The song of tomorrow

by Nuredhel

The past reaches out to the future and a living mystery is being delivered to the king of Mirkwood as a gift. What follows is a tale of longing and love, of lust and Death and depravity and through it all runs the tunes of the song of tomorrow...

20. The red orchid

Chapter 20: The red orchid

Maglor and Aodh were worried, as were everybody else as well. The news that somebody was conspiring against the emperor did bring the former relaxed atmosphere in which they had all lived to an abrupt halt. Maglor had to tell the others from the group that he was busy and also why and most of them were afraid that something would happen to him. He found their worry to be sweet but he tried to reassure them that he wasn't in danger at all, that the emperor was the one who could face problems now. Aodh too tried to calm everybody down, he was never far from Maglor and he did trust his skills as a warrior. The others didn't doubt his dedication nor his level of expertise but accidents do happen and Demetry made a statement that they knew too little about their enemy. There had to be a way to find the conspirators without risking any lives.

Maglor had discussed this with Ayjun and they had reached the same conclusion, the only way to flush them out would be to use some rather subtle tactics better known as deceit. So they would go ahead with their plans and Maglor had to prepare for a new role, one he hadn't really played before. Back in the first age he had been a warrior and he had been leading his warriors into battle but now he had to be a stealthy and hidden killer and he knew that of everybody within the palace he was the one who could do this and survive. An assassin like the one who killed the prisoner wasn't somebody you would want to go up against. Ayjun had even contacted the guild and they believed that they knew who the culprit was, a man who had been one of them but suddenly disappeared during a mission, a man with a flaw nobody had been able to reveal until it was too late. They said that this member of the group had been one of the best and extremely skilled but his loyalty had been for sale since he had a problem with gambling.

Ayjun did gather as much information about the man as possible and he was rather certain that his love of money was the reason why he had fallen into the clutches of the conspirators. If a man was in serious debts he could risk being sold off as a slave and most would do anything to avoid that sort of fate. The emperor had people everywhere looking for Ohy Whan as he was called by the others within the guild and the guild would notify them instantly if they heard anything about him. Maglor was told that the boys the emperor had ordered would arrive soon, and at night and everybody were instructed so they wouldn't do anything which could endanger the plan. The day when the boys were to arrive Maglor and Aodh were summoned to the emperor's office, he told them that he had one of his officials pretend to be his future son in law and he did also have soldiers placed around pretending to be servants and workers. Maglor and Aodh were to stay hidden and if possible apprehend the assassin if he did show up. Ayjun did doubt that the conspirators would show up themselves, it would be too risky. No, the man who had killed the servant of the master of the wardrobe would most certainly be put to work again, to free the boys or something like that.

Maglor and Aodh had already hidden when the small caravan did arrive to the palace, the boys were guarded by men who did look like outlaws and they were transported in small wagons and they were chained together. All the boys were between nine and fifteen and rather pretty and Ayjun had assured Maglor that the news of their arrival had been spread through the entire palace over the last couple of days. He knew how to create rumours and also how to use and manipulate them. Now it would be a waiting game and everybody happened as if these lads in deed were brought there to be the servants of the new member of the royal family. They were taken aside, checked by a physician, put into new clothes and washed and during this they did play their roles very well. Some were crying for their moms, others were trying to break free while some were just sitting there as if they were in shock. Among them were a few very young soldiers who did look so immature they could be mistaken for a fifteen year old lad. They were trying to make sure that none of the boys did break character.

The rumours the emperor had spread had claimed that the boys would be treated by a shady doctor hired from the worst parts of the city, a person who was little more than a butcher but cheap and they had one brave soldier pretending to be that person. He had been covered with a very thick suit with some chain mail in it and he was wearing lots of makeup and a wig. The man did look ridiculous but in the candle lights he was rather convincing and he arrived and was setting up his equipment in a corner of the room behind a screen. They even brought bandages and warm water and towels. The whole group was truly acting as if this was real and the boys about to undergo that horrible operation. The so called surgeon would naturally be the main target so everybody did keep an eye on the man, just to prevent him from being shot or attacked from afar. The room was chosen by Ayjun since it didn't have any windows nor hidden doors, there was just one entrance and exit and it was a very dark room which usually was a storage where they kept old furniture which was to be upholstered. It did stink of mould and old cloth and it was rather dank too.

