Industry & Intrigue

by Ryan McCall

  “As I knew he would. Egotistical monarchs are easy to predict,” scoffed Varko.

  “King Cyrus agreed to send an envoy to meet with Emperor Lawrence, but Kamura discovered something else. He copied notes from one of the Galrian high commanders.”

  She pointed to the bottom portion of the telegram with her clawed finger and her father’s eyes quickly translated the coded message.

  He laughed heartily. “King Cyrus is bolder than I gave him credit for. His bodes well, if the Galrians go through with this, there will be war and it will not end quickly.”

  Atira smiled, she was glad to see her father in such a good mood. His long plans were finally coming to fruition and in time they would both soon bask in the glory of the Endless.

  “What about the books Senna retrieved? Were they of use?”

  “I studied them well, father. Most of them did not tell us anything we did not already know. However there was one that gave details to an item in the Crean Valley, buried amongst the bones of the dragons.” She walked over to the pile of books on the nearby table and picked up top one. She pulled open the page she had marked and showed him.

  “Excellent. That is a vital piece. I wonder how a first year university student gained access to such a book?” he mused.

  “Would you like me to pay him a visit?” she asked. She had been growing restless here in Alkos and was eager for action.

  “No,” he answered. “Senna said he has already warded his apartment. Clearly he has mage friends. With Feyton dead we no longer have any connections to Warded Spirals, and that’s how I want things to remain. No point in attracting unwanted attention to ourselves. For now we must focus on the war and obtaining this item. Senna will focus on observing the members of the Alkon government.”

  He closed the book and put it back down. “Atira, I need you to travel to the excavation site at Crean and retrieve the item for me.”

  She was glad to finally have a task to carry out. “Of course father. But how do you know it has not already been discovered?”

  “I have been searching for items like this my whole life. Believe me, if it had been found I would already know. It’s a valuable site and thieves have tried to take objects from there before. Take a contingent of our soldiers with you. Falco as well.”

  “I can handle it myself,” she said, defensively.

  “Of course you can, my dear tiger,” he said, using his pet name for her. “But Crean is well-guarded. Falco will have your back and follow your every command as if they came from my lips.”

  Falco Kohl was a member of the cult who had been badly injured years ago. Her father had healed him, but at a cost. Several of Falco’s organs had to be replaced with mechanics in order to keep him alive. He never spoke, his throat was beyond repair. He only made clicking and whirring sounds from behind the creepy death mask he wore.

  Atira never wanted to admit it to her father, but Falco disturbed her. He was unnatural in the way he moved. But he was absolutely loyal. She had never seen him hesitate when her father gave an order, no matter how distasteful.

  “Alright father, I will take him.”

  Varko walked over and opened a desk drawer. He pulled out an ancient piece of paper and handed it to her. “This document dates back to the post-Pardrax Empire period. It’s the only known picture of the object we require.” He handed it to her and she took it. She examined the drawing of the strange object.

  He embraced her and said, “May the Endless flow through you.”

  “May the Endless flow through you as well,” she replied. In spite of her upbringing and dedication to the cause, Atira had yet to know the presence of the Endless in her mind. Varko always told her she wasn’t ready. She wanted to feel it and he promised her that the time would soon come when she would.

  She left the apartment and arrived at the office building her father had rented. She gave her orders to the contingent of guards and they began making preparations to leave for Crean.

  She went upstairs and entered Falco’s room. He did not look up at her presence, he was focused on sharpening his scythe. She did not know why he had an obsession with personifying death. Perhaps because he had come so close to it. Or he believed he had brought something of death back when he had recovered. She couldn’t find out what he truly thought, since the accident had robbed him of his ability to talk.

  Her father had neither encouraged nor discouraged his behavior. So long as Falco carried out orders as an obedient soldier, Varko was happy to let him have whatever quirks he liked.

  “Varko has a mission for us,” she stated.

  Falco stopped sharpening and looked up at her. His eyes unemotional behind the death mask. He emitted a soft, whirring sound, stood up and nodded.

  He was incredibly tall, his head brushing the ceiling. The white mask contrasted with his black leather outfit. Before his accident he had been a large man, now he was a beast. One of his arms had been replaced and was made of hardened titanium, ending in thick, metallic fingers. Atira had seen him crush stone with those fingers. His clothing covered a chest that was a patchwork of flesh and metal. His heart and internal organs were guarded by a thick plate that could repel bullets from all but the most powerful guns.

  “We leave for the Crean Valley tonight. Be at the carriage at seven o’clock.”

  He nodded again and moved over to the shelf, putting his sharpening tool in its proper place. She left him to his devices, wanting to spend as little time alone with him as she could.

  She had to prepare herself. She walked to the small room that contained weapons and picked up what she needed, taking a Hanuus revolver.

  She could shoot well enough, but she preferred to fight hand-to-hand. The adrenaline and the pumping of blood whenever she engaged in melee combat, stirred something deep inside her. Her race was well-known for its martial abilities and none of the steppe tribes used firearms. It was proving to be their folly.

