The next morning, when the gates to Sanshi had been opened, Elsa walked calmly into the city.

It had been a long night. Meili and Elsa hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep, being so busy babysitting Subaru. They needed to prevent him from trying to storm the city singlehandedly and also from taking out his fury on Duncan and Deann who were their only bargaining chips.

Slowly, Meili and Elsa had pieced together Subaru’s relationship with Emilia. After everything the trio had been through together in the past week, Elsa and Meili were determined to save Subaru’s wife. The pair had come to bond in a powerful way to Subaru. Meili was a pack animal and bonding to others was nothing strange to her but this was particularly unfamiliar to Elsa who had long ago learned that attachments were dangerous things in her line of work. She had taken Meili under her wing but that was different than her connection to Subaru. Elsa wasn’t sure if she had ever bonded to someone so quickly or strongly in her entire life as she had to Subaru.

There’s something strange about him. His appeal feels almost… magical, Elsa mused. Maybe he really did put a spell on us…

Elsa walked up to the palace gates.

“Halt!” The guards said, raising their spears. “Who goes there?”

Elsa took stock of the soldiers. These weren’t rank and file troops, they were elite guards. If Elsa had to fight her way through them, she’d be in trouble and there was no way that she’d get into the palace without an alarm being sounded in any case.

Elsa being Elsa, she immediately grieved for the lost opportunity for battle and violence that a fight with these troops could provide. But she kept following the plan.

“I’m Elsa,” She said to the chief guard.

“What’s your business here?” He asked gruffly.

“This is a hostage situation,” Elsa said pleasantly.

The guard captain blinked. “Excuse me?”

Elsa handed the guard a signet ring. “Show this to Malcolm an Griest and ask him if he would like to discuss it.”

The captain looked at the ring and his face went pale. He gestured at Elsa and whispered something to the other guards before turning and running into the palace.

The other guards surrounded Elsa with snarling faces.

Elsa could easily guess what the guards had said: “Don’t let her get away.”

Elsa didn’t mind. She had no intention of trying to escape.

“It’s been nearly two days!” Anri fumed at the guard the next morning.

The guard had just brought breakfast to the room that Anri shared with Emilia.

The guard sneered at her. “Oh. Are your accommodations not up to your liking, Princess?” He asked with vast insincerity.

“The accommodations are fine,” Anri said through clenched teeth. “Except for the lock on the door… But my friend needs medicine!”

The guard snorted. “I’d waste good medicine on a pig before I gave it to an elf. Besides, I hear that the prince said he wants you to watch her die so you know what a failure you are. Enjoy the show!”

“The prince ordered you to keep her alive!” Anri shouted. “How are you going to do that if she doesn’t have her medicine?!”

The guard looked momentarily uncertain. He stepped out of the room and closed the door.

Anri sighed and walked to the bed where Emilia lay sleeping, curled up and silent. At least the room was open and well-ventilated. Emilia slept in a bright sunbeam that would help keep her warm.

Well. Maybe that will accomplish something. I don’t know what Subaru was giving Mili or what medicine to ask for… But maybe Malcolm will care enough about keeping Emilia alive to send for a healer.

I don’t know why Malcolm suddenly decided to keep her alive but I’m not complaining.

Maybe at least Emilia will survive this. I doubt that I will.

Anri sat down on the bed beside Emilia and buried her face in her hands.

“Anri?” Emilia rasped, with her eyes still shut.

Anri jumped and bent over Emilia. “Mili!” She whispered. “Are you OK?”

Mili took a ragged breath and slowly opened her eyes. They were foggy. “…Everything hurts,” She croaked.

Anri bit her lip. She gently lifted the covers and found that the black marks had crept up Emilia’s body all the way to her chest. They were all bleeding and leaking black puss.

Anri helped Emilia slowly sit up.

Emili sighed. “Anri, can you please turn on the lamp? I don’t think I’m going to get any more sleep tonight.”

“The lamp?” Anri said sharply. She looked at the bright sunlight filling the room through the windows and the balcony door. “Mili… it’s morning.”

“Then why is it so dark?”

“It’s not dark, Mili. The room is very well lit.”

“I can’t see it,” Emili moaned. She struggled to lift her hand but she managed waved it back and forth before her face a few times. “Nothing. Anri, I… I think I’m blind…” She whispered.

Elsa was in foul humor. The guards had searched her and taken her knives away before letting her into the castle. Elsa had been very direct in telling them that they had better take good care of those daggers. They had a lot of sentimental value.

Elsa had already considered keeping Deann’s twin slashing swords after the exchange but she intended to keep her own daggers as well. Every job had the perfect tool.

Elsa marched in the center of a formation of eight guards who led her through the castle. They looked at Elsa as though she might turn into a dragon at any moment.

Elsa walked very calmly through the castle, inspecting the decor and the tapestries until she arrived in a small conference room. Seated at that conference table was a bear of a man with a short black bear whose eyes burned like hot coals. His muscles bulked as if he could barely keep himself from leaping at Elsa and strangling her with his bare hands.

“Hello,” Elsa said in a friendly voice.

Malcolm pointed imperiously to a seat across from him and Elsa sat down agreeably. Someone had laid out a plate of cookies and Elsa wasted no time in grabbing one.

Malcolm took a deep breath. “Where did you find this?” He whispered, holding up the ring.

“I took it off your daughter’s finger,” Elsa said politely as she popped the cookie in her mouth.

Malcolm gaped in astonishment at this admission. He leaped to his feet and raced around the table. Elsa just looked at him curiously.

He grabbed the unresisting Elsa by the throat and slammed her hard against the stone walls. Malcolm got into Elsa’s face and hissed. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t just gut you where you stand!”

Elsa finished chewing her cookie. “Because my Master,” She said with considerable pride. “Swore that if I wasn’t back by lunchtime, he’d cut off all your daughter’s fingers. My little sister wanted to make them into a necklace,” Elsa added. “But the Master said that would be gross and he’d buy her something prettier to wear instead.”

Malcolm let go of Elsa and took a step back, heaving like a bellows. “What do you want?”

Elsa shrugged. “You stole a Princess that my Master is invested in as well as her companion. We have your princess and her companion. We’ll make it a straight swap.”

Malcolm’s hands made fists. His entire body trembled until he finally relaxed his fists by sheer force of will. “Is she alright?” Malcolm grated.

“Oh yes,” Elsa replied. “She’s in perfect health. Honestly, I wanted to rip out her entrails but the Master said no.”

“Who is this ‘Master’ of yours?!” Malcolm demanded.

“Taiyang,” Elsa replied, beaming. “The Witch of the Frozen Wastes.”

Malcolm’s jaw fell open. What? This ‘Taiyang’ was able to overpower Deann, Duncan, and Gilbert?! And he was even able to take them prisoner?! What is this monster?!

I’m a fool. I should have sent Kairei ahead and stayed with Deann to overpower the fiend but I believed Zeno’s sugar story about Taiyang exaggerating his power. I thought that Gilbert, Deann, and Duncan would easily match some upstart mage with the temerity to compare himself to the ancient witches.

Zeno must have tricked me into becoming Taiyang’s primary target so that the witch would forget about him! He might have even warned Taiyang about our attack to ingratiate himself to the Witch.

Zeno will pay for this.

But that’s later.

“Are your captives alright?” Elsa emphasized. “My Master wants you to know that he’ll personally cut out a pound of flesh from our captives to match whatever damage you’ve done.”

Malcolm was startled back into the moment. “Kairei is fine!” Malcolm snapped, wishing more than anything he could simply snap this obnoxious cunt’s slender neck.

Elsa bit her lip and hesitated. She wanted to press for more information about this ‘Emilia’ whom she knew was Subaru’s real focal point but she didn’t dare. There was no way that Malcolm wouldn’t realize that Taiyang was invested in her if Elsa asked about her.

Malcolm trembled with rage. “Sunset,” He whispered. “The clearing at the top of Badon Hill.”

Elsa nodded. “We’ll be there.”

Elsa grabbed another cookie and then turned and walked out of the conference room as calm as could be. She paused in front of the guard captain and held out her hand. “I’ll take my daggers back, if you please,” She said firmly.

The guard captain snarled at her but Elsa looked completely unconcerned. “You’ll get them back when you’re outside the gates!” The captain snarled. “Not before!”

For the first time in the entire meeting, Elsa looked annoyed but she shrugged and followed the guards as they led her away.

Malcolm sat down heavily at the table, grinding his teeth. In his hands, he tenderly held the signet ring that his daughter had worn. The same signet that had once been worn by her mother and Malcolm’s mother before her.

Late that afternoon, the fuming Malcolm an Griest sat in a wagon that was overflowing with his best guards. They were pressed together like arrows in a quiver. Anri lay on the floor, bound and gagged. Emilia was similarly restrained but she had been unconscious for hours now and her breathing was erratic. Nobody seemed to care too much that the girls were lying out on the hard wagon floor.

Malcolm took a deep breath. “Alright. Our priority is to get Deann back at any cost.”

“Yes, sir,” The guard captain nodded, noticing that Duncan hadn’t been mentioned at all. “What do we do after that?”

“I want you to kill or capture every man there,” Malcolm said intently. “This ‘Taiyang’ has crossed the unthinkable line: You do not go after children. Deann is practically still a girl. She was eighteen just a few years ago! She’s too young to be a pawn of politics.”

Anri scowled and snarled something into her gag but Malcolm ignored her.

