((Chapter heading … aaah, why am I doing this? Transliteration from Ukrainian is /dzerkalo yoho mriyi/, I don't have the IPA on this computer and I don't know if I can use it on either platform I post it to anyway, so this'll have to do. It means 'mirror of his dreams' and is a fragment of a line from the song Осіння мелодіяby Delia. Yes, you got that right, and yes, that's a coincidence. Delia – the one of this story – was in my notes with that name before I knew the band and I did hesitate to use it when I came to it because I'd wised up. The songtitle reads /osinnya melodiya/ and means Autumn Melody. I considered just using the translation but since I've always, consequently, used the original quote wherever there was one, you'll have to live with a bit of Cyrillic script.))

Chapter 21
Дзеркало Його Мрії

The brutal cold of winter when The Raven had first arrived in this strange world had relented slightly. That was most noticeable at night. Sirendor hadn't had any difficulty learning where the rest were. The Raven had never hidden and they wouldn't start now. He wondered if they hadn't taken a job they simply weren't cut out for. Not that they'd had much of a choice, but still … they were fighters, not spies. They didn't deceive and they weren't too good at predicting when others would do it.

And yet, the short time with Varilia had taught Sirendor to notice things he would never have paid attention to. For example, two figures on the side of the inn he had been pointed to. He kept to the shadows and inched closer, the way he would when attempting to get close enough to a monster to throw a bomb.

They were both strangers and Sirendor was about to turn away and leave them alone when he saw a glint of metal, a measured movement from the slighter figure, and the other one slipping to the ground with a quiet gasp. Before Sirendor could reach them, the attacker had vanished into the night.

He knelt next to the fallen man. He was old and now very dead. For a moment, Sirendor felt a jab of the ghost of a memory, like a déjà-vu, but he didn't think he knew the man with the heavily scarred face. Sirendor sighed. For a moment he hesitated, then he searched him quickly and found a scale like the one he had. Unlike his, however, it wasn't marked with a letter but with an eye. He pocketed it. Perhaps someone knew who this belonged to. It seemed rather unique.

The inn was still filled with a small number of rather drunk customers. Absently, Sirendor bought a room and told the innkeep about the body he had found outside. He didn't mention that he'd watched the murder. For all he knew, whoever had done it had come inside from another entrance and was listening.

Before Sirendor could retreat and get some sleep at least, he heard voices he did recognise. The language was no longer a problem for him, he spoke it well enough and understood almost everything. He didn't want to eavesdrop on Shani and Thaler, he told himself, he just wanted to know if he'd missed anything.

He didn't get to hear much. The door banged open and out came Thaler. The Temerian nearly walked into him and stopped with a start. 'You're back. That's either very good or very bad. If it's very bad, spare me. I don't think I can take more bad today?'

Alarmed, Sirendor stared at him. 'Why? What happened?'

'Come down. I need a drink.'

He was torn. He needed to rest after travelling all day and half the night. But his curiosity won out and he returned downstairs with the spy.

When the older man was finished with his tale, Sirendor wished he had gone to sleep instead. 'So much for me getting any rest tonight,' he muttered. 'Look, someone got killed just when I arrived. I didn't … but God, now I think it must have been Talan. That's just horrible.' He ran a hand over his face before passing the scale on to Thaler. 'Recognise that?'

Thaler shook his head. 'No. Go and see if the dead guy is your friend, if they haven't cleared the body away yet. I'm going back to Shani. She may want to be alone, and I get why, but we saw where that got her the first time.'

'Did she have her window open?'

'She refused to say anything. I don't know. I thought the vampire had done something, but I doubt that now.'

'No. Regis is all right, Thaler.'

'I don't like him.'

'You don't need to.' Sirendor shrugged. 'Maybe she won't mind me keeping watch. I doubt I can sleep now anyway.'

'If she kicks me and the vampire out …'

'Then maybe she'll feel better with someone she doesn't think she has to talk to. She'll have an easier time ignoring me than you two.' He gestured at the door. 'I'm heading outside. You go tell her she'll have that guardian whether she wants it or not and that she can pick between the three of us.'

Ϡ

In hindsight, Sirendor never knew why he had decided to hide himself in his voluntary guard duty. Shani had agreed, without hesitation, Thaler had said. The fact that Shani wanted to be left alone wasn't too unwelcome to Sirendor. The innkeeper had summoned the authorities immediately, and they had taken Talan's body – he was positive now that it had been him – away. Sirendor didn't feel much like talking himself after what had happened. The position he'd picked was half behind a large plant at the side of the window. In the dark, he was all but invisible.

