"I can't believe this shit," Jormangander muttered to himself as he left the Montbert estate. It had taken nearly an hour of arguing with Francisco to convince him to spend the rest of his day at home, studying some of the financial records of his father's recent business exchanges.
Lord Gui Montbert's shipping business was small by Gabriel standards, but still largely profitable. It had taken years of organization, wheeling, dealing, and arranging to build up his fortune, and he hoped that Francisco would take over for him. To do that, there was a minimum amount of time that Francisco's father demanded he spend going through the company ledgers. Francisco was already well behind on the records for November, and it was up to Jormangander to persuade the young master to finish his readings. This resulted in Francisco going down his traditional serious of arguments: "But Jormangander, you have to follow my instructions", "If we forget about the ledgers I'll buy you your rounds of drinks for the night", "I will have my father fire you, I can make him believe that you have violated your oath", and his last line of defense "You can't do this, please don't do this too me! We should leave, we can just go to the bar, find some women, anything but the ledgers". Jormangander's final response was always very simple; "If you don't make it through your ledgers, your father will fire me, and I'll have to break one of your arms to make it harder for you to hit on women. Read your books." There were never any more arguments after that point.
"I need a drink, some food, and, if the Aityr have anything to say about it, a chance to break someone," Jormangander growled as he set off down the street. Nobles scattered from his path like flocks of birds as they saw the look on his face. Having spent as much time working for Lord Montbert, Jormangander had earned a reputation for the efficiency of his services in La Roche. The last time that a noble had failed to avoid Jormangander while his great darkness shrouded his mood had resulted in the poor drunk fool challenging Jormangander to a duel. When Jormangander requested to use his hammer as his weapon, the noble scoffed at the savage choice and agreed. Servants were peeling the young man's remains from the cobbles of the square for hours in order to find all the fragments.
"A nice, strong drink, that's what this calls for." He continued to mutter, eyes focused on the cobbles yet not truly seeing, as he pounded off down the street.
Walking down the cobbles of Grevens Boulevard Lynn, Taiko, and Sophia chatted lightly on the road, while Shadow moved back and forth from the alleys nearby.
"So you decided to help Lynn deal with that blasted noble bastard just because hmm," Sophia smiled coyly as she regarded Taiko's great bulk. "You will forgive me if I doubt that was your true intention."
"What do you mean," Taiko rumbled back, "I couldn't let that smug little, puffed up bastard treat a woman like that."
"And all so that her thanks would be all the reward needed," Sophia shot back, her eyes sparkling with a mix of mischief and venom, "I've had enough men try to defend my honour to know that they want more than a 'thank you' and me buying them a flagon."
"A bit bitter aren't you?"
Sophia scoffed daintily and shook her head, "I should have known better than to expect a man to understand."
As Taiko began to respond Sophia held up one hand, cutting him off. Brushing her violet hair away from one ear, she listened to a low rumble coming from the slums. Rhythmic stomping of feet and shouting slowly bubbled up from one of the alleys, drowning out the mid-day milling. Soon the eyes of those wandering the street were turned to face the alleyway, and the jumbled words could actually be heard.
"We caught the witch! We caught the witch! We caught the witch!"
"What the hell is going on here," muttered Fenix as he limped out of the house he had been sleeping in. "I need about a week to heal up and what do I get, angry mobs strutting out from the slums. This is just perfect."
Emerging from the slums was a group of ten men, their ages highly varied, their clothes all filthy and tattered. In their centre was a girl who couldn't have more than just entered her womanhood. Around her neck was a rusted iron collar that may have just been an old iron bar bent into shape, with a long chain leading to one of the older and more muscled men. The girl's darker skin and stark white hair marked her of Daevar decent, a rarity even in Gabriel. All the men trampled their feet as they continued to chant that they had a witch for burning and crowns.
"They can't actually be serious, taking that girl in as a witch," Taiko growled, "She's just a girl. They must think they're big men dealing with a defenseless girl. Let's see how brave they are when they actually have to deal with someone that can defend himself."
Striding forward, Taiko crossed in front of the small mob, preventing them from crossing the street. Lynn and Sophia stood back, watching what would unfold. Sophia slipped her hands into the folds of her clothes, resting them atop the grips of her finest daggers. Shadow cursed lightly under his breath as he saw his charge cross the slum dwellers. Shaking his head he unslung his bow, and then froze in place as he looked around the alley. Standing just at the entrance of the alley the mob had left was the creature that had slaughtered guards to free the members of the Hands of Tarnished Souls. It's long, multi-jointed limbs rustled slightly as its featureless face regarded the group of men, but didn't make any move towards them. "Well this is just getting more and more bloody wonderful," Shadow murmured to himself as he nocked an arrow.
"Where the hell do you men think you are going," Taiko glared down at all of them, his nodachi unsheathed and bouncing on his shoulder. "You say you've got a witch, but do you have any proof."
"Of course we know she's a witch," the muscled man holding the chain leash replied glaring back into Taiko's face. "We found her trying to get our children to talk to spirits. If that doesn't make her a witch I don't know what does. So are you going to get out of our way or not?"
"That's it," Taiko shook his head, "That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. You don't have to be a witch to hope to converse with spirits. Let the girl go and I'll let you lot go."
The leader of the group laughed openly, a great loud guffaw that showed his many missing teeth. "You talk good big man, but there are ten of us, and one of you. This girl is a small heap of silver for us, and there's no way in Hell we'll let some rundown merc like you have her for the money. Now shove off or we'll bloody that armour of yours."
"You should let the girl go, there is no honour in selling children for your own profit. You should find a legitimate way to make coins." Fenix walked up beside Taiko, only a slight cringe from the bandages wrapped around his torso.
"So we have a worthless merc and an injured, shirtless, crazy man," The leader grinned with his gap toothed smile, "Get out of the way you nutters."
Before Taiko or Fenix could respond, a small bearded shape began pushing and shoving its way through the mob of men. "Get out of my way you bastards, I need a drink." Jormangander muttered under his breath as he shouldered into the mass. As he reached the centre of the group, one of the larger men attempted to stand in front of him. "Where do you think your going," the large sweaty man said to the figure before him.
"Going to the tavern, get the hell out of my way." The look Jormangander gave the man would cower most men. Unfortunately, the man before him was too drunk on his witch catching to listen to anyone.
"Out of the way short man," the sweaty man said with a shove to Jormangander's shoulder. "You can walk around us to the tavern."
The large sweaty man didn't even see Jormangander's fist as it rose up to hurl the man through the rest of their group, forcing the sap to land flat on his back. Jormangander pulled out one of his hammers and cracked his neck. "You bastards picked the wrong day to get in my way."
Diving into the centre of the mass, Fenix lashed out with palms and feet, pushing one of the men back with his flurry of strikes. Sophia slid her pair of exquisite daggers from their sheathes hidden within her clothes. "Alright White Roses," she whispered sweetly to the blades in her hands, "Time to redden your petals again."
The leader of the mob pulled a twisted metal club from his belt, opening his mouth to bellow orders, only a fountain of blood gushed out. Shadow grinned as his bowstring hummed in his hands, the arrow he had only just fired protruded out of the large man's chest. Splintered ribs shattered further as the man fell onto the pavement. He did not stir. Shadow's grin faltered as he saw the mysterious creature move smoothly out of the alleyway, its strange movement brought it to rest just in front of the young girl. Notching another arrow, Shadow kept an eye on the creature, while monitoring the mob for anyone approaching Taiko.