Maglor and Aodh were hidden in two huge ceramic jars seemingly filled with old furniture parts and wool, but each of the jars had a part which could be pushed out rather easily and several peep holes. Maglor did watch the scene rather nervously, the so called surgeon was arguing with the representative of the man who had sent the boys there, the price he would be paid for so many wasn't nowhere near high enough. He wanted it doubled and the argument got rather heated, they had prepared well and knew exactly what to say. A servant did enter the room with some extra bags of medicine made to stop bleedings and he didn't lock the door behind him, he acted as if he just wanted to get out again as fast as possible. Maglor and Aodh were ready, the servants had been told exactly what to do in case of an attack and so had the man pretending to be the surgeon. The lamp light was bad except where the surgeries would take place and so the man was very visible while the rest of the room was relatively dark. The boys were crying and wailing and it was a perfect opportunity for any would be killer to strike.

They all held their breaths, if the conspirators had such a deep felt hatred for the emperor and the fact that they had been forced to undergo such surgery they would strike, they simply had to. They would most certainly feel that they had to do everything in their power to prevent these lads from having to face the same nightmare they were put through. The surgeon was sounding louder and more angry by the second, they had to keep the argument going until something happened and the men were very convincing. The surgeon had already called the representative the son of a sough twice and loudly doubted that the man was a man and not a woman in disguise. The boys were petrified and the guards were walking around, looking very bored for watching a bunch of kids isn't exactly what a ruthless mercenary usually sees as a joy and a challenge. Then the surgeon sort of threw his arms in the air and swore so badly it was a wonder the wig didn't catch fire. The representative did go over to a chair and sat down, looking triumphant as if he had won the discussion and the surgeon did toss a half eaten pear at the man like an annoyed toddler would. Maglor was tense, his senses were so much sharper than those of a human being and he felt that the air for a few short seconds had become a bit colder, as if someone came in through the door which was left slightly ajar. He grasped the short slender sword he had chosen and held his breath, he knew that Aodh too had noticed the change and they were ready.

The next thing which happened was that a bright flash of light suddenly blinded everybody and the surgeon was tossed over like a ragdoll with a javelin protruding from his chest. Maglor swore, he had managed to shield his eyes but the others hadn't been that fast, the attacker had used a sort of chemical to create the effect. He jumped out of the jar and the assassin did try to grasp the javelin to stab the surgeon one more time but now he did notice that one person there wasn't stunned and he did pull a sword from his cape and attacked. He probably expected the man who came rushing towards him to back off at the sight of a blade but he was wrong. Maglor almost sneered as he spun into the attack, using his blade to capture the opponent's sword and yank it out of his hand. Then he forgot all about a fair fight and kicked the man between his legs, hard!

He had been told that the assassins of the guild could protect themselves against such foul play by pulling their stones up into their abdomen but this man had probably never learned that trick, or he hadn't believed that it was needed. He collapsed with a hoarse roar and fell to his knees, gasping for air. Maglor grasped the man by the long greasy braid and Aodh almost flew in from the left with a rope and chains. Before anybody had time to breathe the outlaw was bound and gagged and everybody did draw a huge sigh of relief. The surgeon was unharmed, the thick suit and the hidden armour in it had protected him. Maglor did haul the man to his feet, the culprit didn't look like a professional killer at all, he did look more like a sorry looser who has lost one time too many and he had sold his skills one last time. Aodh did run outside and signalled some soldiers who had been waiting and they came and put the assassin into a huge box which usually contained rolls of silk. Now it was used to transport the man from the room unseen and Maglor and Aodh did follow, hiding in the shadows.

As they followed the coffin they both hoped that the assassin would tell them something they could use, otherwise they would never be able to determine who the enemy was. The emperor couldn't just order each and every eunuch of the city into exile. They were just too important, many of the most influential jobs were possessed by eunuchs since that was an age old tradition. They entered the domain of Chenlar and he was ready, the dungeon was lit and there were guards everywhere, very well hidden. No sudden attack would save this murderer and Chenlar did look very determined. He wouldn't stop until he had the information he wanted. The assassin was hauled out of the coffin and it was very clear that he knew where he was for his eyes were bulging and he was pale as a sheet. The emperor arrived and with him two of his elite guards, Ayjun didn't take any risks this time. He did also bring the official scribe he used when important things were to be written down and a couple of his counsellors. Maglor and Aodh did stand at the back of the room and they witnessed how the culprit was chained to a table with solid steel chains. The man was writhing and hissing curses, it was rather obvious that he had deteriorated since he left the brotherhood for he was far from the well trained ideal of the brotherhood. He was on the verge of becoming fat and the ungroomed appearance told them that he was easily persuaded into breaking the law.

