Another warden asks for aid with something troublesome.

Rumors and Answers

"I imagine you were the tool of some assassin once."

The small weapon looks like a hair pin, topped with a decorative flower made of red stained glass. I turn it over in my hands and I can sense the magic inside it. It is eager to be used. The records on the item report that if the pin is fully stabbed into someone it will cause instant paralysis of the limbs. Prolonged time with the pin embedded will lead paralysis of the heart and, if the rumor surrounding this artifact is true, will transform the heart itself into a stained glass.

"What an unassuming, dangerous little thing you are," I think as I run my finger over the petals, "can you truly turn a heart to glass? I wish to know."

There is a knock at my door. The sound sends a twinge of annoyance through me.

"A moment," I answer.

I slip the pin inside the top drawer of my desk.

"I am not supposed to be meeting with anyone today. This had better be important to show up unanticipated."

Standing up, I make sure my coat is sitting properly on me and go my office's door.

"Who's there?"

"Warden Aegle."

I know this warden. She is three years my junior but works on levels of this vault usually intended for those with more experience. As such, the lowest levels she tends to overlap with my highest and we have interacted few times before. I know she has a good mind for categorizing artifacts, remembering where they are kept and what they are capable of, and makes few errors. She is competent at her role and seems to possess a desire to reach for more which, considering how lax things can be on higher levels, dose leave me wondering why she has not more swiftly climbed the ranks. Most importantly though, and if I am being truthful with myself, the only reason why I am even allowing her into my office to begin with, she has always shown proper politesse and deference before me.

"Were it any others of her lower station that had ever slighted me, I would turn them away. Be grateful for your manners. They have earned you this."

I open the door. Before me Warden Aegle stands in a halo of light cast by her lantern, the only source of light in these windowless halls. Like most assigned to work in the Vaults, she is paler and leaner than an average person would be, but her robes are clean and she holds herself with an upright, proud posture.

"Warden Grael," she greets with a polite nod.

I return the motion.

"I am relieved you answered," she continues, "I have visited twice before, but both times you were not here."

As she speaks, I notice that she refuses to meet my eyes. She is looking up at me, but her attention is focused on my nose.

"Are you afraid of me or hiding something?"

"There is much I have to tend to," I respond, "if you wish to speak to me, I suggest in the future you write a letter in advanced so that I may be present when you arrive."

"And so that you are not wandering around my levels without my knowledge."

"In the future, I will," she says, "but there is something I wish to speak to you about, something that I did not want to wait for a response through letters for."

"Liar. I should close the door on you right now."

"Ah, so it is a time sensitive matter, but not so sensitive that it could wait through two whole prior attempts at reaching me in person," I shake my head, "Do not lie to me Aegle."

Pink flushes her cheeks.

"Please, forgive me," she says hastily, bowing as she does, "you are correct, this is not a time sensitive matter, but it is one that must not be discussed through letters."

"And why is that?"

"It is of a private, sensitive nature."

Still she cannot look me in the eye, though now her attention has shifted to my cheek.

"Is that so?"

Part of me still wishes to close the door and send her away, but my curiosity has been piqued.

"Listen a little. If this proves not to be interesting, I can always dismiss her."

"And it is one that I believe you are best qualified to aid me with."

"Very well," I say as I step to the side and motion for her to enter, "I will hear you out, but if you lie again, this meeting is over."

"I understand."

Aegle extinguishes her lantern, conserving its fuel, and steps into the comparative brightness of my office. Once she is inside, I close the door and lock it. As it clicks shut, I see her jaw tense.

"So private matters can remain private," I assure her.

"Thank you."

Two words, but that is all it takes for her nervousness to slip into her voice. If she is unnerved by my presence, hopefully this will be a brief conversation. Until it is concluded though, I will act as a reluctant host is expected to act; pleasant regardless of true desires.

"Please, sit."

I motion towards a chair pushed against the wall, an object I have been advised to keep in my office for infrequent occasions like this. It has seen such seldom use that dust has begun to settle on it. But if Aegle cares or even notices the dust, she does not let it show and she pulls the chair before my desk and takes a seat.

"Shall I prepare some tea?" I ask, going through the motions of a good host.

"No, thank you."

As she speaks, she begins to rub her thumb over the tips of her other fingers.

"Good, she doesn't want this to take any longer than necessary either."

"Very well."

And I take my seat behind the desk.

"What is it you wished to speak about?"

