NOVEL NEXT 96: Even the odds
It took Tom another hour before he managed to loop back towards the inn Zirel had, under his Riven Blackheart alias, commandeered with the aid of the former Elite Guards. He had taken a long, convoluted way there, just to throw off Nvein or anyone else, in case they had decided to tail him.
Having wisely decided against sneaking back into the inn, Tom knocked on the front door. A minute passed by him before Zirel cautiously opened the door, with one hand concealed behind his back.
“It’s me,” Tom said, before slowly reaching for his mask and gently pulling it away.
Zirel’s expression noticeably eased as he registered the familiar face, though confusion still remained in his gaze.
“I thought you would’ve needed more time,” He muttered, before shaking his head. “Come inside first.”
Tom complied, latching the door’s bolt behind him even though he knew it would not do much in case someone with a Card ability suited for espionage decided to eavesdrop on their conversation.
The sound of hurried footsteps directed Tom’s attention to the flight of stairs that lead to the first floor, unsurprised to find Aleph approaching.
“What happened?” She asked, concern and worry leaking into her tone.
“Uh…,” Tom sheepishly trailed off, his expression tightening as he considered where he was supposed to even begin. “We might want to head upstairs before I tell you,” He offered, his words causing Zirel to raise an eyebrow.
It wouldn’t be much, but Tom would much rather have everyone freak out in a locked room instead of the inn’s cramped foyer.
No further words were exchanged until they were in Aleph’s room. Tom had seated himself on the bed, Aleph just patiently stood near the door’s entrance and Zirel was leaning on a wall as he played around with a dagger, flipping it in the air and catching it repeatedly.
“So, I might just have found a way to steer the outcome of a civil war that’s uh, due in six days,” Tom decided to go with the quickest way to the truth, finding no reason to beat around the bush.
Zirel’s grip over the dagger he had been playing around with faltered, causing it to clatter on the wooden flooring before stilling.
“What civil war?” Aleph hissed under her breath, her gaze consumed by shock as she tried to make sense of Tom’s statement.
“Well, long story short,” Tom began, his gaze flitting from Aleph to Zirel as he confirmed that he had their attention. “The Nottrakon Family wants to assassinate Valeria Nezaria in six days time and pin the blame on the Zenari Family. Both of you should know the why better than me.”
The stupefied silence stretched on for way longer than Tom was comfortable with, before Zirel finally spoke in a low, serious tone, “The Nezaria Family is a threat to the Nottrakon Family’s rule and the Zenari’s wealth fast approach theirs. But an assassination? To accomplish that they would need a conspiracy on a grand scale…”
“Well,” Tom sheepishly tousled his hair as he considered how to frame his response. “Over half the academy professors have been bought over by the Nottrakon Family, one way or the other.”
“Over half?” Aleph questioned, struggling to keep her tone down. “How is that even possible?”
Tom shrugged, before replying, “Maybe it’s so brazen that nobody even considered that they’ll do it. But rich people buying professors out isn’t exactly a new thing, is it? As long as the real blood conspiracy concealed beneath a far more benign one doesn’t come out, it doesn’t risk sparking civil war, at the very least.”
“It's plausible, maybe?” Aleph wondered, too unsure to give a firm answer.
“And exactly how did you figure out a secret the Nottrakon Family would kill to protect?” Zirel asked, his tone practically brimming with suspicion.
“It was revealed to me in a vision,” Tom nonchalantly replied. “Look, it doesn’t matter if you believe me or not. The information I have is going to happen. And I have a way to steer it in a direction that will have the Zenari and the Nezeria uniting with each other against the Nottrakon Family.”
“How?” Both Aleph and Zirel asked in near unison, their mutual disgust of the Nottrakon Family taking priority.
“Initially, I’d thought of warning Valeria. But there was no guarantee that she’d believe me. So I decided to let the assassination run its course. I just need to save Valeria, which won’t be too hard considering I know the date and time it’s going to happen. I don’t know how powerful the assassin is going to be, though, so that’s why I’ll need you two to come with me as backup. Then, after I’ve saved her, she’d be way more inclined to believe whatever I have to say, right?”
“It’s…,” Aleph trailed off, unsure how to frame her response politely.
“Blunt,” Zirel declared. “Albeit earnest. A Noble Scion like Valeria is trained to see through deceptions and trickery. That means you’ve got a pretty decent shot at convincing her, as long as you don’t lie. So if we’re going through with this, don’t lie.”
“You’re okay with it?” Aleph asked, her tone sounding a touch incredulous.
“Hm,” Zirel considered. “You’re worried about me not having a home to return to? The Nottrakon Family won’t fall that easily but, well, if they do then good riddance. The few weeks I spent with my old party felt like more of a family than they did.”
“Right,” Tom pursed his lips as he braced himself to reveal the bad news. “So guys, we should be going. Like right now.”
“Why?” Zirel asked.
“Well, I couldn’t convince Nvein— the Royal Knight at the gate, to stop reporting my entry as an Elite Guard to his superiors. In a couple hours, they’re going to figure out what you did, Zirel. We need to head to the final sector.”
“What? But that will only give us five days to complete the dungeon!” Zirel protested, no longer bothering to keep his voice down.
Even the prince thought their current plan to be a death wish.
Tom, however, had only eyes for Aleph as they locked gazes.
Then, he nodded to her.
Aleph let go of the breath she was holding onto.
“Well Zirel,” Tom began, his lips curling up into a mischievous smile. “We just might have something that will even the odds."