All Gems Do Not Glitter

Requiem of the Moth S02 C10

When Noe Yun calls at the jewellery drip house, the amber-haired boy answering the door almost slams it in his face. His eyes are as wide as saucers. “H-honourable Vessi?”

“I was told Noe Shuli would be here today. I have urgent business to discuss with her.”

“O-of course.” His voice cracks but he beckons Yun in and leads the way. This drip house has no spacious inner courtyard like the Isvalri one, only a narrow alcove with their ancestor shrine off the entrance. As a small jeweller in Kandamsin, it is nevertheless known for exquisite craftsmanship—not least of all thanks to Shuli’s patronage.

She likes discovering hidden gems, Yun thinks wryly, championing them. Shuli was the first to support him against Vylira. Had she hoped he’d be easier to control? Unlike her brother Lisith, however, she has never asked for anything in return.

The boy opens a door and bows. The room beyond is lit by countless glowshrooms wrought around the metal shelves lining three walls. Polished gems shine in the green-blue light. Yun, by no means an expert, can tell this drip house is confident in their skills by the copious light. Others might keep their show rooms dimmer, to better hide flawed cuts.

The elderly drip house head, in a saffron tunic with amber hair cropped sharply at chin length, sinks into a more composed bow than her younger relative—likely grandson. Shuli, as graceful as ever with red eyeshadow and nails, turns as if she was expecting him. “Yun. You wished to see me at once?”

The edge in her tone betrays her true feelings. Shuli enjoys visiting her jewellers, basking in their gratitude. He hoped the interruption would irritate her, temper some of that caution and cunning. “Forgive me. It is an important matter I have to discuss with you.”

She nods to the clan head. “You have not told me about your latest creations yet. I will call when I am ready.”

Once the door snicks closed, her features darken. “Is it about Izo?”

Yun joins her at the far shelf. The gems on these moss cushions are the largest in the room. Still modest compared to others but clearly meant for statement necklaces or hair adornments. “Some rare talent that you’ve discovered here.” He nods to the ruby on her left index finger. “One of theirs, I take it?”

“You know I prefer taste to indiscriminate displays of luxury.”

“Those who covet rarity inevitably relinquish some of their power. They become weak to that which they covet. Since they have convinced themselves they need it, they will go to great lengths to get it even if the supply runs dry.”

She sighs. “What has he done this time?”

“It must be a burden, to have a son both dim and spineless.” At her look, he smothers a grin. ”He has been badgering me for more cinnamon. Not a word while the Caxian clan members lay ill, only now… Coincidentally, the moths they consumed were prepared with cinnamon, which would have been much too expensive for a small clan such as them. One must wonder…”

Shuli gazes at the ruby on her finger before taking the ring off and holding it up. “He might not be what I wanted in a son but he is all I have left. If I had to trade this for his happiness, I would do it in a heartbeat.”

She must think of Izo’s elder sister who died many yarns ago. Yun has always been grateful that he has no close family to treasure, to mourn… but when he looks at the warm glow in her crimson eyes—reflecting the crimson stone—, he wonders if he might be missing out.

“What would Zakiva say to a match with a Caxian?”

Shuli turns that glow on him. “She would never permit it. If it were anyone else, I would agree.”

“You would trade anything for his happiness,” Yun prompts. Even your friendship with our esteemed clan head. He hardly dares to hope but there is only one reason why she would mention something like this in front of him.

“I would.”

“And I would do a lot to get your dear brother and nephew off my back. Our coffers are stretched thin as it is without those two blood-thirsty bats fluttering around.”

Abruptly, Shuli gestures at the gems on display. The ruby shines on her finger once again. “It is always hard to decide which piece to take for myself. Perhaps you might accept a small gift to celebrate our mutual understanding. You have achieved much in recent yarns, Yun. I would not want you as an enemy.”

A gift—for his silence. As he inspects azurites, sapphires, and even one fingernail-sized pale green jade, Yun decides Shuli is not capable of murder. Whoever tried to have him assassinated is still lurking in the shadows.

Not unlike a certain organisation he has recently become intimately acquainted with.

---

When he gets back to his office, someone in lavender robes is pacing in front of the door. His treacherous heart skips a beat, before the figure whirls.

“You have to help him!” one of Usira’s cousins pleads, his face contorted in pain that is lodged deeper than flesh. “Please! You’re the only one who still can!”

Yun steels himself. “Speak plainly. What has happened?”

As the moth catcher keeps stammering, Yun hauls him inside and orders Zhiven to guard the door. With a cup of steaming ginger tea in front of him, Selin—it has to be Selin, the twin who joined them at the Shrine of the Moth—slowly calms down.

First, he takes a small leather pouch out of his tunic and places it on the desk between them. When Yun opens it, he finds the amethyst ring he gave Usira as a sign of the Noe clan’s favour—a sign of their patronage and protection. He takes it and looks at Selin grimly. “Explain.”

“They came this morning… the city guard. They tried to arrest Aunt Usaavi.” Usira’s mother, the head of the Isvalri drip house. “Of course, she protested. Then Velin interrupted with a letter from Usira… They read it and turned the whole house upside down. Velin said the letter was Usira confessing to poisoning all those clan members! When they couldn’t find him, they stormed off. He’s gone. We don’t know what to do. Usira would never poison anyone! Honourable Vessi, he… he sacrificed himself for us.”

What he doesn’t say is that the Isvalri are betting on Yun to save Usira. Caring enough to do it.

The Deep spare me.

Author Notes

That escalated fast.

As we’re approaching the end of this second season of Requiem of the Moth, how do you think it will go? Will Yun agree to help Usira and his family? If yes, how could he possibly save them? If no, how will Usira live after his huge and noble sacrifice? Where will he end up? Stick around to find out!

My mind has been elsewhere these past two weeks. I’ve been focusing more on nonfiction, improving my craft. The truth is: If you publish both fiction and nonfiction in the same newsletter, the nonfiction gets significantly readers than the fiction. It’s frustrating but there’s not much I can do about it. Instead, I’m putting more effort into my nonfiction. It’s fun too. I have so many ideas jotted down, some outlines, some half-finished essays.

Right now, my favourite nonfiction genre to write might be media analysis from a writer’s perspective. There are many novels and videogames I want to discuss in-depth, to extract lessons for writers to improve our own craft. I’ve been working on one of those this week too, which will be a two-essay series. They take a lot of time and effort, research, thinking etc. so I’m thinking of making the longer ones paid. I posted a note about this earlier today.

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