“Kill or capture. Understood, sir,” The captain nodded.

Malcolm breathed out through clenched teeth. “I’m going to skin everyone involved in this farce. I’m going to flay them and then hang their skin from the walls of Sanshi as a warning to the next ten generations that you do not dare to attack my family…”

Subaru, Meili, and Elsa waited in the clearing at the top of a massive hill in the forest.

Meili’s mabeasts all hid in the woods nearby.

Duncan was tied up tight, unable to so much as twitch. He was blindfolded and gagged.

Deann was similarly blindfolded and gagged but while her arms and legs were secured, her bonds had been loosened enough for her to stand upright. Elsa was holding the Princess and caressing Deann’s throat with the flat of a knife, whispering into her ear about how wonderful she thought her entrails would feel.

Subaru sat on a log, drumming his fingers against his leg. He held a burning candle in his hands. He thought about telling Elsa to knock off terrifying Deann but decided to let it pass. Give Elsa a treat, Subaru thought to himself. She’s been very useful recently. And if Griest double-crosses me, scary words will be the least of Deann’s concerns.

“Subaru,” Meili whispered. “They’re coming.”

Subaru glanced at Meili who stood beside him with her eyes screwed shut. Subaru knew that she was looking through the eyes of her Knickerbockers.

“How many?” Subaru murmured.

“Hard to tell,” Meili said after a moment’s thought. “There’s only one wagon but it looks like it’s jammed full of guards and soldiers.”

“No surprise,” Subaru sighed. He stood up. “Alright, Meili. As soon as we get Anri and Emilia back, I want you to take them and get out of here. Let Elsa, the mabeasts, and me clean up this mess.”

Meili nodded solemnly.

“Elsa, put on your mask,” Subaru called.

Elsa quickly put her black mask on.

“Should I?” Meili asked.

Subaru shook his head. “Anri never saw you before so she won’t freak out when you’re here. But Elsa tried to kill them last week. Emilia and Anri will go into hysterics if they see her. Anri and Emilia should listen to you when you guide them to safety.” Subaru looked pained for a moment. “Also… don’t be too surprised if Emilia acts like she knows you.”

“How could she know me?”

Subaru sighed and shook his head. “It’s… It’s way too complicated to get into right now. Just… roll with it, I guess.”

Meili nodded, her face resolute. She glanced down the trail. “They’re coming,” She murmured.

Subaru nodded. “Yup.”

“Master,” Elsa murmured. “Aren’t you going to shroud yourself?”

“I thought about it,” Subaru admitted. “I’d rather that nobody knew who Taiyang really was. But I’d also rather lead Griest to underestimate me and that’ll be hard to do if I look like a living shadow.”

“Here, Subaru. Why don’t you take this?” Meili passed her black mask to him.

Subaru frowned. “Why?”

Meili shrugged. “Because like you said, you’ve worked pretty hard to make sure that nobody knows you’re Taiyang. Be a shame to throw away all the effort now.”

Subaru mulled it over, then shrugged, and pulled on the mask.

The two stood side by side and waited for the wagon.

The wagon rolled up to the clearing atop the hill and came to a stop. Malcolm was the first man out and then dozens of soldiers poured out of the wagon until nearly thirty men stood in the clearing.

Malcolm stared at the people in the clearing in disbelief. There was a man wearing a ridiculous black mask who was holding a single burning candle in his hand and there was a little girl standing beside him. A woman in a similar mask who was obviously the same woman that Malcolm had spoken to this morning was standing nearby and she had a dagger at Deann’s throat. Duncan lay at their feet.

What is this? There were should be more of them. They can’t have been stupid enough to come here alone. Are the others waiting in ambush?

“Prince Malcolm,” The young man that Malcolm assumed was Taiyang said. “I don’t know about you but I have things to do tonight. Let’s hurry up and get this over with.”

Malcolm blinked in surprise but then nodded, calming down. It really is just the three of them, isn’t it? These people aren’t brilliant criminals, they’re just fools who got lucky. Possibly Siros partisans but fools all the same. We just need to get Deann back and then we’ll rip them apart, piece by piece.

“Deann! Are you alright?!” Malcolm shouted.

Deann squirmed in Elsa’s grip and shouted into her gag.

The woman raised her dagger questioningly and Taiyang gave an abrupt nod.

The woman loosened Deann’s gag. “I’m fine, Father. Be careful! The witch is a monster! He-”

The woman quickly re-gagged Deann. “I think I like you better when you’re being quiet,” The woman reprimanded her.

Malcolm ground his teeth. “Give me back my daughter.”

Taiyang cocked his head. “I think you owe us our hostages first,” He called back.

Malcolm fumed then nodded at the guards. They pulled Anri out of the wagon, dumping the tied up girl on the dirt hard enough to knock the wind out of her. Anri moaned and struggled to sit up, spitting out her gag.

“Anri, you alright?” He shouted.

Anri coughed. “Yes.”

Taiyang waited. “Where’s the other one?” He said with an edge in his voice.

Malcolm frowned. He’d honestly forgotten that the elf-girl was even in the wagon. He gestured to the guard who pulled Emilia out of the wagon and dropped her on the ground like a bag of flour. Emilia caught the ground with her face and lay there unmoving.

Malcolm looked at Taiyang with annoyance. “I can’t imagine why you’d want a blind and crippled elf!”

Taiyang took a step back. “Blind?!” He whispered in horror.

“Malcolm threw away her medicine!” Anri shouted before the soldiers could silence her. “I begged him not to but he threw it away just to hurt me! She hasn’t had a dose in two days!”

Malcolm’s head snapped between Anri and Taiyang as he tried to process this.

Taiyang hissed. “Kill them,” He whispered. “All of them…”

Malcolm frowned in confusion. The threat made no sense. The trio were were outnumbered at least ten to one.

Malcolm was still mulling this over when he heard a scream from behind him. A full pack of Guiltylowe had dashed out of the forest and attacked his soldiers from behind. The soldiers tried to stand their ground but the sheer power of the huge mabeasts was bowling them over and knocking them back. A few soldiers broke and ran, recognizing a fight that they couldn’t win but a horde of wolgarm streamed through the underbrush, sinking their fangs into the legs of the fleeing soldiers until they felt down, screaming in pain. Then they tore them to bits.

Anri looked around in horror at the rampaging mabeasts but they paid her and Emilia no attention.

A little girl rushed to Anri’s side. She quickly drew a knife and began to saw through Anri’s bindings. Anri looked up at the strange girl in confusion, wondering who she was but this was no time to discuss it.

“Follow me!” Meili shouted, racing into the trees. There was no time to untie Emilia and there would be no point in untying an unconscious woman who couldn’t walk anyway. Anri picked up the limp elf and bolted after Meili.

Malcolm swore and drew his sword. He turned back to Deann, seeking to grab his daughter and escape this ambush but something crashed into him.

Malcolm went rolling but he was a seasoned warrior and came quickly to his feet.

Malcolm’s jaw dropped. Standing before him was a terrible, living shadow that seemed to suck the light and heat out of the day.

The witch grabbed Malcolm by the throat in a grip he couldn’t break. Malcolm reflexively dropped his sword to claw futilely at Taiyang’s hands. Malcolm felt himself lifted to face the witch although his face was nothing but depth-less shadow. “What did you do to my wife?!” He hissed.

“Your wife?” Malcolm whispered without air. He’d never known that the Princess had a consort. Then again, that would explain why this witch had been willing to come rescue her. A witch consorting with a cursed House of degenerates? Not a huge surprise.

Malcolm gasped for breath as he felt himself… dissolving. The witch was stealing something from him. Something precious. With each passing moment, Malcolm felt weaker, more empty. He felt like he was seconds away from crumbling into powder.

Then he fell to the ground.

Malcolm fought to catch his breath. The world swam around him as he looked up and saw the masked woman frantically tugging on the witch’s arm.

“Master!” The woman scream. “We’re about to be overwhelmed! We need to run!”

Malcolm dimly heard shouts and cries. The reinforcements I ordered to follow us just in case. Good timing.

Malcolm panted for breath but he smiled through his gasps. Taiyang and the women turned to run but the soldiers were in close pursuit.

The soldiers looked poised to catch the witch until he dropped the candle. The ground underneath them erupted in brilliant purple flames. The soldiers leaped backward, screaming. A few of the soldiers’ uniforms had caught fire and their comrades desperately beat it out.

The clearing was now ringed in unnatural fire.

“The witch cursed us,” A soldier said in horror.

Malcolm fought his way back to his feet. He looked around the clearing but even the mabeasts were gone. There was nothing left but the wagon and torn-up bodies.

Not far away, Malcolm saw Deann sitting on the ground, fighting to keep her balance as she worked to break free of her bindings.

Meili and Anri stopped running by a little stream, a short distance down the mountain.

“Thank you,” Anri panted, laying Emilia down on the ground.

The girl waved dismissively. She was doubled-over, trying to catch her breath.

Anri finally stopped panting. “You have my eternal gratitude,” She said formally.

The little girl shrugged. “Well. I mean thanks and all but I serve the Master. Your thanks don’t mean much to me.”

Anri frowned in confusion.

The little girl seemed to be inspecting Emilia with curiosity. “Is this Emilia?”

“Yes. How did you know that?” Anri replied.

She shrugged. “Master Subaru talks about her a lot,” She replied.

Wait. Her master is Subaru? Anri wondered. “What’s your name?” She asked.

