"I do."
Everyone stayed silent.
Nilu cleared her throat. "Well, thank you for the notice, Quin, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't why Bane gathered us."
The room's focus shifted back to the gold-eyed boy, who again looked dazed. Bane took one last inhale of the rye in his hands before tucking it into his pants pockets.
Bane struggled to keep his eyes open as he squinted at Elsie, who was across from him.
"Tor said Caster, Quin, and Rune will be doing this year's race."
"You can't be serious?!" Carla blurted, her eyes about to pop out.
"Aren't they done by the older kids?" Oak asked.
Bane shrugged. "That's what's supposed to happen, but Tor seems to have other plans."
Everyone seemed to be taking in the newest information with unease.
"What's so nerve-racking about doing a race?"
"Because, Vilda, there is a chance you won't make it out in one piece," Nilu snapped.
Why me?
Carla voiced his inner thoughts.
"I understand Caster and Quin, but why Rune? All he does is hole himself indoors all day. Look how small the lad is."
Exactly! I don't have the muscle or the height.
The race was just as big an event as the light show. It was an East Nythian practice where participants raced on horseback while standing for half the event. This feat required excellent balance and muscle, yet Rune had never ridden a horse, let alone possessed the physique for such an activity.
He did not understand why the Reapers involved him, but he could not refuse. He suspected Silus's involvement, as Tor would likely not propose a race they were prone to lose.
"Yes, and I'm only the messenger," Bane said, his head tilting back.
Vilda asked another question. "Why do you have to do it if you guys don't want to?"
Nilu seemed ready to punch the rich girl right then, but Caster responded. "The Reapers control most of Driftwood. Even if you don't work with them, like Rune, for instance, you still have to do what they say. Your relationship with the Reapers determines how comfortable of a life you live here."
"The low-class answer to them, they offer them protection from the upside. The greedy bastards would have left every person of Driftwood on the streets while they decided to take their buildings." Nilu continued, glaring at Vilda.
Rune looked at Elsie, who was busy staring at her lap, twiddling her thumbs, worry all over her face.
Rune wanted to reassure her that nothing would happen to him, but he was not one to make empty promises he could not keep.
The race might cause him a permanent injury. It might render him unable to carry Elsie if he fell off the horse and injured his back. So much could go wrong, but he would do his best to protect himself before trying to win the race.
Rune frowned, turning to look at Bane. "So, when is the race?"
"Tomorrow."
"And why did you think not telling us earlier would have been better?"
"I only figured all of this out yesterday. I have been in the dark, just like you guys."
A dejected sigh left Quin. "We are screwed."
Nilu stood to leave. "Well, seeing as I'm not needed here, best of luck to the boys racing tomorrow."
"There's more."
Nilu halted, looking back at Bane. "Out with it then. Some of us have better places to be than here."
Bane looked at Carla, the moment's haze having lifted from his face, signaling her to speak.
Carla nodded in understanding. "Some rumors have been spreading at the docks. A diplomat from Brionia arrived in Alta and is said to have stayed at Beth's brothel a couple of nights ago."
Rune's heart skipped as the sudden feeling of needles prickling his back made him sit up straighter. It was a vital piece of information that could be related to the murders. Silus hadn't mentioned it, meaning the informant didn't know anything about the newest rumour to infiltrate Driftwood.
But it begged the question: How could there be rumors Silus hadn't heard of, given Carla came across it by the docks?
"And you're telling us this now?" he asked.
She shrugged her shoulders. "It's not my fault you decided to hole yourself up in that dank place you call home, buried in parchment all day, while everyone else is always up and about, running from one place to another."
"Bane came looking for me yesterday to call me here. I thought to share the news when we all gathered."
"Do you know where he stays?"
Oak whispered.
"At a brothel."
Bane whistled, his face breaking into a smile. "Would you look at that? Our fellow diplomat has done his research."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Elsie asked.
"Oh, it means everything."
"That wasn't my question, Bane."
"I know, Elsie. Add a couple of inches to those little legs of yours, and every word I speak will start to make sense."
Elsie turned to him for an explanation.
"Shut it, Bane—and Elsie, don't ask him questions." Rune stopped the bickering Bane was instigating, his thoughts a mess.
