“Sed Inviabli moblatium,” Roland uttered the arcane words and a clear bubble popped into existence surrounding himself and Mal.

From the lookout post a groan of agitation sounded as their target vanished. The mage who had been channeling the cloaking spell let it drop sweat pouring down his pudgy face. His annoyed gaze went to his allies.

“I told you three to be quiet!” The mage shouted angrily. “Now he knows we’re here.” There was no point in trying to hide anymore and the others had no words of defense for their shortcomings. “Well... go and find him." When no one moved, he amended his request, “Right now you bogkin kuth!”

The trio jumped up and scrambled for the stairs glad to be leaving; it was never a good idea to piss off their self-appointed leader. They drew their blades and went to the building Roland had been hiding inside. The mage trudged a fair distance behind them to make sure they stayed on task, his fingers clenched in white-knuckled fists.

“See what your bumbling wrought!?” The mage hissed, “Do not underestimate him, or his mutt. And for Shirah’s sake, do not set off any of the traps he laid because I will not free you," He pointed towards Stahpler. “You, upstairs,” turning to Rylon, “Go with him. Go up three flights and work your way down.”

The two departed leaving Cameron alone with the seething mage. The large man fidgeted in the uncomfortable silence; he could swear he felt the heat of the mages anger. The wizard turned to the big warrior, “Let’s go. We don’t want to fail Lord Dakon do we?” He asked as one might a child.

“Oh no, that would be horrible,” Cameron replied.

There was an audible sigh and visible shudder before the mage set about his task. Methodically searching the building with Cameron in tow and tossing out handfuls of dust as they went. Searching a twenty-story building would take some time, but after the first few floors, the mage called to a halt. Stahpler and Rylon rejoined them.

“Either he is farther up or he has fled. It is far more likely he fled. We check the street,” The pudgy mage ordered.

Roland was nothing if not patient at least when it came to combat. Like a tranther in a tree he waited for his prey. He sat in the road, in a relaxed pose, when the four armed men came out of the building. Unlike the crimson-clad mage he had no trouble maintaining a stealth bubble. At least that was Roland’s name for the sphere that kept him concealed. The real name was a ludicrous number of syllables.

When the group split up, Roland got to his feet. Rylon and Stahpler crossed the street while Cameron fell behind mage once more. Roland stalked behind Cameron in a cartoonish fashion, keeping pace as the man moved down the sidewalk. He listened to the man’s mutterings about someone named Dakon and about Roland himself. Somehow, they had forgotten that there was a massive shadow wolf in Roland’s company.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they forgot about you, pal. Let’s remind them, shall we?” Roland gave Mal a pat and his tail wagged in agreement. I almost feel a little guilty about this… well, no. No, I don’t. Roland thought. He closed the gap between himself and Cameron pulling the big warrior into the bubble.

“He’s over here!” Cameron shouted with a triumphant smirk. “You are coming with me; I am sure Lord Dakon will want to question you!”

Roland stared at Cameron with a pitying look.

“Gents?! I got him,” Cameron said weakly glancing around for his cohorts. It was then Cameron noticed the mage’s right hand was pointing off to the left. He had all of half a second to see the gray blur of teeth springing towards him before he was taken to the ground. His sword clattered against the sidewalk beside him as he felt fangs pressing against his throat. Instinctively he reached for the dagger on his hip but there was a loud growl vibrating into his throat that persuaded him to stop. His hands fell to his sides and he let out a strangled, whimpering sound.

Mal led the way dragging the prone form of Cameron back into the building they’d used as a roost earlier. Rivulets of blood ran down the warrior's neck as he was half dragged, half crab-walked back into the building but he remained compliant out of fear for his tender fleshy bits. When they were safely away, Roland nodded to Mal and the jaws relaxed enough for Cameron to breathe normally again.

“Now, I’m going to ask some questions,” Roland said as he knelt next to the man, “but I don’t want you getting any ideas about shouting. So one blink for yes, two for no. Do you understand?”

Blink.

“Good boy! Now, there are four of you here. Is that all?”

