Light snowflakes fell from a gray morning sky, fluttering along whistling winds before landing on the stall awnings of a vivacious market square. Counters covered the venues engraved stone floor with a rchant standing behind each one. They shouted and clapped to advertise everything from overpriced wild ga to iron nails.
However, the most eye-catching were those promoting a recently restocked commodityfish. They bragged about their low prices and high-quality rchandise, how aquatic demons finally bowed to the queens ingenuity and superiority, allowing them to source produce from the best fishing spots beyond Maltens rivers.
Eager citizens huddled in heavy cloaks stood on long lines. To pass the ti, the impatient custors chatted amongst one another in excited but dubious tones. They savored the sll of ample, raw fish, yet couldnt accept the end of a century-long war ordained by the Church. Rumbling stomachs in a famine-ravaged land forced them to wrestle with an unlikely truth.
Dimitrys plan ca to fruition, and the queen didnt waste ti.
Not even three days elapsed since he negotiated a truce with the myrmidon, and that was all she needed to put his blasphemous ideas into effect. Either Alie placed her trust in him, or desperation over a crumbling city and its starving populace drove her to extre asures.
However, Dimitry didnt co here to gauge the opinions of the public. His boots crunched over a thin layer of snow all the way from Eliass blacksmith shopwhere he delivered schematics for a flintlock muskettowards a tall building across the market.
Maltens Blue Compass branch.
Although its construction was of carved stone and supportive iron beams like most buildings in Malten, luxurious stained windows and a towering height distinguished it from its peers. The blatant display of wealth wasnt solely decorative. It sought to intimidate business partners before they passed through the doors, coercing them into one-sided deals that no one would normally agree to.
Dimitry walked into its trap to see a pristine lounge.
Sat on chairs glowing faintly red with incendia enchantnts were four people in fox and mink fur cloaks. They wore impatient expressions, squirming in their seats or tapping their thighs. On the wall above them hung expansive maps of oceans, inland rivers, and Remora at large.
Hello, a soothing voice called out. It belonged to a receptionist with a beautiful yet emotionally distant face. She stood behind a spotless counter. Are you here to et with soone?
Yes, Dimitry said. I need to speak to Sophie.
So does everyone else. Shes busy right now. The young woman pointed to a vacant chair beside those of the other hopefuls. Ill tell you when shes ready.
Dimitry glanced back at four people who looked like theyve been here for hours. Unlike them, he couldnt afford to sit around. He ca here for black powder reagents that would prevent the citys collapse, and every mont wasted here was one less he could use to process and test them before the night of repentance. Im sorry, but would it be possible to see her now? Its important.
Every custor is important, but Sophie has a schedule to keep. Youll have to wait like everyone else.
Is that so? He pulled back his hood to reveal his identity. Ask Sophie if she would like to keep her supplier of plague curing enchantnts waiting.
Jade Surg She jumped up. Allow a mont of patience! The receptionist rushed out from behind her counter and up a staircase. It wasnt long before she stumbled back down with heavy breaths. Jade Surgeon, youre just in ti for your appointnt!
His appointnt? Was that a lie intended to pacify the other custors? Their enraged faces werent convinced. Walking by them, Dimitry followed the young woman until he reached an office slling of sweet citrus.
The receptionist bowed and shut the door behind him.
A long, azure painted fingernail tapped on a desk struggling to uphold two mountains of paperwork. Between them was an aging womans face. Wrinkles in the corners of her smile, Sophies eyes focused on the only other person in the room. Jade Surgeon, what a pleasant surprise. Her brightly colored nail pointed at the cushioned chair across from her. Care for a seat?
Dimitry took a deep breath and released it slowly. He ca to a serpents den to ask its cunning resident for a favor, so playing the part of a gracious guest was in order. I appreciate the offer.
How has business been?
Pretty good. He sat down. But judging by the wealthy patrons waiting for you downstairs, not as good as yours.
Does it surprise you?
On the contrary, I wouldnt expect anything less from you. Im sure youre enjoying yourself more than anyone else right now.