“Meili. Hey, can you help me sit her up? Subaru gave me some medicine for her.”

Anri’s eyes widened. “Really? Yeah, let’s give it to her right now!”

Meili quickly cut Emilia’s bonds and Anri helped her sit up and pried her mouth open.

Emilia was completely unresponsive.

Meili reached into a pocket and pulled out a small bottle of glowing blue liquid.

“Be careful,” Anri warned. “Give her a tiny amount at a time. We don’t want her to choke.”

Meili thought for a moment and then nodded. The girl uncorked the bottle and poured it down Emilia’s throat, a few drops at a time.

When the vial was empty, Anri let Emilia’s mouth close. The unconscious elf made a faint whimper but that was all.

They gently laid Emilia down on the ground.

Anri thought that Emilia’s breathing was a tiny bit steadier but it might have just been wishful thinking.

Anri walked away a couple of steps. She glanced at Meili to ensure she wasn’t being closely watched but Meili seemed utterly indifferent to her presence. The girl peered into the woods as if looking for someone.

Anri reached into a hidden pocket in her clothes and pulled out a small black book and began to flip through it.

She found the last page and quickly read: To find the shortest path to the medicine, seek out the fox’s den by the burned tree along the river. Find medicine for the Frost Queen or all of Gusteko will burn beneath the Fire Witch’s rage.

Anri swallowed hard as she put the book away.

A few minutes later, Subaru came stumbling down the mountain, surrounded by mabeasts and without his mask.

“Subaru!” Anri shouted. “Are you OK?”

“Forget me! Is she OK?!” Subaru yelled back. He looked like he was struggling with a powerful migraine and he kept touching his forehead.

Anri looked nervously at the savage mabeasts gathered all around her. They all looked at Anri with cold, red eyes.

He sat down beside Emilia and gently pealed back one of her eyelids.

Her brilliant violent eyes were as foggy as curdled milk.

“Oh my god,” Subaru whispered in a broken voice.

“We need to get her to Siros, Subaru!” Anri said. “We need to find her a healer!”

“Anri! Siros won’t be able to help!” Subaru said, clutching his temples. “We need to make more Vitae for Emilia immediately but most of my equipment was burned to a crisp!”

“Burned?” Anri said.

Subaru hissed. “They burned the house down after they captured you!”

Anri stared at him in disbelief. “Well… We could find an alchemy lab in Siros!”

Subaru snorted. “How good are the labs in Siros, Anri? Do you have any idea? They’ve been under siege for months. What do they have for chemical supplies left? Do they have any of the ingredients we’d need?!”

“Subaru, what’s the plan?” Meili whispered.

Subaru thought for a moment and then took a deep breath. “We’ll head toward Kocytos.”

“Kocytos?!” Anri said.

Subaru looked grim. “I saw a good lab there when I went shopping a few days ago. It should have what I need. And I was told they’d be getting a shipment of sal-ammoniac today or tomorrow but it was too long for me to wait to buy from them.”

“Do you think whoever will let you use his lab?” Meili asked.

“I’ll buy it from him.”

Meili looked dubious. “What if-”

Subaru cut her off. “Then I’ll let your Big Sis ‘negotiate’ for me,” Subaru said flatly.

Meili giggled.

Anri frowned. “Look, this doesn’t sound like a good idea to me. But no matter where we’re going, we need to leave right now. Malcolm an Griest is going to tear this whole forest apart looking for us!”

“She’s right, Master,” Elsa said, emerging from the forest with the broken pieces of her mask in hand. “They’re fanning out in search parties.”

Anri turned white. She pointed at Elsa and opened her mouth to scream.

Before she could blink, Elsa was beside her, one hand clamped firmly over Anri’s mouth. “Please don’t,” Elsa said gently. “I did just mention the search parties in the forest. There are several hundred of them and more are arriving. That’s enough to even give the Master some trouble. So screaming would be a very poor idea.”

Anri stared at Elsa with huge eyes and then look at Subaru in shocked disbelief.

Subaru made a face. “You probably have a lot of questions but now is not the time to answer them.” He whistled for Patrasche.

Patrasche came running up to them followed by a Guiltylowe with a broken horn.

Elsa gave Anri a rueful look. “We need to leave now,” Elsa said. “I’ll take my hand off your mouth if you promise not to scream.”

Anri stared at Elsa, trembling. She slowly nodded.

Elsa took her hand away.

Anri took a deep slow, breath. “Subaru,” She whispered. “What the fuck is going on?! Why are there… tame mabeasts with you and what are you doing with Elsa?!”

Subaru shook his head. “No time to explain!” He reached down and gently picked up Emilia.

“You told me that Elsa was dead!” Anri hissed, her face livid.

“No,” He corrected firmly. Subaru carried Emilia over to Patrasche who knelt down so that he could mount. “I told you that Elsa wasn’t looking for you any more. She isn’t.”

Anri stared up at Elsa in complete shock.

Elsa just her gave a shrug and a friendly grin. “Master Subaru made us a better offer.”

“A better offer?!” Anri echoed.

“He promised not to kill us if we did what he said,” Meili said matter-of-fact.

Subaru climbed on Patrasche. “Meili, Elsa, grab the mabeasts and let’s get out of here.”

“Right,” Meili nodded.

Anri watched in amazement as Meili mounted the Guiltylowe as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Elsa climbed on behind her.

“Are you coming?!” Subaru asked impatiently.

Anri realized that Subaru was already sitting on the kneeling Patrasche, Emilia held tightly in his arms.

Anri glared at him. “How can I trust you after all this?”

“Uh, because you’ve got no choice?” Subaru threw her words back at her. “Look, come with us or stay here and take your chances, Anri. But I’m leaving. Now.”

Anri scowled but there was nothing she could say to that. Subaru helped Anri climb up into the saddle. Anri took the reins so that Subaru could focus on holding Emilia.

“Subaru, I have a whole lot of questions,” Anri muttered to him.

“Ask later!” He snapped.

“I have one really important question you had better answer right now, Subaru: Which way am I going?”

“That way,” Subaru pointed.

As the sun set, the strangest procession imaginable thundered across the grassy plains.

Kocytos was a long way from the Sanshi capitol but Patrasche and the mabeasts were eating up the ground as they ran.

Anri’s mind was racing a mile a minute but Subaru steadfastly refused to discuss anything right now. He was completely fixated on Emilia whose breathing was still labored.

Anri had told Subaru that she sounded much better than she had before but he had taken this as small comfort.

Anri’s eyes had brightened as they raced across the plains. She spotted an ancient tree growing along a small river that had been struck by lighting and burned black.

“Subaru!” Anri shouted. “We need to stop up here!”

“What?! Why?!” Subaru protested.

“This looks like a dead-drop site that I’ve heard about,” Anri lied. “We might get some valuable information or even find some medicine at this stash.”

Subaru hesitated at the word ‘medicine’ as Anri had expected. Anri checked Patrasche and brought the earth dragon to a walk. She saw out of the corner of her eye that Elsa, Meili, and the mabeasts did the same.

Anri brought Patrasche to a halt by the burned out husk of the tree and the earth dragon knelt down for her passengers to dismount.

Anri jumped off and inspected the tree, looking around for animal tracks.

Subaru gently laid Emilia against Patrasche and stood up.

“What are we looking for exactly?” Subaru growled suspiciously.

“Anything useful!” Anri said vaguely, looking around feverishly for any clues.

Subaru snorted and walked up to the burned out husk of a tree, inspecting it.

“Anri,” Subaru grated. “When did you hear about this ‘dead-drop site?’”

“I don’t know,” Anri hedged. “Maybe a few months ago? Things have been pretty chaotic lately. I just heard about a massive tree in this area by a river that was struck by lighting. There’s nothing else nearby so this had to be it, right?”

Subaru snorted. Anri realized that he was walking up to her with a grim expression.

Anri straightened up but before she could ask a question, Subaru reached out and stroked her cheek.

“Hey!” Anri said, instinctively rubbing her face. Her fingers came away black with soot.

“This tree was struck by lightning maybe a few days ago!” Subaru snapped. “The rain hasn’t even had time to wash away the ashes yet! So do you maybe want to amend your bullshit story?!”

Anri hesitated. Subaru’s face was grim. Elsa and Meili were looking at her coldly as well.

There was a shrill scream from the other side of the river.

Anri looked and saw a girl in a hood running from three much larger men.

Subaru saw it too.

He glowered at Anri for a long moment. “You don’t go anywhere. Come on, girls,” He grumbled to Elsa and Meili.

Subaru charged toward the three men. At the last moment, he decided not to use Indomitable yet, wanting the pleasure of using his own muscles.

The men were completely fixated on their prey so when Subaru burst out of the tall grass he took them entirely by surprise. Subaru’s fist collided with the first man, a thuggish-looking brute with orange hair and a scar across his lips.

The thug was much bigger and heavier than Subaru but with all the strength of Subaru’s as-yet unvented fury and the mana stolen during the fight from Griest and his soldiers, Subaru’s punch struck him with staggering force. The man reeled backwards.

The other two men came to a stop. They looked at one another in confusion and then turned to their leader who was wobbling in place with a fuzzy expression. Their quarry, a slender young woman wearing an elaborate robe and a hooded cloak, stopped and partially hid behind a tree.

“Listen,” Subaru grated. “I don’t know, nor do I care to know, what’s going on here but you guys need to find a new hobby.”

The orange-haired man got to his feet. “You’re either crazy or have a death wish.”

