Chapter XIX

The last time Nigreos Noctis had gone to the Night Market had been the night Arisa Kirisan made her foolish attack against him, which resulted in her capture, and part of him hoped she would try it again. If she were intelligent enough to learn from her mistakes then she would almost certainly never come after him again, but considering how arrogant he knew her to be, he didn’t believe it was out of the realm of possibility that he might encounter her a second time. That was why he took a longer route through the neighborhoods where he was attacked, hoping he’d bait her into showing herself and provide him with the opportunity to deal with her for good, but to his disappointment, he made it to the Night Market without incident.

I suppose there’s always the chance she goes after me on my way back. Oh well, it’s not like I came out here for Kirisan anyway. Ryokumo and Cartus should have her dealt with soon enough so I’ll just focus my attention on my own problems. I need to make this quick, after all, and I just wasted more time than I have.

Nigreos tugged on the cowl of his black cloak, making sure it was pulled down on the unlikely chance that the shadows concealing his face dissipated. He knew he was being slightly paranoid, but he always preferred to be as cautious as possible, especially when he was doing something illegal. One wrong move could be disastrous so he considered it smarter to be slightly paranoid than overconfident. Keeping his head low and his posture casual, Nigreos blended in with the other shoppers of the market and followed the flow of people toward his destination. As always, a variety of smells wafted through the air, reminding him that he had yet to eat dinner, but he knew he could eat once he returned to the Citadel.

Yet, as he tried to push his thoughts back toward the reason he was in the market, he picked up the smell of cooking steak, and despite his desire to push the memory from his mind, he couldn’t help but think back to his failed dinner with Eric Reiner just a few nights prior. It had gone exactly as he feared it would, and not only had he failed to gain the boy’s trust, but he also lost his temper and snapped at him, which only widened the gap between them even further. He hated to admit that Album was right when he had been so confident that he could try and mend that gap between him and Eric, but there was no denying how pathetic his attempt had been.

I shouldn’t have shouted at him. I know that. Keeping my cool was essential to gaining his trust, but…I just couldn’t stop myself. I know he was just trying to get under my skin, but he doesn’t realize what I went through that day…how hard I tried to find a way to spare Abi’s life. So for him to tell me I didn’t try hard enough…

Even now, thinking about it made his blood boil, and he found his fists clenching so tightly that his skin was hurting. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself, allowing his pounding heart to reach a slower pace before glancing around to make sure nobody around him had noticed.

“I’m glad she still torments you…and I hope you continue to suffer for what you did until the day you finally die.”

Eric’s words came back to him once again, bringing that familiar sick feeling to his stomach as he recalled the venom in the boy’s voice as he spoke. Those weren’t words said in the heat of the moment. He meant them and he meant them with a passion. That sentence alone was enough to convince Nigreos that the bridge between them was burnt beyond repair.

Even if I brought all his friends back and smuggled him to Omaruo myself, he’s going to hate me forever. There truly is nothing I can do anymore, but even so, I…don’t think I could kill him if it came down to it. If he does what Album thinks he will and betrays Ijiria like Abi did, I’m not so sure I could do what I did back then. So I just have to hope that Ryokumo and Mackia keep him docile…for my sake as well as his.

Nigreos’s lips tightened in frustration as he slowly pushed his way from the crowd and approached the rather large, two-story wooden building that always drew quite a bit of attention. It was one of the only buildings in that part of the market, which was predominantly filled by portable stalls, though he knew that was an intentional choice by the shop’s owner. As Nigreos approached the door, he glanced briefly at the sign hanging above it reading “Tannath’s Talisman Tavern”, before swinging it open and stepping inside.

He entered into a rather crowded tavern and found that almost every table was filled by patrons drinking their ale and having dinner. Four scantily-clad serving girls were moving about the room, tending to the mostly male customers. Nigreos always found the place to be rather uncomfortable, which was why he only ever came to this particular shop when he had business with the owner. So, wanting to hurry up and get his work done so he could leave, he raised a hand and waved over one of the girls.

“Good evening, sir,” a young, blonde woman greeted him with a bright, innocent smile that he was sure she was faking. “How may I help you today?”

