The first day of the Hydrangea Festival carried on long after King Aldirk's speech.
The solemn atmosphere that had settled over the palace slowly dissolved into laughter, music and the rhythmic chatter of thousands returning to the city streets. White banners fluttered overhead while children chased each other between flower stalls, and the scent of grilled meat mixed with fresh pastries drifted through every avenue.
Araba watched the three youngsters beside her before smiling.
"I suppose you've all earned a little freedom."
Jamie's eyes sparkled.
"Really?"
"So long as you're careful."
She pointed a finger between Jamie and Elias.
"No fighting."
Jamie's grin became suspiciously wider.
"I never fight."
Elias looked at her.
"You've started three in the last week. So unladylike"
"What's that supposed to mean?" she punched his shoulder.
"See?" Elias looked at his aunt while gestured toward Jamie.
Maria snorted. Araba pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't go meet Kingsley and Junior."
"Please, do not deny yourself on our account." Jamie said with feigned sincerity. She projected a little bit of that intent onto Araba, moving her. Elias just watched her with his arms folded. Araba finally sighed.
"You'll return before sunset."
"We will."
"And no wandering into abandoned districts."
Jamie's smile faltered for half a second.
"...Naturally."
Araba narrowed her eyes.
"Jamie..."
"I said naturally!"
Satisfied—or perhaps deciding ignorance was healthier—Araba left to meet Lord Amberose and the other nobles attending the afternoon ceremonies.Naturally Jamie meant none of what she said.
The moment Araba left—Jamie vanished.
Elias blinked.
"She's... gone."
Maria sighed.
"I give it three minutes before someone starts chasing her."
The crowd swallowed her almost instantly. White robes and colorful accents blurred past as she weaved through the masses with the ease of a fox slipping through tall grass, her small frame allowing her to slip through gaps that would have stopped an adult.
The music faded behind her as she followed a scent invisible to everyone else.
It led her away from the palace, away from the music and laughter, toward the outskirts of the city where the crowds thinned and the buildings grew older. Six familiar scents wound through the streets before turning toward the old cemetery beside the Sacred Orthodox Church.
The cemetery was a quiet place people seldom visited, its headstones weathered by centuries of wind and rain. Moss clung to the older markers, and the shadows of ancient oaks stretched long across the ground.
Six figures waited among the graves. Jamie approached without hesitation causing them to turn simultaneously.
Gustav folded his arms.
"...How?"
Jamie puffed out her chest proudly.
"I've got a good nose."
"That again."
"We made sure to shower too." Kalex said sniffing himself and then Mira who turned around and punched him in the side.
"It's not about wheter you bathe or not." Jamie said with a chuckle.
"Then what is it about?
"We changed routes four times, crossed through a market and doubled back. Theres no way you could find us that easily." Mira said.
"I still found you, didn't I?" Jamie replied.
"That's...disturbing." Cole stared.
"Mhm, it means I'm awesome." Jamie said, puffing up her chest.
"I told you she'd find us." Sasha chuckled.
Gustav merely shook his head and let out a tired sigh.
"Our boss wasn't exaggerating huh?"
Jamie beamed.
Gustav felt the opposite way the girl did. He still disliked involving a child. Unfortunately, orders from above were orders. He wasn't paid to question them.
Only to survive them. Gustav sighed again, running a hand through his hair.
"Fine. You're here. Let's get this over with."
The Grapevine's shadow crew had been operating in Aethelberg for weeks, their movements hidden beneath the chaos of the festival.
Jamie was a client but didn't have money to pay for their services but there were other ways to compensate them for their assistance. Physical labor. They had made a deal with Jamie—information in exchange for help with their operations. She would assist them in uncovering the truth about Igor Patrovski and his connection to the missing couriers, and in return, they would help her find answers about Nordhelm and its connection to the death of her father.
As Gustav began outlining reports, Jamie's ears twitched. Something felt wrong. The mark on her shoulder stung as her attention was directed to a particular spot in the cemetary. The others continued speaking.
"Jamie?"
She didn't answer.
"Where are you going?" Gustav called.
"Exploring."
She wandered away between gravestones, following the strange sensation until sunlight reflected against something buried beneath fallen leaves.
The colors of intent around her were mostly muted—grief, resignation, peace. She was a bit surprised, even the dead had intentions. But there was something else. A shadow at the edge of her perception, cold and dark.
She found it near a weathered headstone, half-hidden beneath a layer of fallen leaves. A faint glint caught her eye, and she crouched down, brushing the leaves aside.
"Oh."
It was a wand. Silver, elegant, with intricate engravings along its length. It hummed faintly with residual energy. Its polished surface reflected the afternoon sky.
Jamie blinked.
"Huh."
She picked it up.
"Pretty."
Jamie didn't know it, but this was the wand the courier had carried on the night he was killed.
