Agatine (Terres book II)

Chapter Seven

Armand's collar itched. He pulled it away from the skin on his neck in an attempt to let some air in. He'd always hated ceremony, and this was no exception. He glanced over at Jonah. He had his hand on his sword handle. He nodded at Armand a little and jerked his neck up the sandstone stairs to where the mayor sat.

"Did you finish your assignment, Jonah?" the mayor asked. He was young, for someone in such a high position. He was dressed head to toe in linens nice enough that Armand doubted he ever went for a roll outside. Jonah started walking forward and Armand joined him, followed by Darius and Oliver and Itah.

Armand glanced around the vestibule. The ceilings rose so tall overhead that he felt dwarfed standing underneath them. A soft, purple glow came from crystals inlaid in regular intervals on the wall--Armand was pretty sure there was just fire inside, but it seemed magical as it sparkled. He felt inadequately dressed in his plain white clothes. The paint across his breastplate was peeling and flaking. 

Itah's watery blue eyes appraised the situation as he stroked his scruffy yellow beard. He put a hand on Armand's shoulder and steered him to a stop next to Oliver, who already seemed to know where to stand. Armand looked over at Oliver and he raised his eyebrows as if he didn't know what to do, either.

The mayor's blue eyes surveyed them all with a warmth that Armand couldn't help but find trustworthy, even though the rest of the people in the room made him feel like he'd swallowed a hunk of ice. Two men dressed in fine steel plate flanked the mayor on either side, faces set hard as stone, eyeing the sellswords as if they worried Armand might attack at any moment.

"Darius," the mayor said as they stood in front of him. "I haven't seen you in a long while. How are you finding life outside my entourage?"

"Fine, Seltus," Darius said flatly. He stared the mayor down and for a moment there was an electricity in the air like they were two wild animals locked in battle. Darius looked away and as soon as he did, it was gone. The mayor glanced at him, warm blue eyes washing over Armand like a cloud. He didn't blink.

"You are new," he said. 

"Yes," Armand replied, not daring to look away. The warmth was gone, replaced by something appraising and uncomfortable. He shuddered.

"Jonah, take care of this boy," he said, and he looked back at Jonah from where he was seated. Armand heaved a sigh of relief. Jonah nodded and held his hand out. Seltus dropped a bag into it that jingled with the weight of ingots. Jonah tucked it into his bag and turned to go.

"Jonah, wait, I have something to discuss with you," he said as he gazed over the other four. "Alone. Come." He stood and started walking toward one of the back chambers. Armand looked around as if questioning what to do.

"Outside," Darius mumbled, and he started down the wide vestibule to outside. Itah and Oliver followed and Armand fell into step with them as they swung open the heavy wooden door. It creaked shut again behind them and Darius pulled a piece of chewing tobacco out of his pocket. He stuffed it in his mouth and started gnawing.

"What do you think that was about?" Oliver asked. His voice was high pitched enough that it only served to make him look even younger than fifteen. Darius shook his head.

"I don't know, but I don't like that man," he said as he spat onto the dusty ground. "Never have." They waited in silence for a few moments until the door creaked open again and Jonah tumbled out and onto the street.

"What was that?" Armand asked, eyes all suspicion. Now that he'd met Seltus in person, he'd gotten an entirely different picture of the job they'd just been paid for. It was simple enough, chase the drunks off city property, use force if you have to. Armand was glad he didn't have to. Most of them moved right away as soon as he mentioned Seltus' name.