Steel, Fire, Honor and Ruin

Chapter 8
getting out of dodge

/ooooooo\

Location: Nuln, city-state of the Empire
Day 18

Inside the Laughing Bear Inn's lounge and bar, Maria Shepard sat at a corner table with a pint of beer and a bowl of crackers as she perused over a book detailing the High Elves history and complicated provincial politics.

Needless to say, the book made her head hurt.

Politics, it seemed, was considered a sport of sorts for the Elves. A sport that had dire consequences if you lost. Back room deals, shady double, triple, quadruple negatives, hell even a smirk, frown or smile at the wrong time to the wrong person could cost an Elf their standing and honor.

The man who had journeyed to Ulthuan and wrote the book deserved nothing short of a medal and early retirement as far as she was concerned.

Raine had done a terrific job getting her new clothes cleaned up. Maria wore them now and had the previous day as well. The timing on the day she got them was perfect. The witch hunters had started naming her as a person of interest in their investigation as they searched through the city for the culprits behind the sabotage of Nuln's artillery. So far all they to go on was a blonde woman with shoulder length hair dressed in the garb of a witch hunter.

As it turns out, in a city the size of Nuln, that was painfully little to go on. As long as she avoided walking around in her trench coat during the day, Maria figured she was safe. That also meant she hadn't put on her collector armor during the last two days but, luckily enough, she had never had a reason for the added protection.

It was late in the evening as Maria read through her book. A few other patrons sat at the bar and around the lounge talking and laughing, mostly keeping to their small groups. She popped a salted cracker into her mouth the same moment two new people walked in.

"Ohhh, crap." Maria eyed the newcomers carefully a she scooted down in her chair and raised her book up a little more.

One of the men was wearing a metal chest plate, boots, and gauntlets over a finely stitched uniform of yellow and black. He was older, and Maria could see the faintest traces of grey popping up in his hair and full beard and mustache.

The second man was the one who really made her worried. She couldn't make out his appearance thanks the long thick black trench coat and the wide brimmed hat. He was a witch hunter.

The two men walked together to the bar, where the few patrons sitting there left quickly or moved down a few bar stools to give them room.

"I need to speak to Antonio Valantina," the soldier declared to the bartender. "If you would please…" His voice was firm, but he at least seemed civil. Maria recognized the tone. He was an officer on the job and looking for answers.

The man tending bar nodded and walked around to leave the lounge, sending a wary glance back to the two men as he left to fetch the inn keeper.

As they waited the soldier and the witch hunter looked over the lounge. At their arrival all the conversations taking place dropped down to a whisper, and everyone avoided their gaze. Maria suffered her own turn under their scrutiny, but while the soldier gave her nothing more than a curious glance, the witch hunter's eyes lingered on her for several moments longer.

When he finally did look away Maria nearly groaned. Damnit all, she had been made. A blonde woman with shoulder length hair. Like it or not, that was enough that questions would now be asked about her.

Good news was, she hadn't recognized him. Only that higher-ranking hunter had seen her face to face.

Antonio walked in less than a minute later. All smiles despite the circumstances and without the slight limp he had been sporting still over the previous day. Seemed he was healing nicely.

"Gentleman, what can I do for Nuln's best today?" Antonio began giving his guests every courtesy. He walked quickly around the bar and began pouring two glasses even as he spoke. "A drink for each of you. I'm sure the journey here has parched you both."

The soldier returned Antonio's smile with his own and took the glass with a nod of appreciation.

"You're a generous man, Antonio. I don't care what they say about you," he said with a smirk.

Antonio frowned as the soldier drank but Maria recognized the bit he was playing for what it was.

"And what exactly do they say about me? And who? We'll get this cleared up."

The soldier smacked his lips after he downed his drink. "It will take more than a single glass of this swill for me to give them up. Hah! How's business been doin' Antonio?"

Antonio shrugged but had his smile back as well. "Can't complain. The tariffs at Marienburg have been raised again, but they raise them a few coppers every year. What can I do for you, Erich?"

Erich shook his head. "Bad business I'm afraid. I'm sure you have heard by now. Sansovino? His place was burned to the ground two days ago. Flames managed to take portions of the buildings next door but the heavy rains that day kept the damage down.

"Guard finally poked through the rubble enough to make their claims," Erich continued. "Haven't heard from the man since, and there were plenty of bodies in the rubble. Seems Sansovino went down with his holdings."

Antonio rested his hands on the bar and nodded grimly. "I figured. He wasn't the type of man to stay quite if his possessions just went up in flames."

"Well here is where things get tricky," Erich said, turning more serious. "We found evidence on some of the bodies. Most didn't die from the flames."

Antonio's eyes widened. "Really? What took them then?"

"A dagger here. A sword there." Erich then frowned. "Cuts on the bones support this. Some of them even had crushed skulls and other bones. Nasty ways to go."

"I'm sure some of those injuries occurred when the building collapsed," Antonio offered with a shrug.

Erich nodded in agreement. "I'm sure some were. But unless half the men tripped and fell on their weapons trying to escape the blaze… well then, we got ourselves a crime."

He rested an arm on the bar and leaned forward. "Anything you happen to know, maybe heard from some of your patrons?"

Maria was pleasantly surprised to find out at that moment that Antonio had an imposing poker face.

He shook his head. "Sorry Erich haven't heard a thing yet. You knew Sansovino, he and I weren't exactly friends. Hell, most of the business he brought to the city was on the wrong side of slightly distasteful. In our line of work, he made more enemies than friends.

"We've known each other a while now and I won't lie to you Erich," Antonio added, giving the soldier just enough truth to satisfy the position he was in, "I'm damn glad to know he's gone. Bastard was too good a word for him. But I've been busy seeing to my own enterprises after Sansovino started hiring on those mercenaries. More than a few citizens were concerned at that. Maybe someone simply got fed up and decided to do something about it."

Erich held Antonio's gaze a few moments more before nodding. "That thought has been foremost on my mind, believe you me," he acknowledged worryingly.

