A knock on the door forced Clouse out of his thoughts. Marching over he flung open the door ready to fillet the person who dared-

"Captain Pyth sent me to inform you he has a report you "won't want to wait for" in the lower levels." Morro spoke in a clipped tone before Clouse could start on his tirade. "This is for you." He shoved a piece of paper in Clouse's direction.

Snatching the note, Clouse quickly scanned it. A smug smirk came over his face. Four words written in a tight scrawl filled the scrap of paper: Orders fulfilled. Packages secure. He stepped back and shut the door in Morro's face. There was nothing more he needed from the guard at the moment and he couldn't care less what Morro did with himself right then. Things were moving much more smoothly than Clouse had anticipated.

Donning his darkest robes, Clouse let himself indulge in a giddy breath. This was actually happening. 'No. It's not close to over yet.' Closing his eyes Clouse regained his composure. The next few days could be critical for his plans.

Less than a minute later Clouse blinked in the torchlight of the underground caverns. Instead of going to his workroom Clouse descended further into the earth's depths. He emerged in a giant cave pockmarked with stalagmites and stalactites. Thick smoke lingered in the air, the product of roaring fires scattered about the room. Even at this time of night several individuals were huddled over tables near the fires, movements restricted by thick chains glowing eerily off their ankles and wrists in the light of the flames. Down here there was no night or day. There was only work.

Not even sparing them a cursory glance, Clouse stalked past the slaves and the guards stationed along the way. Though he didn't need to look at them to feel the spiking of fear charge through the room when the men and women took note of his presence. 'As it should be.' And soon the whole kingdom would grovel at his feet.

Leaving the large cavern behind, Clouse took a side tunnel. Groans from tired and injured workers echoed among the walls, some of it from the cells that lay ahead... some from the memory of the cruelty that had been taking place in these halls for decades. With a final turn Clouse entered the room used for Pyth's headquarters. He swept the door open without bothering to knock.

Pyth sat reclined at his desk, a rather self satisfied smirk on his face. "M'lord."

"I was told you had an urgent report."

Pyth tilted his head toward the far corner and for the first time Clouse noticed the figure lying prone on the floor, arms pulled back by large gray shackles. Though partially obscured by shadows, and a bag still covering their head, the new prisoner was decidedly male.

"So you were successful. I admit I had my doubts."

"With all due respect sir, this is only part of today's raid. An opportunity presented itself for the two highest targets you'd put out."

That was even better than Clouse had hoped for and yet... the line's on Pyth's face meant he had more to the story to share. "Were there any complications?" A slight grimace from Pyth was all the confirmation Clouse needed. "What. Happened?"

"At 1700 hours one of the merchants in the Bixen District reported a man attempting to steal from him- a man who matched the description of Ronin's target. The man was seen with a woman and they led us on a wild goose chase through the city until we managed to track them to a hideout on the north side of the city. They resisted arrest. In the scuffle the woman announced herself as- as Princess Skylor."

A heavy silence fell between the men. Rage Clouse couldn't begin to describe twisted within him. "Not only did the princess manage to get past your men undetected, but you hadn't noticed she'd placed herself in the way to be tipped off by our plans?" Clouse's voice rose in pitch until his shout reverberated in the small room.

Pyth winced, his face noticeably pale in the torchlight. "With all due respect sir, we made it known we were arresting him for being a thief. The princess has little reason to suspect ulterior motives were involved."

Clouse shot a bolt of magic at Pyth, freezing the man in place. "You had better hope she doesn't come sniffing around or you will pay dearly for that breach in security." He released Pyth and the captain fell hard against his desk, gasping for breath.

Ignoring the sound, Clouse continued, "I want the urchin in the castle's dungeon. The last thing I need is for him to get a glimpse of what's going on down here and run into someone on the way to the cave. This one," Clouse nudged the inert figure with his boot, "can go with the group waiting for the ceremony. Make sure every precaution is in place to keep either from escaping." Clouse narrowed his eyes. "If he tries to run you'll have much worse consequences than when the blind musician managed to get away."

Coughing to clear his throat, Pyth shook his head. "I've taken the liberty of giving him water laced with your sleep power. He'll get regular doses of it for the next couple days. That should keep the fight out of him."

Though irritated by the Captain's invasion of his stores, Clouse grudgingly admitted it was a sound plan. "Just don't overdose him. I need him alive... for the time being."

Pyth nodded and struck a miniature gong sitting on his desk. Seconds later two guards marched into the room.

