by J. J. Newman
“His throat and chest are sore, but he seems fine otherwise. We got off lucky.”
Tsaeris nodded, and then rubbed his eye. His face was sooty, and a lot of that soot had made its way into his eye. He felt constant tears running down his cheek.
“It’s a shame. I liked the Tankard,” Tsaeris said, solemnly.
“We’ll have to spread the agents out among the other Third Eye taverns in the district for now,” Elias said.
Tsaeris nodded again, not really feeling like talking. His voice was hoarse and his throat burned.
The streets had emptied again, as citizens found their way back to their beds now that the spectacle was over. Richard and Raina stood with Aedrus, speaking quietly. The other agents and novices had disappeared, no doubt making their way to the safe house. Tsaeris signaled to Raina, who nodded. She escorted Aedrus away, taking him to the safe house as well. Richard followed, looking depressed and defeated. That inn had been a big part of the man.
“You two busy tonight?” Tyrier asked.
“Need help at the clinic?” Elias asked.
“Yeah. There a good dozen of those unconscious agents and novices. Will be easier to treat them with a few extra hands.”
Tsaeris nodded his agreement, and he, Elias and Tyrier began the walk to the clinic. The walk was quiet, and the three men spoke little. Tsaeris spoke the least, as talking was just too painful and uncomfortable. Though he did cough occasionally.
About half way to the clinic, they saw the wagon. It was stopped next to one of the street lanterns. The three men looked at each other. Why would the wagon have stopped? Tsaeris had a bad feeling about this.
The first thing they noticed as they approached the wagon was the bodies of the Fire Brigade members. The four horses that had pulled the wagon were also dead. It was impossible to tell how they died from this distance, but the slick wet blood illuminated by the lantern light hinted at the violent nature of the deaths.
Tsaeris drew a dagger, and the other two men drew their swords. On silent feet, they reached the wagon and looked inside. Thick sticky blood was dripping from the back of the wagon onto the street. Tsaeris could see the rage ignite behind Elias’ eyes. Tyrier gritted his teeth and climbed into the back of the wagon. After a few moments he climbed back out.
“Throats slit, all of them. They were unconscious when it happened. Eight novices and four agents.”
Tsaeris cursed. Moments after stupidly allowing the killer easy access to the novices in the tavern, they left them alone, protected only by members of the fire brigade. They were becoming careless and it was costing lives. Tsaeris could see the sentiment reflected in the faces of his companions.
“There’s a sewer nearby. We have to take the bodies away and clean this scene. Best we keep this away from the watch and the people,” Elias said.
“So not only are we as good as throwing our novices at this killer, now we’re cleaning up after him as well. We’re making his life pretty damn easy,” Tsaeris said bitterly.
“Not for long. I intend to make his life very hard, very soon,” Elias said coldly
The men took the bodies of the fire brigade first and threw them with a loud splash into the dark sewers below. Next they began cutting up the horses. They seemed to want to leave the worst of it for last, none of them too enthusiastic to handle the bodies of their dead novices and brother agents.
The wagon was too heavy for the men to move, so they took the bodies one by one and dropped them down the sewer. The entire job took over an hour. There was no way to clean the blood or remove the wagon, but at least the bodies would be gone. It would have been too risky to leave bodies of Third Eye Initiative just lying around. A sign of weakness like that could prove dangerous if word reached the thieves guilds and other unsavory organizations that feared the Initiative.
Tsaeris, Elias and Tyrier stood staring at the wagon for a few moments after the work was done, catching their breath after the grisly task. Tsaeris in particular was exhausted, and had contributed the least to the job. He was already weak enough from the smoke.
Tsaeris was about to suggest that they leave when he suddenly felt his throat close up. A wire tightened around his neck, two strong hands looping it painfully around his throat. He tried to struggle but was forced to his knees. While he struggled, he could see that Elias and Tyrier were also on their knees, hands to their neck. Shadowy figures stood behind them.
