Chapter Twenty-Two

“Where were you all day yesterday?” asks Eleanor with her arms crossed and head tilted.

“I got stuck doing tasks for the guards back at the dungeon. They all thought I was a new recruit and put me in uniform,” Eden answers, forcing a grin with a hint of guilt gnawing inside him as that’s only half the truth of what he did yesterday.

“I thought you said you were going to ask the duke?”

Eden’s heart pounds. He did tell her he was going to do that.

“I did… it’s just the guards stopped me. Probably since I’m a One Star? They said they’ll consider my request if I were to help them out with some things.”

“And?”

“They have yet to respond to me…”

Eleanor plants her face into her palm and shakes her head. “Eden, I think they’re just bullying you for being a One Star.”

“Yeah, they could be, but I gotta try at least one more time.”

“Eden…”

“Let’s split up again. I’ll go and convince the guards one more time.”

“Eden, that’s no-”

“Alright, let’s do this! I’ll catch you later, Eleanor!” Eden splits himself from Eleanor and rushes into a crowd of people in the marketplace before she can say anything.

After putting some distance between him and Eleanor, Eden looks back just in case to see if she followed him. Eleanor is nowhere in sight. He lets out a sigh of relief and then proceeds to meet with Cyrus at the spot where they’re meeting.

A bell tolls. Eden goes around the back of the Church of Dwelleen and scales his way up to the roof with ease. Waiting by the brick base of the bell tower is Cyrus, his dark figure almost merging with the shadow casting by the wall. And it looks like he has his gear back from the dungeon. A black mask with a golden insignia hides the lower half of his face. A black and purple leather coat clings tightly to his body, trimmed with a deep gold that does not glow. Matching gloves and boots complete Cyrus as the stealthy thief he is. A scabbard of a broadsword is attached to the right of his hip along with his Armament.

“Let’s get this going,” says Eden. “How do we find Marek?”

Cyrus doesn’t reply right away, eyes averting to the side like he’s contemplating withholding information from Eden. Then he replies, “The Thieves Guild.”

Eden narrows his eyebrows. “I thought you said he betrayed the guild? Why would he be there?”

“It’s called ‘hiding in plain sight,’ smart one. It’s perfect. He’s still our leader, and everyone would believe him without question.”

“Without question? Sounds like I am the smart one.”

Cyrus scoffs at the remark and continues. “We’re gonna need to traverse through the woods and up the mountain south of here.” He nudges his head towards the wall of trees and rocks behind Antallasso. “There, we’ll see a demolished church.”

“Why is there a church up there in the middle of nowhere?”

“I don’t give a Menace arse why. What matters is that’s where we’ll find Marek.”

“Alright. Alright. Then lead the way, little lost puppy.” Eden sarcastically gestures to Cyrus to guide him.

Cyrus steps out of the shadow of the wall and glares past Eden.

“And don’t think about running away. I’ve caught you once, and I can do it again,” says Eden

“Yeah. I know that, so keep up,” Cyrus growls. He jumps over to the next building without so much as making a sound. Eden quickly chases after him with his steps clicking across the shingles.