A portal opened in front of the Barwith manor, and the guards stationed outside looked at it with curiosity. When Olivander walked out, one of them held up a hand to stop him.

"Hello sir, do you have business at the manor?"

"Me? No, but he does." Olivander gestured over his shoulder where Burtrum emerged from the portal in full armor, followed by Raz.

"Where is my son?" Burtrum growled.

"Your son?" the guard asked, his voice a little higher than it had been a moment before.

Burtrum moved to walk past the guards, and when one of the guards drew his spear on him, Burtrum grabbed the man and threw him over the manor.

"You looking to fly too?"

The other guard dropped his spear and ran away.

"Wow, that worked much better than I expected," Olivander said. "Very intimidating! Raz, lead on please."

"Uh, sure."

They made their way straight to the study. Instead of knocking or checking to see if the door was locked, Burtrum buried plated fingers in the doorframe and ripped the door out of the wall.

"What is the meaning of this!" a man shouted from behind a desk.

"Is this the idiot?" Burtrum asked Raz, who nodded.

"You have two seconds to tell me where my son is before I rip your head from your shoulders."

Olivander put a hand on Burtrum's armor. "Whoa there, Burtrum. We might need him alive."

"Who are you!? Guards! GUARDS!?"

Burtrum rushed the man. In an instant, the man's desk was reduced to splinters, and Burtrum was holding up Lord Barwith by his neck.

"MY. SON!"

"I…I don't know who your son is!"

"Burtrum, if I might have a moment?" Olivander asked. Burtrum dropped the man into a pile and walked away. He looked like he wanted to smash more things in the room, but he held himself back.

"Do you know who I am, Lord Barwith?"

"N-no."

"My name is Olivander Casumus."

The lord went white.

"Now you probably understand who the large man in the terrifying armor might be referring to when he asks about his son. I would strongly recommend you answer his question, because I will not restrain him again."

"Kevek! Kevek has him! I sent him out to capture the boy! It was his idea! We were just going to have them humiliated a little, the way Olivander humiliated my son! I swear!"

"Do you know where Kevek is?" Olivander asked, suppressing an eye roll.

"No! He just comes when I send a message to a specific information broker. He was already here earlier."

"What broker?" Olivander asked.

"I…I can't say!"

Olivander's grimoire appeared.

"Oh, that's not a problem. Is it some sort of magical oath, or are you just an idiot? I have spells for both, but I should tell you that the spell to fix the second problem is less than pleasant."

"It was the Spider wasn't it?" Raz asked from the back of the room.

"The Spider? Not really an imaginative name for an information broker. I like Biff better."

"Olivander," Burtrum rumbled, "would you mind staying focused?"

Olivander pointed at the man. He drew out a ritual in the air and channeled mana into it.

"Reveal thoughts!"

A beam of light extended from Olivander's forehead to the prone lord.

"Information broker connected to Kevek," Olivander said, prompting the man's mind to move in that direction.

Helishan moved down into the underbelly of the city. They had built these tunnels to move the huge amounts of water that constantly entered the city. Before the guild started managing the dungeon, these tunnels were almost always flooded. Now they were always kept dry, and home to some of the darkest aspects of society.

In a room deep within the tunnels, a man in a black mask talked about a proposition. A trade for services. Someone truly powerful wanted something he had and agreed to work as muscle in exchange.

Olivander broke the connection. Swimming through the thoughts and memories of another was uncomfortable at best.

"Raz, do you know an information broker in the underbelly? Wears a black mask."

Raz closed his eyes like he had a sudden headache, but composed himself quickly. "I know him. He's my brother. I can take you right to him."

"You'll need to take Burtrum right to him. I hesitated to come here at all because I have no doubt Kevek is now tracking my movements, and I don't want to scare him off. I came to make sure Burtrum didn't kill this worm before we got what we needed. Can I portal you closer to your brother?"

"Near the lower quarter skyfall park would be close enough."

Olivander opened a portal. He stopped Burtrum.

"If you see Kevek, or find out where the boys are, use the device I gave you immediately. Do not try to fight the Bloodhunter alone. I have no doubt he's grown even stronger since the last time we met, and you're no match for him."

Burtrum nodded and left Olivander alone with the lord. Olivander allowed the portal to snap shut.

"What do you know of the Bloodhunter?" Olivander asked, conjuring a chair and sitting down.

The lord rose to his feet awkwardly and brushed himself off. He tried to compose himself before sitting back down in his own chair.

"I've been using him as a hired muscle for a couple months now. He goes somewhere, and my problems disappear."

"I'm sorry to break your streak. Now, what is it that you have that he wants? He wouldn't bow to someone like you without getting something special out of it."

The lord cleared his throat and leaned forward to put his arms on his desk only to remember his desk was now a pile of splinters. He sat up straight once more.

"My family deals heavily in construct fabrication and research. One of our more brilliant artificers created an object that can store different types of magic for later access. He only made two before becoming ill and dying of a sudden malady. His notes on the construction of this construct were incomplete, and we were unable to replicate his work.

