Book 3 Chapter 16

Echoes rang down the dimly lit tunnel as sharp heels struck against the hard smooth stone. Long legs rose into a well fit, deep red dress that gave off an alluring air. As the woman walked confidently a lone figure in a white-masked shadowed her from close behind,

“Ah…” the woman complained, “Why do they always plan these meetings in the middle of nowhere… Dragging me out of my bed for this….” She spoke to her silent companion, expecting no response.

She quieted as she approached the end of the tunnel, sealed by a large door guarded by two hooded men. She continued confidently, but stopped as one of them held out a hand, motioning for her to halt.

“Identification is needed to go beyond this point…” The man said, his voice dull, and emotionless.

The woman’s brow furrowed, fury building in her eyes. “Jena…’’ She called, her voice cold… Before she even finished there was a flash of steel and motion, blurred figures shifted and faded within the shadows. There was a sudden crack, followed by a grunt of pain…

“Stop!” A man’s voice called from behind them. He came closer, coming out of the darkness to reveal a smirk at the sight before him. The white-masked woman held one of the cloaked men by the neck, her dagger pressed against it tightly The other cloaked man clutched at his leg as he knelt, his knee shattered from a kick he hadn’t even seen.

“Silk!” The man called towards the woman in red, his greasy smile sending a ripple of disgust through her. Even well dressed, the man seemed to reek of tackiness and sleaze. “You look as lovely as ever…” His eyes traveled across her body before rising to her face.

The woman called Silk didn’t seem to react, her frown etched onto her face in stone, “Jena” She called…

“Whoa whoa whoa…” The man called nervously, holding up his hands towards the white-masked woman, She had dropped the guards on the ground with a crash, leaving two broken bodies under her. “Silk, calm down! It was just a friendly joke! A bit of a welcome since it's been a while since we’ve seen each other…”

“The next time you pull a stunt like this Boris,” Silk replied as she checked her nails, “I’ll have Jena rip your manhood off and shove it down your throat…”

Boris laughed, “As colorful as ever my lady,” He walked past her and the injured two on the floor, pushing the door open slowly, ”But instead of chatting away here, shouldn’t we hurry? You’re the last to arrive…”

Silk sniffed in disdain before walking past him, making sure to step carefully over the men who lay on the floor. As she entered the chamber, seven sets of eyes turned towards her at the same time. The Council of the Confederation sat in its power around a professionally hand-carved round table. Each member sat with their White mask standing just behind them. A symbol of their position and strength…

“Your late…” A cold voice called, coming from a well-built man with a large greatsword on his back.

Silk ignored him as she continued to her seat, letting Jena pull the chair out for her as she sat. “Blame it on Borris, Knuckle…” She finally responded as she took her place.

The large man looked questioningly at the other new entrant, who smile, shrugging his shoulders, “Just a friendly joke…”

“Hmph…” Knuckle replied, leaning back in his chair even as it creaked under his weight.

Silk glance over the table at the others, before settling her sight on an empty chair, “I thought you said I was the last, where’s Alloy?”

“Well,” Borris answered as he sat as well, That’s exactly what this meeting is about.”

“What does that mean?” She asked looking at the man disdainfully.

Another voice answered, from a small bookish man sitting nearby, “Alloy is dead… The killers didn’t even try to hide the body, a message to us I would bet…”

“You’d bet on anything Dice…” Another replied, a feminine looking man who blew a kiss as he spoke.

“And?” The bookish man answered frankly, “Doesn’t change the fact that Alloy is dead. Yuri wasn’t the strongest but he was no slouch either, not many could have taken him down.”

“Are you saying it was one of us?” An older woman spoke this time, wearing simple robes and smelling of earth and wheat.

“Possibly, wouldn’t be the first time, but the most obvious answer is usually the correct one. An attack on one is an attack on all of us… And who would want to attack us right now?”

“Your talking about that god?’ Another voice rose, this time from a stout man, the froth from his ale still fizzling in his beard. “But his armies are still preparing in the east, it should be weeks before they arrive.”

“So we thought, but maybe he has come without his armies, with another tool instead. He does have Torvus by his side, a failure on your part Boris,”

“Borris shook his head, “There have been sightings of a man matching Torvus description within the city, It's more than possible that it is his work…”

“Alone?” The robbed woman asked, “Or is the god here too? The reports have put his strength at a ridiculous level. If they are both here then none of us are safe…”

“HA!” Knuckle laughed, “Tales by underlings and the incompetent stooges Boris sent out. Just because’s Boris's Odee failed in Lutel doesn’t mean they're invincible.”

“The God should not be underestimated,” The bookish man replied, “His interference has ruined our plans in Both Rasor and Lutel, while his own influence has grown quickly.”

“Most likely Raife and his ilk will be assisting them as well…” The feminine man added…

“My mother… Silk said quietly.

The others nodded, the room growing silent in the face of growing fear…

“This wouldn’t be a problem if your men had taken care of Raife in the first place Boris! Your failures have continued to pile up recently. Maybe it would be best if we left the guild in another's hands.

“Fellows!” Boris cautioned, “This isn’t the time to panic. I’m sure I will have to account for my mistakes soon enough, but doing so now will just leave us all in more danger. We all understand how dangerous Torvus can be… If we splinter here it may be our death!”

“Hmph!” The man called Knuckle grunted, “Speak for yourself… If that bastard comes for me there will be steel and fire waiting for him…” He stood, walking towards the exit, His guard following a step behind.

“Knuckle…” The bookish man started before sighing, “Well then about the rest of us, perhaps it would be best if we stuck together for now…”

“No, I can’t rule out that this is a play by one of you, I prefer being on my own…” The robed woman replied, shaking her head. “Besides, all of us together might just make us easier to find…” Some of the others nodded, Silk included. As they stood, slowly filing out of the chamber the other watched them go with a mix of expressions. Silk rose as well, leaving with her mind full of thoughts.

Behind them, the remaining members stayed at the table “Fools,” Silk heard a voice behind her say, “Then should we discuss our cooperation?...”