Industry & Intrigue

by Ryan McCall

  She suddenly felt woozy and dropped to her knees, her vision was swimming. She heard Sifyf speak, but his words sounded strange, slow and drawn out, “I’m a poisoner remember. My house is stocked with the tools of my trade. Don’t worry, what I gave you won’t kill you. It’s a paralytic agent. It’ll make you nice and still, so I can finish you off at my leisure.”

  She had to do something before she lost her senses altogether, she could already feel her legs going numb. Sifyf approached and crouched down next to her, watching as the paralytic took over her nervous system.

  She tried reaching out to push him away, but he easily swatted her hand aside. Her hand fell and touched something, the loose end of the whip. The barbs were still embedded in his arm. She clenched it tightly and pulled as hard as she could with her remaining strength.

  She heard Sifyf’s scream through her dulled hearing and felt his blood splash over her arm. He clutched the ruined flesh of his arm. She grabbed the whip in both hands, the barbs in-between and lunged at him, aiming the sharp metal points at his neck.

  In his assumption that the paralytic had taken hold of her, he had made a grievous error. The curved barbs cut into his throat and he made a choking noise. More blood splashed down over her arms and clothes. Sifyf was still struggling, so she grabbed hold of both ends of the whip and pulled tight.

  With the paralytic in her system, Lucina barely felt the warm blood spray onto her face. She let go of the whip, her arms losing their strength and going numb. She fell forward, her face landing against the wooden floor. In her numbed state she didn’t feel uncomfortable at all, even with Sifyf’s blood running along the floor and hitting her face. The paralytic finally reached her mind and she lost consciousness.

  She had no idea how much time had passed when she came to, but the sun was still down, so the paralytic agent had only lasted a few hours. She stood up and wiped the half-dried blood from her face and neck. She looked down at Sifyf, the raw, open meat of his neck a testament to how much damage the whip could do. She was not getting information out of him now.

  She went to the bathroom and climbed out of her bloody clothes, then stepped into the shower. The water was freezing, but she didn’t have time to wait for it to heat up. She stayed under only long enough to wash away the blood. She dried herself with a nearby towel and then searched for clean clothes. They were in a basket outside the bathroom. She picked out plain-looking brown trousers, a white shirt and a black jacket and pulled them all on.

  She recovered her gun then sat in the kitchen chair, rethinking her plans. She had gone about this wrong. She should have known Sifyf wouldn’t break. All she would get were pieces of information, whittling away at the sides. The assassins she confronted only had to get lucky once, like Sifyf nearly had tonight.

  If she wanted to reach the higher members of the Arm, the Circle of Five, she needed to use a different approach. She could not get to them, so she would bring them out in the open to her. All she had to do was kill enough of them and interrupt their business that they would have to take action to stop her.

  She wasn’t equipped for a task like this, yet. She had hoped to ambush a master hood ceremony with handguns along and take the Circle member conducting it alive. Instead she settled on a different plan. She would need new weapons, long-range rifles. And that would mean a trip to the House of Blades.

  She went and searched Sifyf’s body. She found a set of keys. She used them to unlock the large set of drawers in the room. The first drawer contained nothing but documents. The second was empty. But the third one was packed full of fifty crown notes. She grabbed her bag and stuffed the money inside. This would be more than enough to get her the weapons and equipment she needed.

  I wonder how Rius is doing. She was doing all this to protect him, she hoped it was the right decision, but she could think of no other way. The Arm had given her a life and purpose but she would not let them take away her brother. The only way to prevent that was to eliminate the threat, like she had been trained.

  The Arm of Assassins had existed for centuries and survived wars, vengeful emperors and martial law. They trained assassins to be merciless and loyal, but they hadn’t accounted for her sibling bond with her brother. Neither had she, in fact. When she saw Rius again, she felt something; a part of herself that she thought had been buried and put to rest many years ago. Now that she had it back, she had to bury her life as an assassin and the Arm along with it.

  Chapter 73

  “You are certain about this decision Mr. Galius? It is not something to do lightly or on a whim. You are one of my brightest students.” said Professor Xerin.

  Reese felt the drakon’s dark green eyes focus on him as if trying to read his intentions. “I’m certain professor,” he replied. He had sat in his room for a long time, thinking about his choices and he finally made a decision. He could not stay here and continue studying, at least not right now.

  “May I ask why you decided to tell me first?” she asked.

  He thought for a few moments about that. “Your class is my favorite one. It’s what I’ll miss the most about being here.”

  Xerin nodded, her draconic shaped jaw curving in a smile. She looked glad to hear that.

  He reached into his bag and handed back the book that she had lent him. “Also, I wanted to return this before I forgot. I won’t have a lot of time to read in the army,” he said.

  He had already signed up at one of the recruiting stations. He was due to report to Rainac Station at the beginning of next week, where he would travel to the army training camp. He would undergo rigorous training for three months before being sent out for combat.

