Two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in a narrow, moonlit lane. For a second, they stood quite still with their directed at each other's chests; then, recognizing each other, they lowered them and started walking briskly in the same direction. The first was Kragok "News?" "The best" Infinite the Jackal answered. The lane was bordered on the left by wild, low-growing brambles, on the right by a high, neatly manicured hedge "Thought I might be late. It was a little trickier than I expected. But I hope he will be satisfied. You sound confident that your reception will be good?" Kragok said. Infinite nodded, but did not elaborate. They turned right, into a wide driveway that led off the lane. The high hedge curved with them, running off into the distance beyond the pair of impressive wrought-iron gates barring the men's way. Neither of them broke step. In silence both raised their left hands in a kind of salute and passed straight through, as though the dark metal were smoke. Kragok noticed a variety of exotic animals roaming freely across the field over the hedge "He always did well for himself, old Clutch". Gravel crackled beneath their feet as Infinite and Kragok sped toward the front door, which swung inward at their approach, though nobody had visibly opened it. The hallway was large, dimly lit, and sumptuously decorated with a magnificent carpet covering most of the stone floor. The two men halted at a heavy wooden door leading into the next room, hesitated for the space of a heartbeat, then Infinite turned the bronze handle. The drawing room was full of silent people, sitting at a long and ornate table. The room's usual furniture had been pushed carelessly up against the walls. Illumination came from a roaring fire beneath a handsome marble mantelpiece surmounted by a gilded mirror.
Infinite and Kragok lingered for a moment on the threshold. As their eyes grew accustomed to the lack of light, they were drawn upward to the strangest feature of the scene, an apparently unconscious figure hanging upside down over the table, revolving slowly as if suspended by an invisible rope, and reflected in the mirror and in the bare, polished surface of the table below. None of the people seated underneath this singular sight was looking at it except for a young Rutan the Echidna. He seemed unable to prevent himself from glancing upward every minute or so. At the head of the table sat the silhouette Finitevus who had a half smile at the two new arrivals "Kragok. Infinite. We were beginning to think you'd lost your way. Come, we've saved you seats". Kragok moved to a chair next to Scourge the Hedgehog. He pulled the chair out with his metallic claw hand and sat down, removing his hood. Infinite moved to the top of the table. As he did he gave a respectful nod across the table to Clutch and Lien-Da, this was there house after all. He then sat directly next to Finitevus, he kept his mask on. All eyes were on Infinite as he predictably was the one Finitevus addressed first "So?" "My Lord, the Order of the Wisp intends to move Silver the Hedgehog from his current place of safety on Saturday next, at nightfall". The interest around the table sharpened palpably. Some stiffened, others fidgeted, all gazing at the two men. Finitevus considered "Saturday at nightfall?". He stared into Infinite's visible eye with such intensity that a few of the other Nocturnus looked away from him in fear. Infinite however showed nothing but calm assurance. After a few moments Finitevus smiled "Very good. And this information comes from?" "The source we discussed" "My Lord? I've heard differently". Everyone now looked to Kragok who seemed surprised by his own daring. Finitevus said nothing so he was forced to elaborate "The Diamond Cutter, Parr, let slip that the Hedgehog will not be moved until the thirtieth. The night before he turns seventeen". Infinite stared at him "My source told me that there are plans to lay a false trail; this must be it. No doubt a Confundus Charm has been placed upon Parr. It would not be the first time; he is known to be susceptible. I assure you, Kragok, the Diamond Cutter Office will play no further part in the protection of Silver the Hedgehog. The Order believes that we have infiltrated the Ministry".
