Chapter 5

The Insurer

We must now take a brief recess from Holo and Ranger and transport the reader to another scene happening within the same hour. As the dusk was beginning to settle there was a mansion within a snowy mountain range with one of the windows showing light through the panes.

The source of this illumination was that of the main dining hall where a group of finely esteemed looking gentlemen gathered around a delicately arranged table with fine tableware and decorative utensils. Each were devouring an exquisitely prepared meal of steak and assorted vegetables with the grace and utmost etiquette the occasion called for.

Sitting at the far end, and only observing the scene rather than participating in it (though he had a plate before him) was a gentlemen who was well seasoned in years with blonde hair and blue eyes. His face overall, had a cleft chin and two creases around the front of the mouth. His features in summary showed an odd combination of innocence and intelligence, and a mind that could scheme designs yet somehow be abstained from the guilt of being involved.

Once the majority of the courses had been masticated and consumed, the blonde then leaned forward and said with a rather delightful air, "Well then gentlemen, we all know why you are here, on to business then?"

The men then finished with their supper, withdrew their napkins and laid them on the plates and allowed the servers to relinquish them from their possession. After the servants had quitted the dinette, one of the men bade the host to commune the finer details of their meeting, "We are all ears Lord De Buhr."

De Buhr then closed his hands together and went on, "Splendid. First of all, I wish for all of you to be rest assured that your investments have been well founded."

"And what validation have you, that the profits we have generously parted with, shall be for our benefit?" asked one with a rather sneer hostility in his tone.

Nodding, then blonde went on, "How right for you to ask, Evgeny. Let me answer that question with another question of my own. Have any of your clients come to you with the suspicions that your organization is involved in any activity that is not legitimate?"

Evgeny leaned and gave off a convincing smile and said, "Not as of late, however if they ever did, you of all people would know that each of us would need some kind documentation to put those worries at ease."

The other men looked upon De Buhr with eagerness, while he only lifted an eyebrow and gave a sign that he did in fact have what it was that they sought. He then pulled out a series of tablets and began passing them around to the owner of his choosing.

They began to flip through the individual albums and each seemed to share a similar amazement.

"Look closely gentlemen,' said De Buhr, 'though the names on each of those ledgers are different from one another, they all have one thing in common."

One observed, "Each of these names are organizations we do business with."

"True, Gustav,' returned the blonde, 'however the names upon yours are not the same as that of your neighbors. Shall I tell you?"

The men remained silent but wanting to know what was on the mind of their baleful host. Therefore, with a rather sickly warming smile, he said;

"If you examine carefully the ledgers I have forged for you, you will notice that there is a sum of money belonging to each name that you may find higher than what you originally paid."

Evgeny saw it then stated, "He speaks the truth, were we overcharged?"

"No, my friend,' returned De Buhr, 'when adding the differences among each name you will find it equals the amount that you have invested with myself."

"I don't follow." said one.

Brushing a hand along his hair, the blonde sighed, "You are a man of business Ruslan, am I right? And what is the one thing that could cost you that career?"

"Poor decisions?" returned the questioned with some doubt to his statement.

"A bad reputation." corrected the blonde.

He then continued, "Think of it this way, let us say you had business with the butcher and the baker. You pay the them ten silver each, but there is another service you require and are willing to pay for, but must need it to remain under wraps. That service costs you another ten silver."

"Thirty all together." said Ruslan with a confused posture.

"Yes, now let us say that the authorities become suspicious of certain activities, or future clients desire your patronage and wish to take a look at your books. They will find ten to the butcher and ten to the baker, but what of this other ten? To whom was it owed?"

"They would find it odd to where that expense had gone to."

"Precisely; So to keep the unnecessary eyes of yourself, you have it showing that you payed the baker and the butcher fifteen silver instead of ten."

"As to disguise where the other ten went to." said Ruslan with some relieved excitement.

"Smart man." said De Buhr with a dull smirk, "What I have made for each of you, are fraudulent ledgers with overpriced expenses as to disguise the funds that you are secretly giving to me."

Each man gave a look of pleasure that could only come from a relief of not being caught in some debacle.

"But why show us this?" asked Evgeny.

With a triumphant air, De Buhr responded, "To show you that; rest assured your faith in me has been well placed and that unlike any other provider, confidentiality is more than just a policy."

"And what of security?" came another voice that had yet to sound.

Heads cautiously turned to the source, and there at the far end was another man who had braved to usher in a concern.

"Is there something on your mind, Paavali?" said De Buhr.

