‘So, any suggestions where do we start looking for Kaede?’ I asked when we all gathered in one of the two rooms we hired. It was fairly cramped, with just enough space for a double bed, a small table and two chairs, but it would have to do as we didn't want to discuss this stuff in public. We were sitting in a rough circle. Ren and Sav took the chairs, while me, Caei and Lilyth sat on the bed. The problem would be sleeping arrangements. The original idea was for us three to sleep in one of them, while our two new friends would sleep in the other. To my pleasant surprise, it was Caei who suggested that. Afterwards, she took me and Lilyth aside and explained that while she and Ren would likely remain very close, neither of them was interested in renewing a relationship the half-harpy had with Leera. My heart leapt at that. Lilyth also seemed pleased by the result, though stressed that our girlfriend shouldn't rush into things.

‘I’m not rushing into things, hon,’ Caei smiled. ‘I’m staying just where I like it.’

Unfortunately, my hope for a quiet night of rest together was quickly dashed when Sav looked around the tavern and said the rooms weren't secure enough for us to do so. Or rather - they would be if it wasn't for Ren.

‘We have to assume our arrival didn't go unnoticed by whoever is hunting her,’ she explained. ‘Since the windows of our rooms overlook the “street” someone could climb in through them. We are not high enough that a bunch of sturdier crates or some basic climbing gear won’t do the trick. Hell, someone could even be boosted to reach them.’

So we would be all sleeping in the same room and keeping watches. Or at least this night me, Caei and Sav would, and then we would rotate. There was no point in having more than three people on watch, and Lilyth needed a full night of sleep and Ren was too new to our business.

‘In the morning we can ask around here,’ I continued our planning session. ‘I suppose we could also try looking for the River Goddess, but given no one really knows where she is…’

‘There is one person that knows,’ Lilyth protested in a mildly amused tone. ‘Didn't you listen to the ferryman? First name: Some; Last name: Man.’

‘I suppose we can view that as a “last desperate resort”,’ Caeileera shook her head. ‘Nothing else comes to my mind unless there is some Yamaoka hidey hole here that Leera wasn’t aware of.’

‘Not that I know of,’ Ren said. ‘We don’t move cargo along the Ror River, at least not by ourselves.

Savri’s expression said she wasn't buying it, but Caei quickly came to Ren’s defence.

‘It’s true. Larger stuff is hidden in crates covered with legitimate goods and “imported” by shell companies. So it travels on normal barges and is delivered straight to Ror-Bhyk. Smaller stuff is carried in person.’

‘The contraband we carry tends to be less noticeable, too. We don’t engage in drug trade either, so customs officials are more willing to be “lenient" about our goods, assuming they even notice them. It’s very easy to hide poison in the transport of saay… wine. Even if that wasn't the case we wouldn't have used Julbar for an outpost. This place is an insignificant shithole. Any increase in lake traffic would cause… questions.’

Poison?

‘Huh…’ Sav said. ‘Consider me humbled.’

‘We’ve been at it for over six hundred years, Sav. Believe me, we know our business.’

‘That reminds me… I’ve been wondering about something, Ren,’ Lilyth said. ‘It’s a bit of a personal question: Your name and surname both suggest you have a Terran origin. Kaede is also a Terran name. And yet…’

Are we just gonna ignore the poison bit?

‘I’m not human? ‘she smiled. ‘I suppose I shouldn't have hoped you would miss that bit. Yes. The clan was started by a Terran, but There hasn't been a fully human Yamaoka since the clan was founded. Shinji Yamaoka, the man who started it all, married an elven woman, and their descendants mostly kept to the elven side of things due to their longer lifespans. My dad was one of the few exceptions since he fell in love with my mom, Ireela of the Bloody Perch Clan - one of the minor harpy houses. They had me and here I am.’

‘Um…,’ I interrupted. ‘Could we circle back to the whole poison bit?’

‘Ah,’ Ren looked really embarrassed. ‘Well… one of the services the clan offers is… well…’

‘Assassination,’ Sav finished for her.

‘Fortunately, the contracts for that went through my brother,’ Ren blushed. ‘I was deemed “too delicate” to handle such business.’

‘And what did you do?’ I asked pointedly.

‘There are two brothels in Tyr-Mel I was in control of.’

Lilyth and Sav threw her a look at that.

‘Don’t worry. All women were there willingly. It was one of the rules that Shinji set, and we follow religiously to this day. In fact… Some of the assignments I had Leera do involved punishing transgressors of that rule.’

Caei nodded at that.

‘Other than that: minor smuggling, once again the big stuff went through Ror-Bhyk, protection schemes, muscle for hire… and in a few cases… ‘

‘Making examples,’ Caei finished sadly. ‘Brutal ones.’

‘Yes.’ Ren squeaked.

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‘Well… It could have been worse…’ Lilyth said. ‘But then again it explains why Ereshkigal thought you were redeemable. Thank you for telling us.’

‘Yes,’ I agreed. ‘And sorry for bringing it up. I know it’s not been easy living with that stuff.’

‘I hated it… true. But… it was getting easier.’

‘You are out now,’ I smiled. ‘I think it’s good we cleared the air about this.’

‘I agree,’ Ren smiled sadly. ‘You have no idea how much of a relief it is.’

