Slowly creeping forward, Vallerian took wide, deliberate steps. He slipped a dagger out of his sleeve into his palm, a trick he had picked up from his wife. He’d even had his sleeves cut with a small pocket for the dagger. Fashionable, and functional. Besides, Celeste had said no swords, daggers were a whole different thing. Or at least that would be how he’d justify it if she ever found out. Pressing himself up against the wall, Vallerian inched closer to the small inset that he suspected the man to be hiding in. He moved breathlessly, rolling slowly from heel to toe as to not make a single noise. The last week of late nights with street gang leaders had given Vallerian ample practice at this.

Listening closely as he neared the edge of the inset, Vallerian heard the heavy breathing of a large man. He had been right, or well Charlotte had been. Same thing anyway. Vallerian shifted his grip on the dagger, too tight and he would lose flexibility, too lose and he would lose the dagger.

Vallerian rounded the corner with a sharp motion, his free hand shooting up and grabbing the man’s arm as he struck out. Vallerian shoved the dagger up to the Korek’s neck, and let the sharp point just barely prick the man’s skin. For a split second, they stood there in a tense silence.

Then the Korek tried to fight back, using his greater strength to pull his hand free, and tried to swipe at Vallerian with the other hand. With a duck, Vallerian swept under the blow and brought his elbow into the man’s face. The Korek stumbled back against the wall, and Vallerian pressed on him, bringing the dagger back up to the man’s throat, pressing tight against his red clammy skin.

“Don’t even think about trying that again.” Vallerian hissed. The man gulped nervously, his throat expanding and pressing against the dagger. The Korek’s eyes shot wide when his swallow led to a bit of pierced skin, a thin red line running down his sun-burnt looking neck.

“I… I do not speak, I swear.” He stammered out. “I do not, I would not.” His accent was thick, the words muddy in his mouth, but his vocabulary seemed surprisingly good. Vallerian furrowed his brows at the statements though. Didn’t speak about what?

“I wouldn’t betray the great master, I would never.” The Korek continued at a stammer. “Just leave us alone. Please. I won’t speak any word.”

Vallerian gave him an unimpressed look. “Do I look like I’m part of the cult? Really?” Vallerian asked before remembering that he had chosen to wear his new black velvet riding cape today. A cape, he was annoyed to find, that had been caught and torn on something during the chase. Chaos take this entire bloody neighborhood, that gold embroidery had been his favourite part! Torn or not, this cape was a far cry from the black robes of the cultists. And Vallerian felt slightly incensed at the comparison. The Korek stared back at him puzzled.

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“Y… You’re not from the cult? Who are you then?” He asked, fear evident in his voice.

“The… Gahneh? Genah? The old lady, your old lady. She sent us to find you.” Vallerian responded. What was it? Ga something wasn’t it? Vallerian shook his head. Returning his attention to the man, he saw the Korek had a look of abject terror on his face.

“The Ga’Na sent you?” He asked, a terrified tremble to the man’s voice.

“Yes.” Vallerian answered. The man shook with fear and began to cry, a rather pathetic sight on a man so big as he. Vallerian pulled the dagger from his throat, he didn’t seem to be a threat. By the Pantheon, the man didn’t even seem to be part of the cult anymore. Vallerian wasn’t sure, but he was under the impression Chaos Cults weren’t the type of fraternity one disassociated from easily.

Vallerian eyed him suspiciously, he could be lying. But then, he had thought Vallerian was from the cult. The man had seemed terrified enough when he had thought Vallerian had been sent by them. Why would they be coming for him?

Vallerian whistled and Charlotte flew down onto his shoulder.

“You’re going to tell me what in the Chaos is going on here.” Vallerian said. “If you’ve disassociated yourself from the cult, why are you wearing their robes?”

The man breathed heavily, but then seemed to steel himself. “I… I don’t have much.” He responded, a nervousness to his voice. “I leave recently. They… did not like that.”

“What made you leave? Spontaneous combustion just not doing it for you these days?” Vallerian prodded, twirling his dagger in one hand. Best to keep reminding the man who had the weapon here.

“Vallerian, you got him!” Celeste called out from down the alley. Damn, Vallerian thought, he had hoped to interrogate the man a bit longer before being caught up with. He slipped the dagger back into his sleeve.”

“Yes, quite the chase.” Vallerian responded.

“We know.” Valleresa remarked. “We saw the damage you two caused.” So that was how they had found him. Vallerian nodded.

“I had to leave.” The Korek man spoke again, barely more than a whisper. “I have… responsibilities now.” He rose as he spoke, and Kriss stepped up beside Vallerian, a dagger of his own in hand.

“Is he a threat?” Kriss asked with a whisper in Vallerian’s ear.

“No.” Vallerian responded just as quietly. “But keep an eye on him anyway.” With a look, Kriss nodded his confirmation.

“We come from your great grandmother.” Celeste said in that voice she used when she was trying to convince people of something. It was high pitched, with the slightest hint of whininess too it. “We wish to help you. To bring you home.” Celeste clasped her hands in front of her.

“I… I can’t go home.” The man muttered.

“You can.” Celeste insisted. “We’re here to bring you. Your family wants you back.”

He shook his head. “No. I can not. Come, I will explain.” The Korek man stepped past Vallerian, and Vallerian grabbed him by the arm.

“Try anything.” Vallerian whispered into the man’s ear. “And I assure you, you will regret it.” The man gulped again but led the way. And so, the Count of Tarnarquil followed an apostate of a Chaos cult down a muddy alleyway in the poorest neighborhood in Southshore. All so he could keep the Lady Crysilla from murdering him in his sleep. Somehow that had led him here. Celeste better be happy this time.