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Scarlet Ruse

Prologue

The rolling landscapes of Dragonholme had always been breathtaking to me, and none more so as much as the view of the capital from the palace at Solitude. To think the people here held a Dragon as their King, it still baffles me, yet to think I was prey to his court had me more worried than the people I owed money to, and for good damn reason. Yet here I was, within the Stone Stables, staring across an enormous war table made of sheer slate, sat opposite to an intimidating Green Dragon with eyes that seemed to reach right into my soul. Information was something I as an Assassin valued more than anything, The Black Church had sent me up here with a duo of Executioners to hunt down a rogue knight of theirs who'd absconded with a member of the royal palace of Mayoran.

The very same that I had been tasked to by an anonymous contractor, to kidnap and deliver from Siricuse to E'cill Meiar. As the word had it, the Western coast of Dragonholme was being tormented by Shades and other heretics of the forbidden teachings, and my mark was said to be due for the town of BerryBuckle. I would send the Executioners there to hunt for him, but me myself, would head to the Great Northern Keep, where a shady friend of mine awaited with more, invasive information of my personal quarry.

I set out immediately.

Chapter one: Of the mountains

Luck was something that seemed to favor me, weather by some enchantment or just favor of the Gods I always seemed to get the best hand. Though I didn't much like my current situation at all, to shady sounding, but coin was coin and I was in need of a good amount of it. I was in debt to some rather nasty people, a contract wasn't something I could turn down at this point though this one stunk something awful. The lizard I'd been hired to keep an eye on, I was supposed to escort him to E'cill Meiar on behest of some sharply dressed gentleman who reeked of suspicion.

I thought I'd lost the blighter in Siricuse but now fortune once again delivered, though now I was stuck with him inside a mountain waiting out a storm. To make things all the worse the so called valiant Roderic had his vermant fox friend Sawyer keeping a close watch on me; the old man hadn't liked me since I'd been hired to off him some years ago. Ever since he'd been a tad paranoid around me and any other assassin to boot; though I couldn't blame him, the Guild wasn't what it used to be.

Thought and ponder were broken at that moment, rousing me back to reality with the sharp squeak of the very soul I was suppose to be watching. He'd been testing his metal against the novices in the Keep battlements, little lizard was quite good with a pair of daggers though he'd accumulated a good amount of knicks since the Keep didn't keep wooden training weapons at hand. Yet he kept at it, even had a few rounds against him myself, he wasn't bad at all; there was something in his eyes though, something that worried me, a fire of sorts I'd rarely seen. Imagine if you will the smallest of sparks from a campfire, though with the mind of man; an aching ember, hungry to learn how to sow cruelty.

Revenge, I'd seen it many a time before, but never so focused as his, the way he spared against each opponent over the last few days was as if he were fighting a singular soul; someone dedicated to his ire. Though he never showed it outside the training pit, nevertheless I watched him like a hawk, he'd gotten real chummy with the lot here at the Keep.

“Tiring yet aye lil lad"? Belmont sneered with cheek as Kaiber took to the sidelines, his little half witted friend rushing over to tend to the small cut on his arm. The turquoise lizard only smiled, panting and tossing daggers to the side with a sharp clang.

“These pair are no good, the metal's to heavy, I can't get my backhand out quick enough" Kaiber replied, Belmont shrugging and dawdling on over to join him, leaning upon his spear like a drunkard upon a wall.

“Well Keeps not fitted with daggers, not a common choice round here, perhaps Samuel could whip you up something with more of a fit" he referred to the blacksmith of course, every Keep had one on hand and they were always masters of the trade.

“Aye, perhaps after a good hot bath though, my muscles are aching" Kaiber said with a wince or two; with the way he was beating himself up Roderic would be cursing my name upon his return. I watched as the lizard and his self appointed servant padded off to the bath chambers; no doubt to do something highly disgusting while naked. Something I'd much rather not observe, so I took my leave and took to the Western ramparts in search of a contact of mine.

The Keep stretched along the mountain tops like a snake, huge walls of rissen stone across the peaks overlooked the entire country and the tundra; though constantly coated in freezing snow and biting winds. My contact was from Rigel, a Deamen fellow by the name of Hazel, worked for the Royal Courier Service; not a bad position for a blind nocturnal with hearing so keen it was absurd.

Deamens, frightful little critters known for scaring the wits out of most folk with their mischief; that and their appearance were that of nightmares. You'd often find them playing jugglers or tumblers in traveling carnivals and merry troupes alike and if not that then perhaps you'd spy one late at night.

I was to wait for him in the Western Belfry at the very end of the Western ramparts, at night of course; though it'd take me the afternoon to walk the length there. The winds were freezing and the Belfry itself did little to offer warmth, that didn't stop Hazel from giving me a jump thought.

“Is zat lady Scarlet my ears spy" came his ever familiar exotic sounding voice, echo throughout the Belfry like a choir. There was the slightest of jumps, a subconscious reply that I'd no control over; I always hated dealing with Hazel. An assassin I might be by trade and years of training but Hazel, He'd been born an assassin; natural and deadly. Toxic saliva, poisonous stingers, ultra precises sense of hearing and smell; Daemens weren't to be trifled with lightly.

“Are you going to hang around in the dark all night or are you going to be useful" I replied keeping my eyes and ears peeled; by now the sun was near set and out over the Tundra I could see another storm front moving in. I heard the clacking of claw on wood, the rubbing of leathery wings trailing along and a displeased huff.

“You're no fun, tsk tsk very well what do you want to know" he said, his voice taking an elegance to itself as he appeared upon the rafters above me; his long tail and curtain like wings trailing behind him. I couldn't see him entirely, more so just a silhouette than anything but it was him, I'd know that scent anywhere; honeycomb lacquer and woodsmoke.

“This contract, why does it stink"? I asked, not even looking up at the pacing critter above, whilst he was a courier he was also an avid informer to the Assassins Guild; or at least its more traditional and dignified partons.

“Word has it that Alt is paying the sum. He's an odd interest in that lizard, word has it he's working against his will. Word has it by the same people who attacked Siricuse." the way he spoke was more refined than most Daemen, then again he still had difficulty with the 'th' sound and he had to pause and sound out the 'W' sound slowly otherwise it sounded more like a 'V' if he spoke to quickly.

“Who are they"? A simple question on my behalf but I knew I wasn't going to get to detailed an answer, the attack on Siricuse some scores ago hadn't been the first attack; word had it that Rigel and even Gillian had experienced similar, my guess was some fanatical group.

“As far as I've heard… someone's drumming on the Order of Val'Tial's ideals... word has it...He's back…" Even Hazel's voice had a pause to it as he spoke, it was low, quiet and for good reason, the Order was supposed to be dead; their meddling had caused the great and painful wars and cost millions of innocent lives. The Order was famous for unimaginable cruelty to hear that someone was pushing the Orders ideals made me shiver. But not as much as the possibility of, Him, being brought back from the dead; the Hand to the First White King of Volthume, the puppeteer.

“Are you sure"? I asked after a moment's pause and pacing, though I knew that Hazel only ever dealt in legitimate information. He gave a curt nod from the shadows of the belfry rafters, I caught a glimpse of those tragically greyed eyes of his, if only for a moment.

“Alt tends to mutter to himself wizout realising it, and you know my hearing is sharp, as is my price for this information" he said, his body swiftly flipping upside down from the thick wooden rafters, ever so similar to that of a giant bat.

“I've a full bottle of Gold ribbon vintage from Haljmarch" I responded, my voice taking on a teasing tone to it, seductive and thick, but I knew he'd bite for it. Hazel was a connoisseur of heavy liquors, with a particular liking for the sugary Brandy made by the folk of E'Veldan.

“I don't suppose it's in the Keep is it"? His voice was flat to my surprise, I didn't like it, something was off as I crossed my arms and raised a brow.

“Where else would I keep it"? I retorted, he simply shrugged, turning his head to the side, ears twitching and swiveling about as the suns last dying rays began to darken.

“Cause I believe the Keep is under attack" he said, and not a moment later did I hear the bellowing of warhorns from the main hall. I wasted no time, turning on my heel and drawing my daggers as I joined the sparse torrent of bounty hunters and warriors alike, all barreling to Sir Gallens call.

Though I trailed behind the rest, as a wise man had once said to me, only fools run in, assassins are no fools, assassins sneak in round the back.

Chapter Two: The Enemy

Whoever or whatever had the bright notion to attack such a fortress was either drunk with confidence or a complete imbecile. Nevertheless I wasn't about to blindly charge into the fray like the rest of these valiant saps; fuck fighting off an invasion. While the others all charged down the West ramparts and into the great hall, I ducked off to the left, scampering up a set of wooden walkways, part of a makeshift scaffolding someone had put up for some reason; repair work most likely as it looped around back of the main turret that served as the Barracks of sort.

I found a glass pane window after a few seconds of scouring, it took a bit of force to push it ajar, the wrought ironwork of its frame was frozen near solid with the biting blizzard winds. Soon as I was inside I could hear the clashing of metal off somewhere in the Grand Hall below, a fight I was all intent on avoiding. No I intended to find Kaiber and ditch this mess all together, I had a contract on that lizards head, and a big one at that, surely he had to be worth something to someone.

There was a fair wager that he was already at the Grand Hall, aiding in whatever valiant attempt of resistance there was against whomever the invaders were. But he was far more likely to be in his room within the Barracks, snatching up the single trinket he held of worth; that dump drab little cloak. I drew one of my daggers just to be safe as I marched the halls toward the room he'd been given and sure enough as I rounded the corner he came stumbling from his room, hurriedly clipping aforementioned cloak on over his shoulder.

I didn't waste time, I made past him, grabbing one of his horns tight as I did and dragging him away from the sounds of battle that rung down the hallways.

“We're leaving" I said sharply, tugging him along after me, the dimwit friend of his hurrying confusedly after the pair of us like some lost pup.

“What? why ? urrgh let go of me"! Kaiber growled, tugging and fighting back against me like some stubborn child; I didn't have time for his crap.

“Quit it or i'll crack you over the skull and drag you off the mountain unconscious you little vermin" I barked back at him, giving his horn one good retching yank that issued a sharp yelp from him. I didn't care if he wanted to fight, I didn't care for him full stop, he was money to me, nothing more. I didn't get more than a few more feet down the hall before Digger dashed past me and bared my path, lips drawn back, teeth and claws bared, snarling like a feral beast. I hated that brainless oaf, he followed Kaiber about like some personal butler or steward.

“I don't have time for this, go snarl at…" I didn't get to finish that sentence, agony shooting up along my left arm all of a sudden. I let out a sharp cry of pain as I looked over my shoulder to see Kaibers jaws locked around my lower arm; he'd bit me. Not just some pinching nip, no a full on savage bite, I could feel his fang like teeth buried in my muscles and the heated saliva coating my skin.

My grip on his horn fell away instantly and the second he was free he dodged away from me, his right arm coming away with my reserve dagger in hand. I watched as he spun on his heel and took off down the hall toward the fight, digger shoving me aside and hastily following as I clutched the wound tight.

“You fucking little bastard"! I hissed through clenched teeth, at that moment two thoughts ran through my head, the first was how much I wanted to flay the lizards hide to use as new wrapping for my dagger handles. The second thought was what Roderic would do to me if I let the damn lizard kill himself in some stupid display of selfless valour. Cursing under my breath I dug a hand into the pouch at my belt, drawing a vial of ointment to coat my wound in before bandaging it tightly. It hurt, badly, it was agonising, but as far as injuries went it wasn't the worst I'd had, still I was going to scald that bastard for it.

I made down the halls after him, wincing as I went, the sounds of battle growing louder as I went till I came out into the Grand Hall. I had been expecting Ver'Ulf'Nii or perhaps some sort of raiders, but before me the Keep was laid siege to by Thralls instead. The shambling corpses were all gaunt, the skin stretched and leathery over the bones, stringy hair, empty sockets. Most if not all clad in old and worn chain hauburks and welding broken or dulled steel swords and chipped wooden shields. They were infantrymen, from the last war, slow and stumbling, pouring in slowly from other hallways, stiffly shuffling about toward the back of the Hall. Gallen and Tormin both held off the advancing horde amidst a defencive line of loyal warriors and mercenaries alike, Gallen's booming voice rallied them whilst Tormin chanted away under his breath.

