Tracking down her house took the better part of his night. It was secreted away in one of the desperate corners of the lower ring, deep in Brick's old neighborhood, only the streets were different than he remembered.
Half the everything was on fire the last time he was in the Lower Ring. Grundy had been thorough.
The daub and thatch homes were the first to be swallowed in the inferno, followed by the brick homes. Four years later, and they'd been mostly been replaced by stout homes of rough stone and plaster, nearly as illustrious as homes in the Middle Ring, but not all homes recovered. The house at the address is one of them. The roof was collapsed, with chunks of blackened clay pouring out the side of the leaning structure. A half-hearted spell from Brick could've toppled it all over, and in its corners, squirreled away from light, sat dozens of dewy-eyed squatters lounging about with bits of blue powder sprinkled around their nose. One look at them, and Brick knew he wouldn't be getting any answers. Jon had either lied to him, or Maya was far more dangerous than he'd thought.
They were doped up on Arcenium.
Or as Brick preferred to call it, Devil powder.
There were scarce few things that hooked you worse. Alcoholism was a kinder vice compared. One snort could knock a man down and keep him trapped in a fever dream for hours. By the time they woke, they'd think they were Gaia herself, and they'd be scrapping for their next hit.
Arcenium was hard to mine and even harder to smuggle in. The people in the Lower Ring who could get it knew it was good for more than just snorting. A proper Potioner could brew all sorts of Alchemical wonders provided they didn't make a mistake and draft a poison instead, which was usually the case, but the deadly draught was often worth more anyways. Acernium poison was as nasty as it was rare. Almost as potent as the real thing in heavy doses. They could kill a man in six hours or less...
Brick nearly tripped on a stone sticking out of pace, panic gripping his chest. He'd not seen blue powder or saw signs he'd been poisoned, but the trip to the infirmary had been a blur. With the substance as popular as it was, it wouldn't take much of an effort to slip him some. Seth had never said anything, but Brick knew the man had as many enemies as he did.
Brick broke into a light jog, and his eyes drank up every little detail as he moved. He needed to find this woman or someone who could tell him exactly what was going on. Three more dens came and went before he found someone lucid enough in an old temple.
A scrawny teenager barely out of boyhood stood atop a cracked altar watching over a group of moaning and twisting Acernium users. He wore clothes entirely too large for him and a stuffy sling bag around his midsection. He drew materials from it regularly, dabbing, wiping, whispering, and listening as they breathed. It seemed like entirely too much trouble for one devil powder trip.
"A dose is 60 copper, and it's 20 more to watch over your stuff while you sleep!" the boy yelled over as Brick ducked beneath collapsed beam at the entrance.
Just half a silver? Devil powder was much cheaper than he thought.
"Sleep. Is that what they're calling it now?"
The boy's eyes swept up from his flock and narrowed.
"Who are you, Mister? You're begging to be robbed walking around in clothes like those."
"I can take care of myself," Brick waved. "More important though, is this little operation you got going here. In my time, they'd never let a squirt run an Acernium den."
"Acernium? Haven't heard anyone but the Bosses call Blue Powder that. Are you city guard?" The boy said as he slowly tucked his hand under the folds of his oversized jacket, likely reaching for a knife.
"Does it matter if I am? I'm not looking to shut you down or anything," Brick said with his nose upturned. "They clearly know this shit has flooded the lower ring." Brick's eyes panned down to the "Sleepers," then back up to the Boy.
"Do you know a Maya?" he asked. "Tall, beautiful, irresistible. She said I should come looking for her, but never gave an address." Brick wore a bashful smile. He hoped it was disarming.
"Maybe she doesn't want you looking for her, Mister. You said it yourself. She gave you no address."
Brick eased into the structure, pacing around the Sleepers. "You know Maya, then?"
"I never said..."
"Don't lie to me," Brick said. "I'm no guard, and you know Maya can handle herself. Point me in her direction kid, answer a few questions, and I'll make it worth your while."
The boy's face scrunched and re-tested his grip once then twice, but Brick knew he'd be twisting his arm to say, "Yes." He had to coax him then.
"The way you hold your knife, you've had training?" Brick nudged with his jaw. The boy's knife had a brown wood handle with a metal hilt.
The boy blinked before he answered, sounding rather smug. "Old man Wan thinks I am a natural with the shortsword."
"Told me the same thing about the Axe room."
The boy's face brightened all at once. "You're from the Lower Ring!" His voice was so loud Brick feared he'd wake the Sleepers. Brick nodded.
"Grew up in the Orphanage behind Alexios old shop."
"Wow..."
With a small smile on his face, he looked towards the gate.
"I left a while back and made my fortune. The world is a lot bigger than just the Lower ring."
With those words, the boy's grip on his dagger finally loosened, and Brick twisted.