Erich pushed off from the bar and stood straight. "Appreciate the drink and the info Antonio. Got a few more people to talk to yet today so I wont waste anymore of your time. But you hear anything, I want to know."

"Without a doubt," Antonio promised.

"Before we go…" Erich began anew and with a slight cringe on his face. "My companion here has a question of his own. This is Matthis, and as I'm sure you've already figured out, he is a member of the order of the silver hammer."

Antonio folded his arms and gave the man a curt nod. "Evening."

Matthis didn't return the gesture or the greeting.

"Two days ago a few members of my order were passing by this part of the docks," the witch hunter started with a grim hard voice. "On their patrol they experienced an… unsettling feeling… normally associated with the use of magic. They tracked the winds but were unable to locate the exact spot of the incantations. Their search ended beside your stables."

Antonio let out a sharp laugh. "Well if you're telling me my guests' horses have started to crap more gold than dung, I'll be able to retire sooner than I thought!"

Maria could see the witch hunter's gloved hands clench into fists. He voice was crisp, "A renegade wizard or witch is no laughing matter innkeeper. The use of magic unsanctioned by the Colleges ranks among the highest of crimes within the Empire.

"As is the crime of sheltering these cursed… degenerates."

Antonio's gaze hardened at the implied threat and he was about to reply when Erich quickly stepped in.

He raised an armored hand between them. "The honorable members of the silver order aside, I want it understood that no one is being accused of anything. This is merely an inquiry to a strange turn of events, nothing more."

Erich fixed his gaze on his colleague. "Obviously Antonio knows nothing about what you speak. I think we should leave things at that."

Matthis' jaw clentched but that was all. "Fine." Before the two men could relax he spoke again. "One more question then innkeeper. You've no doubt heard about the troubles inside Nuln's foundries. We have a person of interest in mind, and it just so happens that one of your patrons happens to fit the description.

"Tell me about that blonde woman over there sitting alone," he said while turning to face Maria.

Thankfully, eavesdropping was a specialty of hers and Maria was prepared before the three men looked her way.

When all their attention focused on her what they saw was Maria fully engrossed in her book, with a look of severe concentration and outright desperation on her face.

"Oh, you talking about Minna?" Antonio smirked and waved a hand in the air dismissively. "That's Aldo's oldest daughter, staying here from Tilea. I'm sure you remember me mentioning him Erich. I'm providing her room and board as she completes her studies at the university."

Matthis grunted, whether in disbelief or acknowledgement, who could say.

"You mind if I ask her a few questions?"

"I'd rather you didn't," Antonio replied with a slight shake of his head. "Exams are in a few days and she's had her nose buried in books for the past week."

Taking her que, Maria let her head drop on the wooden table with a thud as she ran a hand through her hair in frustration.

"Poor girl," Antonio continued. "Light of Aldo's eye, but none too bright. Don't think she's going to pass to be honest."

Yeah, yeah, take your shots while you can. Maria kept her forehead on the table but barely managed to stop herself from raising a hand and flipping Antonio off. She could practically hear the smirk in his voice as he talked about her.

She heard one of the group let out a soft laugh and it sounded like Erich.

"Those professors can be harsh task masters." It was the soldier. "We'll leave your guests in peace then. As I said, appreciate your time Antonio. Let's go Matthis. Not done with the rounds just yet."

Maria waited until she heard their foot steps fade away and then still gave the two men a five count before raising her head and risking a peek. Antonio was alone at the bar and sharing a light laugh with the few men that had kept their seats up there despite the two newcomer's arrival.

When he caught her eye, Antonio gave a slight nod of his head before walking out from behind the bar and leaving the lounge.

Maria waited a few moments before gathering up her book and followed him out. She found him relieving the woman at the front desk and sending her back to wait on the remaining guests in the lounge.

"Trouble?" she asked in Reikspiel, as the other woman left the two of them alone.

Antonio smirked. "No, I don't think so. Erich is a commander of the city guard, the branch of the military officially delegated to keeping the peace within the city.

"He and I have known each other for years, and we've found a way to work around the other," Antonio admitted still keeping his voice low. "Him being here tells me he's taking Sansovino's death seriously, but that he's none to broken up about one of Nuln's major crime families going up in smoke. Even if someone does talk, I think Erich will find a way to keep us out of it."

"The witch hunter?" Maria asked next, with some trepidation. That man didn't know it, but he had nearly caught them dead to rights.

Antonio managed a chuckle. "I think I have Erich to thank for that as well. Technically the witch hunters answer to no one but themselves. Only the Emperor or the Electors can exert any control over the various orders. But if they do target anyone of significant standing, even a witch hunter has to toe certain lines.

"Luckily for you, I am a person of significance inside this city," Antonio said with a roguish smile. "Been invited to the Countesses' yearly ball the past five years. Delicious food, fine wine, and music from around the world. And all I have to do in return is donate a bit of gold to keeping Nuln's guard fit and well equipped."

Maria smiled at that. It payed to have friends in high places and it looked like Antonio had just the right man on his side. But her smile faded away at her next question.

"And me?"

Antonio met her eyes. "You, Minna, are safe," he said with a smirk. "Keep on reading your books and the witch hunters will have no reason to question who you are. You risked your neck for me, so what my wife said stands. If you're under my roof, you have my protection."

/ooooooo\

Day 19

Unfortunately, Maria couldn't keep her head down inside Antonio's inn forever. In order to get home, she needed to get to the High Elves on their island continent of Ulthuan. And in order to persuade them to help her, she needed to learn more about the Asur in general.

Which meant getting back to the university library.

Of course, now that she wasn't wandering the streets dressed as a black coated, wide brimmed hat wearing witch hunter, Maria was drawing next to no attention to herself. Raine had also made good on her promise and had one of her maids get Maria a new cloak.

With her new clothes, the hood of her cloak pulled up, she was as invisible as an infiltrator activating his cloak… figuratively speaking of course.

