by Joe Jackson
Eli folded his hands behind his back and shrugged nonchalantly. “Like I said: we have an understanding,” he returned. “My guess was that the Earl wanted to see how Sherman would handle things, but I don’t think he expected this kid would walk into a situation blindly and expect a coat of arms and an air of authority to keep him safe. I suspect Sherman failed the Earl’s test the minute he rode out the gates of the castle with no help.”
Sherman nodded but offered only a quiet, “Indeed.”
“I saw you looking at my tattoo,” Eli said to Kari. “The answer to your question is yes, I was a member of the Five Clans. I served as a guard and an enforcer for a few years after I was kicked out of the orphanage. Once I got a little older and was able to stand on my own, I cut ties with the guild and moved to DarkWind, but I always kept the tattoo; partly to prove that I wouldn’t turn on the guild, but also so I’d never forget where it was I came from.”
“When I was serving as an enforcer in Oge, I’d have killed someone like Sherman without a second thought; that’s how fast it happens. Someone walks into a situation totally unprepared, and they’re dead before they even realize they’ve crossed a line,” the half-corlyps continued, eyeing Sherman. “I suspect things work the same way in cities like DarkWind and Barcon, where the guilds and the crime families run things. You never walk into a situation like that expecting the law to keep you safe. Most people will respect the law, but it only takes one person with a sharp knife who doesn’t, and that’s a mistake that can’t be undone.”
“It was a lesson well-learned,” Sherman returned, nodding to the half-corlyps, and then he looked up toward Kari. “Everyone respects the Earl, and never have I seen anyone treat him with even the least bit of disrespect. I remembered the way the people treated you and Erik on Tsalbrin, and the respect that seemed to come with your Order’s authority and the way the two of you wielded it. I came to expect that I would receive that same respect if I acted with the same air of authority, but Mr. Sorivar was…kind enough to show me the error of my ways in a less fatal situation than I might otherwise have encountered.”
Kari beheld Eli curiously again, and after the short tale she could more plainly see the experience the grizzled veteran possessed. She wondered at his mention of an orphanage and whether he’d had a childhood similar to her own. She marveled that he had turned out to be a decent and caring person despite the obvious hell of growing up within an assassin’s guild in Oge, of all places. There was little doubt left that he had a good heart; though it was plain to see that he and Sherman weren’t friends, there was a respect between them that was a little tougher for her to read when she’d first seen the two interact. Now that she knew more about their relationship, she understood that Sherman looked at Eli the same way Kari had looked at the tougher drill sergeants when she’d trained at the Academy so long ago.
“I guess it probably all sounds a little silly or macho to someone who’s used to making her own way as a demonhunter,” Eli commented, sparing Kari a glance.
The terra-dracon woman shook her head as they made the final approach to the castle’s gates. “Not at all,” she said. “My Order partners demonhunters together all the time to build bonds for just such occasions. We have authority over law enforcement all over the world for the same reason: if we need help, we have to be able to get it. If a demonhunter walks into a situation unprepared or outmanned, not only are they going to die, but more people are going to suffer in the meantime, and it could be weeks or even months before the Order even knows they’ve been killed. One of the most important things they teach you at the Academy is to know your limitations and never let pride keep you from asking for help when you need it. Contrary to what a lot of people think, I rarely traveled or fought demons alone.”
“Is that why you and Erik were partnered on Tsalbrin?” Sherman asked.
Kari nodded but did not go into detail as they reached the castle’s gates. Once through the portcullis, servants came to take the horse Kari rode upon, and several more accompanied Sherman and his guests into the keep itself. It was hard to make out much detail even in the light of the moons, but Kari could see that the keep was fairly small, no bigger than the one they had invaded on Tsalbrin. Other, smaller buildings stood along the inside of the castle’s walls, and Kari imagined those were likely to shelter the people if they sought refuge in the castle during wartime. It partially confirmed what she had suspected when she initially saw the castle from the ship, and made her look forward to meeting the Earl that much more.
