Deadra complied throughout the journey. It didn’t mean she suffered much less. Still, she held her tongue. It was one of the few shreds of dignity she retained. One of the dew things she had left to cling to.

She only noticed they entered a new room when her latest stumble went unpunished.

She looked up. A mass of dark forms surrounded her. A grand flame burned in the room’s centre. Its light flickered across the crowd but all it did was add flickers of baleful orange light to their leers. But their shapes, their faces eluded her. Tendrils of pale mist crept across the cold stone.

A woman slithered by the fire. Her cloak was like fresh blood on her snow. Their grin was pearly white and dreadfully sharp. Their slit eyes were a bright burning yellow, so intense she felt bare. They looked at her like a jeweller might behold a prized ring.

Hesitantly she stood and shuddered as every eye followed her. Deadra was shoved into the light. Another piece of her pride crumbled.

“The first guest arrives!” the serpent intoned heedless to the cold that struck. It did not stop her it didn’t even slow her down.

They were a cultivator. There was doubt of thet. Strings of tension grew taut in her. Pulled by fear, by pain, tighter still by the sapping cold. Her knees grew weak and hope flickered on a thin wick. But before her spirit could buckle, a hand grabbed her shoulder. She expected to see the brutes leer or the moth’s cold stare or any number of cruelties. Instead, Two looked back at her.

Any number of questions could have rushed to her mind, but as terror loosened its hold all she could think of was how good it was good it was to not be alone.

“Wonderful display.” Said the woman in red. She slithered close bringing further attention to the pair. Deadra shivered, Two stood squeezed her shoulder and resolutely stared into the older woman’s golden eyes. Even while Deadra shrank away.

They leaned so close and smiled so wide, Deadra feared she might open up and swallow them. “This is what I mean by best behaviour lads and ladies. When our other guest arrive show them,class, show them you’re more than the gutter scum this city consigned you be!” Deadra shuddered as the woman turned to the crowd.

A whispered roar rose, stealing yet more degrees from the room.

Even shackled and with her senses suppressed Deadra could feel the weight of the woman’s presence. They were strong much stronger than her. She couldn’t escape her even if a miracle freed her. Deadra swallowed and tried to find a fraction of Two’s strength.

Two squeezed her shoulder and whispered the words Deadra needed most. “You’ll be fine”.

She clung to those words, even as she was left at the light’s edge. Even as hope and cold became her only companions. Even as the former was tested by a figure parting the sea of eyes.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Igni descended from the sky his large wings beat a quiet rhythm. He held a frightened man against his chest.

The slum, as his passenger called it before a brief bout of fainting, was a quiet place. The streets were quiet, the buildings abandoned. The few lights he saw were lonely.

He touched down and helped the guard to the ground. They seemed quite intent on kissing it, but that was a question for another time.

For now, he had work.

“So you saw an antlered man.?“ Leandra queried his brother. She stood beside his brother surrounded by a huddle of guards.

“Yes, his antlers were quite sparkly are you sure that’s the guy? He doesn’t seem very stealthy.” His brother answered easily.

“I’m sure of it.” Leandra took a deep breath. It was meant to calm but Igni could tell it had failed when the next word left her mouth. “Those spineless deer are behind this.” She spat. “How day they, how dare they.” Such anger ran through that she began to shake. The noble shut their eyes and wrestled for calm.

Igni joined them, giving a short smile to the guards that parted for him. Surprisingly few stared at him. Instead, they stared at their lady and the fury that reddened her brown cheeks. It was an interesting sight, he hadn’t known mortals had those shades.

“So…” his brother began after she calmed. “Is there any reason we can’t wait for him to leave, then get your niece.”

“One I refuse to put Deadra at risk. “ Leandra said in a tone close to one she’d first used with him. If one stripped of all politeness. Despite that Igni did not begrudge her. It was simply a new facet of the noble to understand. “Two, the slum is infested with a network of tunnels we don’t know if that castle is connected and we can’t risk it.”

Lux smiled brightly, in the face of her wrath. “Ok, I’ve got a suggestion.” He pointed at Igni. “He is very good at getting in places he shouldn’t and that’s not all he can do.”

Igni blinked at the assembled faces suddenly staring up at him. “Can you enter a place inhabited by a spirit,” Leandra asked eyes intense and tone clipped.

“It depends on the spirit, but I have sensed nothing beyond me.” He hedged.

“Can you evade the senses of multiple cultivators?”

That was a complicated question. “Are they a Sovereign?”

“A what?”

“He means Edict” Lux smiled cheekily and shot him a sidelong glance.

Igni rolled his eyes. “Edict are they an Edict.”

“No,” Leandra said as if it were obvious. “Spes nova wouldn’t let someone of that power roam about.”

Igni hummed absently and filed the knowledge away under ‘things the records had neglected’. It was a growing list. “Then barring unforeseen eventualities it is within my power.”

The noble’s gaze grew calculating and. “What else can you two do.”

Two abandoned all thoughts of stalling as the second ‘guest’ entered the room.

A tall man stepped into view. A pale man took in the room with a stern gaze. A heavy wooden cane thudded with his steps. Warm light glinted off the crown of polished antlers that sprouted from his brow. Stark shadows stood on his neat leather suit.

The gang fell silent

Two supped the air and tasted calm and indifference rolling from him in waves as he his gaze swept the gang. It was only when his eyes landed on the frightened noble opposite him did she detected the slightest interest.

That interest changed to caution as his gaze met Daisy’s. His gaze rose to meet Daisy. “Good evening madam.” His voice was unexpectedly soft, She struggled to hear it over the fire.

Daisy smiled brightly and clasped her before bowing with a flourish. “The greetings mine good sir.” Her voice oozed cheer but Two sensed only greed. She turned to the assembled crowd. “What are you waiting for? Show our guest a proper welcome.”

Two followed the gang as they valiantly attempted a collective bow. It would have been easier if the rustle of clothes and muttered words didn’t bring a bone-numbing cold.

The smiling serpent and stern stage were unbetrothed, only the shivering bird minded, but she wisely kept silent. Two could only hope they wouldn’t freeze to death.

While the fire crackled brightly. The frigid mist thickened on the ground. Slithering along the old stone and gathering around the trio even as ember rose to the ceiling.

The man spoke. “Thank you for the… warm reception. Unfortunately, I must make my visit brief. Recent developments leave me pressed for time”

Daisy sighed and cupped her cheek. “Understandable if dreadfully sad dear Peter. Truly Unfortunate.”

Their client gave no indication Daisy’s continued lamentations bothered him. Two couldn’t decide whether his patience or Daisy’s gall was more impressive. Nonetheless, she hoped it lasted.

The seconds ticked by.