Blink, blink.

Roland sighed, “You know lying to me is going to make my friend angry.” Mal pressed his jaws a bit tighter against Cameron’s throat for emphasis. “I know there are only four of you because I am not incompetent. I set up scrying spells all over the area. You’re an idiot, aren’t you?”

Blink.

“See? That’s not so hard, is it? And you aren’t in charge of, well, anything I hope. You’re watching us because you’ve been ordered to, yes?”

Blink.

Roland looked up the street at the rest of the search party estimating that he had another minute at most before they noticed the missing warrior. Maintaining his casual demeanor, he carried on. “Alright, last question. Did your orders come from the Harlequin Court?”

After a glance back at Mal’s unwavering stance, Cameron allowed his tense shoulders to relax onto the floor in defeat.

Blink.

“Selpuraus,” Roland said as he waved his hand over Cameron’s face.

Cameron’s body went slack and soon he was snoring obnoxiously. Roland gave Mal a quick scratch between the ears. “You can let him go.”

Mal opened his jaws and let Cameron’s head bang against the floor. Shouts came from outside as the search party finally noticed one of their own missing. Roland gracelessly dragged the sleeping oaf behind the front desk depositing him in a tangle of limbs. As a precaution, he also set up a stunning trap rune in case the sleeping enchantment should wear off too soon. He turned his attention back to the street watching the remaining three as they searched for the missing warrior.

Roland slipped back outside and stealthily laid a tapestry of traps and stuns all around the remaining men. The smile on Roland’s face made it quite apparent he was enjoying himself. As a rule, he avoided direct conflict for numerous reasons. Paramount among them was the headaches they caused but tonight, tonight he felt was special and he was pulling out all the stops.

Mal followed along with him inside the stealth bubble. The lupine keeping his odd silvery-red eyes on the would-be kidnappers. Roland made a halting gesture towards Mal and the wolf looked to the mage in question. The mage gave him a grin and then anchored the stealth bubble around Mal. Without waiting he strode boldly to the middle of the road and the center of his web of traps.

“Looking for me?!” Roland called out tauntingly.

Rylon and Stahpler turned from their search and stared at Roland for a heartbeat. Then they rushed forward to capture him. Stahpler was the first to come within fifty feet, as such he was the first to trigger a trap. Static crackled in the air as the sigil lit up in a brilliant blue-white light. Stahpler looked down, muttered a curse, and the lightning blast that followed sent him hurtling through the air.

Had the Court mage cared for Stahpler’s wellbeing he could have dropped the fire spell he was casting to save him. But he didn’t. And with a crunch, Stahpler hit the street, electricity still coursing through his convulsing body. A pained groan and a few more spasmodic twitches, then Stahpler moved no more.

Rylon had stopped when his cohort triggered the trap and gaped at the still figure of Stahpler. The swordsmen carefully picked his way towards Roland stabbing at the ground with the tip of his blade. But he never stood a chance.

“Ah-!” The shout abruptly died as Rylon vanished into the stealth bubble.

The Court mage, ignoring the plight of his last companion, released his spell which manifested as a fireball. The swirling miniature sun shot out towards Roland with incredible speed. The heatwave from the sphere blew back the mages hood and revealed his face. Older, fatter, and with a balding pate was the face of Roland’s old tormentor, Talazar.

Roland was initially shocked but that quickly wore off and was replaced with anger and then satisfaction. This little gift from the universe would not go unappreciated. He watched as the fireball sped across the street. The orange ball of destruction filled his vision but he never moved. A look of casual indifference on his face as death flew to him.

The fireball struck Roland with a thundering crash as flames billowed out along the street. Chunks of the street went flying while the impact crater itself melted into a glossy sheen. Street lamps warped and bent while their crystals burst from the intense heat raining down a shower of sparks. And a great wall of smoke and dust rose into the air. Everything became muffled and still as Talazar waited to see what his spell had wrought. His hands already flowing through the complex machinations to conjure another fireball; he was taking no chances with this mage.