Chenlar did cut the clothes off the man, very slowly with almost gentle movements and he did examine the body while he did this, just to see if there was something which could affect the way the man would react to torture. He didn't want the criminal to die from a heart attack or a stroke before he had told them all he knew. Chenlar was a skilled man, as a former physician he knew how to evaluate the health of a person and this man was a prime example of somebody who had let themselves go completely. He did wave his arm and Ayjun got closer. "My liege, look at this"

The emperor did stare at the man's arms, his right arm was full of bruises and small sores and some were healing while others were open and oozing puss. Ayjun made a grimace of disgust. "By the gods, is that what I think it is?"

Chenlar nodded and the man tried to spit at him, the former doctor went over to a small closet and opened it, he retrieved a small box and brought it back to the table. Maglor saw that the box contained a sort of flour like substance with a slight metallic shine to it. Chenlar did smile, the smile was a sinister one. "So, I take it that your employers have provided you with as much of this as you can possibly use?"

The man growled. "Go to hell!"

Chenlar did slap the man over the face, rather brutally. "You are in the presence of the emperor, watch your tongue before we decide that it can be removed"

The man just scowled and Ayjun sighed. "The value of that goddamn drug is staggering, he must have been using it for months"

Chenlar nodded. "Yes, and the more you use the more you need, they probably hooked this one ,like the fat fish he was just after he left the brotherhood. It is good to have a professional on your side, in case you need somebody murdered"

Maglor was curious. "What is that?"

Ayjun sighed. "Deviltry, believe me. It makes you completely addicted almost immediately and people go absolutely mad when using it, they can become abnormally strong, lose all fear and even the ability to feel pain. But it ruins the body gradually"

Aodh did look at the wounds with disgust. "Do they rub it into the cuts?"

Ayjun nodded. "Yes, it can be dissolved into a liquid but it is extremely dangerous, just a tiny drop can kill a dozen men."

Maglor was getting fascinated. "What is it made from?"

Ayjun saw that Chenlar was preparing some equipment and the elderly man was not revealing any emotions at all. He just stood there, staring with cold eyes. "Some sorts of chemicals and some ground up herbs and mushrooms. The recipe is a secret only a few know but it is worth more than gold and diamonds"

Maglor remembered the Sha'al's harem and the habit everybody had had with smoking, he knew that being drugged can be a way out for many, in special when life is challenging but it didn't really change anything at all. Chenlar did fill a syringe with some sort of liquid, it was dark amber in colour and the jar it came from was made from glazed ceramics. "I think we will start from below, I bet you know what this is?"

The man swore and his face was red with rage and probably also fear. "No you goddamn fucker, I don't know what that is!"

Chenlar smiled, a very gentle grin like a caring old grandpa. "Then allow me to demonstrate its properties."

He took a piece of metal from the bench next to him and dipped it in the jar, when he pulled it out after a few seconds the metal was smoking and curling up like a withering flower. "This is acid, and it is very efficient. I bet a few drops administered to one of your testicles will loosen up your tongue, so, which one shall we start with? The right or the left?"

He held the syringe so the man saw it and the man went pale, he seemed to freeze. "You cannot do that…Gods, that is…."

Ayjun smiled too, a very nasty grin. "You are a part of a conspiracy against your emperor, that is high treason. You do no longer have any rights, you are no longer regarded as a human being but as vermin. You will die, but you may choose how you leave this world, as a man with dignity or screaming like a labouring woman"

The man gasped and stared at the syringe. "I know nothing!"

Chenlar was almost purring. "Oh but you do know your own true name right?"

The man swallowed. "I am Gutap, just that"

The emperor smiled. "See? Talking is not so hard, why did you leave the brotherhood?"

Gutap sneered. "They wouldn't let me have fun at all, it was all about duty. So I left, who cares?"

Ayjun tilted his head. "We do, a man who has sworn an oath and then just breaks it in pursuit of earthly pleasures isn't exactly trustworthy. And you let them buy you, with drugs"

Gutap was fighting against the chains but they could hold an elephant. "So what, they had everything I wanted"

Ayjun nodded. "I don't doubt that, so, who are they?"