  The agorids had once been the most feared force in the world, but since the invention of gunpowder that fear lessened with every year that passed. There would come a day that the agorids would not be able to stand up to the technology of the nations around them and they would be swallowed up. For now they had the numbers and their blood magic to protect them.

  She picked up a sharp looking sword and tested its weight. She thrust it forward and back, then slashed up and down. It would do nicely, the guards at the excavation site would find themselves more than outmatched.

  Chapter 37

  Inissa sat in the office at the tojitsu academy. Next to her sat Barus and Mikono was behind her desk. Mikono coldly addressed her for her mistake. “Why is the priest still alive?” she asked.

  Inissa thought carefully before she replied. She had screwed up badly and didn’t want to anger the crime boss further. “He’s under constant watch guard. That damn Justice bitch is waiting for him to wake up and talk.”

  “That’s an excuse, not an answer,” said Mikono. “Why don’t you use that orc? What’s his name, Unar?”

  Inissa had hoped Mikono wouldn’t bring up her former enforcer. “I told you, he doesn’t involve himself in that line of work anymore. He wants to stick to smuggling. He said there’s more profit and less risk with sex slaves than with murder.”

  “At least he’s still keeping your brothels well stocked then.”

  The other part of Mikono’s business that Inissa operated was several whorehouses. Unar Grenisk was an orc who provided most of the girls to work in them. He had previously been an enforcer for a criminal outfit in Longhaven, but had fled after a spot of trouble. Inissa had employed him as a hitter, but when he earned enough money, he started up his own smuggling operation.

  “If you don’t clean this up Inissa, then you’ll be hanging for this I swear. Get into that hospital and finish him off. I don’t care if you use someone or do it yourself. If he wakes up and points the finger at you, there won’t be anything Barus or myself will be able to do for you. You understand?”r />
  “Yes,” she replied sharply. “The priest won’t live to the see the next sunset.”

  “You had best hope he doesn’t.” Mikono looked over at Barus. “As for you, why the fuck are Lorek’s men running rings around us? We’re the most powerful criminal operation in the city. Our dealers are getting shot on the streets and we can’t use our regular buildings for storage because the Stoneskins keep ripping us off. I want a message sent to Lorek. Do not fuck with Mikono.”

  “What do you want us to do boss?” asked Barus.

  The kitsune put her hands on the desk, they were clenched into fists. “I want you to arm a dozen men to the teeth and set up an ambush at the corner of Brade Avenue and Palmaic Street. My overpaid watch informant finally delivered something useful. A mob of the Stoneskins who were scooped up in a watch raid are being transported in a prison carriage. Hit the carriage with smoke grenades then take them all out.”

  Barus shifted in his chair. “Even the watch officers?” Inissa didn’t comment, this was a conversation she wanted no part of.

  Yes,” replied Mikono, her voice was loud and meaningful. “All of them. I want the whole fucking city to hear this message.”

  “When’s the transport due?” asked Barus.

  “The evening shift tonight. Have everything set up by five o’clock. They should reach the intersection not long after that.”

  Inissa was uncomfortable. Business had not been running smoothly, but hitting a watch transport didn’t sound like the best solution. She didn’t say anything to object, Mikono was determined. Barus looked like he was fine with it.

  No surprise there. He had always been a bloodthirsty sadist with little practicality. He would have no problems taking out watch officers, even if it caused further problems later.

  “Once you complete that I need you to go to the warehouse,” said Mikono. “We have another shipment coming in and I want you there to oversee it.”

  Barus nodded.

  “Boss, is that wise?” asked Inissa. “Pulling in a shipment at the same time we’re about to hit a carriage of watch officers.”

  “I think it’s the perfect time,” replied the kitsune. “They’ll be so busy shitting themselves, they won’t have time to pay attention to our shipment and we can safely get it moved. You have other concerns. Focus on your religious problem.”

  “Right,” Inissa stood up. “I’m going to take care of it now.”

  An hour later Inissa sat in her own office at her largest brothel, pondering how she could get to the priest. She could do it herself, but she needed something to distract the guards.

  I need something convincing, the guards need to be pulled away from the room long enough she thought.

  Suddenly it dawned on her. She had the best performers in the city right under this roof. She walked out of the room and down the hall to the main entrance. The sweet scent of perfume and oils wafted through the air. It helped put the customers in a better mood.

  Several girls were sitting on cushioned sofas. They were dressed in provocative outfits. It was the sight that greeted customers as they entered, the merchandise on display.

  Inissa saw Kaila and walked over to her. The girl was wearing a sparkling green corset that emphasized her bosom and only came to down to the top of her thighs. She had her hair tied up tight with metal bands.

  “Where’s Meldis?” asked Inissa.

  Kaila replied with a bored tone. “With one of her regulars. The one who likes costumes.”

  Inissa didn’t want to pull Meldis away from that customer, he was a big spender. “When’s she’s finished, I want to see both of you in my office. I have a special job for the two of you.”

  “If we’ve done something to displease you-”

  Inissa waved her hand. “Relax. It’s nothing like that.” Inissa could understand her concern though. Several of her clients had particular fetishes that most of the girls didn’t want to serve. Inissa usually made girls stake care of them as a punishment. “I need to talk to the two of you. I have an urgent matter to deal with. It requires a distraction. You and Meldis are my two best girls. Come to my office when she’s done.”

