CHAPTER 163

“Cut the shit Clare. We know.” Michael said.

“What are you doing?” Clare blubbered. “Are you going to kill me.”

“Clare!” Michael snapped in exasperation.

Tom looked down at her with clinical detachment. She had obviously decided her best hope was to bluff long enough to get saved. It was time to disabuse her of that notion. “Who’s getting Sven?” Tom asked mildly, and he saw the shock run across Clare’s face. The extinguishing of her hope. “I’m thinking three of us. Thor, Everlyn and me. While Harry’s rituals should have stopped a message from getting out, we should make sure we don’t let ourselves get out numbered. If it’s the three of us, we’ll be fine even if Keikain gets involved.”

That second name did it.

Clare visibly deflated. “Ha… how? How, how do you know?”

“It’s not your concern.” Michael said quietly. “Sven might get suspicious if there are three of you. I think Thor and Everlyn together are a better compromise. If anything, those of us left here at the fortifications are more at risk. After all, the other two can attack here with everything they have, but will be restricted out in the open because of witnesses.”

“Fine.” Tom said, not willing to argue, then he realised his hands were shaking. It was one thing to fight a monster, but totally different to ambush a human and take them down violently.

“Ok,” Everlyn said, taking charge. “Myself and Thor will get Sven to come here. Toni is going to babysit Clare. Toni,” she said forcefully, addressing the air mage. “Remember Clare is dangerous. She’s got a cursed bloodline and is far stronger than she looks.”

“How do you know that… What’s happening?”

They ignored her.

“Do not under any circumstances give her any opportunities. If she moves, kill her. Don’t hesitate we both saw what this bitch did to Gita.”

Toni’s face hardened at that reminder.

Clare looked between their granite faces and the casual information they had dropped and the fight went out of her. She bowed her head. “I’ll cooperate.”

“If she doesn’t.” Everlyn drew her dagger and mimed running it across someone’s throat.

“I’ll go with her,” Rahmat declared suddenly. “I know she’s restricted, but we should ensure she’s outnumbered.”

Tom glanced at the others. It would leave him, Michael, and Harry alone in the courtyard to fight off any potential attack. Then again, if Keikain and Sven both headed this way Thor and Everlyn would notice and the two of them would be hit from the back. Likewise, Rahmat would come if there was a commotion. It was always dangerous going after sapients of the same rank as you, but they had shaped the battlefield in their favour and they would comfortably out number the opponents.

“I have sensing wards out.” Harry volunteered. “We won’t be surprised.”

Tom nodded at that. “Good plan. Rahmat.”

Decision made they got going quickly after that. Tom escorted their bound prisoner down to their bunker. There would be sufficient space to place Sven there when they captured him as well.

Once Clare was in the bunker, Harry refreshed the ritual he had already created to ensure that any mana she regenerated would be sucked away and even though the ground struggled against him Tom executed his part of the plan. The rock floor softened and shifted and in moments both her legs and hands were entombed with rock.

“Is this really necessary?”

Tom ignored her as he double checked his work.

“This is really uncomfortable.”

“We should gag her as well.” Rahmat suggested.

“I don’t have any spare rags.” Tom said.

Toni waved her hand. “I’ll buy something suitable.” Life immediately flooded away from her. It only took a few seconds and then she was back to her normal self. A reward portal opened up, and she pulled out a woollen scarf. It had visible rough fibres sticking out of it. The workmanship on it was poor. Toni’s nose wrinkled as she held it. “It looked more appropriate in the auction house. Maybe I should purchase a more high-quality version.”

“Use it.” Rahmat advised.

“You don’t have to put that on me. I won’t say anything.” Clare tried to move away and then grimaced as the unyielding rock held her tight.

Rahmat stepped forward and plucked the scarf from Toni’s hand and stepped up to Clare.

A look of distaste crossed his face when he entered the ritual circle.

Clare attempted to jerk her head away when Rahmat went to secure the gag. Then, stubbornly, she refused to open her mouth. Without hesitation Rahmat squeezed her nostrils, stopping her ability to breathe. She tried to resist, pull away, but it was futile. Between the stone restricting her movements and Rahmat’s matching strength and better leverage.

Clare gasped for air unable to hold her breath any longer. The gag went in and professionally Rahmat tied it off around her head.

“You looked a little practiced at that.” Tom said.

Rahmat laughed. “Saw it in a movie. I didn’t expect it to work.”

Clare was secured and gagged and sending furious looks at everyone.

“Behave,” Tom told her. “Rahmat and Toni. Remember what Everlyn said upstairs. If there’s anything. Even a hint she is trying to escape finish her.”

