Kaden didn’t mind Mistress Scylla’s favor. He handed her the colony of Echo Beetles and showed her how to place them and use one to listen. He kept three, separating them into their own tin. “Should anything go wrong, you’re not replaceable. I’d rather Sara have her mom than me have a bunch of beetles.”
Mistress Scylla froze. “She was never old enough to understand before. Every time I take on a [Slaver], there’s a chance I’m dealing with a soft adventurer who outraced his Nemesis to reach a hundred and has no clue how his abilities work. There’s an equal chance they are a battle hardened survivor. Eventually, odds will turn against me. When it happpens, just—make sure Sara knows how proud I am of her.”
“I will. I wish I could help Trella. Or you.”
Her smile would have melted cheese on a [Match Lizard]. “I’m sure you do, but there’s a reason I’m going to isolate Ducat. As Trella breaks the bonds on his slaves, he could take over anyone with only a glance and his Class skill. Talents, Resistances, Authority and Dominion mean nothing versus a Slaver. They are all functions of the System, and that Class is outside it. But she and I are immune. Let him try and bend me to his will. It will precious seconds that give me an edge.”
Kaden headed out to join the others. He took Trella’s hand and followed her through the streets. Every step, every sound, he watched for someone to come blazing at them. Trinity would be the ace in the hole, as he kept Ashi and Eve wrapped in [Stealth Aura].
“There.” Trella pointed to a dark house. “There really are dagger wasps inside. Can you take care of them without destroying the house? The nest is in an atrium, most of them will be with it.”
Kaden silently approached and slipped in through a back door. He hunted in the dark until the distinctive buzz of twelve inch wasps told him where the cluster hung. He took no pride in slaying what were in essence large insects, but they could cause intense pain and even kill commoners.
When the nest was dead, he lit a lamp and hunted down survivors, finding them on ceilings and under beds and closets. At last, he opened the door and called them in. “Be careful. I can’t unleash Trinity here. She’s just too large.”
Within the hour they’d all found rooms. Trella chose one that let her watch Ducat’s house, even though she wouldn’t be here on the attack day. And as soon as she could, she turned on Kaden. “I can see it written on your face. What happened when you went to that tower?”
Kaden unhid his title. “I had to make a choice. The same kind of choice I made in Omnor, except this was easier and harder. She was so confident I’d let her go and she’d come back and kill Eve.”
“People are like that. Especially royalty with powers like hers. Their history says this couldn’t possibly be the end. Then they meet someone like me. Someone who doesn’t gloat, or brag.” Trella put her arms around Kaden. “It doesn’t get easier.”
That wasn’t what he expected. “But [Assassins]—”
“You’re not one.”
He had no argument with that. “What do you need? What can we do for you?”
“You’re already doing it.” She sat up. “I actually have something you can help with. [Soul Binding] is a lot like [Slave Binding] except that the soul bond they setup is only meant to kill the slave. Can I practice on one of your beasts?”
Kaden picked up two [Match Lizards]. “Try these.”
Trella focused on them. “It’s not the same. But the skill feels really close. If I can level my skill breaking these bonds, it’ll make me that much more powerful.”
She focused for several more minutes. “Mistress Scylla said it would be hard. That each one would get faster.”
The feeling made Kaden’s teeth tingle, like someone had slipped their fingers into his skull and was pulling at his brain.
“Got it!” Trella shouted. “[Bonds Breaker] just leveled, but I got no experience. None. The error says it’s not the right bond type.”
It was still powerful. “You could cut the bond between a summoner and their summons. You could kill any summoner. All of them. Leave them helpless and let someone else do that.”
Trella shook her head. “It feels wrong. Like I’m misusing the skill. It’s meant to free people, not cripple them.”
Kaden reached out to bind to the [Match Lizard]
Bond may not be established. This creature can no longer be bound.
“Holy shit. I can’t bind this lizard anymore. It says can’t be established.” Kaden swore. “Don’t do that with Vip or Trinity. Or any of my beasts.”
