Industry & Intrigue

by Ryan McCall

To Fiona it looked to be nothing more than a bright red pebble.

  But Tel knew. “Is that what I think it is?” he asked.

  Kendrick nodded. “A fire stone from the Elemental Islands, incredibly rare. Not much use on its own. But I have crafted a receiver that can pick up the energy waves it gives off. If we can slip this onto an assassin, then once I get my bag back, we can use the energy from this to track them.”

  “IF we can single out an assassin and IF we can slip it on them unnoticed; by the time we get back to the exit they could be anywhere in the city,” said Fiona.

  “Oh, don’t worry about that,” replied Kendrick. “My device can pick up even the faintest of signals from several kilometers. The only other firestones in the whole empire are in the Arketh Museum of Natural History. There won’t be any interference within Longhaven.”

  “As for getting it on an Arm member, leave that to me,” said Tel. “I am something of an expert when it comes to sleight of hand.”

  Fiona was starting to think it could work, but there was one last detail. “So how do we determine who is an Arm member? They don’t exactly wear uniforms, unless you count a grey-cloak but there’s too many patrons wearing those. They can’t all be assassins.”

  “There may be one way,” said Tel. “I’ve heard that Solamh keeps a section of his shop excluded to all customers other than the Arm. He stores his most dangerous and precious weapons there. If we can find that, then we can find the Arm.”

  Fiona took another look at the building. “One of us needs to get inside and examine the layout.” She looked at the two men, not confident that either of them was up to the task.

  “It should be you. You’re the senior agent and I suspect you’re a far better actor than myself or Kendrick,” said Tel. Kendrick threaded his fingers together and didn’t say a word. He agreed with Tel, even if he was loathe to admit it.

  “Any advice?” she asked.

  Tel rubbed one his pointed ears as he pondered her question. “You get any questions, pretend to be an enforcer for the Blackbloods. They’re a new gang, but have recently made a lot of gains so it would be plausible enough for them to send someone for better weapons. Their leader is a dark haired elf named Yassin qal’Aral.”

  Fiona memorized the name in case she was questioned. She left the two men and casually made her way over to the building. The walkways here were not as busy and she did not have to aggressively push her way past.

  She pushed open the hefty, green door and entered the shop. The main room was laid out with rows of glass cases. A few customers were walking along the rows and browsing.

  Each row had a different category of weapon types; revolvers, rifles, explosives, swords, axes and stealth weapons. Fiona had never seen such a collection in her life. She gazed in admiration at the collection of revolvers in the glass case as she made her way towards the other side of the room.

  There were all manner of rare guns here, an original Estaran Jaevus gun, a Galrian hammergun, it had the biggest caliber bullets ever made for a handgun, but its production had been stopped due its tendency to backfire and blow off the user’s hand. There was a double set of silver colored revolvers with canister attachments, for adding acid or poison to the bullets.

  At the end of the room was a long counter, above which were displayed various long-arm melee weapons, pikes, pole-axes, glaives and the like. On the far right side was the main checkout. Two customers were being served at the moment.

  Behind the checkout was a door that she guessed led upstairs. Fiona looked to the other end of the counter. There was another door on the far left but it was hard to distinguish; it was the same color as the wall. She noticed that there was a chain with a small padlock across the thin gap between the wall and door, with only a small indent next to it that served as a door handle.

  Hidden in plain sight. This Solamh is clever.

  She made her way along the next row of weapons, pretending to be intensely interested in the guns, but keeping her eyes up and scanning the room.

  A grey cloaked woman entered the main door and walked right down the rows, ignoring the weapons. Fiona watched as she leaned against the counter and whistled lightly. The clerk saw her, his eyes widened and he nodded. He mouthed an excuse to the customer in front of him and stepped back to knock on the door behind him.

  A few moments later, a tall and thin man emerged from the door and upon seeing the grey-cloaked woman, his face burst into a generous smile. He greeted her and bid her to follow him to the other end of the counter. He let her past and made for the obscure door, unlocking the padlock and chain.

  After the door closed behind them, Fiona slowly made her way out of the store and headed back to Tel and Kendrick. There was no doubt that the woman had been an Arm assassin. All they had to do now was wait for her to leave and then Tel could plant the stone on her. Providing Kendrick’s little device did as he said; Fiona still had concerns about that.

  He was smart enough, but his ideas tended to be overinflated and unrealistic, like he was trying to walk before he had learned to crawl. They had precious few other ways to get to the Arm of Assassins, so she hoped it really would work.

  Chapter 55

  Tegan sat across from one of the most powerful men in Alkos, Minister of Security Austin Blake. The man had a large, hooked nose on a weathered face and light grey hair. He looked every bit the elderly statesman in his ministerial black suit. His brown eyes had a steel resolve that gave him a certain ruthlessness. She knew it well; she saw the same look whenever she gazed into a mirror.

  Despite Blake’s status, she was the one with power here. Blake was political first and foremost, which meant he needed her and the vast wealth she controlled. Unlike her father, Tegan had little interest in politics, aside from how it could be used to benefit Typhon Trading.