Rahmat nodded and with his longer melee spear in hand he circled Clare till he was directly behind her and positioned so she couldn’t see him easily.

Satisfied that there was no way the woman could escape, he and Harry returned to the courtyard to wait for Sven.

Tom positioned himself just next to the entranceway and tried to look casual.

“Incoming.” Everlyn said clearly through the party chat. “Coming through the murder hole path in twenty seconds.”

They were all hidden from Sven’s vision. The killer would enter the ritual space and then they would disable like they had done with Clare.

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Sven was chatting animatedly. “So you think this plan of your boyfriend’s going to amount to anything or is it just a scheme to get away from the killer. You don’t suppose the murderer’s in your group, do you?”

“No, I don’t.” Everlyn said with a tone that Tom recognised as frosty. Sven emerged from the entranceway and stepped straight into the ritual circle.

“What’s this?” Sven asked in alarm when he felt the mana draining magic grab hold of him.

Tom knew exactly how it felt, and it was not pleasant. With a grimace, he moved into Sven’s blind spot, intending to zap him at close range, and felt the tug on his mana.

The spell sword somehow sensed the approaching body and exploded into action. Instantly Tom felt his feet slip on uncooperative dirt. Earth manipulation counted whatever the other man was doing, but there was still a slightly unavoidable slide that pushed him off balance. Sven whipped his sword out of its sheath and spun to attack his ambusher.

Sven’s eyes widened when he saw who his target was. For a critical moment, he froze and then aborted the attack. Not that it mattered. Tom’s spear had already materialised ready to block his opponent’s weapon and his own strike was already on its way.

“Tom?”

Zap!

The electricity hit the man, concentrating on the arm that held his sword but extended over the whole body. All the muscles spasmed simultaneously. Tom this time had directed substantially less power than he had with Clare. Not that it mattered too much. Sven’s sword dipped, his knees buckled, and then he collapsed as the rampant lightning robbed him of body control.

The heavy body landed with a thump, the sword clattered away, rolling almost two metres distance. Even if he wasn’t incapacitated, losing the weapon would have been the end of Sven, anyway. Tom’s mind focused on the best way to capture the other man.

Fortunately Sven had fallen straight forward, landing on his stomach. He couldn’t have landed in a better position. Without hesitation, Tom dropped on top of him, leading with a knee into the centre of the other man’s back. Air was blown out of Sven’s lungs and then Tom seized arms and wrenched them up to ensure he remained incapacitated once the electricity faded.

It was ridiculously easy. At one point Sven had been significantly stronger than him, but that was no longer the case. While Tom had superior positioning and twenty percent more strength, Sven was totally helpless. Another set of manacles got passed to him and he latched them into place.

“Two down.” Tom declared and flipped him over. “You’re under arrest…” He stopped talking caught out by surprise.

Sven was smiling.

Not a fake, forced salesman smile, but one of true happiness and release.

“You know. You know.” Sven babbled. “Thank god. You know. Thank you, thank you.”

Tom looked helplessly at the others gathered. This was not what he had expected.

“It’s over.” Tears were streaming down the man’s face. “I didn’t want to do it and now I don’t have to. I’m so glad you worked it out.”

“Who else is involved?” Michael drawled.

“Who? Really? You don’t know?”

“Humour us.” Michael suggested.

“I’ll confess everything, but I won’t betray anyone either. You can torture me. But I made an oath and I won’t break it. Couldn’t break it even if I wanted to.”

“There’ll be no torture.” Tom interrupted. “We already know everything.”

Sven glanced around at the walls that surrounded him. “Why here? And why not at the camp.”

“Because Tom is an idiot,” Everlyn stated. “And thinks we should get more out of you than what would be achieved by throwing you to the mob and having you hanged.”

“You're not going to kill me? Us? You can’t. You have to kill us.” Sven protested in alarm. “We’re evil. We’ll turn on you. We have no choice.”

“We know.” Everlyn said tiredly. “You should die. And If I had my way, a simple death would be too kind for you.”

“Agreed.” Sven said immediately.

“Everlyn, I don’t think that’s appropriate.” Michael snapped.

“They killed Gita. She was my friend. Riley as well. How could you do that to them?” She shouted at the helpless Sven.

Tom would have warned her not to make such a scene, but he knew there was no need. Her trait meant no one outside their group would hear a thing.

“I’m sorry. It’s doesn’t matter, but just so you know I didn’t pick the targets. They were picked for me, but all the choices were terrible. Even Jeffery I thought killing one of the leaders despite all of his flaws was a mistake.”