A sickening crunch tore through the air as Jormangander brought his warhammer down on the man he had punched earlier. The man had tried to stop the hammer with his left hand, but unfortunately for him the hammer had managed to tear straight through it and into his body. Jormangander's smile was savage as all the blood splattered across the floor. Another of the men grabbed up the chain leash attached to the girl. Lynn turned to Taiko and shouted, "Focus on freeing the girl! We can deal with this trash once we know that she is safe." With a deep breath Lynn reached out with her mind to the man holding the leash, her psychic matrices stretching to wrap around his head. Inside his mind the man could hear Lynn's voice whispering lightly to him; "Lower your weapon, you do not wish to fight, capturer of children." The man's hand slipped away from the jagged metal blade at his waist. Smiling, Lynn firmed her grasp on the man's mind.
The other members of the mob were not as docile. The men held up wooden clubs, rusted blades, or broken bottles, and charged towards the men that were attempting to stop them from finally having silver in their hands. Two of them charged over to Taiko, swinging with their makeshift weapons from either side of him. While Taiko's buckler was able to knock aside a crude rusted dagger, the other man's wooden club crashed into his side. Splintering wood scattered off of the partial plate as the man's table-leg club cracked on impact. The look Taiko threw the man contained nothing but disgust, and entirely lacked pain. "Is that all you have little man," Taiko rumbled as he thrust his pelvis towards the man. "Perhaps if I have an itch you can swing that hard to try and scratch any for me."
Fenix ducked under one club, but his movements were slowed by his recent injuries, and the blow still brushed his shoulder. That slight contact was enough to slow his evasion of the other attack, and the knife cut through his bandages and traced a line along Fenix's right arm. "Bastards kidnap women and knife injured men," Fenix grumbled as he eyed his newest injury, "This city is far too cruel for my liking. Should have stayed in the mountains."
Clubs and blades fell upon Jormangander from three different men. A club crashed into Jormangander's side with a solid thump through his chainmail. With a sweep of his hammer Jormangander knocked aside a rusted dagger being stabbed towards him, but it left him open to receive another bruising blow to the side.
Lynn reached out with her mind, wrapping her will soundly around one of the men facing down Taiko. The man went rigid for the briefest of moments, and his arm holding his battered club fell to his side, unable to rise up. From beside the mentally restrained man darted forward the other slum dweller fighting Taiko. A rusted dagger lashed out to grate off Taiko's armour, rust pattering the pavement as it fell from the blade. As the three men standing before Jormangander resumed their attack, one strike was knocked aside by his chainmailed shoulder, and as he slapped aside the next man's blade his hammer Jormangander countered quicker than any snake. With a terrible popping sound the hammer drove up into the left armpit of the man, and with a sickening tear the man's left arm came free of his body, tumbling through the air to fall limply to the ground. The muscles of the arm tightened up as it curled in on itself. Screaming filled the air as the man cradled his mauled body, fouling the swing of the man beside him.
Slowed movements left Fenix unprepared for the two attacks coming from in front of him. Cloth arm guards lightly deflected the dagger from one side. Fenix's left foot slipped as it came down on the freshly bloodied cobbles, and it cost him a blow to the right collarbone. With a deep breath Fenix slowed his heart, trying to return it to its normal calm rhythm. "Haste is carelessness, and I can't afford that right now," he whispered to himself.
Bowstring hummed as Shadow released another arrow. A rusted dagger clattered to the ground as arrow tore through ear and cheek of the man that had attempted to stab Taiko. The man's right hand rose to that side of his face, attempting to stem the flow of blood gushing where half of his mouth used to be. Eyeing up the man with the cracked club Taiko smiled as he slashed with his nodachi. Despite lunging to the side the slim blade still streaked up the man's right calf, carving deeply into the muscle eliciting a pitiful wail from the maimed man.
Panic began to set in on the men that still maintained all of their body parts, and so their strikes degenerated into the lunges of wild creatures, barely aware of their own safety. Clubs and blade fell upon Jormangander, bouncing from or scraping across the links of his armour. Fenix was faced by a wave of strikes from the men before him. Fenix slipped inside the reach of a widely swung dagger, and reposted with a flurry of palm strikes. The crazed man leapt backwards, just avoiding Fenix's strikes. With the momentum of his strike carrying him forward, Fenix was unable to avoid the downward swinging club coming from the other man he faced. The club crashed down onto his head, and Fenix collapsed in a heap down to the cobbles, darkness engulfing his mind.
"Shit, things are about to get out of hand," Shadow hissed as he saw the dark creature turn from the girl and stare at the club wielding man that had felled Fenix. The creature drew back its arm in a ripple of motion like water breaking over sand, and in a blink it lashed forward. The unsuspecting man didn't even flinch until the creatures ghostly, clawed hand dug into his chest. The man shivered as his flesh grayed and shriveled, his teeth chattered and his breath began hissing from between his teeth in a light mist. Huddling for warmth the man was unable to protect himself from the sudden dagger point burrowing into his chest as Sophia sprinted forward to stand over Fenix. The man's blood fell thickly to the ground, an unnatural black tinge to it.
Glaring down on the man that scratched through his armour with a rusted dagger, Jormangander exhaled heavily as he brought his hammer down on the dagger wielding man. The hammer took the man's shirt off, and then proceeded to also remove the entire front of his rib cage, splattering those nearby with fragments of bone and organs. Blood dripping from hammer and armour, Jormangander couldn't help but grin as he turned to the other men before him.
Observing the carnage around her, the girl captured in the middle of the group closed her eyes and murmured to herself. A faint wind whispered through the battling mass, and Shadow swore as he saw what arrived upon the wind. Nearly identical to the other dark creature, the new arrival did not hold the faint runes etched across its flesh. Darkness deeper then a moonless night peered through the crowd with faint star-like eyes. It waved one hand through the man that had already begun to feel the chill of the other, and that had one of Sophia's daggers buried in his chest. As the creatures ghostly claws passed through the man's head all light left his eyes. The blood pouring from his chest slowed, and one final puff of breath passed between numb lips. Falling to the ground was no longer a man, but a wither husk that would be a stretch to even call a corpse.
"Brutus, sick him," Lynn whispered to her dog. The great mastiff leapt to action through the mob, jumping onto the man holding the girl's leash. Fangs dug deeply into the man's flesh, but his grip on the chain leash remained firm despite his cries for help.
"You monsters better stay away from my charge," Shadow glared as he fired an arrow towards the one uninjured man standing before Taiko. Too much of his attention was focused on the creatures however, and the arrow skipped ineffectively across the cobblestones, flying past Taiko.
"Only cowardly bastards use bows," Taiko roared as he looked towards Shadow, "I will show you how a true man fights!" Taiko twisted his great girth as he drew back his nodachi in a great two-handed swing. Three men stood before Taiko's blade, one with right calf demolished, one missing half his face, and a third that remained as picturesque as a slum dweller could. Following the strike there were six halves of slum dwellers, cleaved directly through each chest smoothly, bathing Taiko in their blood. His smile remained gleaming white as he nodded down at the carnage before him. "A three body blade at least." His nod was one of self-indulgent pleasure.
Turning to the second bandit within her reach, Sophia flicked her left hand forward, sending her second dagger slicing in and out of the man's chest. The pair of creatures moved in perfect unison, mirror images lashing into the back of the man engaged with Sophia. As the claws passed through his flesh the man began to suffer the fate of the husk beside him. Flesh drew back from his lips, muscles spammed, and blackened veins contrasted sharply with his graying skin. The sob that tore from his throat was that of a child drowning in sorrow.
