Chapter Six

The heartfelt reunion was interrupted by a spontaneous explosion, and an eruption of flame from behind the Krewe that reached and spread across the ceiling of the cavern.

Coran's head turned upwards towards the pillar of fire, and noted, "Hmmm… looks like Yue packed a few extra charges in that one. She knows better than that." Then looking back down on Devona, and taking a moment to register the fact that he was actually taller than she was added, "You and your friends very nearly ruined our little wrangling operation there."

The warrior's lower jaw dropped slightly. "It's not like we knew what was going on!"

He grinned. "No, I suppose you wouldn't. Fortunately, the Destroyers were more interested in getting away from the ultrasonic waves than trying to chomp on some warm, fleshy bodies."

"So, that was a sonic resonator." Vekk noted.

Coran swiftly parted from Devona, "Well, well… if it isn't Gadd's own failure of his reproductive organs. Good to see you again."

Devona smirked when the noted the Asura cringe, and filed that jab away for potential use later. She began to wonder what other ammunition Coran could give her as he began chatting away with Vekk, using terms and slang that might as well have been an entirely different language.

"So, a frequency of positive 117.33 wpm is painful to the Destroyer's sense of hearing? Fascinating." Vekk said, rubbing his chin. "How did you discover that?"

"Like many profound discoveries, actually… completely by accident." Coran admitted, "The Destroyers had breached the west barricade, and Yue started fiddling with the communications tower in an attempt to get some sort of emergency broadcast out to the rest of the Asura. She happened to make one broadcast and the Destroyers fell over one another trying to get away from the tower's immediate vicinity. It took a while, but I figured out just what the beasts were reacting to, and had the Mechanical Krewe modify any sound producing device they could to emit that frequency. That happenstance was the primary reason we managed to hold out against their siege." He then paused, and noted, "Speaking of Yue, she normally would have reported in by now. Where did she go?"

"Right behind you."

It was as if the woman in Vanguard assassin armor had materialized behind Coran… no one in the Krewe would have been able to honestly say they had seen her coming or even recognized her existence up until she had spoken.

Nonetheless, the prince himself was apparently well used to her manner of appearance, as he didn't even flinch. "I trust the Destroyers we herded were taken care of? You certainly used enough charges to take out a small army."

Yue shrugged. "I had some extra. Why not use them?"

"Those aren't easy to make, I'll have you know."

"Couldn't tell from the way they're tumbling off the manufacturing line." She responded unapologetically. "Ah, Grazz, there you are. I hope you didn't scratch the resonator's casing. Coran's feeling the strain of production costs again."

The prince rolled his eyes. "Right..." He droned, and approached the Charr that had joined the gathering. He did give said device the once over however, causing Yue to chortle audibly.

Any retort he might have had was cut off by Cynn asking a question that had slowly been filtering into many of the Krewe's mind. "May someone explain to me how a prince, an Ebon Vanguard Assassin, and a Charr wound up working together in an Asuran city?"

"That's a story that's probably best suited for more comfortable environs, my lady." Coran answered, "Come… the midday meal is approaching anyway, and good company and pleasant discussion should make the somewhat meager fare more appealing."

* * * * *

The midday meal wasn't what Devona would consider "meager", but she also figured that she wasn't thinking in terms of royalty and scholars, who would probably be more accustomed to far more lavish delicacies.

"Alright, I believe we had left off with the lady Cynn asking how a Charr and an assassin came into the company I keep." Coran said, possibly more to remind himself more than anyone. "Well, let's see… I met Grazz during an archeological foray I took north of the wall about, goodness, that was over a decade ago by now wasn't it? Anyway, I was escorted by a protection detail towards the Eastern ridge mountains, where I was told some remains of the Giganticus Lupicus could be found. That turned out to be a wasted effort, but I did gain a nice ally and informant in the process."

Coran's eyes drifted across to the Charr. "Grazz Flamemane was a young shaman adept at the time, but unlike most of his kin, he found the sophistication of the human race to the south intriguing… a most refreshing attitude really… and thought there was much both races could learn from each other. After some understandable confusion and threats of violence, rational heads prevailed and a deal was struck. He'd be my eyes within the Charr lands, and I would teach him, specifically in our medical methods for general health and illness when a healer was not readily available. The Charr's knowledge in simple injury treatment was dreadfully crude, for example."

"I'm… honestly… astonished you'd agree to assist a Charr in any manner." Aidan said after swallowing a bite of overly dry poultry. "I mean, considering your family history."

"I shall admit; I wasn't particularly enamored with the idea at first myself." The prince acknowledged. "But it seemed better to give Grazz a chance than have him mercilessly slaughtered when he was alone and offering himself defenselessly at my feet. In the end, the deal was quite beneficial for both sides. He never once betrayed my trust, and much of his information on Charr movements was invaluable in keeping their offensive stalled as long as it was."

"Obviously not well enough to stall the Searing." Cynn groused.

Coran's head dropped, and for a moment, he seemed genuinely wounded by those words. "Yes… obviously not well enough, was it?"

"And you say all you wanted was medical knowledge?" Mhenlo queried of the Charr, more to change the topic than any curiosity. Grazz jostled when he realized the monk was speaking to him. "I am glad to hear there are some among your people who seek to preserve life than take it indiscriminately."

Coran smirked, "He's not going to talk to you, I'm afraid."

Mhenlo seemed startled. "Whyever not?"

The Charr rolled his eyes, and slumped his shoulders in defeat. Apparently, this was a story that had been told many times.

"Well, perhaps I should say he can't talk to you." Coran corrected himself, "Or talk to anyone, for that matter."

Grazz complied by lifting his head, showing a nasty clump of scar tissue across his throat, visible through the drastically thinner hair over the wound. This prompted Coran to continue, "While Grazz was in my confidence, he still had duties with his people to fulfill. One of them was spreading the word of the shaman caste about their 'gods.' This was all well and good for some time, until about five years ago when one tribal chief decided he didn't exactly like what Grazz had to preach. This chief had Grazz drug out into the wilderness, where he then ripped out Grazz's larynx and left him to die. It was fortunate Yue was tracking the clan and quickly came to Grazz's aid, or I fear the chief's plan would have been successful."

Devona started, having a really bad feeling that the world had become a much smaller place. "This… Charr tribal chief… do you happen to know his name?"

Coran paused, and tapped his chin. "Oh yes, indeed. It was… Pyre Fierce… shot, as I recall. Right, Yue?"

Grazz gurgled, his face twisted in anger, and Yue nodded. "Impressive. Your memory does work despite the learning you incessantly crush into your brain."

Coran sighed, "Yes, Pyre Fierceshot. From all the accounts I have, a most surly, unsophisticated, barbaric curmudgeon. Perhaps he had a point that the Charr 'gods' were nothing to be trusted, but his methods to make his point were cruel, vicious, and sadistic; a most despicable creature… barely above a mindless beast, really. I fear for the Charr, and in fact all sentient life, if he ever gets his way."

A nervous pause settled among the table, as Vekk, Devona, Cynn, Aiden, and Mhenlo found themselves sharing awkward glances. Eve meanwhile, started to giggle uncontrollably.

Coran blinked twice then his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What?"