The one addressed as such shifted in his seat, "Well this may be long overdue, but for the last five years there has been an empty spot at this table. I think you owe it to us to tell us what happened to Stephano."

There was an embellished awe among the men as they were unsure how De Buhr would answer the inquiry. The blonde man only twiddled his thumbs and replied, "Why would that concern you?"

Paavli was quick to respond, "Because he was found dead in his own city, I know he was too powerful to not be considered untouchable."

"You are not accounting for the riots that started in Lenos, they were not the only ones lying dead in the gutters."

"And after the riots? My Lord, his top informant was found with a knife in his heart in his own room, which was locked, in his own tavern by the way. And from what I've heard, his murderer has yet to be brought to justice, in fact he has yet to even be discovered for that matter!"

De Buhr only let off an uncomfortably satisfying smile, "Until now…" said he.

The individuals sat further forward as that statement had rightly caught their attention. Allowing the blonde to continue.

"As you know, Stephano was another good man of business like yourselves, who was assigned a specific task that seemed to have caught the attention of an ill owned specter lurking about the mists and shadows."

"A ghost?" asked Ruslan with weariness.

"Oh don't be ridiculous,' taunted De Buhr, 'there are more terrifying things in the dark than what your mind wishes to see."

"Then who?"

"The newest recruit to our most pessimistic rivals."

With a sighing laugh Evgeny said, "Laterniuex and his little army."

"I don't follow." said Ruslan.

It was then that Evgeny took it upon himself to bring his comrade up to speed. "He's an old codger who heads the half witted group of delusional vigilante's known as the rangers. They're nothing more than a thorn in the side, and our good friend Lord De Buhr had already demonstrated his ability to keep them in their place once before."

De Buhr took a note of the compliment yet found need to imply a most important additive to the detail, "Yet that brings us to the de ghosting of our friend and ally. Finding the one responsible has proven quite difficult, however my latest activities have finally drawn him out of hiding."

"And he is?" pressed Pavaali.

"Someone whose skills have called for an increase in protection on my behalf and potentially yours. Normally the rangers have never been an issue for us, but like all things in life, they change."

"One man can't possibly be such a concern." said Ruslan

"That is where you're wrong." came another voice that did not belong to any sitting at the table. Heads turned with some alarm to source of the bold ease dropper who turned the corner around the door and was now visible. He had dead eyes and a most eerie disposition, as though he were a man who modestly delighted in the pain and suffering of others.

"Ah gentlemen,' reproached De Buhr, 'may I introduce you to my most valuable employee, Cyrus Aswadi, who apparently has returned from the other room after I asked him to 'sort' a few things out."

"Well then, Mr. Aswadi is this mystery killer the reason your employer upped our regular charges?" inquired Evgeny with a sickened voice.

"If you don't value your life then I will be happy to leak some information here and there as to compromise your involvement with us, so that you may meet the man yourself." returned Cyrus with a dark gentlemanly posture.

"You dare threaten me?!" stammered Evgeny with a feeling of distraught intrusion.

"You should feel more relieved than threatened,' said Cyrus with a poised response, 'you see, we were able to catch this in time, were it not so, Stephano may not have been the only one absent from this dining room. What we are dealing with, is a creature of a forgotten world who needs to be shown the follies of his ways. This can only be accomplished with more resources and means to pay for them. To save you all from certain ruin, we have asked for higher donations than before and for obvious reasons, could not wait to ask for your permission."

With a great uneasiness, Pavaali turned to De Buhr and asked timidly, "My Lord, pardon this intrusion, but what is it that you have been doing that has called for this unwanted attention from this hunter?"

Folding a napkin, the blonde reassured, "Fear not dear Pavaali, what should concern you is what you can do to help rid us of this nuisance."

Cyrus then took over, "My superintendent is correct on that note. What is important to know for now, is that we do know of his last whereabouts and are ready to dispatch more qualified agents to dispose of Laternieux's new guard dog. However, such a service does not come cheap."

"How much do you want?" asked Ruslan with a tone that showed more fear of asking beyond what was necessary in his voice.

"We will discuss that another time, for where we must rectify our mistakes was underestimating the difference between quantity and quality." returned Cyrus coldly.

"And what is your plan to deal with this?" asked Ruslan.

Cyrus then picked off an apple from the fruit bowl that was place in the middle of the table, and held it perched above his eyes atop his fingertips. "The hunted and the hunter are not so different. Whether you hunt the doe or the wolf, the means are the same."

He then gazed upon the rosy complexion of the apple with a glare that showed his own seduction to bloodshed. "Discover their habits, find their dens, learn their wants, exploit their weaknesses."