Tundra laughed "Well, the Order's got one thing right then, don't they?". The table started to laugh except Kragok "My Lord, Parr did seem certain. He said an entire party of Diamond Cutters will-". Finitevus held up his hand and Kragok went silent at once. He directed his attention back to Infinite "Where will the boy be taken?" "To the home of one of the Order members. The place, according to the source, has been given every protection that the Order and Ministry together could provide. I think that there is little chance of taking him once he is there, my Lord, unless, of course, the Ministry has fallen before next Saturday, which might give us the opportunity to discover and undo enough of the enchantments to break through the rest". Finitevus looked back down the table "Well, Kragok, will the Ministry have fallen by next Saturday". Kragok seemed to get a boost of confidence by this question "My Lord, I have good news on that front. I have, with difficulty, and after great effort, succeeded in placing an Imperius Curse upon Fumfer the Walrus". Many of the Nocturnus around the table looked impressed. Scourge even clapped Kragok on the back. Finitevus gave an approving nod "It is a start. But he is only one man. Saline must be surrounded by our people before I act. One failed attempt on the Minister's life will set me back a long way" "Yes, my Lord, that is true, but you know, as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Fumfer has regular contact not only with the Minister himself, but also with the Heads of all the other Ministry departments. It will, I think, be easy now that we have such a high-ranking official under our control, to subjugate the others, and then they can all work together to bring Saline down". Finitevus chuckled "You already think like a true politician. I knew you were the perfect choice for this assignment, Kragok, well done. However if we wish to keep our spy we will have to be cautious. It is unlikely that that the Ministry will be mine before next Saturday. If we cannot touch the boy at his destination, then it must be done while he travels. Akhlut?". Akhlut sat a little straighter now "My original plants from the first war have managed to remain at their stations, My Lord. Fortunately, Benedict wasn't aware of them when he was selling us out".
He paused, apparently the memory of his capture still angered him "If the Hedgehog uses Chaos Control while underage we will know when and where he goes. And with Kragok's new spy he won't be able to use any transportation controlled by the Ministry. If the Order wishes to keep the location of his safehouse a secret they will have to move him in the open" "Very good" said Finitevus. He glanced up at the revolving body "I shall attend to the boy in person. There have been too many mistakes where Silver the Hedgehog is concerned. Some of them have been my own. That the Hedgehog lives is due more to my errors than to his triumphs". The company around the table watched Finitevus apprehensively, each of them, by his or her expression, afraid that they might be blamed for Silver's continued existence. Finitevus, however, seemed to be speaking more to himself than to any of them, still addressing the unconscious body above him. "I have been careless, and so have been thwarted by luck and chance, those wreckers of all but the best-laid plans. But I know better now. I understand those things that I did not understand before. I must be the one to kill Silver the Hedgehog". At these words, seemingly in response to them, a sudden wail sounded, a terrible, drawn-out cry of misery and pain. Many of those at the table looked downward, startled, for the sound had seemed to issue from below their feet. Finitevus looked down from the body and looked across the table at a familiar snake, his tone of voice did not change "Mordred, have I not spoken to you about keeping our prisoner quiet?" "Yes, m-my Lord". Mordred scurried out of the room. Finitevus stood up from his chair "As I was saying, I understand better now. For instance, to kill Silver the Hedgehog I will require one of your Talismans". The Nocturnus all stared at him in shock, he might as well have asked them to give up their hands. Finitevus stalked around the table until finally stopping at a tired, fearful green opossum "Clutch, I see no reason for you to have your Talisman". Clutch looked up at him with sunken, black eyes "My Lord?" "My Lord" Finitevus repeated in a mocking manor.
He held out his hand "Your Talisman, Clutch". Clutch glanced sideways at his wife. She was staring straight ahead, but beneath the table her slim fingers closed briefly on his wrist. At her touch, Clutch removed his cufflinks and handed them to Finitevus along with his staff. Finitevus examined them "The Source?" "Dragon Heartstring, My Lord" Clutch answered. Finitevus' gauntlets glowed and out of them and his cape came two floating spheres of hyper energy. Clutch made an involuntary movement; for a fraction of a second, it seemed he expected to receive Finitevus' source in exchange for his own. The gesture was not missed by Finitevus, whose eyes widened maliciously "My source, Clutch?". A few of the people around the table sniggered. Finitevus' stared at Clutch as he snapped the staff and shattered the cufflinks. The Heartstring joined with Finitevus' gauntlets and capes then he said "I have given you your liberty, Clutch, is that not enough for you? But I have noticed that you and your family seem less than happy of late. What is it about my presence in your home that displeases you, Clutch?" "Nothing…Nothing, my Lord!" "Such lies, Clutch". Silence came over the room which made many of the Nocturnus uncomfortable as the chattering of Ifrits' feet could be heard as she followed her master around the table "Why does Clutch's family look so unhappy with their lot? Is my return, my rise to power, not the very thing they professed to desire for so many years?" "Of course, my Lord. We did desire it…We do" Clutch said. To his left, Lien-Da made an odd, stiff nod, her eyes averted from Finitevus and Ifrit. To his right, Rutan, who had been gazing up at the inert body overhead, glanced quickly at Finitevus and away again, terrified to make eye contact. Fiona Fox, who was next to Rutan, rose to her feet "My Lord, it is an honour to have you here, in our family's house. There can be no higher pleasure". Finitevus sat back down in his chair and stroked Ifrit's head "No higher pleasure. That means a great deal, Fiona, from you". Her face flooded with colour; her eyes welled with tears of delight "My Lord knows I speak nothing but the truth!". Finitevus now had a cruel expression "No higher pleasure. Even compared with the happy event that, I hear, has taken place in your family this week?". She stared at him, her lips parted, evidently confused "I don't know what you mean, my Lord" "I'm talking about your niece, Fiona. And yours, Clutch and Lien-Da. She has just married the Zilla, Knuckles the Echidna. You must be so proud".