"My position," Aegle answers,, "for years I have diligently served the Order and have worked to keep the floors I was assigned to organized, safe, and secure."

"Her words are stiff. She is reciting something she has practiced in her mind."

"I read the reports when they are published," I nod, "your section routinely places among those with fewest incidents."

"My main floor of assignment has gone two years without a fatal accident," her voice briefly swells with pride before returning to its reserved, practiced cadence, "and initially, my efforts were recognized. I was given a promotion within my first year of service."

"A commendable feat."

It is a genuine sentiment. Promotions are usually not even considered until after a full year of service and even then, they are considered not guaranteed.

"Thank you, sir," she says, "afterwards I continued to work just as hard, but it has been nearly five years and I have not advanced any further. I have been given more responsibilities but have received no new title, no new benefits, and no improvements in my accommodations."

"A frustrating feeling,"

"I know it."

"However," I say, "that is a matter you will need to take up with your direct superiors."

"I have no control over your rank, why have you wasted my time with this?"

"I cannot," she says.

"And why is that?"

"I, I believe that my superior is the problem."

There is a slight rise in her shoulders as they become tenser.

"Oh," I ask, "and what makes you believe this?"

"Three years ago I had a severe disagreement with my superior. I will not bother you with the details,"

"Good, because if they are not relevant, I do not wish to hear them."

"but know that after this disagreement, our relationship was never the same. We never looked each other in the eyes anymore and only spoke when it was absolutely necessary to perform our jobs. I believe he resented me, how I refused to agree with him and what was right and proper and how, despite that, I continued to be more than capable of fulfilling my duties to the Order."

"And now you believe he is retaliating against you by denying you additional promotions."

"I know it."

For the first time this meeting, she meets my eyes, and I can see an honest intensity in them. The moment however, is brief, and she quickly returns her gaze to the "safety" of my cheek.

"I strongly believe he is intentionally holding me back," she continues, "I have seen him promote those who have served less time at my rank and others who make more mistakes than I do. Please, let me continue. I know you are probably thinking that this is all imagined and there could be any other number of reasons why these others were selected over me, but I know it is intentional."

There is a flicker of anger in her eyes and I know that the words that follow are not practiced, but genuine.

"Last month, when he promoted Warden Vasko he made direct eye contact with me, the first time in years, and smirked. Vasko. Vasko did not deserve that promotion. He still makes too many errors to be trusted with more dangerous artifacts, but oh, he will follow orders without question. This is going to get someone killed."

"Another held back by the vindictiveness of a superior. Alas, so long as the "security of the Isles and greater world" is not threatened, complacency is the usual course of action."

"A frustrating experience to be sure," I agree, "but you are not my subordinate. There is little I can do for you."

I could speak to someone further up in the chain of command for her assigned levels and request that she be considered for a promotion but that would require me to surrender yet more of my time with meeting and speaking with another. It is not an appealing prospect.

"Ah, so complacency tries to win me over as well. At the least, I will write a letter, perhaps even suggest that her superior be looked into for retaliation, for what little good that would do, and if anyone wishes to discuss this further with me, they should write back to me. At least this whole thing was only a brief waste of time."

I reach down and open a drawer to pull out a piece of paper.

"I will write a letter," I begin.

"Please," Aegle interrupts, "I believe there is something more you could do."

A scowl crosses my face. I do not like being interrupted.

"And what is it you think I could be doing?"

My tone is harsh.

"Still less harsh than what someone who has the brazenness to say that the help that I am not obliged to give but am offering anyways is insufficient deserves."

"I I- uh," she stammers, all that boldness gone in a flash, "I have heard that you, you can do things."

"I am capable of many things."

"Things to make problems go away."

"This is becoming infuriating quickly."

"Be specific," I demand, "or leave."

Her reluctance to look me in the eye is no longer being hidden as her attention flees to the floor.

"What is it you are afraid to ask? Let's get an answer."

Three seconds is all I allow for silence before pushing again.

"If you do not -"

"People."

"Oh?"

"Repeat that. Louder."

"People."

"That's what I thought you said. Interesting."

"People," I say, taking my turn to be needlessly coy, "what about people? I had asked you to be specific."

I believe I know what it is she is implying, but I want her to say it.

Aegle leans forward so far that she is practically lying on the desk and mumbles something under her breath so softly that I also need to lean in to hear it. What she says sends a jolt of adrenaline through me.

"I may have misheard you. Look at me when you speak."

