Chapter 6: A Dance Between Friends

Sumire adjusted the hood of her cloak. The evening air still hung with the warmth of early autumn, but the coastal breeze the filtered through the city made the extra layer bearable as it hid her ears and dress. An elf on her own might be a common site in the lower districts, but an elf wearing an evening dress?   Sumire breezed her way into the tavern and up the wooden steps to the second floor. The Black Hare was packed with patrons. No one paid her a second thought as she maneuvered her way towards the office at the other end of the landing. Sumire knocked twice on the door and was admitted inside.   Arthur Stilcrique sat at his desk, his quill streaking across the parchment before him. He dressed much like one would expect a tavern owner, only… neater. That was the best word for it. His greying blonde hair was combed back and his vest was as impeccable as the dress shirt beneath it. Not a thread out of place.   “Ah, Ms. Kosaka, pleasure to see you,” Arthur greeted, looking up from his paper. “What business do you have for me tonight?”   “Just came from the Radolf estate,” Sumire answered as she took her seat across the desk from him. “I thought you might like to hear about it.”   “Enjoy the party?”   “Yes,” Sumire said, pulling a folded sheet of paper from her cloak and sliding it across the desk.   “Hmm,” Arthur hummed as he read the note. Without a word, he tucked the paper away and pulled out a small coin pouch. He gently passed the pouch across the table. “Thank you for your business, Ms. Kosaka.”   “Thank you,” Sumire replied with similar politeness. She got up from her chair and started towards the door.   “Oh, and please tell your brother that the guards seem to have taken care of the local mana beast problem. He should be able to back to… foraging, was it?... soon.”   Sumire stopped and glared at the man. For his part, Arthur simply returned her gaze, his face neutral with the exception of slight amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth.   “Is this the part where you ask me what he’s been up to?” she said flatly after a moment.   “No, I just thought I’d pass along some news that a former employee might appreciate,” Arthur answered in a smooth tone.   Sumire raised an eyebrow at him.   Arthur steepled his fingers, leaning back in his chair. “Despite his flaws, Sumire, young Ryu has proven to be smart enough to be aware of two things. The first being not to talk about his exploits where I might hear.”   “What’s the other?”   “That would be him knowing better than to tell you when he’s up to something.”   Arthur was barely able to get a single chuckle off before Sumire slammed the office door shut behind her. She stomped across the upper floor, decorum momentarily taking a backseat for her flaring temper. How she ever managed to work for that gadfly without pulling her hair out was a mystery to Sumire.   “Care for a drink?”   Sumire stopped at the top of the stairs and shot a glare over her shoulder. Cassandra sat at a nearby table, wine bottle in one hand and glass in the other. She returned Sumire’s glare with a cool unflinching gaze.   She’s been spending too much time around Arthur, Sumire thought as she gave a tired sigh. Either that or I’m losing my touch.   She sat down at the table, Cassandra pouring a glass of wine and offering it to her. Feeling the need for some fortification, Sumire took a generous sip, perking up as the notes of black cherries and fermented grapes touched her tongue.   “Bacanal?” she asked, wondering when the Hare had started offering such a premium wine.   “My bonus for my last show selling out,” Cassandra replied, taking a considerable sip of her own. Her cheeks were already tinged a touch pink from her indulgences. “Figured you could use some after talking with Arthur.”   Sumire slouched in her chair, propping her head on her hand. “I thought I was done dealing with him after I joined on with Wynrose.”   “But medicine doesn’t pay for itself,” Cassandra sighed, knowing full well where most of her friend’s money went.   “Nope,” Sumire said, taking another sip of wine.     Wynrose was by no means the biggest company in Olbrin, but it had its place in the city. It had still been a step up from doing shows down in the Burrow. Better pay. Room and board. Even invitations to social events to secure backers for the coming season. It had all seemed so grand!   That was until Sumire learned how she was supposed to help get said backing.   Doing business with Arthur became the lesser of two evils soon after. If she had to do some backroom deals with someone, she choose the man who could keep his hands to himself.   “That the only thing bugging you?” Cassandra asked, topping up Sumire’s wine glass.   Sumire swirled her drink, watching it slosh against the crystal walls of her glass. “I wish it was,” she admitted.   “Still hung up about Ryu, huh? You said he had Zach with him, right? The kid’s always been the most responsible out of all of us. How could whatever they’re up to be that bad?”   