“Wake up. Wake up, you idiot.”

The sound of Noor hissing closer to the ear felt jarring. Rami for the first time in many days was sleeping like a baby when he was rudely interrupted by Noor. He fluttered his eyes open to only crouch back towards his chest as the striking sunlight pouring in from the attic windows met his delicate eyes.

“Stop being a child,” Noor’s annoyed hiss came through once more. Rami covered his eyes for a moment longer before he sat up straight from the bed made of flimsy wood slabs. An uncomfortable sack stuffed with light feathers that lay completely flat to the touch served as his mattress. He grunted in pain realizing all that running, hiding, and infiltrating the most powerful crime syndicate in his new reality was finally catching up to him, again.

“There’s no sign of him,” Noor whispered as he stood in front of the bright windows and gazed at the awakening city below them.

“Sign of who?” Rami asked, rubbing his eyes.

“Yulhan!” Noor spat back, disgusted.

Rami lifted himself up from his bed to pat lightly on Noor’s shoulder and replied,

“She told us to meet her at the market this morning. I’m pretty sure he’ll be there with her. Heck she might even hold him hostage again. Have us do her bidding before we see him again.”

“Since when did you become such an expert at predicting Commander Dolovan? Last time you spoke you didn’t know where to take a piss.”

Noor scanned Rami up and down in disbelief and suddenly took a step back asking in hush tones, “Has–has your memory returned?”

Rami stared back at Noor’s sudden change in demeanor as if Noor was only putting on a little show with Rami and his true feelings towards the real Azul were quite different. Rami only smirked, “I wish that was the case, buddy, you and me both.”

Noor’s eyebrows knit in confusion. He watched Rami mindlessly trot around the room trying to figure out his rough bed with no pillow, table in the middle with paperwork pouring out onto the floor, and the relatively spacey closet with only three shirts and a pair of trousers folded in it. Soon enough Noor realized it was still the incapable version of Azul that he was stuck with.

“This is your room, in case you hadn’t realized it by now,” Noor proceeded to explain.

Rami nodded. “I know. I remember the boy from yesterday. He showed me the room in shock when I asked him where to sleep.”

Rami reminded Noor of the painstaking moment when they had arrived at Azul’s home, the relatively deranged building right to the side of the famous gaming house “The Tigress” that had been operating under the Circle of Daggers’ Vizier, Butcher. The servant boy, who was assigned by Nanji to accompany Rami and Noor to Azul’s residence along with leftover treats Nanji’s wife had packed for them last night, was thoroughly confused when Ram kept asking him to direct them to Azul’s home. Noor had only bit his tongue each time Rami would blatantly mention how he had no idea where he was going to the boy on several occasions.

The same boy had opened the door to Azul’s three story home, which was supposed to have been filled with his men but had been completely emptied by Butcher only a week ago. The ground floor had opened to an empty, dry, and dark hall leaving behind remnants of a tavern with mugs stacked on top of each other and chairs laying haphazardly as if everyone left in a hurry. The same boy had guided him up the crooked stairs and into the attic, which had apparently remained untouched since Azul’s capture, introducing Rami to a space his body should feel quite at home.

“We were lucky it was just a servant boy. Don’t you think you’re a bit thick in the head to accept it so openly that you have no idea who you are?” Noor burst out in anger.

But Rami only rolled his eyes as he pulled out a shirt and a pair of pants.

“We need to head to the market. Here,” Rami threw a shirt at Noor in an attempt to surprise him with an attack. Yet Noor so elegantly caught it and slammed it right back at Rami.

“Well then, you better have a flawless plan to get Yulhan back! If you mess it up–”

“I haven’t messed it up so far, have I?” Rami began to get cocky yet held back seeing Noor’s finger point fiercely at him, “Shut up and get dressed.”

“I am getting dressed, aren’t I?” Rami bit back and watched Noor slowly bubble up in anger before Rami coolly looked away not wanting to poke the beast.

Yet only a beat passed before Rami’s lips parted once more, passing a quick question, a question that seemed so suitable and necessary to be asked.

“I’m guessing there’s no chance I’ll be able to grab a coffee–”

Another shirt came thrashing on to Rami’s face, instantly shutting him up before Noor disappeared out the door to Azul’s attic without another word.