Shivering at the monsters' cruel efficiency, Shadow slung his bow over one shoulder, drew his scimitar in his right hand and his chakram in his left, and slunk over to the alley entrance that the creatures had emerged from. If they wanted to escape the way they had come, they would have to go through him. Whether he could deal with them or not however, Shadow had no idea.
A heavy grunt escaped the final man standing before Jormangander as his hammer crashed into his chest. Jormangander frowned at the distinct lack of cracking bones. He began winding up for a second swing nearly immediately, vowing to restore that familiar, refreshing sound of ending another man's life with his favorite tools.
With a growl, Brutus attempted to get a firmer grip on the man holding the girl's leash, but a well-timed sidestep left Brutus' jaws clamping around empty air. With visible effort the man broke free of Lynn's mental shackles, drawing his jagged dagger and slashing it down at Brutus. The dagger didn't come out cleanly however, and the slight snag on his belt left Brutus time to slink under the sloppy slash. Following the angle of his knife blade, the man caught the briefest of glimpses of the blood-soaked Taiko charging towards him. Taiko's nodachi parted the man's right arm down the middle before cleaving the man from right clavicle to left hip. His limp fingers of his left hand slipped from the leash as he fell to pieces. "Never try to block my blade with your hand," Taiko laughed as he eyed his opponent's corpse. His grin was more and more savage.
One final coupled attack from the twin creatures washed through the man in front of Sophia, and he could no longer resist the chilling cold of their fell touch. His remains fell to disturbingly complement his deceased companion. Sophia's eyes darted around for the source of the man's death, but unable to see anything her gaze turned to the unconscious, shirtless man at her feet. With a flick of her wrists the blood that had pooled perfectly along the rose inlay of her daggers was cast out, leaving not even a drop to tarnish her perfect White Roses. She then fell to her knees and began tending to the Fenix's wounds, wrapping his wounds with white cloth pulled from her belt.
Lynn gingerly stepped over the mangled corpses to reach the collared girl. "Hold still sweet heart, I'll do my best to get this off you." Lynn whispered as she examined the collar. Finding a heavily rusted link that connected the fragments of metal that made up the girl's makeshift containment. Taking a deep breath and focusing, Lynn twisted on the rusted portion, and it collapsed and fell apart in her hands. "There we are."
As Jormangander began to swing his hammer to finish what he had started, the man before him lost his head in a most literal fashion. As the headless body collapsed to join his head on the paving stones, Taiko's great grinning face and blood slick sword greeted him. "You stole my kill you bastard," Jormangander shouted as he swung his hammer towards Taiko. The hammer was just knocked away with Taiko's buckler, but the force of the blow numbed his left arm.
"You don't want me to kill them, then kill them quicker or I'll finish what you can't seem to." Taiko growled back. Amidst the sea of blood and broken bodies the two warriors stared into each other, eyes of burning flame crashing against frigid ice.
"Are you all right," Lynn asked the girl before her, "How did this happen?"
"I may be able to answer that," came a cold response from the alley where the first of the dark creatures emerged from. Stepping out from the alley way was a man that had begun to become far too easily recognized around these part. The well-made velvet suit wouldn't have made him stand out much in the refinement of Gabriel. Rapiers like the one hanging from his hip, heavy with silver filigree also made wonderful accessories for refined gentlemen. No, it was the bestial skull that the man wore over his head was what let anyone that noticed him. After all, in Gabriel skulls were not viewed as stylish. "That happens to be my daughter that you have rescued. I appreciate your assistance, even though it wasn't necessary."
"Call off your pets, or else I'll carve you up," Shadow hissed as he gazed at the strangely clad man beside him.
"You are in no danger from them," the man smiled, although it was devoid of warmth, "but if it makes you feel better I suppose that can be arranged." With a wave of his hand the rune covered creature vanished, followed a moment later by its marking free sibling. "Better?"
"Acceptable," Shadow stared intently at him as he sheathed his blade. "So, what now?"
"Now, I request we step in to the slums before this conversation continues. Even with the incompetent guards of this city, they will arrive eventually to see this blood bath."
The young girl skipped walked calmly towards the skull-clad man. He allowed her to lead, and then turned to follow her into the slums. The gathered, blood covered group behind them did not make any move to follow. Turning backwards, the man's cold gaze wandered over the group. "Are you not coming?" he muttered softly.
"You summon monsters, kill people, and don't even tell us your name," Taiko turned to him, wiping the blood from his blade on one of the fallen men's shirt. "Why should we trust you?"
A smirk twisted the man's face for the briefest of moments before he responded. "An interesting analysis. I must remind you that my pet killed many fewer individuals than you did, and mine made less of a mess. I did not wish to kill them if it could be avoided, but they had taken my daughter, and a peaceful solution would not be able to have been reached. Who are really the monsters, when people sell each other merely for the sound of coins clinking in their pockets? Such things do not deserve life, and so there is no need for remorse. As to your last comment, my name is Zelna, a pleasure to meet you. You may also bring your unconscious friend if you would like, my people can help to tend to him."
Eyes turned to Fenix, unconscious and wrapped in bandages. Sophia rubbed blood off of her gloves as she stood up to face the others. "He should be okay to be moved," She said as she stretched her back, "Most of the bleeding has stopped, but he will need rest." Jormangander moved over to take Fenix's shoulders, and Taiko grabbed Fenix's legs. Moving forward, the small band followed Zelna and the young girl deeper into the slums.
"My name is Taiko," the great metal clad man said over one massive shoulder, "the angry fellow is Jormangander, the shirtless man here is Fenix, the young beauty in the fancy clothing is Sophia, and the young woman with the dog is Lynn."
"I'm Shadow," came the voice from the darkness of the alleys behind them.
"You're a cowardly bastard that uses a bow, you don't get a name."
The young girl turned to take a closer look at Lynn. "May I ask why a blind woman is able to see," She whispered as she stared into Lynn's golden eyes. Many eyes turned to face her following this simply stated comment.
"Is that true, young lady," Zelna inquired, his voice dark and cold as a winter night.
Lynn blushed slightly beneath the intent stares of all the people around her. With a sigh she reached into the collar of her simple shirt, and drew out a pendant on a golden chain. On the end of the chain hung a platinum disk bearing a stylized golden cross filled with blood-red metal. "That's because I am a Saint of the Vatican Church. I'm able to see by connecting my senses to others around me, but I will only do it if I'm given permission."
Zelna came to a stop before. "Well then, you are gifted with the powers that we happen to be looking for. Given the way that the rest of you also performed in that combat, I suspect we may be able to form a great relationship between our groups. I would be happy to tell you more about what it is we hope to accomplish here, if you all have the time."
"And Fenix?" The concern in Sophia's voice was genuine.
"The rest of my associates are at our base of operation, so they may be able to help him. He would also be able to rest in our base of operations."
"Fine, whatever, just lead on then," Jormangander growled as he shifted his grip on Fenix, "I'm not some forsaken pack mule. It better not be too far, I'm losing my patience carrying him."
"But of course, it is only a few more blocks and alleyways down."
