Anything was possible.
Vhalla not coming back to the shop at all wasn’t something they could entirely rule out. More and more of the world was changing, and that meant Vi had to come to terms with the idea of a world without a Vi Solaris.
* * *
“It’s crowded today,” Taavin murmured from Vi’s side. He wore the face of a Westerner. Vi was illusioned as well; they weren’t taking any chances with Vhalla recognizing them.
“It is… Excuse me, sir.” She tapped the shoulder of a kindly looking gentleman at her side. “Do you know if there’s some kind of event happening today?”
“You haven’t heard? Lord Ophain is coming ahead of the Imperial Army,” the man said. “He’s holding audiences for the public. I recommend you get in line if you’d like a word with him. I think it’ll be hours before you’ll get in, even if you line up now.”
“Thank you for the advice.” He nodded at her and left. She then spoke only to Taavin. “You should get in line.”
“What?”
“Get inside that hotel and take a look around. Make sure she hasn’t been hiding among the staff this whole time.”
“I think the staff would recognize her, given her acclaim…”
“One would hope, but we well know how people only see what they want to.” Vi squeezed his hand. “Come back tonight and report on whatever you’ve found.”
“All right.” He moved to leave, but Vi held fast.
She pulled him close, giving him a gentle kiss. “Thank you for all your help.”
“It’s my duty.” Taavin smiled and gave a wink. “And my honor to follow you to the ends of the earth.”
“Let’s hope it’s not the end,” Vi called after him. She watched him leave with a small smile, one that slowly fell as she turned away. When he was at her side, the world was good and everything would be all right.
When he left, the world was cold. The only thing that gave her warmth was the flame of her purpose, the driving force of why she was even on this earth at all—to summon Yargen once more.
“Soon,” she murmured to the goddess.
Soon. The word resonated within her, as though in reply.
Vi began to make rounds as the square filled. More and more people lined up, ready to seek an audience with Lord Ophain. Vi scanned each of them, looking for a pair of brown eyes she’d recognize anywhere.
When the Lord of the West arrived, the crowd erupted in cheers and fanfare. Vi kept her eyes off the man atop his warstrider and his military detail. She looked among the people, her eyes landing on a lone woman sitting atop a pedestal bearing a lamppost.
The woman wasn’t cheering with the rest of them. She observed the world around her with brown eyes that had serious intent. Vhalla was smart enough to wear a scarf to hide her hair, but it didn’t throw off Vi.
She made a wide loop, moving unseen through the crowd. Vi made it a point not to stare for too long, lest Vhalla sense her presence. Finally, she perched herself on a stoop high up enough that she had an unobstructed view of Vhalla’s back.
The sun drifted lazily though the sky and Vhalla moved herself into a shaded nook. Vi remained as still as a statue. The woman didn’t even so much as glance her way.
When the afternoon heat had scared away most of the people, a man emerged from the hotel, tapping his cane. He spoke in a booming voice that echoed across the square.
“Lord Ophain has taken to rest out the midday heat. Audiences will resume in the evening. Do not hold the line, we will form a new system upon your return.”
Vi scanned for Taavin in the dispersing remnants of the crowd, but she couldn’t distinguish him from any other Westerner. His illusion was too perfect and she hadn’t bothered to study it carefully.
Vhalla moved, and thoughts of Taavin vanished. She went for the hotel and entered after a brief discussion with the man holding the cane. Vi shifted her weight from foot to foot to alleviate some of her energy. She hoped Taavin was in that hotel.
All she could do from where she stood was be patient, and wait.
The doors of the hotel opened shortly after Vhalla had gone in and Vi straightened from the wall she’d been leaning on. But it wasn’t Vhalla who departed. It was a man with a thick mustache wearing a band of red crimson around his bicep. There was a symbol on the band drawn in black. From Vi’s distance, she couldn’t make out the details of the symbol, but she knew what it was.
A phoenix holding a sword in its talons—the symbol of the Knights of Jadar.
