Jango City, Kingdom of Aslanor.

In one of the shady alleys of Dogma District, there’s a bar named Vanessa’s Corner. It’s neither a big bar, nor popular. The only outstanding feature it has is its strange layout. It had thirteen pillars, thirteen stools at the crooked, wooden bar, thirteen tables and thirteen windows. It’s mostly empty during the day. That’s when a cloaked customer decided to pay Vanessa’s Corner a visit.

“Table at the corner,” Vanessa, the owner, said as soon as the customer stepped foot inside.

She was a homely, buxom woman, two features that don’t stick together most times. She had long dry hair which she usually kept knotted in a ponytail, save for the threads that usually fell over her forehead. Her eyes were spaced out unevenly. Her large nose bridge didn’t do her any favors either. It stood out, wide as it is, drawing everyone’s eyes away from her large bosom and into her nose.

She cast a wary look at the cloaked customer, a female by the looks of it, that just came in, and got busy preparing two large pints of ale.

The customer made her way to the furthermost corner of the bar, and settled there. She didn’t take her hood out. Most people who visit Vanessa’s Corner decide to remain hidden. There are too many prying ears and nosy individuals in the city. This shady bar was the only place they could hold secret meetings without arousing too much suspicion.

Vanessa came to the cloaked customer soon after. She put two pints on the sticky wooden surface and settled across on the other side of the table.

“Why the hell have you come here?” Vanessa asked. Although the bar was practically empty, she decided to whisper.

“I didn’t know where to go,” the customer answered. She had a sweet voice that betrayed her ruthless nature. “Do you have any news?”

“He’s angry,” Vanessa replied. “He vowed to find you and rip your head from your shoulders with his bare hands. I don’t think he’s exaggerating.”

“I don’t think he is either,” the cloaked customer answered. “Any other news?”

“None,” Vanessa said. “Why did you do it?” she asked.

“Trust me old friend,” the customer said. “The less you know the better.”

“I know a lot of things, old friend,” Vanessa replied, stressing the last two words. “I know, for starters, that what you’ve done is high treason. The entire fucking kingdom is looking for you, yet you barge in here, not a care in the world. Have you gone mad?”

“I told you,” Vanessa’s old friend replied. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

“Well,” Vanessa softened up a bit, “you can’t stay here, that’s for sure.”

“I know,” she replied. “Listen, I need to get to Biarkh. What’s the word about the Queen’s road?”

“Riddled with knights, wizards and sorcerers,” Vanessa replied. “There’s no way you’ll get to the next village, let alone Biarkh.”

“I’ll need to hire a ship then,” the customer said.

“That’s it,” Vanessa yelled and pounded at the table. Some of the brown liquid spilled on the already dirty surface. When she spoke next, it was in a faint whisper. She knew her place was under surveillance. “Are you out of your mind? You can’t cross the sea to Biarkh. You know what lurks in those vicious waters.”

“I’ve done it before, haven’t I?” her cloaked friend said. “Besides, the Holi Wars are about to start. I’m running out of time.”

“Just give him the damn bones,” Vanessa cried out. “Do you really think he’ll summon the moon anyway?”

“You know what they call him,” she replied. “He’s mad alright, and he’s even crazier than you think. I can’t forgive him for what he’s done either. He’ll summon the damn moon anyway, with the bones or without.”

“You started it Raiya,” Vanessa said. “You shouldn’t have disappeared on him like that.”

“Don’t call me by name!” Raiya whispered angrily.

“Yeah, sorry,” Vanessa said. “Got carried away for a second there.”

“He’ll destroy us all!” Raiya cried out. “You don’t get it, do you?”

“Get what?” Vanessa answered. “That he wants to destroy the Church and all its followers? With the Holus, he’ll be able to do it. He’s already strong, imagine what he can achieve with that power.”

“See?” Raiya said in a bitter tone. “That’s what he wants everybody to think. Even our stupid king believes him now. You people don’t know anything about that moon.”

“What is it then? Do you think he’s mad enough to destroy everything? We know he wants to bring his woman back. Besides, despite his madness, he’s our best shot against the Church.”

“He’s using the desperate lover angle to fulfill his goal,” Raiya said. She looked at her friend from underneath her hood and sighed. “The less you know, the better. If he suspects you know something, you’re as good as dead.”

“Raiya,” Vanessa said. She reached her hand out toward her old friend, who retreated. “What is it?” she asked. “What mustn’t I know?”

“If he doesn’t catch me,” Raiya said, “he won’t get his hands on them. You won’t have to worry about anything then.”

“You’re being all mysterious and fishy,” Vanessa cried out. “Why come to me then?”

“I needed information,” Raiya said. “Do you know of anyone who can get me to Biarkh by sea?”

“No one’s suicidal enough to try it,” Vanessa said, chewing on her lower lip.

“The Holi Wars have started, that hateful snake won’t be there,” Raiya said. “I just need someone who can navigate the high seas. Anybody would do, really.”

“You’re that desperate?”