The entryway was grand and beautiful, lit only slightly by a massive chandelier that had been mostly extinguished in the late hours. Curving stairways went up each side of the hall and met at a second level, and a sprawling circular rug with the Earl’s coat of arms lay between them. Up each of the stairways were paintings, likely of the Earl’s family, and at the top, where the two staircases met, was a tapestry depicting a blonde knight on a white steed. The scent of flowers filled the air, wafting from several blooming potted plants and vases of freshly cut bouquets set neatly about the area. It was as stately a chamber as Kari had ever seen, comparable even to the castle of the shakna-rir monarchy in Aurun Ch’Gurra.
Sherman bid Kari and Eli goodnight and made his way upstairs to his quarters, leaving the servants to guide the two visitors to their own guest chambers. Located down a dimly lit side hallway, the guest chambers were small but efficient, and the moment Kari saw the bed, her fatigue settled back in. It wasn't as luxurious as the suite at The Satin Palace, but Kari draped her cloak over the chair and began shedding her armor. She started to take off her undergarments but there was a knock at the door, and she chuckled quietly before inviting Eli to enter.
He was stripped down to his own undergarments, a thick loincloth and a sleeveless grey tunic that showed off his scarred, muscular arms. He leaned against the frame of the door as his eyes met hers. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but are you sure you’re all right to sleep alone?” he asked.
Kari continued to hold his gaze for a few quiet moments. She could see the concern in his expression and almost hear the words he’d spoken to her earlier in the evening echo in her ears. It left her to wonder what in his past had bred such a deep and genuine concern for women in his heart, for though a half-corlyps would normally be accused of simply pursuing a sexual desire, she could see much more in his gaze. It was hard to miss given where he worked, the way the women there spoke of him, and the fact that he had taken the fangs of a succubus to his neck to defend Kari just hours before. In a way, it made her sad to think such a man might spend the rest of his life alone because of the way he looked or who had sired him. On the other hand, she figured he at least had many more years to find himself a good woman.
“I’ll be fine, but thank you,” she answered.
Eli smiled and nodded. “I’m just in the next room over, so if you need anything, you know where to find me,” he said, and then he bid her goodnight and closed her door.
The door clicked in its latch behind him, and Kari picked up her scabbarded swords and wedged them hilt-up in the crevice between bed and wall, that they would be easily in reach should anything happen during the night. She stripped completely, slid with a purr into the soft, warm bed, and closed her eyes, thinking of her mate and child.
*****
Kari and Eli were invited to dine with the Earl and the Moreville twins the following morning, and Kari got her first good look at, and impression of, the Earl. He was younger than Kari expected, only a few years older than the twins, if her estimation was correct. He rose in the presence of Kari, and stood just a couple of inches taller than she. He had shoulder-length blonde hair and pale green eyes. His skin was of a light complexion, as was common among the humans in the southlands. His clothing was fine and colored with the same browns, golds, whites, and greens that showed in his family’s coat of arms. The lower edge of a tattoo showed below the short left sleeve of his tunic, though Kari couldn’t make out what it was. K
ari bowed to him slightly, as did Eli, Sherman, and Katarina. He introduced himself as Earl Markus Garant while he waited for Kari to take her seat before doing so himself.
“Good morning, erm, Your Grace?” Kari ventured before taking her seat.
The Earl smiled and sat. “Lord Lajere is my proper formal title, and an Earl is normally greeted as Your Lordship; but please, call me Markus,” he said before gesturing for Eli to be seated as well. “Welcome to my home, Mr. Sorivar; please have a seat and join us for the morning meal.”
“Just call me Eli, Your Lordship,” the half-corlyps said cordially.
There was a quiet minute as everyone sat and the servants began to place plates of cold fruits, warm bread, and pastries on the table. The table was relatively small, located in a back dining room that had east-facing windows so the sunlight streamed in. The table suggested that the Earl’s family was small and that he rarely had many guests, or, if he did, he entertained them in another room. Kari had grown quite accustomed to the country-home feeling of dining with her family, enjoying the simple but bountiful meals her mate and her mother-in-law prepared in the presence of all of her in-laws. No matter how many times she took a meal with the nobility or upper echelons of society, she always felt out of place.