Gutap hissed. "I don't know any names!"

Chenlar did raise the syringe and took a step towards the man who immediately cringed visibly. "Really?"

His voice was almost playful and then he went over to grasp onto the assassins private parts. Gutap shrieked, his voice desperate. "It is the truth, no names were told and I only met them on the other side of a silk screen!"

Ayjun growled. "Where?"

Gutap gasped for air. "The Swan and the flamingo, it is a massage parlour, in the tenth district of the city"

Ayjun rolled his eyes. "A massage parlour, you mean a brothel right? Those are illegal but I guess some do know how to avoid detection. How did you contact them?"

Gutap was still staring at the syringe in Chenlar's hand. "I just showed up and waited there, until someone came to get me"

Ayjun scowled. "That easy? I doubt it, no lies or your balls will be dissolved, slowly"

The man cringed again. "No, please, don't. I beg you! I just had to say I was waiting for the red orchid, that was all"

Chenlar frowned. "The red orchid? That sounds almost familiar?"

Ayjun snapped his fingers. "Oh yes, I remember that name, but I doubt it is the same person I remember."

Maglor had walked forth and stared at the panting man, he was rather pathetic like that, naked and pale and floppy. "Who is this red orchid?"

Ayjun shrugged. "When I was younger than I am now there were ten official brothels in this city, they were governed by a special group of officials and we did run that business just to prevent more shady ones to be opened. There has been a rather terrible history of abuse and murder in this city, the prostitutes were beaten, killed, sold, exposed to all sorts of perversions and my father had enough of it and made laws regulating the business. The ten brothels were run by experienced women who had been concubines and the girls working there were taken very well care off. But that too fell victim to corruption and decadence and they were closed a few years after I took the throne"

Ayjun smiled, a very melancholic smile. "The red orchid was the most famous of the women employed within these houses, she was famous throughout the land and the price for her attention so high few could afford to even meet her eye to eye."

Aodh tilted his head, he did look intrigued. "Must have been one heck of a woman"

Ayjun nodded. "Aye, she was, an amazing creature with an almost otherworldly beauty. Sadly she was born of a low ranking family and thus she couldn't get married into the nobility even though few if any noble women could match her looks, nor her intelligence. They say that she could discuss almost every known subject like a scholar and her voice was like that of an angel"

Maglor nodded. "A very special person, but someone who is old now, if she is alive at all?"

Ayjun sighed. "I do not know, she was very wealthy when the houses had to close down, she could have made a good life for herself if she used that bright brain of hers. I saw her dance once and I must say that I have never seen anything that lovely. She was a true gem among women"

Aodh frowned. "Why would the conspirators use a former prostitute like that?"

Ayjun did look insecure and Chenlar decided to join the conversation. "The servants working on the brothels were eunuchs, it could be a connection there. And some of them were for sale too, so perhaps someone remembers the name and chose that as a code, who knows?"

Ayjun took a deep breath. "Right, I think this man has told all he knows, so place him in a secure dungeon right now and place guards around it everywhere. Have someone taste his food and drink. I don't want him dead until I can have him executed, publicly."

Aodh did look eager. "So your majesty, what should we do next?"

The emperor stared at the two and his eyes were cold. "You are unknown, and you are good at hiding. You two go to that bar and see what you can find, if you can find any trace of the men who sent this scum off then come back here immediately and we will seal off the entire block. Understand?"

Aodh nodded and Maglor felt a sort of thrill, they hadn't really left the palace for quite a while and he had never visited the part of the city which was considered to be shady. Aodh grinned from one ear to the other. "We'll need a disguise and you Maglor need to look less pretty"

Maglor just rolled his eyes and sighed and Ayjun chuckled. "Let Sanya work her magic on you, but hurry. The faster we act the better."

Maglor bowed his head and Aodh did too, they almost ran for the door. If they could track down those who had employed Gutap then much was won already. The rooms they owned were empty for the moment, the two concubines were training with the dancers and so the two could get to work right away. The woman who was in charge of helping Maglor play the role of a foreign prince was awake and she was thrilled to use her skills once more. She had plenty of equipment and before long the elf did look rather peculiar. He didn't look like himself at all for she had hidden his long silky hair in a dreadful wig which smelled of goats and used a sponge to apply some sort of dark paint to his chin and cheeks, it made it look as if he had stubble. It was the first time in his life that Maglor had anything resembling a beard and he was a bit shocked by how terrible it did look on him. But it did camouflage his features and with some rather shabby clothes and a deliberately bad posture nobody would guess that he was one of the eldar.

