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"Yes, of course," I said, mind reeling. Could this be some kind of lie to keep us from completing our mission?
But what good would it serve? And, honestly, a replacement team sounded like something Lady Frexin would do … especially if she had new information about the relic.
"I hope to see you tonight," Mage Korym said, bowing again. "I feel like we have so much more to speak about."
Then he left, disappearing into the crowd as quickly as he'd appeared.
"I'm sorry," Jaiel said, concern tenting his brows. "Our assignment is over before it even truly started."
"I suppose …" I said, staring after Mage Korym as my stomach turned. "Something about it doesn't sit right, though. And I was under the impression she didn't have any other options, let alone an airship to spare."
"Sorry, you two," Alpha Blackwood interjected, walking up to us. "Those Empire folk are like raeches — nasty little buggers who keep popping up everywhere regardless of what you do to squash them. Even the Guardian's protection isn't enough to keep them all away!" He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "If Japhire didn't insist on keeping that one around, I'd have had him run out of here months ago. That smell is just —" He shuddered.
Smell?
So he felt off to me, and smelled off to this body mage? There had to be something amiss with the man. And if so, could we truly trust his intel about the backup team?
Perhaps he was just trying to make trouble for us.
Jaiel met my eyes, then patted the older man's shoulder. "Don't worry. I've dealt with him several times before. He's unpleasant to be around, but mostly harmless."
Gritting my teeth, I nodded.
We'd talk later, when there weren't so many people around.
Alpha Blackwood's face relaxed, and he gestured for us to follow him. "Well then, let's get you inside. You'll have to excuse the chaos. Everyone's rushing to finish preparations for tonight."
I put aside the problem of the mission for a bit and followed him inside.
We stepped through a beautiful white stone archway, and my jaw dropped.
Holy hells!
Every uncovered stone held ornate, beautiful engravings of words and pictures — messages from mages nearly 1000 years ago or before.
Gods, what some of the Science Division agents would give to study those!
A massive hallway stretched out ahead, and rich wooden double doors lined the walls. The end of the hallway opened into a cavernous space full of music and loud voices, and Alpha Blackwood led us towards it.
We stepped into the room and every other thought fled my mind.
It was bigger than the throne room in the Palace. And where that room was gaudy and obnoxious, this was both grounded and popping with life and festive decor.
Long, colorful banners hung on the stone wall to our right. And beneath each was a wide wooden cart in the process of being covered by various food and drink items.
To the left, a group of people practiced on string instruments, and beside them, a dance floor was being set up.
At the back, dozens of large, round wooden kegs were stacked against the wall. Alcohol, perhaps?
And in the center of it all were rows and rows of tables, mostly empty at the moment.
I stared in amazement, just soaking it all in. Everything felt so … alive. Alive in a way that even the festivals back in Gleyma hadn't.
And that councilwoman back in Dragon's Peak hadn't been lying about how enormous the clan was, either. There were so many people here that it was practically bursting at the seams!
"Are these all body mages?" Jaiel asked, echoing my own wonder.
The older man nodded. "Many of our people have moved into reclaimed fortresses and strongholds across the forest, but they all return for this festival. Unfortunately, at the moment, it's also the only place that's safe from the mountain wraiths — our own little haven. If only there were more room."
