A Crown Of Blades(ARTK, Book 3)

Chapter 155

 
Ocono 1st, 3330 A.G

  Aenor Rand gritted his teeth, doing his best to ignore the cold wind. Each time he thought he were used to it, the dragon rider were reminded of just how many liberans died here each year- and that if it weren't for the beast he likely would have joined them by now.

  "It is the strangest thing." A devotee from the temple of Fenthos had told him once; passing through on her way to House Raynerus. "Some liberans seem to tolerate the continent Ebon better than others; despite having no known ancestry there. Ancestry that can be traced, at least. Others drop dead in their boats a day or two out from the shore."

  Yes, people of his home continent often forget just how cold Ebon was said to be- no matter how it were pounded into their heads from the moment they were old enough to remember anything.

  "Don't go there- every damned territory is a death trap."

  "You think the winters here are bad? Wait until you experience a freezing period there."

  Aenor had not been so lucky yet, but his first were fast approaching- and when it came he hoped to the gods he would be more than a little used to it, that he'd be able to function away from the heat of his dragon and general warmth that bond provided when he were close enough.

  He crossed his arms, having been intent on an evening ride- but the beast were stubborn. He'd landed about a thousand paces away from the rest of camp, decided that was where he was going to sleep for the night- and that was that.

  It weren't as if Aenor could pick him up and carry him like one of the cats his children insisted on having-

  Aenor almost didn't hear Andre approach.

  When he did the man were close, his footsteps so recognizable Aenor didn't have to turn around.

  "I was hoping to speak to you about something." Andre started. "You seem like a man that cares about justice. That would want to correct... something in the world that has no right existing."

  At that, Aenor turned around. There were already a dozen ways that could go, from burning Tiffan Raynerus now despite orders to burning the copper mines to nothing so no more arsenic could be obtained by anyone. So he kept silent- but just long enough to understand where this was going.

  "I don't know if it is something that interests you but.... I know of a whorehouse in Alenia that is the exact opposite." Aenor's stomach dropped, and that were all he needed to know- because at the end of the day a whore were supposed to have a choice in whether or not they participated in that profession. "It is a Slave house. There's simply no other way of putting it the..... women are never allowed to leave. To my knowledge they don't imprison any men there, but I could be wrong. It isn't.... Entirely unlikely that their client base may have shifted over the years-"

  "It sounds like you knew someone there." Aenor interrupted, recognizing that look in his eyes that said he'd never stop taking if allowed to continue then. "And you want me to burn it to the ground for her?"

  Andre quickly shook his head. Aenor frowned. What other course of retribution could there-

  "There might be someone still in there that my wife knew." Andre gulped. "And... if I am right I'm the one that deserves to be burned for not thinking of her sooner. For not remembering ..... for not remembering she existed. What I want is your help- or rather your dragon's help in making the men that run that place pay."

  Aenor did not need to be talked into it. He'd been with him since the word whorehouse left his mouth with that tone of voice; so leaving that night had been his suggestion. Getting one of Nara Ashhand's guards to wake her so they could ask for permission- that were his idea too.

  Not that either truly doubted she'd give it.

"What is it you two wa-" Neither had to speak a single word for her to get it. They wore it on their faces, and she'd been expecting this of Andre from the moment he laid eyes on Vaelaynth. If anything, she were surprised she hadn't been woken in this manner much earlier.

  Andre gulped. "I.... Will understand if you wish for me to wait, though... in all honestly I could not help but resent you for it. Even if... word will travel quickly to Tiffan Raynerus from Alenia. I would like to see the look on her face when she hears that we've visited the continent; and that we were so close to her own territories but... I will refrain from that because... you have given orders."

  When Nara said nothing, Andre kept going.

  "We would be gone for less than three weeks." He said. "Likely no more than two, and that would give us plenty of time to meet you over the forked sea before you even arrive in Dedor and-"

  Nara put a hand up, silencing him. What he wanted to do weren't some majorly complicated thing. It didn't require weeks of planning, a spy on the inside that could frequently communicate, or a blood magick witch to learn things about those men to use against them. It would be a battle, but at the same time not. It could be bloody.... But at the same time not.

  Nara would have loved to be there... but she were pretty damned likely to give birth on dragon back if she went with.

  "You do not need to explain that need for justice to me." She nodded. "You want the people who've hurt your wife's mother to die. Do not make a detour to set Tiffan Raynerus on fire while you're there, but burn them until there are no ashes left to burn."