But she didn’t want to think on it. Now that she knew the Vicar Alchemist was someone from the last rebellion, all she wanted to do now was get out of the Guild as fast as possible.
She glanced at Florence from the corners of her eyes. There was still that loose end to tie up. She may have to use whatever good feelings Sophie held for her to get Florence the treatment she needed. Ari would swallow the thought of staying a night or three under the Alchemists’ roof for that. But no longer.
“It’s not a message.” Cvareh stepped forward. “I have something I stole from the Dragon King. I brought it as a measure of good faith from House Xin. We want to align with you. We want to help you overthrow him.”
“Large words from a Dragon.” Arianna was relieved to see that Sophie could manage some measure of skepticism. “What do you have that you think could sway us in such a manner?”
Cvareh opened his folio and finally produced the stack of papers that had started everything long before they’d even brought him to her. The very sight of them filled Arianna with anger. It was a frustrating contrast, that a man who had come to fill her with an odd sort of curiosity and infatuation could also bear something that turned him into a vision of pure loathing.
He presented Sophie schematics with both hands; Arianna felt sick. She knew all she had done, everything she had put Florence through, was to allow history to repeat itself.
But a different feeling sparked as the documents changed hands. Cvareh looked at her with wide eyes. He’d felt the spark too. The scales had tipped, and the subconscious drive that had pushed Arianna to get him to the Alchemists’ Guild now was transferred to him. He was hers. The boon contract had been fulfilled.
“Sophie, foremost,” Arianna interrupted before the woman could get a good look. “I have a favor to ask.”
“For you?”
Arianna nodded. “For old times’ sake.” She wanted to vomit in disgust at playing that card.
“Of course, anything. What do you need?” Sophie smiled sweetly, but Arianna could practically see her mixing the elements of their conversation to form an imagined debt that Arianna would now owe her.
“Florence was injured en route here. She had to imbibe as a Fenthri.” Sophie didn’t seem surprised. She could likely sense it in the girl from the moment they walked in the room.
“You want her to be a Chimera?” Sophie clarified.
“She must be, or she’ll die. There isn’t much time left before her organs are beyond repair. This has been going on for weeks now.”
“I see.” Sophie grimaced. “Derek, prepare a transfusion room, begin as soon as it and the young woman here are prepared.”
“Thank you, Sophie.” Arianna didn’t need to lie about her gratitude. “If you’ll excuse us, we’ve had a long journey…”
She had to get out of the room. She’d do anything to get out of the room.
“You can rest in a vacant Master’s chambers. I trust you still remember where they are?”
“I could never forget.”
“Help yourselves to whatever you need. I’ll find you later and we can discuss further what you can do to help our cause.” Sophie smiled and Arianna grated her teeth, trying to smile in kind.
Taking Florence by the hand, she practically dragged the girl from the room. She had to get on the lift before Sophie had a chance to really look at what Cvareh had brought her. But Arianna knew there would only be so long she could avoid that conversation.
37. Cvareh
He watched Arianna go, magic still arcing between his veins like electricity. The desire to not let her out of his sight no longer stemmed only from his growing fondness for the woman, but now from his desire to fulfill her every wish—any wish. All she had to do was ask it of him. He feared the longer she went without demanding the boon of him, the further her very presence would drive him to insanity.
Still, he struggled for focus on the matter at hand instead of the Chimera who had just left the room. The woman was staring wide-eyed at the papers, slowly thumbing through them. He suspected from her expression alone that she already knew what they contained.
“They’re for the Philosopher’s Box,” he announced proudly. “I uncovered that the King had acquired them from a Rivet here on Loom during the last rebellion. I’m afraid I don’t know all the details of what or how, but I thought it could be of use.”
The woman placed them aside on the table, looking at him skeptically. It was not the reaction he’d been expecting, to say the least.
“I’ve traveled quite far to bring them to you. House Xin hopes the schematics can be finished and once they are, we will supply the necessary Dragon organs to see perfect Chimeras made,” he fumbled over his words. The more he talked, the less she seemed inclined to him. “I know they’re unfinished but—”
“You have no idea what you’ve brought me, do you?” The Vicar placed her hands on her hips.