Chapter 18 #2
They split up, digging through heaps of paper left by both the fleeing mages and hired mercenaries who had come after them. Minutes passed, the only sounds those of pages rustling or the creak of wood as a stubborn—or damaged—drawer was wrestled open.
Patience not being one of her virtues, Calya inhaled, words at the ready. But she paused. Sighed. Another inhale, breath held as she stewed over the right way to broach the subject.
Lowe noticed. “What?” he said, exasperation creeping in.
“Let the record reflect that I am being serious and asking this in good faith.” Calya spread her hands before her. “Can you ask the wind for help in this?”
“No.” Lowe went back to scanning a handful of folded pieces of paper tucked into a book Eren had left behind.
Calya glared at him. It was a reasonable question, and he knew it, yet that didn’t stop the reflexive walls he raised.
“I wouldn’t have asked it of you if it wasn’t important,” she said quietly. “I hope you realize that.”
She wandered away to peruse the back counter.
A few larger rolls of paper were tucked into the corner, their ends crinkled and smushed from rough handling.
She set about opening them up, scanning the contents.
Layout for the workshop. Another layout for some kind of research site—an old one, judging by the many crossed-out sections and notes to “refer to Roll v.4” and other such scribbles.
Behind her, Lowe sighed heavily. “Sorry, Calya. It’s— The wind doesn’t—”
Her hands shook as she unfurled the third roll of paper. She interrupted him, remembering at the last moment to keep her voice down. “I don’t care! Lowe, look at this.” She kept the roll of paper—the map—flattened with one hand while she dug in her cloak pocket for her small notebook.
He joined her, taking over the map. “What is…” His eyes widened as he looked down.
“Sink.” Calya tapped a point on the map.
“The Sink, and the University people! Not SUSink, gods all break, I’m— The Sink!
” she repeated. “I found a list in Brint’s documents that mentioned it, but I thought—never mind.
We originally considered a berth here for the joint protection route.
Brint was against it. Against Desmond’s Landing entirely, because of the Coalition’s project at the other site.
What if this is where Lily meant? That the whole project was moved here? ”
Lowe squinted at a black dot scribbled onto the map. “It is east of the other site.” He looked at Lily’s sketch. “More in the foothills than the mountains, though I guess she couldn’t get specific.”
Calya leaned closer to examine the map, her finger tracing over the lines demarcating land… and sea. “This is more detailed than the maps the Empyrean Territories use. They don’t show an inlet here.”
Lowe frowned. “The surveys I did with the Coalition didn’t show it, either. Should we take a look?”
She shook her head. “Too much attention, and we can’t investigate them both.” She looked up, eyes alighting as, outside, Orren gestured at something to one of his men. “I have a better idea.”
Setting the map against the edge of the counter, she carefully tore it apart, downsizing it to a scrap that included the narrow channel and inlet just north of their intended destination.
“What are you doing?” Lowe asked.
“We can’t be in two places at once, and we know the site isn’t on the water,” Calya replied, drawing a circle around the inlet. “Unless we don’t believe the traumatized assistant?”
He followed her back to the front of the workshop. “I thought we couldn’t trust…”
She tilted her head at him. Lowe only closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose as he muttered, “Them. You said not to trust them.”
“I don’t know that we can,” Calya murmured. Pausing outside the door she met Lowe’s gaze, her lips forming a small, sad smile. “Faith, ranger. We’re going on faith.”
Then she marched over to Orren, taking him by the arm and tugging him a few steps away from his men. He followed, eyes darting down to where she pulled at his arm, then up to her face. “Found something?”
“Maybe.” Calya gave him the map fragment, pointing at her circle. “This doesn’t exist on any official map. I wonder why that is.”
Orren stared at the lines, a furrow forming in his brow. “Why are you giving this to me?”
“Consider this a gesture of… Oh, fuck it. How long have we known each other, Orren?” she asked.
“I’m ambitious, but not stupid, I would like to think.
If the Coalition are involved, and I think we agree that they are, then I can admit you have the superior manpower. Do not let them get away with this.”
Orren’s fingers tightened around the map. He nodded, turning toward his men, but he paused to look back at Calya. “Would you like to come with us?”
She smiled. “My thanks, but I have matters to attend to down here. Good luck to you, lieutenant.”
“And you, Miss Helm.” Orren strode back to the stable.
As Calya watched him go, she hoped she wasn’t seeing another friend ride off for the last time.