My, my. Sophies smile widened, deepening her wrinkles. Despite your youth, it only makes sense for you to be versed in the ways of the world. rchant and doctor, we both stand to profit from war. But Im sure you didnt co here just to chat. What can I do for you?
Dimitry folded his hands onto her desk. The first matter I wish to discuss is the grain and dried at Ive asked you to purchase for . Did you store them in granaries and warehouses as promised?
I am many things, Jade Surgeon, but Im no liar. Only fools trade trust for short-term gain. They await you in storage.
I want to send soone to collect a portion daily.
One of the two dozen people working in your new hospital? Or the four remaining in the church?
Dimitrys eyebrows furrowed. He opened the cathedral for business last night, and his chemistry lab underwent renovations. How did she already know how many employees he assigned to each? I see youre well inford.
Out of every commodity, information is always the most valuable. She reached for a quill and dipped its sharpened edge into an inkwell. Who do you intend to send for collection?
A giant man nad Milk. Youll know him when you see him.
Sophie scribbled the na and a brief description in foreign but easily discernible characters. Anything else?
Dimitry ca here to buy black powder reagents, one of which was potassium nitrate. The queen didnt know if a sizable source existed in Malten, and producing the chemical manually required many months. Even with the help of accelall, the reagent was unlikely to precipitate before heathens attacked the city. Sophie was his best hope of acquiring so in ti.
However, learning of her informant network gave him second thoughts. Would she eventually learn of potassium nitrates importance? Even if she did, it was useless without understanding how to create and use black powdera process that would take years to fully unearth with only scraps of information.
I need saltpeter.
Interesting. She leaned in. Why would a surgeon need food preservatives?
Its not just a food preservative. It has dicinal uses, too.
What kind of uses?
Dimitry preferred not to lie, but giving her a false lead would delay her from discovering his true intentions. Saltpeter keeps wounds fresh. Theyre harder to treat if they get old and dry.
Interesting. Sophie leaned back. I only have one cartfull in Malten.
Cartfull? He heard the term used as a unit of asurent during the queens summit. Approximately how much would a cartfull weigh?
She tapped her azure fingernail against the desk. This heavy. Her wide smile resurfaced, reaching her cheekbones. Im sure itll last your patients a long ti, but Im afraid I cant give it away.
Precious pinched Dimitrys abdon thrice: the rchant didnt lie.
Whys that?
Sophie stood up and pulled a curtain aside to reveal a window overlooking a busy market square. Do you see them down there, lining up for whatever little food this country can provide? When aquatic demons return, and imports from Ontaria and Feyt diminish once more, what do you think nobles will want most? She glanced back at him. Food preservatives. Salt and saltpeter.
Judging by her words, potassium nitrate was a rare commodity in this world. If people knew how to produce it, Sophie wouldnt speak of it with as much affection as she did. The knowledge allayed Dimitrys fears of black powder technology leaking to undesirables like the Church.
However, its value hard Dimitry as much as it helped him. He needed saltpeter now. There was only one thing he could offer that would convince Sophie to hand it over.
Modified preservia blankets.
Ti, vol supply, and enchantresses limited how many he could produce, but with the plagues grasp on Malten waning, selling the remnants wasnt an issue. The opposite was true. By giving them to Sophie in exchange for potassium nitrate, he could prevent unnecessary deaths from infection in foreign cities and reduce the number of heathens attracted to their enchantnts.
I see what you an, Dimitry said, but I think I have an enticing offer.
She shut the curtain and sat down. Im listening.
Over the past few days, Ive enchanted sixty plague curing blankets for you, right?
Thats correct, Jade Surgeon.
If Im not mistaken, theyre earning you endless sums of money in so foreign country as we speak.
Excitent burned into her eyes and disappeared just as fast. No. Youre not mistaken.
What if I said I can give you fifty more?
When?
By the end of this week, Dimitry said.
You an the ones that have been lying around for days? What of their enchantnts?
I guarantee theyll work fine, even if they take a little longer to take effect.
Sophies tapping hastened. Are you sure?
Just as it is true for rchants, lying is a fools errand for us as well. Dead patients dont return for dicine or checkups.