Then slipping the fruit into his palm, "And destroy them…!" said he as his finger closed around and grasped the apple until it compressed and was demolished within his grip forcing the debris of the produce to burst through his knuckles with the juices flowing down his wrist.

Then turning to the astounded group, Cyrus put his hands behind his back and finished, "In short gentlemen…we lay a trap and spring it."

Evgeny decided to break his silence and asked cautiously, "You seem to know an awful lot about your prey, care to share with us the source of your intelligence?"

De Buhr quickly responded, "To not burden yourself with all these questions of how and when, for too many always confuse the creative mind. Just know that your all in good hands, I take good care of my clients, and assure you that the only thing will over concern you is your respective establishments."

"I am sorry gentlemen,' interjected Cyrus with an odd air of defense, 'but the hour is far spent and there is no rest for the weary." said he, who then held out his arm towards the exit, "The boat is waiting."

Ruslan nodded and arose then gave a simple expression of gratitude, "Thank you for the meal Lord De Buhr, we will look forward to hear from you soon."

The room was then filled with the sounds of chair legs sliding against the hard wood floor as the men arose and shook hands with their host, who kindly returned the gesture. However there was one individual who was silent during the whole encounter, who was sure to be the last one to leave.

He timidly approached De Buhr with oscillating hands and said quietly, "I pray that none of these men know of my 'special' request of you."

With a sympathetic smirk, De Buhr patted the man on the shoulder and said, "Father Michelini, I want you to know that you of all are given the most special treatment. The money your congregation donates is going to God's work. We have located another one of the idols and will dispose of her soon, and no one will ever know of your involvement."

Nodding, the parish in disguise quitted the dinette, leaving the two alone.

De Buhr then addressed Cyrus and voiced, "Well know that is out of the way, how are our other guests settling in."

With a icy irritation, Cyrus responded, "I feel that they may need some coaxing from their proprietor."

"Well my friend, lead the way."

Both men forfeited the dinning room and went to the upper levels of the mansion, down one of the main hallways until they reached a room with a bronze bust upon the mantle. Cyrus approached and rotated it to the side which caused a shift beyond the bookshelf. In which the blood monger pulled back a book and swung the shelf out which revealed the dark corridor to unhallowed depths.

Taking a torch, Cyrus guided his employer down below. When passing one of the first doors, De Buhr plugged his nose and complained, "Oh, ghastly smell!"

Cyrus replied with an evil air, "Courtesy of your last guest Eduardo. Unfortunately Jurgen, you can dispose of a burnt body, but nothing ever gets the stench out."

"You would know, wouldn't you." replied Jurgen with a slightly dark sense of humor.

At last they came to a gloomy door at the end of the inspirited hallway and with a few clamorous clacks from the key, Cyrus pushed the entrance open with a dull whine.

Being the first to enter, Cyrus held out the torch to reveal two individuals sitting against the wall, who recoiled from the ambient glow as their retinas burned at the sight of the bright tangerine. Covering his ocularly organ with a forearm, one of the captives said rudely.

"To what honor do we owe this privilege to be graced by presence of our insidious host?"

Cyrus approached the verbal trespasser and put his foot on his right thigh, which had a self made tourniquet made from a scrap of clothing tied around it, due to some kind of injury that had transpired earlier. The individual grunted in pain as his swollen injury was being agitated under the weight of a grown man.

Gritting and moaning, the sufferer challenged his torturer's determination by stating, "If you want me silent, try another spot."

Cyrus then belted the individual across the jaw with unearthly might. The one whom he struck, recovered, massaged his swollen lip and almost taunted, "You hit harder when you have an audience."

With more animosity, Cyrus grabbed the mans scalp and arced his head back. The man was about to speak more, but was rebuked by the voice of another, "Mathias, stop!"

Jurgen turned his head towards the other prisoner who sat haunched on his knees and ever so attempting to maintain a resolute composure in the face of his adversaries. Lord De Buhr then approached him and praised, "You see Cyrus, this one is smarter than he looks. For he chose to say nothing, which spared him the beating….for now."

The being who Jurgen was profoundly admiring was none other than the significant other who once was at Holo's side, Kraft Lawrence.

"After all,' followed up De Buhr, 'we both are men of enterprise are we not, Mr. Lawrence."

Holo's suitor looked into the face of his captor and chided, "Call it what you will, but I call your line of work foul play."

Jurgen stepped into the dungeon with his hands elegantly placed behind his back, "Of course I'm not the only one whose been fouling around, have I?"