The two of them alone could easily hold off this shambling horde of brainless husks, my eyes scanned the offensive line for Kaiber but he wasn't anywhere to be found, surely he hadn't already been killed? No he was too good to be cut down by a mear thrall, my eyes began to scan the rest of the room and quickly did I spot Digger off by the main door, scratching and pounding on it in a panic.

I made a line directly toward the halfwitted lizard, ducking the stumbling swings of various thralls, shouldering my way through them, concerningly though none of them made to give chace to me; something was off here.

“Where's that little prick Kaiber"! I barked at the dark scaled lizard as I shouldered up next to him, dagger drawn to fend off any of the slow shuffling undead soldiers.

“Outside. Evil man. Door wont open"! He whined, panic was clear in his tone, though 'evil man' wasn't much of a help. Still I took it as a sign to hurry up, issue was though that the Grad Hall doors were huge, thirty feet tall and three feet thick of solid wood, framed with heavy iron. A quick look off to my side showed the mechanism that usually opened it wasn't going to work; it lay in pieces, shattered like glass. I gave out an annoyed growl and turned back to the horde before me, there were no windows in the Hall, the doors where bare shut and to go around would take to long.

“Belmont, get this damn door open, Kaibers in trouble"! I scratched out as loud as I could, hoping it would get the fools attention. Belmont was a warlock, I'd met him some time ago on a different contract, if anyone here could force the door ajar it was him. I was wagering on how chummy he and Kaiber had gotten, it was a wager that paid off, the plate clad man came charging through the horde like it was nothing, clearly using magic to do so.

I pulled Digger aside just as Belmont slammed shoulder first into the door with a yell, the monolithic slab of wood held for a moment before it began to give way, shuddering open with agonising slowness. Warlocks, the raw power their faith gave them scared the crap out of me whenever I witnessed it, but faith was something I'd shunned during my harsh upbringing in the streets.

As soon as the door was ajar enough to slip through I did just that, squeezing out onto the frozen stone foreyard of the Keep; though I stopped dead in my tracks just soon after. I had expected to be met with more thralls, or perhaps a Golem, but before, with its back turned stood a Shade, a perverse and dark mage, a thing of evil and cruelty. It stood there with a single arm raised outward and a few feet away was Kaiber, hoisted into the air, clutching at his own throat, kicking and writhing as if he was being hung by an invisible rope.

I faltered, took a step back, as if I was going to take on a Shade for a little coin, but before I could turn and slip back inside, Belmont was at my side, his poleaxe drawn and readied. Even Digger was there, unarmed yet teeth bared and ready to fight, both of them had fear in their eyes but it was overridden by something that I didn't possess; they weren't afraid of dying.

But I was.

Chapter Three: Fearless

I gulped, we're we really going to do this? Fight a Shade? I wanted to run, screw fighting, you don't fight a Shade; no that was just a death sentence. Belmont Charged first, bellowing, Digger followed after him whilst I just stood there and watched. Belmonts poleaxe just seemed to slip through the Shade with no effort, as if it were made of water or smoke, Digger however dashed off to Kaiber, fruitlessly trying to tug him free of the invisible grip that held him. The Shade just ignored the both of them, as if they were just tiny little insects buzzing about, irritating at best and nothing more.

“Pathetic, all of you" came that cold ethereal voice, the Shades voice, its head turning backward to face Belmont and me, as if such a moment was natural; most sickening cause it made no sound. Belmont reared back his poleaxe and made to cleave the things neck, but with a simple wave of its free arm he was sent tumbling back across the icy stone flooring.

“Consider your contract with us, void, useless assassin whore" the thing spat at me, those stitched lips unmoving, the empty eyes somehow cutting into me with their hallow gaze. Yet the words he spoke were what made me recoil, if what Hazel had said was true, then it meant Alt was being held captive by Shades, it only confirmed it, that HE was back, risen from the dead somehow.

I shook off the sick feeling that twisted in my gut, my face contorting to one of anger, I had no contract now, no coin to pay of my debt, I'd been screwed, I hated being screwed. The grip on my dagger tightened, I forgot all about the pain in my arm as I used it to fish about in my belt pouch for something very specific. I was an Assassin, I had a tool for every occasion, magic was no exception.

“Belmont, distract the fucker"! I yelled out as my fingers closed on the small orb of glass, bound by a net of thing rope and corked with wax; an alchemical bomb designed to temporarily nullify magic. Belmont said nothing as he charged the Shade yet again, bellowing and swinging wildly, trying to dice the monstrosity to bits, again, ineffective. All I needed was one good throw, but with my striking arm damaged my confidence was shot, I had to be smart about this, every second we wasted was another second Kaiber didn't have. His struggles were already losing strength, he'd be dead in two, maybe three minutes; I gritted my teeth, pulling one of the bombs free and reeling my arm back to throw.

Belmont ducked away left, giving me a grunt as I swung my arm forward as hard as I could, pain riveted up my arm as I loosed the small glass orb. It sailed over the Shades shoulder and off to the left, detonating with a sharp bang and a blinding flash of bright yellow light; I cursed under my breath. The Shades head whipped around to face me again, this time he looked less confident, that stitched mouth of his contorted into a foul sneer that made me grin. I was a threat all of a sudden, but I only had two bombs left, I had to make them count, I needed to make a clean hit and fast.

The Shade swug his free arm around toward me, it sickened me the way its joints gave no resistance to bending in such a way. Belmont was quick to intervene, bringing his poleaxe down on the limb, it passed right through as before but by then I had dug out another bomb and was ready to throw. But this time I was aimed at his feet, at the floor, even if the shot was wide or short, it'd still hit him, he had to evade, it was the only option. He'd have to let Kaiber go as well, if he wanted to be clear of the blast, it was a gamble but it was all I had; I swung my arm forward, wincing in pain.

In that instant the Shade dropped Kaiber, he fell heavily to the floor, coughing and gasping violently as the Shades body dissolved into a thick black vapour. It snaked across the floor toward me and I grinned, the bastard had played right into my ruse. I jerked back my arm at the last second, cocking it out and bracing my shoulder as the vile abomination reformed beside me, towering over me with a raised arm and bared claws. Belmont was waiting off to my other side, ready to end this, it was going to hurt, I gritted my teeth as I flicked my wrist and loosed the bomb right at the Shades gut.

A point blank throw, it was the only way I was ever going to hit him with my messed up throwing arm. Pain tore through me as a deafening crack filled my ears and a bright flash blinded me. Sending me tumbling across the stonework a good dozen feet or so. Whatever armour or garbs I was wearing upon my left side were now scared with burn marks and pocketed with large holes, exposing bruised skin to the biting cold wind that swiftly numbed the pain. Blood washed up into my mouth, my vision was split and swung about drunkenly as my ears rang.

The shot had landed, now it was up to Belmont to deliver the killing blow, he had at most a few seconds but that was all he needed. Or at least I had thought so, my vision came back into focus just in time to see the Shade hurl him off the side of the mountain. Nausea flooded my throat, my arms buckled as I propped myself up upon them, the Shade was clearly injured, Belmonts poleaxe stuck out from its shoulder, a sound that steadily dropped a horrid black blood; and yet he'd just been tossed to his death so easily. This, this is what being valiant got you, it was over, hopeless, I was too injured to put up any sort of fight, that had been a last ditch effort and it had failed. Yet as I dragged myself to my feet, there Kaiber was, standing, defiant, growling like a beast, he had no weapons, barely any armour not that it'd matter. How was he able to keep going like that, how was he so fearless in the face of certain death?

I had one bomb left, I fished it out limply, there was no point but fuck it, what'd I have to lose at this point, I spat a wad of blood and gritted my teeth, ready to yell something, to try and give Kaiber an opening of any sort. But before I could say anything there was a deafening roar, booming impossibly loud, so much so that it drown out the howl of the blizzard. My vision was still blurry, but even I could make out the shadow that quickly drapped the entire foreyard in a darkened hue of dull snowy grey.

It was a Dragon, a big one at that, some sort of wyvern, the beating of its huge wings broke the blizzard, forcing the freezing winds to belt mercilessly into the foreyard, causing the Shade to stagger back a step. But the abomination was determined to end the teal lizards life, swiftly raising an arm once more, swinging it upward, sending the stonework flying forward as if propelled by some unseen force, seeking to pepper Kaiber with stone shrapnel. But the attack never landed, the Shades hand simply burst into pieces as a bolt of writhing lightning struck it from the heavens.

“Bow before the might of Th'aa's wrath foul aberration"! Bellowed a deep and thunderous voice as a steady column of crackling lightning slammed into the Shade without warning. The seething arch of white hot plasma enveloped the dark mage, pieces of him began to crack away, flake and fall apart. I could barely see the event unfold, having to shield my eyes and brace myself from the beating wind. The Shade however let loose a high pitched and shrill scream that built and built and built as more and more of it was cracked away by the merciless onslaught of lightning. Until the vile mage detonated, sending a shockwave radiating outward, it cracked the doors to the Grand Hall to splinters, it knocked me to the ground and sent chips and chunks of stone brick flying, it thrust the walls of the blizzard ajar, shattering the storm in its wake.

All that was left of the Shade was a lone figure, wrought to its knees in a shallow crater of destroyed stone, the grey skin had been seared to the sinew, the arms were but smoking stumps at the shoulders. It's chest heaved in and out in shock and I watched as the Dragon landed upon the lips of the foreyard, the stonework giving and groaning under its talons a single tall figure sliding down from its back.

I couldn't make out who it was, the shadow of the dragon and the darkened night time skies obscured them completely. Yet I watched as the figure marched up to the Shade, and without hesitation brought down upon the monsters head a huge two handed warmace, crushing the Shades skull to the spine as if it were a hollow pot; killing it once and for all.

Shakily I forced myself up to my feet, everything hurt by now, I could see Kaiber also forcing himself up, helped by his scaled friend Digger, a slight pang of relief washed over me, only a slight one.

Who had saved us though?

Chapter Four: Traitors and Dragons

Everything hurt, my whole left side felt numb, save for the bite wound which in contrast throbbed rather strongly with pain. The cold frozen night time air didn't serve to lessen any of it either, making my movements stiff and slow as I trudged along the stone foreyard toward the lone figure who had saved me and Kaiber. I looked off to the side, giving said lizard a once over with my eyes, he looked to be faring well enough.

“Who are you…"? I asked with a sharply drawn breath of pain, coming to a stop a few feet from the man, he was a good six, nearly seven feet tall, clad in the plate of a highly decorated Paladin, though the sigil of Dragonholme and the healing hand were suspiciously absent.

“Sva'll get the boy, we need to leave quickly…" the man said, looking off away from me, toward the Grand Hall where a carpet of thrall corpses now lay, crushed or skewered by splinters and chunks of the former doors. My ears however perked up immediately upon hearing that name, I suddenly became very uneasy about the Dragon I stood under.

“Hey i'm talking to you old man"! I barked, irritated, again the man ignored me whilst the huge wyvern lowered himself, coiling about the four of us till he lay upon the foreyard like some enormous lounging serpent. Sva'll the Devourer, I shuddered as his huge golden eyes narrowed in on me.

“I have no time for you Assassin, Boy, get on, now" the Paladin said, his voice thick with a tone of urgency and power. But Kaiber made no move to do as instructed, nor did Digger who stood at his side eyeing the man.

“He's not going anywhere, especially not with a traitor…" I stated, my breathing becoming shallow for a moment as I felt the hot breath of the Dragon along my back. The man however finally turned to face me, confirming my suspicions.

“I am not a traitor"! He barked, the man in question was Emet Theodore, former lieutenant to the Dragonholme army, now renounced and titled traitor by his own King. at one time not to long ago he had been one of the most renowned Paladins in the world, now he was a shunned outcast that had not been seen for years.

“Last I heard you were…" I muttered shallowly, my chest tightening as blood pooled in my mouth, something wasn't right on the inside, hurriedly I fished through my pouches for a healing elixir, thankfully not all of them had been shattered in the prior fight. I downed one quickly, wincing as it worked quickly to knit whatever wounds I had shut.

“The King would not listen to me, I told him conflict was coming, I told him his life was targeted"! Emet bellowed in rage, his braided white beard shaking violently, his expression held for a moment before it slumped from his face, he eyed over my shoulder at the Dragon for a moment before sneering and striding off toward Kaiber.

“The boy comes with me, he isn't safe here" Emet muttered, yet as he approached both Kaiber and Digger began to snarl and growl, it made me smirk, he'd come a long way from the confused boy in Siricuse last I saw him.

