Chapter 32 – Vale
VALE
After an uncomfortable journey west, we reached Vitvik in the late afternoon.
The savory scent of meat pies baking for supper filled my nostrils, and my mouth watered as I pulled my hood over my head.
I wished we could stay the night in Vitvik and advance in the morning, but all those involved in planning the separate heists agreed it would be best to visit the coinaries near the closing hour.
Fewer leprechauns would be working meant fewer witnesses.
“People are staring,” Neve whispered.
“Of course they are. We’re fifteen fae riding into a small city where many fae have lived their entire lives. Keep your hood up and your hair tucked away. They won’t recognize you. Or the vampires.”
Aside from the fact that everyone wore unremarkable, thick, fur cloaks and kept their hoods up, we’d both already vanished our wings, making it seem like we were among the unfortunate faeries to be born with none.
The color of my wings—Vagle black—and Neve’s silver were too noticeable when paired together.
“Directions to the brothel? One with a tavern below for the less adventurous fae in our party?” Bac asked so many could hear.
A plump brownie arched his eyebrows at that but gave directions.
We already knew the location of the brothel owned by Lord Leyv Riis, but Bac’s query was sticking to the plan. We were casual travelers, looking for a night of fun and debauchery. No one who knew that would think twice about us.
Back on our way, a soft song came from Bac’s lips, one echoed by Thyra and two other rebels.
I’d spent time speaking with Bac the night prior. He didn’t just resemble Sian and Filip, he acted like the Balik males too.
Along with Bac, a rebel nymph named Tanziel would join our heist party. Bac had introduced me to Tanziel the night before and though the blue-haired nymph had been distant, she’d also been polite. It was as much as I could ask from rebels when I’d been involved in hunting so many of them down.
“Here we are!” Bac sang as we approached the brothel.
Like the Warmsnap in Avaldenn, this establishment was far nicer looking than most of its kind. That was the stamp of Lord Leyv Riis, who owned no low-end establishments.
Younglings appeared to take the horses. Bac and Thyra paid a copper apiece for each horse, allowing Neve and me to hang back in the shadows.
We were waiting until the last moment to apply glamours, which we’d need in Avaldenn. That way, the magic would remain as fresh as possible in the city where so many recognized not only my face, but Neve’s and Caelo’s too.
With the horses stabled, we walked into the tavern on the ground floor.
Here, we did not pretend to be patrons. Rather, Luccan led the way to the back and up the stairs.
With every step closer to the active brothel, the scent of flowers and musk grew stronger.
Faint music played, loud enough to cover up some of the less attractive noises of lovemaking.
When Luccan reached the top, the madam smiled in recognition.
“Lord Luccan.” She inclined her head. “Back so soon. Might I tempt you to stay the night?”
“Not tonight, Lady Amal,” he said, though his tone sounded like ‘never’. If I had to guess, Luccan was far too consumed with Clemencia to wish to visit a brothel for pleasure. “Keep the workers and clients away from my father’s office. I require privacy.”
“It is yours.” She swept down the hallway, deeper into the brothel.
Luccan claimed the workers of the taverns and brothels did not know they had gateways in their places of employment, but I wasn’t so sure. Some of them had to suspect as much, but if they held their tongues, that was good enough for me.
We entered a short, empty hallway in which only one door waited at the end. Luccan approached and placed his hand on the knob. The door lit up, and the lock clicked, allowing us entry.
Fitting so many into the office was difficult. Lord Riis was an extravagant male in many respects, but he didn’t use this office often. As a result, it was on the small side. Fit we did, however, and once the door closed and locked once more, Luccan turned first to Thyra.
“I’ll send your lot through first and seeing as you’ll have Arie with you, returning won’t be an issue.”
As the only Riis in the other group, Arie not only gave them access to the gateway on the other side, but he would also get them into the coinary of Bitra by asking to access his family vault. It would likely be on the lowest level, just like House Skau’s vault.
Duran was also going to Bitra. Not for connections, but for reasons involving his mind.
The Skau family had a reputation for being erudite.
Many of that bloodline became a Vishku of the House of Wisdom or renowned scholars in their selected field.
It was a common practice for noble houses to put their own protections on their vaults.
Protections particular to their strengths.
House Skau might have a riddle at the door or something of that nature and for that, Duran was being brought along.
“This gateway enters into Skau Castle?” Thyra asked.
Luccan nodded, not about to correct her that his family now owned the palace in Bitra.
“As I’m with you, there will be no issue with the skeleton crew of servants we keep at the castle,” Arie added.
Thyra let out a breath. “Then we’re ready. Open the gateway.”
Arie stepped forward and poked his finger with the tip of his dagger. With his blood he drew an X on the wall.
Instantaneously, a portal opened, light blinding us and hiding what was on the other side.
“You first, Riis,” Thyra said.
Neve huffed at the lack of trust her sister exhibited. I felt the same.
Arie rolled his eyes, but did as Thyra said, slipping through the portal.
“I hear nothing,” Thyra said.
“You won’t,” Luccan snapped. “I wouldn’t let my brother go through first if there was a monster or something, would I?”
Thyra looked at Neve before staring at the portal again. “I don’t know your relationship with your brothers, gatemaker.”
Anger rose in me, but I tamped it down. Soon Thyra would be gone, and we’d be on our own mission. It was best not to take a negative attitude with me.
Sigri the dwarf followed Arie. Then Duran, Halladora, the rebellion’s glamourist, and then the vampires Livia and Astril, which left only Thyra standing with our party.
My mate’s twin inhaled. “Meet back here as soon as the job is done.”
“We’ve been over this time and time again,” Neve said. “We won’t forget. Or fail.”
Thyra did not respond, just walked through. The moment she disappeared, someone nudged me to the side.
Thantrel stepped by, and my eyes widened. “What are you—”
He sliced his finger and applied blood to the wall.
“I can’t let my mate go into danger without me,” he said as he passed through the portal, and it closed behind him.
Neve’s mouth fell open. “He did not do that! Thyra is going to rip him open!”
“She might send him back.” Luccan shook his head slowly. “I should have guessed Than would pull something like this.”
We waited to see if what Luccan said would come to pass, but the portal didn’t open again. I imagined Thantrel was earning a tongue lashing and not the kind he desired.
“Skies, I’m glad I’m not in Bitra right now,” Caelo said after a full five minutes had passed. “I think Thantrel might have won that fight, but at what cost?”
“A high one,” Luccan confirmed. “Should we move on to Avaldenn?”
Everyone agreed, and Luccan opened a second gateway, this one leading to his home on Lordling Lane.
I took Neve’s hand. “You’re ready?”
“As ever,” she replied, and together, we stepped through.