Mantle of the Gods

I told Tophua everything about our mission.

I assumed that most people would learn what was happening anyway and even if Tophua was in on it, the others were already on the sixtieth floor investigating whatever was happening there.

The older man stopped right outside of the Authority Station. “You should have been a little more discreet with the details.” He looked us over and for a moment I was starting to regret trusting him. “How do you know I’m not a Cultist?”

I could feel Ether tense up beside me, but he was a Tier Four. If he wanted to hurt us, there was nothing we could do about it.

“I don’t.” I took a deep breath, “But if you are, then us showing up with them has already told you that we’re on to you. So nothing I told you would be anything you didn’t know or wouldn’t know soon.” I looked towards the bar, then back at him, “And if you aren’t, then we can use all the help we can get.”

The black-haired man started laughing, “Maybe I read you wrong.” He nodded back towards the dungeon, “Go ahead and get back to your mission. I’ll get these squared away and wait for the others.”

I looked at the rest of my team. It felt weird to leave while we were so close, but we’d left Rix down there alone and she probably already had the other two rooms restrained and was waiting on us.

“Thanks!” I turned around and started jogging back towards the gate.

“Did you really think that through?” Ether was having to run to keep up with me, “Or were you just playing it by ear?”

I shrugged, “If he is with them, then there’s nothing we could do about it if he wanted to hurt us.” I swallowed. “Every one of the high Tier people Trent trusted are in the lower floors.” I looked around at the Mappers that were watching us head back to the dungeon, “Do you really think that none of them are a part of this?”

Ren moved closer to me. Aelin turned to our audience and stuck out her tongue.

“Aelin!” Ether smacked her.

“What?” The blonde grinned, “They can’t all be in on it.” She turned back to the crowd, “That’s right you Wurn heathens! We aren’t stopping until we round all of you up!”

I saw a blonde-haired, green eyed woman in her mid thirties glaring at us with a clenched fist. I made a note of her face to tell Trent later. She may have just hated hearing the word, but it was still probably worth checking out.

“Aelin.” I leaned against the gate with one hand as I set it to open to the second floor, “You remember that some of them could squash us right?” I nodded at the white-haired woman in between us and the rest of the town, “Ether’s right, we really shouldn’t be antagonizing them. Especially not when Trent’s not around.”

“Fine.” Aelin crossed her arms. She kicked at the floor. “How do you think Justia is doing?”

“She has Gesai with her.” I backed away from the gate as it began connecting to the floor that I’d set. “She’s in one of the safest places she can be.”

“Yes, but…” Aelin watched the gate flare to life. “How do you think she’s handling all of this?”

“All we’re doing is arresting people and bringing them back.” I put my hand on the blonde’s shoulder, “She’ll be fine. And as soon as we’re done, we get to head to Mive to find the next member of our team.” I pushed her, “And you can shower. You stink.”

“I smell like a spring rose compared to you.” She stuck out her tongue as she slapped me on the chest. “Tag!”

“Aelin!” I tried to grab her, but she’d already run through the gate.

I looked over at Oz, who was running towards the gate. The black-haired woman stopped and looked at the rest of us, “You know she’s not going to wait for us.” He stepped through the gate.

I hurried after the pair with Ren and Ether right behind me. Maybe we could get this done without any issues.