“It depends on my mood,” Subaru dead-panned. “I’m only going to say this once. Screw off. The lot of you. I have just had two of the most miserable days of my life but if you three want me to take out my frustrations on you, I’m super into-it.”

“Do you have any idea who we are?” The orange haired man demanded.

Subaru sighed. “Why does everyone always ask me that question? The answer is always ‘no.’ And the answer is always ‘I don’t care.’ What were you expecting me to say? You obviously don’t know who I am.”

“These men are attempting to murder me!” A woman shouted from behind him. “If you can protect me, I’ll pay you handsomely!”

Subaru jumped at this voice and spun around. The ‘young woman’ was staring at him wide-eyed. She pulled down her hood, revealing black hair with red streaks and a pair of similarly colored fox ears.

“Ko… Could you be quiet for a minute, please?” Subaru said awkwardly, barely avoiding calling the kitsune by name. “I’m… kind of in the middle of something.”

“I’ll give you one chance to get out of this with your skin,” The orange-haired man said grimly. “Walk away and forget you ever saw anything…”

Subaru glanced at the man and then seemed to completely dismiss him from mind. He looked at Koi with narrowed eyes. “Who are these men?” He asked her in a near growl.

Koi took a deep breath. “Gatz was one of my servants but he betrayed me. He’s fallen under the influence of a rival of mine who seeks to kill my daughter and myself!”

“Zeno is attacking you?” Subaru said sharply. “…What made him do that?” Subaru’s voice grew softer and he seemed to be talking to himself. “…What would have made him think that he could get away with that…”

Koi’s eyes widened slightly. Zeno? I never mentioned his name. How did this man know about it?

Subaru stepped forward. “You guys work for Zeno?” He called.

Gatz scowled. “That’s right! You may be a tough little prick but are you really ready to take on the Black Silver Coins? You better stay out of our business!” He snapped.

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

“What confuses me,” Subaru said slowly. “Is what made Zeno do this. Last I heard, Taiyang was protecting Koi. What made Zeno think he could get away with threatening her?”

Wait! He knows my name? And how can this boy know about my arrangement with Taiyang?!

Gatz snorted. “Zeno isn’t afraid of Taiyang!”

Subaru gave him a chill smile. “We both know that isn’t true.”

Gatz snarled. “Fuck this!” Gatz rushed Subaru with a long knife extended and his men followed close behind.

Subaru stood with ground with a faint smirk.

The men all slammed their long knives into Subaru’s body. The blades failed to even scratch his skin.

Subaru raised his hands and gently pushed the trio away. The thugs went flying, landing on their backs, and sliding out on the dirty path.

“Yeah, that’s a hard pass,” Subaru grumbled. “Elsa, I need some information. Bring the leader to me alive. I don’t care what you do with the others.”

Koi heard a honeyed voice titter from the tall grass. A beautiful woman emerged from cover with a sweet smile on her face. “Master Subaru, you just made my day,” She cooed.

Gatz jaw dropped. “That’s the fucking Bowel Hunter! Run!” The trio turned and sprinted into the tall grass.

Koi stared at the devastatingly beautiful woman in absolute shock. That is the Bowel Hunter! Wait… Subaru? Subaru Natsuki?! Taiyang’s great enemy?! The Bowel Hunter works for Taiyang. What is she doing with Subaru Natsuki and calling him Master?

It doesn’t matter. I need to find Senko and protect her from Zeno’s vengeance. Subaru Natsuki might be the tool I need to do this. Even if Taiyang murders me for it, I need to make sure that Senko gets out of this mess alive!

Elsa glanced at the fleeing thugs. “May I, Master?” Elsa asked politely.

“Sure. Just don’t take all day,” Subaru emphasized. “And they might split up so bring Meili and her pets with you. Remember, I need the orange one alive.”

“On it!” Elsa said like a song of joy. She sprinted off into the tail grass. A pride of Guiltylowe followed her in close pursuit, one Guiltylowe had a small girl mounted on its back.

Mabeasts? And a little girl riding them?

That’s the little girl that was with Taiyang the night that he raided Zeno’s manor!

Did Subaru Natsuki manage to steal away Taiyang’s minions?!

I saw the look on the Bowel Hunter’s face at Zeno’s manor. It wasn’t an act. Elsa Granhiert’s adoration of Taiyang was completely unfeigned. Now she’s looking at Subaru Natsuki the same way. What the hell is going on here?!

Koi stood there silently for several minutes while Subaru waited patiently for his minions to retrieve the thugs. As desperate as she was to get answers, Koi knew better than to tip her hand about her relationship with Taiyang by asking Subaru any questions.

All she could do was stand there and wrack her brain, trying to deduce what was going on.

A bit later, Elsa emerged from the tall grass. Her clothes were blood-splattered but she had a cheerful smile on her face. She was dragging Gatz along the ground by his collar.

Behind her, a small army of mabeasts emerged as well as the little girl riding atop a Guiltylowe who seemed completely casual about the blood on her pets’ muzzles. If anything, the little girl looked bored.

Elsa dragged Gatz to Subaru’s feet and dropped him there.

Gatz looked up in fear, surrounded by enemies.

Subaru squatted down in front of him. “I have just one question,” Subaru whispered. “What made Zeno think that it was safe to betray Taiyang?”

Gatz swallowed hard but didn’t reply.

“Elsa,” Subaru said calmly.

“Yes, Master?” She asked sweetly.

“Make him talk…”

“…And that’s all I know, I swear!” Gatz begged. The man had been virtually turned inside out.

Subaru stood in front of him, grinding his teeth and panting for breath in a rage.

“So it was Zeno who ratted out Emilia and the princess to Griest!” The little girl on the Guiltylowe said indignantly.

Subaru took a deep breath. “He will pay for this,” Subaru hissed.

Koi’s eyes widened as the warm spring afternoon cooled around her. A chill wind blew up and the day darkened. Subaru’s face began to flicker, first growing darker and then lighter again.

This final piece solved the puzzle. It’s Taiyang! Taiyang is Subaru Natsuki!

I don’t understand. Why pretend to be your own worst enemy? …Unless he…

Her eyes widened. Of course! It’s genius! Subaru Natsuki claimed to be from another world. A strange story by itself. A few persons really do arrive from other worlds every few centuries but most are nothing more than con-artists trying to bury their pasts. Almost nobody who makes that claim gets anyone to believe them since any amount of research invariably turns up evidence that they do have a past somewhere on this world.

It’s honestly amazing that anyone ever tries that lie anymore but it is awfully tempting. It’s the perfect tactic to use if you have a back story that you don’t want to explain.

Like, for example, if you’d been sleeping in the Elior Forest for centuries…

Taiyang isn’t Subaru Natsuki, Subaru Natsuki is Taiyang! The Witch of the Wastes invented his own archenemy and nearly placed him on the throne of Lagunica! That way he could control both sides of the equation!

Taiyang can do the dirty work while Subaru Natsuki rules in the light. Everyone spoke of Subaru Natsuki’s remarkable power. But it makes perfect sense that he’d possess unimaginable strength if he were a witch!

By making Subaru Natsuki the only one that Taiyang fears, Subaru Natsuki will be placed at the apex of any effort to defeat him! Taiyang can undermine attacks against himself from the inside and no one will ever suspect anything!

Taiyang doesn’t plan to rule the Black Silver Coins. He plans to rule the world! He nearly conquered Lagunica without any effort at all, even if that plan went sideways for a time due to the Witch Cult’s attack, and now he’s aligned with the outsider House of Siros which would have been desperate to form any alliance to save itself! Sanshi’s forces are now in ruins and Siros is ascended but they know they owe their power solely to Taiyang! Once the war ends, Taiyang will be the defacto ruler of Gusteko.

It’s amazing. His strategy is the work of pure genius.

Koi reset herself. Focusing on the immediate concern.

I need to assure Taiyang that my loyalty is ironclad. That’s the only reason he’d see any reason to help me and to rescue Senko at this point. Moreover, this is a golden opportunity for us. Taiyang will one day rule this world, openly or from the shadows and I can have a seat at the table when the spoils are divided if I play my cards right.

My daughter might one day rule her own realm if we prove our loyalty…

“Master,” Elsa murmured. “Do we continue onto Kocytos or do we go looking for Zeno?”

Subaru took a deep breath. “Emilia comes before revenge. We’ll got to Kocytos and find a way to make medicine before we deal with Zeno.”

“I can show you where Zeno is,” Koi broke in.

Subaru started and turned around. He’d clearly forgotten that Koi was even there.

“I can show you where Zeno is, my lord,” Koi repeated with a charming smile. “He’s not far away.”

Subaru thought for a moment. “Elsa, you can finish playing with this guy. But keep him quiet and don’t take all day! We need to move.”

Elsa seemed to swoon with delight as she knelt over the helpless Gatz who was quietly protesting and begging for mercy.

“Where is he?” Subaru murmured to Koi.

“He’s at my my estate,” Koi replied.

“And where is that?” Subaru asked carefully.

Koi put an artfully pained expression on her face and lowered her voice. “Forgive me, Master. But I don’t think we have time for these kind of games,” She whispered. “My daughter and my whole organization are in great danger. I know that you have many minions to work your will but if we don’t get there in time to save my division, I worry that your plans will be dealt a serious setback.”

Subaru’s eyes widened. “What are you saying?” He whispered.

