Day Five. Dawn.

An array of emotions flickered across the captain’s face as he read Stayne’s orders. First confusion, then anger, and finally satisfaction.

“Well done, Michael,” Talon said, reaching out to take the note. “I don’t know how you did it, but this is exactly what my master needs.”

I placed my own hand on the note, blocking him. “Not so fast,” I said. “We must discuss the matter of the price before I can hand this over to you.”

Talon leaned back in his chair, his face transforming into an inscrutable mask. “Price?” he asked. “I thought that we agreed upon that already.”

I shook my head. “I agreed to investigate.” I paused. “And to find your son, but not as to the reward.”

“I see,” the captain said, steepling his fingers before him. “What do you want then for that?” he asked, his chin jerking downwards.

“A portal scroll,” I replied.

Talon blinked, caught off guard by my request. “A portal scroll?” he asked. “Why would you want that?”

I sat back in my own chair and, seeing no reason not to, explained. “I don’t wish to be beholden to your master,” I said bluntly. “I don’t trust any Power that much.”

The captain opened his mouth to reply, but before he could speak, I went on, “Give me what I want, and I will leave the sector.”

The captain said nothing for a moment, then, to my surprise, he chuckled. “So it is to escape the sector that you want the portal scroll?”

I nodded, confused by his sudden amusement.

“I’m almost tempted to agree to your terms,” the captain said, lips still twitching, “but I value my own honor too much to deceive you so.”

I stared at him uncomprehendingly.

“The truth, Michael,” Talon went on, “is that a portal scroll will not help you escape the sector.”

“Why not?” I asked sharply.

“For one, the sector is hidden—”

“I know that,” I interrupted.

“—and for another, it is shielded too for good measure,” the captain finished.

My brows drew down. “Shielded?”

The captain nodded. “Ishita’s sworn have installed a shield generator somewhere in the sector. While it’s running, I’m afraid only portals keyed to the shield can be opened from within or without.”

I stared at the captain in dismay, unable to say anything for long moments.