Making it inside the library without incident, Maria returned her headache inducing tome on the politics of Ulthuan and was now roaming the endless bookshelves. It was slow work trying to find a new book to read. Maria could recognize a few words by now but was still dependent on her omni-tool for full translations. And she couldn't just wander around with the tool glowing on her forearm for everyone to see.

Looking up and down the aisle to make sure it was clear, Maria pulled a promising looking book from the shelf and checked out the cover. The picture sent chills up her back. Reading up on the Elves it was rapidly made clear why they were considered the superpower on this world. Three reasons. Their naval power. Their grasp of magic. And one more thing depicted on the cover of the book.

Dragons.

Huge, winged, fire breathing, dragons. Icing on the cake, some of the High Elves rode on the giant lizards' back. The dragons were considered fierce and supremely loyal mounts; creatures of intelligence that, according to the Elves, had allied themselves with their people to fight against evil.

Maria had read about some other dragons, and their smaller but no less dangerous cousins wyverns, that had come down from the mountains of the old world to ravage the lands and raze whole settlements to the ground. Normally the larger cities of the Empire were able to defend themselves with a few well-aimed cannon blasts. But these were the savage and primal beasts of the wild. They had no comparison to their cousins that lived on Ulthuan with the Elves.

Maria thumbed open the book to one of the first few pages. Positioning the book across her right arm, she booted up her omni-tool and scanned the page, waiting for the translation.

"…among the greatest of the dragons, no history would be complete without the mentioning of Indraugnir, mount to the first Phoenix King of Ulthuan, Aenarion the Defender. Largest and most powerful of all the fabled Star Dragons, Indraugnir's supremacy was second to none.

"While a star dragon is considered the match of any beast, mortal or demonic, Indraugnir embodied the full wrath and resilience of the Phoenix King himself, facing enemies no other being could even hope to survive. Together on the Isle of the Dead, during that final battle to decide the fate of the world, Aenarion and Indraugnir fought fearlessly together killing four greater demons of chaos…"

She was so engrossed in her book she didn't even hear the steps behind her.

"Find what you are searching for, Miss Shepard?"

Maria slammed the book closed in surprise while abruptly shutting off her omni-tool. Cradling the book to her chest and fighting down the tiny moment of terror, she hesitantly looked over her shoulder to see a familiar face.

"Nikolaus?" Maria let out the breath she had been holding. "Geez, is this what you do in your spare time? Sneak up on people and scare them half to death?!"

"No, but it is one of the few perks of the job," Nikolaus Ebner replied with a smile as he stood completely at ease with his hands clasped behind his back.

Maria shot him a half-hearted glare as she put the book back in its place on the shelf. It was actually good to see the professor again. She had sorely missed his help in navigating the library.

"What's it been, a week?" Maria asked trying to remember. "Last time we saw each other you said something about being invited to settle some sort of mining dispute, right?"

Nikolaus nodded as he began slowly walking down the line of books, Maria following beside.

"Oh yes, it has been a spell hasn't it?" He offered a shrug. "Can't say things went well, but when dealing with the Dwarfs and Elves one can hardly expect such things. Nuln will be purchasing iron from the Elves of Caledor but at a reduced price for the first two years, while the Dwarfs will be sending representatives from their mining guild into the city to inspect the shipments and help solve the problem Nuln has encountered the past few months smelting our cannons."

Nikolaus shrugged again. "All things considered, Countess Emmanuelle is satisfied and that's all that really matters. But what about you Miss Shepard? How do your own studies go?"

/ooooooo\

Having Nikolaus back sped up her research quite a bit. Maria had five new books sitting open on the table in front of her. After expressing her interest in 'magic' and how the Elves became considered the premiere mages of the world, Nikolaus had taken her down into the university's lower floors, to books four times older than the two of their ages combined.

His trust in her surprised Maria. She already knew, that he knew, she hadn't told him the truth about her. But he didn't seem to be concerned about it. He spent half the day explaining more about the Elves he had personally met during his time spent in Ulthuan. And about the various peoples, their rivalries and alliances, culture, beliefs and their terrible, terrible, ongoing civil war.

Maria was extremely grateful for his time. It was late in the afternoon when he finally had to leave and teach another class. She took off her cloak, folding it over the back of the chair, and continued to read, her only company the softly glowing candles on her desk and the odd lantern hanging from the wall. Few students or even university employees passed her by as she read. Three hours had passed before she saw another soul, another hour before the next.

One older gentleman wearing the same robes as Nikolaus passed her by twice. He had thick glasses hanging low on a long crooked nose. He never bothered her, only offering Maria a smile and nod as he pushed a cart full of scrolls and books back and forth along the cold stone floor.

He was the last person she saw for the rest of the night. Maria was reading about the Ulthuan capital city, Lothern, when she yawned and realized she had read the same sentence for the fourth time.

Looking through the bookshelves and to the way back up to the main floor, laziness won out as Maria made her decision and blew out the two candles she had on the desk; before pulling out the chair next to her, throwing up her feet and got comfortable. Folding her arms across her chest, Maria closed her eyes.

Nikolaus would come get her when he was done teaching his students.

/ooooooo\

Maria woke up.

Her cat-nap was over. But she didn't move. She didn't open her eyes. She didn't change her breathing despite the rapidly increasing pace of her heart.

Years living alone in back-alleys, sleeping behind dumpsters under piles of whatever could provide her warmth, Maria had always been a light sleeper. She had to be. Her life literally depended on it. Later on, her years as a soldier only reinforced this.

Maria stayed dead to the world because she knew instantly that something was horribly wrong.

She had blown out the candles on her desk, but beyond that it was too dark. She had fallen asleep to the gentle glow of the lanterns hanging from the walls. But they weren't flickering against her eyelids. Someone had smothered them. And all without noticing she was still down here and asking her to leave for the night.

Unlikely at best.

From somewhere far behind her, Maria could just barely hear the sounds of papers scratching together. She risked cracking her eyes open and swept her small area of the room.