"If I say I need to find Maya, it's important."
The boy stood in silence, his red fiery brows knitting slowly as he thought things over.
"I can't show you. You'd have to go yourself." His eyes fell to the moaning and twisting bodies beside him. "I need to watch the Sleepers."
Brick nodded, "Wouldn't ask it of you."
"The Old Orphanage behind Alexios, it's was rebuilt some years back after Grundy came through. You'll find her there."
Brick flicked his last gold to the kid with a warm smile on his face. "What's your name kid?"
The kid leaned back and nearly tripped catching the coin. He hefted it with two hands like it weighed ten times as much.
"Elos." His eyes never left the coin as he spoke.
"I won't forget this favor. Look for me in the Upper Ring," Brick added as he turned to leave.
---
The orphanage loomed over the structures surrounding it, steeping them in a moon-starved shade. Waves of teens barely into adulthood patrolled the area, a few huddled by cast-iron braziers by the gates for warmth and light. From his hiding place, Brick thought the structure looked like the demense of a rich asshole a ring up, and it was almost appropriate he had dedicated, though fresh, guards protecting it. Brick hoped they wouldn't put up a fight, but he was almost certain they would. He'd could only hope he'd made a convincing arrogant young master.
Sucking in cold air, he stepped into the light and watched the guards squirm and sputter at his arrival.
"Evening, boys."
The tallest and brawniest of the bunch jabbed his spear tip at Brick. He had a white mop of hair and a round chubby face. "What do you want?" he demanded in his husky voice that sounded almost threatening. Steel shingled in the hands of the other boys, unsure of how to react to the newcomer.
Brick swiped the spear away from his face with a plaid expression, nearly knocking the weapon from the boy's hand. He waited for the boy to gather himself before he slid back his coat sleeve to reveal his tattooed forearm. It still hummed with power despite feeding it no mana.
The boy gasped, and his spear clattered to the floor.
"I have business with your boss, take me in," Brick demanded.
The boys said nothing for a bit, sharing confused looks, shuffling in their leather and plate armors.
"You heard me!" Brick barked, splitting the silence. "Don't waste my time."
"We didn't get word you were coming, Sir..." one said from the side. He was a reedy young man with squinty eyes that made him look like he was always suspicious of something. No doubt he was the smart one of the bunch. Brick turned to the brawny kid immediately.
"You're the leader, Yes?"
The kid nodded slowly at first, then emphatically.
"My time is precious, so I'll only say this once. I am expected. Either allow me in or fetch someone who I can speak with."
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Brick watched as the boy's face twisted and sweat in obvious fear and indecision. The kids were certainly bolder than he gave them credit for. In his day, he would have cowed immediately.
"You've chosen to fetch your master then? he asked. "Be quick about it, but know I will not forget this disrespect, and I am sure your master would appreciate the disturbance too."
The boy visibly withered.
"Disrespect?" another kid in the back gulped.
Brick raised a brow." Of course. You chose to bar my way despite knowing I am a knight. Did you think they wouldn't be consequences?" Brick folded his hand behind the small of his back. "Go on, then. I am waiting."
---
The door creaked open a few minutes later, and Brick stepped into the Orphanage, escorted by the smart kid and the brawny boy. The building was different, yet familiar. Hints of the former architecture persisted. The arches, doors, and layout felt similar, so similar, he reckoned he could navigate them. At some point, he was convinced he could hear the old matron voice, but then he came across a wall that cut off an entire wing, and doors that led to mystery areas. Brick felt like a stranger in his own childhood home and he caught himself thinking about them, Hector and Anya. They stirred up trouble, tearing up and down the Lower Ring. They had so much clout in the underground, they were convinced they could take the city.
Brick nearly laughed at the gall. Their greed brought Grundy to the Lower Ring, and everyone suffered for it.
They passed a few dozen of older, more experienced guards, but seeing Brick and the two guards, they said nothing. Pompous men strutting in here at the dead of night was apparently normal. They climbed the second floor and came to a set of double doors barred by two larger men draped in steel plate armor. The one on the right was slightly taller than Brick and stockier.
"Henry, Snow, what are you doing away from your post?" he rumbled, chainmail clinking slightly. He was a top-heavy man with unruly dark hair and dark heavy eyes. They regarded Brick. "Who is he?"
"He's a knight, Mister Remus," Snow, the brawny kid said. "He said he's got business with the boss."
"What sort of business?" the other guard to his left asked. He had a thick mustache that slowly shifted as he talked. His cone helmet hung low enough that it shadowed his eyes.
"The personal sort," Brick said, considering his options. "One of your boss's girls screwed over some important people upside. Tell your boss he either deals with me or Grundy."
Both men shared a surprised look that slowly shifted to skepticism.
