Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Since Solomon had lost all interest in me, I’d gained one advantage. It was all the easier to sneak around Never Keep and watch the inner circle of the Reapers who were assisting the Cardinal Reaper with the monster. Or Caelum as he now referred to it.
The blood sacrifices in Never Keep had increased daily, any neophyte in training who broke even the simplest of rules disappeared in the night to be fed to the beastly thing which lurked beneath our feet.
The shift in the Reapers that Solomon was using for his dark plans was too obvious to ignore. They consulted with the stars every hour they didn’t disappear down into the bowels of the keep.
I was able to follow them though, slipping through the dark passages and watching through a crack in the wall as they worked on creating a huge underground chamber where a dark abyss stood at its centre.
The wielders of earth magic carved out the new space and there they worshipped that hole, bowing to it, casting bones and blood into its depths.
That was where Caelum lurked. But last night I’d discovered something terrible.
I’d watched Solomon hold a wicked ceremony in that chamber, spying on them as they tortured and mutilated three neophytes then threw them into that horrid abyss. The Cardinal Reaper had said something truly alarming then.
“Upon the night of the blood moon that is set to rise in the coming months, the magic of the moon herself will be able to summon Caelum from its world into ours. The creature will cross into The Waning Lands as predicted by the stars and it shall be a god among us!”
The Reapers had cheered and praised the stars for the gift of Caelum while I’d shuddered, backed away and run. Run and run all the way to my bedchamber where I’d paced in turmoil.
I’d come to an idea that was risky, perhaps futile. But I didn’t know what else to do. And today was my only chance to enact it.
With the morning light on my back, I walked down to the black sand beach where Wandershire was sailing across the rough sea.
The sky was clear today, a rare sight on the isle where it so often snowed.
In my pocket was a letter that felt as though it was burning a hole right through me.
It was weighted with a thousand hopes and an equal amount of fears.
As the floating town came ashore and the great metal legs drew it part way out of the water, I hurried toward it among the handful of Neophytes who had already arrived to seek wares from the traders.
The golden steps rolled down onto the sand to offer us access, and I was the first on board, striding through the narrow streets and heading straight for the tower at its centre.
I rang a bell at the door there, heat burning its way up the back of my neck as if I was being watched.
But I was just paranoid. No one was looking at me.
And even if they were, I had every right to be here.
It wasn’t uncommon for the Reapers to seek wares from Wandershire.
The door flew open and I came face to face with the man I’d been looking for.
“Mr Angelico, I’d like a word in private,” I asked.
His eyebrows rose, his green gaze tracking over my face. “It’s not often I get Reapers at me door. Come in then, I wouldn’t want to leave your star-gifted ass out in the cold to freeze.”
I stepped inside and he snapped the door shut behind us before leading me upstairs. My heart thrashed as I followed him, unsure how many questions he might ask of my request and how well I would be able to lie in answer.
“I recognise your face, lad,” Mavus revealed as he led me into his bureau. “You’re a friend of a friend, I believe.”
“You helped Everest escape from the Fury once,” I said with a nod. “Did she mention me?”
“Mention ya? She gushed about ya, lad. You’re Harlon Brook, ain’t ya?”
“Yes, were you a good friend to her?”
“I tried to be, lad. I fiercely respect that girl,” he said.
“Good. Then I have a task for you.” I took the heavy pouch of gold out of my pocket and dropped it on his desk, noting the sea of maps there. Plenty had been marked with Xs, and I wondered what the meaning of them was.
Mavus licked his lips, reaching for the pouch and weighing it in his palm. “That’s a hefty lot of gold there. You must want somethin’ mighty bad.”
“Not bad. Important. I want you to find Everest for me and give her this.” I took the letter from my pocket, the seal on it forged by the fiercest magic I’d learned in my acolyte training. None should be able to open it but her.
He arched a brow, plucking the letter from my grip and twisting it between his fingertips. “A message for a lover perhaps?” he questioned.
I nodded. “She means everything to me,” I growled.
“I can see that,” he breathed, gazing into my eyes. “And she means a great deal to me too, you know?”
I frowned, wondering how close Everest had gotten to this Fae. He had looked out for her once but I didn’t know what price she’d paid for the privilege. But maybe he really did care about her.
“Tell no one of this,” I warned. “It must stay between us.”
“You got a deal, lad. I don’t share me client’s dealings. You have my word on that.”
I nodded, meaning to leave but I glanced back, my heart urging me to ask one more question. “Do you know where she is?”
I couldn’t go to her myself, not after betraying her trust. I hated myself for how I’d acted. How I’d tried to force her to come with me against her will. I prayed to Scorpio that she would forgive me and that she’d lay her trust in the words in that letter.
“A little birdie tells me she’s in Pyros with her daddy,” Mavus said and I grimaced at the reminder.
“Pyros is a big place, how will you track her down?”
“I have eyes everywhere.” Mavus grinned. “Don’t you worry about it, lad. I’ll find your girl and give her your love letter.”
I nodded, letting him believe that was what it was.
“It must reach her as soon as possible,” I pressed.
“I’ll set sail for Pyros this very day, you have me word on that.” He painted a cross over his heart then grabbed his pipe off the table and stuffed some fogweed in it. The sweet scent filled the air as he lit it and toked on the end.
“Thank you. I’ll double that pay if you can reach her in under two weeks,” I promised.
“You know how to charm a fella, you do,” he purred with a cat’s smile. “I’ll make every effort to squeeze more coins from you, Reaper.”
I smiled tightly then headed for the door, my gut sinking as I left the fate of the world in the hands of Mavus Angelico. But I had to stay here and keep a close watch on the Reapers and their monster, so what other choice did I really have?