True to the nature of [Tamed] beasts, the [Match Lizard] didn’t attack. It didn’t even move until Kaden offered it a seat on his lapel. “I have no control over it.”
“I’m sorry,” Trella said. “I didn’t know.”
At least it wasn’t the one who had leveled. It could probably do twice as much damage as a regular [Match Lizard]. Two points wouldn’t make it an apex predator, but every apex predator started somewhere. Probably somewhere higher up the chain than this.
Ashi spent the day explaining how she had negotiated so many different deals with Trunistan. The wait hung over everyone like a winged scorpion waiting to strike. When Sara’s green parrot sailed in to announce she was arriving, Kaden rushed to the shipping Portal.
Once, he had broken every rule of FarPortals.
Once, he had looted a town through a regular FarPortal
A stern discussion with a cluser of furious Portal Mages taught Kaden the error of his ways. Vast transfers happened only at Cargo portals with teams of mages working together to ease the strain. That way, an vindictive Portal Mage didn’t ambush a young adventurer who had, say, kept a portal open for sixteen hours.
The Cargo Portal surged and opened wide, as a wagon rolled through, pushed by a familiar giant skeleton. Skully wore a pirate’s hat the size of a kettle, and ribbons had been tied to his finger-bone-beard and hair, and he carried a pair of swords that were more like gate bars, too large for any human.
On the wagon sat a heavily sealed cargo that shook and rattled and glowed golden. And at the front of the wagon stood Sara Scylla. She’d always worn short swords, but now she also carried a flail. As the wagon rolled to astop, she leaped down, attention on the guards. “This cargo is already spoken for. It is property of Mistress Jacquelyn Scylla.”
Mistress Scylla pushed her way through the crowds to inspect the cargo—and the seals on it. “Excelllent work. I will look to use your services again, since you have rights to trade with the Xiao Empire.”
“And our payment?” Sara demanded as though she didn’t speak to her mother.
“You’ll find it as agreed.” Mistress Scylla grabbed the wagon with four tentacles and took over, moving it far more easily than Skully had, even up the gentle hill away from the Cargo Portal.
Sara embraced everyone, even Eve, then returned to business. “Kaden, I’d like you to meet Captain Lain, previously first mate Lain.”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Kaden hadn’t forgotten Mistress Scylla’s warning. “Did the old captain finally retire?”
“He did not.” Sara could barely contain herself. “Pirates make terrible business decisions, did you know that? They’ll follow a [Captain] anywhere. They love [Captains]. You know what they don’t love? Ten foot tall skeletons who toss their [Captain] overboard and then eat the first mate.”
Captain Lane tipped his hat. “If you could just teach him to do a little less damage, that would help. He put as many holes in the ship as the enemy did. A bunch of them, he put in the ship with the enemy.”
Kaden shook the man’s hand. “So you just took their ship?”
“They weren’t using it,” Sara said. “It will take some time to repair and retrofit, which is why Lane and his crew were willing to help guard.”
“Why don’t I buy you a meal and you teach me the basics of shipping?” Kaden shook each of the men’s hands. Not a one was over level fifteen. Over lunch, he learned how freelance crews had to take whatever cargo was available. Shipping companies paid their sailors and could be more intelligent, taking risks that made sense.
That explained where so much of the gold went. “So, will you make regular trips to the Xiao Empire now?”
Lain shrugged. “If I do, I want it to be in a fleet. You know why pirates attacked? Because we looked like a good target. I told Ms. Scylla, she has permission to trade. She should make deals and send a fleet.”
“I’ll make contacts,” Sara said. “I’ll have you know, the Phoenix Feast wasn’t the only thing we brought back, it’s just not worth the charge to move it by Cargo Portal. If you take a ship, you take it full.”
“And the other ship?”
“It’s full, all right. Full of sea water and corpses. We could barely keep it afloat to get it to port. Again, that skeleton, he’s ferocious but you don’t kick your way into a hold and then break people through the hull.” Lain seemed deeply frustrated by Skully doing an overly great job.
