Something was shifting in the Vault of the Camelia and not for the better. Something that set Finn's teeth on edge. With Captain Li's help they changed the entire guard rotation and sealed up every entrance except the main doors, including a dozen tunnels used to smuggle out artifacts.
They were still finding missing artifacts, but they'd managed to stop new things from going missing after they completed room inventories, even though they weren't sure which tunnel or guards had actually been the ones still in use. With the majority of the Camelia out fighting, focus had shifted and only Finn and Captain Li were still worrying about the black market, which Finn figured explained why it had lasted so long.
Marian's focus was on maintaining the castle and Brendan, while her cousin ran the estate in Chenzhou's absence.
Finn had been a bit forgotten, but he understood. He'd already heard the stories about Eirian's first battle and it sounded like she'd won the hearts of the soldiers with her, on top of utterly terrifying their enemies. Emmy and Patrick had been soaking up the stories and Finn knew both of them were a bit disappointed to not have been there in person.
….
The bodies of those lost in the battle had started coming home that morning though, so Finn wasn't upset that they'd had to stay behind. He'd never seen so many still bodies, wrapped in layers of cloth and death herbs to preserve the body for burning.
They all burned their dead. The ceremonies and traditions differed, but the act itself was the same. It was an odd thing all the civilizations on the Rock had in common, left over from some history they'd all forgotten.
The Honor Fires would be burning for days and the Camelia's red flags had already been replaced with black to signify they were mourning. Finn had attended the first Return to Rest, when the bodies were brought back through the gate, with Emmy and Patrick and while the crowd had ebbed and flowed since the first just after dawn, there was still a large group of civilians and off duty soldiers and it would be until the last body was carried through.
"I found two more empty spaces," Patrick announced. "Another necklace, they steal those a lot, I think? Also, why are there so many magical necklaces? You'd think they'd want variety. Also, wouldn't people immediately suspect a necklace when weird stuff started happening?"
"What else is missing?" Emmy broke in, eyes a little crazy. She's been going a bit mad doing nothing but working in the Vault after getting a taste of working for Yuze, not that Finn blamed her. Emmy was meant for greater things, even if she remained convinced that class played more of role in that than talent.
Patrick back tracked, reading the faded labeled. "Uh, a metal signet ring."
Finn frowned thoughtfully. "Rings are kind of rare."
Patrick nodded enthusiastically. "I'd make more rings than necklaces. More variety? Plus they're smaller, harder to see?"
Finn but Emmy looked at them both with that particular look that said they were idiots. "Rings are harder to resize. Necklaces are more flexible and easier to take apart and remake."
"Ohhh…That actually makes sense." Finn admitted. He didn't know much about jewelry. Maybe he should start learning? He was certainly trying to track enough of it.
"It's getting late. We should eat and rest." Patrick's stomach growled, making Finn and Emmy jump.
"It is late," Emmy agreed and sighed. She wanted this assignment over and done with and had been pushing to start earlier and stay later each day to try and speed it up.
Finn turned to gather his things, shoving the current Inventory they were checking, his scroll, ink, and quill into his bag. He was just checking to make sure he hadn't forgotten the scroll of notes he'd already written when Patrick and Emmy froze and turned suddenly towards the door.
"Wha-" Patrick clamped a hand over his mouth before he could finish and Finn froze. Patrick and Emmy had much better instincts than he did because of their childhood on the streets.
Emmy put a finger to her lip as she reached for her sword with her other hand. Patrick released Finn to grab his own and Finn's hand fell to the blade at his waist, his palm already starting to sweat.
Emmy crept towards the door, peering out as much as she could without sticking her head out.
After a second she waved Finn and Patrick behind her and they crossed the room, stepping slowly to insure they didn't make a sound.
She didn't speak but once they were pressed against the wall behind her she pointed down the hall. Most of the Vault was dark this late at night, Finn only kept the areas they were working in lit, and the torches eventually burnt out.
Several doors down, the current hallway they were working on split at a three way. Finn could just make out the wall straight ahead and to the right, the feint flicker of light.
He tapped Emmy's arm frantically, until she turned around and grabbed his face with one hand and squeezed. She mouthed 'I know' before she let him go and the three of them watched and waited with baited breath.
The weak light flickered, fading so completely at one point that Finn thought it had gone out completely, only to brighten again a minute later. He tried to breath shallowly, to listen more and slowly the sounds came to him.
He could hear all three of them breathing, beyond that he could here something dripping slowly, the sound of shifting rock and dirt that all mountains made if you listened long and close enough, and then, beyond the silence of cold, damp air, the scritch and pat of footsteps.
Emmy and Patrick could probably hear more, they were both so still, heads tilted and Finn copied them to see if it helped.
The drag of a shoe in the small piles of dirt that accumulated in the corners of the Vault became clearer.
And then the drag of something much larger.
~ tbc