Chapter 7

Confrontation

"I've always wondered how the Black Cross ascended in rank within three months of being restored," said Khan, leaning back in his chair and putting his feet up on the table. "I never knew they'd go as far as to wipe out an entire guild."

"I don't wonder," said Samaroh darkly. "Vineis is not a nice person."

"Vineis being?" asked Amaru.

"Their leader. He's a wizard, and someone who believes he's a cut above the rest." The priest shrugged. "Personally, I believe he should be taken down a peg or two. But I wouldn't dare challenge at him at this stage."

"Interesting," said Emeth dully, stirring his cup of coffee as if it was mud.

The guild looked at him. The wizard always came back tired from his days of teaching in the Academy, but now they couldn't avoid disturbing him.

"You know Vineis?" asked Valkron.

"Vineis? Oh, no, I never did," answered Emeth. Several people winced at the sarcasm in his voice. "What does it look like to you? The Magic Academy is a small world compared to the kingdom, you know!"

"All right, all right, I didn't mean to offend you," said Valkron soothingly. "But really...how was he like back then?"

"He was a bit of a morbid student. Used to ask weird questions in class, like 'How long can the human body stand being hit by Soul Strike before breaking down?' Honestly, I think he's a bit screwed in the mind."

"You guys insult them far too loudly," said the knight sourly.

"But it's the truth! I bet he knows he's out of his mind." Emeth put his teaspoon on the saucer and downed the coffee in one. "He liked to carry out experiments and he was always in the advanced section of the library in Geffen Tower."

"He was that privileged?" asked Samaroh in a voice of disdain.

"No, he was like me. Whacked, but talented." Emeth paused, and then added, "I don't do what he does, however."

"I don't think you do," said Valkron, giving the wizard a look. "I would have kicked you out well before all this started if you did. Right, let's get our minds off the Black Cross and think about this."

They turned back to the map spread out on the table. Valkron had had to go and retrieve the maps of Britoniah and Repherion.

"Adiemus says Britoniah is absolutely swarming with monsters," explained the knight. "But he suggests we reconnoitre all the same. Nocturne, would you like to volunteer for this?"

"Is it because I'm a hunter?"

"Uh, well, no, not exactly...okay, yes, yes, it is." Valkron put up his hands as if to shield himself from the glare the pair of bright blue eyes gave him.

"He can't go on his own, Valkron," said Iruna. "We'll need someone to go with him - Samaroh, maybe, or me. With the Orc Village nearby he might get into trouble."

"Why does it always have to be me?" groaned Samaroh.

Valkron whipped around. "Are you implying that Nocturne is someone you can't trust?"

"Well, no, but I--"

"Then go with him! This party was built on trust, and now we're going to do the same with the guild!"

"Relax, Valkron," said Iruna, patting the knight on the shoulder. "Samaroh's just saying what his heart doesn't mean. He won't have the heart to let Nocturne go on his own."

"Oh, yeah, nice," said the priest.

Valkron eyed him. "I can just imagine him being nice to Nocturne," he said sarcastically. "Okay. Fine. Both of you will have to go to Geffen and start off from there. Emeth, would you like to guide them to Britoniah? I'm sure you know where it is."

Emeth blinked. "I don't."

"What?"

"Your maps say it all, anyway."

Valkron looked down. "Oh."

The wizard shrugged. "I've never been to Britoniah. As I said, I was with the Prontera batch of students so I spent most of my time in the fields surrounding Prontera. It was fun bullying the porings. Ah, what days those were..."

"I'm sure we don't need to know," said Valkron, looking up from his map.

"Sorry."

"I still can't figure out why you want me around," said Samaroh. "I'm still not good enough."

The others exchanged looks around the table. Then Khan said, "That's coming from a man who used the most powerful spell in the kingdom."

"That was a fluke, okay?" replied Samaroh.

"Oh, don't mind him," said Kushana, sitting not far away from her brother. "Most of the time he talks about being like the guild leader of Apocalypse Ultima."

"He's a priest?" asked Khan.

"Oh, yes. One of the most powerful in the kingdom. I don't know his name, but I do know he's a tough one. It's been said he knocked out five assassins during one War of Emperium single-handedly and continued to defend the emperium room."

"Whoa," said Khan.