Tsaeris could feel blood dripping down his neck and chest as the wire cut into his flesh. His eye bulged and felt like it would pop out of his head any moment now. He cursed silently. He had escaped one death this night only to find another right around the corner.
He would soon be dead, as would Tyrier and Elias. Without those two he wondered what would become of the Initiative. Perhaps that was the whole idea.
Without a doubt, he knew their enemy was determined not only to cripple their novices, but to destroy the entire Initiative. Without Elias, it might very well succeed.
Tsaeris fought the unconsciousness as long as he could. Not while he had one breath left would he allow this to happen. He would have chuckled then, if he could. It was so out of character for him. Nobility, heroism. None of it had ever meant anything to him. Yet, he was going to die anyway. Why make it easy on them?
His decision was made. He wasn’t sure if it would save his friends, or kill them, but it was a chance at least. He closed his eye, reached one hand into his coat and removed the pin from the last explosive hidden inside his coat.
Chapter Thirty Four
The Elites
Tsaeris kept his eye closed, and didn’t even bother trying to struggle anymore. His neck was still bleeding, and breathing was impossible. Soon. It would all be over soon. When he felt the explosive go off, he felt an instant of terror, despite his resolve. A whoosh of flame erupted from his chest. His attacker let go instantly, startled by the sudden bout of flames exploding from his victim.
A fire bomb! The last device had been a fire bomb! Tsaeris fell face first to the ground, his hair singed, and his face burned. Tsaeris enjoyed explosions, and fire, and built all of his devices himself. So naturally, he wore clothing coated in flame retardant oils. He was alive and free. His gambit had paid off. Of course it had been a fire bomb. That’s why he still had it. It would have been useless in bringing down the wall of the inn.
He rolled onto his back, and was happy to see that his little fire display had startled not only his attacker, by Tyrier’s as well. The big man wasted no time. With the attackers grip loosened around the wire, the powerful man spun around and lifted his would be killer high into the air, and threw him into the man attacking Elias. The two men fell to the ground, pulling Elias down with them.
Tsaeris sat up, gasping in large gulps of life sustaining air. His attacker had turned to face the angry giant barreling down on him. Tsaeris frowned. The man had a knife in his hand, and was readying it to throw at Tyrier. The big man would not close the distance before the knife left the hand.
Tsaeris was still on the ground, but was close to his attacker. Before he could let loose the knife, Tsaeris kicked his feet out from beneath him. The man fell onto his back. As the man hit the cobblestone street, Tsaeris raised his heel above the man’s head, and brought it down hard into the man’s throat, crushing his windpipe. The man clutched frantically at his neck, but it was no use. He was dead already, even if he refused to accept it.
Tyrier nodded to Tsaeris, then turned to face three men still on the ground. Elias rose to his feet. The other two did not. Elias wiped the blood from his dagger onto the shirt of one of the men, and then sheathed it. There was rage in the man’s eyes.
“A trap. And we walked into it like idiots,” Elias said, his voice hoarse.
“We should have kept one of them alive,” Tyrier said. He removed some bandages from his pouch, and a salve. He began treating the wounds on their necks.
“No need. They made a mistake this time,” Elias replied.
�
��What mistake?” Tsaeris asked, on his feet now.
“They didn’t kill us.”
“I noticed. You’re welcome, by the way,” Tsaeris said.
“I still think we should have kept one alive,” Tyrier repeated. Elias’ neck was treated, and he moved onto Tsaeris.
“They told us everything we needed to know,” Elias replied.
“How so?” Tyrier asked.
Elias didn’t respond, but instead walked over to one of the corpses. He removed his knife and cut open the front of the dead man’s shirt. There was something hanging around his neck. Elias cut the string, and pulled it loose. He walked back to where Tyrier and Tsaeris waited, and held it up. On the end of the string was a brass ring.
“No. It couldn’t be...” Tyrier began.
“Of course it is,” Elias said sharply.
“Come on, Elias. Brass rings can be bought from any jewelry peddler.”
“Explain how they know so much about us, then? They know who our novices are, they knew about the Tankard. Do you really think it’s a coincidence that they have brass rings? Check them. I bet they all have one,” Elias said.