Thor stepped up and pulled Sven to his feet. “We need to reset for Keikain. I’ll take him to prison.”

“You know.” Sven sounded almost gleeful.

He was on his feet, and unlike Clare was actively trying to help them. Attempting to make things easier for everyone. It was heartbreaking to watch. A man who had been broken by what he had to do to survive.

Tom and Harry followed in order to cast the ritual and grow the stone restraints, respectively. “Same instructions that Everlyn gave Toni. If he moves, kill him. He’s not your friend and while I don’t think he’s got mental magic, don’t take any chances? If you feel at all sympathetic. Don’t wait. Butcher him.”

“That’s cold Tom.” Sven said, though he didn’t seem concerned.

“You broke Evie’s heart with Gita. You were part of a group that killed five people in cold blood. Your actions have caused hundreds of sleepless nights and probably lost us multiple million experience worth of goods from Mus. You don’t have a right to say crap like I’m cold. Especially after you supported killing our friends.”

“We didn’t kill anyone close to you.”

“What do you call GITA?”

“Tom.” Thor warned. “Not too loud.”

“What do you call Gita?” Tom repeated more quietly. “I saw you after her death. She might not have been standing guard against the wasps, but you knew she was part of us.”

Sven did not respond to that accusation only bowed his head instead.

“As Everlyn said remorse after the fact only shows weakness.”

“Tom,” Thor put a hand on his shoulder and lifted Sven’s chin. Tears were running down the other man’s face. “Tom, I think you’ve said enough. Sven is repentant.”

“That’s not–”

“Enough Tom.”

“Fine,”

They reached the bunker and Tom locked down a compliant Sven who’s only request was not to face toward Clare. Harry hadn’t come down, as it was easy to put Sven into the same ritual space and then lock him down.

“We should gag him, too.” Tom suggested.

Toni’s face went blank and a moment later there was another loot portal in front of her and she produced a much softer looking piece of cloth. Sven accepted the gag without comment.

“One more to net.” Tom said and then stalked away to find out what was happening with their last target.

Once he got up, Everlyn had disappeared and had left Michael and Harry in the courtyard.

“You’re letting her do it herself.” Tom asked in a rush of annoyance.

Michael shrugged helplessly. “It was the best plan and Everlyn was rather adamant that we not change it.”

“She’s not in a good state.” Harry told him. “She insisted. She drew her bow on us, Tom.”

“That’s even less reason to let her go.”

“It’s not like she gave us a choice.” Michael told him. “She had fled before we could even think about grabbing her. Paused at the top of the wall and told us she’ll put arrows in us if we followed.”

Tom sighed. He was not at all surprised by Everlyn’s action. She would want to finish this as soon as possible, and the killers had shaken her. “We’re all screwed up by who it is. I didn’t think it would be any of us.”

“True,” Michael agreed. “I’m still shocked that it was those three.”

He checked his party communication and was relieved to see that she was in range. “Evie. Best of luck. I don’t want to keep going without you.”

“Stay safe as well. Tom.”

Then she kept moving away and was out of range once more.

Half of him wanted to move to stay in contact with her. Create a relay, so to speak, but he knew that was a mistake. If Tom suddenly started spying on Everlyn, Keikain would pick up on it and guess what was happening.

All they could do was wait.

They shuffled positions to set up an identical trap to the one that had got Sven.

Minutes passed.

Michael grabbed Tom’s arm. “I know you want to check, but don’t. Stick to the plan.”

“It’s been too long. Something’s gone wrong.”

“No, it hasn’t. Tom.” Harry said. “So far, all that she has had time to do is walk there and back. She needs to do that, find him and then convince him to come. Best case they’re still a couple of minutes away.”

“What happens if he suspects?”

Michael shrugged. “If he suspects, then he’ll bring her out here and try to ambush her, probably while going through the tunnel where there is extra stone to help him. He can’t act sooner because the rest of the community will have eyes on them. He needs to wait here because any other plan is a guaranteed loss.”

“Are you sure?”

Michael chuckled and slapped him on the back. “If you had kids, you’d be better at this crap. Being awake two hours past midnight.” Michael shook his head. “Teenage daughters.”

They waited and more minutes passed.

“Incoming.”

Tom almost jumped in glee at the message. She was coming and from her tone nothing had gone wrong. The three of them could hear Everlyn and Keikain chatting away. They were discussing Tom’s mysterious plan.

The friendly chatter stopped abruptly.

There was a squeal from Everlyn. “Stop.” She yelled.

Then there was an all mighty noise as the entranceway to the tunnel collapsed.

Red rage filled Tom. What had Keikain done?