UNMARKED

23: Blurring Lines

A sense of renewed purpose and vision catapulted Blayre into action. She took the staircase down two steps at a time, barely feeling them beneath her feet. Instead she was absorbed in her Sense. The explosion had been set off by magic, and she had absorbed the imprint before it disappeared.

If the Roof Top Inn had been chaos, the street below was complete pandemonium. But the shouts of the crowd were distant in Blayre's ears, and she felt numb and detached as she pushed past people to get to the scene of the crime. A high pitched whine hummed in her ears, and her body trembled with adrenaline.

The City Guard had swarmed the charred remains of the dragon float, and were working to turn away curious citizens. Blayre sneezed when she approached it, and lights danced in front of her eyes as the magical sensation engulfed her. Shaken out of her trance by the sneeze, she realized that one of the guards was moving toward her, with the intent of pushing her away.

"We are Seekers, let us through." The voice behind her was Fletcher's. She hadn't realized he had followed her. She turned and saw him holding out his Crown sigil pin.

The guard squinted at the pin and nodded, "Head over there to the sergeant. He'll be wanting your help."

But Blayre didn't want to stay here in this one spot. She had the evidence she needed and she wanted to sniff out a trail. But Fletcher, and Ainslee - who had followed them over - needed other confirmation and evidence to trace.

She glanced Eastward. What if they were headed to the palace while the triad stood here dithering with the city guard? Was she compromising Rory's life by continuing to her secret like a coward?

Fletcher and Ainslee were crouched on the ground beside the charred parade float, and Fletcher motioned her over. "Come look at this."

Blayre squatted down beside them, feeling the pulse of magic as it thrummed from the float like a failing heart beat - becoming sluggishly slow as time passed. "Think we should gather some of the damage? Just some scrapings? The mages might be able to analyze them."

"Sure," Said Blayre. "But I think they should just bring this in its entirety back to the palace."

"Aye," Said the sergeant, "We'd planned on that."

"Cover it up with something first," Said Blayre. "Enough people have seen it already." The Sergeant nodded and began to bark out orders to his guard troop.

"Let's go," Said Blayre. "Lingering here won't help. We need to find this culprit."

"Or culprits," Ainslee pointed out, brushing the dirt off her hands onto her thighs as she stood. The motion left dusty streaks in the brightly colored trousers that she was wearing for the parade celebration.

Blayre led her triad through the city streets, glancing around on high alert, her skin tingling with the ghost of the magical sensation that had been set off in the float. She could still feel something faint nearby.

"Stop," hissed Ainslee. "I want to show you something. But I wanted to get away from there first." She reached into her pocket and produced a crystal.

Blayre's breath hitched, and she reached out to touch it, feeling the slight sensation of magic as it leaked out of the object. The three of them did not have to speak about it to confirm that it was the same type of cylindrical and pointed object that had shown up elsewhere.

Ainslee put it back in her pocket, "I didn't want them to take it to Holt. They have yet to do anything with that collection I brought back from Mountainvale."

Blayre was surprised at her friend's suspicion.

Fletcher piped in,"You think Holt..."

"Hsst. Shut up." Ainslee hissed, glancing around them. "Not here. Discuss later!"