Chapter 7 - SIDE STORIES: An Unforgettable Luncheon (Part 1)
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(Soon after the bathhouse incident)
Beta and Nu were making their way through the bazaar. The morning hustle and bustle was in full swing but still they found their journey to be relatively unimpeded. It seemed most of the bustling throng were too intimidated by the sheer size of the platinum blonde haired member of the duo and naturally cleared a path for them.
His average-sized companion with unmemorable features barely warranted a second glance by comparison.
“I won’t tolerate any more of your insubordination, Nu. You’ve already stirred the pot enough,” Beta’s irritated voice was almost a whisper. “If you cost us this mission because of your antics, Alpha will skin you alive.”
The tall man laughed cheerily, completely unconcerned with the given threat.
“That stings, Beta. Why must you and the boss have such little faith in me?” he questioned, his voice dripping with mock hurt, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Beta didn’t bother responding, being quite familiar with his acquaintance’s antics by now. He knew Nu was just fishing for a reaction out of him. Besides, if everything went according to plan, they wouldn’t have to deal with him much longer.
The duo made their way past the more hectic main road of the bazaar and into the narrower side streets. These were far more confined and had fewer stalls and general traffic. The businesses and establishments in these parts also were generally seedier and attracted a much poorer clientele.
They were careful to choose their path on the street as it was copiously littered with decaying garbage and animal dung. A sign that the administrators of the city were less concerned with the upkeep of these side allies, most of their efforts being focused on the show piece central bazaar.
Reaching their destination, a squat ramshackle building tucked in the corner between a butcher and cobbler shop, the duo carefully scanned the street, making sure they were not being tailed by anyone. Satisfied Beta then gently knocked twice on the door while his partner kept a lookout.
After a few moments the door swung open revealing a very comely lass with lustrous skin. Her lightly tanned golden skin would have been a rarity amongst the human population in these parts if her slit pupils, large irises and their unnatural purple coloration didn't give away her non-human lineage.
She quickly ushered the duo in but the look of distaste on having to let Nu in was abundantly clear to both of them.
“Keep your distance from me, worm” she commanded the taller one in an icy tone.
Completely unfazed Nu chuckled gaily not making any move to take a step back or make space between them.
"Your barbs may sting, fair princess, but you'll always reign over my heart, even if the throne forever remains out of reach for you" he playfully declared, clutching his chest.
The woman’s eyes flashed dangerously not appreciating the dig at her present predicament.
“You dare….?” she hissed as she reached into the bodice of her dress to pull out a thin and ornate hilt. Not remaining idle, Nu’s hands had opened up as sharp four-inch claws grew from his fingertips.
Before the situation could escalate further, Beta’s sharp voice cut through the tension. “Stop this both of you.”
Epsilon and Nu hesitated, unsure how to proceed. They knew that ignoring their team leader’s direct order would carry far more severe consequences than a slap on the wrist. Alpha was not the most understanding or forgiving person at the best of times.
“We’re not here to squabble amongst ourselves. Epsilon, did you manage to find anything else from our target?” Beta asked.
It seemed that the interruption had helped the woman compose herself and suppress her anger behind a regal mask. She stepped away from Nu before answering.
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“There’s nothing more we can learn from him. He did mention there were secret passages connecting the northern and eastern towers to the central keep. I am unsure how viable those entry points would be for us as they will be barred and guarded” she answered evenly.
That's unfortunate," Beta replied, his voice laced with disappointment. "Is there any way to ensure his compliance long term?"
“Not with enchantment at least. The risk of him blowing our cover in some way would increase dramatically the longer we need to uphold the charade. I would need to be in regular proximity to maintain the charm over him which will be impossible considering my imminent departure to the Midwest. Even then it would still be risky. Infatuation is dangerous and unpredictable, especially long term.”
“What about any other soft targets of his we could exploit?”
“He’s outlived his wife and sons, and he has little attachment to his grandchildren and great grandchildren from what I can gather. He does have a soft spot for one of the Count’s chambermaids, but I think it’s little more than a passing fancy”
“So, there is nothing we can hold as leverage over him then. That’s frustrating” Beta muttered quietly to himself, his mind running through all possible solutions to address this problem. He wasn’t thrilled with the one he ultimately had to settle on.
“Since we can’t bribe him or threaten him, it looks like we will have to stick with our backup plan.” Beta said, staring meaningfully towards the tallest occupant in the room.
“Oh does that mean the good steward is getting invited to lunch with me then?” Nu’s face went through a complex range of emotions before settling on disgust.
Beta refused to elaborate further for a time simply staring at Nu wordlessly.
