“You know more about me than most people, Ilario.”
“Well, I like to think so, but you’re still a man of many mysteries.” Interesting. Or not. It didn’t make any difference to her, she assured herself.
Eyden tensed slightly, a subtle change that Lora almost didn’t notice. “Are you really refusing to help us?”
“Of course not. I’ll help, I’m just enjoying making you sweat.” Ilario’s grin widened. Eyden’s mouth twitched at his friend’s good-natured teasing, the tension leaving him as if it was never there to begin with. “Although you’re always the one telling me I’m too trusting. No offense to you, just Lora.” He turned to her for a short moment. “But tell me, Eyden, how can I trust that she won’t take more than needed? Or go back again?”
Lora considered his phrasing. He was only concerned about her, a stranger, not Eyden. Was Eyden truly his friend or was Eyden playing Ilario, taking advantage of his apparent trusting nature? Lora wasn’t sure what bothered her more, being unable to figure out Eyden’s intentions or the fact that she was even thinking about this at all.
“I’ll make sure of it. You have my word,” Eyden said.
Ilario barely waited a second before he agreed. “All right. You remember where my parents’ house is?”
“Yeah.”
“We’ll meet there, then I can give you directions more easily. I’m going there soon to help prepare for the feast.” Another mention of Falea Night. Lora had read about it but it was never explained in great detail. Humans hadn’t exactly been invited to take part in the festivities, but she knew Falea was the Goddess of Fortune and sort of the patron of Turosian. Lora tried to remember what else she had learned, but Ilario’s next question disrupted her stream of thoughts.
“You’re still doing your shift?” he asked.
“Of course,” Eyden said quickly.
“All right.” Ilario looked to Lora, who was mostly confused about what exactly they had agreed on. Ilario gave her an encouraging grin. “It’ll all work out, don’t worry. You’ll get your hands on some arentae before you know it.”
She was about to speak up but Eyden beat her to it. “There’s one last thing. We need a crystal. Green aventurine.”
Ilario’s face fell. “Oh, that’s going to be tricky, seeing as I sold my last one earlier today and I won’t have more until spring.”
Lora tried to channel some of Eyden’s calmness and kept quiet again. “Do you know if anyone else sells them?” Eyden said, eyes fixed on Ilario.
Ilario considered the question and said, “Not that I know of, no. I’m sure there’s someone, but if you don’t know either, then it’ll probably take some time to find out.”
“Who bought the last one?”
“One of my regulars. Has a thing for expensive crystals. I don’t think he’d sell it to you. Looks like the type that has more silver than either one of us will ever earn.”
“We can at least try to make him an offer. I can be convincing.” Eyden flashed him a quick grin. “Do you know where he went?”
“No,” Ilario answered. Lora’s heart fell, her pretend calmness threatening to shatter at any moment as her skin turned hot from panic. “But I know where he’ll be.” The feeling retracted enough to keep her still.
Eyden didn’t pay her any attention as he continued the conversation. “And where’s that?”
“He mentioned he’s going to Caligo. There’s a theme tonight. He seemed really excited about it. Honestly, even I was almost convinced to go. But I have my shift.”
Eyden’s displeasure was written clearly on his face. He let out a low breath and said, “Not exactly where I’d want to be tonight, but so be it.” He shifted his head in Lora’s direction. “We’ll have to find this guy and come to an agreement. Another trade deal.”
Something told her this wasn’t going to be a regular trade meeting. “How will we find him?” Lora asked.
“He’s pretty easy to find. His hair is dyed a mix of faint pink and white blond. He has incredible deep blue eyes—really pretty, by the way—and every time I’ve seen him he was wearing some sort of extravagant outfit. He has an expensive yet unusual sense of style. Very unique. Sticks out from any crowd,” Ilario assured her.
“So we’re looking for a handsome fellow with a love for edgy fashion?” Lora caught Eyden’s quick glance, a flash of warning, and she realised her comment might have come off more British than she’d intended it to.
Ilario hesitated only for a few seconds, hopefully oblivious to her slight slip up. “That sums it up, yes.” She wouldn’t look his way as she pretended to study his booth. She had to remind herself to avoid eye contact as much as possible. “But even if you get the crystal, you won’t be able to wield it yourself.”
Eyden replied, “I already talked to Halie. She agreed to help us.”
“Oh, you two are talking again?”
“We never stopped talking.”