"We did sell some derivative items that worked similarly, but weren't nearly as effective. The Bloodhunter reached out through our mutual contact to inquire about more advanced models of the item we were selling. I have given him one, and I have the other in reserve for services rendered."

"Do you have the other item here? I would very much like to see it."

"Why would I agree to that?"

"Have you already forgotten that we aren't really dealing in good faith right now?" Olivander said, and his grimoire drifted out from where it had been floating behind his chair.

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"You can't just threaten me. I'm a member of the nobility! The Queen will hear of this!"

"You think I care about the Queen? No. She was done with me, and I am done with her. Not that it matters at all. If I sent your head to the palace, I expect I might receive a stern letter condemning my actions. You think she just sends the Hammer out to deal with people who threaten third-rate nobility? You're not worth the time."

Olivander readjusted himself in his chair. This time he leaned forward and lowered his voice.

"Let me tell you what's going to happen here. Assuming that Gregory and Cooper are safely recovered, I'll report you to the local constabulary for punishment with explicit advice that any bribes accepted will trigger a return visit from me. If either of my apprentices are harmed? Well…you should hope they're doing just fine."

"With that in mind, Lord Barwith. Do you have the other construct here?"

The lord was white as a sheet. He held up a shaky hand, pointing at a cabinet at the side of the room.

Olivander scanned it with his magical senses and found something odd. It was certainly the construct, but when his senses touched it, they seemed to be pulled into it and cut off from him. He summoned Sous.

"What happened in here?" Sous said, looking at the desk.

"Burtrum."

"I see, I see."

"Sous, would you mind looking in that cabinet for a magical construct for me?"

"Sure thing, boss!"

Sous drifted over and opened the cabinet. On the bottom shelf there was a milky glass orb. Sous grabbed it and floated back up, heading back to Olivander.

He made it about two feet before the orb consumed his power, and he fell to the ground, folding back up into his inactive form.

Olivander turned back to the lord, who was now visibly sweating.

"It's truly impressive how deeply you continue to dig your own grave."

Olivander stood and drew out a ritual on the floor. He kicked the fallen orb into it, and the magic contained in the orb worked as a battery to power the ritual, with no input from Olivander.

"What a marvelous creation," Olivander said, walking around the orb.

"I know you promised this to Kevek, but I don't plan on him remaining around to claim it. Could I buy it off of you?"

"You want to…buy it?"

"I'm not a thief, Lord Barwith. Here, how about this?"

Olivander pulled out the circlet he had received as a reward from his personal trial. It was worth far more than the orb to someone like Lord Barwith.

"You would trade this? To me?"

"Just because you had my apprentices kidnapped doesn't mean we can't be cordial. Now, you keep that, and I'll just take this orb."

Olivander got the orb into one of his bags without touching it. He patted the bag with his hand, retrieved Sous' token, and then sat back down across from Lord Barwith. The man was having trouble digesting the earlier threats and the transition to everyday trading.

"Now, I do have a few more questions. Did Kevek have any reservations about working against me, or any concerns when he found out I was in the city?"

"No, he's the one that mentioned you were in the city to me, and when my son returned, he suggested we do something with your apprentices."

"So he's trying to set a trap…" Olivander said, musing to himself. Between what he knew of the man, this mysterious orb he was after, and his plan to give Olivander a reason to hunt for him, he was starting to get an idea of the man's plan. The last thing he wanted was to allow the Bloodhunter to surprise him for a third time.

* * *

"Have you known Olivander long?" Raz asked as they made their way through the old sewer that made up the city underbelly.

"Just a month or two. He's a good man, if a bit eccentric," Burturm said. He was still wearing his plate, but had stashed his helmet away since it was hard enough to see in the dimly lit tunnels.

As they walked, the sound of dripping water and the occasional mouse's squeak were the only things that accompanied them. Small glowing stones were embedded in the walls, and they provided the only light. Raz had asked a couple questions, but he couldn't draw the big man into a conversation. He thought perhaps Burtrum was worried about making noise. Raz knew that wasn't a problem, many people made their way through these tunnels, and they had passed a few on their own way down.

"I owe you an apology too, Burtrum. I shared your son's relationship with Olivander. I should have thought ahead. He and Cooper didn't deserve that kind of attention."

"I get it. You make a living doing whatever you need to. I know you didn't harbor anything personal against my son. That doesn't make me like it, mind you, but I understand. Your apology is accepted, and you can consider things between us even for your help."

Raz nodded and did feel a little relief. Olivander was scary in a nebulous kind of way, but the giant form of Burtrum was scary in an altogether different one. Raz couldn't stop picturing the Silver rank guard flying over the roof of the Barwith manor.

"We're almost there. Would you mind letting me do the talking? My brother can be difficult, but he's also sneaky. We don't want him running away before we find out where Kevek is holed up."

"You can take the lead, but if he starts refusing, my hammer is coming out."

Raz eyed the giant glowing hammer strapped to the man's back and prayed that didn't happen.

