An unexpected bump along the tracks caused the Diroot Liner to shake, which startled Rose. The sudden jostling from train wasn’t what caused her wariness; instead, it was the exceedingly ornate chandelier which swung back and forth in the middle of the car, and looked ready to drop at any moment.
“That is going to fall and some errant bobeche is going to take my head off.” Rose said.
“To be honest, I’m astonished you’re even know what that means. Considering this faux splendor, I would welcome the beheading.” the voice said.
“Yeah, well no head for me means no head for you either.” Rose said. She looked at the chandelier. It was surrounded by a circular painting in an art styles she recognized from one of her history classes. The image used pastel coloring and exaggerated forms for the various creatures depicted in battle.
“The art has a nice, timeless appeal, at least.” Rose said.
“A fraudulent and sloppy artist’s copy of work from the Di-Aeon being passed off as an original. It’s very poor and it offends me. Cease looking upon it at once.”
“Torture, art critique, aficionado of high living. I cannot wait to find out who you were or are. Though any potential reason for death is becoming less of a mystery.” Rose said. “Right now, I’m more concerned about getting out of here.”
“Demand to speak with the head simpleton and drop the hideous declaration on them, thereby killing the leader and assuming their role. Simple.” the voice said.
“Yeah, I’m not quite confident in that plan.” Rose said.
At the far end of the train car, a guard blocked the door; he wore one of the protective masks which obscured much of his face. Nobody stood at the door behind Rose, but with nothing between her and her apparent chaperon, save for a single table and a couple of chairs, there was no realistic chance to reach the door without being immediately hit by a spell.
Rose had to admit the voice was right, the room deserved to be called gaudy. Gold adorned the walls with intricate, and ugly carvings of gargoyles. A couple of stuffed, high back chairs sat against the wall farthest from Rose, and next to her a short couch was placed underneath the window. None of the furniture looked comfortable, and the velvety material used on the cushions made the decor feel stuffy and old.
Rose was mid thought, wondering if her scrawny arms would be able to pick and throw the couch, when the door slid open. She looked up as the guard stood aside and a man rushed into the car. He had jet black hair, pulled back into a pony tail and a thin mustache. He was well dressed enough; no suit but a very nice blazer of expensive material on top of a mostly buttoned shirt, and a light scarf around his neck.
“Are you alright?” He asked. He pulled out the chair across from Rose and sat down. She noted his voice carried concern, but wasn’t able to parse whether or not it was genuine. The man grabbed Rose’s hands and squeezed. “Did they send someone to check on you?” He turned in his seat and snapped. “Get a doctor or someone who looks like a doctor. Go.” The guard jumped to attention, then hurried through the door.
“I don’t really need any med-”
“That should keep him busy but not for long.” the man said as he watched the door close. When he turned back to Rose, his face serious and sober. “I know who killed San.” Rose sat up in her seat. “Well I think I do. I have a hunch but I can’t prove it without you.’ he said. “I can point you in the right direction though.” Rose relaxed.
“I’m sorry, who are you?” she asked.
“Oh...oh...you’re not from here.” the man said. His tone of voice was a mixture of questioning and what sounded like pity. “Most people recognize...doesn’t matter. I’m Yang Shen. San’s brother. I probably should have led with that.” he said with a short laugh. Rose folded her arms.
“You were the one chasing us?”
“Guilty.” Yang said. “Poor choice of words.” He added. “I had be to relentless to get you away from Tristan.” Rose stiffened and tried to sneak glances at the door to see if a guards would burst into the train car.
“Why?” she asked
“You certainly couldn’t bring justice San if you too were dead. How would that work?” Yang asked.
“You think he would have killed me?”
“I know he would have. Tristan Fox is ruthless. Former military, highly proficient, and likely in league with the man I think is responsible for San’s murder.” Yang pounded the table. The door opened and a different guard entered the car. She was shorter than the last but wore similar protective gear; with the addition of gauntlets with serrated blades attached.
