Chapter 152: Up to Something
Thorburn was up to something. It wasn't unusual, the bogsneak was always up to something in one way or another, but this time was different. This time, Thorburn hadn't told her anything about his plans. He wasn't always entirely honest, but she usually got a few vague hints that allowed her some sort of way to piece together the truth.
This was radio silence.
Around her, her highland gem guardian chattered. The large gemstone in its grasp sparked with enough electricity to power any machine Juliette could hope to build. The gem guardian had been a gift from Thorburn. He claimed he traded for it, but Juliette had the sinking suspicion he had stolen it. Not that she disapproved, she just wished he would tell her to truth.
Suddenly, the gem guardian swooped from the air towards a half-closed drawer on Thorburn's desk. Normally he took care to close and lock everything, but something had caught on the drawer and it had clearly caught her familiar's attention. Still feeling bitter at her partner's secrecy, she pulled out her own lock picking kit and moved to open the drawer. As she did, her gem guardian began to grow more excited. It could hardly sit still, and Juliette had to make a few sudden moves to leap out of the way of the gemstone sparks.
Finally, the drawer sprung open, and the gem guardian immediately dove and scooped up something red and shiny. It was a ring. A ring Juliette had a sneaking suspicion that she had last seen on Kaladin's finger. What was Thorburn doing with this?
As the gem guardian squeaked excitedly, the ring began to glow. The next thing Juliette knew, a portal had opened up in front of her, made up of light the same red of the ruby ring. So this was no ordinary ring.
With a mischievous grin of her own, she followed her gem guardian through the portal, and found herself in a dark and ramshackle city. A palace rose up in the center, light shining from the tallest windows. The sky was dark, though it had been midday before she stepped through the portal. It didn't take long for her shadow-born eyes to adjust to the darkness around her.
Something in her blood thrummed, and she couldn't help but had the slightest feeling that she had just arrived home.
A short chapter to hint at something to come in
my pinkerlocke. A special bonus for those of you who read my Windkeep Tower lore....
I'll bet that Soother ability will come in just as handy in her ambassador work as her skill with languages.
Also glad to hear Tess is still around. Tess is always cool.