The ghost was clear, so she carefully lifted her boots off the chair in front of her and got to her feet without making noise to betray her position. It was at this point she would normally order her team to hunker down while sending the cloaked infiltrator ahead to find out what the hell was going on, and what was making her internal 'danger, death imminent' alarm go off.

Except she was alone and without the ability to cloak. Which meant a truly stealthy recon was out.

As quietly as she could Maria hurried over and hugged the nearest bookshelf as she crept toward the sound of ruffling papers. Taking care to peek bravely around every corner before continuing on, Maria traveled down eight more aisles before the sound ahead abruptly stopped.

Now she knew something was off. The noise ahead hadn't just stopped, it had stopped. Whoever was down here had heard something and was listening to ensure they were alone. This was the worst part. Maria was never very comfortable playing the waiting game. Time was an enemy against you, just as often as it was an ally.

If it was all the same to her, Maria would just order the vanguards to charge in and get the action started.

Still trying to keep quiet, Maria pushed ahead as fast as she dared and passed by only two more aisles of stocked books when she saw the bodies on the ground. There were two of them. And one's uniform looked familiar.

Oh no. No, no, no, please… Maria abandoned her stealthy approach and hurried over to the limp figures. There was blood on the ground under them both and she knew they would already be dead.

Dropping to her knees Maria rolled the body over that wore the robes marking him as an employee of the university. She let out a breath when she recognized the face. It wasn't Nikolaus. It was the old man with the thick glasses. The other body belonged to a younger man. He was dressed in street clothes and Maria figured him for a student.

Both had been stabbed. Only once, and in the back.

Maria jumped back to her feet when she heard the intruder make a run for it. He was so close. Maria ran around the next shelf and saw the ground littered with over a dozen of half-opened scrolls. Up ahead, a shape in the dark disappeared around the end of the aisle.

She nearly sprinted off in pursuit before she heard another set of footsteps running up behind her, back where she had left the bodies.

The intruder had an accomplice, and they were trying to flank her.

Well they should have done a better job of it. It was time for some shock-and-awe. Giving up on stealth entirely, she ran back the way she came and saw another man coming up on the two dead bodies.

"Stop right there or I'm blowing a hole through your chest!" Maria shouted with a raised fist glowing with biotic power.

Six feet ahead, illuminated by the light blue glow of her power, a furious Nikolaus spun around.

"Who in Sigmar's name do you think you are – " He stopped the moment he recognized Maria and stared back at her with an expression of surprise that mirrored her own. "Miss Shepard? What are you – What happened here?"

Maria would have answered him but instead her eyes went wide.

"Nikolaus! Run!"

The professor was too confused by the moment to move in time, so Maria reacted for him. Instead of pumping a warp into his chest, she altered the power in her fist and using her biotics pulled the older man entirely off his feet and back into her arms.

Unfortunately, as soon as she had caught him, Maria was forced to throw him aside once again, and just in time before she was tackled to the ground by the dark shadow that had escaped her earlier.

Maria landed flat on her back as the black cloaked skaven stood on her chest, and with a snarl that showed rows of sharp yellow teeth the rat looked down at her. Its two beady, merciless red eyes meeting her own as it raised a curved dagger in both its paws before slashing them down toward her throat.

Fighting on pure instinct Maria's body exploded with biotic power, tossing the skaven into the air while at the same time knocking the surrounding shelves and books out around her. From the corner of her eye she saw Nikolaus fall back once again on his rear.

"Nikolaus stay back!" Maria shouted his way while keeping her eyes on the skaven. She stared in amazement as she got to her feet and watched the rat summersault through the air, before landing gracefully back on all four of its paws only feet in front of her.

The skaven didn't waste any time and immediately started throwing knives through the air between them. Maria activated her tech armor, raising a forearm up to protect her face. The knives bounced harmlessly against the shield, but just as fast as the rat had thrown them it was running toward her again.

Maria sent a warp and a cryo-blast at the creature but with incredible speed the skaven jumped easily into the air and avoided both projectiles. It landed directly in front of her and slashed across her chest with both daggers before she could even stop it. Both strikes had enough force behind them to stagger her back a step.

But the tech armor held, and Maria could see the flash of confusion across the skaven's face as its attacks had no effect. It stood only a head shorter than her and Maria returned the skaven's hate filled glare with one of her own.

Quick as she could Maria grabbed the rat's left wrist with her right hand, twisting it back and squeezing as hard as she could. The skaven gave a wince of pain but held its knife, even as Maria punched him across the snout with her left fist.

She brought her arm back and was about to punch him again when she felt something wrap around her ankle, and suddenly the world went sideways as her foot was pulled out from under her.

Maria slammed back against the ground for the second time. She looked down her body to see the rat's hairless pink tail wrapped around her foot. She had managed to keep her grip on the skaven's wrist, but could only gawk stupidly as the rat tossed the dagger from its free hand up into the air, to be caught by its tail snapping out and wrapping around the hilt.

The skaven stepped on her chest with one back foot, and then kneeled down pushing harshly across Maria's throat with the other. Dark colored rags wrapped around both appendages protected its skin pressed against her tech armor. She struggled to push the rat off, but it caught her left wrist with its free hand and kept it pointing harmlessly away from its own body. Before she knew it, the skaven had her immobilized with the dagger held in its tail pointed down directly over her face.

"Are – you kidding – me?!"

Maria gasped for breath in utter disbelief. She could swear the skaven literally grinned right as its tail struck down toward her eye.

But Maria had been on the wrong end of a brawl more times than she cared to admit. And she knew the worst thing that a person could do was panic and stop thinking clearly. The rat thought it had her trapped and dead to rights, but she wasn't out of the fight yet.

She still had a firm grip on its left paw.

As the curved dagger descended for her head, Maria released her grip on the skaven's wrist and placed the palm of her hand directly on the side of its body.

Quick as thought, she blasted it with biotic power and sent it flying off her and across the stone floor. The dagger had been less than a heartbeat from her eye.

