I was left wondering for hours.

The entire time, none of my ten captors said anything. After the first hour, I was well and truly bored. With little to occupy me, I tried to use my mindsight.

You have failed to trigger your mindsight. The ability has been blocked by a magical dampening field.

As expected, it didn’t work. After that, I spent long minutes examining the guards meticulously, but other than their species, there was little further I learned about each. Next, I tried breaking free of the trio holding me, but no matter how much I struggled, I could not free myself from their gentle but firm grip. It was at times like these that I regretted not investing further in strength.

Finally, I sat back and let my thoughts run free. It had not escaped my notice that the Game had not defined the rank of detection ward I’d tripped. My biggest concern was that the Watcher had uncovered my secret blood trait. If that was the case, then I was in immense danger, but I didn’t think it likely the trait had been uncovered.

It was not a spell after all, and nothing about the blood memory’s description had suggested it was vulnerable to detection by spells of any sort.

No, the more obvious choice was that Loken's spell had been revealed. If so, I had nothing to worry about. I hoped.

There was no way to know for sure, and neither was there any benefit to worrying. Just wait, Michael.

Closing my eyes, I set about doing just that.

~~~

Hours later the door opposite me slid open, and two elegantly clad figures walked in. The first player, a step ahead of the other, was by all appearances a guard. He was dressed in a cobalt colored suit. His shirt beneath, his tie, and even his boots, were also all blue, if of different shades.

The guard’s scales were as blue as his clothings. Gills flapped open on either side of his cheekbones, and for all that the guard was humanoid in appearance, he clearly belonged to an aquatic species. At his side, he bore a long sword with a jeweled hilt that was bedecked with sapphires.

As striking a figure as the guard cut, though, it was the one who followed in his shadow that was more arresting. The second player was female, and just as blue skinned as her guard, but her origins were clearly more human. Despite the unsettling tone of her skin, the rest of the woman was comfortingly human. Except her eyes. They were a uniform blue.

Silently, the woman seated herself in the chair before me. Planting elbows on the table she rested her chin on her cupped hands. With a jerk off her eyes, she gestured the three guards holding me away, before turning her gaze upon me.

Under her intense scrutiny, I stilled. There was something about her gaze that reminded me of Erebus and Loken. And suddenly I knew my initial impression was wrong.

She is not a player. She is a Power.

Fearing the worst now, I held myself stockstill.

“You are an interesting character, Michael,” the woman said. Her voice was resonant with the sound of gently flowing water. Like a babbling stream, it was both soothing and pleasant.

Yet, I was not set at ease. Despite her appearance, and easy tone, I was certain she was a new Power, and one of my enemies—perhaps.

Remaining silent, I waited for her to go on.

The woman smiled. “Careful too.” She tilted to head to the side. “How did one such as you come to be entangled with Loken?”

I was careful not to show my relief. So it is Loken’s spell they uncovered.

“Still nothing to say?” she asked. “And will you still have nothing to say, I wonder, if I told you that you have defaulted on your contractual obligations with the bank?”

My alarm grew, but once more I stopped myself from responding. I suspected she was toying with me.

“Devlin, please inform the customer of the consequences of his actions,” she said when I remained silent.

The guard at her back stiffened to attention and said, “Yes, Lady. By entering the Albion Bank premises with an active enchantment, the player Michael, has failed to comply with contract term eighteen fifty, and as a consequence has forfeited his account, all goods, and monies stored with the bank.”

This time, I could not conceal my outrage. “No! That’s bloody—”

The Power, her voice hardening, spoke over me, “And how much does that amount too?”

Devlin's eyes flickered inwards. “A touch under three thousand gold, Lady,” he said, sounding surprised.

The Lady though, showed no reaction at the amount. Her gaze flickered back to me. “So, Michael, are you ready to forfeit all that? Or will you answer my questions?”

I clenched my hands into fists beneath the table, but I knew I was just as helpless to resist her threat as I’d been to escape the three bank guards’ grasp. “What do you want to know?” I ground out.

“For one, why did you so woefully break the terms of your contract?” she asked, a hint of exasperation coloring her voice.

“I was not aware of the restriction,” I replied in a clipped tone.

The Lady's lips thinned. “Ignorance is no excuse. Your obligations would’ve been clearly spelled out to you when you opened the account.”

I grunted. “Be that as it may, this is the first time I've entered the bank. No one told me the terms of use. Hell, I didn’t even know there was one.”

“Impossible,” the Lady replied.

Before I could reply, Devlin interjected, “Excuse me, Lady. But it seems the customer is correct. According to the records, his account was opened for him by a third party.”

The Power sat back in her chair, her face a picture of curiosity. “That is not something we usually allow,” she murmured. “Who opened his account?”

Devlin took his time answering. “Loken.”

“Ah,” the Lady said, her gaze drifting back to me. “So you are more tightly entangled in the trickster’s clutches than I thought.” Her tone grew pitying. “It will not end well for you.” She paused. “What does Loken want with you?”

I met her gaze unflinchingly. “I suspect you know that already.”

“I do,” the Lady said with that amused smile. Her gaze drifted over me. “There are not many mindstalkers in the Game. I take it your Class evolved early on?”

“It did.”

“And Loken is aware of your ability to evolve?”

I nodded mutely.

“Why then did he let you go?” she asked, interest peeking through her tone. “From your Marks it is clear you are not Shadowsworn.”

I smiled grimly. “He didn’t, not willingly. I refused his offer.”

The Lady's eyes widened a touch. “Oh my,” she murmured with what sounded suspiciously like delight. “That certainly must not have gone down well. No wonder he placed a tracking spell on you.”

Seeing an opportunity to win some sympathy, I said, “Then you understand? I didn't mean to break the bank’s rules, nor did I ask for Loken to cast his spell on me.”

“I believe you,” the Lady said.

“Then you won't confiscate my money?”

“I won't,” she agreed.

I waited, hardly daring to breathe while I waited for the other shoe to drop. She obviously wanted something in exchange.

A heartbeat went by, then another, and still the Lady said nothing. “You don't want anything else from me?” I asked cautiously.

The Power laughed. “No, Michael, I don't.” She paused. “I only request that you continue to bank with us, but that is a request, not a demand.” She rose to her feet. “You are free to go, and use the bank facilities as you wish. An exception will be registered in your records, until such time as you can free yourself from Loken’s spell.”

I rose hastily to my feet, relief and gratitude vying with each other. The Power and Devlin turned towards the door, both clearly intent on leaving. “Wait!” I called out.

The Lady turned around.

“Can you remove Loken’s spell?” I asked hopefully.

The Lady smiled. “I can,” she said. “But it will cost you. The spell of a Power is no small thing to dispel.” She paused. “Even for another Power.”

Her words confirmed my suspicion. “How much?” I asked.

“One hundred thousand gold,” she said.

My eyes bulged at the amount.

“That’s more than you can afford, I see,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes. “Goodbye, Michael.”

“Can you tell me who you are at least?” I called after her.

“I’m Vivane, and the Albion Bank is mine.”