II
Crimson Liber, the Seventh City of the United City-States of Sutherland
Four days’ gallop to the southwest of the Twelfth City of Northern Perscilla lay the Seventh City of Crimson Liber. The city was governed by Cassanoah Bell Schteinz, a man mockingly referred to by the rulers of the other city-states as “the Bat.”
On the third story of a tavern in the center of the city called the Eyes of Medeus, in a corner room that usually went unused, sat a group of figures all dressed in black at a round table. Each of them wore a black mask that concealed their face, creating an unsettling atmosphere.
“It’s been a long time now since we lost touch with Hilma. He’s blown it, like as not...” The speaker was a man whose enormous size belied his advanced age.
“I warned him a thousand times,” spat another man with a bolt of lightning painted over the right eye of his mask. His name was Nefer. “This is what happens when he doesn’t listen.”
“Hilma was a particularly talented assassin, even among the Asura. I suppose he was confident.”
“That’s hardly worth mentioning if this is the result,” said Krishna, the woman sitting next to Nefer, with a snort of laughter. The left eye of her mask was adorned by a stunning butterfly in dazzling colors.
“No hope of getting Felix to act, then?” said the giant man. Nefer shook his head.
“That one abhors his noble Asuran blood. He’s never going to work with us. Even you couldn’t change his mind if you went to him yourself, Elder.”
The elder, stroking his white beard that protruded from the bottom of his mask, let out a small sigh. “Felix was most beloved by the Asura. Such a pity...”
“If you’re that eager to make him listen to you, why not take a hostage?” suggested Krishna. “I believe he has a sister called Luna, doesn’t he?”
“Don’t even go there,” Nefer said with a pained smile.
“Why? It’s not a bad move.”
“When he refused our invitation, I responded just as Krishna did now. Now, how do you think he responded?”
“I’ve no idea. What did he say?”
“He said if we laid a finger on any of his friends or family, he’d murder every last one of us.”
“Murder all of us...?” A cruel smile played around Krishna’s lips. “How very amusing. Of course, if he believes he can pull it off, he is more than welcome to try.” The other Asuras expressed their ardent agreement. The debate over Felix continued, growing more heated, until at last they came to the idea of eliminating Felix for good.
At this, Nefer held up his hands. “I’m out. Anyone who wants to do him in can be my guest.”
“Does that mean you’re giving in to his threat, then?”
“Let me ask you this. Do you think if you all took Felix on together, you could kill him?”
Krishna chuckled. “That’s a terrible joke.”
“That’s enough from both of you!” The elder banged his fist down. There was a resounding crack, and the table gave way. “Squabbling among ourselves does us no good! I will judge when the time is right to deal with Felix. What I will not stand for is any hasty action.”
“I beg your pardon, Elder,” Krishna said, bowing low. When Nefer only shrugged without a shred of repentance, she rose, overcome by fury, but the elder raised a hand to stop her.
“In any case, Hilma lost to the Deep Folk girl. As Nefer assessed, she is far more skilled than any of the Deep Folk we have slain in the past, despite her youth. I don’t need to tell you that if we are to honor the ancient contract, we must exterminate every last offshoot of the Deep Folk. From here on, you’re not to fight her alone.”
The others all nodded dutifully. Just then, there was a creak from the staircase and the sound of footsteps. A ripple of shock went around the room. The footsteps came to a halt in front of the door, which was then thrown wide open.
“I thought I heard a terrific bang from— Hey! How come the table’s broken?!”
The tavern keeper cast his eyes around the room, looking utterly bewildered.
The Asura, who should have been at the table, were gone as though they had never been there to begin with.
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