Forty-Four

Before they could move a figure slid out of the shadows and Kon had a moment of deja vu as Turja's envoy appeared before them. It slunk forward, shoulders slumped to hide its height as hundreds of teeth revealed themselves in the blue light of the lanterns. Its velvety red aura blended into the shadows of the cavern as it worked its way toward them, none in the room turning to look as the creature cut across the crowds to stand before them.

"Master," the creature intoned, its whispery voice nearly lost in the din around them. Its aura strengthened around the edges, forming a cocoon around them.

"She did make it then," Benny said.

"She has your reports," the unnamed cultivator said, lowering its long head further down to the point its face, and teeth, were level with Kon's sternum.

"Take us to her," Benny said. The cultivators aura stayed around them, blunting the senses of everyone as they led them across the cavern, weaving between the crowds with ease. Kon fought back the sense of unease as hundreds of eyes slid past him without seeing him.

"A powerful shadewalker," Diur whispered. Kon made a note to ask her later what that was, but he could take a guess with the cultivator's profession and how their techniques interacted with the world.

On the far end of the cavern was a rough hewn staircase that rose up along the face of the wall. Boxes had been carved into them and servants in thin, revealing clothing hustled up and down with platters weighted down with drink, food, and monster cores.

"Hedonistic as always," Benny commented. There was no heat to his voice or judgement, just a simple observation as they climbed higher and higher, the walls curving and forcing them to grab onto carved rails to keep from falling.

A trio of heavily armed Teno guards stood by the doorway, their feet firmly planted as they held wide barreled weapons. Kon stared at those ugly barrels as he recognized them as flechette launchers, the deadly combination of shotgun and grenade launcher.

Their escort dropped their aura and the guards backed up instantly, allowing their party to pass into the stone room carved near the ceiling. Kon risked a glance over and could only make out murky shapes below, shadows blending together.

"Bit of energy and sharpen my senses and this would be a good sniper's nest." Kon kept that thought to himself as they turned to look at the packed booth. Most of the guards were familiar from the night they'd run into Turja in her club before she'd betrayed them. Or rather, had gotten even with Benny.

There were more Teno guards here, but what was more interesting was the single human sitting next to Turja. Slightly older than them and dressed in an attendant's uniform, similar to what he'd seen on the Shadow of Steel. The woman looked at them and Kon got a good look at the striking woman.

Sharp cheekbones, dark eyes, button nose, with her hair pulled into a tight bun. White teeth flashed as she rose, bowing to Turja who remained seated, before she sauntered past them. Benny grew still behind Kon, he could feel the tension rising as the woman walked right past him and Diur to wrap her arms around Benny in a crushing hug. Metal groaned as the woman let out an excited laugh as she stepped back to look up at Benny.

"It's been too long, gramps," her voice was husky and low and Kon could feel his body react, heat building in his chest and gut as he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Benny frowned at her and for a moment Kon could see Truth peak out from its hidden spot. The effects of her voice broke and Kon took a deep shuddering breath, cold air rushing into his chest, his cheeks suddenly hot.

"What did I tell you about that?" Benny said, a harsh note in his voice. The woman rolled her eyes and turned to look at Kon and Diur, raising a sculpted eyebrow at them.

"New Squire?"

"Apprentice," Benny said shortly. The woman froze for a second, her smile growing wider again, full of joy.

"Will he be able to do it? Are you sure? I…I'll have to call the others," she started to stammer out. Benny raised a hand and she slowed.

"Melisa, this is Kon Lorgairi and Diur Hthior of the Ulmna Confederacy," Benny said, introducing them both. Melisa smile looked like it was painful by this point.

"Kon, this is Melisa Barret. She is of our Order, a seeker for the way home. I trained her mentor, Lero Ran," Benny said. Kon bent his head in acknowledgement but risked a glance around to where Turja and her guards sat. None of them had moved or looked toward them.

"Turja knows discretion and has been alive long enough that she knows most of this. She's on a very unofficial list of information brokers who can be carefully contacted," Benny said. Kon nodded, but still didn't like that they were just saying these things outloud.

"His paranoia is infectious."

"Ran never thought you'd take a new Squire, let alone an apprentice," Melisa said, energy basically vibrating through her.

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"Enough. What are you doing here?" Benny asked.

"Investigating. Nobles are moving where they shouldn't be, taking contracts that are against the spirit of the compacts," she replied instantly.

"There's no laws against that," Benny said.

"That's what I'm here for. If they're breaking the spirit of the Compact, then they might be breaking the letter. Ran sent me to investigate what was happening and I followed the trail to here," Melisa said.

"And?" Benny asked. Melisa froze and for the first time her smile faltered as she looked around them.

"We have the same goals, but my chain of command is clear. I need to make my reports to Ran first," she said, iron in her voice even as uncertainty leaked across her face.

