Even though they were standing in the halls of demonic power, most of the demons had left. What remained wasn't even a symbol, it was just an empty shell: the demons' rule over the Commonwealth had always been based on their personal overwhelming strength. The grand hall felt surreal as Kai walked through it to talk to his allies.

"This could be worse," Omilaena said as soon as he arrived. "By far the best result would have been to be ignored entirely, but Troulon ruined that by recognizing me. Nothing is ever secure, with demons, but having their official sanction is as close as we can get."

"Did you hear what he said?" Kai asked. "I was afraid it might make things worse for us, but I didn't think that refusing would be a good idea..."

"No, no, this is good. Having one of the stronger demons actually speaking for us is decent protection. You will have to actually work with him, though, and there's a chance he's just fattening you up to eat later."

That had occurred to Kai too, but he doubted that was the case. Gorutiel was so strong he had no reason to use deception, and he certainly seemed straightforward. "Am I going to have to help kill a Savage Heart user, though?"

"Just find a bad one and kill him," Zae Zin Nim said. "I don't think we can trust the demons at all. That other one is probably going to attack me first chance she gets."

"Oh yeah, Lilaetiel is definitely going to be a problem." Omilaena glanced back toward the emptying council chamber. "If we cut and run now, we could probably get out cleanly. Gain a little more strength on the way out of the Commonwealth and then go somewhere else. But that's the easier option. The real power is right here, alongside the real risks."

"That's easy for you to say. You don't have a demon drooling over your cultivation."

"Did you see Troulon's ability? He's a Gray Demon now, and that means he eats minds. There's a chance he still has some camaraderie left in him, but I bet he wants to eat me. We're strong enough that all of us are potential targets. The question is whether the risk is worth it."

"Let's not make a final decision now," Kai suggested. "It's been a long day and we've all been fighting. We can decide what to do after we sleep on it."

It was hard to argue with such a suggestion, so they followed Kai outside and flew away in the diamond star. The city of Traeton was every bit as bright as it had been before, but now Kai's attention was drawn to all the stark shadows cast by the lights. In some places there were almost none, but in between concentrations of lights the shadows cut across buildings like black knives.

Even though he'd suggested they sleep first, when they returned to the inn none of them felt restful. The room was as luxurious as before, it just no longer seemed so cozy or secure. Eventually they all ended up in the sitting chairs, not yet speaking but all knowing what they had to decide.

"What if Kai takes on the risk?" Omilaena eventually asked. "I'm asking both of you that, by the way."

Kai shrugged. "My risk is working with Gorutiel? If he's so interested in the Savage Creed, it sounds like he would have been a problem no matter how I try to get to them. I think it's better to take the danger head on instead of letting it flank you."

"Good. You'll probably be safe due to him - except from him, of course - so the question is us. I think we could stick together and accomplish our objectives in tandem. I need information and Zae Zin Nim needs chakra... we can get both together. The two of us are strong enough that no single rogue demon can take us down, at least not quickly."

Zae Zin Nim frowned in response. "That sounds good in theory, but I don't trust your old friend. He could be planning something much worse."

"I agree we can't ignore him," Omilaena said. "Maybe Kai is right: face the danger head on. I'll go speak with him directly. If he's determined to be a problem, then yes, my plan might be unwise. But we shouldn't retreat unless it's strategic, and I think this is the time to advance."

After a long pause, Zae Zin Nim turned to Kai. "You're taking the largest risk, going alone with a demon. What do you think?"

"I..." He hadn't planned on this being all his decision, and after agreeing on his own he had sort of been assuming he'd stepped too far. But everywhere in the world seemed to include numerous risks, and this might be their best chance at the Commonwealth. "I think we should stay, at least unless something goes wrong. Given the way things are going in the north, this may be the least dangerous the Commonwealth will be in years."

To his surprise they both nodded in response, as if there wasn't going to be any more debate. Was it really that simple? As many threats as loomed around them, Kai was surprisingly warmed that they would trust him like that. Hopefully their trust was justified.

.

..

.

After so many years Omilaena returned to the Great Library of Traebor, this time with two allies flanking her. She was stronger, but not so strong that she could force her way in, so it was time to see if building alliances was enough to gain her the power she needed.

The Great Library was one of the only dark buildings in the city of Traeton. Aside from the gardens at the entrance, which were almost blindingly illuminated, the library itself was shielded from exterior light. From the outside she could still recognize all of the domes, each containing different subject matter. The thick buttressed walls did an excellent job absorbing sound, making the interior one of the few respites in a chaotic city.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Or a good place to murder someone, she supposed.

When they entered the foyer, a pleasant-looking woman at the front desk regarded them nervously. "Hello. The library is only open to-"

"Wait."

Troulon appeared on the upper balcony level and slipped over the side to land on the marble floor. The receptionist wasn't surprised by his leap, just relieved that she could edge away and not have to deal with the strange warriors who had just walked in. While she retreated, Troulon stalked toward them. He still wore those thick lenses, but the gray of his eyes behind them managed to make them menacing.

"I thought I made myself clear earlier," Troulon said. "Unless you intend to fight your way inside, steal books, and flee the country, this is an extremely foolish idea."

"That's what you said verbally," Omilaena told him with exaggerated carelessness. "But what you 'made clear' was that the old order doesn't apply anymore. Did you work your way to being in charge of the Great Library through all the ordinary channels? Somehow I don't think you did. So why should I still be banned?"

"Don't test me, Omi. You're still stronger, but we both know that personal power only goes so far."

"It isn't like that at all." She stepped closer, almost brushing his chest and spoke quietly into his ear. "I saw the pecking order in that chamber. Are you really telling me that you're doing fine on your own? You can afford to just turn down help?"