“I wouldn't try forcing him, he bites…" I said, my voice hissing a little as I remembered the wound he'd given me not to long ago. Emet simply stood there, one fist gripped tight around the neck of his warmace.

“I have no time for this, he isn't safe here, you clearly have no interest in protecting him" The Paladin said, frustration rising in his tone, I simply shrugged, the pain in my body finally dying off to a dull ache.

“He isn't going with you, I was tasked to keep an eye on him by a Knight from the Black Church." I replied, trying to put the effort into it but falling short due to the beating I had just taken. Emet spun around with an impatient look on his face, making to say something, nay bellow something, but was swiftly interrupted.

“I shan't travel with either of you"! Kaiber said sharply, the feminine flare of his voice piecing the space with a clear and decisive tone. The both of us gave him a raised brow look as he stood there.

“You've no comprehension of the events present boy, this is for your best…" Emet began to speak but again Kaiber cut him off, his deep and brilliant scarlet eyes burned with a clear message.

“I said no, I trust none of you, I will wait till Roderic returns, till then I do nothing the either of you say." he said, swiftly shutting Emet down, the Paladin slowly turning, pausing then bringing his gaze to me.

“Roderic...Roderic Hardgrave? He's here"? Emet asked, I nodded in response, surely he'd be on his way back from the tombs up north on the tundra by now. But from the look on Emets face I began to doubt that notion.

“He's not here here, he went up to the tundra, to the Laymans tomb, to hunt the Shade you killed." I answered, his gaze snapped upward to the Dragon for a moment before falling once more, he was muttering away to himself, to faintly to hear.

“The tomb, it was a trap you idiot… the Shade has Fanatics stationed there, Roderic...he's most likely dead" Emet replied flatly, his voice void of life in that one sentence. Kaiber certainly didn't want to hear it, his ears folding back, and face falling. Me however, I furrowed my brow forward in disbelief.

“Bullshit, Roderic won't fall to a Fanatic, he has companions, adept ones at that, until I see proof I don't believe you." I growled in return, bringing some life back into the lizard that stood off behind him. Again did Emet make to bellow something at me, and again was he cut off, this time by the Dragon.

“Neither of us know for certain Theodore, your cynicism is out of check again." Sva'll spoke, his voice loud enough to be head from peak to peak of the mountain range and he had yet to raise his voice or yell. It still sent a shudder up my spine, Sva'll the Devourer, the infamous man eating wyvern of Thray.

“So what? He'll not make it back for a half week, I am outcast from this country, I cannot wait a half week."! He bellowed out in frustration at the huge shadowy dragon, according to the stories Sva'll was said to be clad in a brilliant gold hue from head to tail a sight that often entranced greedy merchant vessels to vere to close to Thrays treacherous coastline.

“Are you forgetting that little trinket of yours Theodore? You do seem to like flaunting it in Gillian." Sva'll commented, swiftly shutting the man up. Though I cocked a brow in curiosity at that, but I paid my attention more so to Kaiber and his half witted friend, who now both stood shivering in the cold; I jerked a thumb back toward the keep.

“Inside, the two of you, we can continue this conversation in the stables...lest we freeze out here or worse…" I stated, Kaiber's eyes held defiance in them, but he said nothing, hurrying to slip inside with Digger and me in tow, followed reluctantly by Emet who dawned a thick hood and walked quickly.

The inside of the Grand Hall was a mess, the doors were destroyed, though thankfully by the looks of things only two men had lost their lives to the horde, three including Belmont, I felt sorrow as I remembered, my mind playing the moment over and over as I walked swiftly down the maze like hallways toward the stables, Digger leading Kaiber on ahead of me.

Eventually we all stood in the stable hall, cold wind blew in from the man open walled alcoves ment for Dragons, the rear walls of such didn't exist, they were just holes in the mountain side, a quick peek out of one afforded me a glimpse of Sva'll flying circles about the Keep.

“So, let's talk shall we." I said, turning to face the others.

Chapter Five: An Escape

The sight of land made me feel at ease, my nerves had been shot the entire voyage, though as the ship drew nearer to the shores that ease began to vanish. The stormy clouds that hung in the air were actually smoke, thin and like ash; the closer we got the clearer the scene at the shore became. It was the village we were supposed to be docking in, raised to the ground with fire, one of the crewmen said he could spy knights of the king but I could barely see anything other than smulders and smoke. The smell of burning flesh and hair filled the air and my nose as we made landfall a few moments later, the captain looking nervous and uncertain.

“Mathias… I wana go home…" came a voice from beside me, Neil's voice, quiet and timid, he always acted out, strutting about with a false air of cockiness like some uppity snob. But in truth he was, deep down, scared, sensitive and frightened easily. I had little to no idea as to why he acted out like he did, other people found him exhausting, irritating, but me? I liked it, sure he was a little insecure at times and timid to, but out of all the romantic relationships I'd had in my life, Neil is the only one who hasn't betrayed me.

“What home? That prison of an airship? Or the sleazy little hide out of yours back in Aldoran"? I snapped, this trip had been taxing enough as it was, and I did have to admit to myself that Neil as wearing on my nerves at this point. My remark however had shut him up rather quickly as the Ship finally made dock at the ruined smolders of what once was the town of Stiltsenburg. It'd been a wharf town, a small port used for trade, or that's what it looked like at least, I didn't know much about portside settlements but I did know that they usually weren't supposed to have the smoking and twisted husk of a zeppelin lying amidst ruined buildings and charred tinders.

Neil took my hand tight in his as the Captain moved through the crowd of onlookers such as us, moving toward the wooden pier as some soldier approached.

“Halt seafarer, who goes there"? The soldier called out, though before the captain could answer another voice called out from further away amidst the smoke and morning fog. It was to this man the Captain bellowed out to, straining his eyes as if trying to peer through the vapors to make out the voice.

“Just an old Sea Captain with Folk from the Sovereign, here to see and visit families abroad…"! The soldier nearest the ship looked back over his shoulder and after a moment of silence a heavier pair of footsteps could be heard upon the groaning and ruined timbers of the pier.

“Tis no Folk here to visit no more, the survivors have moved Northward" came a clear and sallow voice, the soldier moving a step back or so as a taller figure cut through the wisps of smoke. Neil squeezed my hand tighter as the others near us began to murmur and whisper and for good reason, the man approaching us was a knight errant of Dragonholme.

The man was clad in some mix of thick leathers and steel plating, heaviest upon the shoulders, feet and hands, the metal clearly oiled, he wore hefty pauldrons on the shoulders, one of which bore a thick curved shield like plate that stuck up skyward and to top it all off he wore an open faced helm with a plume of green and white feathers sprouting from the top of it. The boots and gauntlets all had wide flared collars of thick leather, the chest and arms lined with intricate leatherwork and chainmail. I could tell the quality was good, my father had been a tanner as had I myself before the Prince snatched me away.

“A Knight? T'was this a raiding party? Pirates from Aldoran"? The Captain asked the Knight, calming a good deal, the Knight took a moment to look us all over with his gaunt face and sunken, worn eyes. By now Neil was squeezing at my hand rather tight, I could feel his claws digging into my flesh, causing me to wince.

“Hear me, those here for family need not worry, your families and friends are safe, I won't lie, not everyone survived and the area isn't safe." the knight said, pausing a moment and giving a forlorn look, eyes staring off into some void that hung unseen in the air before him.

“...We...I, would request upon thee, any of you who wish, we need help identifying those who perished...and aid in clearing the rubble away." He continued, people had begun to mutter amongst themselves but now they began to call out, voces quickly becoming just a mass of panic and concern as the Knight gave us all one last seldom look before turning away and walking back into the smoke.

The town itself was raised entirely to the ground, there wasn't a single timber unscathed and all that remained of buildings where the stone chimneys. Neil continued to squeeze my hand numb as we followed the soldiers who now ushered us off the ship.

“Neil you're crushing my damn hand…" I said through gritted teeth, I was rather pissed off, all my planning gone to waste. We had supposed to have met a barkeep here, a man who was offering a quiet job at a nearby city, the plan had been to work and save up coin to buy a home, live in peace and freedom; but now for all I knew the city was in ruins.

“Mathias...I'm scared...can we please just go back…" Neil whined, only squeezing tighter, his eyes darting from the dead horses and trampled muddy ground, to the still burning husk of the crashed zeppelin and burnt down buildings.

“We can't go back cause we don't have any coin, remember? We spent it all getting here...now let go"! I growled, snatching my hand away from his, he looked up at me, hurt and scared, the look in his eyes made me feel like crap inside in a way that just couldn't be explained in words. The whole reason we'd run away was to be together and here I was being my normal self, mean and irritable; grouchy.

“...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you like that…" I said, slumping, hugging one of my arms with the other, something pulling at my chest from inside; I didn't deserve someone like Neil. Yet he still stayed, pushing his head against my chest, his arms wrapping around my waist, I sighed, hugging him back softly; he deserved better.

“What do we do now…"? Neil asked, looking up at me, his arms still slung around me, truth be told I had no idea. I didn't know anyone in this country and the Knight had said the area was unsafe, I didn't know the land either, we were at a complete disadvantage.

“We'll have to improvise, find a job somewhere" I muttered as a response, looking around at the oddly unscathed countryside that surrounded the burnt port town. Fields of grain left with no one to tend to them and the Knight from before looking over everything from the nearest hill; obviously he was the best person to ask for help.

“Come on…" I said, taking Neils hand and breaking off from the group of others, many of which were now in lines speaking with concerned voices to the other soldiers. A few of them were knee deep in the mud, weeping in pain, others were comforting them, others were just milling about; shocked.

Soon we were out of the ruined town and hiking up a grassy hill toward something I'd never seen before, it was some sort of tall yet narrow structure with a four huge rotating sails. Though at least Neil was now relaxing, his ears perked up in curiosity as he looked up in awe. I supposed he knew what the structure was somehow, but I was more focused on what I was going to say to the Knight. Said Knight was sat looking defeated on a bale of hay amidst a makeshift camp set up around the burnt down remains of a house and some other structure.

The nearby soldiers all clad in similar colors but definitely not similar apparel were swift to deter our approach any further. Neil began to squeeze my hand sharply once more as a duo of footsoldiers prevented us from entering the camp, hands on their sword hilts.

“Halt Lizard, return to the town at once." one of the two said aggressively, the other one simply looking over us to the town with sad sullen eyes. I squeezed Neils hand back, readying myself and reaching deep to get as authoritative a tone of voice as I could; however I was interrupted before I could speak.

“Leave them be…" The empty voice of the Knight rang out, his gaze having risen to meet me, the other two soldiers before us turned to look at the Knight before reluctantly standing down. I hesitated stepping forward, I didn't know the laws of this place, I didn't know anything about Dragonholme at all; I gulped, forcing myself to step forward.

“We're looking for work...Sir, surely you must having something need be done? You're men seem tired and worn…" I said, addressing the Knight directly, loathe to have to force myself to say 'Sir' but I forced it out eventually; nervous, anxious, desperately clutching at straws. Neil was looking to me to be the one to lead us here and now, I had to be strong and level headed, reassure him that things would be well, in a way I was very much a parent to a bratty and insecure child.

“...honestly we could use some pack mules… most of our horses were slaughtered in our counter attack, we can't well leave military supplies behind, nor men to guard them.. If you'd be willing to carry some packs and what not with us to Brandy Stone you'd earn some coin" The Knight said, his tone flat and empty aside from some slow drawling accent. Though work was work nevertheless and Brandy Stone had been our destination anyways, hauling heavy packs of canvas and tent was nothing for a worker like myself, to be teased with hard labor again made my tail swing from side to side in joy.

“We'd be happy to"! I exclaimed rather eagerly, before Prince Virgil had snatched me away from my home village I used to haul large rolls of leather and canvas to and fro between villages all day long. It was hard and long work but I had loved it, It had given me a sense of purpose, I had actually been doing something worthwhile. My time spent on the Princes airship however had been truly mundane, doing laundry for just myself and the others had left me feeling like some lame horse or broken tool.

“Mph, well then in that case… Men! Make ready to pack camp, we make for Brandy Stone in the hour. Ranson, you take what's left of the chavalry unit back to the Crossroads with those fresh off the boat and fortify your position there. Holm you and your men are with me". The Knight bellowed out, standing and holstering his flanged mace to his belt as he ordered about the soldiers. All of which instantly dropped what they had been doing and immediately got to work packing up the camp and mobilizing.