  Her father had heavily supported Blake and several councilors with similar views, including Minister of Industry Marawn Kao. She intended to continue that support, so long as she could get what she wanted.

  “So you see Ms. Mordain, more than ever we need your company’s contributions.” The droning sound of his voice was starting to make her tired, but she bore with it and waited for him to finish. Never let anyone say she was not courteous. “Your father understood that better than most men and he did much to better the empire with his support.”

  Every fool and his horse felt the need to praise her father to the high heavens since his death; in hopes of gaining favor with her no doubt. One would think Cormac Mordain had been a saint, with all the flattery flying her way.

  “Our nation is on the brink of what could be a terrible war and as security is my charge, I must see to it that we are prepared to defend ourselves.”

  Tegan was torn on the possibility of war. It would certainly boost the company’s armaments sales, not to mention lucrative imperial contracts for military research. But on the other hand, armaments were not the only aspect of her business. There was the fishing to consider. In war the government could assert control over ‘vital’ industries, food for the armies would be one of them.

  They would pay for it, but she hated the prospect of being paid in bonds and having to wait for the war to be over to receive the actual funds. In addition, the company divisions of furs, textiles and ore processing were located in Araiin and An Shan provinces. War with Galria would rip those provinces apart, the Creator only knows what would happen to the Typhon assets.

  And finally there was her husband’s business. He owned the second largest bank in Alkos, and he had been working round the clock. The mere possibility of war had upset the markets and investors. It would be far worse if war did break out.

  For someone who was in charge of the nation’s security, Blake was far too eager for war with Galria and he was not the only cabinet member with this attitude. If she was going to support him, she needed to ensure Typhon Trading benefited beyond favorable armaments contracts.

  She nodded and smiled at him as he finished. “Of co
urse minister. My father saw the wisdom in supporting you and I learned a lot from him,” she said. His lips perked up at the sides. He thought she was going to roll over and give him whatever he wanted.

  “However there is also something I need from you.” She watched in genuine pleasure as his eyes widened and the smile on his lips vanished.

  Not expecting that were you, you old goat. “I have recently purchased newly discovered flare-rock mines in north Naikos. However, I have been told by my surveyor that they are too remote from imperial settlements to safely set up operations. I would be most appreciative of any efforts that the Imperial Army could make in offering protection to my mining operation during their patrols.” Tegan also had a stake in Southwest Rail, the largest flare-rock operation, as a minority shareholder. The flare-rock she mined would require a transportation network.

  “Is that all?” asked Blake. He sounded surprised. “Hells girl, that’s nothing compared to the favors your father bent me over for in the past,” and he chuckled. His crude language and tone was vastly different from a few minutes ago. “Consider it done, there’ll be two army regiments to protect your operation from agorid incursions. I’ve been expecting that we were going to expand into north Naikos anyway. This gives me an excuse to send General Padrec his orders.” He stood up, shook her hand and left.

  If she’d known he would cave that easily, she would have asked for more. She could have twisted him to do something about making sure this new socialist candidate, Shepard, didn’t get elected. She dismissed it. She had other plans to deal with that.

  She glanced out the office window. It was located at the top of the office block, next to the company’s munitions plant. This served as Typhon Trading’s main corporate headquarters, though there were several other factories in Alkos City.

  Her next guest arrived an hour later and this one she greeted with a genuine smile. The tall and impressive Varko Kulthon sat in the velvet chair opposite and matched her smile. In spite of his age, he still had a youthful vigor about him and he positively exuded charm.

  “I heard a rumor that your company secured a contract with the Red Knights.” He gave her a small bowing gesture with his head and shoulders. “Cicero does not sign contracts lightly, most impressive Ms. Mordain. Or is it Mrs? I am aware that you’re married, but you kept your family name instead of taking your husbands. An odd break from the usual customs, as far as I know the only ones to practice that are the matriarchal Killak tribe of north east Kordatia.”

  “Believe me, it had nothing to do with matriarchy,” she replied. “My father insisted on my children and I retaining the Mordain name in the conditions of my marriage. Part of preserving the family legacy.”

  It bothered her more than it did her husband, Perriman Adair. He had been more interested in securing an alliance with the powerful Mordain family and what it could do for his bank. He certainly hadn’t wasted the opportunity, his Arketh Commerce Bank had risen from a single branch in Arketh to a national finance institute, with multiple banks across the empire and branches in Huffolk and Silund.

  “He never trusted Luthais to maintain a legacy. Not that he can’t father children, Creator knows how many bastards he’s fathered. But as far as raising heirs, well father was wise enough to know that Luthais would be useless at that. If the day ever comes when he has legitimate children, I’ll be making sure they are put in a proper school and away from his corrupting influence.”

  “Yet you still allow him to head up your armaments division,” queried Varko.

  “Father’s decision, not mine,” she said. “And when he isn’t drinking or chasing women, he does a decent job. Firearms is one of the few subjects he has a passion for and is willing to put in time and effort.”

  Provided he doesn’t let this affair with Alyssa Huntington go too far. Tessa had warned her about the affair, but Tegan had let it slide for now. Their brother wasn’t so outrageously stupid that he would blurt out corporate secrets in the midst of pillow talk.