‘The problem is…’ Lilyth said. ‘Once we save Kaede, assuming she needs saving, what do we do about the rest of your family? As Sav pointed out and you agreed a gang war is about to start. I assume I speak for everyone here that we’d rather sit this one out?’

We all nodded our assent.

‘Helping you is one thing, ‘ Caei chimed in. ‘Even I would feel uncomfortable, you know…’

Ren sagged in her chair.

‘I haven't thought this far ahead. After the visit from the Dread Queen… my mind… I don’t know… I tried not to think about it.’

‘You are scared out of your mind,’ Caei said. ‘It’s normal.’

‘You know… when I woke up this morning… I didn't expect the day to go like this… One moment I am looking forward to a romantic trip with Leera and the next…’

‘You lost everything and can’t go back to your old life without horrible consequences,’ Lilyth suggested.

‘Find yourself hunted?’ I added.

‘Realise you no longer fit with your own people?’ Caei proposed.

‘There is suddenly way too much divine nonsense in your life?’ Sav sighed.

‘All of the above, I guess,’ Ren laughed bitterly. ‘As for my family... I’d like to check in on my parents, I guess. My brother is in our Ror-Bhyk compound, so I suppose that's a no-go.’

There was a sharp intake of breath from Caei.

Some memory from Leera about the other Yamaokas?

‘If you want we can try,’ Lilyth said, sadly. ‘You would never forgive yourself for not trying. I know I wouldn't.’

I forgot Lilyth had a family in the other world. Some girlfriend I am.

‘Thank you,’ Ren said.

‘You had siblings?’ Sav asked. ‘Out there?’

‘An older sister. I really regret not talking with her more.’

Sensing Lilyth's distress I hugged her. I also pulled Caei in, as she seemed... distressed.

‘I understand why you volunteered so quickly for me then,’ Sav sighed. ‘If you want, I’ll try to figure out some way to get us into the compound. Or at least near it. But planning this kind of stuff was never my strong suit. Usually, Paul, Sonya and Francis would handle this side of things.’

I could see hope return to Ren’s eyes which is why I really hated what I was about to say next.

‘We’re not going to Ror-Bhyk. It’s too risky. Sorry, Ren.’

Everyone looked at me in surprise, so I continued.

‘Earlier we deemed going there to be too dangerous. If anything the risk even got greater. Because we now have to avoid the Inquisitor AND the mysterious assassins. Probably getting spotted by the Yamaokas wouldn't be too great either given how both Ren and Caei want out. We also have to consider the possibility of Ren’s brother or the clan as a whole being responsible for the assassination attempt, to begin with. So I will have to pull rank here.’

‘I’m with Aki on this one,’ Caei said. ‘Yamaoka compound in Ror-Bhyk is well-secured. If someone can take down that, the five of us will amount to nothing.’

‘But Lilyth…,’ Ren started protesting, but Caei cut her off.

‘She’s just one woman. And I think we should stop using her as a battering ram. She’s our friend. I care about her and I don’t want her to risk her life for “Crimson” Kojiro. Fuck, I don’t want us to risk our lives for that murderous rapist bastard. Oh… you think you were bad, Ren? You’ve never had the pleasure of seeing your monster of a brother in action. The day Leera was moved from his service to yours was the happiest in her career in the Yamaokas.’

Tears started flowing to Ren’s eyes and she stormed out of the room. A moment later we heard the door slam in the other.

I wanted to hurry after her, but Sav stopped me.

‘Give her a moment,’ she said. ‘You just told her you are willing to let her brother die.’

I felt nauseous.

‘Maybe…’ I tried

‘No maybes,’ Sav said. ‘You made a hard call. That’s your job as a leader.’

I looked at Lilyth who simply sighed:

‘What Sav said. It doesn’t feel right, but that’s life.’

I felt really queasy, but I didn’t manage to make it past the door before the remnants of the last ration bar ended up on the floor.

Lilyth was by my side in a moment and led me back to the bed. Caei and Sav left the room to give us space.

‘Take it easy, babe,’ she said and wrapped her hands around me.

‘I feel like a monster,’ I cried.

‘Don’t,’ she said.

‘But you…’

‘Yes. I feel for Ren. I would happily help her, but you are right… We owe “Crimson” Kojiro nothing. Hell… we owe Ren nothing. We are already taking great risks for the sake of her and her family. In a way, it is a relief.’

‘I don’t know… even helping her with this feels wrong.’ I cried. ‘Like… I like her… but there is something wrong…’

‘If you don’t want to do it… we can just leave,’ Lilyth said. ‘And let the Yamaokas rot. Believe me, I hate the idea of helping them as much as you do.

‘What about what Ereshkigal said?’

‘That Ren has to atone? She never told me to help her do it. The best thing possible for Ren would be to tell her family to go fuck themselves and leave them. They made their own bed. She wants out? Fine. She doesn't have to come with us. If you don’t want that to happen, then you have the right to say no. We have the right to say no. We can point Ren to the nearest soup kitchen and call it a day.'

‘But Caei…’

‘Can make her own choices too. And she doesn’t have a right to force us to do something that will cost us our souls. If the choice here is between “Make Caeileera happy” and “Make you happy”, I will choose you every time.’

‘And I you.’ I smiled weakly.

Lilyth kissed me, and, to her credit, said nothing about my mouth tasting like vomit.