Trying not to laugh at herself, Kari turned toward Katarina, who looked stunningly beautiful, the maturity of the previous few years showing on her much differently than Sherman. Gone were the utility clothes and the rugged look of someone who had labored on the islands, replaced with the smoother, less-tanned skin of a noblewoman. Had Kari not met her three years before, she might’ve believed that Katarina had grown up in the castle, but for the flowing locks of brown hair and the chestnut eyes that marked her as not being a member of the Earl’s family. Sitting at the morning table, she was dressed in a simple white gown highlighted in beiges and browns, accenting her hair and eyes and the warm features of her face.
When she noticed her friend’s stare, Katarina beamed her disarming smile. “It’s so good to see you again, Kari. What brings you down this way?”
The terra-dracon woman started to speak but stopped herself, and instead she cast a curious gaze toward the Earl. He seemed to understand her hesitation, and gestured for her to speak freely. She wasn’t certain that business was a proper topic for the mealtime table, but once she received the Earl’s unspoken permission, she finished chewing and wiped her mouth before she spoke. “Unfortunately, a hunt,” she said. “And it’s related to the reason Eli and I are here now.”
Katarina regarded her mentor for a moment, and Markus nodded. “I suppose there is little reason to put off discussing the incident last night; please explain,” the Earl said.
While her companions continued to eat, Kari folded her napkin and laid it on the table before her. She glanced briefly at Eli before she met the Earl’s own powerful gaze. “A couple of weeks ago, Kaelin Black showed up on our doorstep at the Academy,” she began, but she paused as the Earl gave her a sour look. She thought perhaps referring to a fellow Earl casually or even rudely had prompted the look, but Markus made an apologetic gesture and motioned for her to continue. “He came asking for the Order’s help with what he described as a serial killer. He said there had been over two dozen killings in only a couple of short weeks, and that his own men and even a hired brys were unable to find out much about the killer. Despite our feelings toward Lord Black – feelings I guess you share – we’re sworn to help his people, if not for his sake.”
Markus nodded and wiped his mouth, and Kari paused to let him speak. “Indeed. Earl Southwick has long been a thorn in my family’s side, whether at the Duke’s castle or simply when dealing with him regarding inter-county matters. I will warn you that helping that man poses a great danger to you, but I will elaborate more when you have finished your tale. Forgive my interruption, Lady; please continue.”
Kari smiled at the Earl’s polite demeanor, and was glad that her two young friends had found so promising a mentor to continue their paladin training with. Kari still wasn’t used to being called a Lady, and being addressed that way by a true noble made her uncomfortable in some obscure way. She shook off the feeling and continued, “Lord Black – or Southwick – was only in the city for a matter of hours before the demon he came to ask our help with showed up, killed several people, and nearly killed several others, myself included. I was assigned by the Council to track down the demoness – a dangerous cross of syrinthian and succubus – and, in the process, draw her back to Barcon.”
“So you chose to hunt this creature alone?” Sherman prompted curiously, clearly surprised after the discussion he’d had with Kari and Eli the night before.
“Not exactly,” Kari said, waving a hand dismissively. She suddenly realized she had her elbows on the table and shifted her arms to correct herself, which drew amused smiles from her three friends. “I came down this way because I thought you might be able to help me. The succubus has already seen several of our other companions, so I thought it best to seek her out on her own turf with some friends she doesn’t know and won’t recognize. So, you two sprang to mind, and perhaps the Earl, if his lordship is willing.”
“An interesting proposition,” Markus said. “This succubus, she followed you here to Lajere, and attacked you while you were speaking with Mr. Sorivar?”
“The Lady was asking me about some work I did for her Order years ago, before the Great War,” Eli chimed in. Being primarily carnivorous as a half-corlyps, he barely touched the grand assortment of fruits and pastries. “Given the late hour, I offered to let her stay in one of the nicer rooms of my establishment, so she could come see you in the morning. I went up to her room later in the evening to give her something related to her line of questioning, and somehow I knew something was wrong. When I broke the door of her room off of its hinges, I found a succubus in there with her.”