Turning back around, Zelna and his daughter lead the way through the slums. As they passed, normal dwellers of the slums scattered before them, eyes staring with great focus towards their feet. One group, attempting to drag an old man towards Grevens Boulevard, stopped dead in their tracks, all colour draining from their faces. One gaze from Zelna had the group release the old man and scattered like roaches down the nearby alleys. The old man tried to thank Zelna, but the skull-clad man simply walked past and ignored him.
A few more streets down and Zelna lead the group towards a cellar of a half-collapsed house. Flipping open the cellar doors revealed a crudely hewn stone stairwell leading downwards in a rough spiral. "Follow me ladies and gentlemen." Zelna began the journey beneath the city streets.
Echoes of footfalls followed the group descending the hewn stairs, rough stone allowing for solid grip despite the slight condensation. Down twenty feet they descended, until the ground leveled before them. A decided difference in the craftsmanship was immediately obvious. The walls were smoothly carved and reinforced with wooden support beams. Tiles decorated the floor in mosaics, images of hands and twisted faces emerging from one angle only to fade as the light of the torches flicked a different way. Zelna's riding boots clicked loudly off the tiles as he strode towards the wooden door at the end of the hall.
"Welcome to the Hands of Tarnished Souls sanctuary amidst the filth of La Roche." Zelna opened the door with a flourish.
Multicoloured flames sparkled and flared from four braziers, one placed in each of the four corners of the large square room. No mosaics were present in the floor, but neatly aligned tiles were simple and functional. Another hallway stretched outwards across for the door, quickly turning a sharp corner. Three simple wooden chairs surrounded a large table, cards and coins scattered across the top.
It was the eight pairs of eyes staring at the new arrivals that caused a slight delay between the entrance of Zelna and his daughter to the room, and the following of the blood splattered men and women behind them. The men sitting around the table were the most disturbed by what they saw, their card game forgotten for the moment. Jormangander laughed aloud as he recognized the injuries inflicted upon the three men that had escaped the fate of being hanged. Equal amounts of fear and rage filled the eyes of the three as they heard that laughter fill the room.
"I see that you recognize each other," Zelna smiled his cold smile. He turned to face the eight members of his organization. "These people are here under my invitation. It is time you all left for now. There are things that must be discussed amongst these people that you do not need to hear."
As the men gathered up their cards and coins from the table, all of them headed further into the structure, down the hallway across from the entrance. As their footsteps faded Zelna turned back towards the adventurers. "You may place your wounded friend atop the table. We will have some of our people look after him."
Taiko and Jormangander set Fenix down upon the table. The red-haired man groaned as he was set down upon the table. Sophia did a quick check of the bandages around Fenix, and she nodded satisfied.
"So, are you prepared to hear what it is that our group intends to do?" Zelna's gaze went from face to face of those gathered. None one flinched, looked away, or said anything at all. "Good, then I shall allow The Tarnished Daughter to explain this to you."
All eyes turned to the small waif of a girl, her long white hair covering her face, her bare feet padding on the tiles. She brushed the hair from her face, and the eyes that gazed out were the deepest of black. Age and severity far beyond what a young girl's eyes should contain enshrouded those that she looked upon.
"As my father has already announced, our organization is known as the Hands of Tarnished Souls," The Tarnished Daughter intoned, her voice dark as oil, "It is our intent to allow competent people be able to rule. As you have already seen in this corrupted excuse for a principality, only the wealthy, arrogant, and manipulative scum are able to reach positions of power. Other people are trampled upon and driven deeply into the ground like garbage. Those with supernatural gifts are forced to hide in the shadows, concealing their powers and having to live like normal people.
These observations have resulted in our reaching the obvious conclusion that the current system can no longer be allowed to remain. It is time for those with gifts to rise up, announcing their presence to the world. We seek to gather up such exceptional individuals so as to overthrow the current system of rule in order to place those with the power to rule. Mages ruled the world with great power in the past, and it is time for us to regain our rightful place in the world. While some will have to perish in order for the greater good, it is a sacrifice that must be acceptable. We would like to extend an invitation for you to join our ranks. What do you say?"
There was a slight hesitation before anyone responded. It was left to Sophia to ask the obvious question, "So, you are inviting us to join then? And what exactly would you need us to do then?"
The Tarnished Daughter looked at her, slightly confused. "Yes, we are inviting you to join. We would use you to help us to realign the powers that be in the city. We may require you to eliminate certain people, only wretched nobles, we assure you. Once you eliminate them, we will replace them with people more fitting for that position."
"And how much would we get paid for all this?" Taiko rumbled as he looked around the furnishings of the place.
"You may keep whatever you kill, but I am afraid we have no method of funding you additionally. It would be for the good of our cause."
"Mmm hmm," Taiko murmured, "I'll have to think on it then. I need more money you see."
Nods from the rest of the group showed that they would need time to think on it also. Jormangander shook his great shaggy head with a frown. "I already have a patron that I am in a contract with. I won't join you lot unless you buy out my contract, or if my current master releases me from my contract."
"So all we need to do is terminate your current employ, and then you would join us." The look in Zelna's eyes was dark.
"If it ends under my master's wishes I would," ice had crept into Jormangander's voice. "You try to manipulate it and I will crush you."
"Do not worry, I would not dream of interfering with your current employ. We shall give the rest of you time to think on it then. Please, return to us once you have made your decision. As a gesture of good faith we will tend to the one you call Fenix while you are gone. I shall fetch some of my other members in order to watch over him for you."
The conscious, blood splattered warriors gave slight nods before heading back to the various sense stimulations of the slums. Upon reaching the surface, Jormangander began stalking off towards the wealthy districts.
"Where do you think you're going," Taiko shouted after Jormangander.
"Back to work. I have an actual employer and job to take care of," Jormangander growled back. "You lot can do what you want. I've given these Tarnished Hand people my answer, and I don't care what you lot do." The northman stalked off without another word.
"Well now, isn't he a real people person. Well then ladies, shall I escort you back to where you are staying. The slums are no place for young women such as yourselves to be unaccompanied."
The smirks and raised eyebrows from Lynn and Sophia went right over Taiko's head, and Shadow's eyes had rolled so far back he had almost buried them into his skull.
"We are quite capable," Sophia smiled, her grey eyes glittering with laughter, "But it is never a bad thing to have a big, strong man such as yourself around."
"Excellent, then follow me." Strutting forward, puffed up like a rooster, Taiko lead the lovely women forward, Shadow shaking his head at muttering again at the misfortune of his current assignment.
Flames tore across the sky like crimson clouds as Fenix soared through the air. The world flashed around beneath him, forests, plains, hills, villages and cities. All blurred together to form a sweeping and swirling mosaic, an endless dance of colour and lights. All swirling halted as a great mountain range burst from the ground before him, wreathed in beautiful golden flames. Hurtling down winding stone tunnels, circles worming through the stone. Reaching the core of the mountain, a massive sea of magma swirled around a giant egg made of glittering red crystal. Fenix's necklace glowed warmly upon its close proximity to the giant stone.
"Should 'is eyes be twitching like that?" One of the servants of the Hands of Tarnished Souls stood over Fenix, staring at his sleeping face.
"Course, it means the man's dreaming. I seen many people with that look on their face. When I woke them they said they was dreamin'. When I told them to give me their coin after, they assumed it was just a nightmare." The man chuckled as he remembered.
The men returned to their card game, the cards and coins scattered around the unconscious man on the table. The chuckling man laid down a pair of wooden cards, to groans from the other men around the tables.
"You keep playin like that and I'll start to think this is a bloody nightmare."
