I feel the Lordling's blood be absorbed through the skin, an odd sensation of aspiration over the surface of my flesh. My pressing hunger lessens within moments but I don't try to remove the limb in case it decides to attack one of the innocents surrounding me, I need full control first.
“Bastard deserved it!”
“Should never have helped that prick.”
“Enough! You, press on the wound! The rest of you, make a line, I need more flow.” A man shouts over the crowd's distressed calls.
“Lady Vil. Are you okay?” I hear a young voice, the kid that hid me from Edusa earlier tonight.
I don't reply, torn by the murder and how my single-minded pursuit may have caused the old man's death. I should have stopped once the carriage crashed, this was a personal vendetta and I involved innocents in it. He was despicable but in the end, I put this chain of events in motion, I'm responsible for the outcome.
My limb relaxes, having had its fill. I tear the arm out, ripping the rib cage inside out. The body looks like what remains after an animal attack, the sight makes me nauseous.
“He's dead.” The man says with a sigh.
“I'm sorry.” I mutter.
I can't let myself be stopped by savagery. The maniac planned to starve the Izla for his personal gain, for power. Nobles are such beings, I can't let my personal weakness stop me from doing what needs to be done to save the Izla.
“I'm sorry.” I repeat myself. “I need to run.”
“Go.” The man replies. “And the rest of you too, a few of us can stay but if they catch us all here, they might accuse us of violating the curfew.”
I walk up to my hammer, picking it up and looking away from the old man with a sliced throat. There is so much blood on the street that even the falling rain is failing to wash it all away. Some are gazing at me with frightened expressions, others are glaring at Patrick's corpse with hatred in their eyes.
“Tell them what I did when they ask.” I speak up in case these brave people try to cover for me. “Don't lie, they're already after me anyway.”
“Don't worry about us, leave.” He replies and the crowd nods in agreement, dispersing.
At the end of the street, I distinguish a patrol of soldiers approaching at a jogging pace. I pick the narrowest alley I can to escape, caring little about where it leads as long as I get out of the area.
I'm drenched, cold, and the layer of dried blood on the side of my head pulls on my skin every time I move my face. The alley is dark and I have to pay attention not to run into the barrels that people left outside to collect rainwater.
The alley ends abruptly as it crosses with an avenue. I turn to the south and walk along the walls. A patrol surprises me, crossing the avenue only a dozen meters in front of me. They miss me entirely, hidden by the darkness and downpour.
I accelerate my pace, impatient to reach the southern part of Meria and a relative safety. It's a little risky because I can't hear the city guards coming in this rain, but I have a better chance of spotting them first since I'm hugging the walls.
As I make my way, I rub my leather glove to wipe it clean before the Lordling's blood can settle inside the fibers. How am I going to deal with the Templar Order hunting me for questioning?
I also need to keep my promise to my Lady, which is going to be difficult if I have to avoid pursuit. I probably shouldn't have made that promise... I can figure it out later, I'll eat and rest first.
Crossing the avenue separating the Meria from its shadier southern quarter, I notice the tail end of a large group of soldiers. I immediately turn to take a side alley before they can spot me, crossing over to a different street.
Those were likely Count Odo's men since they're lodging in the area but I couldn't see the color of their uniforms. I reach the brothel without running into any city guards, as usual.
I suspect that will change tomorrow, after what happened tonight, the Duke is going to want to show off that he's still strong and powerful enough to maintain control. Hopefully, it won't last too long or I'll need to find somewhere else to sleep.
Those who can still enjoy the entertainment found in this part of Meria have enough clout to ignore the curfew, they've probably used their influence to ensure that this sector isn't patrolled very often.
Mother often told me that merchants make secret deals in the shadows, I doubt that Nobles would behave any differently. I push the brothel's door open, walking in.
The room is brightly lit by several flow torches and the hearth's large fire. There are only a dozen clients tonight, none of them seem like Nobles at a first glance and Cecil is among them, talking. They throw quick glances my way but don't seem bothered by my presence.
I hurriedly close the door to keep the warmth in and wipe my feet on the rug. I then jump up and down a few times to make the rainwater sticking to me fall off. I head up to the counter, the brawny man who took care of me so far walks up to it.
“Welcome, Lady Elizabeth. What can we do for you tonight?” He asks with a business smile.
“Enough food for three. Also, if you could bring it up to Cecil's room...” I say.
“Of course.” He nods, taking an iron key out. “Madame left it for you.”
“That's generous.” I reply in a questioning tone.
“I believe that it is less expensive to pay an extra key than to repair the lock.” He tells me with a teasing smile.
