Agustina paced around the room, unsure of what to think. “So, they’ve spread as far as the Forum after all…” She studied the emblem. “Sabina having agents everywhere is no surprise, but the Chaodites…”

Cato laid back on the bed. “Chaodite? That word sounds familiar.”

“I’m sure the boss has told you about them, or perhaps you’ve heard rumors. They’re a vile cult, and should be avoided as much as possible. If not by guile, then by their dark powers, they’ll take you.” She turned to Lucullus. “If this man you killed was a Chaodite, then you must be under some divine protection.”

“I might not be the best fighter in Lucium, but I’m not that bad. Besides, that man couldn’t beat a crippled old lady, much less someone in good physical shape.”

She briefly studied the letter and emblem. “I do not mean to call into question your fighting prowess. It’s just that a Chaodite is one of the most dangerous opponents one can face. Perhaps he wasn’t inclined toward Mystiko…”

“Either way, I have cut off the communications between the spy and Valerian. I can only assume he’s come back.”

She nodded. “And I don’t think he’ll be going on another trip for a while. He seems to only take leave when FF sends a letter, or Valerian, as you call him.” She stared at a Lucium banner on her wall. “You’ll have to kill him tonight, around midnight actually. He stays up much later than most in the castle. I guess it’s a paranoia thing.”

“I don’t know if I’m the best person for a silent kill,” Lucullus admitted. “My time at the Forum is proof enough.”

Cato jumped up from the bed. “I’ll do it. He’ll never see it coming.”

Tiberius folded his arms. “I sure hope not. If he does, then we’re all dead.”

“Have some faith. I know what I’m doing.”

“If you say so. I just don’t think you have the temperament for this kind of thing.”

Agustina sighed. “If he says he can do it, then I trust him.”

Tiberius gave her a scrutinizing look for a moment. “I don’t like it, but I guess it is your call. You know the target better than we do.”

The whole castle was silent, and only lit by the torch of the occasional night-watch guard passing through. Very few were up at this hour, and the timing was perfect. Cato remained hidden in the shroud of darkness which blanketed the halls and chambers of the castle at midnight. Within the target’s room, he stood like a statue by the door, opposite to the side with the hinges, ready to strike. Having taken no chances, he slipped into the chamber through the window at the first opportunity. The wait was slow, and each minute, despite feeling like an eternity, wore down Cato’s nerves. His hands became sweaty as time went on, and his anticipation of the big moment increased.

The door creaked open slowly, and someone crept in, evidently paranoid about their surroundings. As the apparent target examined his surroundings, Cato anticipated his moment to strike. When the target’s back was turned, Cato jumped from the shadows, and thrust his knife into the man’s back. With a sudden wave of energy, Cato was sent flying into the door, suppressing a grunt as he landed. His foe started to conjure something with his hands as Cato stumbled to his feet. He lunged to land another blow with his knife when he noticed, in the pale moonlight, his foe’s wounds were closing up. Even his most recent slash was being undone, causing him to hesitate in his next move.

For a moment he saw a white glow in the man’s eyes. And in the next moment, it was as if the whole world was upside down; he thought he was going to be sick. Just as he thought he might become accustomed to his new reality, the world was back the way it should be. In all the confusion it never registered in his mind that the man had moved. He was suddenly swept off his feet, though he salvaged the landing, and rebounded. Before he even knew what he had done, he was staring at the man laying on the ground with a knife through his chest.

Relief washed over him as he stood for a moment basking in his glory. He smirked, and looked with pride at what he had done. But this arrogant boast was cut short by his discovery of the man’s features changing. His eyes permanently glowed pure white as his irises and pupils vanished. His skin went from smooth and tan to being blue-gray and scaly. It was as if his first appearance was merely an illusion, or a trick of the light.

Not long after, he heard footsteps near the other side of the door, and he rushed to finish his business. He removed the knife from the man’s chest, and hauled him out of the window, letting the body fall onto the ground below. Just as the door knob started to turn, he slipped out through the window, and shimmied his way out along the walls, just barely avoiding being caught.

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“Lady Agustina, your problem is no more,” Cato confidently announced as he entered her chamber.

She smiled. “Good. Then I shall draft a letter for you to take to the boss. I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear of your success.”

At that moment, Lucullus and Tiberius entered the chamber, having finished their servant work for the time being. Both were relieved to see Cato still in one piece.

“I assume that letter you’re writing must mean we’re done here,” Lucullus chimed in.

“Correct. Your friend’s discretion, judging by the fact that he wasn’t caught and survived the encounter, seems to be quite impressive.”

Tiberius leaned casually against a wall. “I’ve shown him a thing or two. Looks like he’s starting to pick up on it a bit.”

“I was simply trying not to die. Anything else was a result of that.”

Lucullus chuckled. “I know how that feels.”