There was an eruption of jeering laughter from around the table. Many leaned forward to exchange gleeful looks; a few thumped the table with their fists. Ifrit, disliking the disturbance, opened its mouth wide and hissed angrily, but the Nocturnus did not hear it, so jubilant were they at the humiliation. Fiona's face, so recently flushed with happiness, had turned an ugly "She is no niece of ours, my Lord. Lien-Da and I have never set eyes on our sister since she married the Mudblood. This brat has nothing to do with either of us, nor any beast she marries" "What say you, Rutan? Will you babysit the cubs?" Finitevus said. The hilarity mounted; Rutan looked in terror at his father, who was staring down into his own lap, then caught his mother's eye. She shook her head almost imperceptibly, then resumed her own deadpan stare at the opposite wall. Finitevus raised his hand slightly and the laughter died at once "Many of our oldest family trees become a little diseased over time. You must prune yours, must you not, to keep it healthy? Cut away those parts that threaten the health of the rest". Fiona nodded gratefully "Yes, my Lord. At the first chance!" "You shall have it. And in your family, so in the world. We shall cut away the canker that infects us until only those of the true blood remain". Finitevus raised his gauntlet now holding it's new source. The floating figure came to life with a groan and began to struggle against invisible bonds "Do you recognize our guest, Infinite?" asked Finitevus. Infinite raised his eyes to the upside-down face. All of the Nocturnus were looking up at the captive now, as though they had been given permission to show curiosity. As she revolved to face the firelight she was finally visible. A blue female Pika in an orange jacket. She cried and struggled "Infinite! Help me!" "Ah, yes" said Infinite as the prisoner turned slowly away again.
"And you, Rutan?" asked Finitevus. Rutan shook his head jerkily. Now that the woman had woken, he seemed unable to look at her anymore. Finitevus nodded "I'm glad you don't. I'd have to question Clutch's parenting if you were taking her class. For those of you who do not know, we are joined here tonight by Relic the Pika who, until recently, taught at Soleanna School of Witchcraft and Wizardry". There were small noises of comprehension around the table "Yes, Professor Relic taught the children of witches and wizards all about Muggles. Their ways, their history, how they are not so different from us". Relic revolved to face Infinite again "Infinite…Please…We're friends" "Silence" said Finitevus. With a twitch of his hand Relic's mouth seemed to be silenced by an invisible gag "Not content with corrupting and polluting the minds of Wizarding children, last week Professor Relic wrote an impassioned defence of Mudbloods in the Daily Prophet. Wizards, she says, must accept these thieves of their knowledge and magic. The dwindling of the purebloods is, says Professor Relic, a most desirable circumstance. She would have us all mate with Muggles or, no doubt, Zillas". Nobody laughed this time, there was no mistaking the anger and contempt in Finitevus' voice. For the third time, Relic revolved to face Infinite. Tears were pouring from her eyes into her hair. Infinite looked back at her, quite impassive through his mask "Avada Kedavra". Finitevus' spell hit her in the back and she fell dead onto the table. Several of the Nocturnus leapt back in their chairs. Rutan fell out of his onto the floor. Finitevus smiles down at his pet "Dinner, Ifrit".