"Put him near the other one. Full security measures."

The two men saluted and hauled the unconscious man up by his arms. They dragged him from the room, leaving Clouse and Pyth alone.

"What are your next orders sir?"

Clouse stroked his chin. "Keep a low profile for the next three days. That will give enough time to see if the peasants react. If there's no further unrest move to the next targets, still discretely if at all possible."

"Understood."

"And the other projects down here?"

"The newest shipment of vengestone came yesterday. I have the men working on purifying it now so it can be given to the blacksmiths within the next day or so." The color had now returned to Pyth's face.

"Good. And any further unrest stirred up by the Sound's attempted escape?"

"No. The speed in which we caught him and the punishment meted out quelled any unrest that might have been brewing."

"Be sure it stays that way. Though it's doubtful any of them could get out of here, the last thing I need is for them to get hopeful," Clouse spat the word, "right before the plan launches."

"I'll have my men work them hard. They'll be too tired to try anything."

"Make sure of it." Deeming the conversation over, Clouse swept out of the room.

His steps took him back to the smoky workroom. Ignoring the low level workers Clouse headed straight for the foreman's station cut two stories high into the cavern wall. At the top his current foreman, Cryptor, stood near the edge of the outcropping, his eyes constantly moving over individuals at work. The man's lithe form might have been less imposing than others, such as Pyth, but the man's stealth and ruthlessness was second to none. Exactly why he'd lasted longer than any of the previous foreman.

He nodded curtly to Clouse, barely sparing him a glance. "Sir."

Probably the only one of Clouse's men who could do such and not suffer reprimand. "Status update."

Cryptor motioned to a guard standing nearby. The man approached, taking Cryptor's spot on the rock. "If you'll follow me." Cryptor briskly led Clouse down and through another archway cut into the ground.

The air around the men grew even hotter, smoke mixing with sulfur creating a thick, noxious, fog. Soon they were met with a giant metal door. Four guards stood in front, both to keep away anyone who might dare to wander this way... and to keep in those on the other side of the door. All four saluted in unison upon seeing Cryptor and Clouse, before moving to the side to make a path for the men.

With a deep groan the door swung open. Inside several more guards stood, weapons in hand. Their postures relaxed some, seeing it was their own superiors walking through the door, but all kept their weapons brandished. The room was a chaotic spread of metal, wood, tools and scaffolding. Several individuals sat at a stone table in the middle of the room, though they had little choice in the matter. Thick chains shackled to both arms and legs were secured to bolts built into the benches.

Currently a large section of parchment was spread between them. Schematics that had been Clouse's ambition for so long were slowly becoming a reality, if the giant metal shell taking up the size of a small house was anything to go by.

"How much longer?" Clouse's voice cracked like a whip.

One of the men, so covered in soot, dirt and sweat it was impossible to make out his features, briefly clenched his fist. The action caused his chain to rattle and seemed to remind the man of his position. "The design is almost finished." His voice was hoarse. "But even if I make it to your specifications, none of us have the knowledge to actually make it work."

"Do as you're told and leave the knowledge portion to me."

The man looked up briefly, fire from the hazy room dancing darkly in his eyes. "As you say, sir." He spat the word out with a mocking bite.

Fast as a blink one of the soldiers stepped forward, striking a baton across the man's face. He let out a small gasp, but made no other indication of pain even as blood flowed freely from his nose and lip. The others seated at the table flinched, but were unable to intervene.

"Cryptor it appears you've grown too soft with the slaves if they think they can speak such."

Cryptor glared at the group gathered. "On my word, he'll regret that." He gestured to two men. They unhooked the man from the table and dragged him in front of Cryptor. "Nothing permanent. Unfortunately we still require his mind and hands- when he chooses to apply them correctly." The guards nodded and hauled the man from the room.

Clouse looked at the other occupants of the table, all sufficiently cowed. 'Fear always works.' Satisfied he moved his attention to the tabletop, running a critical eye over the parchment. No flaws as far as he could see. "And the newest supply order?"

Cryptor pointed to a large cart near an open faced forge. "Thirty new sets of shackles finished. They'd be done by now, but using vengestone proves too difficult for any of the general smiths."

"I want them done by week's end. I need everything ready. How much longer for the contraption?"

"Two weeks max for the outer hull. What you propose for the inner workings... even with those currently gathered I don't know how soon they'll be able to have a working prototype, let alone the full scale model."