“Were you attacked?” Markus asked, shock evident on his features.
“Not at first,” Kari answered. “She was with me in my dreams, trying to figure out my fears. When I woke up to Eli breaking into the room, there was a brief fight. She cut my leg, but it was a minor wound; it’s already well on the mend thanks to my healing magic. She bit Eli, though, and I suspect she stole some of his essence.” The half-corlyps pulled down the collar of his tunic so the others could see the sutured wounds, and Kari continued, “Fortunately, no one else was hurt in the attack.”
“What do you suppose she gained by stealing some of Mr….Eli’s essence?” the Earl asked.
“Not much, other than probably walking around wondering why she’s even randier than usual,” Eli quipped, and Kari put her hand over the end of her snout.
Markus chuckled, and the Moreville twins did so as well. “One thing I have always appreciated about you is your self-deprecating sense of humor,” the Earl said, and Eli cocked a half-smile. Markus turned back to Kari and added, “So this succubus came to Lajere simply to harry you?”
“I think so,” Kari answered. “If she really wanted to kill me, I think she would’ve made a better effort by now. I’m starting to suspect that she might want me in Barcon: my brother-in-law seemed to think this entire situation – from the initial killings to Lord Black showing up at the Academy – is just a plot to kill me. We think it may have something to do with the fact that I killed a demon prince a few years ago, and his father may be looking for revenge. So it’s quite possible there’s something else – something more powerful – waiting for me in Barcon.”
“You killed a demon prince?” Eli asked.
Kari didn’t answer. She glanced at Eli briefly but then considered the Earl. “How much have the twins told you about Tsalbrin?” she asked.
“Everything they know,” he replied, glancing to each of the Morevilles and being answered with nods by both. “Though obviously, since neither of them accompanied you on the first half of your mission with Erijinkor, the tale has never quite been complete.”
Kari nodded and explained ev
erything that had happened during her mission with Erik on Tsalbrin, from their initial encounter with Makauric to Kari slaying the sylinth, and then her encounter with Sakkrass and the blessing they had received. The twins knew most of the major points, but even they seemed surprised as Kari spent a while filling in the details. The Earl was clearly impressed by the passion with which Kari described the czarikk, and her desire to help them and avenge their loss. Eli took in the entire conversation with great interest, and in the set of his eyes Kari could tell he was becoming less guarded where her questions about his past were concerned. Once she finished the tale and voiced her suspicions about the plot to kill her again, she took a long sip of her fruit juice and waited for the Earl to speak.
“So you believe this assassin was sent by Sekassus the Calculating; but why such an elaborate scheme to kill you?” Markus queried. “Why did she not just come to DarkWind and kill you? Why all the subterfuge in Barcon?”
“We’re not sure, but if there is something more powerful in Barcon, it could turn out to be another of Sekassus’ sons or one of his higher-ranking servants. My Order seems to think that Lord Black may be getting sub…er, forced to help whatever demon king is behind this, whether it’s Sekassus or someone else,” she said. “The Cobra Lord is our most obvious guess, but in my line of work, I learned a long time ago that when it comes to underworld demons, the most obvious guess is usually wrong.”
“Indeed. So then, tell me what it is you would like us to do to help,” the Earl prompted.
“Originally I was just going to ask the twins to come help me track down the succubus in Barcon, but my lord, if you’re willing, I think I could use your help as well,” Kari said, and the Earl didn’t bother to correct her form of address. The three paladins waited patiently to hear her out. “Since you’re a fellow Earl, you may be able to keep Lord Black busy while I’m in Barcon doing my work. It seemed pretty obvious, based on what happened in DarkWind, that Lord Black is somehow mixed up with this succubus, as much as he’d like to pretend otherwise. If you’re in his city bothering him with meetings, it may really throw the two of them off and make killing the succubus – and finding if there’s a third person or demon involved – a lot easier.”