The Rebels of Gold (Loom Saga #3)(90)
Coletta skillfully refrained from pointing out that Xin’s mere existence gave her cause to wipe their blue faces off the earth itself.
“And then, there’s the matter of Petra Xin’Oji,” Doriv continued. “Her death is not sitting well with House Xin. They think that, too, has some darker truth to it. The new Oji dueled the late Finnyr on such grounds. If these accusations prove true, in addition to the other oddities . . . House Tam would need to evaluate, and potentially work to remove a power that acts so far out of Nova’s structure.”
She heard Doriv’s warning clearly. “Well, if such terrible things were to have transpired, it seems the persons involved would have acted with the utmost cunning, if there are only floating rumors. The Xin can hardly be trusted to be unbiased, or logical for that matter. They all have so much to grieve for now. They act like children in their time of mourning.”
“One would hope it is just the lunacies of a grieving house . . . It would be a shame to have to forcefully shift the world back into balance so that all things are once more equal.”
“Indeed. After all, doing so could result in many of the Tam nobility being forced to give up the titles and the luxuries that come to them from the graciousness of House Rok.”
“Rebellion is good for no one,” Doriv agreed. “All one needs to do to see it is look at the Fen in the world below.”
“Something that should be alleviated soon.” It was the only topic Coletta wasn’t utterly sure of. The Fen were agents of chaos; no matter how carefully she planned and plotted, the wretched little creatures were determined to prove their insolence. Yveun did the situation no favors, either.
“Let us hope. It’s such a nuisance.”
“Yes, well, we can only hope the nuisances of the world are put to rest sooner over later.”
“I make every effort.” Even if half of Coletta’s efforts were thwarted by idiocy or incompetence or the foolishness of the system she was forced to navigate.
“Speaking of efforts . . . I hear there is a disgraced Tam babysitting House Xin?”
“There was. Fae Rok,” Coletta affirmed.
“How fitting that Rok requires a wayward Tam to keep the balance with House Xin. It is in our blood, after all.”
“Rok name, Tam blood—together it’s a powerful combination,” Coletta answered carefully. She wanted to drive her point with the Tam’Ryu deep. “Our families making a stable balance, equal force . . . We both have much to gain, and much to lose if that balance is disrupted.”
“Tam will continue to defend the balance so long as House Rok continues to abide by Dragon law.” Tam and their bloody obsession with the law, Coletta thought as Doriv spoke. “And so long as we continue to be appropriately compensated for the assistance we give.”
They stopped again, now at the apex of the large loop that swept around the outer fields. A pathway split away through the hills, still paved but no longer covered. Usually, their conversation would shift back to veiled threats and jabs as they rounded the curve back to the estate proper.
“How lovely it would be to have some precious gold to adorn Tam’s castle.” The Tam Ryu turned in a different direction than normal, headed away from the estate.
“Perhaps some could be spared, as a gift between our families—a gesture of thanks.” Coletta heard the request clearly. It was a request that all prior conversations with the Ryu had prepared her to hear.
“I said it before, Coletta’Ryu—you are much too generous.” Doriv smiled, showing her razor-sharp teeth.
Coletta did the same.
Doriv folded her hands before her. “I hear rumors too that Yveun’s refineries are taking shape.”
That was the greatest lie of them all. The refineries were a failure. Difficult to maintain, difficult to feed with resources. They were glorified houses for the gold she had stolen from Loom, a fa?ade and nothing more.
“Would you like to see one?” Coletta knew better than to deny the woman, which would only raise suspicion. She knew the request was inevitable, but trusted that her carefully crafted plans would yield the expected result.
Coletta knew something was wrong the moment the wind shifted around them. The air smelled sweet, rather than sharp with the metallic tang of the refinery. She couldn’t demand they turn around; to do so would be admitting something had gone awry. But as the refineries nestled in the hills beyond the Rok Estate came into view, Coletta wasn’t prepared for what she found.
“It’s quiet.”
Damn Doriv and her observations. “We run it on alternate days, so as not to draw too much attention to it.”
The Tam Ryu gave a small hum of amusement.
“I can see the gold transported to you from here,” Coletta offered, trying to arrest their progress.
“I’d like to see these operations—temples of industry from the world below.”
Coletta had no grounds to object, so she didn’t. She continued onward and downward to the main entry. The tangy sweet smell became overwhelming; Coletta had no option to brace herself.
“We’ll head straight to the storehouse.” Whatever had happened here, Coletta would deal with later. For now, she’d show the gold she’d stolen from Loom, keep the illusion of a strong House Rok, and get Doriv out as quickly as possible.