“These are the Up-Mountains’ most powerful city-states,” Villiam says. “Do you know why that is?”
“Wealth?” I say.
“Unity. Several hundred years ago, these city-states united themselves, both under Ovren and under a major, secret political alliance.” He nods to Agni. “Why don’t you explain to Sorina the exact history of it? I want to get our files.” He reaches for the two crutches beside him.
“Let me get them, sir,” he says.
“No, no. I am perfectly capable.” He grunts as he hoists himself up and balances on one leg. “I’m big-boned. The fracture...it’s merely a chip. My great-great-grandfatherlosthis leg and still managed to fight in the Seventh Trade War.”
I smirk. “He was a powerful mind-worker. He didn’t even have to leave Gomorrah to fight.”
“Very good, my dear. There’s no more hoodwinking you, it seems.” On the crutches, he hobbles to the door and manages to climb to the ground without injuring himself. “Just a jiffy.” He closes the door.
“He thinks he’s a warrior,” Agni says, “but I don’t know of any warrior who eats quite so much and sleeps with so many pillows.”
We both laugh. Agni stands and points to various cities on the map.
“There was a prophetess born in Cartona, where we are now, almost four hundred years ago. At this point in history, the Up-Mountain cities all had colonies in the Down-Mountains, but they were sparser and less terrorizing. This prophetess foretold the First Trade War.”
He points to Leonita in the far north and Cartona in the central thumb region. “The lord of Leonita at the time, who was a cousin to the lord of Gentoa, decided to arrange a marriage between this prophetess and his cousin. It would solidify the many friendships that were already blooming in the city-states.”
“So that’s it? We’re up against...friends?” I ask.
“No, there’s more. On the eve of the wedding—the prophetess, by the way, was likely a fortune-worker—the Gomorrah proprietor at the time arranged for her to be murdered. The proprietor is now known as the Beheaded Dame.”
“Like Unu’s lucky coin. She was executed in Cartona, wasn’t she?”
“Exactly. Found guilty of the future princess’s murder, she was beheaded in the public square. However, rather than preventing major war, this resulted in the Up-Mountains fashioning their dead princess into a martyr. The alliance, no longer a public marriage, became private: the Alliance of Cyrille, named after the prophetess. After that, the Up-Mountains launched their expansions south, disrupting the peace the Down-Mountains had so long enjoyed and devastating our people.”
So the decisions of Gomorrah’s proprietor can affect the course of history for generations. I don’t think I’m capable of that sort of responsibility. It should be someone smarter than me. Like Venera. Or Luca. Villiam may see me as a warrior, but I’m only a performer. However, like Agni said, Villiam isn’t much of a warrior himself.
Agni continues. “The Alliance of Cyrille is still an active collection of powerful individuals among these city-states who work to ensure the Up-Mountains’ continued dominance.”
“And you and Villiam think the Alliance is responsible for the murders?” I ask. “And for the man who attacked Villiam?”
“We’ve been distrustful of them ever since they invited us to return to their cities. We thought they were planning something.”
“And why don’t you think the man who attacked Villiam is the same who went after Gill and Blister?”
“Because, since Gill’s death, we’ve been monitoring the patrons in Gomorrah more closely. We know that he entered yesterday, three days after Blister’s murder. We also have intelligence on him before then, placing him in the city. He wasn’t here to commit those crimes.”
I collapse into a chair at the table. Villiam and Agni thought the Alliance would strike at them? If they knew they were planning something, they should have prepared better. Even now, they only keep two guards outside their caravan. The Festival can be confusing when moving, but with all the chaos, wouldn’t this be an easier time for someone to sneak inside?
“Then we should turn around,” I say, “before others are killed or hurt.”
“On the contrary, I think this is exactly why we should progress farther. Cautiously, of course. Villiam has Gomorrah’s guard keeping watch over you and the Festival at every hour of the night and day. They’re currently stationed entirely around Gomorrah’s perimeter. But wars are not won through retreat.” His voice rises, and I can sense the personal stakes he holds in this mission. If the Alliance of Cyrille is as powerful as he claims, they are at least partially responsible for the kidnapping of his son.
“What if your own past is clouding your judgment?” I ask.
He raises his eyebrows. “I’ve never heard you sound so much like your father. You wouldn’t normally ask so direct a question.”
It takes everything in me not to show my pride at this statement. “I’m trying to protect my family. I don’t want to risk them on a personal crusade.”
“The Alliance haspersonallymurdered your family. This is your crusade, as well.”
I hadn’t thought of it that way. I stare at the map on the wall and the various cities Agni pointed out to me. The Alliance, even if they are responsible, seems faceless. More difficult to picture than Luca’s idea of the killer, lurking within Gomorrah. Even if the Alliance did attack Villiam, I don’t know how Agni and Villiam can prove they’re also responsible for what happened to Gill and Blister. It’s likely, of course, but it isn’t certain.
Villiam returns, carrying a bag full of notebooks and struggling with his crutches. Agni quickly helps him into the caravan. “I have the list of notes from our spies. Has Agni finished explaining this to you, Sorina?”