"Who are you reporting and what's your name, knight?" the large one asked.
Brick considered lying, bullshitting his way through again, but he had the paint suspicion that it wouldn't work on these men. There was no particular reason to lie, but something itched at the back of his mind; an instinct almost. Lying would save him the trouble of being recognized. No doubt they'd know who he was if he gave his name, but he was going to tell the boss anyway. What would telling two guards change. Besides, they knew better than to raise their blade against a knight.
"Brick," he said, "and the girl is "Maya."
"Mistress Maya?" the brawny kid whispered, and Brick instantly knew something was wrong. The older men tensed but kept their faces clear like they hadn't just heard the boy speak. Their hands casually reached for the sheath of their longsword, and even the smart kid looked to be finding his backbone because his grip tightened on his spear.
"Wait here," the top-heavy guard said. "I'll tell the boss." He turned and reached for the latches of the large ebony wood doors.
Brick let out a long sigh and pulled the bottle of wine from his jacket pocket. Their eyes fixed on him even as he popped the cork with his teeth, spat it out, and down it's content. The glass clattered to the ground a moment later.
"Who the fuck is this Maya person?" Brick demanded They knew who he was, what he'd done, and even heard rumors of what powers they'd gained for their service. They still tried to take him on anyway. This Maya person must be important to their boss, or at least worth the trouble.
The brawny kid, Snow, suddenly let out a scream and charged with a pathetic roar, spearing for Brick's head. Brick spun around sluggishly, slapping the spear tip to the side, and buried his fist in the kid's gut. It wrenched him off the floor and shoved him a few feet back. He lost his lunch with a loud wretch and collapsed in a pool of his own vomit.
"Get the other guards!" the cone helmet guard yelled at the smart boy, who decided, to Brick's bafflement, decided to do the exact opposite.
The large man from the ebony door, spotting the mess, turned around and dashed for Brick. He was joined by the second guard, and the boy, and they all attacked as one. Brick flared his rune and masonry ripped from the room in all angles, bulled past the men, and coalesced into a hovering wall in front of his arm. The approaching stone ripped all three of them off their feet.
Brick stared down at their groaning forms a little disappointed. They charged him? Poorly trained, with no magical talent, they stood no chance. He tutted as he stepped over the form of the largest man. He could only hope their boss was smarter.
Behind him, Brick saw someone stir. It was the large man, and he painfully fumbled up to his feet, favoring his left shoulder. He had a mean, desperate look on his face and locked his sword in a death grip.
Brick almost heard his roar before he charged, sword raised. Brick knocked him back with a rock shield with a single swipe. He slammed into the ebony door, and his partner lashed out from behind with a vicious stab, seeing the opportunity.
It almost caught Brick unaware.
The blade bit into Brick's coat and cut through his shirt as he ducked. He spun around and decked the man with a particular cruel backhand, and thankfully raised his shield just as a stray spear came for his eye. The smart kid had made his play, and Brick scowled at him.
"You are a lot less bright than I gave you credit for?" Brick growled while raising a fist. A yellowish brownish aura glowed around his fingertip as he came to the boy. He'd crawled himself into a corner, and the rest of the guards were either on the floor or unconscious.
"I'm fresh out of patience, so this is the last time I'll ask you. Who the fuck is Maya!" Every inch of the boy shivered, but he gave no answer. He'd resolved to strike the boy when the Ebony door creaked open, shoving the strapping man leant against it to the side.
"Why don't you drop the magic fist, Big guy," a voice said. It was calm even in the face of magical threat. "The kid is loyal. You won't get anything out of him."
The magic flickered out of his fingers as Brick's eyes widened in realization.
"Hector?"
A man stood before him in a jerkin jacket, cutlass strapped to his waist, and his blue hair wrapped into a bun.
"It's been a while, Brick." The corner of his lips angled up. "Shit, I almost didn't recognize you with all that muscle and magic." He squinted his eyes. "Is that hair grease in your hair?"
He grappled with his warring thoughts, before he simply asked, "How?" The floating stone shield crumbled to the floor. There was so much smoke when he left the orphanage. He'd been almost certain they hadn't survived.
"A great deal of fighting, but I had better luck than most." He looked around the corridor, frowning slightly at the mess. His eyes fixed on the stones particularly, before he peered past Brick and gave a nod. Brick realized he was giving orders to the men he had just torn through. The man on the ebony door sloughed off it, and picked the kids up. His partner helped, and they left them in the corridor.
Hector's thumbs tucked into the meat of his leather belt, just above the hilt of his cutlass. It had a guard covered in spike and a blue gem sat atop the hilt.
He still does that, Brick thought.
"The last time I saw you, Hector," Brick swallowed as the memory came, "everything was on fire."
