Clouse wanted to scream. Loud and long into the void. He'd been so close. So. Close. The final piece for his own special plan. But no, it had to all fall apart at the last second.
Biting back a curse, Clouse kicked the sand in front of him. A very petty and childish move but Clouse felt it was justifiable. The dunes stared at him, cold and unfeeling under the moonlight. How did this happen? And now what? The entire plan rested on that djinn. Without it the power of the combined Elements would overwhelm anyone.
Growling in anger, Clouse teleported himself back to the castle. Inside his room Clouse paced like a chained tiger. How to explain this to Chen? Or even worse Skylor? He'd insinuated Kai would have a 'proper trial' and there was no way Skylor would let him off easily for this. Chen didn't exactly know about the attempt to recover the djinn, so could Clouse tell him he'd taken Kai down to the lower levels as a laborer? Chen didn't come to the lower levels but he had a number of other men he could ask to confirm Clouse's story if he wanted. And what to tell Skylor? Clouse spat out a few choice words.
"Humph. Sounds like you had a rough night."
Clouse spun, purple flames in hand... only to meet a very unimpressed Ronin. Clouse cursed again- this time internally. He could have sworn he left Ronin in falcon form, how was he human again?
"What are you doing here?"
Ronin rolled his eye. "Your magic dragged me here. Believe me, I'm not here because of your winning personality."
Okay, apparently his subconscious had some explaining to do. Not that he could afford to show Ronin he'd been pulled here by accident.
"Your target failed in his objective. The cave collapsed on him after barely a half hour. I need you to start scoping the city for another candidate, one of stronger moral integrity."
"Because you'd know anything about that." Ronin muttered, ignoring the withering glare Clouse sent him. "Why not use that other kid?"
"I need him for a different project. No, you are to find someone else. Quickly. The time frame is narrowing and if it passes before I get that lamp that wench of yours will be the first to feel my wrath." A dark look came over Ronin's face, but this time he held his tongue. "Go." In a flash of purple a falcon screeched, and took to the skies.
Clouse let out a long breath. With Ronin searching for another suitable candidate Clouse could focus on other matters. Like talking to the king. Groaning, Clouse weighed his options. Chen would only grow more angry if he waited until morning instead of being informed right away. Inform him of what though? That Clouse was going somewhat behind the king's back and lost the prisoner his daughter had already approached the king about?
Clouse's thoughts turned again to the lower levels. Due to the secret nature of the caverns, any prisoner, slave, or tradesman taken to them would never leave again. There might as well have been death warrants signed to them. Yet... death in the dungeon hold wasn't completely abnormal. Sometimes his guards were... overzealous. Other times prisoners decided to end it rather than face trial or the noose. That... that could work. It wasn't ideal, but it beat most of the alternatives.
Muttering under his breath Clouse traded his sandy robe for a fresh one and began the well worn trek to Chen's quarters. He had no idea what time it was, but the palace staff were all aware of Clouse's far from normal working hours. The two guards in front of Chen's door stepped quickly out of his way, not even bothering to announce Clouse.
Clouse knocked once before walking in. He wasn't particularly surprised to find Chen still awake, looking peeved over something Clouse didn't think he'd caused, in an armchair by his grand windows.
"Sire."
"You come with news?"
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Clouse nodded and claimed a chair across from Chen. "There's been a slight... hiccup in the urchin case." Chen raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "It appears that the street rat chose to take his own life rather than face Ouroboran justice."
"Such a shame." Chen's voice hardly sounded concerned. "Did you take care of it?"
"Of course."
Chen narrowed his eyes at Clouse. "Then what brings you here well past midnight if it's handled?"
"Given how... invested... the princess has been in that particular prisoner I thought it'd be prudent to discuss how best to discuss it with her."
Chen scoffed. "She has a knack for finding lost causes. I'll take care of it."