Koi shrugged with a rueful smile. “Forgive me, Master. As your most humble servant, I try to be cognizant only of what you wish and ignorant of what you do not wish for me to know. But I have known who you truly are for some time.”

Subaru’s face was stony as he looked down at the slender kitsune. “And how many other people know about this?” He grated.

Koi’s face fell into a very believable expression of shock. “Why, no one at all, Master! I have kept your secret absolutely confidential as any good servant should! I have not even shared this knowledge with my precious daughter.”

Subaru frowned and leaned back on his heels, his face thoughtful. “Why would you tell me that?” He asked.

“Because it’s the truth, Master.”

Subaru shook his head. “You’re not stupid. You just gave me the perfect way to tie up a loose end if I decided that you know more than I want you to know.”

“Naturally, Master,” Koi said with feigned nonchalance although her heart was pounding. “I hope you didn’t misunderstand my pledge. While oaths among the Black Silver Coins are often rumored to be… negotiable, a rumor with some accuracy I regret to admit, among my family, oaths of honor and loyalty are considered to be absolute. Senko and I have sworn to you our eternal loyalty and that is all that there is to be said on the matter. If you truly believe that my death would service you better than my life, you, of course, know best. But my actions are only motivated by my reverence for my Master and my devotion to his will. I have and will continue to work tirelessly to see to your ascension. Senko and I are your most faithful servants and in permitting the death of either of us, you would sadly weaken yourself. And as a loyal servant, I would have to object to that,” She admitted in dolorous tones.

Subaru looked at her in annoyance. “Koi, you are a shrewd and dangerous woman.”

Koi simpered. “Thank you, Master,” She fell into a low bow.

“That wasn’t a compliment,” He grumbled.

Koi took a deep breath and her voice grew serious. “Master. I have been your faithful vassal. I have followed your every instruction without question and without complaint. But now, I fear my entire organization, especially my daughter, are in great danger…”

Subaru sighed. “And the first responsibility of a lord is to protect his vassals,” He finished with a sigh.

“Just so. And I can assure you, Master,” Koi continued, “Whatever medicine you require in Kocytos, I am well equipped to procure it for you.”

Subaru looked thoughtful for a moment and then nodded. “Meili?” He called over his shoulder.

“Yeah?”

“Are the Goki nearby?” Subaru asked.

Koi blinked in confusion, wondering if she had misheard him.

Meili nodded. “Yeah. They’re not far away. I’ll call them if you want them. But what would you want them for?”

“I need to make a bit of a statement,” Subaru said. “People need to know what happens when they screw with me. We’re going to head over to Lady Koi’s estated. Elsa, Koi, and I will deal with a problem there. Meili, you stay behind with the Guiltylowe and other mabeasts and protect Anri and Emilia.”

“OK,” Meili said a bit somberly.

Subaru cocked his head. “Something wrong?” Subaru asked.

Meili sighed. “Not really. I just feel bad missing out on how you’re going to outsmart your foes with the Goki again…”

Subaru chuckled. “Don’t worry, Meili. You’re not missing anything. I’m not doing anything clever this time. I’m just going for shock value.”

“Oh. Well, that’s a relief,” Meili said, her face brightening.

The courtyard of Koi’s estate was full of bodies that night.

Senko stood protected by a circle of Dreyfus’s best men. None were unbloodied but none were ready to surrender yet.

Senko had tried to escape with her Mother but Gatz had betrayed them and sent the pair into a desperate flight. Koi had attempted to draw pursuit away from her daughter. While she had succeeded, Senko had no skill or experience at concealing a trail through the wilds. She’d been located and it was only by a desperate flight back to the estate that Senko had been spared immediate capture and death or worse.

Senko held only a small dagger. She had no training with weapons but she had always held it as a backup tool, a trait that she’d picked up from her mother. She held it purely to ensure that she wouldn’t be captured and subjected to days or weeks of Zeno’s hospitality.

Cynthia stood beside Senko, the blond woman’s face as grim as death. She’d been here for a meeting with Koi when Zeno had attacked and now she was an unexpected bonus prize for the thug.

Bodies were everywhere, more of Zeno’s men than of Koi’s but when Zeno had attacked, he had brought nearly three men for every one of hers. Worse, Koi had discovered that several in her employee had been on Zeno’s payroll.

Fortunately, none of those traitors had survived. Senko took grim satisfaction in that.

Dreyfus was bloodied but unbowed and he held his position at the point of his men, daring more of Zeno’s soldiers to come at him.

For the moment, they held back and the courtyard turned battlefield was calm and quiet.

“Lady Senko,” Dreyfus whispered. “I’m sorry but I don’t think we can hold back another wave,” He admitted.

Senko’s lips tightened. She’d never heard Dreyfus sound defeated before. “Thank you, Dreyfus,” She murmured.

Senko looked at Cynthia. The woman looked back with a hard expression. The two had never had a relationship. Senko wasn’t even certain if Cynthia had known she was Koi’s daughter until the past few days. Cynthia had been by no means an aunt to Senko. She barely qualified as her Mother’s friend. She was a business associate who had never attempted to kill Koi and that was about as close to friendship as one usually got in the Black Silver Coins.

Cynthia was a hard woman. She’d grown up in the Coins. Her father and older brother had both been Bosses of the Lagunican Coins until their deaths when Cynthia needed to step in and try to hold the organization together after it and her family were nearly destroyed by that Vollachian hussy her brother had fallen in ‘love’ with. Cynthia had hoped hoped to avoid her father and brother’s bad habits of being murdered by rivals but that was looking less likely now.

Zeno’s soldiers stirred at the entrance of the manor’s courtyard. They parted like the sea and through their ranks strolled Zeno. He stood head and soldiers above his men and his face was fixed in a wicked grin.

He walked calmly through the courtyard, followed by his most trusted warriors. Aperitif walked a few steps behind him, the elf wearing pink silks and standing out like a sore thumb.

“Hey there, little fox,” He said mockingly to Senko. “Where’s the big fox hiding?”

Senko raised her chin defiantly. “She got away!” She said in a quavering voice.

Zeno looked annoyed. Then he started to smile. “Well, I’m sure she’ll be back to get you. I promised the men that they could play with Koi before I finished her off. They’ll be disappointed she got away but I bet the two of you would do just as well.”

Cynthia scowled and Senko turned pale. She gripped the knife hidden in her pocket more tightly.

“What is the point of all this?” Cynthia snapped. “What is it that killing us will bring Scrofa? If you burn down our divisions then you’ll spend whatever is left of your life rebuilding them! You’d be an old, old man before they showed a profit again!”

Zeno smirked. “The Boss and I have the same angle on this: What matters is, they’re mine.”

Cynthia shook her head in disgust. She’d met a lot of men like Zeno and Scrofa over the years, men who only cared about what they could take as opposed to what they could have. Spoiled children in men’s bodies who would lust for something, take it, smash it out of boredom, and then move on to some new toy.

“I’m actually debating keeping Koi around for a while,” Zeno chuckled. “It might amuse me to keep her as a mistress.”

Cynthia rolled her eyes. “Have you ever met a woman that you didn’t want to make your personal whore?” Cynthia said in disgust. “They never seem to last long in your service!”

Zeno smirked. “I’m wondering how low I can make Koi sink using her daughter as an inducement. She’ll do whatever I say or I’ll make her wear little Senko as a fur stole.”

Senko turned white.

Cynthia grimaced. “Zeno. That is disgusting even by your standards!”

Zeno just laughed. “If you surrender, maybe I’ll keep you around with the foxes for a while. That way I could watch the three of you ‘play’ together.”

“Hardly an inducement, Zeno,” Cynthia said witheringly. “I’d be more likely to surrender if you promised to kill me without touching me! And how do you see this little venture of yours ending? Do you really think that Taiyang will just ignore what you’re doing?!”

Zeno chuckled. “I made a deal to get rid of ‘Taiyang.’ A full team of Acolyte Knights is lying in wait to put him down.”

Cynthia cocked her head, considering that for a moment. “Do you really think that will work?” She asked skeptically.

Zeno snorted. “It might! And if not, I have evidence, sighed by Koi’s lieutenants,” Zeno gestured at two bodies lying in the courtyard. “Confessing that you and Koi setting up the ambush that attacked him!”

Cynthia’s lips tightened.

Zeno snickered. “Great plan, right?”

Senko took a deep breath and pulled herself erect, trying to look as foreboding as her Mother could when she was angry. She didn’t succeed all that well. “You’re a fool, Zeno,” Senko snapped in a shrill voice. “You’ve always been a fool. Too quick to act and not quick enough to think.”

Zeno scowled. “What are you talking about?”

Senko wasn’t sure herself but stalling was about all she had left to work with. She wracked her mind trying to come up with a strategy.

Behind Zeno, the courtyard gate exploded and his men went flying in all directions.

Zeno spun around to look and Cynthia craned her neck to see what fresh threat this was.

The courtyard grew chill and dark. A strong wind began to blow across the courtyard.

Standing in the slowly settling dust where the gate used to be was a terrifying black silhouette of a man. Standing beside him was a beautiful young woman with long dark hair.

Senko saw Koi, hiding behind them in her hood.

Mother! Senko thought. She found Taiyang!

Zeno’s forces stumbled back and Zeno’s mouth became a grim slash.

“I know what you did, Zeno,” The shadowy monster called in an inhuman voice.

“Lord Taiyang,” Zeno said slowly.

“You sound surprised to see me,” Taiyang observed.

