Arc 3: Chapter 20: Rose Malin
I’ve done many stupid things in my life. Attempting to break into the largest edifice of the Aureate Faith in the world in order to free one of the Inquisition’s prisoners might have gone a bit beyond the pale.
“Why am I doing this?” I muttered to myself, sinking back into the cover of an alley as a group of Forger knights rode past. The street before me widened into a large avenue, mostly lined in temples and governmental buildings. There were relatively few people here besides priests, officials, and other wealthier sorts.
The Bell Ward, they called this part of the city. The Clericon College held court here. Ever since King Markham Forger of Reynwell had been named Emperor of Urn, the priests had centered their power here in his city. It was almost a city unto itself, full of clerks, monks, temple knights and other holy sorts.
Which meant blending with the crowds would be a less viable tactic to move about unseen. At least in Vinhithe, I’d been able to use the crowded layout of the city and a public execution to help mask my presence.
Why was I doing this? The smart play would be to reconnect with Lias, coordinate, come up with another plan or pursue another lead. He might even be able to use his resources to find out if this changeling elder were still alive.
Maybe because Lias had lied to me. Or, perhaps not lied, but withheld important information. He hadn’t told me he’d been using the changeling community in the city for his spy network, letting me walk into a hostile situation blind. He hadn’t told me the Priorguard had raided the slums.
He hadn’t changed at all since we were young.
And perhaps I was doing this because I couldn’t get the image of that sobbing woman in the tunnel out of my head.
Is this for your mission, or because you feel bad? Keep your head clear, Hewer.
Either way, I wouldn’t drag Emma into this madness. I’d spent the better part of a decade operating alone, anyroad.
A bell tolled high above, drawing me from my thoughts. More followed, the sound drowning out even the grumbling storm high above. More bells across the city answered, and in the far distance I heard the sound of a great gate groaning open.