I'm Done Holding Back

Chapter Thirty-Five: Return To Vardaros

     "You don't have to lie," Vex says. "I know our city isn't on the top of the 'Best Places To Visit' list. But I'd like to think we're a work in progress."

They have only been talking for a few seconds, but to Cassandra it seems like entirely too long and she feels the desire to interrupt them. She steps in front of Vex, standing directly between her and Varian. "Hey Vex, is there somewhere else we can talk? Away from prying eyes?" She glances at a random citizen, who is not-so-subtly eavesdropping nearby.

"Sure, you guys can come with me to my office." Vex motions for them to follow her, and she leads them through the city to a familiar building that Cassandra recalls visiting before. Inside, Vex takes a seat behind the desk. "So, Cass, what's brought you here?"

"We're looking for something, and we were hoping you might be able to help," Cassandra replies. "The only clue we have to its whereabouts is that it's in a mine."

"We have a lot of mines around here," Vex says. "Could take a while to search them all. What in particular are you looking for?"

"An orb," Varian says. He pulls the previous orb they found on Terapi Island out of his backpack, and shows it to Vex. "We can't convey all the details, but it's extremely important that we find it."

"It might have a symbol similar to this nearby, if it helps any," Hugo says, showing her the journal page of the infinity symbol.

Vex regards the journal page. "Oh yeah, I've seen that symbol outside of the abandoned mine," Vex says. "The door is sealed, though, and there's no other way in. No one's been in there for years."

"That won't be a problem," Varian says, his excitement evident. "Can you take us there?"

"I would be happy to," Vex says. A strange phrase to hear coming from her. Vex seemed to bond with Cassandra when they visited here last time, but as Cass recalls the girl didn't want to do anything to help them without receiving something in return. Particularly money. But the way she's looking at Varian...

     "You would?" Cassandra says, raising an irritated eyebrow. "I don't remember you doing anything for free." Her tone is sharper than she meant it to be, but it's too late to do anything about it.

     "I've changed," Vex says, seeming surprised by Cassandra's words. "I can help, just as long as we're not gone too long. My people... Well, we're facing a bit of a crisis."

"Oh? What kind of crisis?" Varian asks, as Ruddiger climbs up onto his shoulder.

"We're in the midst of a drought," Vex explains. "I can't remember the last time it rained here. Drinking water has been scarce, crops are suffering... It's been a problem, to say the least."

"Well then, we wouldn't want to impose," Cassandra says, overeager to jump at the chance to keep Vex from traveling with them. "Maybe you could show us where the mine is on a map, and we'll head there ourselves."

"Oh, okay." There is slight disappointment in Vex's eyes as she briefly glances in Varian's direction. But Cassandra shifts herself in front of him to cut off Vex's line of sight. "I can do that. Probably for the best, anyway."

"Great," Cassandra says, a smidge too fervidly.

Vex pulls out a map, and spreads it across her desk. She uses a pencil to circle a specific spot. "It's around this area. It would be about half a day's hike on foot, so you should take your balloon instead. You know, since you're in such a hurry."

     Is that a bit of sass that Cassandra detects? "Thanks," she says abruptly, grabbing the map and heading towards the door.

"Thank you for the help," Hugo says to Vex with an exaggerated flourish.

"I wish we could help with the drought problem," Varian says. "Maybe if we—"

"You boys coming, or what?" Cassandra shouts.

Abhu grimaces. "She keeps getting more bossy..."

"Really?" Vex says. "Seems to be about the same amount of bossy as I remember." She gives Ruddiger a scritch under his chin, which he leans into so much that he almost falls off of Varian's shoulder. "Hope you guys find what you're looking for."

(Vex's new outfit was designed by my best friend, Cricket.)