Chapter 60

Camilla stared defiantly at the man across from her, tapping her foot against the rough wooden floor. Leon stared back, as though completely unaffected by her gaze. The man was being obstinate, refusing to answer almost all of her questions.

“Even taking for granted that you are genuinely on our side, I still won’t tell you,” he said with a casual shrug.

Camilla continued her glare. They’d been going back and forth at this for a few minutes now, and she was tiring of it. She needed to get back to the others, not wasting her time here. “You’ll either tell me exactly what’s going on—now—or you can leave this building as a corpse. Your decision.” She twirled a dagger casually between her fingers.

“Forgive me if I don’t find your ultimatum very compelling, sorceress. You’re either bluffing or I’m a dead man, regardless. If you’re working for Emver, you’d might as well get on with it,” Camilla could feel the room tense, “Or if you’re truly wanting an escape, as you’ve claimed, trust in me and use the opportunity to run.”

“Trust you? You can’t be serious,” she scoffed.

Leon raised both hands in a flowing gesture of apology. “Alas, I am, my dear lady,” he continued, dramatically. “I’m already trusting you a great deal, am I not, in simply having this conversation at all?”

The sorceress ground her teeth. Leon hadn’t even hesitated to call her bluff. The man was frustrating, and at least a bit smart, if the fact that no one in the room was in the know was anything to go on. But how could she plan around what was happening if she didn’t either? Especially considering things were likely to begin the moment she left.

The only upside to all this was that Rosetta was alright, and they’d finally found these elusive ‘smugglers.’ Rose had apparently come along somewhat willingly, following her cousin. Camilla couldn’t decide if it was incredibly brave or stupid. Both, she supposed.

“And how can you be sure that the Praevus doesn’t already know of your plans? You seem confident, but you don’t properly know the man. I don’t doubt he has spies in your little rebel group.” Perhaps even Leon himself. Though she didn’t say so out loud, the thought had been hovering in the back of her mind from the start.

“No doubt he does. But I’ve been rather tight-lipped with everything, careful not to reveal too much to any one person. I doubt he has the full picture of things. Hence why I’m not telling you either.”

Camilla wanted so much to believe him, to believe in this, whatever it was. Yet it seemed too convenient. Too good to be true. If this was a trap, though—a test of her alignment—then she’d already failed. And the Praevus would already know. They’d be prepared to rip her body to shreds the moment she left the building. Either she’d already lost, or she had everything to potentially gain. Perhaps for that reason alone, she decided she would go along with everything and trust the man. There were other possible scenarios as well. The Praevus was the sort of man to never do things exactly the way one would expect. Camilla would have to deal with those as they came up, however.

For a long moment, she stared the man down, peering deep into his eyes and‌ body language for a hint of deception. When she came up empty, Camilla released a sigh. As much as she hated it, she’d have to give Leon some amount of trust. “I need to go gather my maid.”

“And Lena,” Rosetta quickly inserted, taking a step toward her and making clear her intentions to tag along.

“And Lena,” she agreed. “I won’t leave without them.”

Leon reached into his shirt pocket, pulling out the large pocket watch and flicking it open. Whatever was happening, it was soon. The man had checked the time twice now.

“Do as you will, though I won’t be able to accommodate all of you,” Leon said. “I was already assuming you’d be going on foot. They say sorcerers are quite quick on their feet.” He gave her an amusing smile. That likely meant the man already had horses prepared somewhere, but only just enough for him and his group. “We may already be gone and moving ahead when you get back. Though I doubt you’ll have any trouble following.”

A sound from outside caught her attention. Camilla jolted around as a flap of wind blew open the window. Barely a second later, a bird dived through, flapping its wings as it slowed within the building. She had to stop herself from flinging the knife already in hand, holding back her instinct to fight. Mana coursed through her body, ready.

The bird of prey glided to a stop atop an outstretched arm. Leon gave the group a crooked smile.

