The Four Treasures Saga [Isekai / LitRPG]

Book 2: Chapter 50: So Mysterious… (Tadg)

Day 17 of Midwinter, Sunrise

The Watchful Crown, Falias

Annwn

WHERE DID HE GO? Belenus seemed equally surprised and frustrated.

“Ruadan? He is a slippery one,” I replied in my head. “He will find us.”

Before Ethadon had gone back inside, I had shut off both the Penitent Brand and Guilt-Sight boons. I didn’t know if the brand would have been visible to others, but caution seemed the better part of valor, plus I was honest enough with myself to know that I also didn’t want others to see what I had seen in him.

I had learned something interesting from using Guilt-Sight on my brother. One of Ethadon’s regrets was how soon the army would be leaving for the battlefront. The army would ride hard to Mag Mór this afternoon. I knew that Nuada must have some sort of magical aid in order to move the entire Falias army so quickly.

THE SUN IS NOT COMPLETELY UP. THERE IS STILL TIME TO ACQUIRE THE SWORD.

Before I could respond, I saw a pulse of light from the roof of the main Crown building.

“It appears Ruadan would like a chat,” I said. I was consciously avoiding any thoughts about the sword or our first catastrophic attempt to steal it.

IT COULD BE A TRAP.

“With Roo, that wouldn’t surprise me at all. Be on your guard.”

Though the sky was lightening with a brilliant palette of purple, the morning rays of the sun had not fully crested the horizon, meaning our boons could not yet carry us to meet with Ruadan directly. The sounds of commotion behind our position on the balcony came to my ears, and before Belenus could alert me to the presence of the guards, we jumped down onto the balcony below. From there, we jumped to a waterspout, then a windowsill. Again and again we jumped, and before long, we stood at the side of the red-haired and grim-faced lord of Gorias.

“Interesting method of travel, Grunt,” he said, his usual snarky tone devoid of any affection. He partially reclined on a mostly flat section of the Crown, his pose casual. “Honestly, I thought it would take you longer to get down here, or I might have stood up. You won’t be offended if I stay seated, will you? I’m really quite comfortable.”

I DON’T LIKE HIM.

“He often has that effect,” I replied in my mind, then to Roo I said aloud, “I’m pleased to see we are talking as opposed to trading sword strikes.”

“We still might,” he said, his expression hard even as his words and tone were flippant. “But I’m hoping that your good deed in Cruachan is a sign that you’ve experienced a change of heart and feel some regret over how you left Mother.”

I drew back, shocked. “How do you know about what happened at Cruachan?”ruthful answer to it. “Yes.”

“Counteroffer,” Ruadan said, motioning for us to walk to another part of the roof as the sun crested the top of our world and began to light our path. “How about you rescue Mother, as you should, and as you SAY you’ve come to do, I assume in an attempt to right your many wrongs, and then I’ll think about helping you steal the sword?” I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. He wasn’t wrong to doubt me.

“We don’t have time. The army is setting out this afternoon for the battlefront.”

He contemplated that. “What if Nuada decides he no longer needs to keep a political prisoner? What’s to stop him from murdering my mother before they leave?”

“I’ve thought a lot about this,” I said. “If Father had wanted Brigid dead, she would be. There must be a reason that he is keeping her alive.”

“Such as?”

I shrugged, honestly mystified. “Maybe it has something to do with the war. Is it possible he’s using her as leverage to bring Gorias into the fray?”

Ruadan shook his head. “No. If he admitted to kidnapping my mother, Gorias would already be at the gates of Falias.”

I realized suddenly what this meant–neither the Dagda nor Aengus knew Brigid had been kidnapped and by whom. “Why haven’t you told your grandfather or your uncle where she is?”

“Because Gorias would lose that fight... We wouldn’t just be fighting Falias, would we? There is Findrias, which Gorias shares an island with, and of course, the navy of Murias, which would stop all trade in and out of Gorias harbor. We would lose in a big way.”

I nodded, understanding. “Then there is another reason he’s kept her alive, and I’m sure that reason won’t change by the time the war begins.”

He shook his head. “Your hunch isn’t worth my mother’s life. I’m afraid I’m going to have to decline your proposition, Grunt.”

HE IS NO USE TO US. I WILL DEAL WITH HIM.

“No!” I said aloud. Ruadan flinched back, wrapping his fingers around the handle of his dagger. “There is another way.”

I felt sweat beading on my forehead. I had to think of another way to get Ruadan to help us, or Belenus would kill him. “What if...” I said, thinking out loud, “You went for the sword, and I went for your mother... at the same time?”

He seemed to be considering my words, his keen gaze clearly noting the beads of sweat that dotted my forehead. I wondered suddenly if he had other appraisal magic that could circumvent my detection of identification magic. The truth was that no one had ever truly understood Ruadan’s boons.

“I’m going to choose to trust you, Grunt.” His brow furrowed, and he paused, looking directly into my eyes. “I can’t promise that I won’t fail. That sword is the most protected item in the realm.” He narrowed his eyes. “But I do promise that if YOU fail, we will be on significantly less amicable terms the next time we meet.”

I nodded solemnly. We spent a few more minutes discussing what would happen after we had both achieved our goals. I even asked him for a small favor, based on a theory I had about his constant knowledge of my whereabouts. When we finished, I held out my hand to shake, hoping he would sense my level of commitment. But Ruadan was already walking away, clearly planning the heist of the millennium.