The Knight then looked to the two of us and paused a moment with a cold and thoughtful look in those sunken eyes.

“I'm Tanis…" He said, again flat and empty. He made me uncomfortable, but there was something about him that I recognised.

“...Mathias...this is my younger brother Neil…" I replied, lying cautiously. The Knight was pained, there was a sense that he to had experienced his fair share of suffering or betrayal. Whatever it was that kept that sullen and pained look in his eyes.

“...You two should get to work…" He replied after a step then a long pause before he marches off to speak to some gathered soldiers. I turned and looked down at Neil after watching the Knight for a moment, he was looking nervous but relieved, reassured.

“Are we going to be ok Mathias"? He asked me.

I smiled, taking a moment to look back over my shoulder at the scar of blackened landscape behind us.

So long as the two of us were together, I hoped things would be ok.

Chapter Six: Revelations

My arm still hurt something terrible, off all of us I seemed to have the most injuries, no thanks to that brat Kaiber. I still couldn't believe the bastard had bit me, of all the injuries I had sustained in my years this was the first bite I'd ever had. I cursed under my breath as I took a seat on a nearby wooden stool and began to peel away the bandages on my arm; now bloodsoaked. The elixir I had taken had done much to repair most of the damage, but it still left a hideous winding mass of scars on my skin; I cursed again.

“This is pointless...the longer I linger here…" I heard Emet muttering as he paced back and forth, agitated and clearly in some mental conversation with Sva'll by the way he spouted and shouted to no one. Digger and Kaiber however stood nearest to me, the both of them with cautious looks in their eyes; I couldn't blame them.

“Is he trustworthy…"? Kaiber asked me, not turning his head, more of a whisper than anything else as I ditched my bandages and began tenuously testing my arm. The man did have some lingering sense of senility to him, something that did make me uneasy, if only a little.

“Can't say for sure… best to keep your guard up…" I whispered back, no doubt those tall furrowed ears of his head my words clear as day. He simply made some sort of reptilian noise in response; I shivered, I couldn't stand reptiles they just, creeped me out. At that moment though Emet stopped pacing and turned to face me, brow cocked and a flat look of puzzled thought stretched over his aged face; I didn't like that look.

“What are you doing here exactly...Assassin…" He said, an accusing tone in his voice, suspicion and caution in his eyes. He had all the right to as well, I had originally been hired by the Black Church to track down Roderic, but I had abandoned that mission as soon as I set foot in Dragonholme and for good reason.

“I was sent here to find Roderic, sent by the Church if you must know" I stated, wincing lightly as pain ebbed through my arm still. That of course was only part true, the main reason I had come here was to meet up with Hazel and get some answers, I hadn't expected to chance across Roderic and especially not Kaiber; I'd thought he'd died on Siricuse. If I wasn't in debt I would never have taken on the kinds of shady contracts that I currently had under my belt; had being the key word, I'd just lost all of them within the last hour.

“...huh I heard the Shade say something about 'terminating a contract' with you during that fight…" Kaiber just so happened to bring up. Oh how I wanted to flog that stupid lizard, Immediately did Emets eyes narrow sharply on me, I watched from the corner of my eye as his hand squeezed the grip of his warmace.

“In my defence I had no idea who I was working for on that contract ok, I was desperate for coin...I had…I have, people to pay off. They aren't nice people, I had no idea I was working for a damn Shade…" I said in defence of myself, clutching the handle of one of my daggers tight ready to draw if I needed to.

“Bullshit, you're with them! I knew it, of course they'd stoop so low as to hire an Assassin to kill the last heir of the Clement name"! Emet growled, the man was clearly delusional, obsessed or unhinged in some unhealthy way. However it was Kaiber who yet again interrupted him, and with quite an apt point to.

“Hold on...how do you know my family name… what do you mean heir...what are you talking about"? Kaiber once again said, shutting the aged Paladin down once again and thankfully taking the heat off of myself. For the briefest of moments Emet was genuinely caught off guard, just for a moment though before he unsheathed his Mace and went right back to glaring at me. There was a twitch to his eye, there was no way I would win in a fight against him, especially in my injured state.

“You know something...Tell me…"! Kaiber growled stepping in between the two of us, unafraid, no hesitation at all. His snout twisted into a determined snarl, the boy certainly had issues about people keeping things from him. Emet leered for a moment more before reluctantly ripping himself away mouthing and rambling even more, though this time seemingly in frustration.

“...The Clement Family was once a name known throughout all of Mirodel, your family once held the title of Knight Errant. You understand that, your forefathers were once Royal Knights... until your grandfather wasted away the name and fortune gambling. Now the name is only known to old Knights and Paladins such as myself…" Emet said, those words quickly had Kaiber recoiling in disbelief. Even I myself found the information unlikely, Emet was known as a traitor, he seemed unstable, unhinged, he could just be making it all up on the fly; then again, my knowledge on the Errant families was practically non existent.

“...your forefathers and mine once served side by side… your great grandfather saved my family in times long passed. Since then my family swore to always watch over the Clement family… If it weren't for me your mother and younger sister would still be suffering in Aldoran…" Emet never finished that sentence, Kaiber swiftly interjecting, his eyes going wide, jaw slackening, his whole posture seemed to slacken in shock. I had little care for the boy's past or family, no one had the perfect upbringing, no one had the perfect parents. Though I was still having issues with the whole Knight thing, Kaiber was a Vermian, the Advent didn't have Knights, let alone Knights Errant.

“My...M-mother…she's alive"? He stammered, clearly in disbelief, Emet however looked as if he'd just said something he wasn't supposed to have mentioned. The Aged Paladin looked to the head of the huge gold Dragon now perched on the side of the open faced mountainside stables; before letting out a defeated sigh.

“Yes, she and your sister are alive… I sought them out after your Mother sent me a letter… your Mother and I used to be...close. I didn't know the squaller your family had fallen into… reading her letter I couldn't sit by and do nothing." Emet said, his posture faltering some, though his hand remained on his mace rather firm, his gaze breaking from me to Kaiber, the conversation bored me, it was nothing of my concern; so I sat there, thinking, watching.

“What do you know of my Mother! Who is she to you! How do you know she's safe"! Kaiber screeched and shouted, nay, demanded, the tone of his voice wasn't that of desperate begging but command; he stood there totally unafraid of Emet, demanding he answer him.

“I...she was the one that got away...I loved her, I still do, but she chose that oaf of a man you call a Father. When I was a younger man I pined for her, years before you were born." the Paladin said, his face growing sullen and still, I wasn't buying it, Emet wasn't all there, that was clear as day. I kept a hand to my dagger just to be sure, one eye on Emet and another on Kaiber.

“You were born in Volthume… your parents worked mundane jobs with dreams of a grander life, your Father wanted to buy land, but no one in Volthume would sell for such a low price. So he bought land in Aldoran instead… I still love your Mother...I put aside some coin, to help her, but it wasn't enough. To learn that she had to sell her own son… Fugitive or no I couldn't just do nothing. By the time I found them… they'd been kidnapped into slavery, the farm burnt down and...your Father…" Emet went silent, there was resentment in his eyes but even I could see he cared little about Kaibers Father but the Lizard was quivering now, all over, knees weak and shaking; if Emet was playing conman, then Kaiber was being played as like a fiddle. But he seemed genuine, I still didn't trust him, still didn't buy the words coming out of his mouth.

“Please... Please in the name of the Gods...Tell me their safe…" Kaiber whined, his voice trembling in fear and anxiety. There was desperation in his voice, I kept listening, but my focus was elsewhere, I was more focused on my next move, where I was going to go, what I was going to do I sure as heck wasn't staying here.

“She and your sister are safe, I got them out of Aldoran before any harm could come to them, I left them in the safety of the Claw Keep, before I came looking for you." he continued, turning to face the Lizard, I however couldn't help but cock a brow at his statement. Kaiber let out a sigh of relief, a few heavy breaths as he slackened and relaxed; I however had questions, standing and pushing my way past Kaiber to confront the Paladin.

“Safe? At the Claw Keep? Why not take her to the Iron Keep instead? Or even the Black Keep in Rigel? Why take her to Sval Blaud of all places."? I questioned, crossing my arms with a wince, my left arm still rather sore. The Paladin narrowed his eyes at me once more, a look of disgust warping his face.

“Stupid girl I am a fugitive! I can't go to Mirodel or Rigel, they'd arrest me! If I brough Naiomy to either of those countries they'd treat her like she knew something, they'd torture her, question her, harass her for days and weeks"! He growled through clenched teeth, I could tell he wanted to run me through, being an Assassin by trade I had been taught never to trust anything or anyone, truth be told I don't know why I was getting involved in this crap; asides not wanting Roderic to murder me.

“...hm, he's got a point...well, what are we going to do…" I asked, brushing aside Emets spouting frustration and anger, there was no point in just sitting here yelling at one another. I brought my hands up to my temples and began to rub at them; pacing. Emets reaction to my response however was confused, puzzled once more as if he'd expected me to just yell something back at him.

“Look, Roderic asked me to look over the Lizard ok, dead or not he still expects us to be here when… if he gets back. You obviously can't stay here since your a fugitive and your hell bent on taking him with you, so we got a problem here." I said with a sigh turning to face the room, Kaiber was sat by Digger, his face deep in thought, his body still shuddered though, and Emet simply glared at me.

“Stalemate then aye"? He muttered in a low voice, folding his arms and looking away, no doubt this whole time he and Sva'll had been talking amongst themselves via the mind. I didn't care about what they spoke of, but I knew Kaiber wasn't just going to sit still on this, and sure enough after a moment of silence, he stood.

“I want answers. About who's hunting me." he said, sharply, his eyes locking on to me as he spoke before pausing and moving to Emet.

“And your taking me to my Mother" he continued. Exactly as I thought he would, her wasn't the sort to just sit around and do as he was told. I'd found that out from earlier, from the whole past week of observing him actually. He rarely took any downtime, he was always training or doing something to better himself, weather it be combat or knowledge; he did spend a fair bit of time in Gallens library.

“All I know is Alt is the one who put the contract out, from what I know he's being forced to do the bidding of someone else. Other then that I got nothing." I answered with a shrug, wondering if Hazel was still hanging around somewhere, it wouldn't surprise me, he was the type to eavesdrop whenever it benefited him.

“Alt? Alexander Alt? The inventor from E'cill Meiar"? Emet asked, his tone still carried spite toward me, I understood why, Paladins, Knights, all those faithful sorts despised Assassins. We were just murderers for hire, something that went against the conviction of Knights and the like, especially those the like of the Healing Hand.

“The very same I assume, word has it that...Broom's back" I replied, looking out of the open faced stables at the stretching mountain range, the blizzard had finally died down for good by the looks of thing. But Emets eyes only widened, but just for a moment before he sunk into another deep thoughtful look.

“That's troubling information…" he muttered, stroking his beard once more, eyes narrowed, brows knitted, a stern look on his face as he began to pace to and fro once more. I gave a nod as he looked up at me briefly, not more than a moment. I was going to say something, had it on the tip of my tongue but before I could, Kaiber once more interrupted.

“So, I'll go to E'cill Meiar then" He said in such a flat tone. Me, Emet, Digger even Sva'll, we all looked at the teal and scarlet Lizard, silent; all thinking the same thing.

He's joking; right?

Chapter Seven: On Golden Wings

Turns out he wasn't joking, more so Emet was supporting such a stupid venture; I was beginning to think I was the only sane person here. I could barely get a word in before the pair of them were rushing off to gather supplies and whatnot for the first leg of this unplanned mess of a suicide mission. Kaiber wanted to see the Keep blacksmith before we left but Emet assured him the Claw Keep had one as well, as the three of them went about packing saddle bags and getting Sva'll ready for the trip; I snuck away to take care of my own business. Said business being Sawyer, Roderics little sly friend, out of all the folk here at the fortress he was the only one I remotely trusted. I told him in secret of our plans, telling him to tell Roderic if he should return, he was wary but understanding and nevertheless gave a nod before we split to go our ways.

An hour later I was strapped into a large saddle atop a Dragon well known for eating people for fun, the landscape rolling by under us some few hundred feet below. I had never liked Dragons, reptiles in general to be honest, Kaiber however, he was acting like a child, eyes wide with wonder, his voice thick with joy and excitement; my ears wishing he'd just shut up.

