“Won’t that make them feel special,” said Feiyan.
“Thank you for helping us,” said Lianshi, hesitant. “And apologies for any trouble we might have caused you.”
“Wish I could monetize that,” began Feiyan, but Helena elbowed her.
“That’s very sweet of you. But we decided from the get-go to welcome anybody and everybody to the Flame. It’s a matter of principle.” Her smile became pained. “We spent too many years being ignored and forced to live in the ruins to just turn around and do that to anyone else now. And look! We might play a part in helping bring the White Queen back to Bastion. Marvelous!”
“You’re going to the Rascor Plains,” said Feiyan. “But only if I connect you. And on the plains, you won’t have any need for octs.”
“I like your style.” Leonis set his coin pouch on the bar. “And you’re right. It’s only fair we pay you for this service.”
Feiyan didn’t even count the coins. She called Memek over, who collected the pouch, then rested her hand on her hammer. “Very well. I’ll go see if they’re still in town and arrange a meeting. Stay here and don’t cause any trouble.”
“Thank you,” said Scorio.
“This is just like the first time we met.” Feiyan’s stare was flinty. “No need to thank me. We’re just doing business.”
“She really is a sweetheart,” said Helena as her companion turned to stride away. “She’s just really, really, really good at hiding it.”
“No kidding,” said Leonis.
“So!” Helena forced a broad smile. “Sounds like you’ve had a fascinating afternoon. Will you tell me what happened if I ply you with drinks?”
Scorio sat back down. “Not sure you’d believe me.”
“Oh, the more outrageous the better.” Helena walked behind the bar. “Let me guess. You won the Gauntlet run?”
Everybody stared at her and she froze, eyes widening in delight. “You did? Get out of here! That’s amazing! All right, now you really have to tell me everything. This could be my lucky break!”
“I wouldn’t mind hearing it myself,” said Leonis. “You’ve been pretty tight about the details.”
“Haven’t had much of a chance to get into it,” said Scorio.
“Now you do.” Helena leaned forward to prop her chin on the base of her palm. “Spill.”
“Yes,” said Jova with wry amusement. “I still don’t quite believe it myself.”
“Same,” said Juniper. “I’ve been dying to ask.”
Scorio looked around at all the curious faces and felt his face burn. “Well.” He coughed and cleared his throat. “It, ah, I guess it all started with my good friend Nox, and his Delightful Secret Marinating Technique…”
Chapter 8
The sun-wire had dimmed and darkened, dumping dusk’s furious rainstorm upon Bastion. For a while the companions sat at the Flame’s bar, listening to the falling rain, their conversation growing subdued. Exhaustion crept in. The nap at Nissa’s had been enough to keep them going, but no substitute for a good night’s rest. One by one they slipped off their stools to find nooks and booths in which to rest. Jova and her two roommates retreated to one corner to speak quietly amongst themselves, while Leonis and Lianshi sat against the wall together to doze. Helena excused herself and retreated to a backroom, so that only Naomi and Scorio remained, glasses in hand, considering each other as the night deepened.
They sat in companionable silence for a spell, toying with their drinks. Scorio felt no urge to speak; just sitting with Naomi felt right. But the moment ended with a hammering on the front door, the same pattern as before, and Memek roused himself from his slumber to rush forth and let Feiyan in.
She wasn’t alone.
A petite, tawny-skinned woman was with her, face round and radiant, cheekbones broad, her lips quirked into an expectant smile, her long caramel hair falling to her waist. Her eyes were large, framed by extravagantly dark lashes, and she gazed at the rousing Great Souls with amused interest.
“Wake up, everyone,” said Feiyan unnecessarily. “Manticore’s in the house.”
Scorio slipped off his stool, heart hammering. “Hey. I mean, hi there. You’re from… Manticore?”
The small woman beamed warmly at him. “That’s right. Dread Blaze Evelyn. You’re Scorio?”
Dread Blaze? Scorio’s eyes widened. The others also registered this fact with alarm, most of them glancing his way before forming a semi-circle before Evelyn.
“That’s right. Tomb Spark Scorio at your service.” How odd to own that title. “I… thanks for coming so quickly.”
Evelyn waved away his words. “It’s fine. I’m on a tight schedule. I leave for the Plains tomorrow, so if we were going to meet, it had to be now.” She took a moment to study them all. “Quite a group.”
One by one the others introduced themselves. Evelyn smiled at each in turn, her hands linked behind her back, her manner attentive, curious, warm.
Not what he’d expected. Not at all.
“Feiyan tells me you’re interested in traveling across the Rascor Plains and possibly joining Manticore if things work out. That right?”
“That’s right. We need to get to the Fiery Shoals as quickly as possible.”
“That’s quite the journey. I’m assuming we’d be taking it on foot. But that in turn would give us a chance to assess each other, see if we’re a good fit.”
Scorio flushed. “Would you require payment up front? I’m not sure we can afford you. What would you charge?”
Evelyn looked him up and down, her gaze turning calculating, then glanced at his companions. “Something tells me you might be right on that front. But let’s put payment aside for now. Wasn’t the graduation ceremony this morning?” Her expression turned innocent. “Did you all flunk out of the Academy or something?”
Scorio exchanged a look with Jova. “Not quite.”
“He won,” said Leonis with a wry grin. “The whole thing. Came in first, and Jova came in second. They both turned down the Houses, though, and another year at the Academy.” He raised his eyebrows as Lianshi made a face at him. “What? Might as well cut to the chase.”
Evelyn blinked. “That so?”
Scorio straightened. “Yeah. Praximar wasn’t too pleased.”
“I’ll say.” The Dread Blaze grinned. “Praxy must have been pissed. Wow. All right, this has gotten a lot more interesting. But why did you turn him down?”
“Why?” Scorio glanced again at Jova.
Who spoke with calm assurance. “Everything we’ve been told doesn’t add up. We’ve a mind to learn the truth about Hell from a more independent point of view.”
“Interesting.” Evelyn nodded in appreciation. “So we have an elite crop of Academy students who’ve chosen independence over servitude. My, but that does ring a bell. Manticore prides itself on working outside the established framework of the four main Houses. We’re a collective of rising powers intent on doing whatever it takes to help cleanse the Pit, and as far as we can tell, the best means to do so does not involve following the orders of the Autocrators.”
Scorio blinked. “Feiyan told us you were an independent outfit. Originally that’s why we wanted to reach out to you, to learn more about how you operate…?”
Evelyn shucked her heavy blue outer robe and draped it over a stool. “Well, before we explore possibilities, I’d like to learn more about you.”
“We’re happy to answer any questions,” said Lianshi brightly. “We were all near the top of our class.”
“Oh, questions can come later.” Evelyn pulled the sleeves of her powder blue underrobe up to her elbows and smiled radiantly. “First, I want to see what you can do. All of you. Come at me.”
Scorio blanched. “All of us?”