Zeno took a deep breath. “I’m here because of the treachery of your minion, lord!” He pointed at Koi. “I heard that the fox had sold you out to Sanshi and I came here to punish her!”

Zeno scowled at Koi, waiting to see how she would react.

Koi said nothing. Her face was smooth and even. Koi had decided long ago that when falsely accused, silence was often the best strategy. If you let someone spin a web of lies long enough, they might find themselves being the ones tied up in it.

“Strange that you came here instead of coming to help me,” Taiyang said.

Senko hid a smile. Nice try, Zeno, Senko thought, feeling almost giddy. He knows that you’re lying. I don’t know how he knows but he knows and you’re not leaving here alive!

Zeno hesitated. “I know my limitations, Master,” He said finally. “If a foe can threaten you, I’m certainly no match for him. So I-”

“You talked,” Taiyang whispered.

Zeno blinked.

“Gatz revealed to me what you did,” Taiyang asserted. He walked toward the hulking Zeno with no apparent concern.

Zeno’s troops melted out of the Witch’s way. They backed away from their master, leaving Zeno standing isolated in the center of the courtyard. The beautiful woman who had accompanied Taiyang leaned casually against a wall, content to simply watch the show. Koi hesitated beside her for a moment and then took a chance, bolting across the courtyard and catching Senko in her arms. The two kitsune clung tightly together.

“He’s one of Koi’s thugs!” Zeno blustered. “Of course he implicated me! It was the only way to save his-”

“He told me the truth, Zeno,” Taiyang whispered. “A man doesn’t lie when you’re holding his liver in your hands.”

The beautiful woman leaning against the wall closed her eyes and made a soft sound of remembered contentment.

Zeno took a step back but then held his ground with a snarl. “I’ve got a hundred men here! You think that you can take us all?!”

Zeno’s men stared at their master in disbelief. They wanted no part of this fight.

Taiyang looked at the trembling men and laughed. “I don’t imagine they’ll be joining the fun,” He whispered as he closed in on Zeno.

Zeno choked and threw a punch at Taiyang’s face.

Taiyang didn’t even bother to block it and the blow landed with a sound like thunder. Zeno’s enormous fist hit Taiyang’s body with all the effect of a raindrop striking a brick wall.

Taiyang kicked Zeno’s thigh and the bone snapped like a twig.

Zeno screamed and started to fall to the ground but Taiyang grabbed him by the throat and held him up.

Senko’s eyes widened as Zeno struggled helplessly in Taiyang’s gripe. Zeno’s face grew blurry as if it was being viewed through the water of a raging river.

Zeno trembled in Taiyang’s grip, feeling as if he was being hollowed out and emptied.

Finally, Taiyang let Zeno go and the hulking man crashed to the ground. Zeno’s skin looked gray as he lay there, panting for breath.

Zeno fought to get back to his feet. It took nearly a minute of effort but Zeno was famous for his indomitable will and he finally stood up.

“What did… you do to me?” Zeno asked, sounding exhausted.

Senko frowned. It might be her imagination but she thought that Taiyang might look a little bigger and more imposing. But it was hard to tell through his shadow.

“I permitted you to make a small contribution to my welfare,” Taiyang whispered. “I assure you that you were delicious. Take comfort in that as you die.”

Zeno snorted. “So now you’re going to kill me?” He said, sounding unimpressed.

“No. I shall not kill you,” Taiyang replied.

Zeno turned his attention to the strange woman who had arrived with Taiyang but she made no sign of moving either.

Nothing happened.

Senko’s ear twitched. She heard a loud buzzing sound in the distance.

Zeno scowled. “What are you-”

Zeno’s words trailed off as the stars were blotted out by an enormous swarm of insects that filled the sky.

Koi gasped and tried to hold Senko even tighter.

The Goki swarm gathered high overhead and then dove at Zeno and only at Zeno, coating him with biting insects.

Zeno fought to tear off the bugs but there were simply too many biting insects to make any headway. Zeno punched a few of the largest Goki but fists are not a good weapon to use against a swarm of insects. He slapped at them and tried to rip them off his skin but for every one he removed, ten more were waiting impatiently to join in. Worse, every time he opened his mouth or tried to inhale, the smallest Goki fought to climb into his nose and mouth.

Zeno choked and fought to blow the invading insects back out of his air passages but the tiny bugs held on tenaciously, biting and tearing whatever flesh they could.

Zeno’s soldiers could only watch in horror. Their weapons were no use against this enormous swarm. A few out of sheer desperation, tried shooting arrows at the swarm but while the arrows likely killed a few bugs they also plunged deep inside of Zeno’s back and gave the Goki access to the soft, tender meat under Zeno’s rhino-like skin.

After less than a minute, Zeno was doubled over. Ignoring the swarm biting and tearing his skin, he struggled to get the bugs out of his nose and throat. His lungs worked like a bellows but for each Goki he managed to push out of his lungs, three more were sucked in on the inhale and they were pulled all the way down into his soft, wet lungs.

Where the Goki feasted.

The Goki worked diligently, tearing Zeno apart from the inside out.

Zeno kept coughing, trying to force the bugs as well as the steadily increasing pool of blood out of his lungs.

Finally, Zeno collapsed. He landed on his face in the courtyard. Normally this would have crushed quite a few Goki but with Subaru’s guidance, the swarm dodged his fall and relit upon the prostrate body.

The feast began in earnest here.

Cynthia and Aperitif both looked on in horror.

Taiyang turned his attention toward Aperitif and the rest of Zeno’s men. He took one step toward them.

“Wait!” A hulking, brown-skinned man shouted. “We surrender!”

Taiyang cocked his head.

“I am Farouk. I worked for Zeno for many years. My men, they are fierce fighters. And loyal!” The man emphasized. “When Zeno ordered us to fight, we followed him. We followed him to death, yes? If we follow you, we will be loyal to you unto death!”

Taiyang seemed to consider this. “Someone once told me to blame the person who ordered the attack not the hired blade,” He murmured.

Senko noticed that the beautiful woman who was still lounging against the wall had nodded at this statement.

“Yes. We follow orders!” Farouk exclaimed. “We follow orders well. We’ll follow your orders if you’ll only give us a chance!”

“Me too!” Aperitif squeaked. “Give me the chance and I will gratefully call you Master!”

Taiyang looked at Aperitif. “You are an underboss of the Coins, are you not? You didn’t just follow orders. You gave them.”

Aperitif swallowed hard. “Look. I… I’m not a fighter! I couldn’t refuse Zeno! I just provide pleasures. I own houses all across the continent that cater to every vice imaginable! I’m sure that we can work something out!”

Taiyang considered that. “An intriguing offer but to be blunt, I must admit my reservations,” Taiyang said, sounding unimpressed. “I doubt that anything you could offer me would arouse the passions of a witch of the Old World.”

Aperitif nodded with a pathetically eager smile on his face. “I can offer anything, Master! Just name it! How about… a cute little fox girl slave?” He suggested with a leer at Senko and Koi.

Koi hissed at him. Senko scowled and for the first time in her life, she found herself fantasizing about doing hideous things to a man with a fondue fork. Then she saw Taiyang’s finger twitch through his shadow and Senko’s face softened into a smirk.

“Elsa,” Taiyang called.

The beautiful woman lazing against the wall walked over to Taiyang, her eyes were lidded with pleasure and her expression was superior.

“Elsa,” Taiyang murmured. “I would like you to sample this man’s… pleasures,” He murmured. “See if he can satisfy you.”

Elsa’s face brightened.

Aperitif looked confused at being asked to entertain this woman personally but he wasn’t stupid enough to object. “Of course, Master. I’m… extremely talented at offering satisfaction to my customers,” He murmured as Elsa walked forward and gently took his arm. “I’ll bring great pleasure to your… friend.”

Koi shook her head. Aperitif has no idea whom he’s about to ‘entertain.’ I almost pity him. He really is a fool.

“Koi,” Taiyang said.

Koi snapped to attention. “Yes, Master?” She called.

“Your men appear to require medical attention. See to them. I shall call upon you to attend me in a few minutes.”

Koi nodded immediately. “Of course, Master. Thank you.”

Koi gestured and her men began to stagger back inside her manor. None had escaped injury and some needed to be carried by their brethren.

Cynthia gave Koi a sharp look. Koi thought a moment and then nodded. A deal was established in a single gesture.

Cynthia wants to get in good with Taiyang and she recognizes that I’m the key to that. She’ll be obedient to me in exchange.

Cynthia, Koi, and Senko followed the exhausted guards inside.

Taiyang ignored Aperitif and walked forward to address Zeno’s troops. Several of the men stepped back and Farouk turned pale. He held his ground by sheer force of will.

“I have decided to accept your fealty,” Taiyang murmured.

Zeno’s forces sighed in relief.

“However, in order to get us off on the proper foot,” Taiyang continued. “I desire you to observe what befalls those who betray me. Please, pay close attention.”

Taiyang gestured toward Elsa.

“Master?” Elsa asked curiously.

“Elsa, I desire you to put on a demonstration of your talents with that man,” Taiyang murmured, pointing at Aperitif. “I desire you make the situation of my foes plain and clear to all. These men,” Taiyang gestured at the soldiers, “Are required to remain here until your demonstration is complete. Anyone who attempts to run or interfere with you will also be added to your list of toys.”

Taiyang turned around and walked into the house.

Aperitif and all the soldiers stared at the departing witch in confusion, pondering what he meant.