“I’ll work with him,” Kaden said, then let Trella and Ashi run the conversation. Ashi had been to the Xiao Empire three times and, other than it being two thousand years ago, had enjoyed it.
After several hours, Lain explained it was time to take a regular FarPortal back, with his Inventory loaded with goodies for the crew. Kaden really was going to make a trip out to port to teach Skully how to behave, and he would run a wagon-load of lumber cut from Fangwood to offset the repair costs.
Sara practically fell asleep on her feet halfway back to the house, but once Ashi had her tucked into a bed, sound asleep, the anticipation began to build.
“Mistress Scylla will throw her feast tomorrow,” Trella said. “She’s refused requests from Davos four times—and tonight gave in, on the condition he bring wine. Centurion wine.”
Kaden wasn’t tired, he was wired, but he ensured Skully was hidden away in the back yard before producing Queen Pear’s skull. “You did good. I was thinking, you haven’t made [Plague Crows] in a long while. I’m just going to leave this here, and if a nest of [Plague Crows] shows up? That’s what happens.”
Eve was cooking—and storing dishes in the rations box, Ashi hovered six inches off the ground, surrounded by orbs of mana which slowly sank into the mana stones surrounding her.
“Tomorrow,” Kaden said.
Trella nodded. “Skully gave me something earlier. It might have been for you, but it was really for me.” She produced a Pirate hat with only a few bloodstains. “I said I don’t really like Pirates. But I was thinking, maybe I just didn’t have the right one?”
“Only one way to find out,” He said.
###
Morning dawned, and Kaden went with Trella on a final scouting run. Mistress Scylla’s home was immaculate, with hired guards at the gates who were definitely not jackaroos, and every window covered with black cloth. Wagons lined up to deliver plate upon plate, and more than one Centurion stood down the street, staring.
Including one Kaden knew.
He pulled Trella along, heading toward the short, thick [Man At Arms]. Bryce was here in Trunistan, and it couldn’t be coincidence, but as he spotted Kaden, a quick shake of his head told Kaden all he needed to know.
Trella turned them away. *You know him from Beast Control?*
*He’s got to be here to help.* That made more sense. Mistress Scylla would have help, probably not to kill the [Slaver] but to ensure any other party guests didn’t join in the battle and become victims of Ducat.
*I’m surprised Mr. Dervish isn’t here.*
Kaden was, too. Then again, the Summoning Saint was known everywhere. Bryce was known in the back halls of Beast Control at a small, poor city, but there was no weapon he hadn’t seen the [Man at Arms] use and use with shocking skill.
As they completed the city circuit, Kaden began to grow uneasy. [Stealth Aura] refused to activate. *Someone is following us*.
Trella didn’t respond. She didn’t look around, but hung off him, playfully kissing him, while her body was tense as a spring. *Don’t attack.*
She chose a seat outside a shop and patted for him to sit. *There. Initiates*.
Kaden spotted the [Shadow Blade] trio slipping through the crowd. Unlike Trella, they wore green cloaks that would have fit a [Ranger]. Trella’s Deception rose from her feet and dodged the crowd to approach the Initiates—who scattered, disappearing into [Stealth].
*Come on, let’s have some fun,* Trella said, pulling him down the street. She veered to a brothel, looked over the list of rooms, and paid a stack of silver for two rooms. *You wait here.*
Kaden opened the door and stepped in—and relaxed, because it was empty.
Next door, voices rose in greeting. He would have expected better sound-proofing charms. This place was unprotected. Every squeak of every bed. Ever mock laugh as women pretended to enjoy their clients. The whisper of boots across carpet, the slightest rasp as steel left a scabard.
[Split Second] activated as Kaden spun, catching one black dagger with his bare hand and wrenching it way. His right hand didn’t quite close, and the dagger dug deep into his side as the [Shadow Blade] initiate drove it home.
He head-butted her, sending her flying across the room. “You are in trouble.”
