The shadows were thick. Dust spiraled through the air like faeries, sleepily coming to rest on the rusted metal table bolted to the ground at the center of the room. A strange statue sat atop the table. Its body was that of a snake but it branched into three heads. One was a bear with five horns—two grew out of the top of its head, one from its chin and two more from opposite positions on its lower jaw. One was a falcon with eight eyes. And the last head was an fish whose scales jutted out sharply from its body in random directions, loosely resembling some sort of jagged coral formation.
The majority statue was made of a smooth black material similar to obsidian but with odd blueish-white veins spreading out from the center. The bear’s horns were made of a slick red stone that rippled like the surface of a lake. The falcon’s eyes were alabaster white, carved from ivory with gold and pearl inlay as the pupils. And the fish’s scales were rough and grey like hardened ash.
The falcon and the bear branched from the main body, each facing a door while the fish head went straight up towards the ceiling. Realistic skeletal hands and forearms protruded out of the mouths falcon and the bear, palms open and facing up. Out of the fish’s mouth stretched a bouquet of roses with blue and black petals and vibrant green brambles with sickly yellow thorns that reached all the way to the top of the room. Both the hands and the bouquet seemed alive, making subtle movements that would make one wonder if there was any at all.
At the same time, both doors opened and a hooded, mask-wearing figure entered from each. From the door facing the falcon, an individual wearing white robes with fierce, violent symbols etched in purple embroidery and a strange reptilian mask with scales the color of the rainbow. From the door facing the bear, a black-robed figure wrapped tightly in form fitting leather gear wearing a ragged, brown patchwork sack. The two figures then exchanged a nod before depositing an item into the skeletal hands in front of them—a bulging pouch from White Robe and a formal looking dossier from Black Robe. The hands twitched to life, closing tightly around their respective item and receding slowly into the mouths of the beasts.
After a few moments, two flower petals peeled off from the bouquet and fluttered down onto the table, each one landing directly in front of a robed figure. The petals turned red and burst into blue-black flames which then shot towards White Robe and Black Robe, condensing into a thin, black band on the middle finger of their left and right hands respectively.
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White Robe spoke in a pleasant, womanly voice, “Pleasure doing business with you.”
“The pleasure’s all mine.” Black Robe responded with a voice that sounded like an old man gargling gravel. “It's not often that one gets to trade with the famous Queen of Thirteen Poisons. Or any of the Eight Murderous Royals for that matter. This current occasion is rare, truly rare.”
“I trust, however, that everything will be kept confidential?” The Queen asked, the obvious consequences of not agreeing unneeded to be said.
“Of course, of course, Queen. Of course. The others might lack discretion and a proper appreciation for the underhanded arts, but I myself possess such qualities with great bounty.”
“I would expect nothing less from the Behemoth of Shadows and Deception.” the Queen said. “Please give my regards to Asher for me next time you see him.”
“Ah, yes, the Behemoth of War and Glory. Can I take this to mean that the rumors that the two of you share a past are true?”
“Yes. You may. Do with it what you will, take it as a bonus for your services.”
“A tip? Why, the Queen is magnanimous. Truly, truly magnanimous. This one is very humbled.”
“Save it. You know what I want.”
“Hehehe. Not as magnanimous as I thought. What kind of supposed bonus requires reciprocation, I wonder?”
“The kind that's valuable enough for you to earn another card to play at the next Conclave if you grasp it properly. Now, stop with the stalling and just talk already. The value of time for you is much higher than it is for me, and I won't be volunteering any more freebies so there is no use in you keeping me here any longer.”
“I suppose… Fine, I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you.”
“Out with it. Where is she?”
“She isn't anywhere yet. Once she is, though, you’ll find her exactly where she first met you.”
“…The Temple of the Fallen.”
“Hahahaha! Wrong, so very wrong.”
“What?”
“That pet of yours must have been very good at keeping secrets. The Temple was where you met her. But she first met you elsewhere.”
“Hurry up. I’m in no mood for any more of your trashy words. Stop speaking in riddles and get to the point.”
“Disappointing, very disappointing. Patience truly is a virtue that the young lack.”
“Zard.” She said with a warning edge. “Get to the damn point before I—“
“Blackburrow Beach.”
“…”
“Hehehehe. Didn't expect that, did you? You and your pet first met there.