Elena walked through the cultivated gardens of Emuril, the capitol city of the Crystalline Dominion, taking in the sculptures of crystal placed on pedestals. Each showed some mythical creature, landscape or battle with the ruling family leading the Dominion’s forces to victory.

A show of their ability with crystal and a reminder of their power and opulence to have such a place. Elena looked through it all for what it represented. Looked at the gardners dutifully taking care of the area. The people that moved through the gardens wrapped up in their own conversations.

A smattering of new couples, but also groups of older ladies talking on the latest gossip, gentlemen planning business opportunities. And secret liasons between various people.

“Miss Elena,” Joris, said as he drew close. Officially a rather unassociated man to the Dominion’s ruling family. Unofficially he was something of their spymaster and Elena’s opposite.

His playful smile looked genuine, though his eyes were searching and discerning. A viper that had learned the game.

“Joris how good to see you,” Elena smiled and dipped her head to him. “Come to see the newest selection of carvings? I have to say that your nation has a great ability.” Flowery words to go with the superficial smile.

“It would be great to have company,” Joris held out an arm. Elena slid hers through it as they moved deeper into the garden.

Four different watchers I’ve spotted so far in the park, two more on the surrounding buildings.

“I know that the trade agreements between our nations have been slow to finalize. These things are always trickier than they first appear.”

“To rush is to make problems later,” Elena brushed off Joris with a smile.

“I know and I know just how busy you are with your people,” Joris’ voice dipped but barely. Elena hid her satisfaction at the frustration in his eyes. Though there was an excitement there too.

“I heard some rumors of someone else from Geraxi in the Abyssal Plane and they were working with Ilus. I find it strange, seeing as Ilus is such an enemy of yours that you’re willing to come to the Abyssal plane to hunt them.”

“I think the Dominion understands it is best to cut out the rot before it can spread, no matter where it runs,” Elena said. They know of Desari?

“Quite and if one can make friends and allies upon the way then it is only to the benefit of both. Though I can admit that even I get a bit curious at times. This person, a Desari Haker—same house name as your avatar I think? Well I didn’t want to bother you with my mindless curiosities,” He patted her arm with an affable laugh.

Elena’s stomach clenched, fearing the next words.

“I reached out to those,” He snapped his fingers. “Oh what do you call them? Inquisitors? I find that they have such a wealth of knowledge. You know when I asked them about this lady they got rather agitated. Never did get my answers. Stormed off, I think they went back to the material plane even.” Joris’ shock sounded manufactured even to her.

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Elena kept the panic from her face. You fucking fool. Vessali Haker was nothing more than a blunt tool to be pointed in the direction of the enemy and let loose. Worse he had the people’s support as an Avatar and the backing of many nobles seeing the shift of power within the Empire as well as those with lands that were recaptured by the enemies of the Empire.

His was the will of the Pantheon, to expand, to destroy any resistance and grow the empire’s borders.

Joris’s knowing smile reached his eyes, he was actually gloating.

“There is a parable I’m reminded of. Its best to confirm you’re riding a horse before you kick your legs into it, lest you find out you’ve been upon a bear. I hope you know how long it will take you to lead your forces against Ilus.” Elena withdrew her hand from his arm.

His face fell int a moue of disappointment.

Elena moved her lips to his ear. “Have you ever heard of a god walking upon the world? One that simply threatened nations several times your size and they stopped in their tracks? That’s what you just woke up.” She snorted. “And his sister’s worse.”

His face drew into a frown as she pushed past him and hurried out of the gardens. It was only her training that kept her from sprinting back to her residence.

She slipped through streets and people, tearing away the outer layers of her dress to reveal a much simpler one underneath the colorful fabrics stuffed between boxes and a wall as she walked out onto a new street, affixing a used hat.

The tails dropped away as she continued towards her residence, pulling out a hair pin.

“Crystaline Dominion know of Desari, passed information to her brother.” She had to hope the emperor got it in time.

She dropped the pin, it created a puddle of water that it slipped through and disappeared.

Even if it was true or not, Vessali would not stop now till Ilus was a smoking ruin. With the information blackout that had descended on the city and those they’d made their pact with. Someone who knew what they were doing had set to work and done so quickly.

Everything points to it being Desari. Though the woman should be dead. And from the reports Vessali should have been as well. Though he had the gods behind him.

If she walked the lands once more, did some other gods step in?

She reached a safe place where she’d stored a change of clothes, looking barely different than she had before, pulling the hat off and running her hand through her hair quickly to cross the remaining distance to her accommodation.

“Miss,” The doorman opened the gate for her and allowed her through. She offered a superficial smile and went up the stairs, calm and sedate. As soon as the doors closed her smile faded and she raced up the staircase to her office.

She threw the door closed and moved for her desk.

“Miss Elena,” a voice said from her balcony door. Adjacent to her desk. She hadn’t noticed him-why hadn’t she noticed him? She’d been trained to notice everything. The balcony door was open and he was looking out of it, without a care of showing his back to her.

Every hair upon Elena’s body stood up on end, every sense, innate or trained telling her that this man was dangerous. He pointed a thin sword up through the balcony doorway, the runes shifting with white and blue, a contained elemental within.

Blood-freshly coated ran down the weapon.

He moved it through the air as if it was a brush painting a landscape. Not letting a drop fall. Her eyes darted to his clothes, Geraxi, the cloak black with filigree showing a single man tearing through ranks of fighters.

His cloak shifted showing the ornamental and inscribed armor. The kind that belonged to temple guards and the inquisition’s forces.

She kept the shudder from running through her, body while she felt her face pale, dropping to one knee, there was no running from this man.

“Avatar Vessali.”

“Tell me everything you know about my sister.” His blade cut through the air violently, she swore she could hear the elemental within screaming. The blood upon it splattering on the floor.

She need not worry about the Crystaline Dominion listening in on their conversation today, so she told him everything she’d learned.