When coffee-deprived Rami stepped out of the attic, he caught the morning sun sneaking in through the shut window slits making the dreary and dusty hallways light up displaying a whole new side to the very place he only caught a glimpse of last night. The lonely building looked gray but alive as the dust speckles gave the walls new life and he was finally beginning to see the structure clearly from within. The walls remained bland and uninteresting as if the place was merely a hurriedly stacked wooden house with the purpose of only housing people, not a residence to serve as a home.

The muffled sound of the busy streets outside made the lonely building seem so disconnected from reality as if the very building itself was floating by, undetected by the world beyond it.

Noor had left the attic well before Rami made his way down. And before Rami knew it, his curiosity had taken the best of him and he had begun investigating his new home, story by story.

The attic was private and secluded with a tiny staircase leading to the attic door. It made sense for the leader of the household to be residing at the very top, at least it made sense for Rami that Azul would have wanted something more private and away from his subordinates as he would have chosen if he was truly the master of this home.

Right below the attic was the third story spreading out to hold about five to six smaller rooms facing each other. They were mostly left open wide, some empty but some with remnants of whoever occupied it earlier before they left in a hurry. The same was true for the second story however it consisted of perhaps ten rooms, all tiny and all holding more than one bed in each. The lingering odor of sweat and muck still circled the place leading Rami to the ground floor where the true state of the small tavern, he only caught a glimpse of in the washed out moonlight last night, was in full display.

Noor kicked a mug out of his way in disgust, “Ugh!” He grunted.

“I’m guessing this is where the majority of his men spend their time then?” Rami spoke startling unexpecting Noor.

“Your men,” Noor corrected him, “This is where your men spend their time.”

Rami rolled his eyes in reply and continued, “Butcher said he sent everyone home. Are we going to get them back or something?”

Noor walked towards Rami crossing his arms before he finally sighed deeply and replied, “I know what he said, I was there. You have to call for your men to get them back. But I wonder if you’d be able to handle them in your…state.”

“Please, not this again–” Rami started only to get shut down by Noor, who grabbed Rami’s shoulder forcefully.

“Listen here. As soon as I get Yulhan we’ll get our share of coins and be out of your hair. Till then, I suggest you not make a ruckus out of it all and expose your situation for everyone to witness. Do not call for your men now. Once we are out of here you are welcome to do whatever you please. But till then I suggest you keep your head low and speak only when you need to. I don’t want you running your mouth again, do you understand?”

Noor was quite serious by the way his fingers gripped Rami’s shoulder so tightly before releasing them. Rami had a witty comment at the tip of his tongue ready to roll over but a glimpse of Noor’s balled up fist next to him made Rami simply sigh and nod his head.

“Good! Now, come along. We are running late already.”

#

The sun burned in the sky, lashing out its waves of heat as it shone down on the market that afternoon. Vendors with brightly colored cloth roofs commandeered central Keimitang as the much anticipated market bloomed itself for the first time after a long winter break.

Noor held a steady pace as he bobbed his head around every now and then looking about scanning the area. Rami followed Noor’s hurried steps occasionally being slinged by the eagle eyed sellers who almost instantly knew Rami was new to the area by his interesting get up with a shirt half tucked and the silky red scarf half covering his face. His hand brushed against the soft red cloth remembering Dolovan forcing it on him last night before parting ways. He remembered her eyes, they screamed confidence but held glimpses of doubt and fear.

She’ll be happy to know I succeeded…

He thought when suddenly a hand grabbed Rami by his neck and shoved a piece of bread to his nose.

“Smell it, son! It’s fresh just in time for a full mid day meal, now that, you know, the Circle is whole again the Ravenous flames will soon come for our coins. Enjoy it while it lasts–”

The old man who had caught on to Rami almost pissed himself seeing Noor’s palm come thrashing down on his balding head.

“Why’d you do that–” Rami barely got his words out but Noor had already pushed the older gentleman back into his little stand essentially folding the feeble bones in half. A few pairs of eyes spotted the chaos and a couple came to assist the old man grumbling his way out of his now destroyed bread stand.

“I–I didn’t want him bringing any attention to us,” Noor whispered, spotting multiple heads turning towards him disgruntled. Rami’s hands went to his hips as he began to huff in annoyance.