Steam filled the air of The Lace Madam from the meat pies in front of Taiko, Lynn, and Sophia. Brutus lounged under the table, chewing on a piece of chicken that had fallen from a nearby table. Lounging in a dark corner, Shadow tended to his bowstring, examining it for any frays or signs of ware.
"Well, what do you ladies think about their offer?" Taiko said through a mouthful of food. "Sounds like they have big plans for this place, but it could result in a lot of blood shed without any actual pay for it."
"Is money the entire focus of your existence," Sophia smiled as she said it, sipping at a steaming glass of cider.
"It's not quite that simple, but it helps to maintain an order to things. You work as long as I did in a mercenary company and you start to realize that good and evil do not hold nearly as much sway as the cold value of coin in hand. I've killed plenty of people in my life, and it was money that was the guiding force, not any kind of morality. However, this offer from these Tarnished Souls people just doesn't seem right to me." A heavy swallow of beer punctuated the end of his comment.
"Well now, perhaps there is more to you then there seems then, but I agree something about it seems strange. How about you Lynn, any thoughts on the hunting of nobles?"
"I don't like it. People that are willing to kill when there are other ways to solve their problems, I don't like. If they want to change how things are done, they should try negotiating. It may not be easy given all of the resources the nobles have on their side, but it would be more rewarding then the murder of innocents that get in the way of their goal." Lynn's eyes were down turned as she swirled her food with a fork.
"Sounds like we're all more or less in agreement than, we don't do what they want. The question is though, what should we do. I doubt Zelna would let us leave with a smile." Taiko slammed the empty tankard onto the table, a slightly sad look on his face at the hollow ring.
"I suggest we sleep on it. They said they would give us time to reach our decision, so we should at least be able to sleep tonight." Sophia stood to leave, placing a few silver crowns on the table. With a nod to her companions, she gracefully swept out through the door.
"Well, I guess this discussion is over for now then." Taiko groaned as he stood from the table in a rustle of steel. "May I escort you back to wherever you are staying?"
Lynn smiled sweetly as she snapped her fingers for Brutus to get out from under the table. "Perhaps you could, I am staying at the Sleeping Sheep Inn right next door."
"Really? I happen to be staying there myself. Shall we?"
"Yes, I think we shall." Lynn rose from the table, scratching Brutus behind the ears as she did so. Both she and Taiko headed out into cool night.
A plate of food was placed in front of Shadow at his corner table with a smile from the barmaid. The incline of Shadow's head was nearly imperceptible beneath his hat. When no silver clattered onto the table the barmaid retreated with her smile greatly reduced.
"Took long enough," Shadow muttered as he looked over his cup of tea. "The great oaf shouldn't get himself into too much trouble while I actually enjoy my meal I should hope. Although, her dog is quite large..."
Only a few bites of food had passed Shadow's lips before in a great flourish a young man charged into the bar. Francisco arrived at the table that had only moments before held discussion and a large dog. Jormangander followed, shaking his head as he saw the lack of women, the very reason Francisco had dragged him back out into the city. Sighing, Shadow returned to his meal, realizing that his evening had just become much more loudly spoken.
Shadow nearly choked when he saw the thing that walked through the closed door after Jormangander. Too many joints, black lightless flesh, with the mystic runes covering it. One of Zelna's monstrous creatures. Cold eyes followed Francisco's movements to the table, and its flowing movement took it behind Francisco's chair. Cloth whispered as Shadow walked over to the creature, and steel sighed as he unsheathed his scimitar.
"Now Jormangander, you must be patient," Francisco laughed as he gestured for the bartender to fetch two drinks, "There will be women here, I can feel it, like a chill down my spine."
The breeze from the scimitar swinging behind Francisco's head startled the words from the young noble.
"Leave here you foul creature, your presence is not wanted here, as you can only cause evil." Shadow's voice rasped like grating stone, eyes hard as his scimitar hung in the air before the creature's throat.
As the dark monster raised its arm Shadow's scimitar sliced through its neck. The blade was effective as if it had been trying to cut the wind. Jormangander leapt to his feet, hammer in hand as he faced Shadow. Claws of darkness swept through Francisco's body, to his heart. With a pitiful and confused whimper Francisco raised a hand to his chest, and fell forward onto the table. If the faceless creature could smile, it would have as it passed through the wall of the inn.
Pulling his leather gauntlets from his hands, Jormangander lifted Francisco's head from the table, feeling along his neck. Jormangander's eyes held a look of unbridled furry as his hand remained in place.
"You had better be here when I get back," Jormangander growled at Shadow, "Because if you aren't I will find you and kill you."
Lifting Francisco's body from the table, Jormangander slung the corpse over one shoulder and left the tavern.
The walk back through the streets was a silent one for Jormangander. As he charged forward through the streets, men and women scattered from his icy glare. The lampyridae street lamps cast brilliant white light across the frost-streaked cobbles. A group of city guard saw him carrying a body through the streets, but seeing the look upon Jormangander's face, the guards decided to let him pass without question. Only a single light could be seen in the Montbert villa as Jormangander walked through the gates, the light to Lord Gui's personal study.
All was quiet within the estate as Jormangander opened the door, wood gliding smoothly across the polished stone tiles. There were no signs of any of the other servants at this hour, all of them tucked away in their chambers for slumber. Only Jormangander knew of the tragedy that had befallen their master's house. Climbing the carpeted stairs to the upper levels, only a beautifully carved wooden door now stood between the calm of unknowing and the storm that truth awakens. Jormangander knocked on the door.
"Who is it," came the casual response from the other side. Lord Gui Montbert's voice held the familiar fatigue of a man with too many worries, but insists on dealing with all of them himself.
"It's Jormangander, we need to talk."
"As you will. Please, enter."
The door barely whispered as it opened across the soft carpet of Lord Montbert's personal study. Shelves filled with manifests and ledgers decorated the walls, save for a large window gazing out over the quite night in La Roche. Rolls of parchment crowded atop the available table space, those that were unfurled bearing intricate maps of Principalities, shipping lanes, and current work forces. A grand mahogany desk dominated the space before the window, books properly arranged, quills and bottles of a variety of inks strategically placed. Everything was kept dusted and clean, except one item. Only the brass telescope before the window seemed to escape the attention of the servants responsible for cleaning it. A thick layer of dust hung from it like a shroud, filling the engravings and darkening its shimmer. Those that had permission to enter this room knew better then to touch this item, and most refused to look at it, pretending that it didn't exist.
At the grand desk, bent over a small pile of leather-bound ledgers, was Lord Gui Montbert himself. Graceful fingers danced quickly across a page before him, quill flittering to follow. With a dab into a nearby inkpot, the quill regained its advance down the page, letters and numbers filling the many rows and columns. Lord Montbert's short-cropped hair was well-greased, with bolts of striking silver flowing through the deep brown. His refined nose buried in the pages, cunning eyes that had forgotten how to smile darted back and forth before the quill's strikes. With a final flourish, the quill halted, and was set down above the ledger.
"Now what was it that you wished to speak to me about?" As Lord Montbert's eyes rose from his desk they found Francisco's body draped across Jormangander's shoulder. At once the Lord seemed to crumple, shoulders falling, fingers going limp, and his face looking far older than the nearly fifty winters it had seen. His legs pulled him forward of their own accord. Numbly, mechanically, he brushed the hair from Francisco's face, ran a finger down the now cold and papery flesh. "What has happened to my son?" His voice was barely a whisper.