One problem taken care of, Clouse moved to another update. "Also, I plan to move forward with the inventor joining with the other workers. This many days out should have him weak enough to avoid causing any problems."
"He'll be drained enough." Chen laughed. "I can't wait to see his contributions to the project."
"It already seems to have impacted the machine. When he begins physically working on it, it might be the breakthrough the incompetent fools have been unable to make until this point. Tomorrow I'll make sure the boy is sufficiently motivated. If his own bodily harm isn't enough, Ronin reported there's a lady friend that might be of use."
"Perfect. Even if it doesn't come to that, it might be best to get her out of the picture anyway. I don't want more questions being asked right before more of the Elementals... disappear."
"Understood."
"Good, good." Chen muttered. "It's rather apropos. Only one of the Four Creation Elements remains."
"Seems the theory about the Elements showing themselves is proving true. There are still two secondary and a tertiary Element to be located, but if the Four are harnessed the others are nearly obsolete in necessity."
"Unless those fools who get away put up a resistance if they get wind of the situation."
"Three low ranking Elementals against one who wields the power of the gods? They'd be better off hiding in the sewers. Otherwise they'll likely find themselves in the morgue."
"Indeed. I'll talk to Skylor tomorrow. Hopefully with that put to rest- so to speak- she'll move to other crusades."
Clouse seriously doubted it, but didn't bother to speak those thoughts. Chen turned his attention out the windows. Taking it as his dismissal, Clouse rose from the chair. Nodding to the king, Clouse swept out of the room.
As soon as he crossed into the hall fatigue crashed into every cell of Clouse's body. For once he just wanted to sleep a solid eight hours. These late nights dealing with Chen weren't as easy to hide the grating irritation that burned within him. 'Be prepared Chen, you won't always be the one on top.'
Returning to his rooms, Clouse closed the door and made sure his wards were active. He sent out a curl of magic, mentally watching as it wafted through the palace. After almost a minute a tug came from within the magic. Clouse smiled coldly and whispered another spell. The candles in his room dimmed and a figure molded into the shadows.
"Have you done what I told you?"
"Everything's ready. The others suspect nothing." The voice in the shadows betrayed no emotion.
"Excellent. Continue as you are. I'll have further instructions closer to the Eclipse. Every detail must be together for it to work."
That elicited a scoff from the figure. "I know what's at stake. Just be sure you have the details right." Without waiting to be dismissed the person released the magic and melted away.
Clouse ground his teeth at the insolence. He'd deal with it later. As much as he was loath to admit it, he did need to make sure every minute detail fell perfectly into place. Too many factors could easily make everything he'd worked for crumble into ash.
He debated for a moment on whether it'd be worthwhile to visit the caves immediately. However, exhaustion won out. Signing Clouse changed into more comfortable attire, leaned his staff against the headboard, and all but flopped on his bed. As tired as he felt, sleep eluded him.
Left alone with his thoughts, a recurring theme of anger plagued him. Anger towards the king, at his own subordinates, at that urchin for failing. Gritting his teeth Clouse looked over at a table lining the wall. A nondescript pouch still sat on the surface. 'By the shades.' Clouse swore and leapt up from the bed. With everything that had happened over the last few hours he'd forgotten about a certain drugged Elemental of Ice.
Grabbing his staff, Clouse took out a bowl and filled it halfway with water. He touched the water and muttered a spell. Zane's sleeping image manifested. 'Good.' Zane's rank of captain allowed him his own room in the barracks which made nights like this all the easier. That and his rank made it easier to explain the custom vengestone (not that Zane knew it) vambraces that most other soldiers lacked.
Rather than walking through the hall and risk being seen, Clouse gathered his withering strength. In a puff of smoke he stood in Zane's cramped quarters. He held still for a minute. No sounds came from the room beyond Zane's gentle breathing. The cup Clouse had given Zane sat empty on a small table near the head of the bed.