“I’m here to speak with Nuvo Tannath,” he answered. “Would you please tell him that the Black Night has business with him?”

She tilted her head and looked him over, as if suddenly finding him intriguing, before bowing. “I’ll be right back.”

Nigreos moved off to the side and watched as she headed into the hall in the back left corner of the tavern. He could feel the occasional glances toward him, but they rarely lasted long before the customers either went back to their meals or to chatting with the girls. He knew the shadows over his face would interest some, but in the Erikan Night Market, he could hardly be considered strange when considering some of the other types of people that could be found there. In fact, he was sure that an individual seeking to hide his identity was rather common.

After a few more minutes of waiting, the blonde woman emerged from the hallway and headed back over to him.

“You’re free to go up,” she said in a bubbly tone.

He nodded his thanks then gratefully departed the tavern for the empty hallway. Nigreos knew the route to Nuvo’s office well, so he made a left turn at the end and headed up the staircase and onto the second floor, before stalking toward his destination. Nigreos could sense the slight deviation in mana levels on the other side of the door before him, which told him that the merchant would, in fact, be inside.

Alright, let’s get this done with.

The Master of Darkness reached for the doorknob and pushed it open, then stepped into the office, immediately finding the master of the establishment sitting on his velvet couch in the corner of the room, tapping his foot impatiently. Nigreos instantly noticed that something was wrong. The man was always good at hiding his true emotions, but there was something distinctly unusual about the way his beady brown eyes flickered toward him before moving to stare at the ground. In addition, his bald head seemed sweaty and he was scratching his dark brown beard, as if anxious about something.

The hell is wrong with him? Nigreos wondered, instantly on his guard. However, seeing as he didn’t sense anything off about the room, he took a step inside and closed the door.

“Good evening, Tannath,” he greeted calmly as he dropped the shadows around his face, revealing his features to the overweight man. “What’s got you looking so nervous? Are you that upset that I’ve come to pay you a visit?”

Nuvo licked his lips and slowly rose to his feet, tightening the velvet sash around his waist as he did so. “Let’s just say it’s been a long day, Noctis,” he grumbled. “After all, I’ve only just returned to this damned city and I’ve already got a shitload of problems to deal with. Your arrival is just the cherry on top.”

Nigreos cocked an eyebrow, not sensing any deception in his words. “Well then I suppose we both want this meeting to be quick. I had hoped to meet with you the day I returned to Ijiria, so imagine my surprise to learn that you were away on a business trip for the last few months. Where did you go?”

Nuvo snorted then shrugged. “An associate of mine had a business opportunity up in Trovia so I left soon after you did to see what it was all about. Unfortunately, all the tension around the border made it a living hell to get into the damned country, and by the time I made it to Harunhein, I found out the bastard who wrote to me had gotten himself killed. It was a waste of my fucking time, it was.” The merchant folded his hands behind his back and narrowed his eyes. “But I doubt you care to hear my stories. After all, you’re not one for small talk, Noctis.”

Nigreos smirked. “No, I’m not, but you see, I was simply curious. After all, I found it interesting to learn that you departed so soon after…” He paused and stared at the man. “...well, after selling me a faulty nerich.”

The Master of Darkness watched carefully to see what the man’s reaction would be. One of the reasons he had come to this place was to confront Nuvo about the nerich, which was a far cry from what he was promised. Their partnership was based on a certain level of mutual trust, and if Nuvo was scamming him, then it would be in Nigreos’s best interest to get rid of the man and cover up any evidence that they ever had dealings together.

Yet, Nuvo didn’t even bother hiding the confusion that spread across his face. “Excuse me? Faulty nerich? The fuck are you talking about?”

“Well, that’s an interesting story,” Nigreos replied. “You see, when I arrived in Omaruo, I used that creature on a crippled, magicless boy—a target that should have been controlled with ease. And yet, after only a few days, the boy overcame its control and used its powers to attack me. Now, that should be impossible, should it not? A nerich under the control of the Master of Darkness should be able to control someone like him, so…the only reason I could see for why it would fail is…” Nigreos smiled darkly. “...an issue with the product.”

Nuvo returned his smile with a challenging one of his own. “Are you questioning my word?”