Tyrier shook his head, and did just that. After a moment, he returned, a heavy frown on his face.
“It still doesn’t mean...?”
“Don’t be naive, Tyrier,” Elias shot back.
“I feel like I’m missing a large part of this conversation,” Tsaeris said. “What the hell does the brass ring mean?” Both men gave him a look that said, in no uncertain terms, to shut his mouth. “Oh, come on. I’m part of this. Don’t shut me out now.”
“It doesn’t make any sense, Elias,” Tyrier said, ignoring Tsaeris. “It’s gotta be a trick.”
“It’s not a trick. It’s exactly what it looks like,” Elias replied.
“Then why, Elias? Tell me that?”
“I don’t bloody know!” Elias said angrily. “I never trusted them. I always knew something like this could happen.”
“Do you have anything for my burns, Doc? They hurt pretty damn bad,” Tsaeris said.
Tyrier reached into his pocket, and tossed Tsaeris a small vial.
“Put this on the burns,” Tyrier said.
“How bad’s the damage?” Tsaeris asked.
“Not bad. The burns are minor. You’ll be fine. Good call on the flame resistant clothing.”
“Thanks. I blow myself up a lot at my lab,” Tsaeris said. Elias turned to face Tsaeris. “Yeah, don’t come downstairs, Elias.”
Elias shook his head slowly, then began to chuckle. The chuckle quickly became a laugh, and Tyrier’s booming guffaw joined in. Tsaeris could not help himself, and started laughing as well. He knew nothing really funny had happened, but after such a bad night, with the fire and almost being murdered, the men were suddenly giddy.
After a few moments of what must have sounded, and likely was, insane laughter, the chuckles receded, and the men stood in silence once again.
“Should we clear these bodies as well?” Tsaeris asked, after a few moments had passed.
“No, leave them. At the very least, it will send a message,” Elias replied.
“To who, Elias?” Tsaeris asked.
Elias stared at him for a moment, and then glanced at Tyrier. Tyrier shrugged, and Elias let out a heavy sigh.
“I don’t want to talk here.”
“The clinic is nearby,” Tyrier reminded.
“Good call. Let’s go,” Elias said,
The men walked in silence. They kept their senses alert, not wanting to be taken by surprise again if another attack was incoming. Tsaeris was shocked that he was even still alive. He had always been lucky, but tonight he had pushed that luck to a whole new level. Twice he had escaped what seemed a certain death. Was it really luck, he asked himself suddenly. He had figured out how to escape the fire. And it was his idea with the explosive device that had saved him and the others. He was always so quick to credit everything to his luck, but in these cases it was resourcefulness and his quick thinking that had saved him. Even the fact that the explosive device had been a fire bomb was not really a matter of luck. Had he thought about it, he would have known. It was the only fire bomb he had on him, and of course he didn’t use it during the fire. He decided that it was his training that had saved him. Luck had nothing to do with it.
The men reached the clinic, and Tyrier lead them inside. Elias and Tsaeris pulled up chairs to Tyrier’s desk in his office, while the Doctor poured them all a glass of whiskey. Tsaeris took a sip, and noticed that it burned even more than usual. It probably had to do with the fact that his throat had been twice damaged this night, by smoke and wire. Tsaeris shrugged and took another sip. Elias gave him a confused look, and Tsaeris just shrugged again.
“Great, the boy is having silent conversations with himself. He’s even adding body language,” Elias said.
“Seriously, Elias?” Tsaeris asked.
“Sorry. Temper is wound tight,” Elias replied.
Tyrier took his seat, and stared at Tsaeris and Elias. He lifted his glass. Tsaeris and Elias lifted theirs as well, and the three men tapped the glasses against each other in a silent toast to their survival.
“So, are you going to tell me about those rings?” Tsaeris asked, after a sip from his glass.
Elias sat silent for a time, his face reflective. Tsaeris knew that Elias was weighing the consequences of telling him. The contemplation went on for what seemed a long while, then Elias finally spoke.
