The Third Eye Initiative

by J. J. Newman

  “I have nothing to say to you,” She said angrily

  “Listen. Just let me in and hear me out. When I’m done, I’ll leave.”

  Tsaeris stood in front of the door, waiting silently for a response. After a few moments the door swung open. He entered and closed the door. Cyra walked to the bed and sat down, her tear streaked face looking at him accusingly.

  “Can I sit?” Tsaeris asked.

  “No,” Cyra snapped.

  “Fair enough,” Tsaeris replied. “Listen. I’m an ass. I know it. But this isn’t entirely my fault, Cyra. Something like this was bound to happen.”

  “Not your fault?” She said with exasperation. “So it’s my fault?”

  “No. It’s both our faults. Cyra, I know it’s your job. But did you really think that would make it easier for me to accept you having sex with other people? Honestly, just consider that for a second.” Tsaeris met her gaze, hoping she would actually look at this objectively.

  “You knew this was my job right from the start,” Cyra replied.

  “I know. And I thought I could handle that. But, as me bringing that bitch here proves, I couldn’t. I know what I did hurt you, and I suppose that was why I did it. I wanted you to know what it was like. Of course, I wasn’t smart enough to actually talk to you about it first. When I become stupid, I commit to it hard.”

  “So what? I should just forgive you? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Yes. I have to forgive you every day for having sex with other people .Yes, it’s your job. But I’m not a whore, Cyra. I can’t relate to that. To me, it’s still someone I like having sex with other people, job or no job.” For the first time all day, Tsaeris felt he was approaching something with tact.

  “I do this so I can eat and have somewhere to live, Tsaeris. Am I supposed to go homeless and hungry because you don’t like what I do?” Cyra asked.

  “No. I’m not saying that. I’m saying that you should look at this from my perspective for once. How you felt today when you found out about Niivi? That’s how I feel every day.” He knew that he was laying it on a bit thick. He’s wasn’t sure that her having sex with other people actually hurt him. Maybe it was a territorial thing. Either way, it still bugged him.

  “Alright. I get it. That doesn’t change anything, Tsaeris. All it proves is how impossible this relationship is. I can’t stop working, and I can’t accept you being with other people. If that makes me unreasonable, then so be it. It’s how I feel.”

  “What if I could find you other work? Non-whore work?” Tsaeris asked.

  “You think I haven’t tried to find other work?” she asked with a derisive snort.

  “But what if I could?” Tsaeris repeated.

  “I don’t know. I’m not sure you could,” Cyra replied, doubtfully.

  “Can I at least try?” he pleaded.

  Cyra was silent for a long time, considering. He was surprised at how easily he had seemingly gotten through to her. It was her nature, he supposed. Easily moved from one extreme to the other. He hoped this wasn’t going to be a big mistake.

  “Fine. You can try, but I make no promises.” Cyra said finally.

  “That’s good enough for me.”

  “Alright. Now I want to be alone, Tsaeris. Please leave.”

  Tsaeris left, feeling both good about how things had worked out, and concerned. But he had a plan now, and he was going to see it through.

  ***

  Back at the Tarnished Tankard, Tsaeris found Elias alone at a table. He sat down opposite him, sliding a tankard of ale to Elias.

  “Hey, Boss. I need a favor. You know that girl Cyra? Well...” Tsaeris began, but stopped when he saw how dangerously Elias was glaring at him. What was his problem? Then Tsaeris remembered his last encounter with Elias. When he disobeyed the order and told him to piss off. He wondered if it was too late to get up and walk away from the table.

  “You need a favor?” Elias asked quietly.

  “It can wait until later. Actually, I’m pretty tired. Might just get some sleep,” Tsaeris began to stand up.

  “Sit down,” Elias said. Tsaeris cringed, and did as he was told.

  “You disrespected and disobeyed your mentor, Tsaeris. I am well within my rights to kill you right now.” Elias stared hard at Tsaeris, letting those words sink in.

  “Elias...I’m sorry, alright. I had a bad day, and you obviously did too.” Tsaeris was scared that the man would make good on his threat.