“No health staff on board.” The new guard said. She walked to the table and threw a rag at Rose. “Here. For wounds.” Her voice carried a thick accent. It reminded Rose of a teacher she had back at the academy who was a Lowland Nymph. They were a spindly, diminutive race that originated from the marshes not far from Elven homelands. Despite a natural size disadvantage, so unmatched was their inherent dexterity that countless mercenary guilds filled its ranks with Lowland Nymphs.
The presence of a Nymph alone would have discomforted Rose, but her mind still raced with thoughts about Yang’s words about Tristan. She didn’t like him to be sure, and he seemed unscrupulous, but a cold blooded killer? Had she been so close to death for so long and not realized it? Immediately the memory of his actions before they caught the train came to the forefront. She slowly grabbed the rag from the table.
“Thank you.” Rose said as she sank back in her seat.
“When I told them to empty the train, it was taken too literally it seems.” Yang said with a sigh. “Honestly, when you have the sort of life I do, it’s a bit churlish to complain, but you would be amazed at how often that’s a problem. Speaking of my directions,” Yang stood up. “Have we located our other important guest, the one Mr. Fox?”
“No sir.” the guard said.
“As happy as we all are that dear...” Yang waved his hand at Roses as if he were beckoning the answer to come.
“Rose.”
“Rose seems unharmed, I cannot say I feel very well guarded knowing someone like that is on the loose.”
“Our search has concluded that Tristan Fox is not on the train.” The guard said.
“Oh? That’s wonderful. Did you hear that Rose? We’re safe. Do tell, where did you locate him?” Yang asked.
“At this time we do not have his exact location.” The guard replied. The mask covered the guard’s face, but Rose could hear the gritted teeth in her answer.
“So you don’t actually know that he’s not on the train?” Yang asked. He clasped his hands together and placed his fingers against his lips. Te guard shifted uncomfortably.
“We don’t know for a certainty, but it’s unlikely that-”
“So that’s a no.” Yang said. His eyes were narrowed and he cocked his head to the side. The guard paused.
“Correct.” she said. Yang cleared his throat and nodded towards the door. The guard muttered under her breath as she walked out of the car.
“Thanks!” Yang said. His voice cloying and he wore and insincere smile. “They’re probably getting suspicious so we won’t have much time.” Yang said as he sat back down across from Rose.
“Suspicious about what?” Rose asked.
“That I might be making a move against their boss.” Yang said. “One of the most powerful people in Aesos, you’ve never heard of: Vozk Thruusk.”
“They seem to be taking orders from you.”
“They’re assigned to me, but they truth is someone else pulls their strings.”
“Whom?”
“All questions surrounding the Shen family have one answer: my brother.”
“Is he involved with the murder somehow?”
“No. At least probably not.” Yang looked out of the window. The train passed a tranquil lake which glowed as it reflected the moonlight. “Erlang is cutthroat, ambitious, and capable of many terrible things I don’t deny that. But he loved San, same as me. Yes, he didn’t approve of her marriage, and her absence had a negative impact on the business. Still, I believe we both just wanted her back in our lives. I mean, why else meet?”
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“You met with San before she was killed? How long before?” Rose asked. Yang looked at her and frowned.
“I forgot that information was part of the whole cloak and dagger thing Erlang did during the trial. The night San was killed, she was on here way to meet with Erlang and me.”
“You were the last two people to see her alive.”
“Not exactly. She never made it, as far as I’m aware. I was late and on my way when...I heard the news.”
“How was none of this in the trial?” Rose asked. Her excitement at finding such a huge source of potential information was diminished in the face of another glaring example of corruption.
“I just emptied and diverted a train full of some of the richest people in Aesos, in order to turn it into my personal carriage and meeting room. In this world, the how is easy. The why? You’d need to ask Erlang. He handled the legal side of things. But I have my suspicions.”
“You think he had something to hide?”
“It goes back to Thruusk. Like I said, Erlang reached out to me after finding San. She had gone into hiding over the marriage. We were supposed to meet for what I hoped would be a chance to put everything behind us. Nobody knew about the meeting outside of the three of us. Not handlers, guards, nobody. That’s why we decided to meet at the mountain.”
“Which mountain?”