Maria rolled to her side and got to her feet. The skaven had crashed into one of the few bookshelves still standing, and knocked it over with books and papers flying into the air at the collision. She watched it untangle itself from the pile and stand up, but as it did, Maria spied a roll of scrolls tied together fall out from under its cloak and join the mess.

The skaven gave its head a shake and she could see black blood dripping out the end of its snout. Maria tried to end the fight while it was disoriented and so raised her left arm, intent on firing an overload charge from her omni-tool.

The skaven wasn't as out of it as she first thought and simply seeing her lift her arm, it threw another grouping of knives toward her.

No – not toward her, just beside her! He was aiming for Nikolaus!

Maria abandoned her attack and jumped into the path of the knives as she raised a biotic shield out and around herself. Nikolaus gave an alarmed shout from behind her just as the knives struck her barrier.

She risked a single quick glance behind herself to ensure he was unharmed, but as soon as Maria looked back, the skaven was gone.

She stood in the ruin of the library's lower level, staring into the darkness to spy a glimpse of the skaven repositioning itself for its next attack, but saw nothing. Behind her, Nikolaus was finally getting back to his feet.

"Is it gone?"

"Shhh!" Maria shushed him instantly as she strained her senses into the dark around her. Her tech armor provided a soft orange glow, but it didn't travel far. She shut it down and marched a few steps forward to where the skaven had last stood.

With a concentrated release of power Maria flared her biotics out around her body, illuminating the darkness several feet around for a brief moment.

Nothing.

Maria's brow furrowed. "Soldiers, wizards, giants and ninjas…" she muttered under her breath. "What the hell is left for those rats to throw at me next?"

Confident the skaven had retreated with its tail between its legs, Maria dropped her biotics and activated her omni-tool to provide a small means of light.

"You all right?" she asked, turning back to face the professor.

Nikolaus was no where near alright, but she could see he was unharmed as he nodded back. He walked over to the two dead men laying on the ground and made some sort of a sign over his chest as he stood over their bodies.

"Morr watch over you both," he said softly.

Maria turned away. Morr was the Empire's god of the dead. Nikolaus was invoking his name in prayer. She gave the professor his moment of peace while she looked at her feet. Reaching down she picked up the group of scrolls the skaven had tied together and was apparently trying to steal from the university's library.

There were four of them, and they were browning, worn from age. Maria walked back over to Nikolaus, the scrolls in her hand.

"I'm sorry. I don't know the younger man, but the older one offered me a smile the few times he passed by my table as I read."

She held the scrolls out for Nikolaus. "They died because that skaven assassin was after these. What are they?"

Nikolaus stared at her blankly for a moment before anger crossed his face.

He frowned. "The skaven are a dead legend," he declared while taking the scrolls from Maria and untying the string holding them together. "Emperor Mandred led the Empire in a war that saw them driven from our lands and exterminated."

She could understand his anger. He wasn't a soldier. It was obvious he was in shock, and in pain for the dead.

"Is that what you teach your students?" Maria replied gently, holding the man's hurt and angry gaze. "The same mad declarations of the nobles who refuse to see the truth right before them?"

Fury blazed in the professor's eyes at Maria turning his own words against him, but it only lasted a moment before a second emotion emerged. And it was shame.

"Every few years the Dwarfs make a claim that the skaven assault their mountain holdings," Nikolaus said staring at the floor. "A race of intelligent rat-men that nearly brought the Empire to extinction. It's considered heresy by the Cult of Sigmar and the witch hunters to even admit that they actually exist. I always believed them, over the tales from another race… Why? How could this be true? And if it is… if the skaven are really back? I shudder at the consequences."

Maria instantly knew the reason. It was the same sad story she had been forced to confront after Cerberus had brought her back to life. No one wanted the Reapers to be real either. Even the galaxy's highest authority, the Citadel Council, had ruled them a myth brought to life by Saren and the Geth.

The only good news here, and something Nikolaus didn't know, was Maria had heard from the witch hunter captain's own mouth that he knew the skaven did exist. And if he knew, Maria could only assume, and hope, other people in authority also knew. Most likely they were keeping the skaven a myth in the eyes of the citizens because the truth would bring only chaos and fear.

Which was a plan Maria vehemently disagreed with… but once again, that was a problem this world faced, and it wasn't her job to fix.

She nearly smiled at a fleeting memory. Garrus had mentioned once how much it sucked being the only intelligent people left in the galaxy.

"What's written on the scrolls?"

Nikolaus shook his head sadly and brought a hand up to rub his eyes. But after, he did unroll one of the scrolls and held it so the light from Maria's omni-tool brightened the page.

He studied it for a moment and then frowned.

"This is the original schematic for the construction of Nuln's foundries. Built in partnership with the Dwarfs for a fledgling Empire hundreds of years ago," he explained for Maria. Unrolling a second scroll, he glanced over it and his frown only deepened. "This is the same. The plans used to build the great foundries. More specifically, the smelters and casts for our artillery. The mortars, the great cannons…" he opened the next and least faded scroll, "…and the more recently developed helblaster volley gun, and helstorm rocket battery."

He looked up at Maria. "What could the rat-men possibly want with these?"

Maria knew. It was textbook.

"The skaven are gathering intelligence," Maria explained grimly meeting the professor's eyes. "The Empire lives and dies by its war machines. I overheard a witch hunter say that once. The rats want to know how Nuln develops and creates its artillery. They want to know, so they can sabotage the process and weaken the Empire. They're the ones behind Nuln's recent accidents.

"You need to call the city guard and get them down here. Now."

/ooooooo\

Less than half an hour later the ruined basement was brightened up by dozens of lanterns. Just as many of Nuln's soldiers also filled the space, along with a small grouping of university staff as they attempted to clean up the mess.

Maria was standing stiffly off to the side and out of the way, her arms crossed and a frown on her face, as she watched eight soldiers climb down through the roughly-cut hole in the stone floor; the ninja-rat's apparent means of entry into the university.

The wise could see the storm brewing around her and the danger it posed.