I shrug, taking it off his hands. Tired and not in the mood for banter, I head to the fireplace and sit down on the floor in front of it. I appreciate the heat as it fights the shivering cold of my drenched clothes.
“Your guild is secure enough right now that you don't need to take a risk by picking sides.” Cecil speaks up, talking to the whole group. “You may benefit a lot by supporting the Duke or the Count, but it might backfire with the current political turmoil. I would lay low until things settle down.”
“We've already committed ourselves to ferrying troops from the mainland.” A tall blond woman, with a white tunic, replies in the same tone. “The Count will definitely take offense if we back out of the other deals he's proposing.”
“That's why I told you we should supply the Duke with supplies at lower cost.” The slightly overweight merchant, with a large blue shirt, grumbles.
“If we do that, Count Odo will ask for the same treatment and you won't be able to afford it.” Cecil shakes her head.
“The last messenger from the castle was clear, the Duke is demanding that we cut our prices.” The woman counters. “We won't be able to keep operating unless we work for the mainlanders through Count Odo, they have the gold to pay us.”
“This is Meria!” The man exclaims. “We can't blow the Duke off in his own city, are you mad?”
“He's asking us to sell at a loss, what else can we do?” She asks with a sigh.
“Meet with them but don't agree to anything.” Madame Cecil suggests. “Delay any deals until the situation stabilizes.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“I'm afraid that this is why we want your advice, we can't do that anymore.” The overweight merchant shakes his head. “We've been delaying for days now, we have to reach a decision by tomorrow.”
“Then tell the Duke that you'll lower your prices as long as he agrees to buy at cost.” Cecil says, looking at the woman in white. “I know that it goes against your instincts, but while the Duke has less political power and gold than the mainland's faction, he still rules the Izla.”
“We use Port-Odo for most of our operations, the Count can pressure us just as much.” She sighs. “I think we'll have to follow your advice and sell at cost to both factions.”
“We won't have the capital to recover if we lose even a single shipment to bad weather.” The man counters. “We could sail south, open a trade route with Telnur. We would be able to ignore Count Odo's threats and make him pay full price if we do that.”
“And lose ships to the Cold bloods?” An old man who hasn't spoken yet replies sarcastically. “It isn't winter yet, their pirate ships are still roaming the waters.”
The brawny night worker walks out of a side door, carrying my meal on a platter. I get up to my feet. I care little for these people's problems. I'm sure that they could be of some use, but I'm too exhausted to think of anything right now... although, I could warn them.
“Don't provoke the Duke tomorrow.” I tell them. “After what happened tonight, he isn't likely to be in the mood.”
“The rebel faction?” Cecil asks.
“Crushed.” I utter coldly. “Lord Patrick, their leader, died by my hand.”
“What about the truce, Lady Elizabeth?” The woman in white speaks up.
“I'm not sure.” I shrug. “Master Amand went as far as to attack me because he wants to question me.”
“Will the Rykz take that as a breach?” Cecil questions.
“I'm not going to report it so no.” I reply, making my way towards the stairs. Not that I could if I wanted to. “I'm going up, Cecil.”
“I'll join you in a while.” She nods, turning back to the merchants. “Well, my friends, I think the only remaining option you have is to convince both the Duke and Count Odo that their demands make you risk bankruptcy. They need your ships and reputation as much as you need their gold after all.” Madame Cecil pauses. “I knew a few people you could talk to...”
I engage on the stairs, following the muscular night-worker up to her office. I use the key to unlock it, taking the platter of food off his hands. I enter the room and locking the door behind myself. I make my way to the desk, laying my hammer down near my chest.
I sit down in the guest chair and start devouring the stew, more because I fear losing control of the limb than any real hunger. Celyz warned me, it'll only obey as long as it is fed. I barely even take the time to taste the meal, gulping down half of it and almost burning my tongue in the process.
Once done with the food, I take my equipment and clothes off, laying them on my wooden chest, throwing the sack of gold and jewels inside. I then make my way to the bath in the corner of the office and turn the faucet on.
I inspect the copper tubes as water fills the tub, curious. Turning around the pipe, I notice that there are small runes engraved on the side. I lay my hand on them and inject a tiny amount of flow. I feel it heat up soon after but it doesn't last long with how little energy I used.
Can't use it, the dark gold color of my flow would be visible on the runes. Besides, I don't mind cool water. I slip into the tub, sprawling inside to let my body relax after this long day. I plunge my sleeve glove under the surface, to get rid of the last traces of blood.
Where do I go from here? I didn't get the schematics, half of Meria is after me, and I'm sick of all the deaths following in my wake. I'm just... so tired. I don't have the means to make Meria fall. It sickens me that the only solution I can think of is to make use of the population's anger.
