Jistan

“And this was sculpted by my great-great-grandfather, who’d been one of the most famous xylomancers in Zanteos,” Keion said as they admired a wooden sculpture shaped like a tree, which even had little wooden birds and wooden leaves among the branches.

“How extraordinary,” Aladia said, studying the sculpture. She hadn’t let go of the Prince of Zanteos’ arm for the past hour they’d been walking around.

Jistan glanced at the sundial on his wrist for what must’ve been the fifteenth time. He was ready to make their move, but he was waiting on Aladia to bring up the subject so it wouldn’t seem suspicious coming from him.

Behind him, random notes blared from the piano in the corner. Jistan, Aladia, and Keion turned to see that Leiam had lifted the cover of the instrument and pressed a few keys.

“Sorry,” the metamancer said as he put the cover back down. Standing over by the door, Raz smirked.

Apparently, Jistan wasn’t the only bored person in the room.

Finally, Aladia cleared her throat. “I think we’ve seen almost every place of interest in your wonderful home. But one place I’m curious about is that fortress out back. What’s its purpose?”

Jistan listened intently for Keion’s reply, pretending to admire a set of drums.

“Ah, you’ve seen my father’s Treasure Fortress,” Keion said. “It is famous for its labyrinth beneath, which houses most of our family’s riches and heirlooms.”

“A labyrinth? Fascinating. What kind of treasure is inside? I’ve heard of some famous pieces your family owns.”

“Yes, you may have heard of the Opal of Oriah, the Hanuak Scimitar, and, of course, the Obsidian Chest.”

Aladia’s brow rose. “Yes, I’ve heard the Obsidian Chest contains an object of great power. What is it, like a necklace that gives the person wearing it the power to turn rocks into gold?”

Keion only smiled pleasantly at her, patting her hand on his arm. “That is one of our family secrets. We’re very protective of our treasures.”

“Ah. I suppose that means it would be too much to hope for a tour of the Treasure Fortress?”

“Yes. My father would see my head roll if I ever let anyone inside who wasn’t family.”

“That’s disappointing, but understandable. You can never be too careful with priceless artifacts. I bet the Obsidian Chest is locked up tight in a special vault, isn’t it? If only I could take a peek at it…”

Jistan caught Aladia’s eye, shaking his head. She was being a little too daring.

Keion tsked at her. “Now, you know I can’t allow that either.”

Aladia did a good job of appearing woeful about that news. “Is there anything secretive you could show me? Like a piece of jewelry, or even a key? I won’t tell the emperor if you won’t.” She stroked his arm, giving him a lascivious look.

Keion’s gaze flitted down to her cleavage, then back up to her face again. It confirmed to Jistan how much of a pervert this lad was.

“Well, there is the key to the Obsidian Chest’s vault I could show you…” Keion began, “…but it would have to be you alone. No one else.”

Jistan winced at that. But at least now they’d find out where the key was.

“That’s fine.” Aladia looked at her companions. “I’m going somewhere alone with the prince. See you all later.” Still clutching Keion’s arm, the two of them left the room. She winked just before she walked out of sight.

Jistan looked at his second-in-command. “Raz.”

The man nodded. “I’ll tail them.”

“If the guards are watching, pretend you were heading to your room and got lost.”

Raz saluted him and darted from the room, his orange pyromancer robe flapping behind him.

Leiam sat on the piano bench. “So we just wait?”

“Right.” Jistan went over to the window, drawing the drapes back to peer outside. He could only see a corner of the fortress from here. But there were no alarms going off, so maybe everything was going smoothly for Shai and her team. He wished he could’ve been there to help, but he needed to get his part done.

About ten minutes later, Raz hurried back into the room.

“You better go now, sire,” he told Jistan. “The key was inside a locked drawer that’s enchanted so only someone of Zanteon royalty can open it. Aladia’s trying to keep asking questions and admiring it to keep Keion from putting it back.”

Jistan strode out of the room, Leiam coming behind him. Before the guards in the hallway saw them, Jistan waved his hand, making them freeze. They became just as still as the marble statues they stood next to.

Raz led them upstairs and down one hall with a polished gold floor. He stopped at a closed door.

“In here,” Raz said, motioning for them to enter first.

Jistan turned the brass doorknob and gradually pushed the door open. He thrust his fist inside, spreading his fingers out. His magic hit everyone in the room except for Aladia, which included Prince Keion and three guards.

Aladia looked relieved to see Jistan. “It’s about time. How long will they stay frozen?”

“Only a few minutes.” This room must’ve been Keion’s because it was extravagantly gold and maroon, with a massive bed and plenty of space to move around.

Jistan approached the motionless prince. Keion held a small rectangular box in his hands, whose lid he’d removed. Sitting in an impression shaped perfectly for it was a silver key. A key with…tiny runes etched into it.

“Dammit,” Jistan said. “It’s a magical key.” He looked at Leiam, who had come to his side. “You won’t be able to make an exact replica. We’ll just have to hope they don’t notice the difference until we’re gone.”

Leiam took a square of silver metal from the pocket of his light gray robe. Then he carefully lifted the key out of the box.

“Work fast,” Raz called from where he was keeping watch outside the room.

“Yeah, yeah.” Leiam weighed the key in his palm, getting a feel for the look and shape of it. Then he handed it to Jistan, who held it up for Leiam to study while he worked.

Leiam rolled the silver square into a thin rod, then began to shape it with his metal magic. He made the loop at one end, curving it into a precise circle. Then he carefully crafted the other end, shaping it to be an exact match of the original. It didn’t need to be perfect, but it did need to look good enough to pass under scrutiny. At least until they could return the original key, which Jistan hoped they had time to do. If the heist was completed as smoothly as he hoped, they would casually walk out of the palace with the Emperor and Prince of Zanteos none the wiser that their Obsidian Chest was missing.

“Jistan!” Raz called sharply. “Guards headed this way!”

Jistan’s blood pounded in his ears as he dashed to the door and peered out, then flung a hand toward them. The two guards in the hallway halted, frozen mid-step.

“They might’ve just walked on by,” Aladia said, pacing back and forth in front of Keion’s bed.

“Couldn’t take that chance,” Jistan said, his head beginning to throb. He hadn’t brought a regeneration potion because he was saving them for the heist. “Leiam, I’m running low on mana. You’d better hurry, I can’t afford to freeze anyone else.”

“Telling me to hurry isn’t going to make this go any faster,” Leiam snapped, sweat beading on his forehead as he concentrated.

A few heartbeats later, he let out his breath, his tense shoulders relaxing. “It’s done.”

Jistan took it and held the fake next to the real key. “Hm. Nice work, Mr. Bahan.”

The metamancer only grunted in response.

Aladia peered at the keys too. “Wonderful. Now you all need to leave. Quickly.” She shooed them toward the door.

Jistan made sure he placed the replica of the key back into the box while putting the real one in the pocket of his pants. He looked at Aladia as he and Leiam left the room. “Be careful with him.”

She grinned. “I didn’t know you cared. Don’t worry, I know how to handle princes.”

Jistan snorted, then he, Leiam, and Raz ran down the hallway, past the still frozen guards. They made it back to the room where they started, just as the guards who were supposed to be tailing them unfroze. The soldiers blinked, and one looked closely at them as if confused about something, then shook his head.

“Are you ready to retire to your room, Prince Jistan?” the guard asked.

Jistan patted his pocket where the key was and grinned. “Yes, I am.”