Chapter 198 The Crux of the Problem (1/2)

Sharli rubbed the coin stamped with gold bars and a palm tree inside her pocket. When Ishta Alamone himself had handed it to her upon noticing her outside Falla's office, she'd been terrified. She'd resolved herself to throw it away just as soon as he and his unconcerned smirk were out of sight. But then his words had hit her.

”When you realise how futile it is that Falla Startree fights the inevitable alone, I would truly enjoy the presence of your company”.

Sharli had hesitated. She hadn't agreed with Falla doing nothing about Rassa's clearly volatile situation initially. She agreed even less with her persistence in the matter. And now, thanks to that persistence, someone she cared for had been hurt, and it was only a matter of time before others met with the same ending.

They needed Rassa. They needed his power and authority. Sharli admitted she knew little of it, but what she did know was that Ishta would not be so confident had Rassa been present. Falla's reaction to the attack on Kit and Olly instilled even less confidence than Sharli's dwindling resolve could take.

She hadn't thrown away the coin.

”Sharli?”

Falla's questioning tone brought Sharli out of her thoughts, her fingers stilling as they wrapped around the coin inside of her pocket.

Sharli raised an eyebrow in question as she looked to Falla, ”Hmm?”

”I asked if Kit and Olly were okay,” Falla said.

They were travelling inside Falla's carriage on the way to Port Leis. Falla had determined that was safer than asking the others to leave the Ruin.

”Olly is fine, Kit...he was unconscious from exhaustion most of yesterday, but he seemed to be much better this morning,” Sharli stated.

Falla sighed deeply, ”If I'd known that Ishta would send that witch of a woman after anyone at the Ruin I would have been far more careful”.

Sharli frowned, ”You knew about the Inktress?”

Falla nodded, ”She is quite renowned. How do you think Ishta has managed to build up his empire so quickly? He's had her doing all his dirty work, and some beyond that for over a decade. No one dares to contend with her considering that very few Magicians who can exist outside of the Guilds”.

”Forgive me, I know little of Guild politics, but why don't they interfere?”

”Guilds do not align with any one entity. They may be partial to some over others, but in general they exist to protect and serve the people. Seeing as there has been no war for quite some time, they tend to find that 'protect and serve' these days falls more into the lines of academics,” said Falla, ”They consider business skirmishes the whims of children. Beneath their worth to deal with”.

Sharli frowned in disappointment, ”Even that Magician that visited you? The woman? You seemed like friends”.