  “That’s no excuse, Tsaeris.”

  “I just wanted to sit with you and Tyrier, who I thought were my friends. You made me feel like shit about it, and told me to go sit somewhere else. I know I was out of line, but you can’t really blame me.”

  Elias stared at him. Tsaeris braced himself, wondering if he was about to have to fight for his life. He hoped not. He didn’t like his chances in that fight.

  “You’re right. I was rude, and I shouldn’t have taken my anger out on you,” Elias said, to Tsaeris’ utter shock. Tsaeris was on fire tonight. He seemed to be able to reason with everybody all of a sudden.

  “But,” Elias began, and Tsaeris flinched, “there are other people in The Third Eye Initiative who would have killed you on the spot for that kind of behavior. Regardless of your excuse. I’m being lenient. But I assure you, if this kind of news made its way to the boss, there would be no helping you?”

  “The boss? Aren’t you the boss?” Tsaeris said.

  “Don’t be an idiot, Tsaeris. I’m going to give you a pass this time, but consider this a onetime gesture. And I only extend it to you because I was being an ass myself.”

  “I appreciate it, Elias. I won’t let it happen again,” Tsaeris felt like he was finally able to breathe.

  “What happened to you today anyway?” Elias asked.

  Tsaeris took a few minutes to fill Elias in on the details of his day. He told him of his fight with Cyra, and his encounter with the big Purity Union man who had almost killed Tsaeris before.

  “Wait a second. You ran into him again? And he looked like he was going to attack you?” Elias asked.

  “Yeah. Good thing the watch showed up, or my idiot mouth would have gotten me killed.”

  “The same man came for you twice?” Elias asked.

  “Looks that way.”

  “What are the odds of that happening, in a place this big?” Elias asked, frowning. “If that man is attacking random elves, there’s no way he would come for you twice. Maybe you’re being targeted by the Union for some reason.”

  “Why the hell would they target me?” Tsaeris asked. “You know what I think? I think it started as a random attack, but now he’s targeting me because I didn’t die. Maybe he doesn’t like failure. It doesn’t mean the Purity Union itself is targeting me.”

  “That’s a good point. You’re just an elf, with no political standing. There’s no real advantage for the Union to kill you specifically. You would be nothing more than just another dead elf.” Elias took another pull of his ale.

  “Even so. That guy is dangerous. I don’t much like the thought of him hunting me,” Tsaeris said.

  “We’ll figure something out. For now, just try not to wander the streets alone. And we’ll have to be careful when we go out on missions. It will be risky, but we’ll be careful. We can’t stop your training just because of this idiot.”

  “Makes sense to me. So, Elias. About that favor?” Tsaeris asked changing the subject.

  “What is it?”

  “That girl, Cyra. What are the odds of getting her a job at one of the other Third Eye owned businesses? So that she won’t have to whore any more. Not as a member of The Initiative, obviously. Just a normal employee.”

  “Listen. We have more important things to worry about than finding a job for your whore girlfriend,” Elias retorted.

  “I know,” Tsaeris said softly, knowing better than to push the issue too hard. Especially after the day they both had. He figured he would try again later.

  “T
ell you what,” Elias said, sighing. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Remember when you said the same thing about getting me information on Ambassador Bel?” Tsaeris reminded him.

  “Yes. And I did see what I could do. It was nothing.”

  “I see,” Tsaeris said. Then decided another change of subject was in order. “So what’s going on with the Purity Union thing? We going to take them out?”

  “No. We’re not going to leave them alone. We’re not going to touch them again,” Elias replied.

  “You have got to be kidding me. Why the hell are we backing off?” Tsaeris asked, sharper than he had intended.

  “Because I said so,” Elias said, glaring. “The Union is not our problem anymore.”

  “Then whose problem are they?” Tsaeris asked.

  “Forget it, Tsaeris,” Elias said in a tone decisively ending the discussion.

  Tsaeris sighed again, dropping it. He hated the fact that the Third Eye Initiative was backing away from this Union thing. He thought that they stopped people like that. Then he realized, for what must be the hundredth time, that he still had no idea what the Third Eye Initiative was all about.