“Well, isn’t that just perfect,” I managed finally.

~~~

It took me some time to get over the news. Had all my scheming been for naught?

No.

The shield generator complicated matters, but I could still make my plan work. As my shock dissipated further, I realized another thing: someone was lying to me.

Mariga had all but said outright that I could escape with a portal scroll, while Talon had just told me the opposite. So who was lying?

Captain or druid. Which one is it?

I snuck a glance at Talon. He was watching me. I may not trust the captain enough to ally myself with his master, but I didn’t think he was the kind to be deceitful—whereas Mariga positively reeked of it. I could well believe she’d lied to me.

So what do I do now?

Bowing my head, I pondered the matter further. Did I go back to the Howlers to continue my scheme? Confront the druid? Come clean with the captain? Or all of the above? I sighed. Escaping the sector unscathed was looking increasingly unlikely.

“... hear me, Michael?”

The captain had asked me something, I realized. I picked up my head. “Sorry, say that again.”

“Will accept my original proposal now?” he repeated patiently.

I rubbed at my chin, giving the matter serious thought. I still had three days—including today—and while my original idea of ‘convincing’ Ishita’s sworn to let me pass through the portal was looking less viable, I was not quite ready to throw in my lot with Tartar.

Perhaps I can find the shield generator.

Destroying it would simplify matters. I turned back to Talon. “Do you know where the shield generator is?” I asked, ignoring his original question.

The captain shook his head. “No. Xrex has seen to it that it’s well-hidden, but in order to function, the device has to be somewhere within the sector itself.”

“It must be in the safe zone then,” I said, thinking out loud. It was the most obvious—and protected place—to keep the device.

But the captain was shaking his head. “No. It can’t be. Shields don’t work in the safe zone.”

I nodded slowly. Then there was still hope I could find the generator and destroy it before my time was up. “In that case, I must decline your proposal.”

Talon gazed at me searchingly. “Are you sure?”

“No,” I admitted. “But it is the only choice I can make and retain my autonomy.”

The captain nodded, seeming to accept my response without bitterness. He glanced down at Stayne’s letter. “I still want that,” he said. “If not the god-emperor’s protection, what else can I give you in exchange?”

I deliberated for only a fraction of a second before stating boldly, “One thousand gold.”

A bark of laughter escaped the captain.

He thinks I’m joking, I thought.

But as I continued to stare evenly at him, Talon’s amusement faded. “You’re serious?”

“I am.”

“I don’t have that kind of money in the sector,” the captain said.

My lips turned down in disappointment.

“But I can get it,” he finished.

I looked at him. “How long?”

Talon pursed his lips in thought. “Two days.”

I shook my head. “That’s too long. You must have the money in one.”

The captain’s eyes narrowed at my words. “Must?” He scrutinized me again. “What difference will one more day make?”

I hesitated, then seeing no reason to lie, told him the truth. “I have a non-aggression Pact with Erebus. It will expire soon, after which time his minions will be hard on my heels. I need to be long gone from the sector by then.”

“A non-aggression Pact?” the captain asked, his eyebrows raising. “How did you manage that?”

I smiled. “With some skillful negotiating.”

That surprised another laugh from Talon. “I like you, Michael,” he said. “I really do. Very well, I agree to your terms: one day. I will have your money by then. You have my word on it.”

A Game message opened in my mind.

Envoy Talon, acting on behalf of Tartar, has offered you a Pact. If you accept, within one day, Tartar will provide you with a sum of 1,000 gold. In return, you will hand over Stayne’s letter. This Pact may be terminated at any time by either party.

Do you accept Captain Talon’s offer?

“Are the terms acceptable to you?” Talon asked, seeing my eyes turn inwards.

I nodded slowly.

You have sealed a Pact with Captain Talon.

The captain smiled. “Excellent. You’d do well, I think, in the Tartan legion.”

I shrugged, deciding not to respond to that. Retrieving Stayne’s letter, I rose from my chair. “Well, if that is all, I guess that concludes our—”

“You know,” the captain said abruptly. “This only takes care of one part of the original task I gave you.”

I paused. “Meaning?”

“Meaning that while the Red Rats may have been bound in service already, that still leaves the Howlers unaccounted for.” The captain turned back to the unfinished letter still open on his desk. “One moment,” he murmured and resumed writing.

When he was done, Talon withdrew an object from his pocket and pressed it down to the paper. Peering across the table, I saw that he had stamped a wax seal of some sort onto the parchment.

Talon folded up the letter and handed it to me. “I’ve been meaning to get Cecilia and Ultack to deliver this, but given your successes so far, I think you’d be more suited to the task.”

I took the folded note from his hands and read the message it contained.

Shaman Hyek of the Howler tribe,

I’m Talon, envoy of the god-emperor himself and captain commander of the Ebonguard, third-ranked amongst the Tartan legions.

In this sector, I act as the emperor’s voice and have all necessary authority to conclude any alliances I see fit. I assure you Tartar has no ill intentions towards your people, and a partnership between your tribe and the god-emperor will serve both our ends well.

The bearer of this letter has been authorized to negotiate the terms of a treaty between us. It is my hope that one can be swiftly concluded between us.

Yours truly,

Captain Talon.

The wax seal beneath the captain’s name bore the symbol of two crossed swords over a snorting bull.

“The seal is magical in nature and tamper-proof,” Talon explained. “The shaman will recognize it for what it is, the symbol of one of the emperor’s envoys.”

I stared at the captain, not sure I understood him correctly. “You want me to secure the Howlers’ allegiance?”

“I do,” he said. “Convince them to forget about the Awakened Dead and to bind themselves instead to the god-emperor. If you can do that, I’ll throw in another one thousand gold.”

“Why trust me with this? Surely your own people are better suited to this task?”

“In truth, my people have already made multiple overtures to the goblin delegations in the valley.” Talon shook his head wryly. “In all cases, the delegations’ leaders have refused to even meet with my representatives.” He smiled. “Somehow, I don’t think you will have trouble getting past the door. Will you try?”

Doing as Talon asked was tantamount to giving the Tartan legion the sector, and while that was better than the valley falling into the Awakened Dead’s hands, I was not comfortable at the thought of any Dark faction owning the dire wolves’ home.

Still, I saw no harm in at least accepting the task. I nodded. “I will.”

Your task: Forging Dark Alliances! has been updated. Captain Talon has requested you secure the allegiance of the Howlers for the god-emperor. Objective one revised: Negotiate an alliance between the Tartans and the Howlers.

You have sealed a Pact with the envoy Talon, acting on behalf of Tartar. If the Howlers’ shaman pledges allegiance to the god-emperor, Tartar will deposit a sum of 1,000 gold into your Albion Bank account.