How much blood will flow if I make it happen? Would it cost more lives than simply letting the Rykz storm the walls? I shake my head, turning away from the cloud of dark thoughts.
I close the faucet and then let myself slip deeper under water. I felt so at peace in her arms, held and kissed. My Lady...
--- --- ---
“Elizabeth.” Cecil's voice wakes me up.
“What is it?” I ask, too fatigued to open my eyes or worry about the fact that I'm naked.
“There are several beds available if you're this tired.” She tells me.
“Fine.” I sit up, glaring at her.
Cecil holds her hand out, helping me step over the edge of the tub. She then holds a towel out for me, not one of those rectangular pieces of cloth, a real towel! I greedily seize it and wrap it around my shoulders to enjoy the soft feeling on my skin, focusing more on that than on drying myself.
“I'm going to drop down for the night, feel free to stay.” She says, making her way to the desk. I hesitate. “Don't worry, they'll wake me up if anyone shows up at the front door. You'll have time to get away.”
“Alright, we should talk tomorrow.” I nod, making my way to my chest and taking all the clothes out to find clean ones.
“Leave them outside, Aisha will clean them for you.” Cecil tells me.
I get dressed up and do just that, placing the clothes in a pile just outside the office. I then crash down on a bed and think back to the kiss, absorbing myself in the memory to fall asleep.
--- --- ---
I slip out of my slumber as the morning rises in the sky, enlightening the room. I throw my legs over the bed's edge, feeling full of energy and able to look at last night's events with some perspective instead of wallowing on how things didn't go as planned. I look around, finding Cecil at her desk.
“What are you doing?” I ask, getting off the bed.
“Reading a report on last night.” She replies absent-mindedly.
“Anything about me?” I question, making my way to the bathroom corner. I turn the tub's faucet and rub some water on my face.
“A few mentions, mostly about you being there before the battle started. It says that you're wanted for questioning.”
“Templars?”
“And Duke Meria.” She pauses. “Ah, there. It says that you brutally executed the rebel leader.”
“Accurate.” I comment, wiping the water off my face with the towel to hide my shudder, a reaction at the memory of my limb piercing through the chest.
I walk up to my chest, grabbing my mask and fitting it on. I then head to the desk and sit in front of Cecil, quietly waiting for her to finish reading.
“It doesn't say whether you're officially accused of anything here, but it does say that Count Odo's faction has been lobbying to end the truce on account of your actions and their suspicion that you are responsible for the rebel faction forming in the first place.” She relates in a calm voice.
“I'll just go around looking like a peasant. That's the reason I wear a mask after all.” I give her a partial truth. “How likely are they to succeed in convincing the Duke to break the truce?”
“Not at all, but it won't matter if they use this to attack the Rykz. The creatures won't be making a difference between human factions.” Cecil sighs.
“They would have done that anyway.” I note.
“I agree.” She says.
Someone knocks on the door. They approached so discreetly that I didn't hear a single sound. I turn on my chair to face the newcomer.
“Come in.” Cecil calls out.
A young woman with black curly hair, a cute round face, and bright blue eyes walks in, she is carrying a basket of clothes that she sets down next to me.
“Thanks a lot, Aisha I think.” I tell her, getting up and putting the clothes away inside my chest.
“It is, Lady Elizabeth.” She nods with a sweet smile. “I went out to the fish market early this morning, your name is on everyone's lips.”
“In a good way?” I ask, taking a gold coin out of the sack and throwing it to her.
“Well...” She hesitates, catching the coin. “Opinions are divided.”
“You can tell me, I won't bite.” I say, shrugging.
“A lot of people think that it was only another skirmish between Nobles, they think he deserved to die but they argue about whether you did it to avenge the peasant or for your own reasons.” She explains.
“It was to be expected, I suppose.” Cecil comments.
“There is a small minority who believe that you did the right thing and are calling to follow your example, the guards split them up quickly but the word is out and they can't control what people say for long.” Aisha sadly shakes her head. “Trouble is brewing, Cecil. There were twice as many soldiers in the streets this morning than I've seen ever before.”
“People were already angry, and the news that Nobles planned to rebel is only adding fuel to the fire.” Madame Cecil says, glancing at me.
I sit back down in my chair and ponder. I should go out, I have a promise to keep if there is a riot, but I can't think of any way to intervene without getting caught. This is a consequence of my actions, I can't back out because it'll be difficult to escape.
“Can you direct them productively?” I ask, locking gazes with her.
“Not if they riot and challenge Nobility head on.” She replies.
“Lance and I will deal with that. I need the whole city to know that the war ends as soon as Caeviel releases Princess Cetyz.” I tell her. “Especially those with influence outside of the Izla.”