Elsa’s eyes widened and she looked at Subaru with something akin to awe. It was as if a whole new world had been opened up to her.

An Audience… I never even imagined it before. Normally, anyone who watched me work would be next on the list of my toys to play with. But these men are going to see my art and they’ll survive… They’ll remember the subtle craft of my skills. And they’ll be changed forever by that experience as any great work of art changes the people in its audience!

It was amazing. It was revelatory. Elsa felt like she could have kissed Subaru. And later on, she might well try.

A few minutes later, Subaru was guided to Koi’s sitting room.

He entered to find Cynthia, Koi, and Senko all on their knees with their heads bowed.

“Great Taiyang,” Koi whispered. “We are eternally grateful for your gallant rescue. Forgive me for failing to anticipate Zeno’s perfidy.”

Subaru sat down on a sofa. “I hold you blameless, Lady Koi,” Subaru muttered, wishing that they could hurry the preliminaries along. “He was foolish enough to think that he could defeat me. How could you be expected to anticipate the actions of a fool?”

“Thank you for your generosity, Master,” Koi murmured, gracefully rising to her seat and sitting on the sofa beside him. Cynthia also rose and took her seat in a chair while Senko remained kneeling on the floor and began to pour tea for the others. “What is it you wish of us?”

Subaru drummed his hands for a moment. “Zeno has caused me much trouble. I will require your assistance to rectify this situation.”

“You need simply name it, Master. How can I… satisfy you?” Koi whispered. Koi was feeling much more confident around Taiyang now that she’d seen what lay under his shadow. His spell of fear persisted but she was able to manage it much better now. Taiyang wasn’t some dark god, he was a man. A powerful and dangerous man to be sure but he was still just a man and that meant he had a man’s vices.

And Koi was extremely skilled at taking advantage of those.

Subaru pretended that he hadn’t heard her transparent invitation or noticed the way Koi’s tail was rubbing against his leg.

Note to self: When visiting Koi, only sit in the chair. It helps keep Koi at arm’s length.

“Zeno has destroyed my lair and my lab,” Subaru said. “He has set my work back considerably. I will need to find a new residence and a new lab.”

“Allow me, Master,” Cynthia said quickly. “Zeno has also caused me much upheaval. Several of my breweries are now defunct of talented alchemists to craft my liquors. I would be only too happy to deliver my best quality equipment to wherever you wish.”

“I believe I can assist with this as well,” Koi broke in, unwilling to let Cynthia get ahead of her in courting Taiyang’s favor. “My people are very skilled at shipping delicate materials. And I will ensure that your supplies are fully stocked.”

Cynthia and Koi smiled politely at one another.

Senko watched the women closely as she poured a cup of tea. She silently ruled this round of their contest to win Taiyang’s favor a draw.

“Most generous of you,” Subaru whispered. “I have a reward for you then.”

Subaru took out a small vial of emerald liquid and handed it to Cynthia.

“What is it, Master?” Cynthia asked.

“Soma,” Subaru replied. “An extremely potent narcotic and stimulant. I believe this will help you both rebuild your finances.”

Cynthia and Koi shared an intrigued look.

“Can it be made in quantity?” Cynthia asked.

“Easily,” Subaru muttered. “Taiyang takes care of his agents. I will make you what you require and we will all share in the profits.”

“Sounds splendid, Master,” Koi murmured.

“I will need my new lab as soon as possible,” Subaru muttered. “When can we arrange equipment to be delivered?”

“Forgive me, Master,” Koi murmured, “But deliver it where?”

Subaru was silent for a moment. “Ah yes. My lair was destroyed. I will need to procure a new one.”

“Simplicity itself, Master,” Koi whispered. “I have a guest house on my lands. Nothing would bring me greater pleasure than to show you… hospitality…”

Senko watched Cynthia frown but she didn’t say anything. Cynthia clearly accepted Koi as having the right to primacy in their relationship with Taiyang.

Subaru mulled it over. Well, it’s not like I have any other options at the moment.

“I believe that will be acceptable.”

“A wonderful idea,” Cynthia agreed, her tone slightly insincere. “I hope that you will find it most commodious.”

Subaru nodded. “Very well. I shall take up dwelling there tonight. How soon can you have my supplies and equipment prepared?”

Cynthia and Koi shared a look. “I’m sure we can have everything arranged by lunch tomorrow, Master. If that meets with your approval,” Cynthia said. Their men would simply not get any sleep tonight.

“Excellent,” Subaru murmured. “You have both pleased me greatly.”

“Lady Cynthia,” Koi murmured. “Perhaps you should go get the ball rolling. My men are standing by to ship whatever you wish from wherever you say.”

Cynthia nodded and stood up. Cynthia understood Koi’s words and was unsurprised. Koi had allowed her as much direct access to the Master tonight as she was comfortable with and now it was time for Cynthia to leave so that Koi could consolidate her position as Taiyang’s lieutenant.

Cynthia quietly left the room.

“Was there something else?” Subaru murmured.

Koi smiled and bowed her head. “I merely wished to express my boundless gratitude to your lordship. Both for saving my life and for your safekeeping of my precious daughter. I assure you, Master. My loyalty to you goes far deeper than my purse.”

“Yes, Master,” Senko added quietly. “You may forever more consider us your most faithful servants: to speak or to be silent, to do or let be.”

Subaru nodded.

“My daughter speaks for both of us, Master,” Koi said in dulcet tones. “Our purpose is to please you. You need simply command us and we shall obey.”

“There is one more matter to address,” Subaru said, ignoring Koi’s tail that continued stroking his leg. “A problem occurred during my efforts to capture the spirits…”

Farouk had been summoned to meet with Taiyang in Koi’s meeting chamber. Elsa walked beside him, humming contentedly with a dreamy expression on her face but Farouk flinched every time the assassin moved. Farouk was a veteran of countless battles. He was a fighter proved to be stern and merciless enough to be Zeno’s right hand man for years. But he’d never had an experience like tonight.

Most of his men were now broken husks. Some of them were even in tears. His men were hardened criminals. Zeno’s forces did security for Scrofa. They specialized in robbery, banditry, protection rackets, and loan-sharking. These men were no strangers to violence but to observe the Bowel Hunter in her craft had horrified even them.

Elsa had immobilized Aperitif, tying him spread-eagle with ropes. She had gaged him and then proceeded to cut the man slowly apart. She’d done so with the care and craft of a professor instructing a dull-witted classroom.

With each slice, Elsa had separated Aperitif into pieces and demonstrated how the bleeding could be minimized as long as all major blood vessels were carefully avoided. Periodically she had removed Aperitif’s gag to allow him to provide constructive feedback on her technique but the pimp and prostitute was not very coherent by then.

As time went on, Elsa ‘invited’ each of Farouk’s men to examine and get hands-on experience with Aperitif’s entrails. She had pontificated at length on the color, texture, and elasticity of each bit of viscera.

Then each person was ‘encouraged’ to place his hands into Aperitif’s guts and sense the warmth and beauty of a human life.

Elsa was exacting in her lesson and her technique. To drag out the life of the subject as long as possible, each cut must be made in precise order. Each component removed in sequence.

Aperitif had been opened like a skinned carcass. His body was held together by slender strands of flesh and cords of veins. It had taken Aperitif nearly an hour to die. Not from shock or dismemberment, Aperitif had only died when Elsa finally decided that the lesson was over. Elsa had politely thanked Aperitif for his assistance before delicately severing his aorta.

It was only when an ocean of blood spilled out onto the ground that Farouk had made the stunning realization of how little blood had actually been shed up until now. Elsa could have kept Aperitif alive in that condition for days had she so wished.

Then Elsa had spoken to each man personally, inviting him to share his experiences with the group and what he had learned from the demonstration.

The men were barely coherent at that point, each one only able to assure Elsa that she was correct and that the experience that she had shared with all of them had indeed been ‘life changing.’

Elsa and Farouk entered the room and found the shadowy figure of Taiyang waiting for them. Koi and Senko were present as well.

“Elsa,” Taiyang murmured. “I have a task for you.”

Elsa smiled. “Name it.”

“Return to your sister and prepare to depart. Lady Koi has graciously lent us a carriage to travel in.”

Elsa made a face. “That’s nice and all, Master but I think that Meili would rather ride her pet.”

There was a long pause. “The carriage is for the girls, Elsa. Especially the ones that are unconscious,” Taiyang said in a clipped voice.

“Oh. That makes sense,” Elsa nodded.

“Farouk,” Taiyang whispered in a voice like the winter wind.

Farouk jumped. “Master?”

“Lady Koi is to be my primary agent among the Coins,” Taiyang continued. “You will carry out her instructions in my name.”

Farouk immediately nodded. “Yes, Master. Without fail.”

Koi had a very self-satisfied look on her face.

It was the wee hours of the morning. In the forest glade, Emilia seemed to be resting more comfortably now that she’d had her medicine but she was still unconscious. Anri paced back and forth. The entire evening had been just surreal.

Subaru had rescued them with the help of notorious mass murderer Elsa Granhiert as well as with a horde of apparently tame mabeasts. Now Anri was left waiting in the woods with the sleeping Emilia and a little girl who was reclining on top of a massive Guiltylowe, cooing and caressing it as if the monster was a kitten.

Elsa and Subaru had been gone for a while. Anri was starting to worry that Elsa might have double-crossed him. But even if that was the case, Anri knew that there was nothing she could do. She was surrounded by enough mabeasts to take on a small army.

