Duke Kassadin summoned Jayce a few days later and he was surprised that neither Jax not Irelia were present.
Jayce stood before Duke Kassadin ready to draw the Morning Star and defend himself at a moment's notice, his heart heavy with anticipation. He expected discipline for his audacious act of slapping Irelia and for uncovering the Duke's plot to unsettle his rival, the albino Duke of Essex.
The room was adorned with opulence as always, the flickering candlelight casting dancing shadows on the lavish tapestries that adorned the walls.
The Duke's voice, tinged with a mix of authority and intrigue, broke the silence. "The spy has perished under the weight of interrogation," he announced, his words carrying a sense of finality. "But not before revealing some important information."
Jayce's eyes widened, his curiosity piqued. What secrets did the fallen spy hold? The Duke continued. "The one who uncovers my spies belongs to a cult that was banished from the Kingdom of Fire centuries ago. They are now working hand in glove with the Earth Kingdom. The true nature of their alliance is a mystery to me."
The Duke said, "They have a secret weapon, a female acolyte of the cult who can sense light and darkness in people's hearts. She is their instrument for uncovering spies."
"And now," the Duke's voice lowered, becoming more foreboding, "They have discovered evidence of a spy that I embedded in the military of the Earth Kingdom during the great war. This spy has remained undercover for decades."
"You must eradicate all evidence of the spy, including the spy himself," the Duke said. "Do you have what it takes to do it?"
Pushing aside his doubts, Jayce met the Duke's gaze with unwavering determination. "I accept the mission," he declared.
The Duke nodded, a faint hint of satisfaction playing at the corners of his lips. "Very well. You will be traveling to the far reaches of the Earth Kingdom. For that, you will need a fast ship, one that can get you in and out undetected."
He motioned towards the window, where the bustling port of Dorset came into view. "There is a corvette waiting for you at the port. It flies under the flag of the Water Kingdom, ensuring it will not be subjected to search. It is one of the fastest merchant vessels. Go now."
This time, Irelia did not accompany Jayce, and Jax offered the excuse of attending to another mission.
One ship stood out among the many large and bulky vessels at the busy port. Jayce saw a flag with a silver fish on a brown background fluttering on its mast. A sailor with a face that showed years of experience came up to him and explained, "That's the flag of the Water Kingdom merchants." He glanced at Jayce's sword, Morning Star, and warned him, "If you value that sword, keep it close to you in Valonia. Things tend to disappear there without a trace."
Jayce shrugged off the warning.
The sailor asked him in a rough but friendly voice, "Are you sent by the Black Phoenix?" Jayce nodded. The sailor said, "I can take you where you need to go, but I need some time to get ready. It's not easy to enter and leave the ports of the Earth Kingdom. I've mastered that skill."
Jayce was curious and asked, "What kind of preparations do we need?" The sailor smiled mysteriously and said, "You'll see."
As Jayce stepped aboard the ship, a pungent scent assaulted his senses—the unmistakable odor of raw fish. He wrinkled his nose, unable to conceal his distaste. "Why are you carrying fish?" he asked, his tone laced with reluctance.
The captain's reply was matter-of-fact. "An empty merchant ship is too suspicious, my friend," he explained. Jayce conceded, understanding the necessity, however unpleasant it may be.
Over the course of the voyage, the ship proved its reputation for speed, effortlessly outpacing any other vessel that dared to challenge it. Jayce found solace in the fact that they were swiftly leaving the aroma of raw fish behind. Yet, as the days passed, he noticed something peculiar—the scent of fish had vanished altogether.
Confused, Jayce voiced his observation to the sailors. Their response sent a ripple of laughter through the crew. "If you're around fish long enough, the smell becomes the new normal," one of them explained, their amusement evident.
Jayce's horrified expression mirrored his internal dismay, as he resigned himself to the lingering scent of the sea and the camaraderie of the sailors, finding solace in the shared laughter that echoed across the ship's deck.