Sid watched for the signals well towards dusk. A series of flags would be raised to the wind if everything was going well, but none were hoisted. When night finally stole their sight against the stars, they headed in towards the deep sanctuary tunnels where
Copper was known to take his evening rest.
The big guardian looked no less the shade of new-hewn copper than he likely did the day he was hatched, and Sidney always felt in awe of how gentle the movements of such a beheamoth could be.
Eldritch snuck inside the chamber, ledgers and books and pens at the ready. The coatl always knew when business was about.
"We cannot spare the tunnels," Copper said when Sid had finished their plea.
"I've sent everyone I have," Sid said, their voice thick with worry. "
Blackshore hasn't even returned to report a problem. But no sign - not from
Oddity or
Karina, not from any of the others we sent this morning."
Copper looked to his secretary, who drew a small book from his breast pocket. Eldritch flipped through the pages that Copper's old eyes couldn't see as well, and Sid knew that Eldritch would be running names from a list against the names Sid had given them earlier.
"In the Inn," Eldritch said. "
Torch's lad,
Bier, and there's usually another, a pearlcatcher named
Lorn."
Sidney felt their face contort. "Bards?" they asked.
"Lorn prefers 'warsinger,'" Eldritch said. "I doubt Bier prefers much of any title at all. But they are musicians."
Sidney looked to Copperlight. "Surely I could take someone else.
Lisabet or
Paige or--"
Copper smiled softly at Sid and said, "Take what you have for now, Sidney. And if these two diamonds are not enough to pay the butcher's bill, then we will reckon further in the morning."
Sidney thanked the two for their time, then hurried for their coat against the Dragonhome chill. As they dove off one of the terraces into the frigid air, they saw the flicker of light at the crossroads passed the Inn. A good landmark if nothing else, but a different kind of chilling when they considered the local rumor had it as a spirit.
It was a quick fly to the Inn, and Sid had only to hope that they could draft the two performers into the Citadel's aid. They didn't feel confident in their chances.
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