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Chapter 74 - We Meet Again
🕑 Added 2024-11-24 23:36:59 +0000 UTCCoin sat silently on a bench outside the looming doors of Velasco's chamber. Many guards and civil servants had passed him by as he waited to be allowed inside, sparing him not a single glance.
That was, until, one woman came to a halt at his side. "Coin?"
The mention of his name made the mimic blink in surprise. He slowly looked up, and found himself staring into the beautiful features of a blonde elf. She was adorned in a flowing scarlet surcoat with black stripes on the sides, the symbol of a manticore stitched to her breast.
It took him a moment to recognise the semi-familiar features. "Illyana?" he murmured, blinking in surprise. "What are you doing here? I thought you worked in Wheat Valley."
"Well it's... a long story. But for now I'm currently in the service of Archchancellor Velasco's Manticore Squadron."
"I've... never heard of that," Coin replied.
"Most haven't," Illyana admitted, forcing a small smile. She took a seat beside him, tenting her gloved fingers. "It's... the military arm of Arcadia's intelligence network. In the past, before Velasco took power, the Brotherhood of the Dagger handled all things related to spycraft, assassination, and intelligence gathering. Nowadays, to keep any group from growing as powerful as the Brotherhood, those branches are all separate entities."
"Oh. Well... I suppose that's an upgrade for you?"
Illyana shrugged. "Somewhat. I er... I heard about what happened to Elijah. I'm so sorry Coin. I did not know him for long, but no man deserves to die like that." Her hand settled on his shoulder, her grip strong and comforting. "But I promise you... the man who did this will be caught and face justice."
Coin nodded grimly. "I know."
A gnome, sharply dressed, bustled over with all the speed of a frantic civil servant. "Ser Thaeka? Achchancellor Velasco will see you now."
"Ah. Thank you," Coin said, slowly moving to stand. "It would be nice to catch up properly, if you have the time. I'm currently staying at Elijah's home in Hightown." Currently... but he had no idea what he would actually do with his life when he was finished with Valle.
Go back to travelling? Keep up the merchant trade? Neither seemed appealing to him now.
Nothing seemed appealing to him now.
Illyana frowned at him. "In Thallborea, we have a saying. Engrave names upon your heart, so that you always carry them with you. Elijah may be gone, but he is a part of you."
In more ways than Illyana knew. His blood circulated in Coin's very body, another portion of biomass in that vast pool of meat. Yet Coin could feel it when he focused on it. Traces of Elijah's existence, a reminder that the old man had been alive... and was still with him, in some small way.
A very tiny smile formed on Coin's face. "Thank you, Illyana." He pressed on toward the doors, which a pair of guards held open at his approach. They closed behind him as soon as he was through.
Velasco stood beside his fireplace, silently examining a roll of parchment in his slim hands. Coin hesitated.
He felt foolish, considering the man before him seemed so small and scrawny. But the reputation he had, the mutterings he'd overheard from others, he could not help but dwell on the potential danger this man posed.
And, inwardly, he was anxiously wondering why he had been called out here at all.
"My condolences for your loss, young man. Ser DiVenture did much in the service of Arcadia in the past. And truly we are worse off for his passing." He didn't look up from the page in his grasp, reading it with a keen focus.
"Did you know him?" Coin asked.
"We were not close friends," Velasco replied, slowly rolling the parchment back up. "But we met, on more than one occasion, prior to the collapse of the royal family. Given his wealth, and the inflow of money he brought to Sentinel, the king had his share of meetings with the man."
"I see," Coin replied.
Velasco finally turned to face him. His face was flat and unreadable as he examined Coin with his mismatched eyes. Then, eventually, he tilted his head a bit and offered Coin a smile. "You, on the other hand, were quite close to him. To be his heir... quite a turn of events."
"I suppose so. But I didn't want any of this. I'd prefer it if he were alive."
"Alas, we are rarely so fortunate in what we want Ser Thaeka. To live is to love and lose. There is nobody alive who has not lost one they cared for. It is a scar upon the soul, and people collect those scars for as long as they live."
He strode to his desk and took a seat. He motioned to the chair across from where he sat. It was a seat that had almost been surgically designed to sit on the precipice of discomfort. Armrests too stiff, cushion too thin. Velasco did not want any guests to get too comfortable in his presence.
