The Rise of the Black Plain

Chapter 2809  Discreet Encounter

The next morning dawned with a hazy golden light filtering through the ornate windows of the inn where Minos' group had taken residence.

Situated near the bustling commercial center of the capital city, the establishment was a favored haunt of merchants from far and wide, its rooms filled with the low hum of trade negotiations and the clink of coins changing hands.

Minos and his companions had meticulously crafted the persona of traveling traders. They moved through the city with calculated nonchalance, engaging in minor transactions and absorbing the ebb and flow of local gossip without betraying their true intentions.

Their carefully cultivated facade served as a shield, deflecting unwanted attention and allowing them to navigate the treacherous waters of a city teeming with potential adversaries. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The previous evening had seen them indulging in a rare moment of levity. Despite the weight of their dangerous mission and the proximity of powerful foes, they had allowed themselves to unwind in a local restaurant.

As the new day broke, they found themselves in a tavern of considerably less repute than their usual haunts. The establishment was a melting pot of social classes, its patrons a motley assortment of laborers, merchants, and the occasional lofty slumming for a thrill. The clash of accents and dialects created a cacophony that seemed to make the very air vibrate with energy.

Minos and his group had positioned themselves strategically, their eyes constantly scanning the room even as they feigned interest in their barely touched breakfast.

The coarse bread and watered-down ale were a far cry from their usual fare, but maintaining their cover was paramount.

It was in this moment of staged normalcy that a figure materialized at their table, seeming to materialize from the very shadows themselves. Clad entirely in black, with not so much as a sliver of skin visible, the newcomer settled into one of the few empty chairs with a grace that belied their obvious fatigue.

The ambient noise of the tavern provided the perfect cover for this meeting. Only Minos, with his heightened senses and constant vigilance, registered the newcomer's approach.

"Minos, it's me," the figure breathed, their voice barely above a whisper. Despite the obvious attempt at disguise, Minos recognized the timbre immediately. There was an undercurrent of exhaustion in the words, a subtle sigh that spoke volumes about the trials the speaker had endured.

Without shifting his gaze from the half-eaten meal before him, Minos replied in an equally low tone, his lips barely moving. "I know. You've kept me waiting. Your caution is… noted."

Ysolt exhaled, her sigh barely audible beneath the cacophony of the tavern. Her eyes, hidden behind the veil of her disguise, tracked a young server as he wove through the crowded establishment.

"Bring me an ale," she commanded, her voice carefully modulated to maintain her facade. As the words left her lips, she was aware of her guards strategically positioned at three different points around the bustling tavern, their vigilant gazes sweeping the room for any sign of threat.

The place they were in looked like a large glass-roofed bar, with an island with various professionals and artifacts behind the drinks and food in the area, surrounded by tables of various kinds, like a food court.

There were at least 200 people there at the moment, most of them talking, creating a chaotic symphony amid the shouts of the tavern staff.

"You look better than me now," Ysolt observed, risking a sidelong glance at Minos before redirecting her gaze to the tavern's extravagant decor.

Her eyes roamed over the gilded columns, the intricate tapestries depicting heroic legends, and the crystal chandeliers that hung like frozen waterfalls from the ceiling. This was a place frequented by not just common guards, but by even royalty, its opulence a testament to the wealth and power that flowed through the capital's veins.

Despite her attempt at nonchalance, Ysolt couldn't suppress a shiver of shock as she regarded Minos from the corner of her eye. The man she had encountered years ago had undergone a metamorphosis, emerging as a figure of mystery and power.

His presence now exuded an aura of expertise that seemed to confound even her well-honed methods of perception. It was as if a veil had been drawn across her prophetic vision; the future that had once been an open book to her was now frustratingly opaque where Minos was concerned.

His words only deepened her unease. While her own sight had been clouded, Minos had gained an uncanny insight into her recent travails.

"You've had your challenges, and I've had mine," Minos replied, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. His arms encircled Ruth and Gloria in a gesture of casual affection, while across the table, Abby focused intently on her meal.

"But let's not squander the precious few moments we have. My presence in this city serves to your leader. Your current location no longer holds any interest for us." His eyes, sharp and calculating, met Ysolt's hidden gaze. "We should move to a more… suitable venue for our discussion."

"That's going to be complicated." She said with a palpable pessimism in her voice. "We're in a place where they won't be able to reach us, but any move we make will attract the attention of those that even you can't fool. The best thing for us is for you to act on other fronts of our struggles."

"No," he stated firmly. "You'll fall if we don't act, and I'll lose the opportunity to have someone of my own in control of these lands." He didn't bother to mask his ambitions, laying them bare with frankness. "Tell her I'll clear the way. Your group will know when it's time to move. We'll provide protection and secure a new base of operations for you."

She looked directly at Minos with an inquisitive look, as if asking if this was really serious.

He looked back at Ysolt, making sure that he was in full mental capacity to confirm such a thing.

"That's crazy," Ysolt breathed, the words escaping her lips almost involuntarily.

"It's what must be done," Minos replied, his tone brooking no further argument. "Now go. We've talked about enough." As he spoke, he made a subtle gesture, a mere flick of his fingers that could have been mistaken for a casual movement. But in that instant, Ysolt felt a chill race down her spine as she caught sight of a golden gleam in Minos' eyes.

The surrounding air seemed to crackle with an unseen energy, and Ysolt found herself transfixed by Minos' gaze. In that moment, she realized with a start that Minos was peering into the future.

For the first time in what felt like eons, Ysolt found herself in the unfamiliar position of being guided by a superior seer. The sensation was both unsettling and oddly comforting. A part of her wanted to resist, to assert her own formidable abilities and question Minos' judgment. But a deeper instinct, honed by years of survival in a world of intrigue and danger, counseled trust.

She had witnessed Minos' capabilities when he was but a fraction of what he had become. Now, as he stood before her, radiating power and confidence, she found herself unable—and unwilling—to doubt him. The young man she had once known had evolved into something far beyond her expectations!

Without further hesitation, Ysolt rose from her seat. As she navigated through the crowded tavern, her guards—scattered strategically throughout the establishment—moved as well.

The constant movement of people in and out of the bustling establishment provided the perfect cover for their discreet exit.

"Time to move the local mechanisms and make room for our escape." Minos muttered as he looked at his women, quite aware of what could move the local eyes and open the way for his group's escape.

"It's going to be risky." Abby warned him, having already put her plans into action the night before. "The Macabre Horde might distract the weaker ones, but the one called the Eternal Death will be harder to fool."

Their plan was simply to attract the Macabre Horde and simulate a Mylecent movement, like the one that had happened at Cursed Rock decades ago. The royal family knew that she could be hiding in the city, so this wouldn't confirm anything more than they already expected. But such an act could create a distraction for a fake escape.

Minos smiled at his wife's warning, aware that it wouldn't be easy.

"Let's get ready. This doesn't have to happen in one night." He stood up, paying his group's bill, before continuing with his façade plans.

They still intended to stay in town for a few days before making their big move!