Finally, out of sheer frustration with her helplessness, Anri opened her mouth: “I don’t think I caught your name.”

The little girl glanced at her. “I told you. I’m Meili.”

“What’s your role in all this?”

Meili shrugged. “I don’t know. Whatever Subaru says it is, I guess.”

Anri narrowed her eyes. “So, you… and Elsa work for Subaru?!”

“Yeah. He rescued us when Mother was going to kill us. Actually, I think at first he was going to kill us too but we convinced him that we’d behave.”

“And he believed you?!”

Meili snorted. “We don’t have a lot of options here. If we betray Subaru, he’ll kill us. If we make him mad and then by some miracle we manage to escape him, Mother will hunt us down and kill us for him.”

“Mother?”

“Mother Capella. She’s the head of the Assassin’s Organization. We used to work for her.”

Anri stared. “Why would you ever work for someone like that?”

For the first time, Meili looked distinctly annoyed. She climbed up off her Guiltylowe and marched right over to Anri. Despite being older by several years and more than a head taller, it was Anri who took a step back.

“Because she made us,” Meili said as if speaking to a simpleton. “We didn’t apply for the job! If Mother wanted you, she sent someone to bring you back: dead or alive. And once you were in the organization your choice was to do what Mother said or be tortured to death for your disobedience. And even if you did do everything she said, sooner or later she’d torture you to death just because she got frustrated and needed to vent it!”

Anri looked ill. “I’m sorry. That… sounds truly awful.”

Meili snorted and laid back down on her Guiltylowe. “Yeah. So when Subaru offered us an out, it wasn’t a hard decision. Subaru is the only person in the world who might be able to protect us from Mother so it behooves us to keep him happy.”

Anri digested that. “What do you know about Elsa?”

“She’s my Big Sis!” Meili said with pride.

“She killed a lot of my friends,” Anri said venomously. “Do you know that?”

“Well, of course,” Meili said, sounding completely unbothered. “She’s an assassin. That’s what she does.”

Anri stared at Meili with her jaw hanging open. Meili had explained this to Anri in the same tone she might have used if Anri had asked her where the sun goes at night.

Anri was still trying to decide how to respond to this girl who refused to behave like a human being when she heard a rustle in the bushes and Elsa walked into the clearing.

Anri jumped back, her eyes huge.

“Hey, Big Sis,” Meili called.

“Subaru wants us to gather near Koi’s place. She’s giving us a carriage to take us to Siros.”

Anri’s heart leaped.

“Any trouble with the fighting down there?” Meili asked, getting up and stretching.

Elsa’s face became dreamy. “Oh, Meili. I made a simply wonderful discovery tonight. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.”

Meili looked quizzical.

Elsa glanced at Anri. “Would you like to carry Emilia or should I?” She asked politely.

Anri bit her lip. “How do I know that I can trust you?” She demanded.

Elsa frowned. “Trust me to do what?”

Anri scowled. “You told me that Subaru said for us to go down there. How do I know you’re not lying? What if you betrayed Subaru and now you’re trying to lure me into a trap?” Anri shouted, her face bright red.

Meili and Elsa shared an incredulous look.

Elsa smiled at Anri. “I don’t think you’ve put as much thought into this little theory of yours as you think you have,” She commented.

Anri looked affronted. “What do you mean?”

Before Anri could even put up her hands, Elsa was close enough to kiss her. Anri tried to leap back but Elsa gently grabbed her shoulders and held her still.

“I mean,” Elsa said politely, smiling down at the girl like a cat would smirk at a mouse. “That I’m here and so is Meili and several dozen mabeasts. If we wanted to kill you, you’d have absolutely no way to stop us.”

Anri shuddered at Elsa’s tone. She spoke with a kind of sweet erudition that made the conversation even more surreal.

“I don’t want you dead,” Elsa continued in the same calm tone. “Mother did. Now that I’ve betrayed Mother, I have no reason to harm you. Especially since Subaru wants you alive.”

Anri took a deep breath. “You killed a dozen of my friends!” She hissed.

“I know, dear. I was there,” Elsa reminded her in a faintly patronizing voice. “Would an apology make everything better?”

“No!”

Elsa looked thoughtful. “Then I’m not really sure what you want me to say,” Elsa continued. “I really don’t care about you, Kairei. I didn’t even care about you when I was trying to kill you. I don’t care about your friends or how they died. It means nothing to me if you live or die. Honestly, if you wanted to run off into the night and take your chances, I’d say good riddance. The problem is that the Master does care about you. He says that he wants you to come with us and so long as he says that, you’re going to come. You can come willingly or I’ll take you by force. It’s entirely up to you,” Elsa said reasonably.

Anri’s face was chalk-white. She stared up at Elsa, panting for breath.

Elsa’s warm smile never flickered.

Anri took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Alright,” She muttered. “Let’s go.”

Subaru sat in the carriage with Emilia’s head in his lap as he stroked her hair.

Anri sat across from him. Her face was stony.

While Subaru would have preferred to scout ahead with Elsa and make sure that the road was safe, he made a concession to reality.

Anri was feeing really quite betrayed right now so Subaru had decided to travel with Anri and answer her questions.

Koi had taken pains to ensure that the carriage driver had no idea whom he was transporting, he had simply met the group in the forest.

Meili had been intrigued by the idea of the carriage and had asked to steer it which the driver had politely declined.

At which point, Elsa had equally politely suggested that unpleasant things might occur if her little sister wasn’t given what she wanted.

Now Meili drove the carriage with Elsa and Koi’s servant on top. The ride had been bumpy and prone to many abrupt stops and starts but Meili hadn’t hit anything yet.

Patrasche followed the carriage closely as did the mabeasts, the monsters keeping carefully out of sight.

Inside the carriage, the silence became protracted.

“You’re not going to say anything?” Subaru grumbled.

Anri scowled at him. “You’ve been lying to me the whole time.”

“Not true,” Subaru replied calmly. “I just didn’t tell you everything. I never lied to you. Also, I don’t think I would raise that objection if I were you. Because you have been lying to me since the day we met. Four times that I know of.”

Anri flushed. “What the hell have you been doing with Elsa?!” She hissed.

Subaru noted that she had not responded to his accusation of her duplicity but he let it slide for now. “I used Elsa and Meili to savage the Sanshi army at Siros. Now we can bring you home. I investigated the letter you found and discovered Elsa and Meili just like I told you. I wound up bumping into Capella and I managed to drive her off.”

“How did you do that?” Anri frowned. “I thought you said that she was immortal.”

Subaru hesitated. “I said I drove her off, not killed her,” He said evasively. “Anyway, Capella was going to kill Elsa and Meili until I showed up and chased her away. They thought that they were already dead. When they found out I could fend off Capella, they realized they had another option and they volunteered to work for me. Elsa almost killed me, Anri. She tried to kill Emilia. Believe me, nobody wanted her dead more than me. But I didn’t have that luxury. I needed help to win your little war and this was the only help I could find.”

Anri pondered that for a moment. “What makes you so sure you can trust her? She might betray you at the first chance she gets.”

Subaru shook his head. “Elsa and Meili are the walking dead and they know it. If they double-cross me, I don’t even have to kill them. I just have to let it be known that I won’t protect them anymore and then set an hourglass to wait until Capella swoops in to get her revenge. Trust me, Capella would do things to them that I could never dream of.”

Anri rested her head on her hand and thought for a while. “I’m not happy with you, Subaru,” She said bluntly.

Subaru looked at her with annoyance. “I shall strive not to sink below my anguish but to struggle onward,” Subaru grumbled sarcastically.

Anri sputtered and fumed. Her face was bright red and she took a deep breath. “From now on you are going to tell me everything,” She said firmly.

Subaru looked at her. “No,” He said, turning his attention back to Emilia.

Anri’s jaw dropped. “Excuse me?!”

Subaru whirled on her with flames in his eyes. “I’ve excused you quite enough already!” Subaru hissed in a deadly voice.

Anri blanched and pulled away from him. It was subtle but Subaru suddenly looked… unnatural. There was an eerie chill in the carriage and Subaru’s face seemed to flicker in the pale light.

“Let’s get a few things straight,” Subaru said. “I owe you nothing. I saved your life, even after you abandoned Emilia in Stoneybrooke and even after you got her kidnapped. Malcolm Griest would have never cared about Emilia at all if not for you! You’ve done nothing but lie to me since the day that we met and now you seem to have this weird theory that I owe you the truth when the reality is that I should have kicked you out the instant that I caught you lying to me. Got to love the entitlement of the nobility,” He said with contempt. “You act like you’re so much better than Elsa and Meili but at least they’ve been straight with me. At least they’ve made themselves useful! All you’ve done is babysit Emilia and make messes for me to clean up! You don’t like how I do things? There’s the door. Get out and go wherever the hell you want.”

Anri glared at Subaru and grit her teeth.

Subaru scowled back at her, looking unimpressed. “Don’t you dare ever try to give me an order again. You’re not my boss, we just have a deal. I win your war for you and you give me the Ebony Stone.”

Anri’s face darkened. “I said that I could tell you where it was. I never told you I had it.”

Subaru glared at her. “Then where is it?”

Anri took a deep breath and leaned back. She stared at Subaru with loathing. “I’m not home yet, am I?” She asked mockingly.

Subaru matched her gaze for a long moment and then turned away with a sneer of contempt.

He turned his attention back toward Emilia and his expression softened as he gently stroked her hair.