The brow of Lawrence curled with some puzzlement as to what he could be referring to. Who then gave him a light scold as a parent would to its small child.

"Oh going around and mating with a pagan god." said he with a playful, berating like tone in his voice, which hinted to a misunderstanding disgust. "And starting your own little band of devils"

Jurgen then pulled a torn parchment from his inner breast pocket, which Lawrence identified as the other half of the invitation to Holo's surprise baby shower. As needs be recalled that the first half was found on the corpse found within Nyohirra.

"So, our love is what concerns you?" said Lawrence with severe hate.

De Buhr got to his haunches and looked the man in the face, "Call it what you will, but I call your love, beastieality."

Lawrence shoved forward in attempts to lay his hands upon the perpetrator of that remark. However, Cyrus came through and shot his boot into Lawrence's chest, slamming him into the stone bulkhead behind him.

Coughing and gasping for air from a strike whose owner possessed strength, power and technique never felt before, Lawrence could only wheeze, "You must feel proud…"

Matthias then jeered, "You stand high and mighty now, but how fair you when your brute is no longer here to defend you?"

De Buhr arose and slightly laughed, "Oh come now, you of all people should know that we all have our enforcers. You know, the one who Laternieux has replaced you with? Why on earth would he come for you? Your just another brick in the wall to him."

Matthias looked away then said, "He'll hunt you down."

"If your goal then is my wife and the Alpha ranger, why keep us here?" inquired Lawrence.

This time Cyrus broke his peace, "Because, these vermin have a weakness, you of all would know what hers is. If you tell us, you can walk a free man and enjoy a long and…painless…life."

Lawrence scoffed, "You think my suffering will loosen my lips? My love for her can be put to the test."

"I was hoping you'd say that." returned Cyrus with bloodthirsty grin.

"Before it comes to that." interrupted De Buhr, "Perhaps we can ask nicely?"

Lawrence only shook his head, "What, with all your resources you can't figure it out?"

"In the end,' responded Jurgen, 'they're only human."

"And is that what you want?" cried Matthias, "a world where only man can thrive? Or is this yet another dark crusade ushered in by the church, and you their dismal knight?"

"It is a crusade of sorts." returned the blonde.

"Your friend Stephano was the church's first knight, look what happened to him. Are you sure you want to risk the same fate happening to you?" assumed Lawrence.

"That is where your wrong good sir." rebuked De Buhr, "Sometimes, a king must do a pawn's job in order to put his enemy into check."

Lawrence's eyes widened with horrid realization, "It's always been you! You're the one who hired Stephano and leaked to information to the church."

Bowing with pleasure, Jurgen praised himself, "Charmed. I don't think you realize the favor that dolt for me by killing him. Let's just say that his move allowed all my pawn's to become queen pieces!"

"But why hate the pagan gods so much! What could they have done to you to have this agenda pushed upon them? God's work!?" exacerbated Matthias.

"No,' answered Lawrence, 'your not doing this for the church. Your something else entirely. What are you really after?"

"Ah, ah,' said Jurgen with a tsk, 'It is not you who am in need of answers, but I. Tell me the source of your woman's essence, and perhaps this will be less excruciating for you both."

Lawrence pulled his face away and said nothing more. Matthias did like wise. Jurgen then turned to leave, then said to Cyrus, "Let me know how strong his devotion was to her."

Aswadi nodded and replied, "With pleasure."

The door to the dungeon was then shut and locked behind De Buhr, who strode back up to the main room. After adjusting his costume, he quitted to the main hall and to his own personal quarters.

He picked up a small bell and rang it twice, shortly after, two servants appeared.

"I wish to accommodate myself to my evening desires." said the master to his servers.

One bowed and went out of view from the door frame, while the other rushed to the wardrobe and retrieved a finely knitted sleeping gown and gracefully delivered it to Lord De Buhr. He then took the raiments behind behind the small divider that shielded any eyes from his redressing, while the servant went to the fireplace and began to set the logs ablaze.

Jurgen shortly came back around and tied off the gown and sat in his arm chair with his legs crossed in front of the fire place. Sitting next to the arm chair was a night table which held a book, in which the owner retrieved and began to examine it's inner contents. Just then the servant who had left, returned with a small saucer plate and cup in hand with a hot beverage steaming within.

Carefully the tea cup was place on the nightstand and the two servers were dismissed. De Buhr then calmly flipped through the pages of his book while taking small sips in intervals. Not once did he ever consider how his other guests would be spending their first night in his mansion.