“Oh no, I think you managed that flawlessly. Almost nobody noticed us, no doubt.” Noor glared at Rami’s smug face, even if half his face was masked, it was blatantly apparent.

Although their apologies went unheard and quickly dismissed, Rami still ended up with a piece of bread from the old man in return for shouting back at Noor’s incompetence which quickly helped dissolve the tension.

“I’m surprised you kept your head low with all those insults I threw your way,” Rami spoke a few moments later whilst winding through the crowd following Noor.

“It had to be done. That was the only way to return to normalcy,” Noor replied while having his head held high, “Enough about that. Where did she say we would be meeting her? We’ve circled the market twice now and I see no sign of her or her men.”

Rami squinted his eyes as he looked ahead, “She said market.”

His reply was clearly not satisfying enough for Noor’s heel turned immediately to face Rami head on.

“We are the market, idiot.”

“That’s what she said. You can’t expect me to get specific if she just said market. Besides I am not even from here–”

“No, you are from here. I am not from here,” Noor reminded Rami to which Rami’s palm found his forehead in a frustrated facepalm. They were lost, stranded, but most importantly late.

“I don’t know what you expect me to say. Even if I was from here, how am I supposed to know where she is if she said ‘Meet me at the market, noon, tomorrow’?”

Rami pressed on as he got on his tiptoes in an attempt to display confidence to Noor whose frame was towering over him. But Noor was already distracted as his palm caught Rami’s face inching towards him and pushed it aside.

“Oh! Wonderful! I’ve never actually had my face physically shoved away before!” Rami grumbled.

“There’s always a first time for everything,” Noor barely replied as he stayed planted as the crowd around him moved steadily in one direction. His eyes remained alert when suddenly he grabbed Rami’s wrist and started plowing through in the opposite direction.

“What is it?” Rami barely got his words out as his body got crushed between the excited buyers running to get the best deals.

“I think I’ve spotted him,” Noor’s voice trailed off.

“Who?!” Rami’s voice got muffled as they approached a much busier area with a larger shop surrounded by a crowd of perhaps two dozen shouting for service.

Stolen story; please report.

The shop seemed established with hard walls and a cloth shed peeking out of the building. A board painted ‘Bullwick’s Potions’ hung right above everyone’s heads.

“Potions?” Rami exhaled, “Why potions?”

“I don’t see him. There–there must be a way in,” Noor mumbled to himself before he thrashed into the crowd and carved his way to the front. Rami followed suit, ping ponging between hard-shelled lads and fierce ladies before he found Noor confused and stammering to the girl behind the counter who was waiting for a response.

“Um..sorry, can you repeat the question?”

Rami barged in as the crowd pushed him forward towards Noor. The push was so strong Rami’s face thrashed against Noor’s shoulder slipping his red mask lower, catching the eye of the girl. Her face lit up, not in shock but in a delicate wash of relief. Her fingers immediately adjusted Rami’s mask back up his nose.

“We have been waiting for you for hours. You are late.”

Her eyes darted about the crowd before she loudly announced while still addressing Rami and Noor, “We have your order ready for you. Please follow me inside.”

She raised her arm and directed them into the shop and through the arched door to the side where a few of the workers had been shuffling in and out of. They both followed suit leaving the disgruntled crowd without an attendant.

Immediately upon entry to the shop Rami felt a large whiff of something familiar hit his nose. It washed over, clogging his senses, holding him in a partial trance. His eyes watered ever so slightly before his mind clicked.

“Talin…”

Rami’s whisper was heard by Noor who finally answered Rami’s persistent question.

“Yes, Talin. I thought I saw him walk in here.”

The ornate jars of colorful liquids and squeamish objects lined up from the bottom of the floors to the top ceilings made it quite clear Talin was perhaps ‘Bullwick’s Potion’s’ most valued customer.

Rami grabbed Noor’s shoulder to immediately whisper seeing the girl move away from earshot, “She said she has my order ready. I guess Azul is also a customer here then?”

“You are not entirely wrong…”

It was that irritating voice again. It was her voice that chimed in at the perfect time raising Rami’s hairs at the back of his neck.

His head whipped around to find Dolovan, in plain clothing with a cloak covering her structured stature, and Rami’s once unfriendly guard standing beside Dolovan staring down at him.