“That bird still around then?” Hester grumbled from a chair, his eyes never truly leaving Camilla.

“You have a bird?” Rosetta asked, as her eyebrows creased in bafflement.

“She’s not mine. I’m merely borrowing her for the moment,” Leon said as he pulled a slip of paper from the small carrier tube along the falcon’s leg. Gently unrolling it, he nodded to himself and pocketed the note.

“Forget the bird. Leon, are we sure about this?” Belland stepped forward. His eyes narrowed on the sorceress. “We’re really trusting this demon not to give us all away the moment she’s gone?”

She could understand why he was hesitant to let her leave, despite everything. But he could be less of an ass about it.

“There’s little we could do to stop her, Belland. And if the lady wanted to stop us, I imagine she’d have already done so.” He raised a brow, which she chose to ignore.

Instead, she answered the questions he’d asked prior. “I won’t have any trouble following you, no. And we’ll manage on our own, assuming whatever your planning works in our favor.” Camilla eyed him. If only he would just tell her.

He grinned back. “I can’t honestly guarantee anything, especially when it comes to sorcerers and sentinels.”

She huffed and shook her head before looking at the door. She’d spent too long here. It was time to go. Rosetta took another few steps her way. Camilla’s gut tightened at what she was about to say.

“You should stay and go with them.”

The maid looked over at her as though she’d just told the girl to jump into a well. Spluttering, she said, “What? No, I—”

“If this plan of theirs works, the three of us will join you shortly, or at worst, find you afterward.” Camilla interrupted.

Rosetta glared back defiantly. “And if things don’t work out? What then?”

“Then we’ll all be dead, I imagine,” the sorceress said flatly.

Leon checked his watch for the third time. “Best make your decisions quickly.”

“But I…” Rosetta looked between them, momentarily hesitating as she tried to work out why Camilla was suggesting this. She wanted to be back with Lena. That much was obvious. Yet, this was their best chance at surviving in Camilla’s opinion.

“I don’t like this either,” Camilla continued, “but I can only carry two of you, should we need to move quickly. Which I suspect will end up being the case. This will also mean that I can get back faster.”

“But,” the maid muttered once again.

The thought of leaving her with them sat poorly in her chest. She couldn’t begin to guess what was about to happen, but what else was Camilla supposed to do? She wasn’t confident she could save even herself. With Pearl and Lena—well, she doubted their chances if things went sideways. Bringing Rosetta along as well would shift the odds from unlikely to near-impossible, if she were to guess.

The maid stared at her for a long moment, eyes narrowed as she considered Camilla’s words. The sorceress could tell that she still wanted to argue, regardless of how much sense it made.

Finally, Rose’s posture slumped. “You’ll keep her safe? Keep both of them safe?”

“I’ll do my best,” Camilla said.

She wouldn’t promise otherwise—couldn’t promise it. There were far too many unknowns, the biggest of which being the Praevus himself. Her words did little to help ease Rosetta’s worries, judging by the girl’s expression. The maid nodded, eyes trailing down to the floor.

Leon slid a different piece of parchment into the small tube around the bird’s leg. With a brief whisper, he cast it toward the window. The falcon gave a single heavy flap of its wings and soared out.

Rosetta barely paid it any mind, fully focused on Camilla instead. The maid opened and closed her mouth several times. Camilla’s heart broke as the girl’s eyes glistened with water.

“Be careful,” the sorceress said before the girl could decide what to say. “If we’re separated, I’ll find you.” She left out the many other possible outcomes. There was no need to say them.

With a step followed by a burst of inhuman speed, Camilla left. It was time to get back to the estate, grab Pearl and Lena, and then… Well, then they’d see what happened, she supposed.

Luckily, she wasn’t leaving completely empty-handed. Leon may have been tight-lipped, but she could put together that they were planning to escape through the mines somehow. She would manage to find their path so long as she had mana or a scent to follow. The real question was exactly what else was happening. She was completely out of the loop on both sides.