My tone is calm and even, but leaves no room for argument.

"No need to whisper. You could scream that out and nobody would hear. I can hear though, and I want to hear those words clearly. I want no doubt."

Digging deep to find some last reserve of courage, she lifts her head. Her gaze is almost defiant, but behind it, I can still see fear brimming beneath the bravery.

"I've heard rumors," she says, "I have heard that," she takes a breath but does not break eye contact, "I have heard that you can make people disappear."

My thoughts quickly fly to the pin tucked in my desk.

"The struggle will be over in an instant."

But I stay my hand.

"She suspects, she does not know."

I had known there were rumors about me, but so long as I continue to act as though these things are all unflattering rumors and nothing more I can avoid greater suspicion. Attacking everyone who implied such things would bring an actual investigation down on me. So I make no reaction to her words outside of raising my eyebrows.

"Learn what she thinks before acting. She thinks me a killer, that much is certain. It explains her fear. But what does she hope to accomplish? Does she think that by exposing me she would win renown and earn her coveted promotion that way? Or -Oh. No. Perhaps the truth is something a little darker?"

"Is that what they are bold enough to say behind my back?" I muse, "Such a rumor paints me in sinister light, does it not?"

I look to watch her response.

"It makes you seem terrifying, or would you deny that?"

"It's a thought that inspires terror, I won't deny that. Think about it, a murderer, lurking right beneath everyone's noses," I force a small chuckle, "Ah, but people want someone to blame for their misfortunes, such as when someone goes missing in the Vaults. And I understand why I am such an ideal candidate for their blame. I am solitary, keep no friends in the Order, and keep my private interests under lock and key. I am an unknown to most, only the last person to see the lost ones alive. I let them in and lock the door behind them. After that, what do the others really know of what happens? The passages down here are dark and winding and I cannot be expected to find every poor lost soul that wanders off, sticking their noses where they don't belong."

Her response is silence.

"Oh come now, play the game. I will give you one more chance."

"Now it is my turn to ask you a question," I say, "even down here, I heard things about you as well, Aegle. A dedicated warden with the drive and skill to rapidly advance her career and gain the accolades she rightfully deserves, but she is held back by a petty superior who would rather promote those who are unquestioningly loyal over those who are actually qualified for the position. And they say he even smirked as he gave her position to another."

As I relay back everything I have told her, her eyes widen ever so slightly as realization sets in.

"This rumor I've heard, it says that she is now willing to do anything to advance, even resorting to things that would undoubtedly cast her in a sinister light, or would you deny that?"

"It makes me look like someone who has grown tired of being intentionally ignored for years and now holds a dark desire for revenge. No, I won't deny that."

A smile crosses my lips.

"Such unfortunate rumors we find ourselves the subject of when all we want is to perform our duties to the Order unhindered; making sure undesirable things are locked away. It is such an invaluable service we provide to the Isles."

"You sound passionate about your position? Would you be willing to help another Warden who is struggling with hers?"

"I almost feel compelled."

The confidence that was building in her eyes is swept away by doubt in an instant.

"Almost?"

"Almost. My responsibilities often have me quite engrossed with my work. To take additional time away from it, I would ask for a small form of payment."

"Oh," she sighs as she again begins to rub her fingers over each other, "and what would you ask for."

"Nothing too costly, just a promise for a favor in the future and a little active participation in the task at hand."

"Is that all you would accept? This favor, it is a painfully vague thing to ask for."

"Nothing worthwhile happens without a little pain."

"Then I have no choice but to accept."

"Oh no, you have a choice."

"It was entertaining while it lasted, but now it is time to be direct."

"You can either accept my aid and take what you deserve or you can refuse it."

"But you will only enjoy one of the outcomes of this choice. Oh, you are in too deep to leave this room as anything less than an accomplice. Make your choice now, and choose wisely."

Aegle closes her eyes and breathes deeply as she contemplates her choice. I have no intention of rushing her this time. I want the response to be genuine. After several minutes of silence, she speaks.

"I am so tired of waiting and having my efforts spit on," she says and bows her head, "Please, I want your aid."

Then once more she looks up at me. The fear in her eyes is gone, replaced now with grim resignation and cold determination for what she is about to burden her soul with.

"Take this undesirable thing from my life and lock it away where it will never be seen again. Make him disappear."

At her words, excitement begins to kindle.

"I accept your offer."

"I am glad," I smile, "Shall I prepare some tea? I believe we have more things to discuss."