Chapter 105 Raven (1/2)
”Raven” Erin uttered a single word. It took Nix a few moments to find the black bird perched in the branches of a lilac tree. The tree was in full bloom, its pink flowers neatly masked the bird's presence.
Fajii squeezed his hand. ”Eron can hold the bird for a few minutes, it won't realize anything is different.”
[Captured Spirit]
Eron is holding Sirca the Black.
Nix jumped down and approached the Princess, he kept stealth on and stopped a few meters from her. ”Do not be alarmed, this is Nix from Inferno.”
To her credit, she barely jumped. She placed the rose she was trimming in the basket and reached for another. ”Why are you stealthed?”
”Inferno has uncovered a plot against Phelinomia. You were once engaged to Tu-Khat from Wisteria. Ten years ago he was captured and replaced with a doppelganger. That doppelganger assumed his identity and canceled the engagement. Since then he has been ruling Wisteria while the real Tu-Khat was imprisoned.”
”We had planned to unite the three central kingdoms.” Festa ran a gloved hand across her forehead. ”If this is true, What can we do?”
”The Necromancer who replaced him has at least one spy here, the raven in the lilac tree behind me.”
”Spying?” Festa's voice frosted over with anger. ”That old bastard-King Brahmi has to be involved.”
Nix nodded, temporarily forgetting he was stealthed. Brahmi was the King of Espana. The uniting of the three kingdoms would have relegated him to a glorified governor.
”Eron says time is short.” Fajii's voice spoke softly from behind him.
”We have to go Festa, our hold on the raven is limited. Make up a reason to come to Glory. We will figure it out there” Nix moved to the wall and climbed back up. Eron released the raven and they quickly retreated from the rose garden.
The duo remained in stealth and quickly made their way through the streets of Lohai. They ducked behind a shop near the docks and dropped stealth.
/Inferno: Nix: We made contact with Festa. She was being watched.
/Inferno: Jun Li: Were you discovered?
/Inferno: Nix: No, we'll be coming back to Glory now. Let's gate back, Captain Delphi can return to Glory with the Phoenix.
***************
Within the hour, Tu-Khat and the officers from Inferno were gathered on the back deck of Nix's houseboat. Fajii wasn't part of the meeting, but she was relaxing in the hot-tub, presumably standing by in case they needed to question her. Shae was also in attendance since she decided to help take on the Necromancer.
Tu-Khat was leaning against the rail, too nervous to sit. ”You made contact with Princess Festa?”
Nix nodded, ”thanks to Eron, we discovered a spy and were able to neutralize it long enough to speak with the Princess.”
Semmi glanced at the black fox laying comfortably on a seat cushion. She didn't dare bring Tilde out with him around, apparently, the black fox had an irresistible charm. ”What did she say?”
”Our time was limited, I told her about the doppelganger switch and the Necromancer that now rules Wisteria.”
Jun Li had a map of Wisteria open. She was confident that they would easily win a naval battle. ”Anything else?”
”Yes, I invited her here to discuss this properly.” Nix smiled at Tu-Khat's reaction. He was jumpier than a cat.
”She's coming here?” The rightful King of Wisteria looked down at his robes. ”I'm not properly dressed to receive the Princess.”
”Receive the Princess? The f*ck are you talking about?” Nix frowned at the King, they were about to start a fight with a Necromancer and Tu-Khat was worried about his wardrobe?
Shae lay a hand on Nix's arm. ”He just wants to make a good impression on the woman he was engaged to.”
Semmi cocked her head to one side, nodding as if she was talking to someone. ”Just received a bit of intel from Sulane.”
Nix thought well of the Guild Leader from Resolute. Inferno had helped them attain the Earth Pearl or at least a very good copy of it. ”And?”
”Four ships, including the Fire Storm have left Lohai and are on their way here.” Semmi smiled when she said it. The Fire Storm was the Flag Ship of the Phelinomia Navy.
/Inferno: Jun Li: ETA?
/Inferno: Semmi: Five hours.
/Inferno: Nix: That's pretty late.
Nix stood up suddenly. ”You need to stay here, for now, Tu-Khat, I'll make you something suitable to wear.”
/Inferno: Nix: We'll meet at the docks in four hours. Be prepared to move. Prey waits.
/Inferno: Ronnie: I love it when you say that Nix.