<He's taking this far too well,> Satawa thought. <Based on how badly he wanted it, he should be raving at us now, or something. This silent touch gives me the jitters.>
The "silent touch" had been going on the several minutes since the mercenary and his companions had given their employer a report on the disappointing results of their mission. He had said nothing to them, not even a complaint of their still having the grime of the Lower Ward on their boots when they entered the opulent office. Instead, he continued to stare coolly at them, drumming the fingers of his left hand on the polished wooden desk and idly stroking the head of a walking stick with his right. Satawa and the rest of his men remain standing nervously in a tight bunch in front of the desk. They knew better than to the first to break the silence. You just didn't do that with Estavan, especially not when he owned you.
Finally, the ogre leaned forward in the chair and addressed the cowering men in deep, rumbling voice. "So you are telling me that your group of trained mercenaries couldn't destroy a group of three tieflings, two of which were women? Even with your poisoned bolts and striking from ambush?" The men nodded. Satawa decided to push his luck and replied to the obviously rhetorical question. "No, sir. Well, yes, sir. But it wasn't them. It was that big barmy with the magic hammer what saved 'em. We could have done it without him there." The merc saw the ogre's eyes narrow. He held a breath, hoping he hadn't pushed too far.
Estavan leaned back in his chair. "Well, yes. I suppose I can't hold you responsible for the sudden appearance of a do-gooder. However, my calculations indicated there would be no one in that area. It seems that your 'big barmy' was looking for them." Satawa let out the breath he'd been holding. It seems he'd be walking out of this after all. The ogre continued. "Regardless, we seem to have still come out ahead. A scare's been put into them, which should propagate itself to the other members of their little company soon; especially that impudent merchant. And the predicted reaction should be occurring very soon. You did say that you mentioned my name, yes?"
The mercenary smiled broadly. "Yes, sir. I did just as you told me to. 'Estavan sends his regards' right as we were leaving. That should bring them right into your plans, sir."
"Of course. That is all, you may go now. I'll tell you when your services are required again." The four men all respectfully nodded their heads and quickly turned to leave the office. As the first one reached the door, the merchant-ogre called out them: "One more thing..."
As they turned to look at their boss, the sudden glow of magic surrounded their bodies, holding them in place with glowing red bands of force. A sense of panic swept through them as they struggled ineffectually against the constricting magic. Estavan was now crossing the room towards them, walking stick in hand. "You have all failed me. I did warn you not to do it again, but it seems you didn't listen. So, I am exercising the dismissal clause in your contracts. However, you," he said to Satawa, "I still have a use for. I need some one who likes to push their luck." Suddenly, the walking stick doubled in length and a wickedly sharp blade grew from one end. As fast as lightning, the ogre-mage thrust the blade into Satawa's stomach and flipped him across the room and into the far wall to land in an immobile, bleeding bundle on the floor. "The rest of you... your services are no longer required." He then drew in a deep breath and exhaled directly into the remaining three mercenaries.
As Satawa was being dragged across the floor, towards Estavan's private chambers, he could see from the corner of his eye the frozen, shattered remains of his men. He could even feel the unnatural chill emanating from the icy pieces. Given his employer's actions, Satawa was starting to wish that he hadn't pushed his luck quite that hard.
He strode through the daytime crowds of the Lady's Ward, anger and purpose lend speed to his steps. It was this added aura of menace that caused others to step out of his way, not any deference to his rank in his faction. As he closed in on his destination, he swore under his breath, pounding a fist into his hand.
<Damn Weathermay! How can she claim to be able to work no faster after what happened last week? A failed assassination attempt is nothing to scoff at! Especially when it's a direct attack on the glorious Harmonium!>
"Mover Four, sir!" He barely spared a glance to the quartet of guards at the outer gate to the manorhouse. <At least she agreed to let me double the number of men I've got posted here. Unfortunately, that's less men available to continue with My Project. Of course, if her studies pan out...>
The feelings of satisfaction that always accompanied thoughts of "The Project" served to calm him down somewhat. This initial gust of cooling thoughts allowed him to resume his customary control over his emotions by the time he'd passed through the gatehouse and into the central courtyard of Heather House. Pausing to take some final calming breaths, as well as to don the mask of the loving suitor that he had to wear while here, he glanced around the interior of the space. He nodded in satisfaction. <At least that damned thief didn't go through here; we won't have to change the glyphs.> Confident that he could once again play the role required, he approached the front doors to the manor and knocked. After only a few moments, he was admitted into the house.
