Chapter 56: Black Gem
The moment the door finished closing, the High Elder began to pace the room, walking around Charon in a lazy circle.
"I wish to speak to you regarding a... complication we had in Islys. It was brought to my attention that an item has disappeared from beneath the former palace. This item is of great importance to us for a multitude of reasons."
Twisting his head to keep the man in view, Charon noted the predatory look in the High Elder’s eyes.
’I was right, they were after the Colossus. Now that it’s gone, he suspects the only two people in the area are the ones at fault. The other Elders aren’t here, so I have a chance to lie my way out of it.’
Knitting his eyebrows in mock confusion, he rubbed his chin and spoke.
"I don’t know anything about an item. When Emerius and I blew up the palace, we ran into the basement to hide, which turned out to be a bunker. When we went inside, it was empty, so we left. Was there supposed to be something there?"
The Elder gave him an appraising look, his gait slowing before he stopped in front of the fireplace, the flames casting sharp shadows around the study.
"I had thought as much. The item in question is quite large; it would have been impossible for you to move it without significant help."
Nodding as if to convince himself, the man spun and reached directly into the fire, causing Charon to gasp and step back.
’He is going to burn himself alive!’
Instead of his sleeves burning, the flames moved to dance inches away, avoiding the limb as if it were the plague. Fiddling with something set into the stone wall behind the blaze, the High Elder grunted and pulled a box free, dust and pebbles coming with it.
He brought it up to his mouth and blew, sending the gray powder flying into the air.