“And you are poisoned. Enjoy your nap,” The woman said. “No one gets to listen in on the secre—”
She stopped as Kaden licked the edge of the blade. “Oh, I like this one. It tastes like mint. You know, at the Senior Sister’s table, the ham tastes like this.”
Your skill with Resist Sleeping has increased.
Kaden drew Remembrance, ignoring the blood on his hands. “Now it’s my turn.”
To her credit, she attacked, sweeping a kick at his legs, then tried a punch at his throat.
“You actually want to hit me right here.” Kaden caught her fist and pushed it to his throat in the right place.
She screamed, as an angry [Match Lizard] burst into flame, and twisted, driving an elbow up into his chin, which actually did hurt.
Kaden dropped her more out of respect than need, then caught her again by her cloak. “Let me show you—”
Smoke exploded, and the cloak went limp, as glass shattered.
Kaden looked out the window, but the Initiate was gone. He snapped her cloak around his neck, willing the [Needful Cloak] to recede, then activated [Stealth Aura] and waited.
Nearly an hour later, a soft knock at the door came in the pattern Trella always used. A moment later, the door clicked as Trella used [Lockpicking]. “Kaden?”
She closed her eyes a moment. “I know you’re there. I know it. Don’t make me point.”
Kaden dropped [Stealth Aura]. “Look, I’m a [Shadow Blade]! Look at me, skulking around in the shadows! I should have a theme song. And singers to sing it when I arrive. ‘Shadow Blade, Shadow Blade, Hunting through the Night! See his cloak, it’s black and his swords are black too. Everything is black. It’s all black, because he’s a [Shadow Blade].”
Your skill with [Songwriting] has decreased.
Kaden swore.
Trella looked to the window. Sniffed the air. “Sleeping poison?”
“Tastes like mint.”
She sighed. “Take it off. Hand it over. Stay here, I’ll be back in a moment.”
“But I can’t be a [Shadow Blade] without my cloak of night! How will people know I…” It had sounded like a good speech. Kaden gave it to her and sat patiently on the bed for five minutes.
“Kaden Birch!” Trella said.
He looked away, petting his [Match Lizard]. “Yes?”
She held out a hand. “We do not steal from Initiates. Not even ones tasked with protecting the meeting. Ever.”
“She stabbed me!” Kaden replied.
“Oh, I can see. You’re so stabbed. You look totally stabbed. Probably about to fall over right now from all the stabbing. Let me guess, she poisoned you, too. Was it a new poison?”
He sighed as he handed the daggers over. “No, but I like the mint one.”
Kaden waited again, and when Trella came back, this time she was happy. “I was given a Spell Scroll for [Shadow Portal]. Right now, it can barely move me across the room, and it cost two thirds of my mana. As it levels, it’ll make me kind of like you and Ashi, except I have to have a shadow to emerge from.”
“Your deception doesn’t count?”
“Not until the skill levels.” Trella closed the door and leaned against it. “I—I shouldn’t be involving you. Or Sara, or Eve, or Ashi. This is my class’s duty. But I need your help.”
Kaden couldn’t help laughing. “Try and keep me away. Go on. I don’t mind giving your little sisters their weapons back. I don’t even mind the cloak. But if you’re going to war with someone, I’m going too.”
“That’s what—” Tella stopped as a solid black bird materialized. It didn’t speak aloud, but Trella wasn’t focused. “Davos showed up early. Said he wasn’t going to get the dregs of the Unonos venom.”
“I’ll head to get the others ready. Send a bird the moment we should start.”
Trella unrolled a scroll. “Hit the servant’s door on the west, it doesn’t even have a lock. Barricade it. His four guards will be at the front and rear gates, don’t let them in. Don’t kill the victims, but if you can get them out, do so and send that monster bird of yours. His house manager—”
Kaden shook his head. “If he lets us go, I let him go. Eight in the house, get them out.”
“If I tell you to leave, you have to leave. You know about the Fire Mana bombs?”
“No matter what, if that happens, we leave.” Kaden ran for the stairwell with Trella just ahead. She spun and lunged to kiss him. “I’ll find you. Believe it.”
He had to.