The dark streets of the valley were well empty. The destruction and violence in the forest had scared everyone ho, and only soldiers road the streets, disorganised and lost.
So soldiers tried to stop them, first to ask why they were moving around, but after seeing Lucen, sought instructions on what to do.
He was about to ignore them, unnerved by their lost gazes, but he decided to give an order that spread throughout the city in monts.
"Saint Mira’s Day is cancelled. All guards are summoned to fulfil their duties. No civilian must leave his or her house."
At the fountain in the middle of Lost Street, where Jon’s imposter had originally addressed the crowd, Lucen gave his orders to all the surviving lieutenants and so other soldiers.
"I want soldiers on every main street till dawn. Rotate shifts. When dawn cos, I will return to the castle and, if possible, co back with enough Knights to end this."
That, or he took his mother and ran away.
Liam explained where he had been all day in a sour tone.
"I got caught by one of Aya’s guards. He tracked down and placed a knife to my back. I really thought it was over, but she said she’d simply keep hostage till they found you and agreed on so terms."
"Why would I agree to anything because they threatened to kill you?" mumbled Lucen.
"That’s what I said!" Liam exclaid, "But eting the tracker, I had this idea. I had gone to the Fishing guild and spoke to the receptionist—by the way, she’d like to et you again—and I got one of the Lyst leaves that she picked from Peter Cross’ hair; it has a piece of hair that, I think, is his."
Lucen’s jaw dropped slightly.
"The tracker can use the hair to locate him? Why didn’t I talk to the receptionist more?"
"Because you’re a weirdo who can barely manage a conversa—" he yelped as Lucen punched him. "Anyway... here we are."
The house was old and dilapidated, its white paint peeling and windows boarded up. They walked through the front door freely, and the floorboards creaked under their feet.
But Lucen could sense the three people upstairs, weapons at the ready. Lucen glanced upward, grimacing.
"Are you sure they’re expecting us?"
Liam glanced up, but quickly realised it was mana sense.
"Aya also has pretty good mana sense."
Lucen stopped, eyes narrowing.
"You’ve been awfully cheery about soone who kept you captive. Why did they release you?"
Liam flinched and scratched the back of his head.
"Don’t get too angry, but I told her about the prophecy."
"Idiot."
"Hey! She was willing to abandon this place this morning. I changed her mind and made her willing to bet on you."
Lucen sighed, marching past him and up the stairs. The floorboard creaked loudly as Liam ran after.
The floor was dusty, the only light in the wooden house was the silver glow of the night peeking through the boarded windows.
Liam tried to say sothing as they reached the door Aya was waiting in, but Lucen simply pushed it forward and marched in.
It was an empty, open room with an open patio that let the light of the starry sky wander in. The two guards glanced at Lucen as he crossed the door.
Aya sat at an old table with only two chairs. On the it was the wide board used to play Highcraft. Her shiny black hair and pale grey eyes glowed under the sombre light.
"Thank you for coming, Lord Lucen."
Lucen glanced around the dishevelled room.
"Not quite a place that suits one of your stature."
"It is a disgrace that I must host you in such a place," said Aya, "but desperate tis call for desperate asures."
"Your mana sense must be extraordinary for you not to even bother placing any guards at the front door."
"Not as great as yours, unfortunately, I simply trusted that Liam would return with you."
"You believe I ca alone? That my family is not already surrounding this place?"
"Yes."
Lucen’s face grew severe imdiately, the two guards gripped their swords, and even Laim flinched.
"I played enough fucking gas this month," said Lucen, his voice low and dangerous, "You’ll tell why you’re here and how you’re involved in this, or I will show you what desperate asures look like."
Aya’s gaze was subtle and lovely, a slight smile crept over her lips. Her voice changed. Lucen couldn’t be sure if it was the pronunciation or cadence, but it drew him in.
"Do you know how Castaway Valley was built?"
"Are you mad?"
"It was built by enslaved giants."
Lucen stopped, sothing flashing through his eyes.
Aya, now that she had his attention, continued.
"They built this city in days, a place where those silently against the strict laws of the empire resided. All of that has been long forgotten. Castaway has beco just another city, but the giants were never released. Giants have served the empire since its dawn, but I’ve never seen them so scorned and maltreated as in Castaway. Do you agree, Liam?"
Liam looked bewildered.
"I an, so people are a little hard on them, but they like animals. Why are we even wasting ti talking about this?"
Lucen felt sothing turn inside him, hearing Liam speak.
Aya nodded slightly, returning her gaze to Lucen.
"The crux of the matter has never been whether it’s right to do sothing; it has been about what we can gain from it," Aya concluded.
"So I offer you sothing, Lord Lucen, play a ga with and let decide whether I should trust you with information that could lead to my execution. Of course, you may beat within an inch of my life, but I will never yield this information to you—because I gain nothing from it."
"And if I win," said Lucen slowly, "what do you gain?"
Aya’s face lted into a pure smile.
"Hope. That we are not yet forsaken by god, and that you can save us."
Lucen cradled his head. Tired, he was so tired of today. His mother would be worrying about him right now.
He truly gained nothing from forcing the information from her, if worse ca to worse, he would just run away. "What a horrible day. If you bore , I’ll leave."
"Rest assured, you will be engaged," said Aya, "I have never lost a ga of Highcraft."
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