“The mountain. Mount Tian. The foundation of the Shen business empire.” Yang tapped the window. Rose looked outside and what she saw took her breath away: a massive mountain unlike anything Rose had ever seen. Even from their current distance away, it was simply huge. At the base was a thick forest of ashen trees, and above, a cloud shrouded the peak giving it a heavenly image. The mountain stood so tall that from a distance it appeared as if the very moon balanced on its’ highest point. The housing which had bee built into the mountain was undoubtedly impressive; a mansion which would cause envy in the nicest districts in Aesos. What caught Rose the most, however, was the other worldly sensation that seemed to emanate from and surround the mountain. It was as if Rose could feel a physical vibration pulsating even at this distance.
“Wow.” Rose said quietly.
“How articulate.” the voice quipped. It wasn’t the most professional or verbose reaction, but it felt strangely adequate.
“Yeah.” Yang said. “That’s where we grew up, and what Erlang inherited. One of many things. Of course, I couldn’t wait to leave and moved to Bear Isle.” Rose tore herself from the window.
“That puts you much farther away than Obsidian Resort.” Rose raised an eyebrow. “How long after San did you arrive at Erlang’s house?” she asked.
“I didn’t. I was late and the news broke before I arrived. I didn’t know what else to do so I went home.” Yang leaned back in his chair. “I have testimony to that.” he added.
“Based on what you’re telling me San was in a potentially hostile environment with a considerable amount of time before a witness would show up.”
“I don’t like what you’re insinuating.” Yang said.
“I’m just trying to put together a timeline.” Rose replied.
“Technically that is Erlang’s house, but he usually stays at his place in the city. We only chose Tian because there were ways we could enter and leave without being spotted that only family and those close to the family know about. Nothing nefarious. Even if Thruusk found out about the meeting through Erlang it was certainly unintentional.”
“Unintentional?” Rose tilted her head toward Yang, lips tight and pushed to the side.
“Of course!” Yang swung his arm and knocked over the pitcher of water. It landed with a loud noise. As Yang retrieved it, his elbow accidentally knocked over one of the cups spilling water towards Rose. She slid back out of her seat and stood up. The door opened and the Nymph guard walked inside.
“A very thorough search has been completed. Fox is confirmed to not be on the train.” she said. When she saw Rose standing over Yang and the mess around the table, she deftly shifted her stance, and placed one hand near the hilt of her knife. Yang glanced at Rose with wide eyes. He straightened up and tugged on his jacket.
“Wonderful news. We feel much safer now.” He offered for Rose to sit and took his own seat. “Let’s get back to the completely normal conversation we were having.” He leaned forward and winked at Rose.
“I give him to the end of the train ride before his intentions are discovered and his head is cut off.” the voice said.
Darkness passed over the car as the train entered a tunnel. The ride turned to stiff silence, punctuated by the sound of the train as it rolled over the tracks. When it came through the other end of the tunnel and natural moonlight entered the car again, Rose noticed a second guard had entered the room. Yang let out a breath.
“Since none of my normal retinue around would you two be dears and retrieve us some tea? I’ll double your pay for today.” The second guard shook his head and followed the Nymph through the car and out the door behind Rose. Yang held a finger up after the left. “This might be our last time to speak freely.”
“Why don’t you hire security you can trust?” Rose asked
“After San’s murder, we decided to increase security. Erlang taps Thruusk to contract one of the best mercenary guilds in Aesos.” Yang said.
“Why Thruusk?”
“The Shen family has been referred to as the ‘true crown of Aesos’. Thruusk is the sword. Specifically the Thruusk family.” Yang stretched. “That’s a tad dramatic, but true. Of all the families near Tian, they’ve been the closest to us. And no single person closer than Vozk to Erlang.”
“Makes sense why Erlang would trust him with security.”
“It’s beyond trust. Everyone knows Vozk is Erlang’s hatchet man. A king and his executioner. Our families are close, and he was of appropriate station. On top of that, Vozk is our liaison within the government.”
“Vozk works for the Mayor?” Rose asked.
“For, with, around, above, depending on the assignment, you can pick.” Yang said.