"It's okay. I've met him before. He seems a bit...seraphic, and a bit vague. He's got a major disadvantage as a guild leader, but judging by how successful his guild is I think he's pretty shrewd with battle strategies."

"Disadvantage? What disadvantage?" asked Nocturne.

"Only physical attacks can damage the emperium," supplied Valkron, not looking up as he measured distances on the map. "The only spell that affects the crystal is Sanctuary, and it just heals. Come to think of it, Vineis has got a disadvantage too."

"Yes, but he's got plenty of battle-hardened mercenary knights and crusaders at his fingers," said Kushana.

"He's battle-hardened," said Nocturne, pointing to Valkron. "And he's pretty good at it, too."

"By 'plenty', Nocturne, she means they've got massive physical backup." Valkron straightened up. "Ow...my back aches. It doesn't mean just one person, like me."

"Excuse me, Valkron."

"Oh, sorry. Two people." The knight frowned at Iruna. "Whatever for did you bring that up? It's not even necessary and it won't make a difference."

"I just like not being left out."

Valkron raised his eyebrows but said nothing to this.

"Anyone seen Eni today?" asked Nocturne. The guild responded with a general negative answer.

"I think she's gone to see Aramithar in the Institute of Alchemy," said Kushana. after a minute or so. "She said something about staying overnight there too, so it looks like she won't be coming back tonight."

"Good. Iruna, get back to that room."

"What, you don't want me to sleep beside you?"

Valkron sighed. Every night, before they went to bed, they had this argument. And he always lost. But there was such a thing as going down fighting.

"It's not that I don't want you to be there," he said patiently. "We're not married or anything of that sort. I just like to keep it simple and innocent. How's that sound?"

"You're so old-fashioned, Valkron," replied Iruna.

The knight gaped at her. By the look on his face he was unable to recover in time for this one. Iruna put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"Can't avoid the love, can you?" said Emeth fondly, looking down at the two of them. "Righty-o. I'm going to bed. See you."

One by one the guild members left the table and went to their rooms. Valkron eventually got Iruna off him and cleared up.

Before he went up to the first floor he went to the bar and got himself a glass of water. As he drank he noticed there was a rogue sitting quite close to the bar. He had a long scar down one cheek and one vertically across his lips. With his cigarette and swept-back, windblown hair he reminded Valkron of a badass ginger tomcat sitting on a roof somewhere.

The knight shrugged and walked off.


The next morning Valkron had breakfast at the table in the tavern quite early. As he ate he kept his mind blissfully free of anything. Emeth, Iruna, Samaroh, Khan, Amaru and Kushana joined him later.

As they talked cheerfully Valkron finished his breakfast and got ready to leave.

"Well, I'm off to the Chivalry," he said, swinging his armour over his shoulder. "See you tonight."

He turned.

After a few minutes he said, "I'm sorry, but I don't remember asking you to join us."

The rogue from last night was standing with his arms folded across his chest. If Valkron had took one step further he would have walked straight into the man.

"Ah. You must be the cynical Valkron." There was a musical hint to his voice; Valkron's brain immediately supplied him with the fact that the man had grown up in Comodo. "I am glad to meet you. My name is Sheuth."

Valkron raised an eyebrow. "Mercenary?"

"Yes."

"Don't remember. Sorry." The knight stepped to one side, but the rogue blocked him.

"I'm here on my guild leader's orders, Valkron," he said quietly. "He wants to meet you, here and now."

"I don't recall arranging a meeting with another guild leader," said Valkron, as quietly as Sheuth. The others behind him looked apprehensive.

"When he says you have an appointment, Valkron, then you have one." Sheuth's expression did not change. "Do sit, Valkron."

There was something in his voice that warned the knight of impending danger. With a last look at Sheuth Valkron sat down at the table, beside Iruna.

The rogue disappeared for a minute or two, and then came back in. Valkron was about to say something when someone stepped around the screen.

The Raulus guild members stared except Valkron, who chuckled softly.

"And why do I have the honour of meeting you in person, Vineis?"

When the wizard stepped forward the others drew back. Only Valkron and Iruna remained in their seats and not actively trying to move away without being too conspicuous.

"I'm pleased to see that you certainly know your guild leaders," said Vineis.