"Ah," Hector said rubbing his chin. "The night you betrayed us like a coward, leaving me and Angi to face down Grundy." His voice was eerily calm. There was no malice or urgency in it.
"It didn't happen like that. You know that," Brick said. "He would have burned everything down if I stayed."
"He burned it all down anyway." His face turned ugly for the briefest moment, before it relaxed. "What brings you to my humble abode, Brick,"he asked, calm again. "I doubt you made your way in here and beat on my people just because you wanted to say hello."
The Orphanage was his? It made sense why it looked about the same, only more ostentatious. Hector did influence his tastes for the garrish.
"I am looking for someone. A woman. She goes by the name of Maya," Brick said. "She might've poisoned someone important. One of General Roko's men."
"What's that got to do with me?"
"Someone pointed me in your direction when I came looking for her. They say she comes here on and off."
"I don't know what to tell you," he shrugged. "I don't know a 'Maya', much less one with the gall and skill to poison a knight, but then again, you new ones are not as impressive as the older knights."
"Don't lie to me, Hector," Brick said, some of the irritation slipping out from his voice. "I know you better than that. You're still a shit liar." Hector's fingers had curled up while they talked, and his eyes narrowed playfully when he noticed his blunder. He made a deliberate effort to lengthen them.
"Either way, I have nothing to say to you."
Brick frowned in obvious confusion at Hector
"They'll be no stopping what's to come if you don't give her up. General Roko is a hurricane that'll make what Grundy did here feel like a midsummer breeze."
There wasn't time to bring Hector around the slow way. It was an hour or so after midnight, three or so hours after he left Seth. He might already be too late if he'd been poisoned. Surely, Hector would see reason.
"Let him come," he simply said.
"What!"
"Let. Him. Come," Hector repeated himself. He had a devilish glint in his eyes."You Upper Ring twats will find that we're not so easily beaten into submission. Let him come. Things won't end like last time."
"Don't call me a bleeding noble!" The word struck a cord in him again, and Brick strut up to his ex-teammate, glaring him down. "And what you mean by ''Let him come''."
"The Emperor or the other Generals might stay his hand, but none of you'd survive. He'll blot out this entire orphanage if he thinks you're holding her here." Brick's face softened a bit. "Be reasonable. Your men will die. It'll be a blood bath."
"You have my answer," Hector stared back at him, a daring smile tugging at the edge of his lips.
"What happened to you?" Brick's voice sunk even lower. Brick couldn't recognize the man he stared at. They'd scrapped, fought, and stole together for nearly half their lives, and it was their collective decision to take the Job and had even been against it at first. The Hector he remembered was the careful one.
"I grew up." Hector's face lost its joy. "You don't get to come into my house after all this time and make demands of me. If you didn't need Maya I'm sure you'd be comfortable forgetting Angi and me existed. Fuck you, Brick. Don't you dare get self-righteous with me."
Brick felt a deep anger bubble within him, pushing him to deck the man, but he realized he was right. Given the choice, he'd never come here and face his past. He was half-afraid they died, or worse, lived, and he was ashamed at how horribly things turned out. He'd been fine finding out years, even decades later into his service. He had a new life now, and his friend needed him. He would have his answers.
"I am not leaving without her," he said. "And this is the last time I ask nicely."
Hector grinned, "It's good to see you're every bit as horrible as I imagined you to be. I'm going to enjoy this."
He heard feet shuffle behind him and by then Brick knew it was too late. He heard two cracks that melded into a loud screech and barely had enough time to flare earth reinforcement before 2 bolts slammed into his back. They broke skin and deep into muscle. His upper back screamed in pain
He stumbled forward, nearly falling down to one knee, and he could hear them work the crossbow behind him. Hector had taken a few steps back and had drawn his cutlass. It glowed with a pale blue light.
"You were stalling!" Brick glared death at him. The man had a small smile on his face but said nothing.
Since he dared, Brick decided he'd teach him a lesson. He'd show all of them.
With a roar, he stepped to the side and slammed his right hand into the far wall. "Stone Toss," he chanted and bits of stone the size of his head ripped out of the floor and shot towards the archers behind him. Two of the three stones took one man, and he heard bone crack. The second archer froze at the sight of his partner ragdoll to the floor. Brick had been aiming for both but like Penta always lectured, his aim needed work. He raised his shield to defend against a cutlass strike that never came, while also gathering mana for a second stone toss.
The hit never came. Instead, ten men filtered through the passage bend, hefting shields, swords, and all manners of weapons, teeth bared at him.
"You are not running away this time," Hector said as he strode up. Cold drifted off the length of his blade. "I have waited a long time to get my hands on you."
Brick felt his control on his runes waver, and for the first time since he'd returned to Grechit, he was afraid.