Clouse relaxed. There would be little chance of Zane waking before noon with the amount of sleeping powder he'd added to Zane's wine. Still, Clouse kept his movements silent as he held the jeweled head of his staff over Zane's head. Cold, white light filled the room as it was sucked from Zane into the diamond.
Zane let out a choked cry, his body rising toward the staff. After a few seconds the light from Zane vanished as quickly as it came. Zane's body slumped back on the bed. In the low light now coming from the diamond a pinched expression of pain could be seen on Zane's face even in his forced sleep.
Clouse ignored it and leaned against the wall, fighting to catch his own breath. Exhaustion crashed into him twice as strong now. The strength needed to keep the staff in place sapped what reserves he'd had left.
Even as his arms shook, his hands tingled with energy literally thrumming within the staff. No other Element fought leaving its host the way a Primary Element did. It regenerated too quickly within its host. A problem of particular note with the Ice Elemental.
Clouse wanted Zane brought down to the lower level to be done with this cloak and dagger siphoning. However, Chen continued to veto it on the premise that Zane was one of his best guards. As long as Zane remained in the dark to the clandestine dealings within the castle, he'd remain a guard in service to the king. The moment he found out, however... Too bad Chen also forbade Clouse from 'allowing' Zane to find out.
One day. Soon. Zane was entirely too perceptive for his own good anyway. Clouse needed to wait and then he'd have unlimited access to three Primary Elements. Only a couple weeks ago it'd only been one.
Shaking his head, Clouse stood upright and forced his magic to move. His room spun into view seconds later... and didn't stop spinning. Clouse closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them the room only looked a little blurry.
Definitely bed time.
.
The next morning was well underway by the time Clouse emerged from his rooms. A strange energy seemed to have gripped the palace staff but no one could quite put a finger on it. Rather than stop by the dining room for breakfast, Clouse made his way back to Chen's quarters. The guards there reported that Chen had already left for his offices adjacent to the Throne room.
There he found Chen reading from a stack of papers at his desk. "Official business?"
Chen grunted in agreement. Couse bit back a scoff. With what lay brewing hundreds of feet below the two of them, paperwork over random kingdom plights seemed laughable. Appearances had to be kept up though, and there probably would be paperwork even after becoming an all powerful dictator.
"I have yet to speak to Skylor about your news. If you don't wish to be her sparring partner I recommend avoiding her for the time being. Though that shouldn't be hard." Chen muttered the last sentence.
Underlying tensions between the royals? Clouse could work with that. It might make his own plans easier in the long run.
"Duly noted." Like Clouse wanted to be around the Princess any more than she wanted to be around him. "Have you given more thought on the missive you'd like to send to Trerian? Even if King Lewis wanted-" Pounding on the door interrupted Clouse's words.
Both men shot irritated looks toward the door, but knew who ever dared interrupt like that wouldn't do it for idle reasons. Chen nodded his head and Clouse sent a wave of magic to the door. It swung in on its hinges.
"Sire, sire, sire!" Darreth tripped over his feet, spilling into the room
"You had better have a good reason-!"
"Sire the market is swimming with news!" Darreth burst out. "There's an entourage coming with the banner of the Flame!"
'WHAT?' If he had any less control over himself Clouse would have started. He and Chen exchanged a glance. This seemed way too good to be true. And not at all bizarre that, within weeks of each other, two lost Primary Elementals arrived at Ouroboros' capital.
"I swear, sire! A runner came ahead to the market and trumpeters called as I ran here. I thought you'd want to know as soon as possible!"
"You were right on that." Chen rose from his chair. "Fetch the royal vestments from my rooms and meet me at the North Hall."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Darreth scurried from the room.
Clouse's knuckles showed white around his staff. "The Elements are awakening. Ouroboros is the fulcrum."
For the first time a curl of fear rose within him. He and Chen were meddling with the powers that might rival those of a god's. What if...? Clouse mentally shook his head and shoved away the uncertainty. He knew what he was doing and would see it through to the end.