“...Azul does occasionally shop at Bullwick’s Potions. But today, there was no order for Azul Ascari. In fact, there was an order for you from me,” her footsteps drew closer to Rami, “to meet me here, two hours ago.”

“We got lost,” Noor interjected immediately with a brief and believable answer.

But Rami’s eye twitched as he stared back at Dolovan’s entitled face, “No! Actually we weren’t lost…”

Noor’s baffled eyes met Rami’s, unable to fathom Rami’s sudden guts.

“...You gave us incomplete instructions. You said to meet you at the market. We came to the market–”

“No! I said to meet me at the market at Bullwick’s. You weren’t paying attention last night when I said it because you were fiddling with your mask!”

Dolovan’s fingers reached and pulled Rami’s mask revealing his vexed face as the sudden brush of the cloth against his skin left a touch of red behind.

For a moment it looked as if Dolovan was either going to throw a punch across Rami’s face or kick him hard in his shins. Yet she remained calm as her eyes observed Rami as if she was reading every inch of his face for a possible hint of his intentions that may be hidden from her.

“It is getting late, Commander,” Dolovan’s guard was the one to break the spell. Her hefty hand immediately cuffed Rami’s wrists and dragged him through a door at the back of the shop. They walked through a squeezed aisle with clothing lines hanging like colorful lights enjoying the mundane activities before they barged into a much smaller room still filled with a much larger collection of the same ornate jars in rows of neatly placed racks.

Rami soon found a familiar face running towards him.

“There you are, Ra–Azul!”

Yulhan’s cheery voice was like honey to the ears. It was the calm to the chaos that was ringing through uprooting the lands. It was like the foundation that refused to shake.

“Yu–” It was Noor’s voice. He had caught himself mid greeting, “You…you are here too?”

Rami’s face soured at Noor’s terrible attempt to cover up the awkward greeting. Thankfully, his almost slip-up of Yulhan’s real name went unnoticed by the rest of the crowd in the room.

“Where are you? I need a hand.”

It was Talin with his back turned to the newcomers. Yulhan excused himself immediately to go help Talin pour a clear liquid from a jar as he slowly combined a pink powder. The mix took a moment before it bubbled up vigorously and poured out in bright pink goo giving off a slight scent of strawberries.

“Bubble gum,” Rami whispered to himself as he instantly remembered the candy he enjoyed as a child almost as a harsh reminder he was still stuck in this nightmare turned reality.

“Talin, you’ve made a mess,” Dolovan’s voice rang. An annoyed Talin poked his head out to remind her, “You asked me a favor, my lady. This is my area. I can indeed make a mess on my grounds.”

“Fine. I need the boy back,” she stepped up pointing to Yulhan. Rami and Noor glanced at each other almost automatically coming to a conclusion that their initial fear that Yulhan was being imprisoned in a windowless room or being readied to be fed to the wolves was indeed an over exaggeration. Why should Dolovan bother going to that deeper extent when Yulhan would have willingly bunked with Talin in exchange to play his assistant?

Rami thought he heard Noor scoff in disbelief and whisper, “Idiot.”

“You may go now. Thank you for your help, son,” Talin gave a quick smile, making Yulhan chuckle in giddiness.

It wasn’t until Yulhan took a seat between Rami and Noor, who were crammed into a small bench by the wall, did Yulhan care to finally ask, “Where were you two last night?”

Noor scoffed once more, crossing his arms and looking away before throwing in a comment, “I suppose you had a grand old time last evening that you didn’t even notice we were gone?”

“Well, the Commander told me to give Talin a hand in picking some of the pickleworth growing in the forest. Talin was impressed with my skills in identifying such a small plant with little to no sunlight,” he leaned closer and whispered, “But I would say I cheated. I noticed some in the camping area where we stopped after rescuing Azul. But other than that I was back at Talin’s chambers and helping him with some of his latest experiments.”

Noor grunted once more, physically turning away in annoyance, “Oh great, and here we were thinking you were being thrown in the dungeons.”

“The dungeons? I thought the Commander said it would be a hassle to throw us in the dungeons.”

“Oh, yes, of course! How could I not remember that?” Noor hissed only to swallow back whatever his next comments were seeing Dolovan approach them.

