Chapter 241 - Nice views
Scarlett sat on a bench at the edge of a thin, lush wharf, cradled by the natural beauty of the Rising Isle. Before her, one of the Isle’s countless waterfalls cascaded gracefully into the network of waterways that weaved through this place, painting a picturesque view.
Behind her loomed a tall structure reminiscent of a lighthouse, though it likely had a more arcane purpose, considering where they were. Its long shadow provided Scarlett with a peaceful retreat from everything else. Except for Fynn, who hadn’t left her side much since arriving on the Isle and was currently meditating by a moss-covered boulder nearby, she was completely alone.
That morning, her meeting with Grand Wizard Hartford had unfolded mostly as Magister Penney had predicted, with Gaspar presenting the ‘compromise’ Scarlett had been informed of the evening before. Perhaps to the man’s surprise—Scarlett wasn’t sure if he was aware of her contact with the Magister—she promptly laid out her own conditions. ‘Demands’ might be too harsh to call them, but they were extensive, encompassing a detailed list of various rare materials, services, and concessions that she honestly doubted the council would accept without significant pushback.
To Gaspar’s credit, he managed to maintain his composure, even as the tension between them grew palpable while he read through her terms. It seemed like he could act professionally when the situation called for it.
Following that meeting, and lacking any immediate commitments until the council gave her a proper response, Scarlett and the others had headed over to the Arcanum Spire to further delve into their research on the Zuver and the Anomalous One. Despite their efforts, as on the first day, progress was minimal, and after several hours of making little headway, they decided to break for lunch.
While Rosa and the rest eagerly sought out one of the eateries popular with the local wizards, Scarlett preferred less crowded spots and opted to dine alone, which was what brought her here. Hugbert had recommended it to her the evening before.
Not that her choice of food really lived up to the view. To make things simple, she’d decided to try one of the locally produced staples called ‘Everlasting Biscuits’, which were apparently designed to sustain wizards through prolonged stretches of research. For something that was supposed to last you for most of the day and sounded like it would taste like cardboard, the biscuit was surprisingly palatable. It just couldn’t compare to the culinary delights Scarlett had grown accustomed to back in Freybrook. Unless she needed to, she probably wouldn’t be trying one of those again.
Apart from her lacklustre meal and the council-related affairs with Gaspar, she’d also spent some time in the early morning catching up with information from the empire. Direct communication with Beldon was impossible on the Isle, but the man still managed to send her letters—which were a pain to decipher—that gave her a general run-down of things.
His latest missives detailed the ongoing search for the Countess’ whereabouts and some unsettling discoveries that had recently been made involving a certain count in Ambercrest. She also learned that the preliminary investigation into Anguish’s Citadel had finally concluded, and it had been officially declared a failed manifestation attempt by one of the six Viles. Scarlett didn’t know what the overall reaction to this news would be, but from what Beldon reported, it was being spun as a crisis averted through the valiant efforts of the Dawnbringers and Duke Valentino’s forces, so there probably wouldn’t be any widespread panic.
She was thankful that the incident hadn’t drawn too much public attention to her as well. She assumed that some of the more important figures in the empire were aware of her involvement, but hopefully, she would remain a minor footnote even in their minds. It was better for her if Raimond and the Dawnbringers received the bulk of the credit.
Other than Beldon’s updates, Scarlett received a letter from Evelyne, discussing matters relating to the fief and the other preparations that were underway under the younger woman’s charge. Evelyne had apparently left Freybrook the previous day for Autumnwell to confer with the Withersworths and other influential figures in the city. Scarlett assumed this meant Evelyne would have some good news to report on her return. Lady Withersworth had always seemed positive about working with them, and the old noblewoman would probably be able to help Evelyne in ways she couldn’t.
Scarlett’s thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of another person, who suddenly sat down on the bench beside her. Turning, she recognized the dark purple hair ending just above the shoulders, the gold-rimmed glasses with thin chains dangling at the ends, and the familiar emerald robes with gold accents.