Someone knocked on Tanathos's door.

He stared at it, fighting down a surge of panic. His room in the quiet inn was situated on the top floor in a corner, with few passers-by and no interruptions.

He had barely escaped the hunters today. The sight of the Hammer Stalwart had nearly sent him into a panic. If they found him now, he was already dead. If they had found him, they wouldn't bother to knock.

"One moment," Tanathos called out in the feeble voice he used in the city.

He donned the blue-trimmed silver robe and wide-brimmed hat with veil he wore most often as his disguise. It proved exceptionally effective. Few people bothered a near-blind lesser nobleman who possessed just enough coin to pay for what he ordered, and not enough to encourage bothersome salesmen

Once concealed, Tanathos made his slow way to the door, tapping a walking cane as he moved. He fought the urge to embrace his Sthenic powers. Only in a moment of critical need could he risk it.

He didn't fully understand the wards placed in the city and still didn't know how the Sentinels had tracked him down earlier. Not knowing was scarier than anything else.

Tanathos pulled the door open. A dark-haired youth dressed in a palace uniform stood in the doorway. After a surprised second, Tanathos remembered his name. Remiel.

"May I come in?"

Tanathos stepped aside to allow Remiel to pass. He glanced down the hall but saw no one else. The youth came alone. He slammed the door and, despite the danger, embraced his Sthenic powers. Darkness roared into his soul and Tanathos breathed easier with the return of power.

He knew this man. Remiel, one of Masego's hirelings. He had just caught up with the young fool earlier in that alley just before he caught sight of the Stalwart closing in. If not for that, he would have already exacted his revenge.

He couldn't imagine why Remiel would come to him here, or even how he knew where to look. It didn't matter. Masego may have escaped, but this fool would suffer for his master's deception.

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Tanathos struck a mighty, invisible blow at Remiel's mind. To his amazement, the blow deflected away. He slashed mental fingers across Remiel's mind and encountered heavily reinforced shields.

Surprising. Remiel's master expended great energy protecting his servant. The youth stood silent and unmoving, as if he expected the attack and waited for Tanathos to fail.

The thought enraged him and Tanathos drove a dagger of power against the shields again in an attempt to shatter them. The fool would know pain for this insolence.

Instead of shattering, the shields around Remiel's mind compressed under the blow and then exploded outward. A brilliant flash of light blinded Tanathos.

He cried out and flinched back. Full daylight was painful to his Sthenic-enhanced vision, and this light burned like living fire. The light drove into his brain and, despite his heavy shielding, it left him rattled. If not for the blind-man's cane, he would have fallen.

While he was distracted, Remiel lunged and grabbed his hand. Lightning-like power ripped up his arm and his body spasmed, every muscle locked rigid and unmoving.

Tanathos tried to speak, but couldn't move. He had never experienced anything like this. How could a powerless slave unman him so easily?

Remiel, who looked afraid but determined spoke. "While I have your attention, please hear me out."

Masego was truly a gifted double-crosser. He rivaled the Sigrun for cunning and surprise attacks. Tanathos swore to learn the secret of this spell. It would prove most helpful.

Remiel didn't bother waiting for a reply. "I bring a message and an offer from my master. He knows where you hide. He wishes to meet with you."

Remiel then waited half a minute while Tanathos worked to overcome the crippling paralysis. Slowly his muscles thawed and he managed to move his jaw.

"Your master betrayed me," he croaked when he could form a whisper.

"No, I mean my other master."

That was entertaining. It reminded him of the cutthroat circles of the Sigrun capital. "No man can serve two masters." At least not for long.

Remiel shrugged, "You can if neither master knows about the other."

The last vestiges of the temporary paralysis faded and Tanathos rolled his shoulders. Remiel played a dangerous game, one that even Tanathos would approach with extreme caution.

"My master who is not Masego wishes to meet with you to assist in destroying the man Kevlin."

"You offer too much too soon, fool. I should just kill you now."

Remiel swallowed and for the first time looked genuinely nervous. He quickly stammered, "If you do, my master will take that as a rejection of his offer, and will reveal your location to the Stalwart Leander. Your choice."

Tanathos cast a nervous glance from the door to the single, barred window. He'd managed to elude the old Stalwart so far, but could he do so again? The old man terrified him. He couldn't call Remiel's bluff, not yet.

"Very well. Take me to this master of yours."