“I am,” he stated sharply. “You see, I do not appreciate being lied to. Do not forget that I could have your entire establishment taken down with but a single word to the prince. So you would be wise to tell me the truth. What did you sell me?”

The merchant’s teeth clenched tightly and Nigreos could see the rage in his eyes. “Exactly what I fucking told you. But if you’ll recall, I did warn you that it wouldn’t necessarily work on everybody. Clearly this boy wasn’t as weak as you believed him to be.”

“Really?” Nigreos narrowed his eyes. “So you mean to tell me that despite being Master of Darkness, the nerich failed because the crippled child was too strong for me? Does that make sense to you, Tannath?”

“I can’t be sure since I wasn’t there myself,” Nuvo snapped at him. “But I am a man of my word, especially with a client as…powerful as yourself. I take great pride in my honor, so I will not stand here and allow you to drag it through the mud. If that nerich failed then the problem lies not with the product, but with you.”

Nigreos paused, taking a moment to discern whether the man was lying. He still didn’t sense any deceit in his words, but the Master knew there had to be more to the story. It just wasn’t possible for Jay Brooks to have broken out on his own. He was a shell of a person when they found him in that hospital bed, not to mention he lacked magic. His will couldn’t be stronger than Nigreos’s power, so there was no doubt in his mind that there was more than Nuvo was letting on.

But he’s doing a damn good job of keeping the truth hidden. He almost seems believable. However, if he’s learned how to keep secrets from me then perhaps it is time I sever this agreement of ours. It might be safer to have Album erase him.

“Now, if you have the nerich on hand, perhaps I can take a look to see if it was tampered with?” the merchant suggested. “But if not, then I can not help you.”

Nigreos shook his head. “No, I do not have it. When we lost control of the boy, we were forced to erase him, and unfortunately, the nerich being bonded with his body sent it away, too. If I had to guess, it’s probably still inside him, wherever it is he may be.”

“Then this conversation is done,” Nuvo growled. “So unless you have business to bring me, I would appreciate you taking your leave.”

“Watch your tongue,” Nigreos retorted, bringing mana to his fingers as the shadows on the walls began to move and shift. “Let’s not forget who’s in charge in this deal of ours.”

The other man grinned challengingly, and in that moment, Nigreos could see his right eye suddenly start to glow a dim, reddish color, as if to serve as a warning of his own. “Oh, I’m well aware of your strength, Master Noctis, but I also know how little you want the Citadel to know of your relationship with me. I might not win a fight, but I could certainly cause you plenty of trouble if I wanted to.”

Nigreos took a threatening step forward but Nuvo didn’t flinch, and that was enough to tell him that he was serious. For a moment, the room was silent as the two men faced each other, and when it was clear that the conversation had reached its end, Nigreos flicked his hand and put the shadows back to their original positions. At the same time, Nuvo’s eye returned to its typical brown color.

“Good choice,” he muttered with a grin. “Now is that all?”

Nigreos scowled. “No, unfortunately it is not. Regardless of whether that nerich was faulty or not, I am still in the market for business. I need a talisman of sorts and I imagine you’re the only one in Erika who would have something along the lines of what I seek.”

“Perfect, then I’m willing to hear you out.” His charming merchant’s smile replaced the threatening one from before as he prepared for a deal. “As long as you do not question my honor, then I am perfectly willing to speak with you. What are you looking for?”

“Something that could potentially break blood magic protection,” he responded. “You see, there is an individual currently residing in the Citadel that I cannot currently touch, and that makes him dangerous. He has a powerful charm protecting him from me and I need it taken down.”

Nuvo clicked his tongue as he considered the request. “Blood magic, you say? Well, that’s certainly a rare occurrence. I’m not sure I have anything like that on hand at the moment, but as you know, I have my contacts. If you give me a few weeks, I may be able to track something down for you…for the right price, or course.”

“Yes, of course,” Nigreos growled. “You will be paid handsomely for this, I assure you of that. Just get me what I seek.”

“Very well,” Nuvo answered. “I’ll see what I can do. I shall reach out to you when I have it in my possession.”