“This is incredible"! He would cheered aloud in that irritating, feminine voice, he sounded like an overly enthusiastic and inexperienced whore. Meanwhile I sat there at the back of the saddle, my hands clutching the horn in front of me, my knuckles probably turning white under the thick furred gloves I'd stolen from some sap back at the Keep of the Divide. I'd never liked mounts, of any sort, shape or breed, Dragon, Horse, even those Akorha things the Icarins used to pull wagons and such up in Gillian. Emet of course did his best to reassure me I was safe, going so far as to say Sva'll could fly upside down and I wouldn't fall, even if my arms were tied behind me. Though he said it in a flat and sarcastic tone that made it clear he cared little for what happened to me, though to the boy, Kaiber, Emet addressed him in an almost ashamed tone, guilt addled and defeated. As if the Paladin had failed him somehow, I didn't really care much for the either of them, I still had a debt to pay off, that took priority in my mind.

The Plan, if you could call it that, was to travel to the Claw Keep, then trek Eastwards across the Frozen Sea to the Arid Tundra of North Gillian. Then we were suppose to get a Zeppelin to take us to E'cill Meiar, in disguise. Besides the obvious flaw of Gillian being part of the Advent Sovereign, and therefore Illegal for humans to cross its border under threat of execution without trial. But Disguises? Kaiber was Advent, so that was that, but Emet? Me? What the hell were we supposed to do? The things Emet had said of the last few hours had raised a ton of questions that now swam about in my head. Though Emet had made it clear that my opinion wasn't of any importance, so I just kept my mouth shut no matter the crap I caught. I was the minority here, the unliked one, the outcast, etcetera etcetera.

“So, how exactly are we going to sneak into the Sovereignty without being arrested immediately"? I asked after some time had passed, breaking the chit chat between Kaiber and Emet, I had to shout it as loud as I could to cause of the wind; it wasn't quite roaring loud but loud enough to strain my voice.

“Easy, Doppler Charm, I know a fellow, hermet type, lives up on the Frozen Sea" Emet bellowed back, even at this altitude and speed, his voice was like thunder; the measure of a Paladin with true power. Still, his answer had my brows knit together, Doppler Charms were illegal in every country save Aldoran; no surprise there. It did answer one odd nagging question of mine, something that Sva'll had said earlier, about Emet roaming Gillian. The trinket he'd referred to had to be a Doppler Charm; though a moment later I smirked to the thought of a well aged and built man like Emet, parading about as a petit and colourful aviad.

“So Firehawk or Crow Emet? Can't imagine you with anything brighter than dull red or black" I shouted, trying to make myself sound cocky or sassy, but with the wind it just came out as nothing more than shouting. In his defence it wasn't a bad plan, it was actually rather smart, if ballsy as all hell and dangerous as well. Though he didn't respond at all and I couldn't help but poke at it; it was just to good an opportunity.

“Awe what's the matter Emet? Bird got your tongue"? I shouted, trying to provoke him, trying to pry more information from him, he clearly was in the loop with what was going on. He gave me the same impression that Fallon had back in Solitude; then again, Fallon was a king and a large green Dragon as well, no doubts he knew what was going on.

“SongBird actually, the look rather suits him" the words rang out in my head clear as crystal, Sva'll's heavy mental presence suddenly pushed into my mind, it felt as if he were actually clawing my brain apart like a scholar doing an anatomy lecture. The intrusion was unpleasant, the sole reason I disliked Dragons, they didn't understand the concept of privacy, or at least they struggled with it.

“Songbird? Really? Ha"! I couldn't help but laugh at that, my outburst quickly had Emet turning over shoulder to glare at me as if I'd just insulted him. Meanwhile Kaiber who sat between us was simply looking off into space, seemingly preoccupied with some internal conversation; Digger was sound asleep surprisingly, hugged tight to Kaiber like a tired child.

“Sva'll why did you tell her that"! Emet growled, scolding the massive Dragon as if Sva'll were not more than a boy, I couldn't even understand how the two were friends of any sort. Sva'll was infamous, he had legends written of him, stories and shanties to, his wingspan alone was four times the length that of the main mast of a Man o'War.

“The look suits you Emet, I love the swathy sea green feathers you have, it's a colour I so rarely see and that gorgeous red of your tail feathers…" Emet looked embarrassed and furious at the same time, quickly cutting his friend off with a loud and booming, “Enough"! Which quickly silenced the lot of us and left my ears ringing.

With silence came boredom and with that came thought, so consumed with said though I was that I didn't even notice the clouds that now hung about me. Not above, not below, but surrounding me, the wind seemed still and as I came to realise and look about was my gaze drawn skyward, to the sea of stars that hung over us. In that moment the silence was blissful and I forgot that I was miled above the ground upon the back of a Dragon. I felt so small, to think that the Gods had made all this, to even try to fathom the power they possessed; it made me feel small yes, but safe as well.

“Hey! Is that the Claw keep down there"? Kaiber's voice sounded out, breaking the silence as a single streak of light soared over head amidst the stationary stars. I watched the shooting star pass before I looked down, through the clouds now below me and far far further down, clung to the mountainous landscape below were many a torchlights. The Teeth, that's what they called the mountains on the border of Sval Blaud, they sort of just, fell away into a sheer and sudden drop, a massive ravine, as if someone had cut Sval Blaud from Mirodel with a sword. And there nestled away within the chipped summit of the lowest peak, was the Claw Keep.

“Yes, that's the Keep, unlike most of the others its not made entirely of stone, the Wolves use bricks of hard ice from the Frozen sea and a stone called basalt found deep inside seaside mountains." Emet replied thunderously to an excited and hopeful looking Kaiber, the Claw Keep was a truly imposing place simply by looks alone. And it only got more so as we began our descent toward it, the main structure looked more like a run down fort made of wood and ice. But its battlements stretched across all the mountains of the Teeth, fourteen sumits all laden with huge artillery pieces, monstrous ballista like emplacements called Hel'drage that could rain fire down from miles away. The only way to spot them this late at night though, was from the tiny flickers of torchlight that banded the mountain range; few people realize that the Claw Keep wasn't just a fort on a mountain; the entire mountain range itself was the fortress.

We landed on the taller, left hand mountainside, upon a huge black, rough stone plaza of sorts, I didn't know the word to properly describe it.Sva'll was ushered into a nearby hall, dug into the mountain, its entrance was huge and the lip was bore in a mural of Kadar, carved into the stone, the Largest Dragon to have ever lived. I was glad to be inside, even if it was just a mostly empty and grand stable for Dragons, but, it was warm and held out the wind.

We all dismounted and stretched, Sva'll slumped himself into a wide and open stone stall to rest as I watched a pair of Ver'Ulf'Nii slowly approach from the far end of the stable hall, they were clad in typical Sval Blaud style, bare chests, scars, plated greaves and kilts or whatever they called those skirt like things.

Emet turned to Kaiber, pausing a moment, the boy looked scared, nervous, I didn't understand why, his mother would surely be happy to see and embrace her son, do whatever it was that Vermians did when reuniting or whatever.

“Ready"? Emet asked, once again looking as though he was a failed man, heartbroken and forlorn, I turned my lip up in disgust, Emet clearly loved Kaibers Mother, it made me sick, humans and advent shouldn't love one another.

“I think so…" Kaiber replied, sucking in a breath, putting on a confident face and marching off down the hall. Digger in toe and Emet pulling up the rear, I pondered staying put, but then again I didn't want to be left alone anywhere near Sva'll; he looked, hungry. I started off after the others, now with Ver'Ulf'Nii escort, thinking to myself.

“How did I get myself into this mess…"?

Chapter Eight: Only a Mother could love

The Claw Keep was a vast maze of tunnels and encampments, linked together by sheer and steep staircases, bore into the mountain faces and wooden walkways that were fastened to the sheerest cliffs and passages. All adorned in hanging tapestries of Ivara, Goddess of the Hunter as well as tribe and clan banners, horns, skulls and other totems of Ver'Ulf'Nii decor standards. It was in quite stark contrast to the other Keeps, then again, each country had their own style I suppose so there was that.

We were lead to the main structure, built into the chipped tip of the lowest mountain, we had to walk across a series of rope bridges that looked, sturdy enough, but still uneasy to cross. I fell in beside Emet, Kaiber however was marching through the cold wind some paces ahead of us, seemling both determined and also hesitant at the same time somehow.

“You sure this is a good idea Emet"? I asked, out of boredom mostly, but in all seriousness this so called plan had a lot of blank spaces in it. I was an Assassin, it was my job to be prepared and plan ahead for every little possibility.

“The boy needs this, it's his Mother, a reunion will do well to strengthen his spirits" Emet replied flatly, I rolled my eyes; the idiot. Kaiber was nothing to me anymore, I'd saved him simply to keep my word to Roderic.

“I don't care about that, I meant is this Plan a good idea you twit" I scoffed back at him, my voice now showing disdain and bitterness. Emet simply scowled at me in disgust, I didn't give a damn what he thought of me, the only reason I was here was because of safety, so long as I was with Emet, the debt collectors wouldn't dare come after me.

“Heartless wench…" he spat and marched off with Digger in pursuit of Kaiber, point of the fact was I was desperate, the people I owed money to weren't kind or understanding; corrupt city officials were never understanding folk.

I clutched at my still wounded arm, it was healing well, the wound was almost gone entirely, just the ache and stiffness remained. It'd leave a nice scar, something to remind me of that stupid lizard, great. I gave out a sigh as I went into thought there on the bridge, looking out toward Mirodels Highlands, seeing the small grouping of lights that were villages and settlements, dotting the mountainous landscape. Maybe I could pick up some small contracts on the way, work up some coin, enough to keep Larsson of my ass. I should never have taken a loan from that asshole, it wasn't even that big a loan, all I was doing was scoping the place out, blending in and all, I'd intended to use the contract profits to pay the loan back, but the damn thing fell through and I was left with nothing. Then of course Larsson found out who I really was and what I do and assumed I was loaded, now I had to pay him off, two hundred gold Sou, or he'd go to the King and rat me out, damn bastard was blackmailing me for coin. If he'd just been some loan shark type setup, then i'd be able to deal with him easily, but Larsson was a damn city official, the financial overseer for all of Volthume.

I gave out another sigh, turning from the view and starting off to find Emet and Kaiber, I tracked the three of them back to the main structure. A large compound of big structures embedded into the ground, towers of ice and stone acted as sentry posts, whilst the warm inviting glow of the huge fire pits within the buildings offered solace from the cold. I found Emet in one of the larger Halls but I hung back from him, Kaiber was sheltered behind him, looking like a nervous wreck and as I approached I heard the voice a young girl.

“Mama, Mama! The Knight is back"! I heard, I cocked a brow as well, seeing a young human girl dart up to Emet, she looked thin, but well looked after. Maybe Kaiber was adopted? It was the only way it made sense, or maybe she was adopted? It didn't make sense though, Emet had said Kaiber was born in Volthume, but Advent were banned from Volthume's borders, Emet was lying, I had the irritating suspicion that this was all a set up, that he was a spy or an agent of the Enemies, working for the Shades or Alt or Broom or whoever. A moment later the young girl was joined an older woman with the same dull auburn hair, she had fair complexion and skin, she had to be around fortyish in age, but she looked younger; though she was still worn to some extent. Her eyes were heavy and sad, half dead almost as if she truly had lost a son to some tragedy; but they lit up slightly at the sight of Emet.

“Oh Emet, you returned, did you find him? My boy? Is he alive…"? She asked, her voice was soft but it quivered with hope, with desperate hope. I watched as Kaiber meekly stepped out from behind Emet looking like a frightened child; the woman just looked between the two of them, confused.

“...Mama...It's me…" he said, his voice nearly cracking with anxiety and fear, I took the opportunity to slide up beside Emet who still held onto the younger girl with one arm. The look in the woman's eyes was that of disbelief, I could see she was trying to figure out what was going on just like me and I guess Kaiber could see it to.

“...You made me an otter out of old patchwork, when I was four, I called him Olivander, after that captain from the story book you read to me each night…" he said, his ears folding down, his voice on the edge, he looked as if he was going to start crying. But the Woman, his Mother, her eyes just seemed to light up, to reignited like a dormant furnace.