Aodh did look ghastly too, with an equally bad wig and some colour added to his beard. He did look like a slightly deranged shepherd and Maglor had to laugh when he did see his friend like this. When they left the rooms through the servants entrance they found that two of the emperors soldiers were waiting for them, also camouflaged to fit into the environment and they were eager to tell the two everything they knew of this area of the city. They rode there using some old horses the kitchens owned since an expensive animal would look odd being ridden by seemingly poor people. Maglor had only seen the sunny side of the city, now he did get a quick and somewhat rough lesson about the shady side of it. The city was humongous, home to several millions and there was bound to be areas where the law and the words of the emperor didn't matter much. Now they rode towards one of those areas and they were told that this was the largest one of them, and the worst one too. Here they said that criminals did hold the reins and you shouldn't do much which could be regarded as suspicious before someone found you dead in the gutter.

Maglor and Aodh were armed and Maglor felt pretty confident, he knew that he could fight better than any human and Aodh was also very skilled with his blades. The two soldiers were named Anjen and Habad and they were used to this part of the city since they had been born there. Now they entertained the two with stories of all the odd things which happened there and Maglor was a bit shocked by the fact that there in fact was a sort of law and order there in spite of it all, but it was based on the right of the strongest and it didn't leave anyone with a second chance. The streets were not as dark and uninviting as they might have expected, in fact there was light and life everywhere, this was a buzzling community but the shadows here were deep and dangerous. Merchants were selling their stuff everywhere, there were restaurants and shops and even doctors and fortune tellers. After about an hour they reached the massage parlour and Maglor had to hide a grin, it was barely bothering with camouflaging its real nature for the sign at the entrance showed a very scantily clad woman in a position which could only be described as inviting. The two soldiers did send Maglor and Aodh a warning glance. "Do not speak or do anything, we can detect if there is any danger here and we can judge the atmosphere. You are strangers and even if you look poor you may be targeted. In special if anyone in here is drunk"

Maglor just nodded and did his out most to hide his height and smooth movements, Aodh did pretend to be a wee bit tipsy since that would draw people's attention away from Maglor. The entrance was not guarded and they entered a rather large room which did look a bit like the main room of an ordinary inn. There were tables and a huge hearth and people sat there drinking or playing games and some were smoking water pipes. The smoke hang thick between the walls and Maglor felt a certain sweet and pungent smell which made him cringe. Anjen did nod. "Some do smoke opium, it is illegal but here nobody cares."

He kept his voice low and they sat down by the hearth, the table was old and did creak and it was covered with a layer of sooth and grease which had to be at least an inch thick. A few serving maids did walk around with plates of food or huge jars filled with the local bitter ale. Habad did whisper. "Do not drink anything here except the ale, they do often drug people to rob them but the ale is safe, if you add anything to it which isn't supposed to be there it will start to taste like sewer!"

Aodh did grunt. "What a truly charming place!"

The people gathered at the tables were all men and they seemed to be waiting for something, Maglor did suspect exactly what it was and he wasn't disappointed. A door did open at the back of the room and several women entered, most were wearing next to nothing and he had to swallow hard. These girls were nowhere near being like the protected and worshipped women of the palace, they were cattle and the lewd catcalls and whistling showed that they received none respect whatsoever. Some were rather young and still pretty but most of them were above their first youth and the blank expression in their eyes did tell Maglor that they were both drugged and emotionally broken by this horrible place. Some of the men there just grasped onto a woman and more or less hauled her off through the door and loud cheers and shouts of encouragement followed them. An elderly woman did appear, she did look like a person who once had owned great beauty but now she was broken and bitter and not the least angry. Maglor could see it, see it in the way she moved, the way her eyes beheld her clients with nothing but hatred and disgust but she did smile, a stiff unnatural smile and Aodh whispered to Maglor. "I bet she is hating this, selling the girls like this"

The woman was rather tall and her hair was a dark auburn colour, she wasn't of the local race and Maglor guessed that she was of mixed heritage for her eyes were delicately slanted. She could be in her fifties and she had something about her which told of class and also sophistication. She walked over to their table and smiled, the smile was artificial. "If you gentlemen does see something you like the price for a room is two Dharem for half an hour"

Maglor cringed, you paid for the room, not the girl you intended to screw, that way they did avoid breaking the law. Renting out a room was legal even if prostitution wasn't. And the price was outrageous, you paid three Dharem for a sweet roll at the markets. Habad did tilt his head. "Thank you for your kind offer madam but we are here only to drink, and tell stories of old"

The woman did look puzzled. "Really, and what tales may that be?"

