Chapter 168: Auction Day
Three days passed in a jiffy.
Magister Kaelith stood just inside the towering front arch of the Shadowed Gavel, fingers clasped too tightly behind his back. His eyes flicked toward the corridor again, scanning for familiar shapes. The crowd of elegantly dressed patrons flowed past him, but he paid them no mind.
A pair of familiar figures finally emerged from the outer hall.
Kaelith stepped forward at once, his pace brisk and sharp. "You’re late."
"We’re here," Riku said casually, not breaking stride.
Sherry offered a polite nod, though the slight arch of her eyebrow betrayed her curiosity at the Magister’s tension.
Kaelith didn’t respond to Riku’s tone. He simply turned and gestured for them to follow. "Come quickly. The final warm-up auction is underway, and yours will be next. We’ve held the timing as long as we could."
They passed through a back corridor with Kaelith moving briskly ahead, his usually measured steps edged with urgency. Only once they entered a rune-locked side chamber did he exhale and turn to face them.
"We’ve drawn every important bidder in Dreadspire. Nobles, guildmasters, half the central alchemy court. The rumors worked. They’re expecting something impossible. You must remain unseen—until after."
Riku simply nodded, calm as ever. "Good."
"We’re late. What if we missed something? It is all because of you..." Sherry whispered as they entered the corridor, elbowing Riku in the ribs with a narrow-eyed glare.