The sergeant of the guard continually berating her and blowing her off, was not one of the wise.

"He's sending eight men into the sewers with nothing but torches and short swords to chase after that skaven assassin," Maria practically growled out, uncaring that her strange speech was drawing a number of looks from those around. "If the rat ran, and I stress the if, they'll be fine. But if it wants to cover its tracks, those men will be dead before dawn."

Nikolaus stood beside her and looked conflicted himself. "The sewer-jacks are members of the guard who have trained to fight in the dark and tight spaces the sewers afford. But I worry… The sewers were built by the Dwarfs at the earliest years of Nuln's existence. They stretch on for miles and go down a hundred feet. I would wager they run into fouler things long before they find the rat-man."

"'Fouler things'?" Maria repeated incredulously, glancing at him. "Are you serious?"

Nikolaus didn't meet her gaze. "I've heard the stories. The truly poor and desperate are forced to make their homes down in the depths. Worse things chose to live their whole lives hunting in the dark. Deformed mutants… terrible beasts… If the skaven are real, I shudder to think at the validity behind the tales."

Maria fumed. "And Nuln is sending no more than eight men down there to look for a single skaven," she stated, her sentence gaining volume toward the end until it drew the attention of everyone around.

A loud, heavy and very theatrical sigh came from the man Maria had detested the moment she had met him.

"What is the woman complainin' about now, Professor Ebner?" the Sergeant of the guard asked Nikolaus as he turned around, shaking his head.

If looks could kill, Maria's would have vaporized him in an instant. It would have set him ablaze, but allowed him to die burning. It would have been a pair of sniper rounds through the heart, and one more through the head for good measure. It would have been her locking him alone in a room with Wrex, Grunt and the rest of clan Urdnot.

Needless to say, she did not care for the man at all…

"Miss Shepard is merely expressing concern for the safety of your men Sergeant," Nikolaus spoke up in a hurry. "Perhaps eight isn't enough. You can see the damage around us, sir. This skaven is dangerous in the dark. I can only imagine how deadly it is down in the black of the sewers."

"Which is why my men are carryin' torches," the man explained back slowly, as if educating a child, and while looking straight back at Maria. "And I would remind m'lady, that the skaven are legend, long dead and gone. Tell her to keep her baseless hysterics to herself."

Maria's eyes narrowed. "Keep my baseless hysterics to myself?"

There was a very real and harsh change in the air around her that caused Nikolaus to visibly flinch and take a step back. A breeze from no where suddenly blew through her hair but Maria straightened the loose strands back into place without a second thought.

"The skaven are real!" she snapped back, loud enough that it gained the attention of the whole room. Everyone staring in amazement and confusion to her strange words.

Nikolaus coughed politely into his fist. "Sergeant, I'm afraid the skaven are very real," he offered in translation.

Now the soldier became irritated. "Their existence is decreed heresy by the church, professor. I'd watch what you say if I were you."

"The rat's blood is literally staining the books around you!" Maria marched over to the nearest book laying open on the ground and picked it up. Black blood tarnished the old tome. "Right here! On these pages!" She slapped the book in her hand, before throwing it into the Sergeant's surprised hands

Maria was beside herself. She hadn't been this angry since…

"I've fought those rats twice now!" she yelled angrily, as much to the people standing around the room as well as the soldier. "Once in Bretonnia and now here in Nuln! They're smart and they know how to plan! That assassin came here to steal the designs for the city's foundries and the artillery forged inside, and people have already died because of them! Open your eyes and see what's in front of you before it's too late! The skaven are behind the sabotage!

"If you don't take advantage of the time now to prepare and find a way to stop them, then I will absolutely, positively guarantee you, that the Reapers are going to kill everyone across the galaxy! We –"

Maria abruptly stopped her shouting, her own words ringing in her head. Her fists clenched as she stared at the stone floor and tried to get her heart back under control. In the relative quiet left behind, she could hear Nikolaus finish translating her rant to those around them.

He stopped just as suddenly as she had when he reached the word.

"Reapers, Miss Shepard?" he asked, the confusion clear in his voice. "Did I miss hear you? I'm sure you meant to say Empire rather than galaxy?"

Maria couldn't face him and just closed her eyes.

"Yes Nikolaus," she answered quietly, "that's exactly what I meant to say."

He finished translating the last part and the library remained silent after. Until the sounds of pages flipping through a book drew everyone's gaze to the Sergeant.

Maria opened her eyes and saw him shuffling the black blood-stained pages through his fingers. Meeting her eyes with his own hard gaze, she watched him close the book shut and let it drop from his hands and to the stone floor without a care.

She knew what he was going to say before he said it.

"Clearly the evenin's terrible events have shaken m'lady deeply," he started slowly and with a hint of honest sympathy that disappeared all too quickly. "But I'll remind everyone only once more…"

"The skaven are a dead legend," he ground out harshly. "Whatever happened here tonight was not the work of rat-men sneaking around through the dark. And I will hear no more lies about them. Now… please take your time m'lady… but do you have anything else to say on the matter?"

The asshat was right about one thing. The night had affected her, but for all the wrong reasons.

Maria turned away from him as she took a deep breath, running both her hands through her hair as she slowly blew it out again.

Surprising everyone, Maria then turned back around to face the Sergeant, but with a unexpectedly wide smile on her face.

"I do in fact, have something to say Sergeant." Maria looked around the room once more, to everyone present, and settling finally on Nikolaus.

"I should go."

As so she turned and left.

/ooooooo\

Maria marched all the way back to the Laughing Bear Inn. She didn't bring any books back with her this time. It was the middle of the night and she should probably be getting to bed soon anyhow.

Except that wasn't going to happen.

Walking into the inn, she made for the front desk and the young man leaning on it looking half asleep. She didn't know his name, probably just a body meant to man the desk during the graveyard shift.

"Where is Antonio?" she asked in her limited but growing Reikspiel.

The kid just yawned and shook his head.

"Dunno." He shrugged. "Probably asleep."

