Riley Fenn's Arc

Chapter 3 of 5

Riley spent the rest of that day searching for the hooded woman. She checked the market stalls, the public well, the benches near the guild hall where visitors waited. Nothing. By sunset she had to accept that the woman wouldn't appear just because Riley needed her to. The crystal was the only proof that mattered, and Riley had no idea where it was. But the next morning, she found it. Someone had hung it from the archway near the community board, suspended on a thin wire so it caught the light. The crystal was larger than Riley expected, cut with sharp facets that threw blue and violet patterns across the ground. Tiny etchings covered its surface — certification marks, dates, transaction codes. Evidence that could be read by anyone who knew guild seals. A small crowd had already gathered beneath it, pointing and whispering. Riley pushed closer and saw Halver striding toward the board, his face tight with anger. He reached for the wire. Riley stepped forward without thinking and said his name loud enough that the crowd turned to look. Halver's hand stopped. He looked at her, then at the watching merchants, then back at the crystal. He lowered his hand and walked away. Riley stood there as people began to ask questions she couldn't answer yet. But she'd done it. She'd chosen a side in front of witnesses, and now there was no going back.