She stared at it for a few moments, her mind blank. Bram calling her name from where the others were brought her back to reality. Without another thought she slipped it into the storage space within her copper ring.
"Found something?" Sasha appeared beside her, her eyes narrowing.
"Just a trinket." Jamie shrugged. "Probably dropped by a mourner."
Sasha studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Come on. Gustav wants all of you to be briefed on the plan."
They rejoined the others, who had gathered around a tombstone carved with the image of a weeping angel. Gustav stood at the center, his arms crossed, his expression grim.
"I'm saying this for your sake Jamie so pay attention. We've confirmed several things since we last spoke," he began.
"First—our couriers were chased by Enforcement upon entering the city. Someone tipped them off."
Jamie frowned. "Who?"
"We don't know yet. But it means someone within the city has eyes."
"And then?" Jamie asked.
Mira pointed toward the cemetery around them.
"They came here."
"Here?"
"Yes."
Sasha looked toward the gravestones.
"We found traces confirming one courier reached this cemetery."
"No traces leaving."
"So..."
Gustav nodded.
"The highest probability is that they're dead."
Jamie looked around the silent graves.
"How are you so sure?"
Bram answered.
"Because while investigating we infiltrated the church."
Jamie's eyes lit up.
"You what?"
"We listened to a conversation between Lord Alaric Dukker and And Igor Patrovski."
Jamie's expression sharpened.
"They mentioned research involving living artifacts and if one could make humanoid automatons through such research."
She immediately thought back.
"Emma talked about something like that."
Six heads turned toward her.
"What?"
Jamie scratched her cheek.
"He said they fought these weird patchwork people during a mission near Veridian to recover some artifact. There were pirates there too for some reason."
Silence.
Then Gustav slowly nodded.
"That was us."
"Huh?"
"The information regarding that artifact, we provided it to the Seventh Division."
Jamie's eyes widened.
"Oh really?Thats awesome."
"It's not awesome," Gustav said flatly. "It means we're connected to this mess whether we like it or not."
"Hmmm. Hey, do you know where is the artifact now, the one Emma went to get?" Jamie asked.
"Last we heard, it was sent to a hidden location under the Museum," Sasha replied. "But then someone broke in and caused a whole lot of chaos before escaping. We don't know the link between these events, but they're connected. Either by timing or execution."
Jamie nodded.
"How do you know about the mission to Veridian anyway."
"Emma told us."
She paused.
"Well actually...Dante told us during breakfast. Emma just nodded and complained."
The six operatives exchanged glances.
A useful source of information. Perhaps the boss was onto something when she allowed the girl to tag along with them during their operation, she could be more useful than expected.
Jamie noticed the whispering.
"What?"
"Nothing," Gustav answered smoothly.
"We were simply reconsidering our information network."
"I heard my name."
"It must have been the wind."
Gustav cleared his throat. "We digress."
"Our next objective has been identified."
He looked at each operative.
"We've located the approximate position of Igor Patrovski's laboratory."
Jamie's expression brightened.
"Ooh."
"We'll first verify the intelligence."
"If legitimate we infiltrate."
"If not?"
"We withdraw. Regroup and prepare properly."
Jamie frowned. "What are you looking for when we enter this den of his?"
"Two things," Gustav said.
"First, we need to recover the artifact the couriers were transporting. Second, we need to gather evidence of Igor's activities—evidence we can leak to the authorities."
Jamie blinked.
"That's the plan?"
"Yes."
"No explosions?"
"No."
"No dramatic revenge?"
"No."
"No beating him unconscious?"
Cole sighed.
"We do offer service packages involving that. But not this time."
"What else did you expect?" Mira asked.
" This isn't personal revenge but dismantling an operation. If we leak intel then his whole operation collapses and he gets done for. Thats what we call professional revenge, theres a difference."
Jamie stared at them.
"...That's actually cooler."
Gustav continued. "We'll be operating in the ruins beneath the city. It's dangerous—corruption, unstable structures, and who knows what else is down there."
Jamie's smile disappeared.
"No."
"No?"
"Yes."
"No. You agreed to the terms so you don't get to say no."
Jamie groaned dramatically.
"That place is filthy. It smells like corruption. And bugs. And mold. And whatever lives in mold. Terms that make me go to a place like that are stupid."
"But you made the terms," Sasha said flatly.
Jamie opened her mouth to argue but closedit again.
"It is unfortunately the shortest route." Kalex added with a shrug.
"I'll miss tomorrow's Flower Promenade. I was really looking forward to that."
"No one cares."
"I care!"
"You should have thought of that before you made a deal with us."
"Ugh." Jamie rubbed her face. "Fine. Fine. I'll be there. But you owe me."
"Owe you what?" Cole asked.
"I'll think of something."
The shadow crew exchanged glances, and Jamie gave them her best grin.