  There was the potential of scandal to be concerned about, but the heavier load of that would be on Huntington, not her brother. He wasn’t the married one after all. She had a conversation with him about being careful. He had nodded and agreed with everything she said. She had her security people keeping track of him whenever he met with Alyssa regardless and they would inform her if it became a problem.

  She had let herself get sidetracked. “Enough of my family affairs. You came here to discuss business, did you not?”

  “Indeed,” he replied. “Did the information about the mines turn out to be correct?”

  “Yes.” She held up the report in her hand. “This says it’s one of the richest flare-rock loads in northern Naikos. I should be able to turn a tidy profit once it’s up and running. And now that we are officially doing business together, I would assume there is something you would like from me?”

  She had signed a deal with him that would give her access to the raw materials of his mining business, which would give her an edge over her ore-processing competitors.

  “These flare-rock mines. I want it to be a joint operation between us. A sixty-forty split in Typhon’s favor.”

  “Not fifty-fifty?”

  “I also want support for another operation that will be based at the mine. I have interests in Kangur.”

  “You’re not one of those Cartralan treasure fanatics are you?” she asked warily. She had known men and women who had sunk entire fortunes into the dead Cartral Empire out of an obsession of striking it lucky. Most of those tales ended in financial ruin and forced liquidation. She didn’t want to be dragged into a partnership with someone like that.

  Varko waved his hand in dismissal of that. “Relax, Ms. Mordain. I am no archeologist or explorer. I am interested in Kangur for the purpose of its mineral wealth. The agorids may rule it for now but Alkon soldiers and colonists have been making greater in-roads every day. With more advanced weaponry from companies like yours, the day is coming when Kangur will be ripe for exploitation. I want to be in a position to take advantage when it begins, not wait in line behind everyone scrambling to make their fortunes.”

  A man after my own mind thought Tegan. If he was twenty years younger and I wasn’t married I might consider…She had surprised herself. She hadn’t thought of anyone other than her husband in a long time. Perriman did not have a particularly handsome face, he had sunken eyes and a wide chin, which had filled out with fat as he aged, but the physical had never been the prime factor for her

  It had always been his ambition and sense of business that she felt a connection with. Few men could measure up to her standards and she considered herself fortunate to have a husband who did. Varko Kulthon embodied the same combination of ambition, charm, ruthlessness and business sense.

  “A sound strategy, though you may be waiting a while for the payoff,” she said. Varko wasn’t the first person to try to reach further into the steppes. But he could be the first to succeed. “Alright, I will provide whatever support your exploratory team needs in supplies. I look forward to a mutually profitable future with you Mr. Kulthon.”

  “As do I. And call me Varko, I believe that we are past formal titles now Tegan.” He extended his hand.

  She took it. His grip was firm, as she expected. “Alright Varko, I will. I’m having a small dinner this weekend at my family mansion. It would be an honor if you could attend.”

  He tilted his head slightly in consideration. “Thank you. I will do my best to be there. If I cannot make it, I apologize in advance. You know how much time can be taken up by business leaders of our stature.”

  She certainly did. In fact she made a mental note to pack away her business notes and head home after this meeting. She needed to spend time with her children, neither she nor Perriman had been at home much lately and she didn’t want them to feel neglected.

  Chapter 56

  The metallic device Kendrick held in his hands made beeping noises and gave off little bursts of steam
from a vent every few minutes or so. After Fiona left the weapons store, they had waited for the assassin to exit. Fiona pointed the woman out to Tel and he trailed her, with the intention of planting Kendrick’s fire stone on her.

  The two agents made their way back to the entrance of the underground market and waited for the elven gambler to return. When he finally did, he informed them he had planted it without the woman being any wiser. Back on the surface they retrieved their gear and Kendrick rummaged through his bag until he found his device.

  It was a thin rectangular box, with a dial behind a glass shield on the front; not unlike that of a steamship or a train. It fit comfortably in his hand and they had to wait half an hour before the device indicated the assassin was leaving the House of Blades. They followed the signal for several miles, walking past the large Olenware Station at the northern edge of the city and into an industrial zone.

  Kendrick fiddled with the dials and his eyes squinted. Fiona felt like they were not getting any closer.

  “Ah, that’s it,” he said. “I think she’s finally stopped.” He looked upwards with his eyes, which usually meant he was doing complex arithmetic in his head. “Four hundred meters ahead. That’s where the signal is coming from,” he proudly stated. “It hasn’t moved from that spot for ten minutes.”

  Fiona looked over at Tel for information.

  “This whole area is nothing but factories. She’s either her for a job or the Arm uses whatever’s in that spot as a front,” answered the elf.

  “A job? You mean kill someone,” said Fiona.

  “A turn of phrase. Common in the underworld.”

  “No doubt you would know.” Something about the elf hadn’t sat well with Fiona since they had met and she suspected it was because he had a shadowy background. That didn’t normally bother her, criminal skills could easily translate to similar uses for spying and she was pragmatic enough to understand Imperial Intelligence’s need for them. The loyalty of a criminal could never be fully trusted, they were slaves to greed and gluttony.