Raven went thru the rotating golden disk of glowing energy the teleporter summoned, emerging on the other side in the capital city of Pandaemonium. Though he walked calmly without any outward sign of anger or aggression, the civilian city dwellers shying away from him, some stopping to whisper behind their hands to one another. He walked with a purpose thru a city that teemed with people, unimpeded. The flagstones in front of him empty as the locals changed direction or stopped all together, giving the leather clad male with daggers crossing his back a wide berth.
He went to the administrative offices of Fenris' Fang, waiting silently for the clerk behind the counter to acknowledge him. Reeking of sweat, smoke and old blood it wasn't long before the clerk could no longer keep up his pretense of not seeing the Daeva that stood a few steps away on the other side of his desk.
" State your business, soldier." The clerk said loftily as he wrinkled his nose at the aroma exuding from Raven's armor.
" Silversong, Raven K. Soldier Rank 8 returning from assignment." Raven said, giving his official alias. He had been given this name a long time ago to protect not only lives of his family, but their reputation as well. As a highly skilled assassin, the things his superiors sent him to do were often as dirty as they were dangerous. It wasn't just to shorten the name of his profession that those in his line of work were called Sins.
Like most of the sons and daughters of wealthy, aristocratic families, Raven had gone soon after ascension to serve a customary stint in the military; fulfilling a civic duty with little actual desire to protect or serve. Unlike most of the others of his station though, Raven had embraced the military enthusiastically. Continually testing high in boot camp, he had been selected for specialized training early on. Being the youngest of five children, his father agreed to allow his fourth son to pursue the military as a serious profession. It would, after all, take some cataclysmic event to see Raven as heir to the family fortune. After his aptitude for stealth and speed with his blades saw him guided down the path of Assassin, his father had insisted his son officially be given a different surname when called upon to serve in this capacity. It was on that day that Raven became two people: Raven Shadowsong, the jovial and well liked son of a wealthy family from Morheim and Raven Silversong, the shadowy Assassin known only to the clerical staff and medical personnel of Fenris' Fang .
The clerk filled out a form, handing Raven one of the three copies. " Fourth room on the right. I'll have the proper attire sent there later this evening. An Archon will be by to fetch you sometime tomorrow. I highly suggest you make use of the showers before then." The clerk said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Raven went down the hall to his room assignment. He peeled off his armor with neither a flinch nor a grimace. In nothing more than a towel around his waist and sandals, Raven walked dispassionately to shower and shave. Normally, he would have lingered under the hot water, letting the heat and steam relax him before having to make his report. He did not tarry under the cascading water this time. It wasn't that the water running over his injuries caused him discomfort, he simply found no pleasure in the activity. He showered just long enough to wash the odor and grime from his body before returning to his room. Inside, a tray of food sat on the table and a freshly pressed dress uniform hung from a hook on the wall. He ate the meal mechanically and then lay down to spend a restless night on the hard narrow bed. Despite his earlier aloofness, Raven found himself waking several times during the night. A cold sweat soaking the pillow and sheets. His heart pounding in his chest.
It was almost mid day when the archon appeared. He followed the guard down the hall and up a flight of stairs to another hall that ended in a set of double doors. Sentries on either side opened the doors in unison as Raven and the archon approached. Walking to the center of the room, Raven stood at attention before the a group of older armor clad Daevas seated behind a simple betua table. The archon with a click of his heels turned and left the room, both doors closing behind him. A folder containing numerous sheets of paper lay in front of each of the Asmodians before him. Seated in the center, Kvasir regarded the assassin in silence for a long moment.
" We are aware of what transpired during your last mission." The Captain of Fenris' Fang said bluntly. " We are also aware of the tragic event that befell Morheim. Due to this latest development, it has been decided to send you to Sarpan for treatment and physical therapy while it is determined how best to proceed." The dark skinned Asmodian paused before speaking again. " You have my sympathies, son. It need not be said, but the loss of your father will be felt thru all of Asmodae. He was an asset to the Empire and a brother-in-arms." Kvasir said, his usually stern voice uncharacteristically coloured by emotion.
Raven stood still as a stone. His level gaze not betraying the shock of learning they had known what had happened, where he had been and done nothing. As an assassin, he knew that he was considered to be expendable, but it had never really been driven home until right then. Had they known of the suffering he had endured while in the hands of his inquisitors and made no move to save him from it? Had eyes watched as he was sent to labor in the desert and left him to languish there? Had they sat behind their desks reading the reports and left him there to die? The rest of his commander's words fell on deaf ears as he stood reeling from this feeling of abandonment that welled up inside of him.
" Dismissed." Kvasir said.
Clicking his heels together, Raven turned with practiced precision and left for Sarpan.