It might have been the wine, but Sumire nearly laughed at Cassandra calling Zach a kid. He was only younger than her by a couple months.   That aside, she did have a point. Zach had been the voice of reason for the three of them growing up, especially when they were at St. Anne’s. Knowing that he was with Ryu should have assured Sumire that they weren’t doing anything too stupid.   It hadn’t escaped Sumire that she might have jumped to conclusions when she had seen them the previous night. She didn’t believe his story about helping Zach find herbs for a second, of course. Unfortunately, the same could seem to be said about Arthur. As much as she hated to admit it, Ryu had been smart to keep his mouth shut on what had happened.   Not that it made Sumire worry any less. She wished seeing her brother in bandages hadn’t been a common sight growing up. Granted, having a run in with a mana beast was a new one as far as Ryu’s list of incidents went.   Knowing Zach had agreed to go with him on… whatever they were up to was some comfort at least. Ryu had a history of talking Zach into a few schemes over the years, but the scholar knew when to put his foot down.   Of course, that only made her more curious as to what they were up to.   Feeling her frustration beginning to build once more, Sumire shook those thoughts from her mind and drained her glass. “Can we talk about something else?” she asked.   Cassandra happily obliged and the two conversed on cheerier subjects. Sumire talked about the new show they were preparing at Wynrose and Cassandra described the new routine she was putting together. They both laughed as Sumire recounted some of the more… memorable figures she had had to converse with at the Radolf party.   It felt nice. Sumire had missed these moments of levity with Cassandra. The dancer seemed to always know how to cheer her up.   Then again, the wine probably helped, too.   The conversation made the rounds from topic to topic before finally winding down. Sumire thanked Cassandra and made her way down the steps to the tavern’s main floor, one hand on her hood while the other kept hold of the railing. She was halfway down the steps before catching sight of a familiar head of dusky hair making for the door as well. Her footsteps quickened before she realized what was happening.   “Zach ?” Sumire said, nearly bumping into him at the tavern’s door (she blamed the jostling crowd more than the wine).   “Su-“ Zach remarked before Sumire pressed a finger to her lips. “What are you doing here?” he whispered.   “Catching up with Cassandra,” Sumire replied. She didn’t mention her business with Arthur. Better to have a moment where she could forget about that. “Hey, would you mind leaving with me? Cassandra and I had a couple glasses of wine and… anyway, it’s been a while since we talked. Just us, I mean.”   Zach nodded without hesitation and the two passed through the doorway. After the crowded tavern, the cool night air was more than refreshing. Sumire breathed it in, clearing her head from her frustrations as she walked beside Zach. She leaned against him as they walked, resting her head on his shoulder while slipping her hand into his, intertwining their fingers.     “A couple glasses, eh?” Zach remarked, not pulling away from her.   “Oh… hush, you,” Sumire muttered as she enjoyed the closeness.   She missed moments like this. No endless rehearsals or entertaining backers. Sumire loved performing, but she treasured moments like this when she didn’t have to put on an act.   If only it could last.   “You never mentioned what brought you by,” Sumire remarked, breaking the quiet that had settled over their walk.   “I needed a break from the library,” Zach replied. “Thought I’d get some dinner and the Hare wasn’t far.”   “New research project?”   “Something like that.”   Sumire nearly snorted. Just nearly. She hadn’t drunken that much wine, she told herself. “So what’s this new research project about?” she asked as they strolled along the street.   “It’s part of my tutoring job for Abigail,” Zach replied.   “Abigail?”   Zach cocked his head. “Oh, I thought I told you about it,” he said. “I’m giving rune lessons to Abigail Reiss.”   Sumire stopped dead. “I-I’m sorry,” she sputtered, certain she hadn’t heard him right. “Did you just say Abigail Reiss?”   “Yep.”   “Reiss? As in Gavan Reiss, the mining baron?”   “Yeah, I talked to him earlier today after our lesson.”   Sumire stared at him, her face blank except for her wide eyes.   “Sumire… you okay?” Zach asked once the moment had lasted for what felt to be a little too long.   Sumire blinked and swatted Zach on the arm.   “Ow!"   “WHY!? HOW!? WHEN!?” Sumire demanded.   “I’ve been tutoring her for the last month,” Zach answered, rubbing his arm tenderly. “She’s enrolling in Everset’s archeology course next term and needed help with Dwarven runes.”   