“You don’t know what’s at stake here,” Raiya said.

“That’s because you won’t bloody tell me,” Vanessa retorted.

“You have a customer,” Raiya said, abruptly changing the subject.

“Then you’d better go out back,” Vanessa said. “Wait for me in our usual spot. I’ll try to find someone for you.”

“Thank you,” Raiya said then took the door behind the counter, and into the back alley.

Asamaru, Capital of The Kingdom of Aslanor.

The king sat on an elegant mahogany chair, with cushions at the base to soften the hardness of the wood. The cushion had grown flat though, due to the countless hours he spent sitting on that chair, listening to his councilors bicker and fight about everything and nothing. Today though, he had a special visitor. Theolonius Stalwart, the man he feared and hated.

The wizard was wearing his usual three piece suit. This time he had opted for navy blue, coupled with a striped tie, golden threads on top of black velvet. He wore a large ruby ring on his thumb, and another, silver, on his ring finger. The latter bore the sigil of his family, a coiled snake with wings pointing upward.

“How have your men not caught her yet?” Stalwart asked as soon as he was admitted to the king’s study and council meeting room.

“I should ask you the same,” the king shot back. “You’re supposed to be better at tracking than all my wizards combined.”

“She had cast a concealing spell,” the wizard said. “It’s a simple one, bound by an unbreakable vow with her cat demon.”

“And you’ve gone and killed the damn cat!” the king glared at Stalwart.

Despite his fear of the mad wizard, the king had to act like a monarch, reprimand when necessary, praise too, if need be. He knew that Stalwart wouldn’t react badly to his reproaches either. The mad wizard needed his men now, to find the witch that betrayed him.

“I entrusted her to you,” the king went on. “You knew how vindictive she was, yet you’ve gone and killed her partner. How will we answer to the demon king as well? I bet he’s preparing his revenge now.”

“You don’t have to worry about him,” Stalwart said. “Sisha isn’t worth a war against us.”

“You can’t be sure of that,” the king retorted.

“If it may put your mind at ease,” Stalwart replied. “I can summon him here to have a little chat.”

The look the king gave Stalwart was nothing short of utter horror. “Are you out of your mind?!”

“Haven’t you heard?” Stalwart said. “Most people whisper it behind my back.”

“Summon the demon king and you’ll reduce our country to ashes,” the king said. “You know he doesn’t like it.”

“He won’t object to me doing it,” Stalwart said.

“Be that as it may,” the king retorted, “we cannot risk it.”

“You wanted to know if he’d retaliate for killing a mere cat,” Stalwart said.

“I’ll take your word for it,” the king said, dismissively. “Let’s focus on catching that rogue spy.”

“We have leverage against her,” Stalwart said.

“For the last time Theolonius,” the king said. There was a hint of royal warning in the tone of his voice. “We are not using her. The girl barely remembers her mother.”

“We’re doing this to get at the mother,” Stalwart replied. “The girl is immaterial.”

“I am not murdering an innocent child!” the king yelled.

“She’s more useful to you alive than dead,” Stalwart said. His tone was calm, only the king could understand what the mad wizard insinuated by that statement. He looked at the wizard, his eyes but narrow slits then.

“One more word about the girl, Stalwart,” the king threatened in an angry whisper.

“I have tirades prepared, poems, songs if you wish,” Stalwart said with a benevolent smile.

“THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR JESTS!” The king had risen from his chair and pounded on his desk so hard that papers flew around. His golden chalice, which was still full of the grape juice his servants prepared, flew off the desk and fell to the ground with a loud clatter.

“Do I look like I’m one to joke around, your grace?” Stalwart said. He remained calm despite the visible popping vein by the king’s temple. “It’s either use the girl, or use your kingdom,” Stalwart went on. “Choose one.”

The king sat back down, thoughtful. “We’ll find her,” he told the mad wizard. “I’ve already posted notices all over the country. Come hell or high water, we’ll find her!”

“And if we don’t?” Stalwart asked.

“I can’t do it Stalwart,” the king said. His face grew tired. It was the face of someone who’d been through too many ordeals, seen too many atrocities, done terrible things, and he was tired of it. “For the life of me, I cannot do it.”

“Then let me,” Stalwart suggested. “Let me lift that weight off your shoulders.”

The king shot Stalwart a puzzled look. “We’ll see,” he said. “Leave me now, I have much to consider.”

“Your grace,” Stalwart said. He bowed, a little too ceremoniously, then left.

“He’ll be the end of us…” the king mumbled under his breath after Stalwart left. “He won’t rest until he kills us all.”

The king rang a bell then a servant came storming in. He wore black trousers, a black vest on top of a white button down shirt. His hair was grey, neatly trimmed and pomaded backwards. “Your grace.” He bowed as soon as he got in.

“Bring the girl here,” the king ordered. “And call for Ser Hubert. Tell him to meet me in the dungeons below the castle. He’ll know what it’s for.”

The man bowed deep then retreated, his back to the open door. He didn’t turn until he left the room and closed the door behind him.