Anjen smiled. He was young and rather pretty looking too. "Of the former grandeur of this city, of the days before the places like these were buildt. Our friends here are foreigners and want to know as much as possible about the glory of the emperor's capital"

The woman frowned. "There is little glory now I fear, at least in these parts. The times are bad!"

Habad nodded. "I grew up around here, and I still remember the stories they told us about the good days, when the houses were run properly"

The woman sighed and her eyes glazed over. "Oh yes, I remember those days, I was a mere child back then but it was…it was heaven compared with now"

Habad smiled. "And I have heard of the one they called the red orchid, I wish I could have met that woman. She must have been formidable. These days few know that name, I even think some may be abusing it for their own means!"

The woman tensed up, her eyes got narrow and there was something which resembled rage in her eyes. "Truly? How?"

Maglor did know that his voice could calm people and it had some hypnotic qualities as well. He leaned forth. "We suspect that somebody is conspiring against the emperor and they are using that name as a code, and they have met one of their co-workers here"

The woman leaned back, her eyes were shooting lightening. "Oh Gods, the emperor has sent you haven't he?"

Habad did send Maglor a warning glance but the elf just smiled. "Yes, I find it detestable if the name of a grand person is being used for criminal purposes. "

The woman was blinking, her posture one of nervous energy. Then she leaned forth and pretended to stroke Anjun's cheeks, whispering. "Follow my lead, I may be the boss here officially but I am not in charge"

They understood, she too was under someone's heel and she pretended to smile invitingly, speaking out a bit louder. "All four of you? My oh my, well, that will be at least four Dharem for you each and one extra if you want a bath afterwards!"

The four just nodded and she got up, waved her hand at one of the women, a slender but somewhat aged one with long dark hair and a ruddy complexion. "Shenad, these four wish to enjoy your special talents!"

The woman seemed to cringe but then some sort of silent communication must have happened for she nodded and walked towards them. "Follow me!"

The four got up and the madam did follow close behind, she shut the door and the other woman did turn abruptly and entered a narrow stair which lead down towards the cellar of the house. They felt a scent of perfume and food and after having passed a few doors they entered a room which had very little in common with the building above it. It was elegant, with gorgeous furniture and an atmosphere of discrete luxury. The madam did turn around and started at them, her eyes were rather hard. "I used to be in charge and I used to know about everything which happened in this house but now I am powerless, the son of my last husband has taken over everything and he and his comrades are scum, they do not care about anything except making more money. If they have to do it by degrading and ruining other human beings they enjoy it even more. If he is involved in a conspiracy against the emperor I want to help, for I want him and his men gone!"

The voice held venom, and her eyes did shoot lightening and Maglor did sense that she was sincere, she wasn't playing in any way. "The conspirators are believed to be eunuchs"

The woman stared at him and her eyes got distant. "I have seen eunuchs here, a few times. Some of them do have urges still and our new master does provide them with whatever they want."

Aodh did see that the room they were in was large, it was an apartment underneath the house and she saw his gaze and smiled, a somewhat bitter smile. "They have me tied on hands and feet, I can only keep what I was once given by obeying them and they know of my weaknesses."

She turned around and walked towards a lacquered door which lead into a room illuminated by many lamps. It was dominated by a huge bed and in it sat a very old woman, she did look like she could be blown away by even the slightest gust of wind and Maglor had never seen a human being of such high age. The woman was clad in expensive cloth and she wore some exquisite jewellery, it was very clear that she was someone of great importance. The madam smiled, a melancholic smile. "You asked about the Red orchid, well, here she is"

Anjen and Habad gasped and Maglor had to stare. It was no doubt that she had been a great beauty once for her facial structure was still beautiful and her long silvery hair was thick and shiny. She did turn around and stared at them and they saw that her eyes were milky and blurred. She was blind, of that there was little doubt. "Yashana, who is here?"

The voice was hoarse and very low and the madam did smile, a genuine smile and walked over to her, caressed a wrinkly cheek with a gentle touch. "Friends mother, friends who may be able to help us"

The old woman nodded. "That is good, when is Cheley due to return?"