He heard the soft sound of the lock on the window opening and held his breath. If whoever was breaking in wasn't human, they'd hear him otherwise. He still had Varilia's silver dagger, had never had the time to return it to her, and he had a feeling she wanted him to keep it, at least for the time being. A small figure crept towards the bed, and for a horrible moment Sirendor thought it was Will. 'Hold right there,' Sirendor said before they could reach Shani. He was effectively blocking the window. The figure – a woman, he could tell now he saw the face – cast about and darted towards the door, yanking it open – and was bodily thrown back into the room, landing right at Sirendor's feet.

And in came Regis. If Sirendor had never met him, he would have been frightened. Even now, he almost quailed. The vampire's face was a mask of fury, his fangs bared, reflecting what little light was there. He grabbed a fist full of the woman's cloak and lifted her, effortlessly it seemed, into the air. 'You,' he said, and for a moment he looked more incredulous than livid. 'You,' he said again. 'You're going to pay dearly, Delia.'

'Regis.' Shani's voice was soft, almost inaudible, but with his superior senses he had to hear her.

He didn't show it if he did. 'I'll tear you limb from limb. I'll make you bleed for this.'

'Emiel Regis!' This time, her voice was loud and clear, and he froze. The wild expression gave way to one of shock, but he still held on to his prey. 'Don't do this. Please.'

At last, Regis put her down. 'Very well.' He took a deep breath. 'I want you to know that the only reason why you're still breathing is the woman you attacked. I don't know what the rest will do to you. I know what I want, but I can't.'

Sirendor grabbed her arm and placed his dagger against her side. 'Do me a favour, Regis, and wake The Raven. I think we need to talk.'

'Someone needs to stay here in case someone else comes.'

'No, I'm coming with you,' Shani said firmly. 'I want to know what happens with this little shit.'

Ϡ

In the end, it had been Regis who had all but shoved Delia down into the main room. He was torn between burning anger and shame, his desire to destroy the woman not quite gone. Shani didn't seem afraid, sitting down next to him, close enough for him to feel her warmth. She had the stumps of her arms hidden under the table, her eyes wide and fixed on Regis. 'You'll be fine,' she said quietly.

Despite himself, Regis laughed. 'I can't believe you're comforting me.'

Delia was apparently trying to remain unseen, shrinking on the chair like a wilting flower. The first of the Raven to come thundering down the stairs was The Unknown. Regis stalled him before he could ask. 'Let's wait till we're all here. I'd rather not go through this twice.' He placed his elbows on the table and pressed his knuckles into his forehead with his eyes closed, willing himself to calm down, to quench the lust for blood that came with the rage. He came out of his reverie at a small touch at his knee, letting his hands fall on the table and taking inventory of the success of his attempt. He felt better. Definitely. He'd rather not look at Delia for another couple of seconds, but at least he was positive that he had a grip on himself.

'Are you all right?' Shani asked quietly.

'I'm … weary. And probably dangerous. Maybe Thaler's right and you should stay away from me.'

'Not so sure of that myself, anymore,' the Temerian's growling voice said from the other end of the table. Slowly, the figures registered in Regis's mind, one by one. 'How did you know to go to her room?'

'Heard the window.'

The Unknown, looking tired and agitated at once, looked at Delia on Regis's left. The woman still hadn't moved. 'Why?' he asked. She didn't answer. 'Who is paying you, how much, and how did you communicate.'

Regis felt the woman's silence like a heavy shroud. 'Wrong questions.' He lowered his voice. 'Wrong questioner.' He did face her then and grabbed her shoulders. She tried to shake him off, but he was too strong for her by far. 'Did you abduct Shani?'

'No,' her voice was steady. It wasn't something she was trying to withhold and it was the truth.

'Did you summon someone to do it?'

'No.'

'Did you know they were coming?'

'Yes.'

'Did you know when?'

'No!' She yanked backwards and Regis let her go. 'I told you they'd heard us, I told you they'd come!'

Regis knew that much. 'We thought you're paranoid.' He licked his lips. 'Perhaps that was premature. Any idea who it was?'

'Agents. Low rank. You can assume they followed you and waited until you felt safe.'

'Why Shani?'

'She's the least likely to kill someone sneaking in. They'd have blackmailed you into leaving the country.'

'Not likely,' said The Unknown.

'They don't think like normal people,' Sirendor muttered. 'I've been able to watch them. They cannot imagine why anyone would oppose them, and they believe that surely, at any sign of pressure, their enemies must give in. They also don't anticipate treason because they just can't imagine that anyone would try. In that, they're a little more predictable than our blackwings were. They feel entirely justified, and at the same time, they believe, I don't know …'

'They think that common sense tells all the rest of us to follow their lead,' Regis finished for him. 'It's why Jonas was so disappointed that The Raven weren't on board immediately.' He turned to Delia. 'It's why you murdered Talan and decided to finish the job done on Shani, in case she could recognise who took her.' He glared at her, captured her gaze and held it. 'You thought that would win their favour back. Answer me!'

'Yes.'