"I don't know," Jormangander replied carefully, his master not seeming to register that he was there. "But I intend to find out, immediately."
As the Lord's eyes lurched up to look at Jormangander. Tears welled up and flowed without restraint. "Do so. All that I ask, is you find whomever did this to my son. I would wish him to stay with me while you search." Raw emotion cracked Gui's voice as the words passed his lips.
Jormangander set the body of the young master down upon the soft carpet. Never before had he seen his master behave with anything but the most rigorous and disciplined control. This breaking, this complete shattering of the man he had known, awakened a cold flame deep within Jormangander's chest. "I will find the man that did this, that I swear to you."
The soft sobs of his master followed Jormangander as he descended the stairs. The night was chill and the frost at its fullest glitter as his boots cracked upon the cobbles. A cold fury to dwarf anything that this soft Gabriel winter could not hope to touch drove the blood through Jormangander's veins as the streets passed before him. Someone had killed his charge. Someone had dealt a serious blow to his employer. Someone had dared attempt to tarnish his honour! This someone would have to pay. Jormangander knew who was responsible, but for proper vengeance he needed to have it confirmed.
Leaning against the front of The Lace Madam, the broad-brimmed hat upon Shadow's head swiveled as he turned to face the bearded warrior that had returned before him. Icy words tore free from Jormangander's lips: "What did you see?"
"Ha! Read em and weep boys, I've got four jacks that say your coin is buyin me drinks for the next while." A gap toothed smile crossed a pocked face as the man threw his cards onto the table before them. The wooden cards clattered and the other men groaned. As men began throwing their own cards in, one man looked at the cards atop the unconscious man resting on their table. The man's eyes narrowed as he stared at this hand, and then turned his gaze to the pocked face man pulling in the small pile of copper and silver coins.
"Seems we may have a problem here. Lookin at these cards tells me that while our bid-less player may not have won, but he's got himself a jack of his own. That means someone is cheatin, and I don't think its ol' shirtless over there."
Four pairs of eyes turned to face the man whose gap toothed smile had mysteriously vanished. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talkin about." Sweat beaded his greasy brow.
"Then you had better let those coins of yours stay in for the next round."
Before the next set of cards could be dealt, a great crash tore through the room as Jormangander threw open the door into the room, causing it to crash loudly against the wall.
"Get me Zelna, now." The tone in Jormangander's voice left no room for argument. The pocked face man hurriedly stood up from the table, and ran off down the hallway leading further into the safe house.
Several moments passed in silence as foot falls receded down the hallway. With the silence continuing to stretch on through the heartbeats the man holding the deck of wooden cards face Jormangander. "Care to join us for a hand while you wait? Your friend here hasn't won anythin yet, but he hasn't lost anythin either."
The click of the shuffling cards stopped as Jormangander turned to face the man. "Now is not the time for that. You boys had just better shut up, cause the next one of you to say something will find my hammer buried in your fucking skull. Are we clear?" Stunned nods were all the response he got. "Good."
Wooden cards were placed on the table, and the remaining four men attempted to find somewhere, anywhere to look other than the bristling warrior.
Deep, calm footsteps began to echo down the hallway that the one man had fled down. Lit by the flickering multicoloured flames of the four braziers in the corners, Zelna emerged with The Tarnished Daughter following closely behind. Trailing the pair of them, cowering like a whipped dog, came the unfortunate messenger.
"I hear you want to speak with me." Zelna's voice remained cool, the tone only striking up the rage further within the northman.
"You damn well know that I would. I told you that I needed time to think on whether I would join you." Jormangander nearly shook with the fury bottled within him.
"I recall you telling me that, yes."
"Then why did you kill my charge!? You told me that you wouldn't harm him while I was deciding, you bastard!"
"Your charge was an incompetent whelp that deserved the fate he got. He had no skill, no talent, and no right to the power that he possessed. All he had was wealth, and wealth serves as a poor shield. His death was quick, and I myself had nothing to do with it. One of my servants was the one that ended that miserable fool's life. He was holding you back, now you are free."
Wood splinted and coins showered across the floor as Jormangander demolished the table near him with one mighty two-handed swing. The men around the table cursed and threw themselves backwards as cards, coins, and splinters of wood tore through the air. A muffled grunt escaped Fenix as he fell onto the hard tile, but he still did not stir.
"You think I'm free!? I had a contract. That contract is my oath, my promise! I will fulfill the terms of it no matter who or what stand in my way. Your games are an attack on my honour, and that I will not stand for!" Hammer perfectly still, Jormangander stared into Zelna with the coldest of glares.
"Ah, you are one of those I see," Zelna nodded unflinchingly, never taking his eyes off Jormangander. "Honour and duty before all else, I can respect that. Well then, now what does your contract holder command of you?"
"That I find the one responsible for his son's death. And this, this was no command, but a request. Now that I have found you, I intend to kill you to avenge what you did."
"Interesting, if uninspired. You do not actually believe that you can beat me, my servants, and all these men here by yourself though, do you." Jormangander's glare was his only response. "I have a proposition for you then. You and I shall duel. If you win, you may do with me as you please. If I win, you will serve me unfailingly until I deem that your debt is paid. Acceptable?"
"If you don't use any of your monsters, then yes."
"Of course, I wouldn't dream of it." Zelna's smile was cold as he snapped his fingers. Beside him appeared his sinuous dark servant, runes glimmering darkly in the multicoloured firelight. "I shall even ensure that he remains visible that you have no doubts about him not interfering. Shall we begin?"
Jormangander hoisted his hammer, readjusted his two-handed grip, and nodded. With a cold smile Zelna drew the ornate rapier with his right hand. The two men circled each other for a few heartbeats, watching every move carefully. Five men huddled against a wall behind a broken card table, barely willing to breathe lest they disturb the sight before them.
Quicker then any viper Zelna's sword arm lashed forward. The narrow rapier blade slipped in through the chainmail links, and warm blood began to flow down Jormangander's side. Ignoring the small would Jormangander pressed forward with a swing from his hammer, striking Zelna in the chest with enough force to force the man back with a low grunt. With the force of the backward blow, Zelna's second thrust merely scraped across steel rings without harm. Stepping forward, Jormangander unleashed another mighty swing from his weapon, and he smiled as he saw Zelna raise his left arm to try and stop the massive weapon. Jormangander's smile turned to a snarl as hammer tore through cloth and rang off metal beneath. The metal guard across Zelna's left arm allowed for a slight deflection of the warhammer.
Muscles bunching as he pushed himself forward, a flurry of hammer strikes from Jormangander left Zelna back peddling, hammer ringing from guard, wind wailing behind the rapidly moving weapon. A particularly large swing of the hammer resulted in a moment of recovery as Zelna batted the hammer down at an awkward angle. The feeling of fire crawling up Jormangander's arm filled his senses as blade slipped between links at his shoulder, making Jormangander's weapon grip warm and sticky. Zelna leapt backwards to avoid the upswing from the massive hammer, and a quick lunge back in sent his rapier biting deep into Jormangander's chest, the crimson pool at his feet swelling ever larger. The blood slick cobbles made for precarious footing however, as Zelna's right foot slipped out from under him as he attempted a final lunge to end the duel. With Zelna positioned awkwardly by his widened stance, Jormangander put heaved with a great roar, swinging his hammer in a wide arc to strike Zelna square in the stomach. Coughed blood and bile joined the growing pool on the floor as Zelna was hurtled back by the force of the blow. Another series of hammer swings filled the air around Zelna, forcing him back towards one of the fiery braziers. Jormangander's swings had begun to slow, and his hammer blows began to lose some of their great strength. As his foot touched the base of one of the brazier behind him, Zelna saw his chance. He dashed inside Jormangander's reach, pivoted on his left foot, and brought his sword up through Jormangander's chest. The blood drenched tip burst from the northman's back. Zelna withdrew his blade, and Jormangander sank to the floor, hands still gripping his hammer. Darkness enshrouded his vision, but before it completely took him, Jormangander heard Zelna say, with fatigue a hint of anger creeping into his voice "Patch him up, we aren't done with him yet."