They came to a hole with a ladder sticking out. Raz eyed the hole, and then the bulk that was the Gold rank adventurer.

"I don't think you're going to fit."

"I'll manage, go ahead."

Raz shrugged and climbed down. As he stepped off the ladder and dusted himself off, a voice rang out from above.

"Watch out below!"

Raz was just able to roll out of the way before a boulder of plate armor crashed through the hole above and left a small crater in the stone floor where it landed. Burtrum unfolded himself and stood up. Raz looked up to the entry hole to find it was now about two feet wider.

"What is going on out here?" A voice called from an open doorway just down the tunnel from them. A small person in a black mask leaned out of the doorway to examine the intruders. "Shadowhand! I wasn't expecting you, have you brought me someone interesting?"

"Drop the shadow nonsense, Ruhna."

"Shadowhand, I am at work! And you will refer to me as Shadowmask!"

Raz sighed. He waved for Burtrum to follow, and they followed Shadowmask as he retreated into his home.

Unlike the tunnel entrance above, the doorways were just large enough to accommodate Burtrum. When they stopped at a living area, Shadowmask turned around and jumped when he saw Burtrum's huge frame filling the entire doorway.

"My, that is an intimidating one! What is he, new muscle? He'll go for a fair price."

Burtrum started growling, but Raz gestured to placate him.

"No, my friend is here on other business. We need to know how you get in touch with Kevek Bloodhunter, where he's staying."

This time it was Shadowmask who hissed. "A dangerous request, Shadowhand. One that would be sure to get me killed were it to get out. What business do you have with the Bloodhunter?"

"He's abducted my friend's son and a companion."

"Oh I see. The boy traveling with the former Arch-magus, no doubt. I have heard whispers already. I am not unwilling to part with the knowledge, but I must have something in return. Kevek never specifically forbade me from sharing where he is staying, but a man like him doesn't appreciate loopholes like you and me."

Butrum's knuckles cracked and his armor clinked as he made fists. Raz thought it was the perfect amount of intimidation for a man like his brother. Any direct threat would be met with avoidance and then he would flee.

"How about this, Shadowmask. You tell us what we want to know, and I'll get you an interview with Olivander Casumus."

He knew his brother, and the one thing he loved above all else was hidden and forbidden knowledge. Raz had no doubt that the former Arch-magus would agree to meet him, and he knew his brother would jump at the chance to grill someone with access to more secrets than Raz could imagine.

"Please, you can't guarantee that the great Olivander Casumus would agree to see me any more than I can guarantee that the sun will rise in the west tomorrow."

"Normally, you'd be right. But Olivander's involvement put Burtrum's son in danger," he said, thumbing over his shoulder at the giant. "I'm sure as a request from Burtrum, Olivander will agree."

Shadowmask considered the request. He tilted his head to look beyond his brother. "You would agree to this."

"Honestly, I'd rather just start ripping off limbs until you talk, but if this will involve less screaming, then sure."

Shadowmask visibly shuddered. "Ahem. Ah, well. Yes of course. This is acceptable!"

"Kevek is staying in the Low Fort outside Du'la'melio. It's halfway between the city and the sea and has been abandoned for years, but he took up residence nonetheless. I have heard rumors that the owners of the fort have been missing for the better part of a month, but I haven't been able to substantiate that yet. It's not information I can sell, so it hasn't been worth hunting down."

Burtrum walked up to the pair of them, larger than the two of them side-by-side and two heads taller.

"If I find out you've given us false information, I will find you, no matter where you are."

Shadowmask took a step back. "Now, now, hold on! I may be an information broker, and forced to live in the underbelly, but I take pride in my reputation. I would never sell false information!"

"It's ok, Burtrum. He's not lying. Let's get Olivander so we can get out to the fort."

Burtrum gave Shadowmask another scowl before pulling out a glowing blue rod. He snapped it and moments later a portal appeared.

Olivander walked out, staff in hand.

"I take it we have some information! No one's screaming, that's good."

"We do. Kevek is hiding out at the Low Fort, on the way out to the sea. Do you know it?" Raz asked.

"I do, but I haven't been there," Olivander said. Then he turned toward Shadowmask. "You must be the brother. Why do you wear that mask?"

Raz jumped in before his brother could answer. "He just wanted to copy me. I was already well known as Shadowhand when he set up down here. Thought using a similar name would drum up business."

Shadowmask shrugged.

"You do realize that your brother's name comes from an ability right? He's not just wearing a black glove."

"I do, but I don't have such an ability."

Burtrum put a hand on his face, clearly restraining the urge to punch a few of the people in the room.

"We should get moving, Olivander," Raz said. He wasn't especially close to his younger brother, but he didn't want to see his head removed by an armored fist.

"Right you are Raz. Shadowface, we'll have to catch up another time. You should consider a name change though. That mask looks ridiculous."

Olivander and Burtrum left through the portal. Raz gave his brother a parting glance.

"I'll let you know when Olivander can come back down, assuming we all make it out of this alive."