So you can imagine the problems I'm running into removing the old stuff. While it is still a mortal metal, hence susceptible to degradation over time, the wood will break before the metal sections that aren't degrading as fast. Hence why I was feeling pressure to find something god-fire-like. I know such things are out there, but their secrets are well-kept."

"That should have been your first hint that it was a scam," Valerian pointed out.

Evangeline hissed at him to behave, but Harrowheart laughed. "You are correct," she agreed, then shrugged. "But I was desperate. And you all are too. Your collars aren't resolutium, but adamantium is just as bad, if not worse in some ways. God-fire won't be the only way to fix your situation. I do still wonder how goblins got ahold of adamantium chains."

"Enchanted ones at that," Hagor added, picking at the metal. "Makes my skin itch."

"Okay, great, we solved the big mystery behind the missing statue. What does any of this have to do with us? We don't have god-fire up our asses," Valerian added.

"Well, the idea I'm chewing on is to go after the bastard who sold me the false god-fire," Harrowheart said.

"Is that what it was called?" Artmond asked.

"It's what I'm calling it," the blacksmith responded before spitting to emphasize her opinion about it. "If he's got more of the stuff, it should be hot enough to cut through your chains. If he doesn't, I can at least get my money and my satisfaction back."

Now the moment came. Evangeline burned a point.

Special Ability: Meta Knowledge.

Now she knew he wouldn't have any more of the false fire. But Harrowheart wasn't the only person who swindled and deceived in the grove. What she usually did at this point of the game was walk around and gather all of them up and then pursue. A nice healthy burst of momentum for their experience. It would make the challenges ahead a little easier.

It wouldn't solve the statue issue, but she wasn't worried about it. She knew there was an answer, and she would burn that Meta point when the time came.

"Sounds good to me," Evangeline said, making the decision. "I want to do a couple of things before we go. Is that alright?"

She knew it was. Burning a second Meta point, she knew they had three days to catch up with the swindler since he was taking his dear sweet time leaving the area. She'd even use a Meta point so that she would find him sooner.

"Uh, yes," Harrowheart said. "But, you know, don't wait too long. I suppose I need to get prepared myself." And she just walked out, her mind already on that next thing.

Evangeline turned to everyone else. "Yeah, why don't all of us go and take care of whatever we got to do? We'll meet up at the camp tonight."

"Right, because dragging me around is so much fun," Valerian said dryly.

"Oh, right." Evangeline looked at Valerian, remembering too late. "Okay. Well, there is a list of things I want to get done, and it will be a lot more efficient if you all just don't ask me questions about... why I'm talking to whoever I'm talking to." She shot that statement directly at Valerian.

It took him a second to realize it, then he shrugged as if he didn't know what she was talking about. "Problems. I'm no one's problem. No problem here."

"Right," Evangeline said, levelly, then turned back to the rest.

"This is something from your God of Meta, correct?" Hagor asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, you could say that. But trust me, it will benefit us all, and I can make sure we do everything as efficiently as possible."

"Whatever, let's just get this over with," Sigismund said. "The sooner we can get this false god-fire so we can split us apart, the sooner I can get away from you all."

"Ooo, what should we do for dinner? That stew they're serving smells great," Artmond added.

"Okay, good." Evangeline nodded. "Let's have some fun."

Want to read more books by Megan Mackie?

Check out Cookbooks and Demons, a Cozy Paranormal Romance on Amazon.

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And now her dinner plans could not be any more ruined because she's accidentally summoned a demon. Now everything is going... right? The dinner was amazing, her friends are thrilled, and her boss would like to talk to her about a promotion! And of course, she would never be so foolish as to again summon the demon....