Maria's eyes narrowed. She was not in the mood for games.

"I going to stables," she said over her shoulder as she turned and made for the door.

"Wha…?" The kid woke up fast and stumbled around the desk in his haste. "The stables?! Antonio's not – Why would the boss – Mr. Valantina's in bed!"

Maria was already out the door and headed for the stables. The kid struggled to keep up and place himself in front of her, but unless he had the weight of an Elcor behind him he had little hope of stopping her.

His frankly amusing sputtering and excuses ended abruptly when Maria made it all the way to the back of the stable and knocked on the false wall with the same rhythm she had heard before.

"Oh boy," the kid's eye were bugging out and he was sweating pretty good for the short walk from the inn.

Maria shot him a glance. She must be interrupting a fairly important meeting for him to worry so much. Then again, she had never met him before yet. That Walter guy was probably used to this by now.

The false door opened up and Maria had to step back as a flint-lock pistol was shoved in her face. She leaned to side to look past the gun with a raised eyebrow.

Paul was holding the pistol.

"Maria?" Paul lifted the pistol out of her face. He was certainly surprised to see her. "Nobody was to know about this meeting, Peter," his surprise smoothly transitioning to a growl at the kid beside her.

"S-sorry s-sir," he stammered back. "She k-knew sir!"

Paul sighed as he shot a look at Maria. She could only shrug in return. Did he really expect anyone was going to keep her of all people away?

Paul waved the kid away. "Get back to the front desk." Peter took off like a rocket leaving Maria alone with Paul. She could hear people talking behind him in the secret room.

"You shouldn't be here." Paul shoved the pistol back into his belt.

"Need to talk to Antonio," Maria explained.

Paul sighed and rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. "Can it wait 'til tomorrow?"

"No."

"It's bad timing…" he said glancing over his shoulder.

Maria stood her ground, folding her arms across her chest.

Paul just sighed again. "Fine," he held a hand up, "just give me a second."

And as he turned around walking back into the room, Maria followed behind.

Antonio was seated at the small round table with another five men. Two more were on the couch, and another three were standing in the corner. She noticed immediately that everyone of them was armed, and she also noticed that everyone of them was packing a serious attitude.

Paul cleared his throat. "Antonio we got Maria waiting…" he glanced back and his shoulders dropped seeing her standing right behind him. "Well, we got Maria here I guess."

"Need to talk," Maria quickly said, ignoring the stares from everyone in the room.

Antonio frowned, but then nodded slowly. "Alright. We're done here anyway. Everybody, just be set for tomorrow night."

Maria stood off to the side as the rough looking group shuffled out together, no words said between them. She could tell more than a few of them were memorizing her face in case something came up later. This was definitely the seedier crowd that helped keep Antonio in business.

Lucky for all of them, they would never see her again.

Antonio stood from his seat and walked everybody to the door. "Paul, see that things are set up right, will you? Can't mess this up."

"Yes boss," Paul nodded, and he was the last to leave. Antonio closed the door behind him.

"So," Antonio began walking around the small table, "what can I do for you Miss Shepard?"

Maria walked up to the table as well and put her hands on the back of the chair in front of her.

"I need a ship."

/ooooooo\

Day 20

It was just after breakfast and after eating her fill back at the inn, Maria was now standing and waiting on the docks. She had suited back up in her collector armor for the trip and was wearing her witch hunter disguise. Her duffle bag was packed and sitting on the wood planks next to her. The docks were already a bustle of activity. Sailors worked around her, loading goods and supplies onboard the specific ship she was waiting for.

The previous night Maria had explained, to the best of her ability, her desire to reach Ulthuan. Antonio had then used the opportunity to press her for more information about herself and how she could do the things she did.

Not to brag but she deflected the questions like a pro. She feigned deafness.

In the end, he had agreed to arrange her transport. Being a smuggler Antonio didn't risk paying random captains to transport his goods. He happened to own several vessels and each one was crewed by trusted friends.

Everything she owned was either stuffed in her pockets or in her duffle bag. The only thing she couldn't take with her was her horse. Steven would have to be left behind, but after mentioning he had originally been from Bretonnia, Antonio was happy to take him off her hands. Seems horses from Bretonnia were considered well-bred and trained.

He had only hesitated a little after Maria had mentioned she had outrun Vampires through the Grey Mountains on him. It wasn't the horse's fault she was unlucky like that.

Maria took off her hat, set it on the duffle bag and then pulled her amazing hairbrush out from the coat pocket. She hadn't had time to brush out her hair yet.

But shortly after she began brushing her hair, Maria noticed how all activity on the docks had suddenly ceased, with all the sailors and dockworkers giving her way more space than they had been and with growing looks of concern.

She paused mid-brush. "Either a Reaper just landed behind me or…"

"Maria Shepard," an unnervingly familiar voice declared behind her. "Turn around please."

Un-freaking-believable. She was literally this close to leaving Nuln.

Maria replaced the hairbrush back in her pocket and turned around. Six witch hunters stood on the docks only feet from her. The man leading the group was none other than Commander Schaeffer himself. The only witch hunter in Nuln that could identify her face to face.

She smiled gave them a small wave.

"Hello."

Commander Schaeffer and all his cronies just glared back at her. He seemed to size her up for a moment before he stepped to the side and revealed the final member of their party, Nikolaus Ebner.

"This is her, correct?" Schaeffer asked him.

Nikolaus adjusted his glasses and shrugged. "As I said Commander, it was very dark down in the university's lower levels."

Maria nearly laughed out loud. As it was, she still had to cover her wide smile with her hand just to be polite.

"It's all right Nikolaus," she spoke up quickly in his defense. "This guy has been looking for me the past few days already."

"Somehow I'm not surprised," Nikolaus replied with a raised eyebrow.

Commander Schaeffer took a step forward. "Maria Shepard, on the authority of the Order of the Silver Hammer you are under arrest. You will come with us and await trial inside the cells of the Iron Tower."