Her footsteps remained heavy and her glare was the same as the first day they spotted Rami. But today, she seemed a hint happier as if her delicate plan had finally begun to blossom just as she had imagined.

With her hands to her hips and her sharp eyes observing the three she finally spoke up, “Congratulations, you two. If you hadn’t noticed already, all of Keimitang woke up to the quite alarming news that the dead had awoken. Particularly the Ravenous.”

Rami gulped when Dolovan’s eyes found him giving a slight nod towards his way almost as a job well done which Rami doubted would ever leave her lips. She did not seem the type to actually spew out a compliment.

“Oh! So that’s what you two were up to last night then,” Yulhan chimed in cheerfully only to go unentertained and left to quieten down on his own.

“I need details of everything that happened from the very moment you left my hold and till you entered Bullwick’s,” Dolovan pressed on without wasting a moment. Her hand reached for a piece of crumbling parchment while her hip pushed a small stool in front, with a tub of ink and a quill laid on it, towards Rami’s knees.

“What’s this?” Rami retorted.

The parchment fell on his lap as she replied, “I need a full account of everything that happened. I need you to write everything down preferably while talking it through with me…now.”

“There’s nothing of significance to write. We can just say it–” Noor barged in only to quieten seeing Dolovan’s glare follow him.

“He’s right. We did everything as you said. They bought the act and we are in–,” Rami followed yet held his tongue watching her jaw clench.

“But at what cost?”

Her words rang through as the memories of last night shuddered to life. Rami felt the cold sweat hit him once more as last evening's conversations repeated in his mind. He remembered Nanji’s wicked face with his sleazy smile. He wasn’t sure if Nanji’s smile appeared wicked because he had a preconceived notion of his new leader or if Nanji just looked as terrifying as everyone painted him to be. He felt the nerves hit him in waves as he held the parchment on his lap which began to feel heavier on his palm as the clock ticked.

“Ah! Right. At what cost? Well, everything went fine until…” Rami started.

Dolovan’s eyebrow raised, “Until what?”

“...until your favorite, Venom, threw in the first blow.”

“Blow?...You fought him?” Dolovan retorted, unable to fathom it.

“No, by blow I meant a metaphorical blow,” Rami tried to ease the conversation, feeling the tension rise up.

“They want Azul to prove his loyalty to the Circle,” Noor explained pointedly.

Dolovan barked back at Rami, “And what was your reply?”

“What could I have said? The–the Venom dude just started being a dick saying he wanted me to go rescue some of his guys or something,” Rami spat back in rapid succession only to halt seeing their bewildered faces staring back at him.

Dolovan’s head whipped back at Noor, “What is he spewing? I cannot understand a word he said just there.”

“That makes the two of us, Commander. He’s been speaking in such phrases all night long,” Noor only agreed and continued, “What happened was everything went according to plan until Elyan brought up the Circle’s traditions of having to prove one’s loyalty when entering the Circle…”

“I thought that was for new thieves,” Yulhan interrupted.

“Apparently not,” Rami said, crossing his arms while listening to Noor continue.

“...They want Azul to attack the garrison that is currently holding Elyan’s men prisoner and free them along with the Circle’s stolen goods. They want it done in five days.”

“Azul does not have enough manpower to raid a garrison. Did you fight back?” Dolovan hissed at Rami who refused to look her way.

“I’m afraid they are insisting on it, Commander,” Noor replied.

“Fine. Which garrison?”

“The North Western headed by Sir…”

“Tucci Bari,” Dolovan finished the sentence as her eyebrows knotted for a moment in heavy comprehension. Her train of thought disrupted as she spotted Noor squirm before he continued on.

“One more thing,” Noor spoke, taking a glance at Rami unsure of how Dolovan would receive his next few words, “They…they wanted Azul to behead Sir Tucci and bring his head as a token of Azul’s loyalty still remaining with the Circle.”

The silence that followed Noor’s words was deafening. Even Dolovan’s guard looked perplexed at the revelation. Rami seemed to be the only one who seemed unaffected by it. Yet he too soon caught on to the shock traveling through the group and spoke up almost scoffing in disbelief.

“They are not serious about the head…are they?”

His words came off as an insult making Dolovan not even glare back at his measly question. Another wave of silence followed when it hit Rami that they were indeed being serious about the head.