She twisted one long and slender leg over her other, studying Dimitry as if searching for chinks in his armor. Her eyes glazed over as if in deep thought. Then she pulled back, turned in her seat, and flipped through a stack of papers. After writing sothing down, she set her notes aside. A wide smile returned to her face. Where would you like it delivered?
Relief flooded Dimitrys body. If her indecision was an act, it was a good one. Have soone bring it to the church where we first t. Soone there will be ready to accept it.
Very well. Anything else I can do for you, Jade Surgeon?
There is. Do you have any sulfur?
Sulfur?
Dimitry stroked his chin. Its a yellow rock or powder that slls like rotting eggs.
Ah. Sophie crossed her arms over her chest. Although the Church no longer officially exists in Malten, we make it a rule not to carry holy sands.
Can you explain?
Im sure you have the best intentions, Jade Surgeon, but so things are best left unsaid. She rose. Just rember one thing: even if you think they arent watching, they are. Be careful of what you say to who. She strode towards the door to open it. You know where to find if you ever need sothing less dangerous.
In a parlor on the castles third floor, a luxurious chandelier hung over a round table that played host to a single personDimitry. Aside from the clacking of his ceramic cup and saucer, he sat in silence.
Stood against the wall was a yellow-robed woman. The court sorceress eyes followed his every movent from the shadow cast by her hood. However, unlike the day he arrived in this city, her gaze didnt bear hostility or suspicion. Only caution. She watched him while he awaited Leylanis and the queens arrival.
Although Dimitry preferred not to contact Her Royal Majesty of his own initiative, he had to after his transaction with Sophie. The rchants words unnerved him, sent shivers down his spine like a realistic nightmare made manifest by a wretched twist of fate. But what concerned him wasnt a lack of holy sands necessary for black powder production.
The Church did.
If what Sophie said was true, Zeran informants observed Malten as the city made pacts with demons, saw the return of their enslaved princess, and housed the disappearing man who assaulted a bishop to free Saphiria. All forms of sacrilege and potential excuses for their reappearance. Last ti the Church interfered in politics, it demolished a mighty empire. Would a small, impoverished kingdom be next, or would the capture of a defenseless surgeon for questioning and God-ordained punishnt suffice?
Dimitry didnt intend to find out.
The first step was to identify who was leaking information. Was it the common man wandering the streets, wealthy rchants and craftsn, or did the Church corrupt the very upper echelons of society? Perhaps the queen herself? Unlikely. Although she sold out her country to the Church before, the chance she would do so again after losing her family to them and agreeing to deal with demons was low.
Consulting with her was safe.
And, to save ti and fix his sulfur shortage, he requested Leylanis simultaneous presence. When she guided him around Waira, they passed acid lakes surrounded by sulfurous rocks. Unfortunately, the relic told him of sulfurs use in black powder after he left. That ant he would have to do sothing disrespectful: beg an ambassador to return ho to gather a resource imdiately after arriving in another country. But there was no choice. Neither the queen nor Sophie could supply the chemical. He needed to convince Leylani of its importance.
At the sound of a doors twisting handle, Dimitry stood.
Alie marched into the room, followed by a stewardess with light-blue hair, a heavily cloaked myrmidon, and a court sorceress.
Dimitry knelt. Your Majesty.
Skip the pleasantries. The queen fell into a chair. I have little ti.
After everyone sat around the table, Dimitry did, too. Do you rember the weapons I said could kill heathens more efficiently than any crossbow?
Her piercing red eyes urged him to hurry. Rifles that dont use vol.
Thats correct. I gave Elias the plans for their production earlier, but a problem remains.
What problem?
Although I obtained willow charcoal with your help and saltpeter with that of a rchant, I still need holy sands to produce black powder.
Her eyes furrowed. Holy sands? I recall you asking for sulfur when we discussed the matter previously.
Theyre the sa thing. Its a dialectical difference from the village I co from.
Is your intention to baptize heathens?
Dimitry struggled to digest her words. No. There are much better uses for it than that.
