Capítulo 22: Professor Gemstone survives an assassination attempt! part 3 (22)
The exhaustion didn't go away.
During the next two days, Ezera felt into his routine trying to hold it until Sandra could get him that needle. Wake up, explore the tunnels, watch the kids train, dinner and library, class time, then souper and tuck Ming to bed, get back to the chapel to learn more. He only separated from the cursed amulet when no one could see.
Dereck kept asking him to sleep more. But Ezera had better things to do than sleeping. He was wrecking his brain out trying to modify the stolen amulet to become a real scrying device, and learn more about that world, and get a pick at Hortensius' brain. The man started popping up randomly during training.
He was also busy trying to figure out if the Queen was in on the high priest's schemes or if she was innocent. She had passed his first check the first day, but perhaps he had been wrong, missed a detail.
"Where are you going?" asked Sara.
"To the city. I wanted to explore a bit."
"If you want to eat there, you'll need to get some money."
Which reminded Ezera that both he and his children were basically freeloading on the Queen's charity. In a way, he was in fact working for her since he had taken up on the prince's education... In any case.
"Then perhaps I could ask Dereck or someone else to accompany me, then."
"I could accompany you, if you wish," a new person spoke up.
Ezera turned to them, curious. It was a young woman, wearing a priest outfit, with a nice smile.
"My name is Narcis. I was sent by His Reverence to make an errand in town, we could go together if you'd like."
Ezera grimaced internally. This sounded much like spying. He didn't like it. He had been planning to invite Ming or another child with him but now he didn't want any of his students near any inquisitive priest.
Even if the priest smiled nicely, and looked peaceful, and was very pretty like the classical blond with blue eyes pale features.
"Alright," he falsely cheered. "Then let's go!"
Side by side, they went down the way from the castle to the capital, Arnom. The town was just as lively as the last time he went down there, but he was largely less relaxed that said last time.
"How long have you been a priest, Narcis?"
"I was accepted in four years ago. His Reverence saved my life and took me in. I have a debt to him."
"I see. What did you do before?"
"I was a teacher actually," she said, and he was pleasantly surprised. "I was the sole caretaker of an elementary school in a small village, near the littorals of the West. It was called Sumize. I loved all the kids there. But not everything remains the same forever."
"So you reconverted yourself."
"I did. What about you? Are you going to change your profession now that you are caught in this world? You can tell me, from a teacher to a teacher, children can be a handful."
Ezera laughed.
"Ah, no. It's the opposite. I already reconverted from my past job into teaching. I don't think I'd like to change again."
His attention quickly got diverted from this conversation by the good smell of bread floating around. Narcis was kind enough to buy him a traditional bread, which looked a bit like a donut, except it was larger and less greasy.
They spent the entire time visiting simply speaking to each other about different topics, always with a light tone. As they did so, and as Ezera watched Narcis buy her groceries, he thought to himself.
He disliked doubting others all the time. It would be much easier to trust in people, and it would give Ezera fewer sleepless nights as well as more true contact with people. But he couldn't skip it. Especially with who sent Narcis.
She was very nice of course. If he could assimilate it to movies from his world, he would say she was sent as the 'good cop'. Except that didn't make much sense since the 'bad cop' had made an appearance before she did. Then was she just a spy? Probably. She seemed too kind to have known of the ongoing assassination on his person, but perhaps she was simply a good actor.
As he battled with his observations and apprehensions, he spotted an inn the other way from the river.
He needed to build a network. To start with, the barman or innkeeper was ideal. He only needed to convince Narcis to leave him alone five minutes and begin a conversation with the person in charge there... Always easier if he bought something first, like beer.
It had been a while since Ezera had drank any kind of alcohol without the intention to get relatively drunk. Probably because he didn't have anyone to appreciate a good wine with.
The both of them made their way to the inn. It was easy banter inside, and Ezera liked the mood. The same couldn't be said for Narcis. Even though she didn't look very put out by the absurdities all these men were saying, the noise was what made her face strain.
Ezera had just bought himself a drink with her permission, and was about to advise her to get out for a minute when he spotted a familiar gaze in the midst of the chaos.
The Northern Lights like blue-purple eyes flared up when they met with his.
Ezera ignored Count Ilya, recognizing the attitude of someone who didn't want to be seen by nosy people. Perhaps today simply wasn't his day.
"Let's go out," he told Narcis before stepping out with her.
"Thank you," she said gratefully.
"Do you have sensitive ears?"
"I didn't use to, but all this time spent in churches didn't help my natural sensitivity. In truth, I missed the excited chatter of workers at inns and bars."
Ezera nodded, empathetic.
"You might want to find somewhere quiet to rest for a bit."
He guided her to a bench under the trees of a near parc. When she seemed settled, he absented himself.
"I won't be too long, I just need to pay for the drink."
"And drink it," she chuckled weakly.
"And drink it," he agreed good-naturedly.
He went back to the inn, hoping to make a quick pay if he could not speak with the keeper. He was surprised when he couldn't spot Ilya at the bar anymore.
Perhaps he shouldn't have been surprised when a hand grabbed his wrist and dragged him to the second floor furtively.
He found himself slammed with his back against the wall, his wrist still trapped in a bruising grip, and a gaze of blue and purple hues staring at him like a flash of furious fire.
"Take it off!"
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder