Amin brought up his dirt-filled hand once again. “Does a farmer mind the dirt he scoops up as fertilizer for his plants?”
Vir was beyond shocked at her callousness. She was talking about killing Hiranyans, possibly entire masses of them.
And to her, they’re merely dirt.
“Hah! Look at me, getting all sappy on you. Don’t really have anyone I get to talk to like this, y’know? It’s… kinda nice.”
“I enjoyed myself as well,” Vir lied. He felt like he’d just spied the true Mina. The person who Riyan warned would decimate the kingdom if ever allowed to rule.
If she weren’t wearing that armor, I could’ve taken her out right now. Not only was Mina currently wearing armor under her rags, it was magically enhanced. By a powerful mejai, at that. Which meant they were being monitored from the shadows. Likely by a team of mejai and warriors.
To act now would be to commit suicide.
“It was nice chatting, Amin,” Vir said, making to leave. “I’ll let you know if anything comes up. For now, I just need to keep doing Brotherhood contracts to pay the bills. It’ll be a while before I decide on what to do with Riyan’s plan. Hoping to wiggle out of it, if possible.”
“Gotcha. Welp, just lemme know. Happy to help ya. Cya around!” Mina said, waving.
Awooo! Neel howled once they’d left the alley and returned to the Commons Plaza.
“Tell me about it,” Vir muttered, rubbing Neel’s back. “Feels like I just took a few years off my lifespan.”
They set out to the tavern. The day was still young, but Vir hardly had anything else to do. After mapping out the streets and alleys near the building, he found a nice flat, third-story rooftop near the Chala’s Knees tavern. The position gave him a perfect nest from which to monitor the establishment.
The hours passed uneventfully, and after retrieving his newly sharpened throwing disks from the Brotherhood armorer and grabbing a hearty lunch of stir-fried veggies with brown rice from a nearby food stall, Vir settled back onto his rooftop. The midday heat soon had him drifting off to sleep.
Vir allowed it—he’d need to be at full strength tonight in case the meeting went south.
As the sky turned yellow, and then red, Vir watched from above. He noted everyone who entered and left the tavern, especially strong mejai. The only downside from his vantage was the distance made granular detection difficult. Only strong mejai presences registered. Then again, only strong mejai posed any danger.
Vir shifted positions. He descended to the alley bordering the tavern. Having already scouted its interior earlier, he walked to the wall that butted against the table where the meeting would happen.
He remained there until a half hour after dusk, staring through the walls with Prana Vision.
Then, finally, ten minutes before the appointed time, someone took a seat. The walls contained a slight amount of Earth prana, but nothing that interfered with Vir’s senses.
Weak, Vir concluded. This guy’s weak!
The man possessed a very slight Affinity for Earth prana, but Vir doubted it was enough to use Talents. Perhaps Leap, but nothing more advanced. His blood was a cocktail of various affinities. Diluted and utterly useless.
But that didn’t mean he wasn’t a threat. The glowing orbs of prana at his waist did not escape Vir’s eyes. Four B Grade orbs of Wind, Water, Fire, and Lightning Affinities, along with another four C Grades.
Every one of them pre-charged and ready to go.
Whoever this man was, he was loaded. He carried a fortune on him.
A ’risto, then. That reduced the danger level. Sawai aristocrats had a reputation to honor. Pulling a stunt here would hurt the man more than Vir.
Besides, knowing everything the man had on him gave Vir an immense edge.
He exited the alley and strode into the tavern. The stone-and-wood construction was common for the area, with the tall, vaulted A-frame log construction creating a cozy environment.
The din of chatter filled every corner of the room. Private conversations would be nearly impossible to overhear.
Vir noted the exits—one at the front, and another that led into a hallway at the back. Dance of the Shadow Demon gave him an exit at any time, but revealing the ability was his last resort.
Taking his time, Vir approached the table that butted up against the stone wall, halfway back. There, a brown-hooded, clean-shaven man with black hair and black eyes sat.
He’s young, Vir thought. Younger than he’d expected. A Sawai nobleman’s son, then?
Vir closed the last few steps quickly and sat opposite the man. He didn’t give the hooded figure time to speak.
“Let’s set some things straight. I know your Balar Rank’s under 20. I know you’ve got four pre-charged B Grade orbs, and another four C Grades at your waist. If I see your hands move for any of them, I’m gone before you can blink your eyes. Understood?”
Vir had hoped to intimidate the pretty boy, but the young man’s response surprised him.
“Oho? I think I like you already. Why don’t we order some drinks?” he asked with a grin.
“Who are you?”
“Down to business, I see. You’re one of those types. I don’t mind that, myself. Very well then. I,” he said, pausing to look Vir in the eye, “am your best source of information.”
“You know what I want?”
“Oh yes. Now come, let us have a nice long chat about my little sister.”
86TREACHEROUS DEALINGS
He’s the prince! Vir thought, appraising the man. He certainly had the orbs to back that assertion up.
Vir thought back to Maiya’s ramblings about the princes and princesses, regretting that he hadn’t paid more attention back then. If he recalled, there were two princes and one princess in the Hiranyan royal family. Mina was the middle child, with an older and younger brother.
She’d mentioned that the older brother, Sanobar Hiranya, was noble and gallant. He couldn’t even recall the younger brother’s name.
Now that Vir looked closer at the black-haired, clean-shaven man, he looked to be only a couple of years older than Vir. Possibly twenty at most. Vir noticed he wore makeup, though not enough to drastically change his appearance. Just enough for anyone who knew him to pass him by.
Did Riyan have connections with the prince? But even if he did, how’d the prince know Vir was Riyan’s agent? It seemed like a remote possibility, though Vir couldn’t easily broach the topic without alerting the prince to his motives. Not yet, anyway.
“You’re Sanobar Hiranya?” Vir asked, his voice nearly a whisper.
“Call me San,” the young man said with a nod.
“Is this a trap?”
“Do you think I would risk coming out here alone if it was? Betraying the Brotherhood has its consequences, even for me.”
“I see,” Vir replied.
“So, what is it about Mina you wish to know?” San said openly.
“You’ll tell me anything?”
“Anything about her, yes. Don’t expect me to divulge state secrets. I am here because I believe this meeting will be in the best interest of my kingdom. Do not mistake me for a traitor.”
Why would he be here? Vir thought. Why’d he be willing to give up his sister’s details?
On the one hand, Sanobar would likely know more than anyone what his sister was like. But would he be honest? What if Sanobar was working with Mina?
Vir realized he could spend all day questioning and postulating, but he’d get nowhere. He’d ask his questions and analyze Sanobar’s responses later. It wasn’t like he had to believe whatever came out of the prince’s mouth.