He took a shuddering breath that surprised her - there was a part of him that wanted to attack her right then. But in the end she'd judged Troulon correctly and he sighed. "We can at least talk. Have your friends stand down and stop glaring threats at everyone."

They moved several shelves deeper into the library, where the reflected light from the outside was absorbed in dark wood and leather spines. While they settled into comfortable chairs beside a reading table, Kai and Zae Zin Nim looked at books nearby, relaxed but ready to jump in if necessary. Troulon didn't offer her anything to drink, because that would just be insulting to them both.

"You're here to get the books you never could before," he said as a start to the conversation. "Don't even try to convince me otherwise."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Omilaena tapped her fingernails on the table just slightly off rhythm to distract him. "What about you, Troulon? You saw a chance to jump some ranks by eating people and you just couldn't resist? I never realized you were that ambitious."

"It wasn't like that." Troulon sagged back in his chair and ran hands through his thinning hair. "These demons worry me, Omi. The Great Library has survived hundreds of conquerors, but they might burn it down if they thought it would benefit them. Someone had to stand up and advocate for the records. If I hadn't joined... there's no telling what might have happened."

"They seem a fractious bunch. Sure you can wrangle them yourself?"

"Wrangle? Of course not. But I don't think letting you get involved will help."

"What obligation do you have to them that would be helped by keeping me out? We're going to be here, whether you like it or not. At least let me know the political balance."

"That's... confidential information."

"Come on, Troulon. What do you think I am, a spy for an enemy nation?" Omilaena put a hand to her chest, emphasizing her cleavage, and saw his eyes flicker down just briefly. "When have I ever given a shit about any of that sort of thing?"

"Heh, I suppose that's true." Troulon shook his head slowly. "I honestly never thought I'd see you again. I figured you'd die in Deadwaste."

"I had a more or less similar thought."

"You really aren't searching for anything to undermine the current order?"

"Just my old theories about power." Omilaena shifted her smile a notch toward self-deprecation. "They might be crackpot, but I think I've gained enough experience for some real scholarship."

Troulon watched her for a while, still cautious. When he finally spoke he didn't address her direct request, but he did turn to politics. Diversions were convenient when you were equally fine with either path.

"It's all based on Matiavel, of course," he said. "He's everything the rumors say, definitely equal to the other great powers. But personally, he doesn't care about anything but his own strength. The only policies he ever intervenes on have to do with how to... you remember the treatise about extremely powerful forces?"

"Optimization-based mutually assured destruction, sure."

"Right. He doesn't get involved or work with the rest, so I couldn't tell you exactly what he wants or what he's trying to do."

She actually knew more than him about this, then, but Omilaena smiled as if that was useful information. Instead of tapping her fingernails against the table, she began tracing back and forth instead.

"There are several weaker factions, including the scholars led by me," Troulon continued. "For example, a delegation that handles Flaeren Dominion affairs. And there are some independents like Gorutiel, who just have their pet projects and don't get involved."

"So who are the real players?"

"The artisan unions are as critical as always. There are multiple demons working with them, including Lilaetiel strangely enough. She's pushing them toward something, I'm not sure what. Then of course the Commonwealth Trade Guild is a major power. It was neutral until recently, when new leadership started moving in an increasingly extractive direction."

That was all valuable intelligence, both for keeping herself alive and potentially trading to the elves. But Omilaena didn't want to look too interested, so she smirked and returned to her other interest. "None of them sound particularly dedicated to keeping one innocent woman out of the library."

"Innocent?" Troulon barked a laugh. "Look, I'm willing to consider it, but not for free. I need your help preserving the library and dealing with some of the other demons. I know you don't care about the books in the same way I do, but if you put in some time, I'll bend the rules for you to get what you want."

"Deal." Omilaena extended her hand and patted his arm. Once again he gave a shiver and she lowered her voice. "What's it like, being a Gray Demon?"

"Normally it's worth it." He rubbed his forehead and turned away. "I'm sharper now, and I can remember so much. With normal people there's no trouble controlling it. But then I saw you again and... don't worry, I'll remain controlled. Demonic draining processes are horribly inefficient, anyway."

"That's so kind of you!" She beamed as if he wasn't discussing killing and eating her.

They negotiated the basics of their deal, which would require her to support the library in return for books. Considering that she needed to do a lot of preliminary research in order to find the obscure texts she needed, it wouldn't slow her down much. The much greater problem was keeping herself and her allies intact during the search.

As she walked back to the others, Omilaena glanced back at her old comrade one more time. He'd been a quiet, disciplined man. If even he struggled to contain his demonic ability...

One of her plans had been to acquire a demonic art herself, since she could think of several that would potentially work together with her skills. But after seeing Troulon so vulnerable to his own appetites, she'd changed her mind. Even if her mental control was better, she couldn't afford a weakness like that. Which meant that one of her main plans to advance was closed and she needed knowledge more than ever.

When she returned to the others she saw them watching her coolly. She'd just made a deal with a demon, after all, and even though Kai had done the same not long ago, he knew it wasn't the same. Zae Zin Nim was always hard to read, but there was suspicion in those dark eyes. If she needed to make compromises here, she risked pushing both of them further away...

Kai smirked. "Omi?"

"It's obviously an old nickname," Omilaena snapped, but she had to swallow a smile. "If you use it, I will poison you."

"You're pretty likely to do that anyway."

One thing, at least, had gone well. But as Omilaena looked over her shoulder at the Great Library retreating behind them, she wondered just how much blood lay between her and her goal.