With morning's light shining through the smoke-stained shutters of The Lace Madam, Taiko, Sophia, and Lynn shared a table in the early hours of the day. The tavern was even less full than usual, given that most of its patrons greatly preferred to spend their evenings within its secluded, and now hickory smelling, walls. This served the three just fine, as it gave them fewer sets of ears to worry about while they talked over their simple porridge.
"Well ladies, any revelations generated by having a night to rest on it?" A great glob of porridge rolled across Taiko's mouth as he mumbled the words. Spoonful number two rapidly chased its old companion, even before the first was choked down in a great swallow.
"There is no way that we can trust those people," Sophia sighed as she shook her head, grey eyes staring down into the unremarkable solution in the bowl before her. Lazy symbols were drawn in it with spoon and knife, only to be drowned by the thick mush below. "No matter what this Zelna character claims, they are not a group of class based idealists. You saw the quality of the rest of his companions; rat faced and disloyal to the last one of them. Each of them was probably brought to their cause by offerings of riches, or else Zelna using his powers to save them from justice that they most assuredly deserved. Zelna dresses as though he has the class and upbringing to know what is better for the common good of those around him, but his eyes and voice only hint at cruelty. Someone like that should never be allowed to gain any semblance of power, he would be even worse than the bickering nobles already in charge."
"I agree," Lynn's nod was a thoughtful one, "They are dark people, powerful to be sure, but they are evil. I couldn't live with myself for working with them. The problem is, they seem to know too much about us already, and we probably know too much about them. Do you really think that they would let us go?"
"Well sounds like we are all in agreement then." The last few morsels of food were wrangled from Taiko's bowl and slipped past his lips. "The only problem then is that I agree with Lynn in that those bastards would never let us leave, now that we know what they're planning."
"Then we don't tell them. We can slip out of the city without a word to them. I doubt that they have the resources to watch us, so by the time they realize we can be quite near our destination by that point." Sophia pushed her bowl away, nearly untouched.
"Sneaky. That might just work." Taiko turned to Lynn, "What do you think?"
"We could probably try to find a boat leading us somewhere else. It shouldn't be too difficult, with the amount of shipping Gabriel does. I'm sure they could take us to most costal regions, if we have the coin to pay our way."
"Ah, leave the Principality behind, I like the way you think," A bright glimmer lit Taiko's dark eyes. He waved the barman over, gesturing for a fresh flagon of beer to wash down his breakfast. "I for one have had more than enough of these wretched nobles and their pathetic games in the dark. Give me a land where problems are said straight forward and honestly, and the ring of steel can give answer, and I for one would be much happier."
"Somehow I'm not surprised by that," Sophia grinned impishly towards the large man, "Even I must admit to growing bored of all this intrigue, it feels like being surrounded by spoiled boys that all want the same toy. I guess the only thing that we truly must decide on then, is where we actually intend to go too."
As the three began discussing the options for new horizons, with a large dog slowly falling back asleep under the table, Shadow shook his head as he sat in the corner, porridge half eaten. Taking a sip of water from the cup before his, he focused very intently on his charge.
"For once I actually agree with the oaf," his whisper was to no one in particular, and so he was the only one to actually hear it. "It will be easier to protect him in a more straight forward place, where threats of blade are more common than those of words."
Shadow opened the small coin pouch that he carried with him. As he slid out the coppers required for his breakfast he frowned at the lack of coin he saw remaining. "If they decide to go by ship however, I may not be able to afford passage, and I hate being a stowaway. Perhaps it is time I actually add my own voice to their conversation."
Rising from the table, Shadow gracefully slid towards the only other occupied table in the tavern. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, mind if I join you for a moment." Shadow gave the faintest of a smile.
The three looked at him very closely for several moments. It was a few heartbeats before Taiko spoke, "You were followed us for when we were hunting those men that worked for The Hands of Tarnished Souls, and you also shot some of the men dragging a young girl off to be sold as a witch." There was little warmth in Taiko's eyes.
"I'm surprised you remembered," Shadow responded quite honestly.
"Are you sure about that, I don't remember him at all," Sophia said, eyes narrowed as one of her hands slipped under the table.
"I remember him for the men in the slums, but not rescuing the girl." Lynn shook her head as Brutus crawled out from under the table. The great dog gave Shadow a measured glance.
"People say that I have one of those faces that people tend to forget," Shadow slightly adjusted the wide-brimmed hat atop his head, "I've always agreed with them. Now, if you don't mind my interruption I actually have a few suggestions for places you could go."
Lynn gestured for Shadow to take a seat, and he did so. I do hope they forget me once this is done, otherwise my job may be quite a bit more difficult. Alas, some risks even a professional must take, Shadow thought to himself as he discussed his thoughts on their plan to evacuate Gabriel.
Multicoloured fires lit the air around Jormangander as he opened his eyes. Pain flared through his chest and limbs as he sat up, but the cut and bruised northman ignored it. He looked down at himself, a ragged mess of bloodied cloth wrapped around his body. Chainmail and warhammers rested in a pile beside him. With a groan Jormangander got to his feet, and began shrugging into his armour.
"Well look at that, he's up already." Three of Zelna's men sat on the stone floor, cards and coins scattered in front of them. Based on the piles of coins in front of each man, Jormangander wagered it was the one losing that had commented on his awakening. As if on cue the man gathered up the coin before his and got to his feet. "I'll grab Zelna and let him know."
"You only say you'll get him because you were losin," grumbled the pock-faced man that often sat in the entranceway. Jormangander allowed himself a small, acid filled grin at the confirmation.
"No, it's not cause I was losin, it's cause..." The man trailed off at the sound of hard leather boots coming down the stone tiles towards them.
Zelna strode into the room. He wore a new suit, once again made of the fine purple velvet. There was a slight stiffness to his movements however, and a large bruise rose from the collar of his jacket, its colour matching quite nicely the clothes that he wore. His eyes narrowed as he saw Jormangander standing and re-equipping himself.
"Why was I not told that one of our guests had awoken?" Zelna's voice cracked like a whip, and the three men flinched as though struck.
"He only just got up, master Zelna," replied the standing man, his voice higher and squeaking, "I was just on my way to tell you myself. Ask the others, they'll tell you it's the truth." The other two gave rapid, shallow nods.
"Yet he is already putting on his weapons and armour. I somewhat doubt that such would be the first action performed by someone that had lost as much blood as our guest." Zelna's eyes had narrowed to slits of black behind his skull helmet.
"It was. It truly was I tell you." The man was shaking so badly he nearly dropped the small sack of coins he had been attempting to attach to his belt.
"So be it. Just fetch me faster when the other one awakens, or I may not be so understanding."
The three men visibly shook with relief as they lowered their heads. "Thank you master Zelna, we'll do better next time," the three whimpered in unison.
