Their journey continued under a new sky. Less rain, and despite all the tribulations and slow pace, the group only needed a few more days till Fluentem, the end of their journey.
Mendax's plan for the trip was different, of course. At the first bit of light, he wrote a letter to Calces Zizan.
It stated that Aureum was alive, first and foremost. Then he mentioned the wolves, using the fact that he had to travel with her as an excuse for the delay in letters. It also told Calces that Aureum didn't know Mendax's role as her father's mercenary.
For all appearances from the letter, the decision to drag Aureum back home was up to Calces. But he doubted Calces would allow his daughter to roam about after such a close brush with death. Mendax wanted to use the man as an excuse.
"Use your better judgment."
Those had been the words Flos had written. In this, Mendax had room to maneuver. That was not the language that was used to order death.
But both Flos and Mendax knew that what Flos wanted was for this gold to become lost forever. Murder seemed the easiest solution.
For Flos at least. His hands were clean in all this.
For Mendax, it was only the quickest. He could waste a little more time following Aureum. He currently had no deadline.
As he waited for the ink to dry, a shadow fell over him. Mendax calmly picked the letter up and blew on it, eying Aureum above it.
She usually avoided him, not that he could blame her for that.
"You're up," she said, as way of greeting.
It was early dawn. Mendax regularly got up at this time. It was more of a surprise to see Aureum up.
"As you can see."
After blowing on it more, Mendax folded the letter loosely in his hands before pressing the folds on the rock he used as a makeshift desk. It wasn't large. Just a relatively square surface that was solid.
"I haven't written to anyone in awhile," Aureum continued. "Got a sweetheart at home?"
"Are you joking?"
At times like these, Aureum acted like some unpleasant aunt, despite her young age.
"Come on, it's not like love is just for pretty faces?"
"No, it wasn't that kind of letter. Do you need something?"
"Can I have some paper? If you have any extra?"
"Extra. Well, even I don't have any more paper. I expected to be in Fluentem by now."
"Ah. Forget it then."
Aureum still stood, taking in the fresh morning sight and smell.
"Something else you need?"
"You don't want to talk about it?"
She was referring to the juiciest of gossip their small group had, which was Lacuna's and Sitis' relationship. Specifically the kiss last night. He could hear it in her voice.
"No."
"Drat. I was looking forward to chatting about it."
"Talk about it with Lacuna."
Aureum looked at him askance.
"Eh? Why should I bother her with this? I'm certain she's got a storm of emotions. I can't bring this bomb up lightly."
"So you want to talk about it with little old me? Should I be flattered?"
Mendax looked up at Aureum, as he felt his brow furrow.
"Of course, I want to talk about it. I'm bored. It won't hurt her. You already know about it."
Mendax slid his letter into a pocket.
"Nah. I think I'm gonna avoid stirring this pot."
He stood up as he spoke.
"More than you already did?"
"If you thought I did real damage shouldn't you be telling me to stop? You're giving me mixed messages here."
Mendax strode away as Aureum looked on. She tapped her fingers on her crossed arms.
You're the one with mixed messages.
He hadn't stuck with her like the first day, but neither had it felt as awkward as the breakfast from yesterday, where he practically fled.
Aureum returned to the tent, where Lacuna was reading. She looked up as Aureum came in.
"How'd it go?"
"Ehhh."
"You can't tell me to check on you in fifteen minutes and not explain it now."
"But I could?"
"You couldn't. Explain."
"I don't know how to. I feel as if I'm being paranoid."
And I know my past experiences are just fueling it.
Lacuna looked at Aureum. She closed her book and faced her body towards the other woman, giving Aureum her full attention.
"Have you noticed anything odd about Mendax?" Aureum began.
Lacuna gave a slow blink. She smiled a little.
"Aureum.
Isn't everything about Mendax suspicious? Even his name is."
Aureum flushed.
"But he helped us."
Lacuna nodded.
"Yes. But. His timing was almost too good."
"It is odd, he must have been traveling pretty late to help us at the time."
Lacuna nodded again.
"But if he is nefarious, why would he save us at all?" Aureum said. "Wouldn't it be easier to pass us by? He was risking his life."
"He saved our lives, so we should give him the benefit of the doubt," Lacuna said. "For sure. But did something happen between you two?"
"I've just been, feeling a little paranoid around him," Aureum said, rubbing her wrist.
"Paranoid how?"
"Ah, it's probably a combination of nerves from the wolves."
"You don't have to disregard your feelings for people. If you feel uncomfortable with him, just stay by me or Sitis. Although I'm actually not sure you'll feel safer with Sitis."
"I'm fine with Sitis. We're not the best of friends but we don't have to be."
Lacuna's eyes closed as her lips thinned. Was this her thinking? Aureum didn't know. But Lacuna opened her eyes quickly enough.
"You know, you could talk with Sitis about him?"
"Why?"
"He's a hunter. They're perceptive. And a lot of people in Bonumbas are exiles of other city-states. He's not as dumb as you think."
"I guess. I think you're a little biased toward him?"
"You're wrong. I'm very biased towards him."
Aureum chuckled politely.
"Lacuna, you can talk to me too, you know? If you want to."
"Of course," Lacuna said.
She didn't say anything after that, even though Aureum waited.
I guess I deserve that.
Lectures don't inspire people to confess secrets, after all. Aureum got up.
"Well, I should grab some food early if I'm up early, so."
"Aureum."
Aureum turned back around. Lacuna's face, which usually radiated serenity, was taunt.
"Let's be careful with Mendax."
Aureum gave a strong nod.