  Kaila relaxed. “Yes mistress,” she replied.

  Sometime later both girls entered her office. Meldis was in a short red dress that matched the color of her curly hair. Inissa looked them both in the eyes. “I need you both to be ready as soon as you can. This matter needs to be dealt with tonight.”

  They both nodded.

  “We're going to the Locluth Hospital. I must gain access to a room that is guarded by watch officers. The two of you will create a distraction that will draw them away from for a short time.

  “Like what?” asked Kaila.

  “The two of you are going to have a fight right in the middle of the busiest section of the hospital. I don’t care how you start, as long as it’s convincing. Throw each other around and make it as violent as you have to. The watch officers will be drawn there and arrest you.”

  “But-”

  “You’ll spend a night in lock-up at the most. I’ll bail you out and I’ll pay each of you three times the normal rate you get for servicing a customer.”

  Greed won out over concern and both girls nodded emphatically.

  “Good. Go and get changed into regular clothes, then meet me outside.” Both of them dashed away. Inissa fingered her knife, hidden under the folds of her robe. She wanted to make it look natural, smother him if she could. But if she had to, she’d slit his throat to be certain he died this time.

  The sun was down by the time the three women arrived at the hospital. The building was brightly lit, patients and visitors coming and going through the large doors. Inside the main corridor was a long line of people waiting to be treated.

  “Get in the line,” Inissa told the girls. “Give me about ten minutes then begin.” The two girls sat on the bench at the end of the queue. Thanks to Mikono’s contact, Inissa had the priest’s room location memorized.

  She passed through the entrance hall and into the hospital proper. She had to climb two sets of stairs and then many rooms until she came to the east side corridor. She took a look down the corridor. Fifty meters away, two watch officers were sitting outside a patient room. That was it. Inissa waited for her girls to do their part.

  Soon enough an alarm bell rang. A nurse came running up the opposite side end of the hall and said something to the officers. They darted away, leaving the nurse to stand guard at the room in their place. Inissa slowly made her way down the corridor, the nurse didn’t notice her.

  As she came within a few meters the nurse looked at her.

  “Excuse me,” said Inissa. “Is this where Isaac Gall is recovering?”

  The nurse blinked and slowly said, “Yes. Who are you?”

  “An acquaintance,” replied Inissa. She grabbed the nurse, who squealed and tried to get away. Inissa pulled around and locked her arm around the woman’s neck, putting pressure on her windpipe. The nurse kept struggling but as her oxygen ran out she stopped struggling and eventually passed out. Inissa dropped her to the floor and pulled her inside the room.

  The room was quiet. Inissa could see Isaac’s mop of black hair on the pillow. She moved quietly, not wanting to wake him. She reached the side of the bed and moved her hand slowly. She could see his face now. Cupping her hand, she moved towards his mouth and nose. He wouldn’t take long to suffocate.

  Her hand touched his face and the door burst open, a female watch sergeant stood there brandishing a revolver. She had it pointed right at Inissa’s head.

  “Don’t move,” said the officer. It was the same one who had led the raid on the church. Her aim was steady as a rock. Inissa’s eyes darted back and forth between the sergeant and Isaac.

  “Don’t even think about it,” said Brenna. “I prefer to take you alive, but don’t think I won’t hesitate to put a bullet in you. Take your hand away from him, now.”

  She moved her hand back. No point in digging herself int
o deeper into a hole.

  “Good.” Brenna moved towards her, the gun still pointed at her. “Turn around.”

  Inissa did as she was told and put her hands behind her. She felt the clasp of metal go around her wrists. There was no way she would get out of this one. Mikono was already angry, she would be furious when she heard about this.

  Chapter 38

  Reese tried to focus on his history professor, but his mind kept drifting back to his sister. She still hadn’t tried to contact him.

  Reese had come up with the story to tell, if anyone higher than the watch questioned him and Michael. It was a good that he had, with the Imperial Intelligence agents showing up. But once they had the details about the assassination the agents focus drifted away from the two of them. Reese wasn’t sure why, but he had seen something in their eyes that looked like fear.

  Imperial Intelligence was the most powerful and secretive arm of the government, Reese didn’t want to know what could scare two of their agents. But he didn’t have a choice, since it involved his long-lost sister. She had killed the Galrian minister, there was no doubt about that.

  And now with all this talk of war, Reese wondered if he had made the right decision. Should he protect her? Or should he confess everything? He was torn in two and no matter which way he looked at the choices looked wrong. Betray his only remaining family or let thousands die in bloody combat?

  It had been eating away at him for the last three weeks, but he still had not said anything. Even if he did tell them it was sister, what good would it do? He only remembered her from his childhood and he doubted that would help the agents. She was not the playful girl he remembered. She was a professional killer.

  He shook his head. What the hell is wrong with me? I keep up like this and I’ll go mad, seeing conspiracies everywhere.

  “Mr. Galius. Would you like to answer the question?” asked Professor Smith.