Vol 1 Chapter 26 (2/2)

“An assassination plot? Of the king of Alania?” Deedlit was only slightly calmer

“Could be No, it has to be We’ve stu awful”

Deedlit, too, was thinking that they’d seen so incredible And that the plan was likely to succeed, if put into action

Watching Parn fret, Deedlit slowly folded the parchment and put it in her pocket

“We’d better search the next rooed Parn, who hadn’t recovered from his alarm, out of the room

From the layout of the house, one would expect the next room to be smaller Parn carefully laid his hand on the doorknob and pushed

The door did not open Then he pulled, a bit harder The door still did not open

“That’s no good”

Hearing Slayn’s voice, Parn rushed back to the staircase

“Slayn! Woodchuck! Come here! The door is locked”

Deedlit had tried the door many times, but it still would not open So she patiently waited for Slayn and Woodchuck

“Calling not just for the thief but also the e That’s pretty sh the keyhole

Parn smiled

“Don’t look into the keyhole without thinking,” Wood’s dry voice echoed through the hallway along with the sound of three footsteps “There ht just be a poisoned needle on the other side” He had arrived with Slayn and Ghim in tow Surprised, Deedlit quickly pulled away from the keyhole

“Is Eto fine by himself down there?” asked Parn, worried

“No one’s co fro around the door “Doesn’t seem like there’s any kind of weird device”

He switched places with Woodchuck, who began to inspect the door in turn He inserted what looked like a s it up and down Careful to avoid the doorknob, he tapped the door with his fist, listening to the sound

Behind him, Slayn chanted a feords of a spell and muttered, “Hmm”

“Did you find so?” asked Ghim

Slayn replied siic on that door”

“Looks like it It isn’t locked, and there’s no traps See room for Slayn

Slowly drawing a sy spell Then he knocked on the door with his staff

The door shook a few tihts caave a start, and his hand moved to the hilt of his sword

“There’s nothing to worry about It’s a si into the room There was no one inside Bookcases stood on either side of an old, worn desk

“I wonder if those are from the Academy” Slayn had walked over to thelass bottles and tightly rolled scrolls

But Slayn’s hopes were soon dashed No, they aren’t But his disappointment did not show on his face He hadn’t been very hopeful to begin with In Wagnard’s place, he would have had any ht away

“Huh, looks like I was right Oh, and there’s also a treasure chest Ha, I’ve been looking for this” Speaking in a strange voice, Woodchuck fiddled with the wooden chest that had been sitting on the desk

Slayn walked over to the desk and carefully opened it Inside, he found a beautifully decorated dagger and what looked to be a letter Slayn opened it and skimmed the contents The letter was short

Everything is fine here

How are things on your end?

Send news from time to time via the usual method

Karla

“Not very clear, is it?” said Slayn in a

It was then that Slayn noticed Ghi near Slayn with a serious expression on his face Whatever it was, it was above Slayn’s head

Following Ghi

There was a single portrait hanging on the wall It was a picture of a beautiful woown and behind her were bright red curtains Even the scenery outdoors was painted in painstaking detail The woman’s skin was the saht sky Her eyes see him

I wonder if that woman is Karla Slayn’s mind seemed to be stuck on that name He tried to remember where he had heard it, but couldn’t

“Well, it’ll colance at Ghi intently at the portrait

“It looks like her…” Ghim muttered this almost too quietly for Slayn to hear