NOVEL WEB Chapter 28: Aya
The dark streets of the valley were well empty. The destruction and violence in the forest had scared everyone home, and only soldiers roamed the streets, disorganised and lost.
Some soldiers tried to stop them, first to ask why they were moving around, but after seeing Lucen, sought instructions on what to do.
He was about to ignore them, unnerved by their lost gazes, but he decided to give an order that spread throughout the city in moments.
"Saint Mira's Day is cancelled. All guards are summoned to fulfil their duties. No civilian must leave his or her house."
At the fountain in the middle of Lost Street, where Jon's imposter had originally addressed the crowd, Lucen gave his orders to all the surviving lieutenants and some other soldiers.
"I want soldiers on every main street till dawn. Rotate shifts. When dawn comes, I will return to the castle and, if possible, come back with enough Knights to end this."
That, or he took his mother and ran away.
Liam explained where he had been all day in a sour tone.
"I got caught by one of Aya's guards. He tracked me down and placed a knife to my back. I really thought it was over, but she said she'd simply keep me hostage till they found you and agreed on some terms."
"Why would I agree to anything because they threatened to kill you?" mumbled Lucen.
"That's what I said!" Liam exclaimed, "But meeting the tracker, I had this idea. I had gone to the Fishing guild and spoke to the receptionist—by the way, she'd like to meet you again—and I got one of the Lyst leaves that she picked from Peter Cross' hair; it has a piece of hair that, I think, is his."
Lucen's jaw dropped slightly.
"The tracker can use the hair to locate him? Why didn't I talk to the receptionist more?"
"Because you're a weirdo who can barely manage a conversa—" he yelped as Lucen punched him. "Anyway… here we are."
The house was old and dilapidated, its white paint peeling and windows boarded up. They walked through the front door freely, and the floorboards creaked under their feet.
But Lucen could sense the three people upstairs, weapons at the ready. Lucen glanced upward, grimacing.
"Are you sure they're expecting us?"
Liam glanced up, but quickly realised it was mana sense.
"Aya also has pretty good mana sense."
Lucen stopped, eyes narrowing.
"You've been awfully cheery about someone who kept you captive. Why did they release you?"
Liam flinched and scratched the back of his head.
"Don't get too angry, but I told her about the prophecy."
"Idiot."
"Hey! She was willing to abandon this place this morning. I changed her mind and made her willing to bet on you."
Lucen sighed, marching past him and up the stairs. The floorboard creaked loudly as Liam ran after.
The floor was dusty, the only light in the wooden house was the silver glow of the night peeking through the boarded windows.
Liam tried to say something as they reached the door Aya was waiting in, but Lucen simply pushed it forward and marched in.
It was an empty, open room with an open patio that let the light of the starry sky wander in. The two guards glanced at Lucen as he crossed the door.
Aya sat at an old table with only two chairs. On the it was the wide board used to play Highcraft. Her shiny black hair and pale grey eyes glowed under the sombre light.
"Thank you for coming, Lord Lucen."
Lucen glanced around the dishevelled room.
"Not quite a place that suits one of your stature."
"It is a disgrace that I must host you in such a place," said Aya, "but desperate times call for desperate measures."
"Your mana sense must be extraordinary for you not to even bother placing any guards at the front door."
"Not as great as yours, unfortunately, I simply trusted that Liam would return with you."
"You believe I came alone? That my family is not already surrounding this place?"
"Yes."
Lucen's face grew severe immediately, the two guards gripped their swords, and even Laim flinched.
"I played enough fucking games this month," said Lucen, his voice low and dangerous, "You'll tell me why you're here and how you're involved in this, or I will show you what desperate measures look like."
Aya's gaze was subtle and lovely, a slight smile crept over her lips. Her voice changed. Lucen couldn't be sure if it was the pronunciation or cadence, but it drew him in.
"Do you know how Castaway Valley was built?"
"Are you mad?"
"It was built by enslaved giants."
Lucen stopped, something flashing through his eyes.
Aya, now that she had his attention, continued.
"They built this city in days, a place where those silently against the strict laws of the empire resided. All of that has been long forgotten. Castaway has become just another city, but the giants were never released. Giants have served the empire since its dawn, but I've never seen them so scorned and maltreated as in Castaway. Do you agree, Liam?"
Liam looked bewildered.
"I mean, some people are a little hard on them, but they like animals. Why are we even wasting time talking about this?"
Lucen felt something turn inside him, hearing Liam speak.
Aya nodded slightly, returning her gaze to Lucen.
"The crux of the matter has never been whether it's right to do something; it has been about what we can gain from it," Aya concluded.
"So I offer you something, Lord Lucen, play a game with me and let me decide whether I should trust you with information that could lead to my execution. Of course, you may beat me within an inch of my life, but I will never yield this information to you—because I gain nothing from it."
"And if I win," said Lucen slowly, "what do you gain?"
Aya's face melted into a pure smile.
"Hope. That we are not yet forsaken by god, and that you can save us."
Lucen cradled his head. Tired, he was so tired of today. His mother would be worrying about him right now.
He truly gained nothing from forcing the information from her, if worse came to worse, he would just run away. "What a horrible day. If you bore me, I'll leave."
"Rest assured, you will be engaged," said Aya, "I have never lost a game of Highcraft."