  “So. Elias. Did you know that they call you ‘Dark Man’ at the safe house?” Tsaeris said, giving Elias a good natured mocking grin.

  “Yeah?” Elias said, a slight grin stretching at the edge of his lips. “You should hear what they call you.”

  “Wait,” Tsaeris said, his grin turning into a frown. “ What do they call me?”

  Elias chuckled softly, and then got up from the table heading to the door.

  “Elias, seriously. What do they call me?” Tsaeris called after him.

  Elias disappeared out the door. Tsaeris watched him go, agonizing over the lack of an answer. After it was clear that Elias was not coming back, Tsaeris frowned and stared into his tankard.

  “What the hell do they call me?”

  Chapter Twenty Four

  The Illusion of Power

  The Purity Union issue was officially closed as far as the Third Eye Initiative was concerned. Those issues, as well as a fairly serious injury, had put Tsaeris’ training at a standstill, but Tsaeris was finally ready to continue.

  Things were going well lately for Tsaeris. Elias had found Cyra work at a book store owned by the Third Eye Initiative. Their relationship was as healthy as it had ever been. Meaning that they only fought once or twice a week and almost never broke up.

  Niivi ignored Tsaeris for the most part after their unpleasant exchange at the brothel. She did take time to give him a mocking smile here and there, and to talk to him like a little boy. He hated it, but he figured he could live with it. His plan was to ignore her as well, and not react to her little jabs. Tsaeris was pleased to see how much his indifference was irritating her.

  Training mostly involved missions with Elias. These ranged from small things like demanding protection money from certain businesses, to bigger things like arson. Elias made it clear that this was not his usual work, but he felt that Tsaeris needed to learn these things first hand. Tsaeris thought it was all a bit silly. He already knew how to set things on fire. What he wanted to know was the reason.

  On the surface, it seemed more and more like the Third Eye Initiative was just another crime organization, albeit a very large one. Tsaeris knew there was a lot more to it and those small crimes were only a part of a much larger picture. Money was a big part of it, obviously. Control was another.

  Yet none of that spoke to the purpose. This same group had foiled an assassination attempt on Ambassador Bel. Had almost taken a stand against the Purity Union. No thieves’ guild or drug cartel would have done that. The Third Eye Initiative seemed full of contradiction.

  Winter passed and spring chased the powdery white cold away. Grey skies and falling snow were replaced with darker grey skies and falling rain. Heavy cloaks were put away in favor of longer, comfortable coats. Long coats were the style this year, starting in the Kingdom of Synar. Small as it was, Synar seemed to always dictate what was in fashion and The City followed suit. Tsaeris found it weird that hundreds decided what to wear, and then millions tripped over themselves trying to copy them.

  Tsaeris even had a coat of his own, given to him by Cyra as a gift. It was light brown and hung down to his ankles. It was not new, and had long stitches on the sides of the sleeve and a few large and slightly darker patches on the elbows and back. Despite the damaged, Tsaeris loved the way it looked on him, especially when worn open. He even felt that the patches and stitches gave the coat character. He wore it so often that other members of the Initiative seemed to identify him with it. It was also very useful for concealing all kinds of nasty items.

  Spring also meant that the annual Dwarven Arms Fair would soon arrive. As was always the case, the streets became gradually busier day by day as people from all over southern Arindine came to partake in the great arms fair. The arms fair was still a week or so away. As busy as it was now, Tsaeris knew it would get worse.

  Winter had taken its toll on The City beyond just the snow and cold. Unchallenged, Dormic had been voted into the Council. His first act of office was to push to have Captain Blorick removed from his position. The motion passed and the dwarf was stripped of rank and job. Captain Isaac now ran the watch in Market, and Blorick spent a lot of time drinking at the Tarnished Tankard.