“Regardless, the job is done.” She stood up from her desk, and gave Cato the sealed letter. “The boss shall be very pleased with this. We’ve won a great victory today. I’ll help you three get out of here unnoticed, but after that you’ll be on your own.”

Following her lead, the three men slipped out of the castle, and began their journey back to the Dracones’ hideout. She waved them farewell as they started off on the path below.

The days seemed to be longer than when they started on their mission. Winter was well past the halfway point, and the frequency of snowfall was steadily decreasing, though the snow had yet to melt to any noticeable degree. The snow on the roads was at least packed down enough to not be such a burden in their travels. They got into a few light skirmishes along the way, but their travels were rather uneventful, perhaps to an unsettling degree. Most of the skirmishes were just typical roadside brigands, with only one being with a guard patrol. Tiberius grew suspicious, and began to fear the worst.

Amadeus knelt before King Titus as he approached the throne. “My liege, I have some important news.”

Titus raised an eyebrow. “Go on…”

“The Furum Forum from up north has finally been defeated.”

“What? How? No one even knows where they operate from. Who could’ve brought down that accursed band of thieves?”

Amadeus chuckled. “No one knows who. The one responsible has yet to take credit. But one thing is for sure: the number of reported Forum attacks on the public peace have sharply declined. Some think the internal power structure has completely fallen apart, and that the leaders may even be dead.”

Titus sat in silence for a moment, contemplating the news. “This is great! They’ve been a thorn in Lucium’s side for decades.”

Amadeus sighed. “I hate to spoil the great news, but I’ve discovered some troubling news as well. Your daughter, Olivia, has gone missing.”

He dismissively waved his hand. “Nonsense. Cicero told me that she was visiting House Avarus to spend time with Tatiana. Her and Tatiana are quite close; I’m sure she’s fine. I was a bit worried at first, but Cicero assured me that she took every precaution, including an escort of some of my most trusted guards. He said that he said prayers for her. That’s all I can ask.”

Amadeus gritted his teeth. “Cicero has told me a different story.”

“What do you mean?” He stood up from his throne, and walked toward Amadeus. “What sort of story?”

“Cicero has told me that he’s received visions of Olivia being in trouble. I urge you to speak with him about them, but I wanted you to at least be made aware of them. Whatever you do, please don’t ignore them.”

He nodded. “Very well. You are dismissed. I shall go see Cicero about these visions.”

Amadeus bowed, and left the king’s court, and Titus made his way down to Cicero’s chamber. As much as he tried to dismiss Amadeus’s concerns, Titus couldn’t block out the worry he felt about Olivia’s safety. She had been gone for some time, though the travel to Castle Avarus was quite a long one, he never liked her being away from the palace for so long, especially with all the brigands that littered the roads. A traveler who didn’t stay alert at all times was still susceptible to being ambushed, even on the main roads. To try calming his nerves, he reminded himself that she was under the protection of the finest of the royal guard.

He knocked on the chamber door, and Cicero, after some time, cracked the door open. Once Cicero saw his liege standing before him, he fully opened the door, and let him in.

Titus sauntered around the chamber, pondering how to phrase his question.

“Why does my liege visit me on such short notice?” Cicero took a seat at his desk, which was cluttered with documents and tomes.

“Captain Amadeus has informed me of some troubling news.”

Cicero grimaced. “It’s about Olivia… isn’t it?”

He nodded. “He tells me that you’ve had disturbing visions.”

“I fear the worst for her situation. My visions weren’t entirely clear, but I know she’s in much trouble.”

“What did you see?” Titus’s words became frantic.

Cicero looked down, and closed his eyes. “I saw her being captured, by who, I don’t know, and being locked away in a cave, or something like a cave. It looked to be a somewhat natural formation of rock. But that’s all I could gather from the visions.”

“Did your visions give any indication of what part of Lucium this cave-like structure is located?”

Cicero tried to concentrate even harder. “The attire of the kidnappers wasn’t something anyone in Lucium wears. I don’t think they’re from the east, but perhaps from the west or south. Though admittedly, I’m not as familiar as I should be with the clothes of the peoples of Maleun, so I don’t know if one of our southern neighbors could be implicated.”

“That’s certainly a starting point.”

“It is, but my visions may be of things to come. If she was captured already, it is still doubtful that she would already be as far as Thalassa, or Immergrun, or even in Emporikos. She certainly wouldn’t have already made it to either nation in Maleun.”

“So, there’s still time?”

Cicero opened his eyes. “Time for what?”

“A rescue.”

“With the head start they have, I doubt we’ll ambush them along the road. It will take some time, and cooperation from our neighbors, to rescue Olivia. Of course, this is assuming all of this has or is transpiring. If she is not back by at least a fortnight from now, then I would certainly advise you to send people to look for her…”