Dew Able escorted me through the Sanctifier Guildhall to his former office on the second floor. The High Sanctifier was reduced to little more than Reed's butler. That's how she worked. Everyone around her was bent or broken until they were something she could use. Even I wasn't immune. She had tricked me into hunting Arwen for a crime he didn't commit. Now, the trick would be on her. I had leverage.

A black-clad servant opened the door to the richly furnished room. Reed sat at the tall, black desk on the opposite end. Shay was lounging on one of the white sofas in the middle, his legs splayed open.

The Inquisitor looked up from the papers on her desk and smiled.

"Jacob, back so soon?"

I walked through the entrance, the leather-bound book tucked under my left arm.

"I want to make a deal."

"Finally."

She stood up from the desk and swaggered to the sofa opposite Shay.

"Everyone, please give us the room."

The servant beside me stepped through the door. Four more men walked out of shadowy corners and followed suit.

Shay looked bored, curling his long, black hair around his slender finger.

"What about Shay?"

He turned to look at me with a quirked eyebrow.

"What about me?"

I sighed.

I didn't have time for this. Every second I wasted was another second Isla was with Kateen.

I closed the door and sat beside Shay on the sofa opposite Reed.

"Lady Kateen kidnapped Isla. I need your help to get them back before Van Lagos finds his brother's body. Can you help us?"

Reed leaned back into the sofa, taking in my words.

"Yes, I could help, and you have plenty of gold to enlist our services. But…"

She smirked.

"I would want something more valuable than gold."

"I know."

I dropped the leather-bound book on the low table between us. It fell with a loud thud on the table's black, varnished surface.

Reed arched an eyebrow.

"What's this?"

"Announcements and Declarations: Volume 19."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

The amusement on Reed's face withered and died. Good.

"Now that's interesting," Shay said.

I grinned.

"It is interesting. It's proof that the Sanctifiers use forbidden First Magic to create enchanted objects."

I pointed at the book.

"And I have more where that came from," I lied.

Reed frowned.

"Where did you find it?"

"In your outpost in Southsun."

"Hmph. Sloppy. I'll have to find the Sanctifiers responsible for this mistake."

"In a month, I'll be back in the capital. I bet a lot of noble houses would be interested in this book and everything else your Guild creates behind closed doors. You help us, and we'll keep the Guild's secret."

I held my breath. Blackmailing the most powerful organization in the country was insane, but I was desperate, and I gambled that Reed wouldn't hurt me. I was too valuable.

Reed stared at me, taking in every detail of my face. Her fingertips brushed the tip of her chin, considering her options. And then she smiled.

"Who says they don't already know?"

I blinked.

"You're bluffing."

Reed tilted her head to the side and gave me a knowing look.

"B-But Isla said-"

"Isla? So, she's a noble. I guess shouldn't be surprised. Jacob, the Sanctifiers have a long history with the noble houses. Many of them are high-ranking members of the Guild. You've met the Able brothers, for example."

"But-"

"The noble houses already know. At least the people in the houses who matter."

"T-Then I'll go to the people."

She laughed.

"Yes, the illiterate masses. That could work. Of course, you'll have to teach them to read before you can impress them with your evidence."

Reed leaned forward, examining the cracks in my mask of confidence.

"We have all the power in the world, and the 'people' just let us have it. To be honest, it's funny. So many are content with table scraps as long as someone else goes hungry."

My mouth went dry. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

"The book has to be worth something."

Reed nodded.

"It's valuable."

"Then let's make a deal. I'll give you the book in return for Isla."

Reed ran a finger along the cover, picking up the book and weighing it in her hand.

"Returning Sanctifier property deserves a reward."

"OK."

"But stealing Sanctifier property is also a crime."

My stomach sank.

"Your reward is I won't punish you for taking this book from the outpost. If you have any other contraband, you should hand it over before you leave town."

She smiled, laying the thick tome beside her on the sofa.

"Anything else you can offer me?"

My eyes darted around the room—a dozen plans formed and dissolved in my mind until I realized something. I had one last trick up my sleeve.

"How about this?"

I reached into the folds of my belt sash, and my fear was replaced with focus. The golden sceptre I won in battle was warm in my hand.

Reed straightened in her seat. She squirmed, unbalanced for the first time in our conversation.

"Shay?"

"Yes, I can appraise it. Hand it here, child."

I turned to Shay, seeing every warp and weft in his textile skin. With a reluctant sigh, I dropped it in his right hand, and the world became dull.

Shay closed his eyes and raised the length of gold next to his right ear.

"What's he doing?" I asked.

"Shh," Reed said, a finger to her lips.

A moment later, Shay let out a satisfied hum.

"Fascinating! There are two enchantments. The first is a will well as expected. The second maximizes focus with the side effect of sharpening the senses."

Shay placed the sceptre in the middle of the low table.

"Where did you find this bauble?"

"It was a piece of Nostrand Del's staff."

"Ah, that makes sense. For a revenant, will is life. An artifact that lets us use every scrap of will would be useful. Unfortunately, the will well cannot be used. It contains Nostrand's will, and no one else can access it."

My eyes moved from the sceptre to Reed.

"Well?"

Reed's mask slipped. Her brows knit together as she considered the offer. Enchanted objects were rare and extremely valuable. Given her reaction, they were rare, even within a Guild that could create them. After a long moment, she composed herself and tore her eyes away from the table.

"No deal."

I grit my teeth, a wave of anger rising up my back.

"Then just tell me what you want!"

Reed's eyes settled on me. Her face was eerily calm.

"I want you to kill Lady Kateen."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.