What are your plans, Meilir Emver?

A tension lingered within the town, more obvious now that she was heading back. The little town was quiet, though Sunridge was never particularly loud. Yet something still felt distinctly off. It didn’t bode well for things to come.

Camilla rushed back as quickly as she could while still staying hidden. In a few scant minutes, she was back inside, slipping through the same window she’d left. Then she rushed down the halls, stealth almost entirely abandoned. The sorceress didn’t bother knocking on Lena’s door; instead, bursting within, expecting to find her maid and the young noble inside.

The room was empty.

Her eyes scanned it briefly, a thick silence enveloping her as she listened for the sounds of movement or a quiet breath of air. But there was nothing to indicate that anyone was hiding somewhere within. Camilla held back a groan as she moved to the next likely place: her own temporary abode. Only to find it empty as well.

Frustrated, she began scouring through the house—the kitchen, dining room, washroom, the courtyard, and any other place she could think to look. By the time she was considering searching door to door, her heart and stomach felt like they’d tangled themselves together into an increasingly tighter mess of knots. She’d even peeked in on Virgil and his wife, on the off chance that they were with them.

For a moment, the world spun, her thoughts spiralling with it. They were gone. The Praevus must have grabbed them. It was all over. He knew everything. He had to. They’d be coming for her next. It was all over now.

…

Her arm pressed against the wall, steadying her. Camilla took a deep breath. She was panicking.

She needed to calm down and focus if she wanted to find them and get out of this dreadful town.

Feel the mana flowing within you. The sorceress narrowed her attention, taking another breath as she followed the streams of magic move through her body. A calm settled. When she opened her eyes, the trails of mana along the halls met her.

A sigh escaped from Camilla’s lips at the familiar sight of Pearl’s distinct signature, left behind. Mana didn’t have a color, per se, but were she to compare it, Pearl’s would be like a calm blue or aqua in how it felt. It also filled the halls like an overflowed tub.

The sorceress set to following the trail, needing barely any effort to keep track of it. When it lead to a small door outside, she let out another sigh—this one of frustration. They’d left, Lena and Pearl both. Alone, so far as she could tell. Camilla pressed her fingers against her forehead, massaging it. Pearl’s antics alone were enough to worsen her headache. Did that idiot maid ever listen to anyone?

No, that wasn’t entirely fair. Perhaps they have a good reason to go. She’d just have to follow them, and then—

Footsteps echoed from around the far corner to her back, the slight sound catching her ear. Camilla turned, mentally bracing herself for a fight. Her fingers rubbed the hilt of a hidden dagger.

Pearl’s father turned the corner at a brisk pace, pausing in surprise as he found her standing on the other side and facing him.

“Have you seen—” he began, just as Camilla said, “You too, huh?”

The sorceress smirked in amusement, despite the situation. “Your daughter isn’t here. I’ve been looking for her as well.”

He took a moment and then let out a deep sigh. “Of course she isn’t.”

“Couldn’t you have raised her to be a bit less troublesome?”

“She gets it from her mother, I assure you.” Roben said.

The man was just about to continue when a ringing filled Camilla’s ears. An eruption blasted somewhere in the distance and the boards beneath their feet trembled. Roben nearly tripped over himself as he tried to keep his feet beneath him, while Camilla faced the door, daggers in hand. The explosive sound clouded her ears like a violent, thunderous roar, taking several long seconds before it ended.

As it became clear that the danger wasn’t immediately upon them, she opened the door and looked out, just in time for another explosion to flood her ears and shake the earth. Camilla squinted as a ball of smoke and flame erupted several houses away. Seconds later, another explosion blasted out from elsewhere.

“Can you find her?” Pearl’s father asked from over her shoulder?

She almost jumped in surprise, but held steady.

“I can.”

“Good.” He nodded and slipped past her out into the town. Camilla blinked before dashing out in the other direction, following the wandering trail of mana with haste.

She could find them. But could she save them?