“Most nobles seemed to want to do the opposite of working with the government.” Rose said.
“Dear, what’s the one thing you do if you can’t defeat something?” Yang asked. “We took no parts in the war before and saw only opportunity in this new world. There was a race to work with the fledgling government, offering the lantern put us over the top to be first.”
“Lantern?” Rose asked. Yang held up three fingers. “Shen supremacy stands on three legs: Mount Tian and the land, an ancient and powerful ax, and the Lotus Lantern.” Yang almost whispered the last words. Rose felt a chill.
“I’m familiar with real estate and the weapons manufacturing, but not the lantern.” Rose said. Yang smiled but his face didn’t carry joy, rather it looked more like a smile of delirium.
“The Lotus Lantern is, the crown jewel of all that we own. You cannot imagine the things it could do if it was allowed to reach its’ full potential. Magic so old, it’s been lost to time. And so powerful, you could fill Aesos with ten times the dampeners and there would be no effect.”
“The lantern.” the voice hissed, almost trance like.
“Unfortunately, it’s under heavy lock and key in agreement with the small minds surrounding your Mayor. We have agreements for limited use, but it could do so much more.”
“As in?”
“Powering the development and research for the other two areas. Instead, it sits dormant for now.”
“Is Thruusk blocking it somehow?”
“The opposite really.” Yang leaned in closer. “When you were with Fox, did you happen to notice if he had any paper work or envelopes with him?”
“No.” Rose said quickly. She bit her lip. She wasn’t thrilled to lie, but after everything that occurred today, she had learned to play things close to the chest. If Yang turned out to be someone who couldn’t be trusted, better to let him and Tristan deal with each other for awhile. Yang snapped.
“I hope the scramble spell holds up.” Yang’s eyes darted to the door behind Rose. “Using a contact with one of the airship companies, I was able to get a look at an usual shipping manifest. A huge amount of resources were sent to a port near Tian.”
“Is that out of the ordinary?”
“Big time. Business resources are only sent to and from official company ports using specific airships. Whatever is being sent out uses official channels, then gets diverted at the last minute. But the origin is the same every time.”
“Thruusk.” Rose said. Yang touched his nose.
“They all come out of a restricted location only used for special government contracts.” he said. Rose puffed her cheeks and exhaled as she slowly nodded.
“Has Vozk ever worked with Dr. Ulrich?” Rose asked.
“You don’t know?” Yang jerked his back. “Vozk was San’s original suitor.” Yang said. Rose’s mouth dropped opened. Yang nodded. “At the heart situation which drove my sister away sits Vozk Thruusk. My brother in law did work on some government contracts a while ago, but their main connection is San.”
Rose felt the train lurch as it slowed down. Outside trees were increasingly replaced with homes and businesses.
“I feel ashamed I haven’t reached out to poor Chen yet, but I’ve never met him, and I know he’s being bombarded by Erlang’s team to get the lantern up and running.”
“Why is Erlang contacting Chen about the lantern?”
“It’s Chen’s inheritance. In a few days time it will only respond to him, the same way it did with San. Erlang’s always been like that. That’s why father put him in charge. That and luck of the draw being born first.” Yang held up his hand. “I know what you’re thinking. but I promise you Erlang couldn’t kill San.”
“You might be surprised what people can be driven to do.” Rose said.
“No, I mean it’s literally impossible for him to have killed San. He couldn’t even cause a paper cut if he wanted. Father lived to be very old and came from a time of much more powerful magic. He grew up with a lot of siblings and when he died, he had none.” Yang leaned back in his chair. “Family reunions were typically violent affairs.” he added. “When the dust settled and the last back was stabbed, our father stood alone on the top of blood soaked fortune. To prevent the same fate for his own progeny, he cast a complex spell which prevents us from harming each other directly.”
“That’s mind boggling.” Rose said.
“You should see it in action. I remember being upset with Erlang as a child, and as I went to throw one of mother’s shoes at his head, it simply disappeared and reappeared next to its counterpart.” Yang let out a short laugh. “Not all defenses are so artful. Sometimes a barrier pops up just in time to shield you from a hex bolt. Regardless, he couldn’t have laid a hand on San in an attempt to harm her. Neither of us could.”