Coin tried to get comfortable, as best he could, and felt the spine of the chair actively rebuff his advances. He'd be annoyed, if he didn't have other issues on his mind.
"Now then. I wished to take a moment to meet you for myself. Given your newfound wealth and sudden appearance... I suppose you've piqued my curiosity."
Coin shrugged. "I'm nobody special. I came from a place just south of Wheat Valley, and Elijah took a liking to me after I saved his life. I wanted to learn how to be a merchant, and he was happy to teach me." It was all technically true, and that was good enough in Coin's eyes.
"Ah. Rags to riches?"
"I suppose," Coin replied, a look of pure boredom on his face.
"From my understanding, Elijah changing his will was a recent development. I assume, Ser Thaeka, that you were unaware of this?" Velasco asked.
The mimic narrowed his eyes, a flash of venom in his pupils that would make seasoned warriors shudder with apprehension. Velasco was unmoved. "What are you implying?"
"I imply nothing. But you should know that there are those who will regard the sudden windfall of your wealth with suspicion," Velasco replied, slowly tenting his fingertips.
"If I could trade my life for his, I would."
"How noble," Velasco bluntly replied. "So what was it that killed Elijah in the end? I've read the reports, but I find it hard to believe. Killed at the hands of Valle Irons, who is in league with the Brotherhood of the Dagger?"
Coin nodded stiffly. "That's true," he replied in a low voice, his expression calm and level.
"How do you know it was the Brotherhood?"
Coin told the older man of their unfortunate business in Grafia. Their dealings with Valle that brought them to that town, where Coin 'accidentally' stumbled upon a secretive cabal, and the sinister weapons they were constructing.
And that, ultimately, they had been tricked into doing Valle's bidding without knowing what he had planned.
There was little point in lying, Coin supposed. If they were to check Elijah's ledgers, they'd see records of their dealing with Valle. And if Elijah's ledger went 'missing', it would be all the more damning.
"A cannon that can fit inside a man's hand, and fire little cannon balls that can pierce through plate armour," Velasco murmured. It was not a question, and there was no incredulity to his tone. He furrowed his brow. "I see."
"I know it sounds strange, but it's true."
"No. I believe you are telling the truth, as it happens. And that means our situation is more grave than I anticipated. I may have to do something a touch dangerous," Velasco mused. He leaned back in his chair. "You may go, Ser Thaeka. I have larger fish to fry."
Coin blinked in surprise. Just like that? He tried to read into the man's expression, but that wrinkled visage betrayed very little.
But the mention of the hand cannon had clearly spooked him. Did he know about something like that being invented?
The doors were suddenly shoved open. "M-Minister Fiodor! You can't just barge in there!" the gnome from before exclaimed, speaking in the tones of a man who saw the end of the world on the horizon.
Coin turned in his seat, eyes widening as he beheld Fiodor's unmistakable features. His robe was black with golden trim, an ivory cloak draped over his shoulders. "Velasco I am willing to endure much of your nonsense but even I have my limitations. Blocking my shipment from Thalborea? By what right-"
He froze, his eyes meeting Coin's.
"You-" they said in unison.
In an instant both men snapped into action. Coin struck first, a lightning bolt exploding from his right hand. In that same instant Fiodor had lifted his left hand, a barrier of azure light forming in front of him to absorb the blinding impact.
"You little shit," Fiodor hissed, energy blossoming in his free hand. Coin narrowed his eyes.
That same magic that had smashed him into unconsciousness before, a wave of pure pressure that could carve clean through the ground. Coin lifted his other hand, a black cloud blossoming on his palm: Thunder at his fingertips. He'd be ready this time.
Suddenly Coin and Fiodor were smashed violently into the ground with such force that the air was shunted from their lungs. Coin's eyes swivelled around, just in time to see Velasco striding from his desk with his hand outstretched. The guards at the door backed away.
Already, the situation had grown beyond their pay grade.
Coin's body felt heavy, as if his weight had more than tripled in an instant. He could have broken free from the magical force pinning him to the ground. But what then? Pick a fight with the Archchancellor? At least he was pinning Fiodor in place too.
"I have many connections on my side. Including the force of gravity itself," Velasco said in a leaden voice, colder than the grave. "Now then... would you mind telling me why you have decided to turn my office into a wizard's training ground?"
