Chapter 35 - Take A Chance On Me

Taia leaned back in her chair. Her legs were crossed, feet up on the wide desk in her office as she riffled through a stack of paper. Being alone meant she didn’t have to worry about whatever view she might have afforded a guest due to her short skirt.

Ugh…reviewing paperwork is so boring! How does Euryale do it all the time?

One after another, she tossed pages onto her desk, still not finding anything of interest. Unlike Xorn’s office that was stark and cold, practically a cell, or Euryales which was tantamount to a library with books nearly bursting from every shelf, Taia’s office was stylish. Tasteful artwork adorned the walls and several statues and sculptures were placed around the room. Someone’s first impression might be that they walked into a small museum.

Even more unusual for a demon, many of the works of art were made by human or demi-human hands. Souvenirs from her travels. Spoils from the demon conquest. Taia always recognized that while she believed it was the demon race’s right to rule, those they ruled over were not wholly without skill or merit. He small art collection reminded her of the myriad of skills and achievements those peoples could lay credit to.

It also reinforced her view that they were never to be underestimated. The people who could create such pieces or art and beauty could just as easily turn their imagination to war and rebellion. Xorn may be convinced that nothing the people of this city did could truly affect him, but Taia knew that persistent vigilance was needed. A cornered animal was a dangerous beast.

It was getting late and she was hoping to finish soon. She tossed a page onto her pile on the desk and froze as she looked at the next one.

That’s not one of my reports!?

The paper was completely different. Like someone had slipped an unrelated note between the pages of her stack of work.

But what surprised her more was what was written on the page.

It was brief, but the note explained that a member of the prior human Viscount’s family remained. Not only was she alive, she was in this city.

Even more shocking is that the note specified a place and time where the girl would be. And that she would be easy to spot due to her pink hair.

How did this note get here? Who brought it?

Taia looked around the room, wondering if anything else was unusual. But her room didn’t have anything else out of place.

But how would they have gotten past…?

She thought of the signs she had left behind.

A thin hair at the bottom of her door which would break to show if someone had opened it. Intentionally left small areas of dust to show if anything had been moved.

But none of those signs had been disturbed.

Maybe someone bribed a clerk to slip it in? Doesn’t matter right now, I’ll figure it out later!

Her feet kicked into the air as she brought her legs down off the desk and raced out of the room.

She barrelled down the hall and practically burst open the door to Euryale’s office.

“Ah!” The green skinned demon screamed in surprise.

“Euryale! Have you received any weird messages? One that just popped up in your office?”

The insistency of her tone was overwhelming to the timid demon who pushed her chair back just to give herself a little room from the now far too close Taia.

“You too!” She squeaked out, momentarily forgetting that her interactions with Witt should be entirely secret.

“You did?!” Surprise lit up Taia’s amethyst face as she pushed her long white hair behind her pointed ear.

“Well…um…I…no…” Euryale stammered. “I mean, I heard…a rumour. Of weird things. Showing up.”

Taia put her hand to her chin in thought as she often did.

“Is this like the peach?”

Unsure what to say Euryale stayed silent.

“Look at this!” Taia tossed the note onto Euryale’s desk.

Euryale scanned the page. It laid out that a noble girl remained and said where and when she could be found.

That’s the same time and place where the prisoner transfer will be. Is this Witt’s doing? Does he really want Taia there?!? Why?!

She calmed herself and tried to force out a normal answer. “Very…interesting Taia.”

“Interesting? Is that all you have to say? How are you not more surprised?”

Euryale’s lack of shock, especially given her usual disposition, was odd to Taia.

“No, I just…I mean…is it really a surprise that some people ran away? I just always…assumed that there would be some around.” She tried to come up with a quick, but plausible lie. “Isn’t that part of the reason you’re here anyway? I don’t know why, but I know former nobles are a top priority target from our King.”

Taia thought about the comment for a moment.

“I suppose you’re right about how there’s always some who get away. I hadn’t thought about it that way. But how and why did this note get on my desk I wonder?”

“Maybe someone hopes for a reward? Or is upset with whoever this is?”

Taia’s eyes narrowed in thought.

“Hmm, I doubt they want a reward since they didn’t sign anything. But you might be right that this is just someone trying to set up somebody else.”

“Oh! No!” Flustered that she may have unintentionally undermined the message, Euryale tried to backtrack. “I just mean maybe whoever wrote the note knows that this person is nobility and is using that to get rid of them. I…uh…I think you should follow up this lead.” She tried to be subtle in her encouragement but doubted she was pulling it off.

Taia wasn’t paying enough attention to Euryale to notice.

“You’re right there, I do need to follow up. Even if this message is a lie, I have to check just in case.”

“Right!” Euryale said too enthusiastically. “But, um…should you keep this a secret in case?”

“In case? In case of what?” Taia looked puzzled.

“Oh, um…in case it’s a set up…or something…for this person. And…if anyone else found out…maybe they would warn the person to stay away?” She floundered trying to come up with a rationale.

“Good point that someone might let it slip. You sure you belong behind a desk Eury?”

Euryale laughed awkwardly as Taia continued.

“I’ll have to go alone and surprise whomever’s there.”

“Uh…good luck? Stay safe.” Euryale added the last part somewhat sheepishly and Taia looked at her strangely.

“You don’t actually believe anyone out there could hurt me do you? That’s sweet.” She said it in a somewhat mocking, but good natured tone.

“Well, I’ll need to get ready. The time listed here is tomorrow.”

Taia stood tall despite her short stature, spun on her heels, and made to leave with a flittering of her flingers as a wave goodbye.

Euryale let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding in.

She thought of the prisoner transfer request she had already entered.

“Phew…I’ve done all I was asked. Now all I have to do is stay here and stay out of the way…”