Rose let out a whistle and sat back in her chair; she didn’t remember when she started leaning forward. When the guards brought her to the train car, Rose just knew she was in mortal danger. Instead she was being given information far beyond her imagination. So much information swirled around her mind, it almost gave her a headache. Still, one question remained at the top of her thoughts.
“Why now? I get the trial was apparently barely above a sham, but what made you come forward?” Rose asked.
“I got your request to view the body.” Yang said. “I figured you were either foolish enough or brave enough to kick a Lavellan’s nest. Regardless, you’re the only hope to make things right for San.” A guard entered the train from the door behind Rose, followed by the Nymph through the opposite door. Yang pulled a piece of paper out of his jacket. “This is permission for the visit, investigate everything you can.”
“How can I find Erlang?” Rose asked. Yang tensed up and glanced over his shoulder.
“He’s hosting an event tomorrow night, I’ll send your office an invitation. Do your best to corner him and you might be able to get answers.” Yang paused. “Just...it’s a nice event. You’ll want to step it up.” He waved his hand lazily over Rose.
“Right. I’ll give it a try.” Rose said flatly. The train’s brakes audibly strained as it came to a stop.
“Looks like we’re back in the city. You want the train to drop you off at home? I can send it literally anywhere.” He smiled. Rose looked at Yang then back at the guards.
“No, thank you. I don’t live far and I enjoy the walk.” Rose said. She stood up. “Thank you for your help Mr. Chen. You can count on me.” Yang smiled as she walked away from the table. As she passed through the train door, Rose recognized the guard from the balcony. Over her shoulder, Rose saw him glare at her through his helmet as the door closed.
----------------------------------------
As Rose turned the corner onto the street of her apartment, she made sure to stick as close to the street lamps as possible. It was late, the day had been much longer than she anticipated, and by this point she was exhausted. The other reason Rose kept to light was the feeling she had since leaving the train station: she couldn’t escape the feeling of being followed.
“For once I have the need to commend you.” the voice said. “You were slightly more shrewd than usual. Perhaps you’re only half as obtuse as you seem.”
“I’m full of surprises.” Rose said. She glanced over her shoulder and saw nothing but her familiar street cloaked in darkness. She shivered and picked up the pace.
“It wasn’t the lie which impressed me, it was the foresight to let the other guy think he’d gotten away with it.” Rose pulled the manifest out of her bag and slipped it into her jacket pocket, in case some tried to snatch it.
“I fully expected Tristan to abandon me the moment he got his hands on the papers. If he likes that food cart so much, he can enjoy the menu.” Rose rubbed the back of her neck as she neared the apartment. The sound of a twig snapping far in the distance behind her caused Rose to freeze.
“No.” the voice said. “Keep moving. Let me take a look.” Rose fully turned to look back down the street. Her eyes flashed violet and narrowed as she scanned the darkness. Rose turned on her heels and started to trot towards the apartment. As she approached the front door, the feeling of hand reaching out ran down her back. Instead of taking the stairs, she ran to the other side of the building and darted down an alley. Rose pressed herself flat against the wall and slowed her breathing. She strained to listen out for any noise. A faint sound of footsteps approached, then suddenly stopped. Rose could only take shallow breaths as she waited; her heart thumped in her chest. Rose closed her eyes as they footsteps resumed, but they continued only briefly before heading in the opposite direction.
Rose exhaled and nearly collapsed. She walked carefully towards the street and tried to search for whoever was out there from the edge of the alley. With the coast clear, Rose sprinted to the stairs and into the building. Inside, Rose skipped steps as she rain up four floors to her apartment.
Rose had burst through the front door and immediately locked it; she placed a chair against the door for good measure. She kept the lights off and tip toed across her living room to the front window. She pulled the curtain back a small bit and looked out of the window.
“It seems you picked up an admirer.” the voice said. Across the street, someone stood and stared up at the apartment building. Through the darkness, around his neck, Rose could just make out a tattoo.