Maria looked around the gathered group. They had come expecting trouble, but she was surprised to see that there weren't any of Nuln's own soldiers with them. That crazed butcher had somehow rated a higher threat than her.

That's a little insulting…

"Sorry," she shook her head. "No."

Schaeffer rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. "It wasn't a request."

Maria shrugged. "I'm leaving Nuln in a few minutes and I can't afford to miss my boat. Sorry, I'm not going anywhere."

Just for spite, she wasn't speaking Reikspiel, so it was lucky for the Commander he had dragged Nikolaus along. The professor just finished translating for her.

The rest of the witch hunters pulled out their swords or pistols, but Commander Schaeffer hadn't. He just continued his menacing glare.

And then he surprised everyone, his men included.

"Give us the dock," he ordered over his shoulder. Despite their confusion, they obeyed instantly, leaving their Commander, Maria and Nikolaus alone above the river's waters.

Schaeffer kept his hand on his sword. "Before we go any further… the man I sent to follow you after that business with the Khorne-worshipping butcher. Did you kill him?"

Maria held his gaze. "No. He cornered me in that courtyard but Sansovino's gang killed him before we really talked." This time she wasn't speaking Reikspiel because she didn't want any misunderstandings.

Schaeffer waited for Nikolaus to translate. After he had, the Commander paused a few seconds before giving Maria a curt nod.

"Alright then." He released his grip on his sword and rested both his hands on his belt. "I ordered Nikolaus to tell me what happened last night inside the University. His account was well detailed until I required a description of his rescuer."

"It was dark down there," Maria said with a smirk.

Schaeffer didn't seem impressed with her wit. "Dark enough that a skaven assassin felt comfortable enough to raid the library. You're lucky to be alive."

"Luck had nothing to do with it," she shot back.

"From what I've heard, that's true enough." The edges of Schaeffer's lips perked up just a tiny bit, but it was enough to make the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

"You've fought a skaven assassin," he began slowly, "and you are mostly responsible for eliminating Sansovino's entire gang. Your inquiries at the university have raised more than a few eyebrows… and I haven't seen the Vampires in Nuln this on edge for years.

"You know how many eyes are probably on us right now?"

Maria suddenly found her mouth rather dry. "You've had problems with the Vampires?"

Schaeffer smirked. "Actually, none at all. But if I knew who they really were and where they lived, I would be staking their hearts and burning them in the streets. The few informants and spies I employ have reported back, saying that the undead still inside the city have ceased all their devious schemes for the past few weeks.

"The only reason as to why that I've heard mentioned, is some trouble up in the Grey Mountains. Blood Keep to be specific."

"Oh…" Maria could only stand there dumbly, and she couldn't stop her eyes from scanning the nearby rooftops lining the docks. Damn him, he was good at his job. This guy was proving to be N7 level good. But Maria supposed he'd have to be considering who his enemies were.

Schaeffer took a step closer. "You want to live to see tomorrow then I suggest you accompany me to the Iron Tower. I won't ask this politely again."

Oh, hell no. He may have caught her off guard, but Maria was a council Spectre, and had no intention of going anywhere with him. She stood straight and squared her shoulders.

"I'm going to Ulthuan to see the High Elves," she stated clearly and firmly. "And I'm only going to politely warn you this once. Even from my short time here, I've seen that the Empire has far more immediate issues to deal with than a lady like me simply passing through.

"Skaven… Vampires… Beastmen… Not to mention the problems I've heard that are brewing up north beyond Kislev." Commander Schaeffer's smug attitude fell away to a mixture of horror and rage. Maria just offered him a wink. "Didn't think I forgot about that, did you?

"I need to get home. And if I don't, then you can kiss this entire planet's ass goodbye, because I promise you, you do not want the things I fight ever reaching this place."

From behind her, "Miss Shepard? We're loaded and settin' sail. You comin'?"

Maria glanced back to see one of the sailors Antonio had first introduced her to. He was crewing the ship she intended to leave on and looking extremely uneasy drawing the witch hunter's attention on himself.

"Thank you, be right there," she called back.

Maria picked up her hat and duffle bag, throwing the bag's strap over her shoulder and then putting the wide brimmed hat on her head.

"You're not leaving here dressed like that," Commander Schaeffer growled out angrily. He pointed a gloved hand at her chest. "And you're certainly not leaving here with that pinned to your chest."

Maria looked down at herself. She was still wearing the silver pin that marked her as a member of his order. Pursing her lips, she thought things over and eventually relented. Better to not leave this first meeting on an entirely sour note.

She reached up and removed the pin from the front of her coat, holding it out for Schaeffer.

"You can have the pin," Maria said as Schaeffer took it from her hand. "It belonged to a witch hunter that was a part of the trading convoy you passed when you first arrived here in Nuln. He was among those killed by the beastmen, and you deserve to have it back.

"But I'm keeping the hat and coat," she added, narrowing her eyes. Schaeffer's jaw tightened, and he looked like he was about to speak up but then decided against it.

He deposited the pin into one of his pockets. "Be sure you make it to Ulthuan, Maria Shepard." There was no missing the threat behind those words.

"Worry more about your own city, Commander Schaeffer," Maria countered. "Nuln doesn't seem to be the safest place to live right now."

Just as Nikolaus finished translating, Maria offered him her hand.

"I'm really glad I met you when I did Professor," she said as Nikolaus shook her hand. "Thank you for everything."

Nikolaus offered her a wide smile. "The pleasure was all mine Miss Shepard. I hope your journey is a safe one."

Maria ended up smirking at that and she could see Nikolaus's own smile widen. It seemed he had learned quickly what kind of luck happened to follow her around.

Pulling her duffle bag further up her shoulder, Maria turned around and walked down the dock to join the waiting sailor, and they boarded the ship together. Maria waited to hear a shouted order for the boat to stop, but it seemed the witch hunter was willing to let her go as the vessel cast of its mooring, and only minutes later was on its way down the river.

Half a continent and an ocean away, Ulthuan awaited.