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Chapter 22: The Dragon Record
Stravos had barely left the Divers Guild when he realized he could not afford to wait for the supervisor's inspection report. The sketch of the Dragon's crest remained fresh in his mind, and the thought that an object bearing an ancient Dragon lineage's mark had passed through Eldora without attracting attention irritated him more than he cared to admit.He had seen that crest before, though the memory was buried beneath centuries of battles, rivalries, and the faces of Dragons who were no longer alive. He could not yet place the exact lineage, but he knew the design was old, and its appearance on a shipment of ordinary trade goods made little sense.Someone had gone to considerable trouble to conceal the container, falsify the delivery records, and remove it before the Guild could inspect the cargo. Whatever was inside, its value was clearly not measured in the ordinary coins merchants counted at the end of a profitable day.Stravos adjusted his coat and headed toward the eastern dis
Chapter 21: The Cargo's True Value
Stravos returned to the eastern district before dawn, when the streets were still quiet and most of Eldora's merchants had yet to open their shops. The previous night's encounter with Corven had left him with more questions than answers, particularly the map he had seen through the narrow gap in the shutters and the unidentified man who had been discussing it with the merchant.He had considered returning directly to the Divers Guild, but doing so without knowing what Corven was planning would only give the man more time to cover his tracks. If the location marked on that map was connected to the missing shipments, Stravos intended to find out before anyone could remove the evidence.The building Corven had visited stood farther down the eastern road, its unmarked entrance now secured behind a heavy wooden door. Stravos approached from the opposite side of the street, keeping his attention on the windows and the narrow passage beside the building, but there was no sign of movement ins
Chapter 20: The Price of a Secret
Stravos kept his eyes on the stretch of road where Master Corven had disappeared, refusing to let the crowd distract him from the man he had just identified. Pell Arwick stood beside him with his fingers clenched around the strap of his satchel, his face drained of the confidence he had managed to maintain throughout their meeting.“Was that really him?” Stravos asked, keeping his voice low as he glanced at Pell.Pell swallowed before answering, his gaze darting toward the passing merchants and the narrow alleys between the buildings. “Yes, that was Master Corven, and if he saw us together, he already knows I've told you something I shouldn't have.”“You make it sound as though he owns the streets.”“He doesn't need to own them,” Pell replied, lowering his voice further. “People listen when he speaks, and those who don't usually learn why they should have.”Stravos studied him for a moment, paying attention to the tension in his shoulders and the way he kept checking behind them. Fear
Chapter 19: The Man Behind the Contract
By evening, Stravos had read Oren Halwick's records twice and memorized the names connected to the missing shipments. The figures were consistent enough to establish a pattern, but the person who had arranged the transactions remained hidden behind intermediaries and receiving agents. If the meeting Gus had arranged went well, Stravos might finally learn who was directing the operation rather than chasing the people carrying it out.The eastern road was quieter after sunset, though the warehouses remained active as merchants rushed to finish their deliveries before the gates closed. Stravos walked with his hands tucked into his coat, watching the shadows between buildings and the occasional wagon rolling past. He had received one warning already, and he had no intention of walking into another man's warehouse without checking his surroundings first.The meeting place was a narrow storage building behind a row of trading houses, its front door marked only by a faded number. A lantern h
Chapter 18: The Merchant Who Paid Twice
Stravos read the warning one final time before slipping it into his coat, his expression remaining calm despite the message's obvious intention. Whoever had sent it knew about the ledger and his investigation into Marcell Voss, which meant news of the discovery had already reached someone outside the Guild. The speed of that response bothered him more than the threat itself, because it suggested that the people behind the missing shipments were watching the investigation closely. He continued down the street, allowing the morning crowd to carry him away from the Guild's entrance. Merchants were opening their stalls, porters were pushing loaded carts through the narrow roads, and the smell of fresh bread drifted from a nearby bakery, but Stravos paid little attention to the activity around him. His thoughts remained fixed on the warning and the name that had frightened the man at the old station. He had two immediate leads: Gus's merchant contact and the records connecting Veyran Doss
Chapter 17: The Name That Frightened Him
By the time Stravos reached the Divers Guild, the eastern sky had begun to pale, and the streets were slowly filling with merchants preparing for another day of business. The man beside him had remained unusually quiet throughout the journey, occasionally glancing at the ledger beneath Stravos's coat as though he were calculating how much damage its contents could cause. Stravos noticed every glance, but he kept his attention on the road ahead, unwilling to let his captive sense how much he still needed to learn.The Guild hall was already open, and the familiar noise of members collecting assignments and clerks sorting documents greeted them as they entered. Several people turned to stare at the stranger Stravos was escorting, but he ignored their curiosity and headed straight for the supervisor's office. He had spent enough time chasing fragments of information, and now he had evidence that could force the investigation forward.The supervisor looked up from his desk when Stravos pu
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