"You know I have access to the reporting system. Easier to just tell me," Benny said with a bit of exasperation in his voice.

"Nothing concrete. But there's something going on. I need a bit more time, but I'll send you my findings," Melissa promised. Benny nodded once and then the woman was gone, simply vanishing in between moments.

"She's gotten too good at that trick," Benny said, shaking his head like a disappointed uncle.

"All done?" Turja asked from her sofa. Benny kept a straight face as he waved them all forward and Kon found himself being swept away again.

"Twice in a year. I truly am blessed," Turja said, sitting forward as her hair danced behind her. Black tattoos swirled and Kon could feel them threatening to pull him off balance, but the effect was weaker than the last time. She looked at him and smiled widely, showing off her large fangs.

"You owe the kids," Benny said.

"What?" Diur said, turning her head sharply to look at him. Kon was glad she had beaten him to a question for once.

"She ruined your mission and put you in danger. Her and I are even, but she owes you two a small debt," Benny said.

"It is the way of the world in the shadows. Debts and favors are our currency between each other. My actions have incurred debt, which I will now pay off," Turja supplied.

"What does that entail?" Kon asked, leaning forward.

"What do you wish? If it is too great for the debt, I will tell you. Do not be greedy less you ruin your reputation amongst our kin," Turja said. Kon leaned back and looked at Diur.

"Really wish we had our helmets and encrypted comms." Diur seemed to read his mind, grabbing him by the sleeve and pulling him to the far side of the room. Her own aura spilled out, soft blue and comforting like a warm placid lake, it wrapped around them and the sounds became muted.

"A weak facsimile of what they can do. They will have to strain to hear us," Diur said. They were close together, inches apart as they tried to quickly come up with a plan of attack for their debt. Minutes passed in rushed whispers before they broke apart, Diur letting her cloak of power fall away.

Kon took the lead as they had planned, striding forward with all the confidence he could muster. He stood before Turja as she leaned back across her couch, dark eyes watching him.

"I'm looking for a detailed list of the fighters below and the most reckless gamblers," Kon said. Turja nodded her head before looking over to Benny was standing to the side with his thumbs hitched in his belt.

"Are they good enough to win?" she asked.

"I've been training them hard. They're better than most at their age and stages," Benny replied. Kon had to keep himself from puffing up in pride at the old man's praise. Benny kept his praise far and in between.

"Done. I hope you don't disappoint," Turja said. One of her aides came from the side, handing over a cheap holopad to him. Kon tried to keep the surprise off his face that they already had the information already.

"I'm an information broker. I've made quite a bit selling information about fighters to others," Turja said with a shrug. Kon was backing away and looking over the information already. Turja turned to look at Benny, ready to continue their conversation but Diur stepped forward.

"Two favors were owed," Diur said. Turja froze and looked between Kon and Diur before shaking her head softly.

"I must be getting old to fall for that trick. You are correct, two debts owed, two must be repaid. Even if one is led to believe that one was two," Turja said.

"I need to know who has this list of ingredients, arrays, and if there is an alchemist here," Diur said, handing over her own holopad with the data of all the ingredients needed to advance their body cultivation.

Turja took the holopad and handed it to someone behind her who started to review it quickly while Diur retreated.

"Anything else?" Turja asked a bit icily. When neither of them said anything, she turned back to look at Benny.

"Thank you for the advice to relocate my services here. A minor debt at best," she said.

"It was a good hunch. The station fell apart?" Benny asked as he looked down on Turja.

"The power vacuum was large enough that it attracted outsiders. It was growing bloodier than I wished to deal with and more importantly, what customers wanted to deal with. It will take a few years before it calms down," Turja said.

"What's going on here?" Benny said.

"That's more than a minor debt," Turja said. Benny just shrugged and reached in his bag, pulling out a monster core and tossing it to her. Even as it sailed across the space between them, Kon could feel the energy about it, much stronger than the F-Grade cores they'd been dealing with. Turja caught it and made it disappear in her robes.

"Be careful old man. War clouds are forming. Ships have been arriving, Lupine ships, and they are waving around cultivation materials to bring forth anyone of talent. Thousands have already taken the contracts they offer, loading up and leaving, now all that remains are the dregs and the sects. Even they are beginning to sway to the bribes though. Not long from now they'll also board ships," Turja said. Kon looked over to Diur and they made eye contact, both of them thinking the same thing.

Those who grew too large all seemed to meet the same gristly end. Fear filled Diur's eyes as they looked at each other. It hurt to see that fear in her eyes, the uncertainty, the dread that clung to her.

"Together," Kon mouthed at her, lifting his hand just a fraction to bump his knuckles against her forearm. She nodded, a bit of relief breaking through the storm of emotions.

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