"Ah, good afternoon, sir. So pleasant to see you again. I'm sure the Lady Weathermay will be delighted to receive you."
"Thank you, Jenkins." <Always pays to be cordial to the help. After all, having their trust I should be able to find out which one of them was bribed to let the killer in here.> "Is the Lady Catherine at work today?"
"Yes, sir. She should be in her study. If you would be so kind as to follow me..." With that, the elderly butler led him into the depths of the manor. Even though both of them knew the way perfectly, decorum required that the manservant escort the visitor to his destination. And for both Harmonium and servant, that meant that it was the way things must be.
Jenkins reached their destination and knocked on the plain wooden door, and then entered. After the formal announcement of his presence had been made, the Harmonium high-up changed places with the butler who shut the door behind him. The Lady Catherine Weathermay was smiling as she looked up from her desk near the large fireplace. <Always so happy to see me. Too bad she's broken so many laws in her research. But it is for a good cause...>
He strode forward and knelt down to kiss her hand. "And how is my lovely alchemist this afternoon?" She replied with a girlish giggle - quite unbecoming a middle-aged woman. Pleased, he pressed on to the reason of his visit. "And further progress with our research?"
As expected, the mention of her work forestalled any other thoughts in her mind. "It's going just wonderfully. I have finally determined precisely why that odd concoction should work to cure the disease. It really took some one of great alchemical skill to come up with that formula. It really is a shame that he was on the wrong side of things; I would have liked to talk to him."
"Now, darling, you know that isn't possible. He is a criminal, like all the others. It just wouldn't be safe for you to go to Vorkehan and talk with him. And it's those inherent criminal tendencies that makes our work so important. That's why you shouldn't be distracted by duplicating the cure and should instead quicken work on duplicating the disease. After all, you wouldn't want another one of them coming back here to kill you again, would you?"
The Lady Catherine shuddered at the unpleasant memories the subject brought up. "No... no I suppose not. But I still find it hard to believe that all Indeps are the same as you say. I've seen several in the Bazaar who were quite courteous to me."
He sighed. <It's like dealing with Umbra. Even using child-logic, you still have to explain things a hundred times...> "My dear, we've gone over this. The Free League is a blight on this great city and must be removed. They are a chaotic influence. And it is such chaos that allows Evil to form and spread. And you know that we of the Harmonium try to prevent such Evil for the Good of everyone. And besides, did you ever think that they might be acting friendly and uninterested in politics to disguise their true goals? After all, the only other 'league' is the Anarchists and you don't find them harmless, do you? Of course not. In fact - I shouldn't say this - but we are this close to proving that the Free League and the Revolutionary League are one in the same. And to think that they've been able to get away with such deception for centuries! Why, it's enough to gall the Powers! In fact, this plague that is striking them down is a sure sign from those Powers that they are displeased. Your work to duplicate and further the spread of the Plague is thus holy work! And nothing can be wrong with that."
"Yes, you're right, as always. I'm just an old woman and I get easily swayed. I will make an effort to quicken my studies. Although, I'm sure I could use the cure to form the basis of a reverse. Something that would cause the disease to take effect much faster. Perhaps something for the water supply..."
"Excellent idea, Catherine! I can see that you have regained the energy to continue. I will leave now and let you get on with our very important work. Until tomorrow...?" Again, he bows and kisses her hand. Then, he leaves the study and just as soon, the manor. On the way out, he stopped in the gatehouse to issue some further orders to his men. Then, he continued through, over the grounds, and back through the gates and into the Lady's Ward.
<At last! A breakthrough. This will show that I'm right and prove to Factol Sarin who's the true Mover Five in the Harmonium. He'll have to promote me for this.> He chuckled out loud. <This is it, Indeps. Your death knell and it's all mine.>
She paced angrily back and forth across the waiting room floor, the black evening gown tearing as it ineffectually tried to contain her legs. The screams of souls being tortured in chambers below did nothing to soothe her wounded pride. <How long will she keep me waiting? I have information she told me to get and now I have to act like some groveling mortal? Bah! I think I'll take this to some one else who can pay for it. Now which layer should I start with...?>
As if in response to the mental threat to leave, the stone doors to the throne room ponderously swung open to reveal her hostess' current consort, in all his dog-like intellect. Panting furiously, the nalfeshnee announced, "The Mistress will see you now, little one."