“Oh Kaiber...my boy, Is it really you"? She said, opening her arms and breaking down into tears as Kaiber rushed into her arms; sobbing tears of joy. I was still wondering just how in the Lord's name this worked. Was he adopted or not? I gave Emet a sideways glance, he knew, of course he knew, he'd lied about Kaiber being born in Volthume, he had to have.

“He was rescued from the Slave markets in Aldoran by a Naga, a Royal dignantry from Mayoran. Turned your boy here into a soldier and a Vermian to unfortunately…" Emet stated. I cocked a brow, I'd heard rumours of the Advent Sovereignty having some sort of potion or elixir, but that was just that, rumours, right? Guess not, it made sense though, it explained and answered a lot of questions I had in my head and put to rest a few paranoid thoughts I had as well.

“Unfortunate? My boy is alive and well, there's no fortune better, I don't care if he's covered in scales, Oh my boy is alive"! The woman cheered and cried with joy, holding Kaiber tight to her figure. So Kaiber had been Human before, I pictured some scrappy young man with short auburn hair and a grimy face, maybe tanned skin. The thought of being turned into one of those lizards though? It disgusted me more than anything, why would anyone choose that, there's no way he'd done so of his own free will. Emet said he'd been sold to a Slaver market and then saved by a Naga? Bought more like it, forcibly turned into one of their savage little lizard drones; it made my skin crawl.

I turned and left after that, family reunions weren't my thing, to touchy feely and in all honesty I wasn't very good with my emotions. My Father had been distant to say the least and my Mother died in the gutter bottle in hand; drank herself into the ground. I didn't wander to far from Emet though, Holy folk didn't like Assassins, but the Wolves, the Ver'Ulf'Nii, to them we were the greatest of insults and cowards. I was already catching foul looks from some of the patrols milling about the Keep; maybe not outright foul, but suspicious at best. One in particular however stared at me in such a way that made me feel uncomfortable, one of the bigger Wolves, the only one who seemed to be wearing armour of any sort at all. Big light grey, sharp blue eyes, stood atop one of the cliffside ramparts not to far away; he stared me down like I was something to conquer. Those icy blue eyes of his held a hint of lust to which quickly had my lips turned into a snarl of disgust, I wanted out of this place.

I longed for the warm shores of Thray, Quarthwessen even the Salt Islands would be better than this place. It wasn't the cold weather, nore the company or my debt situation, it was just to noisy, to crowded, I wanted someplace quiet, secluded, it helped me think and plan; helped me relax. And I had plenty of stresses to rack my brain over, I let out a sigh and finally left the main Hall were Emet and all the others were now celebrating. I moved over to a quiet corner of the Keep and stared off out over the mountains trying to quiet my mind.

I stood there for some time, the cold not really phasing me all to much, nore sleep, I just stood there, in the shadow of a sentry tower, leaning up against it and thinking; almost lost in thought. The flurry of leathery wings however brought me back from thought, though I didn't turn or move to acknowledge him at all; I'd had the suspicion he'd been following me.

“Lost in thought are we"? Hazel asked, I rubbed at my eyes, shifting to stand proper and straight for a moment, my hands running through my short fiery red hair. Lost in thought was an understatement, I was consumed by it I wasn't used to this sort of big heavy shit, I was a small time gal, light Assassin work and all.

“Urrrrgh, why the fuck am I even here… I don't care about these people" I groaned aloud, closing my eyes and letting out a sharp breath of frustration. I should never have taken the contract in Volthume, I'd screwed myself into a damn corner.

“Mm, yes, Miss Scarlet only ever cares about herself. Maybe if you had a heart things would be easier for you" He replied, sharp and coldly, he wasn't wrong, my life motto was basically 'look out for myself and no one else' but it still stung a little. Maybe being so close to the bombings in Siricuse had rattled me, before such words would barely make me feel anything, I didn't care what people said or thought of me.

But now, now I didn't know anymore and I hated that most of all.

Chapter Nine: Celebrations and Ceremony

I stayed out there in the cold of the mountainous ramparts till the sun broke over the horizon and turned the gloomy moonlit snow into a brilliant sheet of cascading white; broken by the peeking blackened stone of the Teeth. To think I had started my young life as an art student in Volthume, dropping out mostly due to money issues, but mainly cause I found drawing the opulent White City to be boring. Now I stood here, cold, tired, unwanted and ridiculed, gazing out over such a breathtaking scene; irony, how it stung. The pain of my arm wound was now dull enough to ignore fully, the wound was still not fully healed yet though. To think it had only taken Sva'll a single night to fly us over the Narrow Kings Sea, granted the narrowest part; but still. Flight, the 'future of the world' as the Icarins would caw and coo incessantly, I still hated the idea of this plan. I could just walk away, disappear, let Kaiber and that fool Emet to die on there dumb plan for information. War was coming that much was certain, but something Hazel had said that night was sticking to me; frozen and cold I finally moved inside as the Sun's rays struck my skin.

I trudged into the main structure, I wouldn't know what to call it; I'm sure it had a name, I was tired, cold, sore and battered all over. Yet Emet stood there over some crude table carved from a single huge chunk of wood, a detailed map of Sval Blaud carved into its face. He was in some sort of discussion with that wolf from yesterday; whose fur now seemed darker, perhaps it was just the snowfall that made it appear lighter. Kaiber and his little family were nowhere to be seen, not that I cared and Hazel was most likely lurking around somewhere like the pesky eavesdropping shadow he was.

I had just about slinked off by Emet when he turned his head my way, I just wanted to sleep, find some place to curl up and just forget all the crap around me.

“And where have you been"? He grunted at me, as if he needed to know, I half turned to him with clear bags under my heavy eyes. At least his voice wasn't thick with disgust or accusation, but I still saw it in his eyes.

“Why do you care, I'm a spy aren't I"? I replied, my voice was flat and clearly void of effort, though emet cocked a brow anyways, lips furrowed as if trying to ascertain if I was being serious.

“...I take it you don't care to join in on planning then" he muttered as he turned back to the war table before him. I was surprised he even supplied the notion of inviting me to join in on his suicide mission planning. Never the less I trudged up to the table, keeping a good foot and then some between me and Emet as he spoke.

“So Greyson, you were saying…"? He said, notioning to the wolf across the table from him. Said wolf, spent a moment staring down at the map before him, probably knowing every rock and tree like the back of his hand.

“Well, If your target is Gillian that means crossing the Frozen Sea, unfortunately we're on the end of Winter, which means the Sea is thawing. So your best bet is to sled down to the Pass, sail around Ujiks Cove and along the cliffs at Joras Run. That way you can just sail over and land at Phalanx just north of the Volga River border." the big wolf said, tracing his finger along the route as he spoke, I followed along silently, making notes on the stupidity of the whole thing. Why not just have Sva'll fly us all there? 'Cause its to far' or whatever the excuse would be.

“Why not just go North to the Tundra Sea and sail all the way to the Mouanth and the Black Mountain"? I interjected with a tired and sore voice, both Emet and the wolf, Greyson looked up at me as if I had just asked one of the stupidest questions possible. I could care less, or at least I would have some time ago, but now I was doubting myself. I was just a novice Assassin afterall, maybe I could stand to learn something if I was a little less brash.

“Firstly it's a time consuming journey just to get to the North Tundra Sea and after that we'd have to go through the Frostmoore Sea which is home to the Bask Tribe, who are violent raiders. And the Ice that far up never melts, so the Sea is a maze of icebergs and ambush spots, only the foolish go through there." Greyson stated with crossed arms, his tone was calm and almost mentor like. But it did the job, I didn't respond, I just gave a tired nod of understanding and then the two of them went back to planning; I watched.

“Well… I have to go to Far Point, I need to meet with 'you know who' about a Doppler Charm for the Assassin. Hmm, Scarlet, you'll have to come with me, assuming you're actually in on this plan. We can take Sva'll whilst Greyson here takes the supplies and Kaiber down to the shore, we'll meet up again at Joras Run before crossing the Frozen Sea." Emet said, with definitive confidence, motioning and pointing to the war table map; tracing the route with his finger. Greyson followed with his bluish steely eyes before nodding and looking up.

“A solid plan, I take it you want your Mate to stay here"? He asked Emet, my brow cocked instantly and I watched as Emets face furrowed to a look I hadn't seen before and one I could not easily describe. Strangely he didn't respond straight away, rather he paused, looking, I don't know, somber I guess.

“She isn't my partner, but yes, Naiomy and her daughter will stay here under your watchful eye, that is all I ask of you… Keep them safe." he said a moment later, my eyes narrowed a moment, a thought crossed my mind and it was one that woke me up some, my tired body suddenly feeling a little less so as Emet nodded to the wolf, then turned and made off outside. I didn't follow instantly but after a moment or two of silent thought I pursued the disgraced Paladin with a single question to ask him.

He'd said that he'd fancied Kaibers Mother a long time ago when he was younger himself, from what I know of men, when their younger they tend to be more; foolish.

“...Your Kaibers Father, aren't you…"? I asked after a moment, falling in step beside him as he made for the stables. But as soon as I asked that question he stopped mid stride and went still; nothing save his eyes moved. They stared off into some blank space far away, quivering; I stood there waiting for lightning to smite me to cinders, but Emets body instead relaxed, slackened actually and he let out a deep breath that hung visible in the frosty air.

“...Yes...He's my Son...Naiomy and I, we...please, do not tell him...I need to do it myself, when the time is right…" Emet said, his voice was heavy and almost quivering itself, I could see he was struggling with the emotional weight and I suddenly understood why. Why he was so quick to agree with Kaiber, why he was so attached to the Lizard and his family, because he was family to. He looked at me for a moment, just a single quick moment with pleading eyes, not that of a Paladin, but those of a desperate Father. I didn't say anything, I just nodded quietly and then we spent an awkward moment in silence.

“...you should get some sleep, rest up, we'll be leaving first thing in the morning…" He said with long pauses before he silently trudged off into the stables. I had nowhere better to be so I followed, if only in hope to find somewhere quiet to sleep for a few hours.

I eventually found myself laid back on a bed of dry straw and hay in one of the empty stalls near or next to Sva'll; at that point I didn't much care where I slept. Yet my mind wouldn't let me, for some reason that revelation just stuck itself in my head. I could hear myself thinking about it, but it wasn't of my own volition, I don't know why but after a few moments or so I sat up. Puzzle pieces started to fall together in my head, painting a picture I wasn't familiar with just yet. All I knew is I had one thing to do before I could actually sleep soundly; or at all for that matter.

Kaibers belongings were in Sva'lls stall just next to me, stowed away in the saddlebags and what not. All I was looking for were a few small scales that'd rubbed off or molted or whatever, I was done being played and backed into corners, done with being blackmailed and desperate. It didn't take me long to find what I was skulking about for, a few lose opaque teal scales stubbornly stuck to the clasp of that silly little cloak of his. I pocketed them as swift as I could, wrapping them securely in a silk cloth and making sure no one saw me.

But I wasn't done just yet, now I had to find that little spy Hazel, even in my sleep deprived state I knew just were to look. The cellars under the Stables held the finest and strongest Volka, a strong clear alcohol known for its absurd kick. Sure enough there Hazel was hung from the arched stone ribs that reinforced the ceilings.

“Miss Scarlet, loitering about are we? Looking for someone perhaps"? He asked with that ever exotic accent of his. I made a quick round of the Cellar, to make sure no one was within earshot of us, once I was certain It was clear I dug the silk cloth from my satchel.

“There's a hermit up at Far Point, Emet and I are going there to get a doppler charm, I need...want, you to fly over there before we arrive and deliver a message. And some ingredients." I said, speaking in a quiet tone, just enough for Hazel alone to hear, his ears flutered and he remained quiet, I had nothing to pay him, nothing to give him in return for this, I was hopping, praying that he'd help me.

He half turned to me, that long trident like tongue of his snaking out as his lips curled back into a devious smile.

“So, what's the message~"?

Chapter Ten: The Best laid plans.

We all parted ways early the following morning just before the sun rose over the foggy horizon, myself and Emet left last. With Kaiber and Greyson most likely already some distance ahead, not that there lead would matter much to Sva'll. I had gotten some sleep and my body thanked me for it, my arm was still mostly tender; I did my best to not put too much stress on it. Emet was oddly silent as he went about putting the huge saddle on Sva'll bit by bit, I decided to take inventory of my equipment whilst he did so. I only had one dagger now, Kaiber had seemingly lost the other during the fight with the Shade. I paused some remembering it, to think it had only been five days ago. I'd used all but one of my one of my Althine Salts; the little exploding glass balls full of yellow liquid that severely dampened magic. But apart from that my Satchel was still well stocked, I still had my lock picks, my flash powder, Roric poison and my needles. I had however lost all my throwing knives as well as my clothes to, both were badly damaged in the fight last week. For now I wore an assortment of furs and treated leathers that made me look like some sort of wild barbarian. I couldn't complain thought, they kept me warm and all in all things could be worse I suppose.