  The drakon picked the book up. “Thank you. I hope you found it useful.” She walked over to her bookshelf and put it back in place. When she came back to her desk she remained standing. “Mr. Galius I know you’ve suffered a terrible loss and we went through hell up at Crean. The whole empire has gone through hell, but you do not know what you’re getting yourself into. War is nothing like how it is depicted in the history books. It is messy, dirty and bloodier than you can imagine.”

  She sounded like she knew what she was talking about, but Reese remained adamant. “I’m sorry Professor Xerin, but I’ve made up my mind. I’m doing my part for our nation.”

  “There are other ways-”

  He didn’t let her continue. “I know, I know,” he said. “One doesn’t have to be a soldier to help in the war effort, but this isn’t about that. I’m doing this for myself. It’s something I need to do.” He wished he could elaborate further on his reasons, but he dare not say anything about his sister.

  It was irrational, but a part of him felt guilty at what Lucina had started. The man she had killed is what had led to the emperor’s death and started the war. He felt that he had to make it right, even in only a small way.

  Xerin sighed and sat back down in her chair opposite him.

  He hoped that meant she had let it go.

  “Well, Mr. Galius. I do not agree with your decision. But it is yours to make, so I will do my best to respect it.” She sighed again, “I am three hundred and eighty years old. I have seen far too many people I care about die, especially in war.”

  “But Weicarus hasn’t had a war since the Daiyun Ascension,” he said, curious at her statement.

  “I was still in my adolescent years during that and only remember pieces, but I am far more travelled than most drakons. I have lived in many nations and seen wars start for stupid reasons, stubborn reasons and fanatical reasons. Once in a while for the right reasons, but it does not happen often. I only hope that this is one of those, for I fear that this war will grow far larger than either side can anticipate.

  Alkos has never faced an enemy as capable and determined as Galria. And already the elves are involved, renewing their cycle of religious war.” She hung her head for a moment then looked him directly in the eyes. “Make sure you are fighting for the right reasons.”

  “I will professor,�
�� he replied. “Good luck with the rest of the class. When I’m done with all this, I may come back and finish what I started here.”

  He stood up and bowed to her in the appropriate Wei fashion for a student to a teacher. She had a surprised look on her face at this unexpected display of culture, but she made the return gesture with her hands and dipped her head.

  As he walked towards the door, she said, “I’m glad to see that your interest in my books didn’t end with the myths of the colossi. Farewell and good luck. I hope to see you here again.”

  Reese walked down the steep stairwell of the building with a heavy heart. He had hoped to make a place for himself here. Finish his studies with honors and move on to research. Get a grant to excavate at Crean or another site and uncover a fantastic new find, a real, preserved colossi fossil, something that would have made his father proud. Then he would have gone on to become a professor and teach students of his own.

  Now he wasn’t sure he even wanted that. The return of Lucina had upended his entire world and then again with the murder of Michael. He was so caught up in his thoughts while crossing the grass patch outside of the biology building that he bumped into Cassandra. She had been walking towards him in the opposite direction.

  “What is going on with you?” she asked. “Look, I know Michael was your best friend and it was horrible. If anyone understands how you feel, I do.”

  She had improved over the last two months since losing her girlfriend. She had stopped drinking. Well no, that wasn’t true, she still drank, but she was back to the casual, occasional drinking that had been her usual habit before she lost Clarissa.

  “You disappeared this week,” she said. “Didn’t come to classes, weren’t in your apartment. You just up and left campus. I know how you feel. It’s like your insides are full of acid eating away and feels like it won’t ever stop.”

  Reese stared at her. He was going to miss Cassandra. Despite his awkward and embarrassing start with her, they had become close friends and he hated to say goodbye. But it had to be done.

  “Listen Cassandra,” he said, trying to find the words. He placed his hands on her shoulders. “I’m leaving.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, but he shook his head. “No please, let me finish,” he said. “I’m leaving the university. I can’t stay here. At least not right now. I signed up with the Imperial Army at one of the recruiting stations yesterday. I leave for training next week.”

  Her eyes widened at hearing this and she knocked his arms off her shoulders and shoved him backwards. “Are you completely insane?” she screamed. “You lose a friend, so you sign up to join a war! Are you that eager to follow him to death?”

  He had expected her to be upset and it pained him to see it on her face. Her eyes were brimming with tears and he could tell she was struggling to hold them back. She grabbed his hand with both of hers. There were dry and cold. It was exactly how he felt on the inside. He didn’t know a better way of explaining it to her. He wasn’t willing to talk about his sister to her yet.

  “Don’t do it. Without friends like you and Michael I wouldn’t have made it through the last two months. Stay here. You can get through it, I know you can. Besides, who am I going to have to help me out when it comes to colossi or dragon classification in class?”

  He laughed and put his left hand over hers. Then he pulled her into a tight hug. She held on tightly, as if she didn’t want to let go. But he pulled away and she acquiesced. The tears were flowing down her face now.

  “Goodbye Cassandra. Good luck with your studies,” said Reese. She didn’t say anything in protest this time, only stared at him with a sad face. There was still a part of him that did not want to leave. Another part reminded him that he had already lost one friend and he did not want to lose another. He turned away from her and continued walking across the grass without looking back. Lingering here would do him no good. The faster he could pack his bags and leave campus, the better he would feel.

