Elsewhere, in the territory of Topazi, Akion and Rubia Quazson-Lorren walked hand-in-hand into the large meeting hall. Within the round room was a circular table and sixteen chairs. A general tone of chatter filled the room.
Some of the chairs were full. A pair of late-teenage twins sat next to each other bickering. A woman sat a few seats down from them, with a large shield-bearing man standing behind her. A dwarf woman with a crown sat opposite to the twins. A lionman sat next to her, trying and failing to talk to her. A few other seats were filled.
The married couple who had just arrived took their seats, with Akion helping his wife before sitting himself.
"I've told you before, Aki, that you don't have to do this for me." she said.
"And I've told you before that I want to. So I'll keep doing it."
She sighed in exasperation before looking around the table.
Six seats remained.
Over the next few minutes, a few more came in. One, a smug businessman in black. Another was an elderly man in blue furs. A third being a young man with teal skin and silver hair. Fourth, an old wizard with staff, hat, and robe.
The last two were usually late, if they showed up at all.
"Any word from Emm'e or Quarias?" Amelia, the woman who had the shield-bearer standing behind her, asked.
"You know them. Absolutely unpredictable. I'd call it a miracle if one of them showed up, let alone both!" Sol, the lionman jeered. "Let's just start without them."
As if to spite him, the doors burst open, revealing a woman with green skin and a forest-green hair. She looked irritated. Everyone at the table recognized her as Emm'e.
A humanoid figure of metal stood next to her. Where it would have a face, there was a smooth metal plate with two red lights blazing.
"This had better be important," Quarias, the mechanical being, said in the Quartzi language with an empty voice. Akion translated.
"It is." Elliah, white dragonoid and greatest contributor to the Gemguard Council, said. "Have a seat."
The two latecomers took their seats, which were opposite each other, and Emm'e stared down Elliah. "What's this about?"
"The Chaos has been more active recently. Our supplies transports are getting hijacked."
"That isn't new. The Chaos has been doing that from the get-go."
"There was a secret shipment." the old wizard interjected. "You wouldn't know about it because you refuse to attend these meetings. We were transporting a large stock of gems and the Quarzi artifact, but the caravan was intercepted despite having taken an ambiguous route."
"You found the Quarzi artifact." Quarias said, and Akion translated.
"And you lost it to a random bunch of bandits?" Emm'e asked incredulously.
"It wasn't random bandits," Patricia, one of the twins, said.
"They wore the Chaos brand. We were there to watch the cargo." Jianne finished.
Suspicious glances flew around the room.
"They got the Quartzi artifact, but you are alive. That is suspicious." Quarias voiced.
"No, no, no," Patricia waved her hands frantically during the translation, "we lost a couple of the Travelers who had found the artifact, but we successfully defended the artifact and most of the gem haul."
"And you're sure that the filthy Travelers were not in on it?" Emm'e spat.
"Why would they have come to the Gemguards about the relic if they were aligned with the Chaos?" Jianne countered.
As soon as she asked, though, an answer became clear to Akion. "They were trying to take one of us down." he said.
Patricia and Jianne looked shocked.
"No," Amelia chimed in, "the allied Travelers would have turned enemy should that have been the case."
Akion thought hard for a minute, rubbing his chin. But there was nothing that could explain the situation, except a traitor that was among the Gemguard Council. He looked at each member in turn, including the shield-bearer standing behind Amelia. There were no sentient guards, and the council chamber was soundproofed by his own handiwork. Only the council was even allowed near the chamber, so no one could hide a listening device within. But one of the council members could be eavesdropped on...
"Milady, could you cast this spell," Akion asked, expressing an arcane word from the old language. Akion had lost the ability to use the old language a long time ago, but knew the language well.
"Sure," Rubia replied, instantly understanding the meaning of the spell-word. She spoke it clearly, and her normally sapphire blue eyes flashed to a metallic silver. She looked around. "Jaeda, there is a device in your left boot. You too, Amanda, in your pocket. Amelia, your pocket too."
Jaeda, a well-aged young girl with narrow brown eyes and hip-length hair looked surprised. She took off her boot, turned it over, and shook it out to find a flat, circular device.
Amanda and Amelia both pulled out what they were carrying. Amelia had a puzzle box that Akion remembered crafting for her. Amanda held a knife.
"All three of you bring your device to me." Akion ordered. "I will inspect them."
The three women did as he asked, and he spent a few minutes tinkering with each one. His left eye crackled with electricity as he handled the devices.
Finally, he let out a sigh. "Thank goodness no one tried to tinker with my toy. Your puzzle box is safe, Amelia. The knife has some interesting properties, but nothing I was worried about. This, though," he held up the coin-shaped device, "is trouble." He smashed it between his fingers.
He continued, "That was a listening device created a little over one fef ago, just before our last meeting."
Rubia glanced around, but her vision locked on Sol for a moment. Something was off with the lionman. Rather than concerned, he seemed pleased? Rubia muttered something under her breath.
"What was that, Milady?" Akion asked, worried.
Rubia repeated the arcane word she had muttered aloud, without infusing mana with it. "Sol, would you care to explain what this 'masterful plan that was working so well', was?
She watched as his composure cracked for just a moment. "So you're the one prodding in my head without permission."
"Well?"
"Akion's plan was just so magnificent---"
"You embedded the listening device in Jaeda's boot." Rubia interrupted.
Several of the others nodded in agreement. Others gaped in astonishment. Sol's composure fell away, and he let out a snarl.
"How clever," Sol said, "I might need to kill you all right here."
"I dare you to try!" Emme shouted back. Flames seemed to roil from her with her rage. It could very well have also been her mana flaring up.
"Maybe another time, though." he said before disappearing with a brilliant flash. Most of the guards were able to block or avert their eyes, but they were all peppered with small light bolts.
As the light dispersed, Amelia immediately reached for her stoic guardian. "Shieldier! I can't see!" she wailed.
He held her gently. "Be patient. Your sight will come back." This was the first time most of the Gemguards had heard him speak, but none of them were surprised with his calm, almost impassive tone.
"That seeded the traitor out," Amanda said, trying to help everyone cheer up.
"I never liked him," Emm'e grumbled, sinking back into her chair, "I'm glad I don't have to pretend anymore."