Emet bothered me, he'd gone awfully quiet, his gaze now avoided me, I got it though, he was a deeply conflicted and personally tormented man. I understood why he'd been so inhospidibal toward me and my lack of care for Kaiber; his son. That being said, He had his plan and I had mine; what Hazel had said the other day still stuck with me and he was right. I had a lot to learn and I wasn't going to learn it by going it alone all the time, I was barely an Adept. The old Assassins guild, back in its glory days worked together; But that being said disguising myself as Kaiber was a risky move. My plan was to use the Doppler charm to disguise myself as the blasted Lizard, from there I'd let myself get caught and taken directly to Alt in E'Cill Meiar; get the answers directly. I'd spoken to Greyson before he'd left, telling him the plan I had, I'd slip away from Emet once we got to Gillian and rejoin him disguised later on. The real Kaiber would be safely back here with his mother the whole time; it was risky sure, but Broom wanted Kaiber for some reason, badly. As an added bonus it'd get Larsson of my ass to, whatever crooks he had tailing me would lose me once I crossed borders; it'd buy me some breathing room. But more importantly I'd take the heat off Kaiber and his family, I don't know why I cared, but in my head this was one of those win-win scenarios; that is if I could pull it off.

We set off around midday whilst the sun was high and the icy skies were clear of clouds entirely, not a wisp called the heavens above home. Yet I still felt out of place soaring through said frigid heavens upon the back of a mighty dragon. Made ever so more unsettling by Emets odd silence and perturbed mood of deep thought. I didn't pay him or it much mind, instead looking down at the rolling landscape below and admiring it. You really could see just about everything from up here, if I squint hard enough I could spy Tora mountain in the Highlands of Mirodel. Even though the little trip to this Alchemist, or Pagan or whomever it was would be short I found myself staring at the view lost in my own thoughts, going over every detail of my plan, again and again; till we landed. Strangely the sight of some less than cosy looking log cabin stood atop a towering cliffside hill made me feel uncomfortable. Not many folk would live in such a remote spot in a place like Sval Blaud.

Emet dismounted first as Sva'll came to hang from the cliffside, I clambered off after a measure of effort; silently praying that Hazel had gotten the message to whoever this person was. I could feel Sva'll sitting there in the back of my head, I had to pray that he wouldn't blow my plan either.

“You're playing a rather risky gamble". He said, or thought, it felt weird to just have some voice in your head that wasn't yours. He was right of course, all it'd take is one small hiccup and it'll all come unraveled.

“It wouldn't be a gamble if it wasn't" I replied. Frigid breath visible before my eyes as I made off after Emet. I didn't fancy peeking about inside the shoddy looking home however, but I did decide to eavesdrop on whatever conversation was going on inside. Emet's voice was familiar, yet drawl and weighted, the other voice I heard had an almost malicious tone to it, like the hiss of a snake.

“Tis been many a moon since last you set foot in my humble abode Theodore, a little Bat told me you needed something"? I heard the stranger say, I breathed out a sigh of relief; Hazel had gotten the message ahead of us. I wagered the little varmint was still skulking about in the shadows somewhere near.

“...Oh, that seems a tad convenient…" I heard Emet mutter, though I did raise a brow at the stranger's use of Emets first name. Typically Paladins were referred to by their surnames followed by whatever title there renown bestowed; perhaps the stranger was just ignorant.

“Whispers carry far these days Theodore, talk is stirring of War". That statement cocked a brow, so far as I'd heard the only War going on was the civil War in E'Veldan, then again if word was to be believed, Broom was back; if anything he'd be warmongering. I pulled away from the door after that, I'd heard enough, it was hard to think the world could be on the brink of another great War. When you read the books about the old Wars, The Great White War, The Arcanis War, the illustrations alone were grim and the murals painted in the Tomb of Heros; words couldn't describe their brutality. Just the thought alone of another War of that scale, it made me feel uneasy and off put, like I had nausea.

Even though I was well in over my head with this I reassure myself that if all went well then maybe War could be averted, to think what any of the Kings would pay to know of Brooms location or plans. All the more incentive to step up my game and make sure things went smooth and silently like any good Assassin should.

“You're scared" Sva'lls mental voice suddenly piped up inside my head, I was really starting to dislike his presence. It was pretty hard to miss, just this heavy feeling in your head, like some living creature just sat there inside your skull, moving about through your thoughts and memories.

“Well unlike you I'm not a huge gold dragon and unlike Emet I'm not a Master Paladin who fears nothing! I'm a novice Assassin who's basically self taught marching around with lunatics and I'm about to do something really stupid to help people I don't know. So yes… I'm a tad on edge I suppose". I bit at the big golden beast, keeping my voice low so Emet didn't hear, last thing I needed was him getting suspicious of me; well more so than he already was anyways. I rubbed at the bridge of my nose as a throbbing headache set in uninvited.

“You call us crazy, you say you don't care, why are you still here then, why are you willing to do what you're going to"? He asked after a good pause that lasted just long enough to make me somewhat paranoid. Though I wasn't really expecting that question to rear its head, the answer was something painful that I didn't want to remember and much less wanted Sva'll to probe.

“Just...stay out of my damn head ok". I said with a hiss, marching back and forth in paces now, I tried to focus on my secret plan, going over it in my head to try and distract myself, hoping Sva'll would leave well enough alone. He didn't.

“Who's Mahiel"? Just hearing my dead little brothers name made my throat close up, it'd been years now since I last even heard the word spoken. My single greatest fuck up, the reason alone why I distanced myself from people; why I didn't care.

“A younger sibling"? I stopped pacing, head now hung toward the snowy ground, the wind felt warm against me as did the sun yet I felt cold. I was ten, he was only seven at the time, we had a good life as children of the Imperial Volthume. Yet I still remember watching him fall to the pavement, all cause I'd climbed up to the roof and taunted him to try and do the same.

“He fell. You couldn't save him. Is that why your helping Kaiber"? I was sick of Sva'll digging up this pain, he had no right to do so I didn't care if privacy was a foreign concept to him. It was downright rude, I'd buried these memories for a reason.

“I said get the fuck out of my head you stupid lizard"! I snapped, lip curling upward, brows knitting inward as I turned sharp to face the great big golden Dragon. At this point I was clutching my head tight in my palms and of course at that exact moment Emet decided to exit the little shack.

“What's going on out here"? He asked, looking between me and Sva'll. I breathed sharply through my teeth as I forced my arms to my side.

“Nothing…". I replied, looking away for a moment.

“Good, we should get going at once." Emet said, tossing underarm a small bundle of cloth wrapped with twine. Emet strode at once toward the big golden beast of his as I unwrapped a small ivory tube, a black feather tied to its base and matching twine to loop it around my neck. And there bore carved delicately upon its surface was a mural which, as I turned it showed the visage of a Crow of Gillian and also that of a Vermian.

“Scarlet! Let's get moving." Emet exclaimed, my mind was now fraught with things I wanted to bury, things I didn't want to confront and also, the thought of looking like that damned blue Lizard.

“Oh joy…" I muttered as I turned and wiped a tear from the corner of my eye.

Chapter Eleven: East.

The silence was uncomfortable, it felt like we were all riding into some huge brutal fight or conflict. Not even Sva'll had anything to say. Sure I could 'stir the pot' if I really wanted to, but it felt wrong to think about that. I was not much of a jovial sort after all. Ahead of us lay the frozen sea, the northernmost point of the Shallow Straight, the only passage into the northern lakes and waterways in all the eastern world. Joras Run was not far, soon we'd be reunited with that vicious little lizard and the great big wolf as well. I clutched the Dopplers charm close to my chest, it hung securely around my neck now. All it would take is a twist and poof, I'd look and sound just like that scaled prick who bit me.

Sva'll banked left around the sloping face of the numerous cliffs and sheer rises, the black of rock standing stark against sheets of impenetrable white. Into view came a few specks stood by a boat at the water edge, it was not a particularly large boat either. I frowned. Sva'll brought us around, landing with surprising grace for such an enormous beast. I was more than happy to dismount, and happier still if I never had to ride a dragon again. The ground was slick with ice, the snow greyish and slush like, I fought for steady footing as I wobbled toward Greyson and the boat. Up close it looked like it could barely even float.

“Good luck, Assassin." I heard Sva'lls resounding mental voice says. I did not acknowledge him with a response as I grabbed a hold of a towering tree for stability. I was looking around to find Kaiber as Emet strode confidently up to the great big wolf.

“Everything set and ready?" Emet asked. Greyson nodded.

“Aye. Boats stocked, charts are on board, should get you through safely. Keep an eye out for Icarain Zeppelins, patrol the area round here sometimes." Greyson stated, folding his arms with a gruff grunt. Emet turned to me and motion for me to get aboard. I did so.

I knew Greyson was not coming with us, which was good, I did not like the way he looked at me. As if I was a thing to be conquered. I made my way right down into the lowest part of the boat, aft storage. Right at the back on the lowest level behind a flimsy wooden door. I wanted peace and quiet to sleep. But I also wanted to see what all the fuss was about this Doppler charm, and if it even worked. I pulled the small trinket out from under my top and held it, it was only as long as the palm of my hand. It looked fragile and weak, the sort of thing you could break just by putting a little pressure on it. Like an egg shell.

It was three concentric, evenly sized rings of ivory, set around a central shaft of polished stone. Capped at both ends with varnished myrtle wood. The way it worked was that on the rings were carved into the likeness of a person or animal, and when you lined all three rings up, they'd lock into place and you'd turn into the figure depicted. You twist the rings again to break the illusion. Mine however, depicted two figures, the first was an Icarin, a crow to be precise, by the black feather that hung from the bottom of the charm. The other figure was Kaiber. I studied each ring closely for a moment before double checking that the door was locked.

“Urgh. I've gone mad." I muttered to myself. Taking a deep breath I turned the bottom and top rings, I paused as I slowly lined up the middle, completing the image. There was a click and all of a sudden a sharp, powerful jolt ran through me, my vision blurred for a moment as I let out a surprised yelp. When my vision cleared up a second later, I blinked. My hands were no longer mine, scales coated them, I had claws and I was notably shorter in height. I became acutely aware of the phantom sensation of a long tail, tall ears and surprisingly weighty horns. Sharp teeth, a long slick tongue, claws. All of it. A shudder ran down my spine as I looked myself over, I looked just like Kaiber, just as I had asked for. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, I had the looks, all I needed now, was the attitude. I not only had to fool any of Alt's minions who were snooping about, but I also had to fool Emet, Kaibers Father. I paced back and forth, getting used to the motions of everything, Kaiber had a feminine frame, but held himself high, he had a strong stride but showed the same flexibility as a cat. From all I'd seen of him so far he was like me. Always looking for an opening, an exploit, something to take advantage of. Sure he looked like he was a clueless git, but he was playing everyone for a fool. He was tenacious, he did not let his fear show and I only had as long as this voyage took to learn how to act like him.

Another thing I would need was his stupid little cape, without it I'd raise suspicion. My best bet would be to nick his whole outfit. Greyson now doubt told Kaiber what was going on, we'd agreed of that much, Kaiber would sneak off the boat before it was too far out, using one of the small rowboats on deck. He'd row back to Greyson on the shore and I'd have to pick up playing a double life from their till we made dock in Gillian. I'd use my Kaiber disguise to tell Emet that it was me, Scarlet, who had taken the row boat and bailed. All in all it was a solid plan, it just needed the right timing.

My pacing and deep thought were derailed a moment later as I heard a voice.

“You'll have to cover that bite mark." My head snapped up to see Kaiber stood there in the doorway, smirking. My eyes went wide and balled my fists up. Oh how I hated being eye level with him.

“Shut that fucking door before Emet sees us!" I hissed. I actually hissed, like a damn rat, I sounded like him to, that notable 'male with a feminine flair' voice. Strong and sharp. I hated it. Kaiber stepped into the room and closed the door before turning to me and then pacing around me. I folded my arms and huffed.

