Editing CMU Chapter 05

= <span style="color: #FFFFFF !important;">Chapter Five: Predator Street</span> =

Poleen Juvukis rides toward Vitolêô, her body swaying naturally in a sidesaddle despite her amnesia, the gulf of Tomulok’s dark waters looming as a stark reminder of her mission to free her mother, Ezeldu, from the Notoholis Aprelêu’s grasp. Accompanied by Gibelê, whose rapier and arming sword signal his readiness for trouble, she buries the cursed cigar case—laden with indilus roots and donu-laced cigars—near the Pillar of Ilûmnê, marking its hiding spot with an iron-streaked rock. The city unfolds before her, a dazzling facade of tan buildings and orange roofs, its grandeur marred by the grim reality of the Citadel of Netelu Dullûs’s prison, where Ezeldu likely languishes. Childhood memories of Vitolêô’s vibrant harbor clash with her mother’s warning about the city’s predatory nature, now underscored by the sight of warships like ''Errant Kiss'', their red banners signaling tensions with the Boboru and pirates in the Pinch. Gibelê’s cryptic disdain for Vitolêô, rooted in his past as a Naval Guard, deepens the city’s menace, yet Poleen clings to a flicker of hope that its courts might offer justice. As they pass beneath the High Gates, the guards’ indifference to their entry contrasts with the looming threat of searches for smugglers, setting a tense backdrop for their quest.

In Vitolêô’s winding Snaking Lane, Poleen enters the House of the Yellow Leaf alone, seeking Trademaster Nokumor Orpingtun, the man who facilitated her acquisition of the deadly box. The gloomy office, lined with ledgers masquerading as literature, hosts a cautious dance of words. Orpingtun admits to the indilus but recoils at the mention of donu, burning a paper linking him to Humeric tû Yulêz’s ''Lontulvên'' cigars and urging Poleen to flee to protect them both. His abrupt dismissal, punctuated by a shove out the door, leaves her reeling as hail pelts the streets, a rare storm cloaking Vitolêô in fog. Reuniting with Gibelê under an awning, Poleen learns the cigars likely originated in Kartâ, possibly routed through Aprelêu, but the source of the donu remains elusive. Gibelê, wary of her impulsiveness, insists she secure rooms at the Dew Flower Inn while he probes the docks for answers about the donu and Ezeldu’s arrest. As the storm clears, Poleen acquiesces, her resolve to save her mother tempered by the city’s predatory undercurrents and the weight of the secrets she carries, each step a gamble in a maze where beauty masks betrayal.

[[CMU Chapter 04]] — Third Treasure<br>[[CMU Chapter 06]] — Soaring Laughter

[[The Contessa of Mostul Ûbar]] - Main Chapter Listing
[[Category:Poleen]]

[[Category:Gibelê]]

[[Category:Ezeldu Mention]]

[[Category:Benê Mention]]

[[Category:Nokumor]]

[[Category:Humeric Mention]]

[[Category:Nindi’vilu Mention]]

[[Category:Vitolêô]]

[[Category:Juvukis’ Bloom Mention]]

[[Category:Pillar of Ilûmnê]]

[[Category:Cathedral of Ermûñô Tebedêz Mention]]

[[Category:Citadel of Netelu Dullûs Mention]]

[[Category:House of the Yellow Leaf]]

[[Category:Dew Flower Inn Mention]]

[[Category:CMU Chapters]]