'Why Talan?' The Unknown's voice asked, pain audible in it.

'He was a traitor!' Suddenly Delia's voice was shrill. 'Jonas trusted him. I'll … I'll go back and tell him you're going to throw his kindness right back into his face! You can't stop me, I'll find a way to warn him!'

'You're going nowhere.' Regis still clutched her in a vice-like grip. He felt the strength it cost him to keep his hold on her mind. He was going to need rest. A lot. 'You will follow me when I tell you to.'

'Regis …'

He wanted to look at Shani, but he couldn't. 'Is there anything else you know that we do not? Any part of the plan?'

'Join forces with The Raven … Strike a fatal attack at the rulers of Pont Vanis, then Lan Exeter … kill anyone in our way that doesn't understand … chase non-humans out of our cities … Them and mages. All mages.'

Regis stood, pulling Delia up with him. 'Thank you. With me please.' He walked to the exit, feeling eyes on him. He ignored them. Outside, he led the way out of sight and into an inner courtyard. The inhabitants of the house it belonged to were in for a nasty surprise, but such things happened.

He dug in his knapsack and produced a small bottle. 'Normally, I'd have something less unpleasant. But we cannot guard you, and we cannot let you go. You can wait for me to kill you, or you can drink this. I'd prefer the latter.'

'What is that?' Her voice was calm, but that was only on the exterior. Once he released his mental grip on Delia, it would be different.

'Ah. Poison, as I am sure you figured out. It won't be painless, but it is fast.' He released her. 'The choice is yours, Delia.'

'Mercy, please!'

Regis swallowed. 'You get as much mercy as you dish out. This is harder for me than it was for you, believe me. Now what is your choice?'

Delia held out a shaking hand and Regis passed her the bottle. 'A gulp or two will suffice, but its taste is horrible.' With determination, Delia drained the entire vial. She bent over double and retched but kept it down. She made a grab for Regis but he backed away. 'You will die the way Talan did and Shani would have if she'd rotted in that cell. Alone. Abandoned. Less than a footnote for your killer.'

Ϡ

When Regis returned after leaving her to die, he expected the rest to have cleared out. He hadn't gone far, but he had taken his time returning, investigating if he would have done the same thing if the victim hadn't been Shani. And to his relief, the answer was yes. They couldn't sensibly guard Delia, they couldn't let her go, so that left only one solution and he and Thaler were likely the only ones willing to do the deed.

To Regis's surprise, Shani was still at the table with Ilkar. When he entered, she smiled at him. Ilkar approached him and took him aside. 'Is she safe?' he asked in an undertone. 'Is there a risk of complications? She says she feels no pain, but you're giving her something.'

'I am. The risk for an infection is there but merely residual. Whoever mutilated her did it with the accuracy of a professional. The danger comes from the less than clean surroundings she was kept in.' He shook his head. 'We can take preventive measures, but yes, there is a risk.'

'Would you still give me the same answer? Is it worth it, Regis? The fear and the loss?'

The vampire glanced behind him to Shani, who was watching them with a slightly anxious expression. 'Yes. My answer hasn't changed, and it won't if she dies.'

Ilkar nodded slowly. 'Good to know.'

Regis watched him leave. 'Emiel?' He swallowed and sat next to the medic. He registered that this was the second time in one night she'd called him that. The mortals he was around thought Regis was his surname and weren't close enough for anything else, and the rest knew it was the given name he usually went by. All in all, Shani was probably the only person who had called him Emiel for the best part of a century. 'What did you do with her?'

'What do you think?'

Shani sighed. 'How?'

'Taxine.'

'Regis!' He looked away, but he still felt Shani's gaze when she continued. 'Couldn't you think of anything less … horrible?'

'I am sorry, but I don't run around with a supply of poisons for humane euthanasia. What would you have had me do? Sit on her until this is all done?'

Shani shook her head. 'No. You're right. They know it, too. The Raven. They wouldn't have done it. Erienne wanted to ask you not to, but Thaler told her … told them that there's no other way and they have to be content that it was you doing it for them.'

'At last we agree on something.'

'Regis, why would you put up with me? Now?'

He snorted. 'You're asking a recovering addict that question, you know that. Do you really want to discuss the wisdom of being with someone who isn't perfect?'

'It's hardly the same thing.'

'No. Because you're not a potential threat to me. But you saw me. I was only that far from tearing into her.'

'But you didn't, Regis.' She swallowed, and after a moment reached out, placing her left arm on his as she would a hand. 'You reined yourself in, and you will again.'

'And you will learn to adjust and to compensate.'

Shani smiled, and it even seemed real. 'I know what you mean to say. I'll try.'

((One note on Delia: I only knew of her betrayal at some point during the previous chapter. Before that, I'd planned an entirely different plot twist about her, but then things happened and this came to be.))