Wisely biting back a sharp retort in case Ygrax should decide to live up to his moniker of "the Skull-biter" in her presence, she sketched a curtsey with as much venom as her fiendish heritage would allow and then marched into the throne room of Broken Reach to talk to Red Shroud, the ruler of the Abyssal gatetown and her superior. The dark-skinned woman moved quickly down the scarlet carpet which paved the way to throne, causing further damage to the gown she wore. As she reached the bottom of the dais, she heard the doors to the immense chamber boom close with the finality of eons. Swallowing her pride for the moment, the visitor dropped to one knee in front of the occupant of the throne. "I am here, Red Shroud, to report success in the task you assigned to me."
The ruler of Broken Reach swept her bright scarlet, leathery wings back behind her and took the time to carefully arrange the yards of crimson silk with which she clothed herself. The succubus' eyes glowed a dull red as she regarded the one who remained bowed at her feet. Red smiled as she detected the barely contained rage within the other. After a few more moments of silence to assert her dominance, she spoke. "Success or failure is bein' entirely my right to determine, Servant-Junior-Partner. Remember that. But now you may rise and be done with that ridiculous human guise, Nari."
Nari slowly straightened and willed the mortal guise to dissolve. Bat-like wings, a bright garish pink in color burst forth from her back while her hair resumed its normal spiky, blondish-pink appearance. The change cause the tattered remains of the evening dress to fall to the floor, revealing a skin-tight leather body suit with slits strategically placed to reveal her fiendish beauty. The young succubus replied sarcastically, "Thank you, Mistress- Senior-Founder. Can we get on with this, Red?"
Shroud's eyes narrowed at the familiarity in the tone. "I am three thousand years your elder, as well as one of the Founders. You'd do best to remember that, Tanar'ri, if you want to remain in the Cartel. Now tell me what you've accomplished that gives you the impudence to declare your mission a success."
The other smiled to herself. <She's upset. Good. That means I still have room to push and advance with the Cartel. I may get her seat yet...> But Nari let none of this show. Instead, she took on an almost-acceptable tone and proceeded with her report.
"I have done as you directed. I found where the man and your renegade offspring are hiding in Sigil. I've also got a clue as to who they bang around with. They're the same ones who approached you earlier about the poison as well as the same ones who played messenger for Chiryn. Using the money and name you provided, I managed to peel that fool Fated of theirs into letting those mortals fight the gladiator. Even given the rumored skill, he should have fallen given the magics in use. But he didn't! That undead bane unguent you gave me was worthless! Those mortals were killed and I barely escaped. What's the dark there, eh?"
Red smiled again. "Of course it didn't work. You didn't ask my confirmation to go ahead with the assassination attempt. You really should learn to follow plans properly. In fact, if you spent less time on other projects, such as that pre-occupation with that Doomguard..." The elder succubus paused when she saw the younger turn red with anger. The point had been made. "But regardless, yes, you are actually correct in that the mission was a success. I now know where to find them in Sigil, thanks to Meerena as well as you. And, since you did wound the Athasian, I can find him anytime that the petulant Kalak desires. You are now free to pursue your own pleasures - such as they are. But do keep an eye on them for me, won't you, Nari?" The tone stated that this was not a suggestion.
Nari swallowed nervously. "Of course, Red Shroud. I will let you know if anything changes." She bowed again, and then teleported away.
Red Shroud dropped the pleasant facade and hissed in fiendish anger. <Damn impudent child-fiend! Skilled or no, I should never have let Chiryn and Maretta talk me into voting her into the Cartel. Well, her time will come soon enough. Whatever she hopes to accomplish in Sigil will fail, whether we have to help it or not. Still... her impertinence does tell that my servant-granddaughter did steal some of my cure. Otherwise the undead unguent would have slain Killraven where he stood.> The succubus allowed some of the anger to drain away. <She actually thought she could bob me. I guess my work is succeeding faster than I hoped. I wonder if the poor man is addicted to the 'cure' yet? Perhaps I won't turn him over to that self-titled 'sorcerer-king' just yet after all. Yes... I'll let him suffer a bit longer, until he's good and hooked. But Lilah, she must be punished for stealing from me. What to do? Perhaps I have her learn her friend's True Name. That should cause a bit of Chaos right there. In the meantime, I have another errand for Meerena to hire my servant-granddaughter for...>
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