"So, looks like I lost our duel," Jormangander slid his second warhammer home into one of the slings across his back. "What do you plan on making me do, now that I have to work for you?"
"You remember the terms even after defeat and unconsciousness, how truly durable you are." Half a smile crept across Zelna's face as the words left his lips. "You were a worthy foe, but now, as you said, I need you to work for me. I shall have you serve as one of my most efficient and powerful servants, when individuals need to die, they will die by your hammers. You shan't be an ambassador; you will be a messenger of death. However, I will accept no questions about whom I tell you to kill. If I say they must die, that is all you need to know."
"Great, at least you aren't forcing me to try and solve problems by talking." Jormangander spit on the cobbles, the saliva still stained red from blood, "But you might want to give me at least another day to patch myself up before you send me out on any of your dirty work."
"Do you doubt that you could defeat those I send you against at this time?" The smile had fallen from Zelna's lips.
"No, I would kill the bastards easily I'm sure. Afterwards I would be feeling right sore from opening up these wounds though, and if any of your men offended me when I got back I might lose my patience and break one of them in response." It was said as a statement, there was no humor in Jormangander's eyes or voice.
"Well, we can't have that. I can give you at least a day then. This fetid structure of leadership will last to be overthrown later."
"Also, I'll need to tell my former master that I will be unable to continue working for him, as I have new employment. I won't do any of your tasks until I terminate that contract myself, and you had better not interfere this time."
Two black slits once again gazed out of Zelna's skull helmet. "You are in no place to make demands, but I will allow it all the same. I can indeed be generous just as I can be skilled in combat. You'd best terminate that contract as soon as you can however, since I may have need of you tomorrow."
"Fine, I'll do it first thing tomorrow then. Now, why don't you get out so that I can get some sleep and begin healing up." Jormangander lay back down on the floor, eyes still watching Zelna.
Card players stood and sat frozen in place, their eyes unblinking as they glanced back and forth between Jormangander and Zelna. Sweat beaded their faces as they watched the locked glares of the two men. A coin fell from one of their hands, ringing off the stone and breaking the silence. Zelna turned around and stalked down the hallway he had come from. Jormangander closed his eyes.
"Things may have gotten more excitin around here," the pock-faced man said as he picked up the copper coin at his feet. "I'm not sure it's the good kind of excitin or not though."
"I get the feelin it's the bad kind of excitin," grumbled the third man, the man that had remained silent until that moment. "I feel we should have accepted the manacles and been hauled off instead of lettin Zelna save us. Could get us all killed now, instead of just locked away."
"I'm sure you worry too much." Mumbled the man that still remained standing, as though rooted in place. "Either way, I think I'm done with cards for now." The other two nodded.
A scrabbling noise on the stones drew around the eyes of the three men as they cooked a small dog over one of the ever-changing fires. The two working the makeshift spit continued to turn their vanquished foe, the skinned body glistening as fat dripped into the flames and the muscle began to crisp and crackle nicely. The shirtless man on the floor groaned and his hands moved across the stone again, eyelids fluttering open and closed.
"I suppose I had better get Zelna before he walks in on this one wakin up again," grumbled the tallest of the men now that they stood, his coin purse also currently the lightest. As the other two nodded and then turned back to their future meal, the tall man shook his head and walked off down a tunnel, cursing his ill fortune at having someone wake right before supper.
Once his eyes stayed open, Fenix lay on the ground, a faint croak crossing his lips. The two men working the spit stared at each other for a long moment, until finally, with an exasperated sigh, the man whose face was heavily pock-marked crossed to lean over Fenix.
"What was that you were trying to say?" The man leaned over Fenix at a strange angle from the prone man's opinion.
"Water," croaked out Fenix.
"Ah, I suppose that does make sense, given the time you've been out."
The pock-faced man stood and walked over to the splintered remains of a large table. He grabbed a tin pitcher and one of the small tin cups beside it. Pouring a healthy amount of water into the cup, he walked back over and placed the cup in Fenix's hand. The cup flew to the well-muscled man's lips. The water within was warm, gritty, and tasted of iron. Fenix emptied the glass in a few massive swallows. Gesturing for another cup of water, his tin cup was refilled, and this cup was drained nearly as quickly. Pushing himself up into a sitting position, Fenix turned to face the man.
"Thank," Fenix groaned as he stretched his back and pushed his red hair from his eyes, "Now stew please."
"I'm afraid we don't have any stew." A slight shake of his head followed the pock-faced man's words. How anyone wouldn't even show the slightest distress or confusion waking up in a strange place with his face leaning over them, the man had no idea. He was however, duly impressed.
"Sorry, wasn't your stew I was talking about," Fenix explained, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders. "I should still have some stew wrapped in sack over there." He gestured towards the humble sack of belongings that had remained near where he lay.
"Oh I see." The man quickly found the stew in question when he opened the bag, for there were few other belongings within it. Turning to hand it over, the man hesitated for a moment. "How old is this stew anyway, we don't know how long you were out before they brought you to us."
"Not so old it will kill me," Fenix replied with a heavy shrug. That was enough explanation apparently, for the pock-faced man handed over the stew and the small spoon he had found beside the packets.
Having no container other than the leather sheaf the stew was wrapped in, Fenix didn't bother to heat his meal. He merely popped open the container, and began spooning out healthy sized morsels. The stew was warm, and a little bit runnier then the first batch he had enjoyed, but there was no wriggling within the meat, and so Fenix was content. Finishing the container, he lay back down as the other two men removed their cooked dog from the fire.
"So, where am I anyway," Fenix asked as he cleaned the last few bits of stew from his spoon.
"You are in the sanctuary of The Hands of Tarnished Souls, here in La Roche," came the flowing response as Zelna walked into the chamber. The man that had led him quickly went over to his companions, tearing off one of the legs from the meal now fully prepared. "My name is Zelna. You assisted in the rescue of my daughter, and were greatly injured in the process. My disciples helped to mend your wounds, and we granted you a place to sleep in order to recover. Now that you are awake, I was hoping to offer you a place within our organization."
"And what is it you people do exactly." Fenix's response was almost bored, but that may have been due to a stomach recently filled after too long being empty.
"We hope to overthrow the current government of La Roche, and have individuals with the proper skills and powers to rule over it, to make an idealized government. Do you have any supernatural gifts Mr..."
"People call me Fenix. As to if I have any supernatural gifts..." Several heartbeats passed as Fenix pondered his answer. Eventually he shrugged. "When I focus really hard I can glow a little bit."
Zelna was taken aback by such a simple response, and for a few moments he was truly at a loss for words. Eventually, a small eternity for the men trying not to laugh through the warm meat they were eating as they saw the look on their master's face, Zelna regained his composure enough to respond. "Well then, I, um, would you care to join us then Mr. Fenix?"
"It's just Fenix. Seeing as you helped patch me up, and gave me a place out of the cold, I suppose I could join your group. These nobles need a proper kick in the ass for all the stupid things they do."
"Excellent, it will be good to have you with us." The tone of Zelna's voice lacked the conviction of his words. He turned and headed deeper into the complex, his gait unsure as to whether what had just occurred was fortuitous or not.
It wasn't until the sounds of Zelna's footfalls had faded that the first snorts of laughter began to escape from the grease-coated mouths of the men around the brazier. Shortly after the first snorts there also came the first coughing of a man choking upon sweetly prepared food. Fenix rose to his feet and helped force the man to cough up the gristly fragment that had attempted to vanquish him in death.