Sumire took a breath. A month? Goddess, had it really been that long since they had talked? The theatre must have been keeping her busier than she had thought. That aside, what Zach said seemed to align with what little Sumire knew about the heiress. Still…   “But why you” Sumire asked. “I mean, you’re the smartest guy I know, Zach, but…”   “But that doesn’t mean much in the Scholar's Guild, I know,” Zach finished before giving her a shrug. “Search me. My name came up when her dad was asking for tutors and he picked me to try first.”   “He picked… why?”   “No clue. All I know is that the pays decent and Abigail’s taking to runes even faster than I did when I first started.”   Great, Sumire thought as she rubbed her temple, feeling the beginnings of a headache. There’s two of them now. “Well, what’s this research project she’s got you helping with?” she said, resuming their walk. Academia wasn’t usually her topic of choice, but it felt like much safer waters at the moment.   “She wanted help with some relics she’s studying.”   Relics? No wonder Zach had been so busy at the library. At least he was remembering to take breaks to eat this time.   “How did she get her hands on those?” Sumire asked. “Even with her family’s connections, those are hard to come by, aren’t they?”   “Abigail didn’t say,” Zach said, shrugging off the question.   “You didn’t at least ask?”   “Kinda forgot to.”   “You… forgot?” Sumire drawled. “Really, Zach?” She didn’t bother holding back her sigh. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with you and Ryu ‘foraging’ around outside the city, would it?”   Now it was Zach’s turn to stop in his tracks. “What?”   Sumire simply gave him a look from beneath her hood.   “Maybe,” Zach said, wilting under her gaze.   Sumire rubbed her temple, struggling to reign in her temper. “Care to explain to me how researching relics involves going into the forest?” she said after a moment. “Or how it ends with you and Ryu getting chased by a mana beast?”   “The mana beast was a fluke,” Zach replied, holding up his hands in an effort to placate her. “Honest. As for being outside the city… I can’t tell you. I’m sorry.”   It wasn’t the answer Sumire had been hoping for. However, it seemed to be the only one she would be getting if the dour look on Zach’s face was any indication.   “Why?” she asked. Dropping her voice, she added, “We’re not at the Hare, Zach. Arthur can’t hear us.”   Zach opened his mouth only to close it again. His eyes shifted, glancing away from Sumire. Was he searching for words… or something else?   Sumire moved to say something, but Zach was quicker. “Arthur isn’t the only one we don’t want hearing about it, okay?” he whispered.   Sumire could only blink in confusion. Zach met her gaze, his eyes filled with a silent apology.   “It’s that important?” she asked, earning a nod from Zach. She gave one last sigh. She had trusted him this long, right? “Fine, but I want an explanation when you’re done being paranoid, got it?”   Zach relaxed at her words. “Sure. That’s fair.”   “Good,” Sumire said. “Well, whatever you’re up to, you’ll be glad to know the guards seem to have taken care of the mana beasts in the forest. I heard that they gave the all clear.”   “Thanks,” Zach said, rubbing the back of his neck.   “You can thank me by not coming back with more bandages,” Sumire huffed.   “Okay, I promise,” Zach chuckled.   The two of them walked along the street, the air not quite clear between them, but something they could respect for now. They soon found a carriage parked at the end of a block.   “You sure you don’t want to come along?” Sumire asked, as she stepped onto the footboard. “I don’t think the guild’s too far out of the way, is it?”   Zach glanced at the carriage and back at her before waving his hand. “I’m fine walking,” he said. “But thanks. Night, Sumire.”   A smile tugged at her lips as Sumire stepped back from the carriage and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Good night, Zach,” she said before climbing into the cab.   Sumire settled into her seat, vacillating between chuckling at the blush blooming on Zach’s face or chiding herself for doing something so bold. She silently blamed the wine as the coach driver snapped his reins and the carriage lurched into motion.   She tried to think about something… anything else and found herself mulling over what she and Zach had talked about.   As much as she had agreed to let the subject lie, it wouldn’t stop nagging at her. Why would researching relics need Zach to go outside the city? And with Ryu of all people! Sumire loved her brother, but asking him to help with a research project made about as much sense as the idea of Zach ‘forgetting’ to ask about Abigail’s relics.   Come to think of it, hadn’t Ryu admitted that them ‘foraging’ had been his idea?   Sumire turned it over in her head every different way she could, but none of it seemed to add up. Zach hadn’t lied to her, she was at least certain of that. Deceit had never been one of his strong suits. It was one of the reasons Sumire liked him.   Still, that meant Zach and Ryu were both being frustratingly tight-lipped about whatever they were up to. Sumire knew them both well enough to know how stubborn they could be and if neither boy was willing to talk, there was little she could do.   But then, little wasn’t nothing.