Rynth: Four Beats

| 9th of Teryusin — Year 362 of the Cycle of Synthesis, Grand Cycle ??? |

With the entrance of the mysterious young man, their pace quickly shifted. Instead of spending hours more under the grueling sunshine on an early midmorning day, they moved to the front within a few minutes. No traveler was sent away. A speedy casting of the spell—of which Raoul and Avil identified as the second-tier Stray-Si spell Zone of Truth—along with a well worded question, was all it took for much of the crowd to clear out and proceed inside.

Distant whispers and murmurs picked up by Raoul bade him insight on the young man’s unknown position. He was a guard captain of the Truthseeker Guard, Vonas’ premier city watch and defense force.

They were next, and even before Idri had finished her sandwich. The man gestured them over, stopping the rest with a firm gauntlet as Raoul walked past the guard stationed at the gates.

At a closer glance, he was younger than they had given him credit for. Still taller than Raoul by only a fair few, and his bulk was noticeably much more prominent. His hair was a luscious crop of quarter-parted blonde that effortlessly framed his sharp chin. Fair skin was common in most parts of the world, but he radiated a sort of holiness one could only attribute to someone part of the clergy or pure energy. His armor, a layer of thick and thin silver ironed and stretched out in a haphazard non-pattern, rose and sank in weird angles that allowed his other adornments—namely a lavender flower on his left pauldron and a scarf of onyx black, to stand out amongst the reflective sheen.

“Welcome to the Immortal City of Vonas,” he greeted, voice abundantly deep. “We apologize for the wait you had to endure in the hot sun. Protocol called for it. If you don’t mind, I’ll need you to undergo testimony under a Zone of Truth spell. Won’t be long—just one question. With the growing presence of… unwanted individuals in the city, we’ve had to tighten security a lot more. Can I get your consent for this?”

Raoul raised a wary eyebrow at the question. How kind of him to ask. “Go ahead,” he replied. “What’s the question?”

“Much appreciated,” the man said, growing a smile as he raised his right hand and began muttering the incantation for the spell in Istharynth. Again, that same golden pillar arose around Raoul, completely encapsulating his body in its golden glow and transparency. “Romakia toh bak sa-als-ssa. Do you, as a visitor to the city of Vonas, seek to harm or negatively affect it and its citizens in any sort of way, directly or otherwise?”

Easy.

“No.”

The mood lightened a fair bit at his answer. The Zone of Truth softened in its warmth, wrapping around him in an undoubtedly welcoming feeling. The young man lowered his head in relief and flashed a thumbs-up to the two guards, who both nodded and cleared the way for Raoul to continue into the city. “Thank you for your answer. You may proceed into the city. If you’re traveling alongside the three behind you, then I’ll have to ask you to wait close by for their turns to finish.”

Raoul nodded and stepped off to the side, not entirely breaching into the city proper. He kept close to the man and watched as he motioned for Idri to walk forward. “No problem.”

Idri tip-tapped into the spot Raoul had occupied a few moments prior, her mouth still filled halfway with egg and cheese. She ran the back of her hand across her lips to wipe off the crumbs.

“Ooh, my turn. This feels like an interrogation.”

“Something like that,” the man smiled, proceeding through the same motions and chanting he had done for Raoul. “Do you, as a visitor to the city of Vonas, seek to harm or negatively affect it and its citizens in any sort of way, directly or otherwise?”

She shook her head a little too roughly. While still earnest and believable, it made her casual demeanor in the face of one of the most serious spells a little jarring. “Nope! I’m just here with my friends.”

“Thank you. Please join your friend, then.”

Avil stepped forward. Before he was able to face the young man, however, the latter tilted his head, staring uncomfortably long into both Avil and Cali’s faces. “Sorry, do I recognize you two?”

The both of them shared gazes of unsureness. Avil mimicked his gesture and shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe you saw us a few months ago. We’ve been here once on a business trip.”

“No, I don’t think so,” disagreed the man. “I’m rather new to the Watch. I just transferred one and a half months ago from Pesdavil on loan. Still, I’m pretty sure that I’ve seen your likeness before. And your maid’s, too.”

Raoul huh-ed. “They loan guard captains to the other side of the world?”

