Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 954: A Blink And A Miss

The queen of the castle–so to speak–was ready to defend her city herself if it came down to it, but in a blink of an eye, the army that had roused such a ruckus was wailing and gone right before her eyes. Through a mounted telescope atop the stone walls of the city, she stared at the dwindled crowd far up ahead. Reduced to only a cluster of a few, in just a blink of an eye she’d missed everything.

”What happened?” She asked the leader of her troops.

The man looked on at the site the same, his expression unchanging, and yet a single twitch of the eye explained everything to the queen. Returning to the burnt fields before her, she expected further spectacle; a blinding flash of violet light burned those expectations right away. Shielding themselves from what felt like the very sun burning in front of them, the soldiers, the council members, and the handful of noble citizens breathed whispers of doubts or screamed and prayed.

Even as the blinding solar dissipated bit by bit, their worries continued to pour out until a striking voice cut through the middle.

”Hope don’t mind I sent the survivors off as slaves,” lifting her head to the voice, Joselia watched as Raven stood before her, lazily scratching the side of his neck. ”Maria will hand them off to Melenai–another one of my associates. From what I know, her people are masters of slave brands, so no trouble should be headed our way anytime soon–if ever.”

”You...did what? H-how?”

”Miss Joselia, right?” Placing a hand on her shoulder, Raven leaned closer. ”It is dealt with; now it’s up to your people to swoop in for damage control. Figure out the losses and treat them however you would, but for my group and me–we still need our time away from the chaos, and so I’m asking you again...”

Standing upright again with a smile on his face, Raven clasped his hands and looked around at the baffled crowd gathered up on the wall.

”What do you fine folks do for fun in the morning? Racing on horseback? Hunting? Swordplay? Come on, I only have five more days of my holiday left.”

While everyone remained stunned by the nonchalance with which the hero carried himself, Brien stepped forward–his heart bleeding with doubt, but he had decided to reserve those feelings for some other time.

”Certainly, as you’ve rid the enemy so swiftly, we have plenty of time to give you a proper tour.” With a light bow, he swallowed the angst welling up from deep within. ”But first, how about we head onto the consulate building? Arrangements have already been made to host you and every other guest. Your future wives–including my sister Ellia–would be most pleased to finally have you living under the same roof, even if it’s only a brief measure.”

”As long as there are no perverts, I’d say we go.” Still burning with hatred from last night, Amedith glanced sideways at the already fidgety Lord Haurum.

Briefly noting the magus’s glance, the troubled lord quickly looked away and decided to walk away from the confounding scene.

”Perverts?” Unlike him, Brien and Joselia both raised their eyebrows, though each had a different understanding of what Amedith could mean.

”D-do you mean the voic–” Cutting her off right before she could question whether he’d heard the voices from the room she’d shared with Raven, Brien posed a more conservative question.

”Must’ve been a straggler in the tavern last night; point me to them, Master Amedith, and I will have my spies fish him out wherever he or she might be in the city.”

A dismissive wave from the magus, however, put an end to that conversation instead. Lily’s grip on Amedith’s hand helped him stay calm and let the thought go, although the curse on Haurum remained–and perhaps it would remain forever.

”If you won’t mind then,” he said, nodding at the elf.

Brien’s features lightened and an easy smile spread across his lips. Guided by the high elf, the party set out for the taverns and the inns to collect everyone that they’d brought with them. Many a carriage came hurdling down to receive them, though they were promptly rejected as Raven wished to walk the city on foot–only the injured and the pregnant were carried by the carriages.

A city like Aurum deserved a walk of leisure and admiration. Paved with stone, lined with trees, punctuated by fountains and mason-crafted shops and buildings. The very city felt like an intricate statue carved by a giant’s fingers, delicate and striking with not an ounce of dirt or grime anywhere.

People walked free, enveloped in a sense of security. The consulate may be harsh at times, but it ensured a life of quiet luxury for those willing to lend a hand or just participate in Aurum society. Not even Athenia was a match–perhaps in its greenery and fertility it had Aurum beat, but everything else? Aurum was governed far superiorly.

”I’m glad we didn’t have to fight in this place; it would’ve been a shame if any of this got destroyed,” Raven said to Brien as the head of spies led them through the city.

”That...is a comfort to know.” An awkward laugh escaped the man’s lips.

Athenia and Aurum were two different cities with parallels, but in the end, they were different. While Aurum remained superior in quality of life, Athenia was far more secure, and its people and farms were blessed with the Everspring. Not all seasons were kind to Aurum, and with their god’s protection now gone, Brien and the others knew that they had to rely on the hero for more than just a military alliance.

’I should set these guys up in the consulate and check on Joselia soon. Ellia might need to talk to me as well; she’s gonna be his fiancée soon after all.’ Leaving the deals and delicate matters of the public to the other council members, Brien decided that it was time for him to have a conversation with his secret love about all that happened last night.