Ill trust youre right. Alie leaned in, resting her chin on her hand as if in contemplation. What is my part in all of this?
I know our first rchant vessel to Waira leaves at the end of the week, but I need it to depart as soon as possible. Myrmidon lands are the only place I know where we can gather sulfur in ti. Black powder requires extensive preparation before use in combat.
Are you sure you saw holy sands on an island populated by demons?
Theres no doubt.
I see. The queen glanced at her stewardess. How soon can we get a ship out?
Klaire dropped her leather-bound book onto the table, then flipped to a page near the end. This one believes that if we postpone tomorrows fishing trawler, we can free a captain to set sail on the sa day.
Do as he asked.
Yes, your majesty. Klaire retrieved the tal pen-like object off of her ear and began to scribble.
Alie slumped back in her chair. That is our side handled.
All that remained was for Dimitry to convince Leylani to temporarily abandon her post as ambassador, and the best incentives he had were guns and explosives. By arming her people with superior weaponry in exchange for sulfur, he would lessen the number of heathens reaching Malten and establish a codependent trade route vital to both nations. There was no danger of lash back either. If negotiations broke down in the future, myrmidon didnt have the infrastructure or resources to produce and transport ammunition offshore. They couldnt use guns against humanity.
A flawless plan.
He glanced at the myrmidon sitting in silence. Would your people be interested in weapons that can easily kill rock giants from far away?
If you speak of your voltech rifles, we have no use for them, Leylani said. The ascendants requested only moonstones.
I refer to weapons that dont require moonstones. Although they can only be used on land, even warriors without the ability to cast spells can wield them. Yours included.
She fiddled with the blue spike lodged in her pale pink earlobe. Do such things exist?
They do, but I need your peoples help to make them.
How so?
Do you rember the acid lakes you showed us?
You speak of the rancid pools? Although beautiful, their waters burn skin. Do you imply they would do the sa for rock giants?
Close. He held out his hands as if holding a small boulder. What I need are those big yellow rocks around it. If your people can collect so for , I will show you a weapon stronger than any spear on the next full moon. Naturally, myrmidon would be among the first to have it. Theres a ship filled with goods leaving for Waira tomorrow, and I hope you can board it to deliver my request.
Her round eyes, like topaz-colored pearls swerving across a black canvas, studied his face. Your intent isnt to banish from your ho?
I wouldnt dream of it.
Why do you not go yourself?
Because Im needed here to produce those very sa weapons. As no other human can relay my ssage, that only leaves you. Dimitry cupped her soft and cold hand. I promise youll return within two days of departure.
She didnt respond imdiately. Very well. Ill forward your request to the Hierarch.
Dimitry gave Leylani a smile. Your kindness will not go unnoticed. He shifted his gaze towards Alie. The ambassador agreed to my request.
The queen stood up. Is that everything?
No. Theres another matter of far more import. He lowered his voice to a whisper. The Church.
Klaires eyes opened wide.
Alie motioned a court sorceress to stand against the door, then sat back down. Explain.
First, allow to ask everyone in this room a question. I promise to explain afterward.
Speak fast, Jade Surgeon.
Dimitry tapped his cloaks inner pocket to warn the faerie within to watch for lies. Who here works for the Church as a spy, informant, or sothing else of a similar nature?
Two yellow-robed won shot confused glances at one another. We are eternally loyal to her highness.
Klaire blinked as if unsure of how to respond. T-this one doesnt.
I look forward to your explanation, Alie said.
Precious pinched Dimitrys abdon three tis.
No one lied.
He looked around the room. I have ntioned my strange magic before. It allows to speak to demons and make any target invisible. However, I have another spellone that grants the ability to detect lies. I am pleased to say that everyone here spoke the truth.
The queen jumped forward, her bundled white-streaked black hair coming loose. Do you jest?!
It is a skill Saphiria and I relied on to escape Ravenfall. You can ask her for confirmation.
I-is that so? She took a deep breath, patted the sides of her red and gold mantle, then sat back in her chair. Why do you share this news with us so suddenly?
Because I fear the Church is watching us, and I have a plan to blind them.
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