The man took down a whole beast alone, and Sitis was injured. If the worst proved true, a direct confrontation was not in their favor.
As she left the tent she felt a little humbled. Lacuna had more common sense than she'd expected.
Or rather, her common sense covers areas where mine is lacking.
But if it isn't common, can it be called common sense?
Who had the real common sense remained in doubt.
The group packed up and continued. The fine weather made travel easy. Lacuna's suggestion was being weighed on the back of Aureum's mind throughout it.
On one hand, she'd have to talk to Sitis about her vague suspicions about Mendax.
She didn't want to. As much as she ragged on him for how he didn't treat Lacuna perfectly in her mind, she didn't hate him. But that didn't mean she wanted to talk to him about this.
What could he even do, as torn up as he was?
On the other, as long as she didn't do it in front of Mendax there wasn't much to lose. Last night had been too strange. It gave her such an awful feeling the more she remembered it that it wasn't difficult for her to make up her mind.
What was difficult was trying to get Sitis alone. With two other people and the day being spent moving or resting as a group, it wasn't the easiest thing. Asking Mendax to leave would be suspect on her part, so she could not do that.
All she had to do was wait for Mendax to leave, but he quietly trudged along with the rest of them for hours.
He was only human. When he had to step away, Aureum spoke to Lacuna.
"Could you keep watch for Mendax?"
It didn't take Lacuna long to see what Aureum was trying to do.
"Of course."
Aureum acting so odd should have brought up some reaction from Sitis, but he sat there, stoic and patient as always.
Well, he'll trust whatever Lacuna helps out with I suppose.
"I don't want to make things more awkward than they already are—but I just wanted to ask if you noticed anything about Mendax?"
Sitis raised a thick eyebrow.
"Besides his accent disappearing, his name, or his background being so vague?"
"Uh, well yes. Wait, it's not that odd for his accent to do that. A lot of people have an accent that thickens or thins."
Sitis shrugged.
"His," Sitis paused as he decided how to put it, "isn't consistent enough. And everything else is also suspicious."
"Then what should we do? Ambush him?"
Sitis shook his head.
"That's too drastic. And dangerous."
"Don't be so optimistic," Aureum said sarcastically.
"Did you see how he fought?" Sitis asked.
"Not clearly. It was over pretty quick and I was trying not to die. He used the two swords he carries."
"Can you tell his element?"
"Maybe ice? His mana's in his body though, so it might just be an element that feels similar. It's hard to tell for sure. Why?"
"We'd need to know at least those two things if we wanted to ambush him. And then it'd still be a dumb idea."
"What? How're we gonna find that out without going through his belongings?"
Mendax shook his head.
"We don't have to ambush him, but we should be ready if he ambushes us," Aureum said.
"First, we'd need to see his view."
"Like his goal?"
"I don't know his goal, but I'd bet on his target."
Mendax lifted a finger pointing at Aureum. She winced.
It would explain… a lot. But.
"I need to know why. Whether he's just watching me, or there's something else."
She really didn't want to think about the something else. Memories of last night made her shiver.
"How am I supposed to know? You've gotten a much better chance to observe him."
"But he doesn't make any sense."
"Then work backwards. Guess his goal and match it against what you know. Toss out the ones that don't fit. Why do you think he's got such a keen interest?"
"I don't know. I thought he might be interested in me. But I wasn't thinking of anything sketchy at the time."
"And? Is it the same now?"
"I don't know! He's already had a few chances and hasn't done anything. Not that that's the solidest evidence."
"Then take another step back. Is there anyone who would have a motive to send someone after you?"
It felt like a lightning bolt struck Aureum. She opened her mouth but only mouthed the word.
Nix.
Then clamped it shut. That was impossible. The great Lord Nix wouldn't have deigned to send someone after her. Wouldn't this reflect badly on the family? On him?
Did I misjudge the public connection between our families? No. No, I don't think so. What am I missing here?
And was she jumping to conclusions? If Lord Nix had sent someone after her, wouldn't she be dead?
She wasn't. Didn't that mean something?
But who else might? Her father had money, but she didn't know of him having any connections to hire someone like Mendax. Not that that meant he didn't, but he sold herbs. Not swords.
Other than Calces Zizan or Nix though, the only option she could think of was that some strange man was targeting her for no real reason. All of which seemed unlikely, and she didn't know which was worse.
But the person her father hired would be a mercenary. Somebody motivated by money.
That didn't fit her idea of Mendax, but what did she know about him?
Sitis watched her expressions, his stoicism like an invisible castle he resided in.
"That… I don't know. It still doesn't make sense."
"This may be serious, Aureum."
"What do you think he is?"
Sitis' eyes focused past Aureum as he thought.
"He reminds me of the deserters we'd see at Bonumbas. But most deserters would have avoided travelers.
From what I've seen, I doubt his motives are personal."
"Why?"
"He seems like a hothead in personal issues, and if he has anything menacing planned, he's been too patient.
Or he's a better actor than I give him credit for."
That lines up.
"Can't we do anything? I don't want to wait for him to act first."
"What I should do is look for Lacuna. It's what I would do if we weren't talking."
Sitis stood up, towering Aureum easily.
What was I expecting? All I have are vague suspicions.
"We should make certain none of us move alone."
That's just what Lacuna suggested.
Sitis continued through Aureum's silent judgment.
"It might be good to know how he fights. But. It'd be better not to test it."
"I might be able to get him to show me some things if I ask him, but then again, maybe not."
"Don't push it."
Aureum snorted. Now both of them had given her the same warning.
What did I do to make them think of me as impulsive? I haven't done anything that crazy recently.