The ringing of the iron clock at the Square sounded, signaling 3 in the afternoon. Rune got up, securing Elsie on his back. "We'll be heading out."
Nilu followed suit, announcing her departure.
One by one, they all left, leaving the place empty.
*****
On the way back, Elsie stopped Rune by the stall of the lady who was about to accuse him of thievery the other day.
"Can we get some oranges?"
"Didn't you eat all three I bought?"
"Pretty please." Elsie pouted, kicking her legs against his in protest.
Taking out eight coppers, Rune placed them on the counter without looking into the lady's eyes. He then took four oranges without checking to see if she had accepted the payment and walked off.
He heard no protests from her as he walked off.
"Quiet now, are we?"
Turning into their home's street, Rune saw a tall, familiar-looking man standing at his door. As he approached, Rune recognized Silus. Silus had his dark hair slicked back and was dressed more elegantly than usual, anxiously glancing at the watch in his hands.
Hearing his footsteps, Silus turned in his direction.
"Ah, Rune, I've been looking for you."
"Did something happen?" Rune was going to ask if another murder had taken place, but remembering Elsie was still on his back, he chose a more neutral question.
"We're leaving."
"We are?"
"Tor is scheduled to have a meeting with a diplomat from Brionia. Something is not right. I think it would be better if you were there also." So it wasn't only he who thought the diplomat's visit was strange.
Although many people lived in Alta City, it was not as grand as Octav, the other East Nythian city, where Rune had heard most diplomats would consider attending.
As far as Rune knew, diplomats often chose to stay in West Nythos, as they were currently in power and reigning over Nythos.
Elsie decided to talk to Silus. "May I come?"
"It is your brother whom you should be asking, not me."
"No, Elsie, you're not going."
"But—"
"It may be dangerous."
Elsie quieted at that.
He felt her deflate on his back.
"In return, while I'm out, I'll drop you off at Maverick's."
Elsie's mood didn't change.
Rune knew something was amiss when he saw the wall between her and Nilu.
He wanted to talk to her but knew it would have to wait.
"We have little time to spare, Rune. If we are to leave, it is now."
Rune took off running, Elsie on his back, as he called out to Silus. "I'll be back."
Weaving between carriages and people, Rune navigated the busy streets as he headed to Maverick's. When he got within 10 feet of the old man's place, Rune slowed down, seeing him occupied with a person who held a grilled fish in his hand. The stranger said something to Maverick, causing the man to frown and shake his head.
Rune approached from the side, placing Elsie on the barrel where Maverick stood.
The stranger tipped his hat toward the old man. "Good day to you."
Maverick nodded; his frown remained etched on his face.
"Did something happen?" A smile flared to life as Maverick realized Rune and Elsie were there.
"It's good to see you, boy. It seems you brought Elsie with you today."
Rune knew the old man was avoiding his question, deciding to drop the subject, understanding Maverick would not discuss it.
Maverick handed Rune a grilled fish from his stand, looking at him expectantly. "It's not like you to stop by."
"Can Elsie stay with you? Something came up, and I have to go somewhere with Silus."
Disappointment crept onto the old man's face at the request.
"Why don't you bring her along?"
"Because she could get hurt."
"Is that more hurtful than being confined to only a couple of places each day?"
"I would take her if I could, but I don't want her to get hurt. This is Silus we're talking about. He is not one to guarantee safety when anyone's dealing with him."
Maverick seemed to accept Rune's line of thinking, nodding along.
"Alright, she can stay."
Rune smiled, giving Elsie the oranges. He took off, sprinting through streets, going through narrow alleyways and uneven paths he normally avoided when Elsie was with him.
Just as he saw Silus begin to walk away from his door, he called out to him.
"I'm here."
"Took you a while."
"I've calculated it in my head; it took me ten minutes, if not less, to make the trip there and back."
"Yes, it may be ten minutes, but we must now reach the docks in under 20 minutes to make it to the meeting on time."
Rune couldn't believe the informant.
"If you had told me the meeting was at the docks, I could have met you there. Maverick's stall is nearby."
Silas smirked. "Where would be the fun in that? Besides, I discovered you are quite quick on your feet."
Rune's eye's twitched.
You information loving bastard!