“There’s a secret sect of the Third Eye Initiative. Only a few of us even know they exist. We call them The Elites,” Elias said.
“Are you telling me that these guys were current Third Eye members?” Tsaeris asked. It had always been a distinct possibility that their enemy was a member of the organization, a traitor, but Tsaeris had always been secretly hoping that it would turn out to be a rogue member. Somebody who was no longer with the Initiative.
“Not exactly. The Elites are not regular agents.”
“Then what are they?”
“They carry out...special missions. The dirty but necessary kind. The kind that no regular agent would be able to bring themselves to do. An Elite needs to be a special kind of person. Somebody who can abandon all scruples when needed,” Elias said.
“Isn’t it kind of risky to carry around the brass rings? If they’re supposed to be so secret, then why have a badge of office?” Tsaeris asked.
“No agent outside this room even knows that they exist. A brass ring isn’t exactly an uncommon thing for a person to have. If you had no idea that the Elites existed, then you would never even notice the rings if you happened to see one.”
“Why would these Elites attack the rest of the Third Eye Initiative? I mean, they’re one of us, aren’t they?” Tsaeris asked.
“I don’t know, Tsaeris. I really don’t.”
“What else can you tell me?” Tsaeris pressed.
“I can only tell you that they are dangerous, well trained, and that if they’ve turned on us, things are going to get bad. Very bad.”
“Well, we’ll just have to kill them first, won’t we? Before they can kill anyone else,” Tsaeris said.
Neither Elias nor Tyrier responded. The looked at each other gravely. Tsaeris found it irritating. They knew who their enemy was now. They could end this.
“What’s the problem? Just grab a list of Elite members, and we’ll kill them. Shouldn’t be too hard.”
Again, Tsaeris was met by that infuriating silence. What was going on here? What were they keeping from him? Tsaeris frowned.
“You’re Elias. You’re our leader. You have to know who they are. Right?” Tsaeris asked,
“It’s not that simple,” Elias replied.
“What do you mean? Of course it is.”
“Like I said, they are a secret sect of the Initiative. I have no idea who they are. I only know that they do exist,” Elias said.
“What the hell are you talking about? How could you not know?” Tsaeris was
baffled. Elias ran everything. He dictated priority missions. He was the keeper of the Third Eye knowledge. Nothing happened in the Initiative that he did not know about, or have a hand in.
“I’m not privy to the information, Tsaeris.” Elias said again.
“But you’re our leader, “ Tsaeris said again.
“Are you deaf, boy? The Elites don’t answer to me!” Elias said, more angrily this time.
“If they don’t answer to you, then who the hell do they answer to?”
A conflicted expression came over Elias’ face. He shifted uncomfortable in his chair. Tsaeris had never seen him like this. Tsaeris waited patiently, knowing that if he tried to sway Elias at this moment, then the man would close himself up and Tsaeris would never get the answer. Elias looked at Tyrier, who was shaking his head slowly.
“The boy is just an agent, Elias. Don’t do it. Don’t put this on him. We don’t know the consequences,” Tyrier cautioned.
“Elias, tell me. I’m in this deep. You can’t keep things from me now,” Tsaeris pleaded.
“There would be no turning back from this, brother. The boy does not need to know. We don’t have the right to tell him. This will go badly,” Tyrier almost sounded scared. Suddenly, Tsaeris wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
Elias stared at his hands for a moment, and then looked up to meet his brother’s eyes. The two stared hard at each other for a few moments. Tsaeris held his breathe. Suddenly Tyrier looked down at the table, an almost sad and regretful expression on his face. Elias turned to face Tsaeris, his eyes hard.
“The Elites answer to he who does not exist. He who was spawned by the corruption and evil of this city. His true nature is both righteous and terrible, and no myth has ever done him justice.”
Tsaeris swallowed hard. Elias spoke in an almost reverent tone, as if reciting a passage from some kind of holy book. Yet it was a reverence tinged in fear. It was unsettling. Tsaeris knew what was coming, and would not have believed it had he not seen his mentor in this state.