  It was odd at first, as Blorick was not a member of the Initiative. Tsaeris had been there when Blorick first arrived and ordered a drink. Elias had told the dwarf to find another tavern, but Blorick told him that he had no friends or family and nowhere else to go. The dwarf had looked so sad and so defeated that Elias hadn’t the heart to turn him away. A few ground rules ensured that Blorick would retire to his rooms if there was private business happening in the tavern. Blorick was just happy to have a place where he was welcome.

  Tsaeris had not encountered the big Union man again. He hoped the man had just moved on. Attacks on elves in the streets seemed to have lessened in the last few weeks, ever since Dormic was elected in council.

  Tsaeris was on his way to the tavern, and walked past a construction site. From the shape of it, he assumed it must be another Chapel of the Light. Over the last two years more and more of these chapels were popping up around the city, especially in Market. The Paladins of Light were occasionally judgmental of non-human races, with some of the more zealous parishioners going so far as calling non-humans demon spawn. But the paladins preferred preaching to killing. It was almost more annoying, as far as Tsaeris was concerned.

  Paladin Commander Godfreid was also a member of the Council. Dormic would not find him a friend. Despite the Paladins’ stance on non-humans, Godfreid was a dwarf. Tsaeris guessed that racism must only be a small part of their religion, and they were more accepting than the Union. Elias told him that the racist doctrine was old and archaic, and the Paladins didn’t really follow it like their forefathers had.

  Tsaeris entered the tavern and ordered a drink. He sat at an empty table, waiting for Elias to arrive. He smoked his pipe to pass the time. He didn’t smoke very often, but he did enjoy the taste and smell. He blew out a thick cloud of bluish smoke, and watched as it expanded and finally faded in the light. He enjoyed the way the smoke looked even more than the taste and smell.

  Elias finally arrived, and walked over to Tsaeris. He was dressed in an expensive looking dark blue tunic and a long black coat. The sleeves of his coat were cuffed white. His short hair was as neat as always, as was his beard.

  “Are you taking me to the ball, handsome?” Tsaeris asked sardonically.

  “Get up. We have things to do,” Elias responded.

  Tsaeris gulped back his ale, and tapped the burning tobacco out of his pipe into a small tin tray on the table. He put the pipe into his pocket and stood up.

  “Do I need to change into something fancier? I don’t want everyone talking bad about you behind their lavish mustaches while we dance,” Tsaeris said.

  “Do I
really need to tell you that we’re not going to a ball? Or are you trying to be funny? It’s hard to tell because you’re not,” Elias said dryly.

  “So where are we going?” Tsaeris asked.

  “Don’t worry about it. And you’re dressed fine. You’re not supposed to look nice, you’re supposed to look dangerous. Wear your sword at your hip for now.”

  Tsaeris sighed, and removed his sword from his back and attached it to the belt at his hip. He hated wearing it on his hip, it always seemed to get in the way whenever he tried to sit down. As usual, Tsaeris wore his coat open, and was wearing a well-worn, dark green tunic underneath.

  The two men left the tavern, and walked down the street side by side, brown brick buildings walling them in on both sides. Elias kept their pace casual, and the two men talked quietly.

  “You’re only job is to stand behind me while I sit and make sure they can see your weapon. Your job is to look threatening, nothing more. Unless something happens. Then feel free to kill people. But nothing will happen, this is all about appearances.”

  “Stand behind you, look dangerous, kill people. Got it, boss,” Tsaeris replied.

  “For light’s sake, stop trying to be funny. What the hell is with you today?”

  “I’m in a good mood,” Tsaeris said, then turned his head to the side and spit. “Is that so weird?”

  “Just get it out of your system now.”

  Elias led Tsaeris to what the middle class folk called “Fancy Pants Avenue”, a section of market where the most lavish inns and taverns sat and the wealthiest of people lived. The houses were much larger here, and the stores and taverns didn’t seem to have signs. Those who could afford to go to these places knew where they were. Those who couldn't had no need to know.

  “I feel like I’m spending a fortune just walking through here,” Tsaeris quipped.

  “I know the feeling. If it weren’t so damn slippery, I bet the streets would be made of gold,” Elias observed.

  “I didn’t know that gold was slippery. It always seemed to stick so nicely to my fingers.”