Clouse bared his teeth in a feral grin. "I believe I found a solution for that." He didn't elaborate further and Cryptor didn't ask. "I am pleased with how things are progressing. Make sure it stays that way."

"Sir." Cryptor tipped his head.

"I must return before my absence is noted. Keep me informed." Without bothering to wait for Cryptor's response, Clouse teleported himself back to his rooms.

.

The sun had long since set, though Clouse's time piece showed it wasn't past nine o'clock yet. The king would be expecting him within the half hour. Stifling the irritation that came with the thought, Clouse quickly changed into more suitable attire. He rubbed his temples. Now to deal with the pompous king and his entirely too coincidentally placed daughter. Stalking from his room Clouse had barely gone ten strides when light footsteps sounded behind him. 'Speak of the devil.' Smoothing his features into a cool mask, Clouse continued forward as if he had no indication someone was following him.

"Clouse!"

Oh how he loathed her use of Sound. Not that he showed it as he turned to meet the irate princess. "Your Highness?"

She strode toward him purposefully, eyes narrowed but otherwise as outwardly calm as Clouse himself portrayed. "You and I need to speak. Now."

"Your Highness knows your father is expecting me. The council meeting is due to start soon."

"My father is always late. You have a few minutes."

"Are you insinuating a that your father-"

"Do not attempt to divert the subject."

A small grimace escaped Clouse at the assault on his eardrums. "My apologies. What would you like to discuss?"

"Your blatant failure at training the men under you in the just due process."

"I'm afraid I have no idea what you mean, Princess." Clouse made to continue down the hall, only to find himself suspended from the ability to move.

"You'll find Gravity a force to be reckoned with." Skylor stated dryly. "Now if you'd be so kind..." She abruptly released Clouse and he stumbled forward at the lack of resistance. "Your men 'arrested', if you'd call such a debacle such, a young man from the market today. However, not only did your men not give adequate reason at the time of the arrest, but they did not verify the identity of the man or those around him." Skylor lifted her arm and pulled down her sleeve. A bruise, clearly in the shape of a hand, stood out blue and black against her skin. "I can assure you Captain Zane has never shown such brutality in all the times we've trained. This came from Captain Pyth's own regiment- the very one you boast is best in the kingdom." She pulled her sleeve back down and crossed her arms. "Pardon me if I'm beginning to doubt your word on the matter."

"My deepest apologies." Clouse bowed from the waist. "I assure you I will launch a full scale investigation in the matter."

"And the man arrested?"

"He is a well known thief and now has kidnapping added to his charges. He will remain imprisoned while the matter is investigated."

"Kidnapping?" An edge entered Skylor's voice that Clouse couldn't decipher.

"You were missing for an entire afternoon and found in the company of that urchin."

Skylor threw her arms in the air in a very unprincesslike manner. "So you immediately jump to the conclusion he kidnapped me?" Quicker than a breath Skylor withdrew a dagger from somewhere on her person and teleported inches from Clouse. "I think you'll find he would be very hard pressed to have completed such a feat."

"Duly noted." Pointedly at that, as the prince kept the dagger entirely too close for comfort. "However I'm afraid the due process, as you put it, requires he remain in custody until a full trial can be held."

A smug note of satisfaction rose within Clouse when he saw the anger burn in Skylor's eyes. Her hand started smoking and Clouse noted it wasn't the translucency that came with Smoke, but that of a fire burning hot. Skylor seemed unaware of her actions. This was certainly a new puzzle, but if his suspicions about the Elements making themselves known... it would be well worth the trouble one meddling princess could cause.

"If you'll excuse me." Skylor didn't attempt to stop him again.

Practiced steps took Clouse to the King's antechamber. The soldiers stationed outside the room nodded to Clouse and opened the door, closing it behind Clouse. To his surprise, Chen was already seated at the table waiting for him. "Sire."

Chen looked up from his goblet of wine, a scowl crossing his features. "Why did I have to hear from my daughter before you about your recent dealings in the city? Or the fact that Skylor is aware of such dealings to begin with?"

"It seems the Princess decided to... take a field trip alone. I assure you, Your Majesty, I have no desire to include her in what we've been working on."

"She is to remain in the dark until after we've finished. She wouldn't understand that this is for her good, and the good of the kingdom. I believe I've made that clear." Chen narrowed his eyes at Clouse.

Clouse tipped his head in acknowledgement. "I've already spoken to my men. They will be much more careful moving forward."

"They had better be. Now tell me, how are things in the lower levels?"