Yashana did smile but there was sadness in her eyes. "Any time mother, just relax, I will get you some of that wine you so enjoy"

The old woman smiled, she didn't have teeth and Maglor realized that she was rather senile. Yashana did pour some wine and gave the glass to her mother before returning to her guests. "When my husband died his son claimed everything for him, I was allowed to stay here just to keep up appearances and because I have inherited everything mother owns. Mother is dependent on some very expensive medicines, he makes sure she gets them but if I fail to do his every bidding he will stop providing them. That is my greatest fear."

Maglor swallowed. "I see, who is Cheley?"

Yashana sort of shrunk. "My daughter, she has been dead for twenty years now, she died in childbed, but mother does not remember this at all"

Maglor felt a surge of compassion. "I am very sorry to hear that"

Yashana shrugged. "My life is filled with tragedy, but if I can ruin his plans then I am blessed indeed!"

Aodh was staring at the luxury with narrow eyes. "Is he really this rich?"

She shook her head with a small laughter. "No, he and his father were poor when I married that man, all the wealth comes from my mother, she was very wise in her younger days and she knew how to invest money. But this part of the city has fallen for greed decades ago and we have become trapped by it. "

Anjen did look as if he was thinking hard. "The men we are chasing are probably trying to assassinate the emperor, if your step son is working with them there has to be something in it for him?"

She nodded. "Yes, I bet there is. He never does anything for free but I have a feeling that he may be involved with some very shady people"

Anjen did look puzzled. "Even shadier than himself?"

Yashana nodded slowly. "Yes, I once overheard a conversation between him and one of his commanders, they mentioned someone I bet had to be these conspirators for they said that the rule of the emperor would be ended by the hands of the righteous ones. And they mentioned that someone was helping them, someone with his own agenda"

Maglor frowned. "Really?"

Yashana looked down, her face without expression. "Listen, what I do for a living is dangerous, even now when I am no longer a woman for sale. I have to have contacts, I have to keep my eyes and ears open at all times. All the girls are my spies and I also pay the people of the streets for their help. In this world knowledge is power and power is life"

Anjen did nod and Habad smiled. "We know, information is hard currency."

She smiled at them, she had to have been very beautiful too. "I have managed to get some information about this person who is helping them, I do not doubt that this someone is the one who has set them onto this path and that his goal is to end the reign of the emperors"

Everybody tensed up and Aodh was a bit pale. "What is it that you have found?"

Yashana was a bit pale now and her eyes did shiver. "That this person is no human, that he ca come and go like a shadow, they say his voice can turn your blood into ice and he never sleeps nor eats. He wears only black and carries a single ring of gold, if he is a master or the servant of something even worse nobody knows"

Maglor felt a cold shudder running through him, again! Again it was there, the influence of the dark one, of the fallen maia, the servant of Morgoth. He had heard of the sad fate of his nephew and the three rings and he didn't doubt even for a second that this person was a servant of Sauron, a creature of utter darkness. Aodh stared at his friend and he saw that Maglor's eyes were shining with a sort of dark energy. "What is it?"

Maglor swallowed. "Remember what I told you about the dark lord? About his wish to enslave everybody and use the east against the realms of the west?"

Aodh nodded and didn't say a single word, Maglor clenched his teeth together. "His reach is longer than I expected, worship of the dark one isn't enough, he has sent a servant all the way to this city, it looks as if he wants to try a more hands on approach now"

Everybody went silent and Maglor was about to ask Yashana where this creature had been seen last when the old woman in the bed suddenly let out a chuckling laughter, her voice was suddenly very strong and clear, like that of a young person and it did hold some power too. Her blind eyes were shining and she could for a short moment be taken for a younger woman. "He is among us, the slave, the follower, the betrayed. He has come to reap a hurricane"

She tilted her head. "What is dead cannot die, only the steel of old may slay the unholy spirit, do not listen to his voice and do not touch his ring"

Then she fell backwards, collapsed against the pillows and Yashana did rush forth to capture her. Maglor felt how his mouth went dry, the dark one had many foul creatures in his service, this could perhaps be the worst of all and what was even more terrible, the emperor and his rule was a clear target. He had to act and do it now, they had to save the emperor and find this servant of evil. He just had a strong feeling that this would be very hard indeed.