The adventurers pulled up in the yard of an inn that was supposedly very worldly and interesting. It did not look like much from the outside, though. It was not much on the inside, either, and Ted soon found himself rather understimulated. They stayed for a while and continued their journey towards the capital.
It had many names. Crown Jewel, that was one. Daggertown. Xetter. That was how the history books had once called it.
It was certainly a step away from the dim glow of Sennite architecture, with its glorious gilded pillars supporting the roofs of temples that still served as homes for the gods that the people here had worshiped for centuries. Perhaps it was this continuity that had kept the nation afloat, standing fast, not crumbling under the tests of wind or time. The buildings soared up to high heavens, and not even airships were allowed to fly over the city, for the skyscrapers – that was what they were called – posed a real danger for them. Ted did not understand how such buildings could even exist, let alone be built and kept in good shape during economic difficulties. Mad tried to explain it, of course, but he gave up as he noticed a little kiosk selling chewing tobacco and cotton candy.
"Didn't think you were the type to like sweets," Ted said.
"It beats telling you about the ins and outs of building a house the size of a dragon. I am not too fond of houses. They have a nasty habit of feeling smaller once you step inside."
Ted knew what Madorn meant, but did not quite relate to the sentiment. Ted liked being indoors. If he pulled the curtains tight enough over his vast windows, he could almost forget that the sun existed.
For whatever reason, though, the light did not bother him, this pleasant feeling continued and he was able to stroll down the streets at any moment, if he wanted to – the torture had stopped.
That joy did not last three days.
One night Ted woke up to a banging on the door.
He put his clothes on as quickly as he could and opened up.
The local equivalent of a city watch was there, but there was something else that was wrong. The men were not only wearing the ordinary clothes of the Diamond Guard – they had gold-colored helmets. Surely they were not fully golden, for such a formidable weight would have been extremely impractical, but there were lots of gilded details on their uniforms that suggested a proximity to the Diamond King.
Ted did not fight back as the men took him, Eknie and Mad to an inn that seemed luxurious.
No one wanted to elaborate on the reason for this. The men told Ted he would find out next morning.
Ted squeezed his hands together in front of the fireplace, refusing to go to sleep.
"This is because of me," Mad said.
Ted had thought so. Madorn was not wanted here – it could have been because of the competition. Since Mad was not particularly blue in blood, he was vulnerable in a special way despite his outstanding intelligence.
"I appreciate that you didn't feel the need to utter a half-hearted apology," Ted said. "You have integrity. I like that."
"I would never lowball you like that, Ted. This is on those who got us here. I can't be blamed for being too good at what I do."
"Then, what do you think they'll ask from us?" Eknie asked. "For us to leave? Not before we have completed our mission, oh no!"
"Mad has to ghostwrite some scientific papers for his competitors or something like that," Ted said. "I am sure they don't want to make Sennas their enemy again. Someone around here must know what I am all about. People don't want to make enemies out of men like me. Shut me in a gilded cage, sure, treat me well and I will forgive that. But trying to get rid of me for good…"
He shook his head. "If I was capable of feeling pity, I would drown my enemies in it and send nice cards to their widows."
Madorn looked like he was biting his cheek. "That's beautiful. And not at all pompous. You know, Ted, in your case that might be justified. But if I heard a lesser man say those exact things, I would be amused."
"You seem to fare well under pressure." Ted looked at the warm glow of wood burning. The warmth melted him from the inside. It had been a cold night so far, even surprisingly cold.
"Can I take this and apply it as a standard to everything you do from now on?" he asked Mad.
The scientist shrugged. "Just don't get me drunk. I have heard that rum and branthen turn me into an insufferable oaf."
"Why don't you get into his room for that kind of talk, Madorn?" Eknie asked, a bit too sourly for Ted's liking.
"Eknie, stop being stupid. You have no right to be jealous right now," Ted said. He felt a bit angry – he had to have the right to exchange casual banter with others as well. He couldn't put all his eggs in one basket.
Eknie was a particularly broken basket. While efficient, every now and then she made her pretty face scrunch up when Ted dared to move too close to another human being. These details were becoming more and more apparent. Ted did not like that at all. He felt suffocated, restricted, even wronged, even though he was not in the right to lead her on like this.
It was not like he actually cared about being right, morally speaking.
"I'm sorry," Eknie said, the comforting sheepishness gliding back over her features. She let her eyes get all droopy and sleepy again. She curled up in the armchair and covered a yawn with both hands.
"We are too tired to be talking about this stuff." Ted stretched his legs. "Tomorrow, it's reasons or regicide."