“Getting a hard on over yourself Lizard boy?" I spat with a sultry tone, my eyes rolling. I heard Kaiber growl from behind me somewhere. It sent a nervous jolt up my spine, I did not fancy getting bitten by him again.

“Why are you doing this? Why do you care?" he asked, coming to my front again and folding his arms similarly to myself. I studied him for a moment as I thought, trying to match his posture.

“I have my reasons, and you don't need to know them." I stated bluntly, looking him up and down, trying to take in everything I could that would help me play my part. Kaiber smirked, I rose a brow.

“How's it feel to have a cock between your legs for once." He said. My eyes went wide, did he really just say that? Was he trying to bait me out? My shoulders hunched up and my fists balled up again. I stepped up to him, nose to nose and smirked back.

“Least I'll have the balls to use it," I replied. He actually seemed a little taken aback by that. I was an assassin, a female one to, I was used to shit like this, head games, back and forth, digging for a nerve to hit.

“Oh I think they'll be using the more satisfying end of you," Kaiber jabbed with a grin. I spotted something in his eyes that made my skin crawl a little, but I was not going to back down.

“I'm not a whore like you sadly" that finally got a notable reaction, I felt the point of a dagger press against my lower stomach. His grin turned cold. He had baited me. Pointedly, he pressed the dagger point firm against me, letting the blade draw a drop of blood.

“Why. Are. You. Doing. This?" he asked again. I weighed my chances, we had spared before, back in Dragonholme. He had landed a blow or two on me, but I landed plenty more than two on him. Would he really stick me though? I let out a breath and gave up. I was cornered.

“So you can be safe and with your family." I replied. He pressed the dagger against me more, drawing the point upward, to my lowest rig.

“Why!?" he hissed. I hissed back and shoved him away, tripping him up and putting him in a sprawled mess atop various sacks of supplies.

“Why does it matter? You get to be with your mother and I'm taking all the risks! Why do you care?" I snapped. Kaiber pulled himself up into a sitting position, looking up at me as I fumed down at him. I felt the boat lurch beneath me, finally setting sail it seemed.

“Why do you?" Kaiber asked back. I heaved, breathing heavy, my legs felt weak, I knew the answer. I just did not want to say it. I did not want to bring back those painful memories. I slumped, my shoulders and posture going slack.

“Because you still have a family." I said sullenly. Closing my eyes and trying to quell back memories of my younger brother Mahiel. Kaiber went quiet, his eyes falling. I shook my head, still fuming, still standing over him.

“So just stop fighting!" I spat. Snatching myself away ad turning around, taking a few deep breaths as I tried to calm myself down. Kaiber pulling himself up to his feet behind me. I kept my arms folded, trying not to cry, trying to hold back the tears. I hated being emotional, I blamed it all on this dumb charm, I could not help a sniffle or two.

“Look if you're going to go the nine yards with this, I should at least…" He trailed off and huffed. I half turned to look at him with a raised brow, sniffling one last time. He shrugged.

“I can help, I guess. Somehow. Show you, er, some, stuff?" he sort of awkwardly stammered and stuttered here and there, rubbing the back of his neck. His eyes downcast as he held out the dagger he had. I recognised it as my second dagger, my missing one.

“I'm sorry I bit you." Kaiber muttered. I took my dagger and an awkward silence fell over the room as the boat shifted and listed to and fro.

I sat down on a nearby crate and huffed after a good moment or twos thought. I motioned for him to sit across from me. He did so without question and we sat in silence a moment longer as I made a list of questions in my head, things I needed to make my disguise convincing.

“I'll need your clothes, all of them…" I eventually said, having to force myself not to shudder at the thought. Kaiber did not have much besides his cape that was of any notable importance. Heck, he wore a mish-mash of various garments, Black Church garbs, armour made by the Keep forge masters, furs to keep warm. It was an amalgamation on stuff. But that cape, I knew what he was going to say.

“You can have everything except my cloak. It was a gift from a friend and I don't trust you with It." he said flatly. I thought for a moment before letting out a breath and fidgeting with the charm around my neck.

“Then I need something similar, Emet will be suspicious if he sees me, you, either of us, without it." I replied, Kaiber nodded, looking around the room.

“It's made of canvas mostly, any one of these sacks will do." He said. I waved it off for now, Kaiber had nothing else, possession wise that would be necessary for me to replicate. It was all about behaviour, mannerisms, posture and attitude. I had never done method acting, or anything like that, I was going to have to learn fast. I sat there in thought, when Kaiber said something that I had completely overlooked.

“You know I'm a slave, right?" he said quietly. I looked up at him sharply. I blinked several times as that sunk in. I would be expected to behave as he would. Like a slave. Oh my spine shivered like nothing else as that realisation sunk in. Then it dawned on me, I'd be trekking through not only Gillian, but Mayoran to, all by myself if things went well. Sure I'd leave Emet a panicked mess, but Sva'll would eventually tell him what was going on.

I let out a huff and let my head dip into my scaled hands.

“Fuck…"

Chapter Twelve: Seperation

I was beginning to resent this plan of mine. I was already way out of my comfort zone, but now it was getting absurd. Just looking like Kaiber was enough to make my skin crawl, thankfully I wouldn't have to look like him all the time. I could switch back and forth between the Icarin illusion, and the Kaiber one. I just had to bide my time until Alt's goons picked up on me. Either that or I slipped by long enough to make it to E'cill Miear all by myself.

What followed was a good few hours of listening to Kaiber's, thorough, retelling of his life story, making mental notes on names, faces and everything else, just in case I ran into someone he knew. I was rather surprised that he was on a first name basis with one of the Princes of the Sovereignty. Hopefully I wouldn't make his acquaintance. It was getting on in the afternoon by now, we were still close to the shore, skirting up along it, to wear the crossing would be the shortest. I was just about to ask something, when the door creaked open and a familiar sooty black face popped into view. Digger. I stood upright immediately, scowling at him, watching as his ears went lazy and he grew flustered.

“Kaiber sir is so pretty looking…" he muttered. I could feel my face getting red from embarrassment and disgust. But Kaiber simply burst out laughing, well, chuckling at least. This only served to confuse the black vermian, who stepped into the room and then looked between me and Kaiber rapidly. His face growing more and more confused, and even scared to a point.

“Relax Digger, it's just an illusion, a trick. Remember? I told you we were going to play a big trick?" Kaiber said, calming Digger down some. I sat back down, and huffed, going back to my thoughts and the question I had been about to ask before the interruption.

“Bit of a halfwit he is huh" I remarked. I got particularly nasty scowls from both of them. At that moment the ship lurched to one side, throwing us all off balance. Kaiber found his footing quickly, I knew the look in his eye well, alertness.

“Is just the water yes"? Digger said. As he pulled himself up as well. The ship settled with a groan, a rumble from somewhere below told me all I needed to know.

“No, just a whale, probably got curious." I stated. Smirking at both Kaiber's and Diggers confused looks. I wasn't really in the mood to explain to them. So they did not both to ask, Kaiber instead sitting down again.

“He's not a halfwit. Belmont told me they found him on the steps leading up to the keep, head dashed open on the stones. He's still there, just, muddled up a bit." Kaiber said. to Diggers visible joy. The black lizard nodding with gusto.

“Yes yes! I was climbing the stairs, to see the big fort, then, 'crack!' then black…" he chimed in. tilting his head down a bit to show off the long jagged scar that ran from his brow to the back of his neck. I did not really care. My head was to full, to loud to devote anything to this little tale. The ship groaned again, Kaiber and Digger both flinching, it was a good reaction to have, we were in dangerous waters after all.

“We should get this going, before the shore gets too far away. Just make sure Emet doesn't see you." I said. Standing and slipping on my belt, which was now rather large, so I had to do some tinkering to get it to fit, stowing the Doppler charm I had in one of my many belt pouches, safe and sound. Kaiber nodded and stood as well, slumping off most of his clothes, save a light brigadier tunic and his little cape. Digger than took from his own knapsack some clothes he'd stashed away, handing them off to me with a smile.

“...be safe Scarlet." Kaiber said. Just before he slipped out the door, not looking back over his shoulder. I heard him whisper a thank you as well, but said nothing in response. I wanted to, but I couldn't think of anything appropriate to say. The ship groaned again as I began sifting through the clothes, picking out select garments to wear, and extras to stow away for when I made landfall and split off from Emet. The ship sayed a bit, causing me to sway with it, but I kept my footing. Going over the plan one last time in my head. Cross the Frostmoore sea, follow the coast down from the sulfur mountains, make landfall at St'Egilias, catch a trade caravan to Volga river, cross through Mayoran to the south valley and meet up with a captain to take us to E'cill Meiar, find Alt, and get answers. Remembering to ditch Emet along the way and not get caught by the Naga, or pirates, or get eaten by some monster. It was a far fetched plan, stupid and dangerous. By all rights I should have bailed long ago, but I was committed now. No more small plays, it was time for the big game stuff. No more shadowy stuff, no more running. I let out a long breath and paced for a bit, the ship groaning softly.

“Time to dance…" I muttered to myself. Reaching for the door, only to be thrown sideways as the ship lurched violently to its port side. I curled into a ball by instinct, as I was showered in unsecured cargo, barrels, furniture and more. Pain shot through my body as I was battered, there was no way it could have been a whale that time. Rocks perhaps? A shelf or sand bar. No, it was another ship. I could hear the footsteps on deck, rushed and quick, I could hear the timbers groan and scream from somewhere else.

With a growl, I tunneled my way out from under the debris, scrabbling to get back on my feet. Cursing whatever was going on. Pirates or some such most likely, raiders from the north, Greyson had warned us they might be an issue. Then I heard it, that familiar voice, sickening, sweet, hollow, like a snake. Larsson.

“Search the hold, I want her and the lizard found. Kill anyone else."his voice was muffled by the deck, but it was him alright. The bastard had tracked me down somehow. I heard footsteps rushing down into the hold, I snatched up my daggers ready for a fight. But where was Emet? He should have been blasting lightning around by now, surely he was not dead already. Had someone snuck aboard to dispatch him beforehand? To many questions and concerns, I hated that.

The first guy was some lanky fellow with cuts and scars all over his face. He shoved the door to the small storage room wide, pushing back a lot of the debris, but he'd had to have thrown his weight into it, so he was off balanced. I made my strike. I ducked out past him, my dagger cutting his gut open from one end to the other, He went down behind me, grabbing at his entrails as I now faced down a much bulkier thug. He made a lung for me, to grab me, I sidestepped easily, opened up the back end of his arm as he barreled past me. He howled out, clutching his arm as it began to weep blood. I grinned, being Kaiber had some advantages, I felt much more spry and I was a good foot and a half shorter, so it was far easier to keep balanced.

I watched, waiting for another attack, the thug before me made no solid move. Sensing something was off, I quickly jumped to the side, behind a nearby post. Sure enough, there the bastard was, Larsson. Only, he was not as I remembered. His left arm was now metal, ornate, plated, but I could see gears within turning and spinning.

“Pft...I really do loath having to get my hands dirty with you filth, honestly can you just give up and die already. Please, this place stinks." he sneered. I backed away as he closed in, the big fellow behind him, and two more following that. I readied myself for an uphill fight, possibly my last. It was a good plan we had, a stupid one, but good nonetheless. I gritted my teeth, raised my daggers and spat on the pompus fuck. Larsson scowled back, raising his metal arm. Then, in a flash, my vision turned red. I felt heat, unimaginable heat, and watched as a crackling bolt of lighting streamed past me. Striking Larssons outstretched metal arm.

I turned, stumbling away, clutching my face and gritting my teeth in pain. It was Emet, hidden away in the hold, had he been here the whole time, had he listened in on us? I wouldn't be surprised if he did, but dammit. He knew!

“Commendable effort dear Paladin. But alas, futile. Please die now." Larsson yelled. His voice straining over the thunderous noise of lightning. I turned back to see him just standing there, palm outstretched, unaffected, stood in defiance as the lightning assaulted his arm relentlessly.

“To the nigh with you, wretch"! Emet spat. I looked to him one more time. He nodded to me and I watched as his spare hand raised toward the heavens. I knew what was coming.

In that one moment, I smiled as I saw Larssons face twist into that realisation of what was about to happen. That shocked look was so sweet to me. I relished it, until the searing bolt of lightning fell from the heavens and I was tossed into the cold waters, amidst a shower of fire, splinters and screams.

Content.