Rami threw his hands up in the air jumping to his feet, “You can’t be serious! They expect me to chop off somebody’s head and present it on–on a platter?”

“That was the order,” Noor spoke, hoping to make Rami quiet. Yet he only burst out louder.

“How–how could you people expect me to chop someone’s head off?!...”

His eyes found Dolovan’s as his breath quickened.

“...You don’t actually expect me to do that, do you? This is ridiculous. Who–who chops someone's head off to prove something?”

At this point Rami was sweating bullets, his hands clamping and his voice shaking. He had simply brushed off Nanji’s comment last night about the head thinking it was merely a metaphor for perhaps bringing proof of the raid. He did not actually believe he needed to chop off a human's head. If he actually believed so he wouldn’t have had such a good night’s sleep.

Dolovan thought for a moment before raising her head to reply, “It’s not uncommon to chop someone’s head off in exchange to prove one’s loyalty. What’s uncommon is targeting a Knight. And that too, Sir Tucci Bari.”

“That will certainly get the attention of the King,” Talin, who had disappeared for a good portion of the conversation, chimed in leaning against the end of a rack.

“I believe that is Nanji’s intentions with such a request to his returning Dagger,” Dolovan turned to Talin and continued, “The King will want revenge. And warning Sir Tucci will only make it worse. He would no doubt fight and never hide. What are your thoughts on this, Talin?”

Talin simply breathed deeply before replying, “You have time to think this over. Azul needs to raid the garrison in five days' time. I suggest you come up with a flawless plan to save most of the people involved, Commander.”

“M–Most? Why not all?” Rami’s shaking voice interjected once more only to go unheard.

“And what of Sir Tucci? Should I warn him?” Dolovan’s voice sounded softer as if Dolovan herself was beginning to doubt the outcome of whatever was to follow in five days' time.

“He has been your mentor for over ten years, my lady. And your family friend for even longer. You know him more than I do. At best he would agree to be captured by Azul and be taken to kneel before Black Heart. But I agree he would never hide, he would only die fighting.”

Rami watched as Dolovan’s face turned chalk white before she sighed deeply while slowly enveloping herself in silence. Her mind had already begun calculating and laying out a plan. She was already on it. By ray of hope Rami thought his next words would at least relieve some of the tension.

“There’s also another way. We can quit now. Forget this ever happened. Go our separate ways.”

Dolovan looked at Rami with her chin held up. She flashed a quick sarcastic smile at his blatant innocence as her lips parted and she replied.

“That might be an option for me but it is not so for you, Ascari. From the moment you revealed that Azul was alive, you were being followed. There were three men on your tail today at the market. Another two have been stationed outside your residence since last night. They are watching you. The Circle will continue to watch you till the day they decide you’ve proven your loyalty to them. If you run away now, they will hunt you and kill you. If you decide to retire or quit, perhaps even convince them you no longer want to be a dagger, they will still watch you, at best poison your food so you would pass without anyone knowing.

So if you desire to continue to live, your only option is to successfully raid the garrison and give them what they desire. Perhaps then they would feel more satisfied to entertain the idea that you are indeed back. But running away is not an option for you. And if you are ever so broken that you want to run away you must consult with me immediately, is that understood?”

It felt more of a warning rather than a word of comfort. Rami felt chills run down his spine realizing he was trapped from both ends. For a moment he thought she had his best interests at heart but he was simply misunderstanding. He was currently in the best position Dolovan would want him to be. The Circle was doubtful of him, ready to eliminate him even, and she was his best hope for survival for she knew his secret that he needed her to continue to keep a secret for the sake of his own head. And in exchange for her assistance, he would have to give her everything she needed from the very vaults of the Circle.

He bit his cheek understanding her then, realizing her strategy to carefully have him in the worst of cases where only she would be able to swoop in and save the day. He knew then that he was being strong armed like how he always was in his life back in his reality. He was not in control. He felt his life slip away as if being dumped into the vast sea, pushed by the strong current in every which way it traveled with little to no resistance from him.

His eyes found Dolovan staring back for an answer from him. For a moment he thought he would shout back in disagreement and ask her why she trapped him in such a sly way, resist the current. Yet he stopped himself, not in loss of confidence but in calculation that he must finally start to play the game.

“Understood, Commander. I will trust in your direction.”