Cerberus Rex, Nameless

Part 6| Doppelganger, 18

Feri spent the next week guiding Asinis through the city's shadows to search for hints of Gunilla, but no lead led to an end. She often decided to leave Silas behind, though guilt plagued her every time she did. Too many people roused attention, and since Mr. Noarwin often disappeared, Silas remained home alone. Not today, though. When Feri realized Mr. Noarwin meant to meet with Captain Fairwind, she left Asinis too and tailed the informant spy to the cathedral he often visited. He didn't notice her. Whether that was due to his focus or because she made a living of sneaking around, she didn't know.

Getting into the cathedral proved easy after spotting an open window and putting away her ring. While Mr. Noarwin walked through the front door, she scurried up the side of the building, slipped in, and followed him by way of the ceiling. The beams and supports provided enough hiding places and a path to every corner. A few cobwebs caught her foot, dust tickled her nose. She held her breath so she wouldn't sneeze. She nearly lost Mr. Noarwin, but then a bishop intercepted him, providing her time to catch up. The two chatted. She couldn't hear them, but she sensed Mr. Noarwin attempting light conversation despite the tension he carried. The bishop noticed and led him to an office. It took Feri a moment to find her way in after Mr. Noarwin entered, but a vent allowing airflow to each chamber provided her enough crawl space to pinch through and poise herself where she hoped neither Mr. Noarwin nor Captain Fairwind would notice her.

"You have news?" Captain Fairwind didn't look up from his map. With a squint, Feri could see several towns and cities, even pockets of villages, crossed off. He stewed over it. One eye searching before he sighed and set it aside.

Mr. Noarwin frowned at it and then began, "Have you any knowledge of Lunis?" he asked.

Feri's heart clenched, and she glanced at Captain Fairwind. She felt a moment in which his head twitched as if to look in her direction. She held her breath, arching her back further into the corner she balanced in and using what fragile connection she had to Lunis to draw the shadows in around her. Captain Fairwind didn't turn around.

"Trickster of the Dark Side of the Moon," Captain Fairwind said. "At least. That is what his followers believe."

"And what do you believe?" Mr. Noarwin asked.

"That I have no interest in the boogie man," he said.

Feri's jaw tightened. She wanted to show him the boogie man.

"I have come into some information. Which I'm surprised to say I've verified. He is not the skulking snake those who know of him believe him to be," Mr. Noarwin said. Feri straightened. Mr. Noarwin had been researching Lunis? "There isn't much information about him. But there is also no record of him encouraging villainy save for what seems to be a series of, admittedly, deviant pranks."

"And we are discussing this unverified god because...?"

"Because the anti-magic group I've previously reported to you may have destroyed the moon wells in order to weaken Lunis Wardens," Mr. Noarwin explained, "rather than stunt the flow of Celume's magic."

"Interesting. Lunis Wardens. They are the police of assassins among other things."

It took Feri's concentration not to guiltily clear her throat. Thieves, pranksters, secret keepers. Wardens didn't have the most sterling reputation, but her record from childhood was even less so. Lunis had focused her talents and energy... and he saved her life. That sort of a being wasn't bad, and he certainly wouldn't blow innocent people up.

"You've heard of them?" Mr. Noarwin asked. Captain Fairwind didn't reply. "I've received news that those who draw their magic from the moon wells are experiencing difficulty in using their magic," Mr. Noarwin continued.