The auctioneer was a thin man with a dramatic voice that carried through the hall without effort.
"Welcome, honored guests, to House Roe's quarterly auction. Tonight, we present items of exceptional rarity and power. As always, House Roe guarantees authenticity and discretion."
Polite applause.
"Our first item," the auctioneer said, pulling the cloth off a pedestal. A ring gleamed in the light. "The Serpent's Eye. Worn by Emperor Claudius the Third. Grants the wearer resistance to all poisons. Starting bid: five thousand gold."
The bidding was fierce. Nobles competed with merchants, voices calling out numbers that made Kael's head spin. The ring finally sold for twelve thousand.
They brought out more items. A sword that never dulled. A cloak that made the wearer harder to notice. Books of ancient magic. Each piece more expensive than the last.
Kael watched, wondering which item Marcus had meant. Which one could help with Soulrender?
"Our next item," the auctioneer announced, "is particularly special. The Memory Stone."
A servant carried out a crystal the size of a fist. It pulsed with soft blue light.
"This artifact can store memories," the auctioneer continued. "Perfect recall. Perfect preservation. For those who fear forgetting what matters most. Starting bid: eight thousand gold."
Kael sat forward. This. This was what he needed.
Lyra grabbed his arm. "Kael, we don't have that kind of money."
"I need it," Kael said. "The sword is eating my memories. This could save them."
"We have maybe two thousand gold total. We can't—"
"Eight thousand!" someone called.
"Nine thousand!"
"Ten!"
The price climbed rapidly. Kael watched his one chance slipping away, bought by people who probably didn't even need it. Just wanted it because it was rare.
"Fifteen thousand!" A nobleman in the front row, looking smug.
The auctioneer paused. "Fifteen thousand gold. Going once..."
Kael stood. "Twenty thousand."
The hall went quiet. Everyone turned to look at him.
Lyra hissed under her breath. "Are you insane? We don't have—"
"Twenty thousand gold," the auctioneer repeated, looking surprised. "An impressive bid from Lord Thorne. Does anyone wish to counter?"
The nobleman who'd bid fifteen looked angry. "Twenty-five."
"Thirty," Kael said.
Gasps from the crowd. That was serious money. The kind you didn't throw around unless you were very rich or very desperate.
"Thirty thousand," the auctioneer said. "Going once... going twice..."
"Forty!" the nobleman snarled.
Kael opened his mouth, but Lyra squeezed his arm hard enough to hurt.
"We. Don't. Have. It," she whispered fiercely.
"Sold!" the auctioneer declared. "To Lord Harrington for forty thousand gold."
Kael sat down heavily, watching as the Memory Stone was carried away. His one chance. Gone.
"I'm sorry," Lyra said quietly. "But promising money we don't have would've been worse."
She was right. But it didn't make the loss hurt less.
The auction continued. More items. More impossible prices. Kael barely paid attention, too focused on the Memory Stone disappearing into Lord Harrington's collection.
"And now," the auctioneer said, his voice taking on a reverent tone, "our final item of the evening. Something truly exceptional."
Servants carried out a large case, setting it on the center pedestal with obvious care.
"The Chains of Binding," the auctioneer announced. "Forged in the Age of Gods. These chains can bind any entity, physical or spiritual. They have held demons, captured rogue mages, and restrained beings of immense power."
He paused for effect.
"Most relevant to tonight's audience—they can suppress cursed artifacts. Prevent their power from overwhelming their wielder."
Kael's attention snapped back to the stage. This. This was what Marcus meant.
"Starting bid: fifty thousand gold."
The amount was staggering. Half the room couldn't afford to even start bidding.
"Fifty-five thousand," someone called.
"Sixty."
Only four or five people were bidding. The truly wealthy. The kind who had money to burn.
Kael watched helplessly. Even if he had the courage to bid, he had nothing close to what these chains would cost.
"One hundred thousand gold!" A voice from the back. A woman in a purple dress, her face hidden by a veil.
The hall fell silent. One hundred thousand was more than most nobles made in their entire lives.
"One hundred thousand," the auctioneer repeated. "Going once..."
"One hundred and fifty thousand."
The new voice came from a private box Kael hadn't noticed. Someone with serious money. Someone who really wanted those chains.
The veiled woman shook her head, sitting down. Even she had limits.
"One hundred and fifty thousand gold. Going once... going twice..." The auctioneer raised his gavel. "Sold! To our honored guest in Box Seven."
The chains were carried away.
"Thank you all for attending," the auctioneer said. "Please enjoy the refreshments in the reception hall while you complete your transactions."
People began standing, talking excitedly about what they'd bought or what they'd missed.
Kael didn't move. He'd come here hoping for a solution. Instead, he'd watched two potential answers slip through his fingers.
"Come on," Lyra said gently. "Let's get out of here."
"Wait." Marcus Roe appeared beside them. "Lord Thorne. A word?"
Kael stood, following Marcus away from the crowd.
"The Memory Stone," Marcus said. "You wanted it badly."
"I need it. But I can't afford it."
"And the chains? Those would be even more useful, I imagine." Marcus smiled slightly. "For someone with a cursed blade problem."
Kael said nothing.
"House Roe deals in more than just money," Marcus continued. "We trade in services. Information. Debts." He pulled out a card. "The buyer in Box Seven? That was me. I purchased the chains on behalf of House Roe."
"Why?"
"Because I suspected someone might need them. Someone interesting." Marcus offered the card. "Come to this address tomorrow. We'll discuss terms."
"What kind of terms?"
"The kind where you get what you need, and House Roe gets something in return." Marcus's expression was unreadable. "Think about it. But don't take too long. Your cousin Julian has been quite active lately. And he's not the only one interested in that sword of yours."
He walked away, leaving Kael holding the card.
Lyra read it over his shoulder. "It's an address in the merchant quarter. Could be a trap."
"Could be."
"But we're going anyway, aren't we?"
"We're going," Kael confirmed. "Those chains might be the only way to keep the sword from taking control again."
"And if House Roe wants something impossible in return?"
Kael thought of the fortress. Of the red light. Of losing himself to the sword's hunger.
"Then we negotiate," he said.
They left House Roe's estate as midnight approached. The carriage ride back was quiet, both of them thinking about what tomorrow might bring.
"Kael," Lyra said as they neared their safe house. "Whatever House Roe wants, we decide together. No deals without talking it through first."
"Agreed."
"I mean it. You have a tendency to make dramatic sacrificial decisions without consulting anyone."
"I do not—" Kael stopped. "Okay, maybe sometimes."
"All the time," Lyra corrected. "Promise me."
"I promise. We decide together."
She nodded, satisfied.
Back at the safe house, Ethan was still awake, reading by lamplight.
"How was it?" he asked.
"Expensive," Kael said. "And complicated."
"So, normal then."
Despite everything, Kael smiled. "Yeah. Normal."
He went to his room, writing in his journal before the memories could fade. The auction. The Memory Stone. The chains. Marcus's offer.
Everything was getting more complicated. More dangerous.
But at least there was still hope. Slim, expensive, probably dangerous hope.
But hope nonetheless.
* * *
END OF CHAPTER 32