Valkron viewed him critically. Vineis, like Nocturne, had a ponytail high up on the back of his head. However, his long fringe, parted in the middle, did not have layered, tapering ends; instead the locks looked as if someone had chopped them off. He wore an eyeglass, and somehow looked more like an aristocrat than Emeth did.

His hair was purple.

The wizard smiled a little. "I see you're already surveying me. Well, valkron, I'd like to have a chat with you."

The knight stayed silent. Then he said, "Iruna, would you please get a chair for Vineis? And one for Sheuth, if he wants to sit."

"Sheuth will stand," interrupted Vineis. "My assistants always do."

Valkron said nothing until Vineis had sat down and made himself comfortable. Unlike Emeth's wild, messy behaviour the wizard seemed more...elegant, more educated. When he pushed his cloak out of the way before he sat down he did it with a smooth flick of an arm, not the lazy, half-hearted way Emeth usually did. He crossed his legs and looked at Valkron.

"You are famous in our guild," he said. "Your name is spoken by many. No matter where I go, no matter who I talk to...I will hear your name, sooner or later. It is guaranteed."

This man is from Morroc, whispered a voice in Valkron's head. Be careful. Morrocians can be very friendly like Khan, very reserved like Amaru, or very, very two-faced.

"I see," said the knight stiffly.

Vineis pulled out a piece of velvet cloth from a pocket somewhere and took off his eyeglass. "And I can see you are a man of resource," he continued, polishing the glass. "You have adapted very quickly to the growing popularity of the guilds and the War of Emperium. My men tell me that you are planning to invade a castle."

Valkron glanced at Sheuth, who was standing to attention behind Vineis.

"Oh, don't worry. It is customary for every guild to have its spies," said Vineis, smiling. "A long time ago a guild called the Rising Star Corps used novices for spies, did you know that? Quite an interesting piece of information, I must say, and it makes good entertainment at parties."

"Vineis, I don't mean to be impolite," said Valkron, in a voice that meant exactly the opposite, "but I'd like you to get to the point. I have to go to the Chivalry to resume my duties as a knight commander, and my guild members have jobs to do. Please don't waste my time."

Vineis smiled, or at least showed his teeth. "I understand. I too am a busy man. Well, then we'll get down to business." He leaned forward. "I hear that you, famous as you are, are having some trouble recruiting for your guild. Am I right?"

"Doesn't every other small guild have the same problem?" said Valkron, shrugging.

"Oh yes, they do. We did. But I know how to help you gain more members, win the War of Emperium, dominate the guilds and become one of the most powerful guilds in the kingdo--"

"Vineis, I applaud you on being one of the most clichéd guild leaders of the century," remarked Valkron.

The wizard looked puzzled. "What?"

"Oh, great. See here. You come to me to offer me power, as they say, 'beyond man's greatest dreams'. You offer me what every guild wants to achieve. The problem is, anything that's too good for you is bad. The Black Cross has massive extensions. It has hundreds of people. It's got the small guilds practically bowing and...what's that word? Kow-towing? Yeah, I think so. They're submitting to you. Unfortunately for you, Vineis, when I set up this guild I never intended it to be there just to be strong and win all the time. I have a different purpose with the Raulus guild. So I've considered your offer in what little time I have now and all I can say, pardon my language, is this: to hell with it."

It seemed everyone was holding their breath, even Sheuth. Valkron held his gaze with Vineis, daring him to lose his temper.

Eventually Vineis said, "I see. And that is your final decision?"

"That is my final decision."

"Are you sure? You'll regret it, I can assure you that."

"Regretting my decision to refuse your offer is nothing compared to the regret I would feel after realising that I was living in this world just for the sake of what it has to offer me."

There was silence. Then Vineis sighed. "I see. Your mind is made up then. It was such a good offer, too."

Valkron stayed silent, but his green eyes narrowed.

"Well, I'll be off." The wizard got to his feet and put his eyeglass back on. "Mustn't waste our precious time. Good day to you, Valkron."

He swept out from behind the screen. Sheuth, with one last look behind at the Raulus guild, took off as well, leaving a very silent guild.

After a few minutes of the same silence Nocturne said, "He did give us a chance."

"Me? Accept that kind of offer from a man like him? No thank you. I don't need to make my guild an extension of the Black Cross." Valkron got to his feet. "I'm leaving, I've got work to see to."