  Chapter 74

  Atira studied her father’s face as he examined the book she had brought him. He had not been pleased with the failure to retrieve the artifact at Crean. Not to mention the damage Falco had received. His scientists were currently working on the brute and attempting to get him back to working condition.

  Every few minutes, in the middle of his reading, Varko would take his eyes off the book and look at Atira before going back to it. She hoped it held something of value, she did not want to disappoint him again.

  He finally finished and closed it, setting it down on the small table next to his chair. A bottle of expensive Zefey wine and two glasses stood there. He had not met with anyone today, so he must be expecting company.

  “You say you found this book left behind in the buildings at the Crean facility?” he asked. “By someone who should have been locked-up and guarded securely.”

  She didn’t miss his criticism of her mistakes and she nodded without saying anything in reply.

  “Atira my dear, relax,” said Varko. “No one could have predicted a rampaging deep-one would interrupt your search. Were it not for that, I suspect you would be handing me the Sphere at this right now. But this book is intriguing, for I have seen it before.”

  The tension went out of her muscles and she let her shoulders drop. Her clawed hands released from the fists they had been bunched into. Her father was not angry.

  She was surprised to hear that he had seen the book before though. “You have?” she asked. “I assumed it was dropped by one of the students. It contains cataloguing of excavation sights and samples, with an emphasis on the colossi.”

  “No mere student could have written all of this,” said Varko. “It is far too advanced.” He picked the book up again and bid her to come over where she could see it. She approached the left side of his chair, looking over his shoulder as he turned the pages.

  “You see here, these last few pages. There are notes on potential dragon and colossi fossils, but they are written in a different hand than the rest of the book. By someone younger and only following the work of a master.” Varko flipped back towards the front of the book. “All of this was written by an expert in zoology and archeology, the like of which it would take years to become. The reason I have seen the book before is because this expert used to work for me.”

  Atira’s curiosity was growing. Her father had made his plans long ago, and they were only beginning to come to fruition.

  “Where is this expert now?” she asked.

  “Dead,” replied Varko. “He betrayed me many years ago and I had him killed. He became another casualty of the Estaran Civil War.” A tactic her father often used, hiding deaths of enemies within events and incidents so that they did not stand out. It was the only way to ensure that the Order of the Endless maintained its secrecy.

  “He had a family,” he continued. “But they were all killed along with him. My agents were not as thorough in cleaning up as I hoped. Someone managed to get their hands on this.” He clicked his fingers. “Senna,” he said loudly.

  A side door opened and the olive skinned elven mage entered the room. “You called master?”

  “Get me a list of names from everyone working at Crean and the university students that arrived during Atira’s mission.”

  Senna bowed, the end of her black robes brushing along the stone floor. “As you command.”

  “Start with that boy you interrogated about his books. We already know he is interested in the colossi and his books were of a similar nature.” Varko turned back to Atira now that he was done giving Senna her orders. Atira looked over at the elf as she murmured the words to a spell and vanished.

  She looked back at her father. “I don’t like it when she does that in here.”

  Senna was an expert mage and regularly used her powers to make herself invisible, even within the confines of the Order’s new sanctuary. It was the first property they had obtained in Alkos City, her father planned for it to be the first of many.


  “Senna is more than loyal, Atira,” replied Varko in a reassuring tone. “She is bound body and mind to the Endless, as we all are. She could no more betray us than cut her own throat. Mages have their uses; do you so easily forget the army of pliable recruits that Feyton provided us?”

  The former archmage had worked with the Order for many years, sending traumatized students for them to be inducted into the service of the Endless. When the archmage had been found out for his deviant behavior Senna had taken action. She had dispelled the control Feyton had placed on his elemental, allowing it to kill him. Varko had not wanted the archmage talking to anyone of what he had done with his students.

  Now that her father’s plans were advancing, the archmage was no longer of much use anyway. He had served his purpose; the Order had mages ready to fight and die in the name of the Endless.

  “Of course father,” she said. ‘You’re right. I just don’t like the idea of someone sneaking around the sanctuary invisible. They could be up to anything and Senna is not like the other recruits. She came to us as an adult, not as one of Feyton’s broken children.”

  “Senna has more than proven herself over the years. So end these suspicions of yours.” He had serious look on his face now.

  “Yes father,” she said.

  “Good girl,” he patted her orange and black-striped arm. “Now, I’m expecting an important visitor. Would you be good enough to run upstairs and await him. When he arrives, bring him down immediately.”

  “Yes father,” she said and complied. She moved up the steps to the double doors, which lead to the ground floor. Her father always preferred his main rooms to be below ground. He had once told her that felt more comfortable there, he could connect to the Endless on a more intimate level if he was below ground.

  She walked through the black and brown hallway towards the lobby. The lobby was dressed up to make the building look like it was part of her father’s company and most of the time it would serve that purpose. But it also served as the sanctuary for the Order. The lobby had brighter colored walls and several ferns around the room. There was a reception desk, but it was unoccupied this late in the day.