As important as it was to break Eric’s blood magic, part of Nigreos didn’t want to keep Nuvo around that long. The man was getting bolder, and he knew what type of power he had over Nigreos. It would be smart to erase him as quickly as possible, but against his better judgment, he decided he would at least use him to get one last deal before cutting ties.

The Master nodded. “Fine then. But be quick about it.”

“As quick as I can be, Master Noctis.”

***

He watched silently as Nigreos Noctis turned and made his way from the office, the aura his mana gave off gradually getting further and further away. After a few moments, he could sense it down on the street below and soon, he was so far away that he had blended in with the other auras in the market. As he waited, he watched Nuvo Tannath standing in place, his lips drawn tight and his foot once again tapping against the carpeted ground. Once they were both sure the Master of Darkness was long gone, Nuvo turned around and started directly into the corner where he was concealed.

“Are you certain he didn’t sense you?” the merchant demanded.

Ryokumo Caeli let his distortion drop before chuckling softly. “You need not worry about that, my friend. I’ve known Nigreos for a long time and my distortion is one of the few that can get past even his strong senses. You have my word that he believed you both to be alone.”

Nuvo grimaced before plopping himself down on his couch, his hands going to his temples. “So are you satisfied, Master Caeli? He arrived, just as you said he would and he was just as angry as you claimed he’d be, as well. You hit everything on the head.”

“Of course I did,” Ryokumo replied calmly. “Nigreos trusts me quite a lot and so, I knew he was upset about his failed nerich. Out of curiosity, did you scam him?”

Nuvo rolled his eyes. “No, I didn’t. Like I said to him, if that creature failed then it simply means his target had too strong of a will. Nothing is ever guaranteed to work and I told him so when he purchased it. It was his shitty choice of a target that fucked him over.”

That is interesting, Ryokumo thought. You truly were unlucky when you went to Omnaruo, weren't you, Nigreos?

“So what is it you want from me?” the merchant went on. “I doubt you bothered coming all the way down here just to watch Noctis threaten me. If I’ve learned anything from dealing with that fucker, it’s that you Masters always want something. So let’s hear it, Caeli.”

Ryokumo grinned, knowing that he would have to be careful with what he said. He was walking on a very dangerous path by being there, but now that he had succeeded in making contact with Hannah and Arisa, as well as deciding on how to go about getting what he wanted, he knew that he didn't have any choice but to take risks.

“Well, you see, Mr. Tannath, I’ve been keeping close tabs on Nigreos for quite some time,” he explained. “My powerful distortion spells have enabled me to do so, and because of this, I’ve known about your relationship with him for a while now. Naturally, I also decided to do some research on you, and what I found was truly interesting. You operate out of the black market, yes?”

Nuvo narrowed his eyes and Ryokumo could see the gears turning in his head. He knew the man before him was clever and cautious, so he couldn’t be underestimated under any circumstances. Just the fact that Nigreos saw him as an asset was a testament to how powerful he was.

“And if I do?” he demanded. “You gonna turn me in?”

Ryokumo nonchalantly shook his head. “I don’t plan to, no. In fact, I can understand why Nigreos would risk working with you. You could be a very valuable ally.”

“You planning to blackmail me, too?” Nuvo grunted. “I do you some favors and you don’t tell the fuckers up in the Citadel what I’m doing? Is that your game here?”

Ryokumo chuckled, then turned to gaze out the window in the back of the room, seeing the bustling market down below. “You’ll be happy to know it isn’t. In fact, I intend to pay you for your services…with more than just coin.”

“Oh really?” The man then got to his feet, his eyebrow cocked in clear intrigue. “Well, business is business. Tell me what you want and what you’re offering and I’ll see if we can come to some sort of agreement.”

“Well, I should warn you that what I’m asking for isn’t going to be easy…or legal, for that matter,” Ryokumo said. “That won’t be a dealbreaker, will it?”

“Depends how hard and illegal it is,” Nuvo replied. “Now get to it. What do you want?”

The Master of Wind grinned then turned back around to stare the other man directly in the eyes. “I want you to smuggle Arisa Kirisan and the Children of Reiner out of Erika. I’m assuming you know who I mean?”