“It was a little program designed to help train Manlifaxan and Pesdavilan guards in the life across the world. The Truthseekers were chosen from the former, while the Soulstrife were from the latter. After the program, one would be chosen from both orders and given the opportunity to change ship permanently. I got chosen from the Soulstrife Guard’s side. I’m still on loan. I have a month left before I have to decide to return or stay, but I’ve been rising through the Truthseekers’ ranks quick enough that I was awarded honorary guard captain. ”

He continued, coughing to clear the room. He offered a hand to Avil and Cali to shake. “Sorry for trailing off. I’m probably mistaking it. Call me Solus. I’m the acting guard captain, given the current one is on sick leave. Food poisoning.”

“Not a good sign out of Vonas,” commented Avil, his tone half-joking. “Nice to meet you, Solus. I’m Avil. This is Calliope.” He pointed a finger to his friends ahead. “That’s Raoul and Idri.”

Solus took the reply in stride, chuckling. Even as they continued talking, he didn’t cease going through the usual Zone of Truth motions. When Avil and Cali had finished, he ushered them inside. “It’s a little embarrassing, I agree. Especially out of one of Manlifax’s best culinary spots. Either way, nice to meet you all. If this is your first time here, I’d be happy to point you to any sightseeing spots or accommodations you’ll need for the night.”

“Lodgings for the night. That’d be helpful,” replied Avil. “Cali and I’ve been here once already, but we spent a lot of time on King’s Mountain.”

“Understandable. It’s a little different compared to the Lower City, to say the least. If you’re looking for a few spots that aren’t downright rip-offs but still offer half of the quality the inns do up there, I can think of a few.” He pointed down the street, curving his hand left a few seconds later. “Follow this street. Take a left and cross the fountain. There’s a tavern called The Honeyed Tankard just past it. It gets rowdy during the morning and afternoon, but once the sun’s down it closes up and becomes as quiet as it gets. Great if you want to actually fall asleep.”

Raoul kept the name in mind. “Thank you. We’ll probably head that way once we’re in the city.”

“Don’t sweat it. Anything else you four need?”

Cali raised a hand to add. “A way to King’s Mountain, Sir Solus, if you know any more.”

Solus brought a hand to his head, scratching. “That’s going to be harder. Traffic to the plateau has gotten crazy on account of the crown prince Imrahil’s twenty-first birthday. In Old Vonasian tradition, that’s often regaled as the most important year in a young man’s life. A boy transitions to a proper man. His Majesty Feroastin has invited the entire city’s nobles, and even nobles from outside the city, onto King’s Mountain for a week-long banquet.”

“So it’ll be difficult?” asked Idri.

“Difficult, but not impossible. Usually nobles would take the Jak-Sokal Great Bridge to reach King’s Mountain and avoid all the foot traffic, but given the sheer number of people, even nobles will have to suck it up and endure the long walk up. If you want, I could possibly allow you four to take a wyvern or two up to the mountain.”

“What?!” Idri yelled, all too quickly raising her voice to the point it startled the people behind them. The simple mention of the beast seemed to ignite a fire in her eyes. “C-can we see it? I want to touch one. I’ve never felt a wyvern’s scales before!”

“It’s not here yet,” clarified Solus. “They’re all kept in the Truthseekers’ stables, all the way up in King’s Mountain. I can put a request in for headquarters to send two wyverns for transportation. They should arrive tomorrow if I call for it today via Sending.”

Raoul offered him a thankful crane of the head. “How generous of you. Thanks. But why’re you doing this for us?”

Solus paused, reaching into his pocket to produce a bound letter. “I need a letter delivered. My message is rather lengthy and rife with code words only the person I want it to reach will understand. Not something multiple castings of Sending would be able to translate clearly. Not to mention, that person has a habit of secluding themselves in their tower for weeks or months at a time. Since I’m stuck here in my post until the guard captain decides to visit the nearest temple of Elfis Revalir, I can’t make any trips to King’s Mountain. You four are headed there, so it’s a win-win for both of us. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to ride a wyvern, you know.”

Avil grinned, turning to the others. He took the letter and stashed it into his bag. “Sounds fair to me. I mean, there’s no reason to refuse, guys.”

“Lovely. You'll likely find the recipient inside the palace. She's probably been invited. Ask around for a 'Zimer'. Court mage. I will see to it that the wyverns are sent to you four tomorrow. If you’re planning on bunking at The Honeyed Tankard as you mentioned, then they’ll be waiting on the roof by dawn. You’ll be awakened by their screeches. It’s a headache. Like a chicken’s morning crow but thrice as loud and deeper than deep.”