“We can't risk anyone discovering the steward was replaced,” he stated simply but the distaste in his voice was clearly apparent.
“Ugh, you know my type, Beta” Nu complained in a whiny voice. “Aged meat is sinewy and rubbery, and it tastes funny.”
“It can’t be helped. Is he in the storeroom?” Beta asked Epsilon.
“Yes, he’s drugged out of his mind right now. If you must go through with this, do it now. He won’t know or feel a thing” Epsilon said, with a slight frown on her face.
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(The next day)
The three made their way through the outermost gatehouse of Guar castle and into the outer bailey with little issue. They were under a very intricate illusion with Beta being disguised as the steward and the other two as random guards of the castle escorting him.
The guards at the gatehouse had waved them through without a second glance as the steward was known to be the count’s DeFacto right hand man. He frequently had to travel into the city proper to settle the castle’s affairs. Plus, confidence and the right attire were usually enough to allay suspicion in most people.
The easy part was complete; now came the real challenge. The mages and knights stationed at the middle and inner gatehouses would most likely be able to identify that they were using some sort of mystical ability. Additionally, there would be a full complement of the count’s personally hand-picked and most loyal forces—the sentries stationed in and around the keep and the Count’s manor in the innermost bailey.
Though these should be somewhat diminished, as the count, in his desperation to quickly recover from his recent troubles, had overextended himself by mobilizing a significant portion of his personal forces to reclaim some of his loaned assets.
The outermost bailey was a hive of activity. The count had long ago transformed it from being used in the defense and upkeep of the garrison of the castle into a commercial area for the most opulent shops and businesses which solely catered to the nobility and the wealthy.
Perched atop a granite hillock, the castle stood as the highest point in the city. It’s design and stone construction allowed it to remain a few degrees cooler than its surroundings. That was a major asset for most of the year in beating the sweltering summer heat and attracting the wealthy clientele. Additionally, the castle's high walls and significant guard presence offered exceptional security, further enhancing its appeal.
They made their way into one of the shops which had very chic and fashionable clothes showcased in its display area. Ensuring the coast was clear, they slipped into the back room, a place used as a storeroom for the shop’s merchandise and occasionally as a resting spot by the employees.
Beta then swiftly dispelled their disguises and instructed his companions to wait for him. He then approached a tiny door which almost lay hidden and forgotten in the corner. After he knocked on the door a muffled voice invited him to enter.
Entering he found a cramped and dingy room where their accessory was busy writing things down in the shop’s ledger book. After a few moments he closed the book and put down his quill. After neatly putting away everything in the desk drawer, he got up and turned around to face Beta.
He appeared to be a very old man, well past his prime. His irises had that faded grayish look at the edges and his gait was slow and measured.
“It's been arranged. The master mage will help you and your companions through the next gate house but the one after that is also guarded by my father's most loyal sentries. He won't be able to get you past them” the old man said in an apologetic tone.
“Epsilon should be able to charm a few sentries into granting us entry. However, we need to wait for the graveyard shift since she will struggle with enchanting large numbers of defenders” Beta replied, confident that Epsilon would be able to pull it off. Even amongst her people, she had been considered a once in a generation prodigy in the charm arts. On top of that, the Power Ring was only augmenting her further.
“That would be just before dawn then. You and your companions can wait at my flat until then. It's got a perfect view of the internal gatehouse from the window” the old man offered.
“That would be greatly appreciated. Rest assured, I will arrange for a little extra beyond what we agreed upon as a bonus for the additional assistance.” Even before his time in Ouroboros, he had been known to be generous to a fault. That quality of his had survived although it had been tainted, just like everything else of his had been by his encounter with the Scourge.
With a pleased expression, the old man had made his way to a small cupboard. He opened it and retrieved a bottle of rum along with some glasses. He poured two drinks, offering one to Beta while taking the other for himself.
As Beta drank, the liquid which seemed to magically disappear even though he appeared to have not pulled up his mask. He kept staring contemplatively at his drinking companion wondering if he should satiate his idle curiosity a bit.
“Why?.............. no it doesn't matter I guess” The question Beta wanted to ask was conveyed to the other occupant of the room all the same.
The old man quietly stared at the drink in his glass lost in thought for a long moment.
"Just look at me," he whispered, his voice barely audible. It was more of a rhetorical question, Beta guessed, so he wisely remained silent. Both occupants of the room knew what the old man had been hinting at.
“I’m not being ungrateful. I know my heritage afforded me advantages that most common folk in the city could only dream of. But I am little more than a servant. If he had shown even an ounce of the loyalty to me and mine that I offered him freely, I would never have agreed to be a part of this.”