There was a brief flicker of surprise in his eyes but, being as experienced as he was, it was so quick that Ryokumo wasn’t even sure he saw it within his stoic expression.

“Now that…is interesting, indeed,” Nuvo muttered. “A Master of the Citadel…asking me to save some of the most wanted fugitives in the city. Should that ever get back to the Citadel then you’d surely be executed, Master Caeli. This is a high level of treason, so it’s curious that you would be so willing to ask this of a man you hardly know.”

“Well, it just goes to show how desperate I am,” Ryokumo told him, spreading his arms out before him. “You see, Tannath, the reason that I am refraining from blackmailing you is because I’m already just as much a criminal as you are. We can have some mutually assured destruction here. I keep your secrets if you keep mine…and of course, I’m willing to pay for your services.”

A sly grin spread across the merchant’s face. “Willing to pay? And where are you getting this money?”

“As a Master, I have access to the Citadel’s treasury,” he explained. “And seeing as I am currently designated as one of the leaders on the hunt for Kirisan, I can justify the sudden spending as being a part of the search. I’ll tell Prince Reigious that I’m paying some individuals in the market to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. Simple as that.”

Nuvo furrowed his brow and turned to begin pacing around the room. “And what makes you think I could smuggle the Children from this city. From what I’ve heard, it’s on high alert right now. The Masters really don’t want those Children getting away to the point that they’ve got Korrei-Tarr at every single one of the gates.”

“True, which is why I warned you that it won’t be easy,” Ryokumo retorted. “However, I have faith that you can find a way. Like I said, I’ve done my research on you and I’ve noticed that there have been a few reports where soldiers came to this shop to investigate your dealings…but for some reason, they never find anything. And now that I’ve met you up close…I do sense some power within you.”

Nuvo laughed softly. “What are you implying?”

“Nothing, really,” the Master of Wind murmured. “Yet, I find it unlikely that with all of these black market talismans at your disposal, you’ve never used one for your own benefit. So, I’m just hoping that, perhaps, there’s something in this tavern that could aid you in your smuggling run.”

“Perhaps,” he grumbled. “Well, I guess we can negotiate. Earlier, you said you could offer more than just money so…what was it you were willing to put on the table?”

“Something I think you’ll quite like,” he said. “Let’s just say it’ll solve a problem that’s been plaguing you for quite a while, and that it won’t get a drop of blood on your hands.”

“And what problem would that be?” Nuvo inquired.

Ryokumo took a few steps toward him, his hands folded behind his back and his posture straight. “I can make it so that the Masters get off your back. You see, I do not intend to survive my personal endeavors. In fact, after I finally get my answers, I hope I am dead. And I promise to take everything I know about you to my grave.”

Nuvo raised his eyebrows, his hand rubbing his bearded chin. “It doesn't seem like you’re lying, but then again, who knows how good you are at hiding it. However, that doesn’t solve all of my problems. If you say you can rid me of the Masters, am I right to assume that you can get rid of Noctis?”

“I can,” he confirmed. “You see, getting Kirisan and her allies out of Erika isn’t my only goal nor is gaining the information I seek. It is my promise to you, that by the time the dust settles, Nigreos Noctis will be dead.”

A dark smile twisted Nuvo’s features. “Almost seems too good to be true. A Master claiming he will betray Ijiria and slay the Master of Darkness… I find myself skeptical. Are you really telling the truth? And If you are, could you even kill a man as powerful as him?”

“I am and I could,” he confirmed. “Unfortunately, I am unable to provide proof, but I am willing to pay you everything upfront. And by all means, once you’ve smuggled them out, avoid the city for a few days, and when you return, Nigreos will be dead. Tonight could be the last time you ever have to deal with him.”

Nuvo paused, then turned his eyes to the ceiling, as if considering his offer. After a few more seconds, he laughed to himself once again and then held his hand out for Ryokumo to shake.

“Good,” he said with a rather sly grin. “Cause I don’t actually know of a way to break blood magic.”

The Master of Wind smirked back at him, pleased that his plan was already moving so smoothly, then gripped Nuvo’s hand in a firm shake, acting as the official seal for their temporary partnership.