When he got to the Chivalry he noticed that several knights were giving him looks. He ignored them and went straight towards the Mercenary Division.

Corporal Inigo stepped straight into his path.

"Good morning, corporal," said the commander, sidestepping around him. He had no wish to talk, let alone argue. It didn't matter to him who belonged to what guild, although he highly suspected that Inigo wasn't happy with him. No one who belonged to the Black Cross would be happy with him, anyway.

The distance between him and Inigo was still not very far when Inigo's voice spoke.

"You'll be getting a little present from us today, sir."

Valkron closed his eyes and snorted, not even pausing in his stride.


Later that night he came back to the tavern to find the guild sitting or standing rather warily around the table.

"What's up?" he said, yawning. "You look like you've..."

His voice trailed off.

The rest of the guild had looked up at him, and then gone back to staring at the table. He noticed that Aramithar was present this time, and that Eni was clinging close to him. They were all staring very hard at the table.

Which had a little blue box on it, with a blue ribbon neatly tied around it and in a bow at the top.

Inigo's words came to him in an instant. He knew then why his guild was avoiding it. He looked at the ribbon. There was a note attached to it, and it read:

We will be seeing you again.

Vineis.

Eventually he said, "Anyone tried to find out what's inside it?"

"We wouldn't like to," answered Nocturne.

"I'm not too keen on knowing what's inside that box," said Khan.

Valkron looked around. Then, very carefully, he reached out for the box.

"Wait!" said Nocturne. "I'll do it. At arm's length. I'll see what's inside it."

"Are you sure, Nocturne?" asked Valkron worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm sure. We've had to deal with dangerous presents anyway. The Hunters' Guild used to be the target of pranks." Nocturne reached out cautiously and picked the box up with the tips of his fingers. Everyone leaned back as he brought it up and examined it.

He shook it, his head to one side as he listened for any sound. When Valkron raised his eyebrows at him he shook his head. Then, very slowly, he tugged the little ribbon off.

The hunter held out the box at arm's length and cautiously reached for the top. He took hold of the top gently and pulled it off.

It was just for a second, though. When he pulled it off he choked and put it back quickly. The little box thudded onto the table as the hunter backed off, coughing.

"What? What's wrong?" asked Eni, getting up. Nocturne had a hand over his nose and he seemed to have difficulty breathing.

"The only time I've ever seen him like this," said Emeth slowly, "is when he's smelled something awful. Eni, get him away. His senses are sharper than most of us; we should be grateful whatever's in there didn't knock him cold."

The alchemist moved her brother off, patting him on the back. Valkron looked back at the box. Something that gave off a ghastly smell was inside it.

Emeth sniffed. "I'm sure there's something around here..."

"What?" said Iruna, looking quizzically at him.

"Nah, it's gone. Never mind."

Valkron reached out and took the box. He took a deep breath and held it. So did everyone else, watching him warily as they did.

The knight, very carefully, pulled the top off once again. He did not look into it, however.

"Smell anything?" he said, with some difficulty.

The others shook their heads.

"Okay then." Valkron brought the box close to him and looked inside.

They jumped when the little blue box hit the floor. It tipped over, and as it did something round bounced out of it with a sticky thump. It rolled a little way away and came to a stop, most likely because of its stickiness.

It was an eyeball, with the optical nerve still attached.

The organ had come to rest not far from them. Its dark green iris stared upwards at the ceiling, glaring at everything even after its owner's death. Although the green was not as brilliant as the deep green of Valkron's eyes nor was it the same shade, it was clear already as to what it signified. The whiteness of it was marred by the yellow stains all over it, and the red thready veins creeping across it.

And the smell was certainly revolting, once people began to run out of breath. It indicated that its owner had died quite some time ago - of what, no one wanted to find out.

Several people made muffled sounds of disgust. Nocturne retched; Samaroh looked as if he was about to throw up.

"That's odd," said Emeth, in a strained voice. "Rotting body parts don't smell that bad. It's dark magic that gives that ghastly stench--"

Valkron, who had been struggling to hold his breath, lost the battle and inhaled.

He promptly fainted.

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Before I move on, Vineis is not evil, and neither is Sheuth. You won't believe how many people think this.