Shadowed Meetings

[Patryas]

Patryas paced in his lodgings. He knew sending his assassin was a risk. He didn’t want to alarm the siblings in any way. But, the shift of power must take place in the O’seth’s. His face twisted up in frustration. His assassin knew how to handle himself. More often than not, his opponents greatly underestimated him. Many a great battle-hardened warrior has been left dead at his feet. Patryas stopped and looked into his wine goblet. He called for one of his servants.

“Yes, mi’lord?”<br>
“Keep me informed of today’s events. I will be in my study.”<br>
“Of course, mi’lord.”<br>

[Patryas]

Patryas went downstairs, where his wizard and his necromancer were working. He then walked into the back room and saw his former house servant chained to a chair. The silent master had subdued the servant after he left a tavern, a few nights before.

“My assassin informs me you are telling secrets of this house.”<br>
“No, mi’lord, I would never do such a thing! Please!” the servant pleaded. The cuffs around his wrists had rubbed through his skin and blood dripped to the floor. He looked to the door, hoping his help would arrive.

“The silent master has disposed of your so-called allies. There will be no rescue for you today.”<br>
Patryas walked over to a small bucket, picked it up and walked back to his traitor. The bucket was filled with small, black pieces of rock. Patryas picked up a small piece and showed it to the captive.

“Know what this is? It is obsidian. One of the sharpest substances known. In this bucket are thousands of tiny, sharpened shards of obsidian. Observe.”<br>
Patryas took the small piece he had and placed it on the shoulder of the delf and let it fall down his arm. Soon, blood seeped from tiny, individual cuts made by the small piece of rock that had gently rolled down his arm.

Patryas then picked up the bucket and held it over the delf’s head.

“Oh my god…” was all the delf could muster before Patryas dumped the bucket over the delf’s head as the small shards covered his body. The pieces of rock ripped and tore at the flesh. Blood pooled at the victim’s feet and the puddle seemed to grow and grow.

Some pieces stayed lodged in his flesh as others fell into the blood. The delf soon lost consciousness and his head hung. Soon he would be dead. Patryas looked at the figure covered in blood. He smiled. This had cheered him up.

“Clean up the mess,” Patryas said as he walked back upstairs and went to his study.

[Patryas]

As Patryas read in his study, he heard commotion out on the streets. His servant knocked and entered.

"Mi'lord, the Grand denouncer has been killed. Lady Nikki is now the head of the house of O'Seth. Shall I send our house guard for support?"

"Yes, relieve the O'seth guard so they can rest. If they require an explanation, tell them the Lady Nikki is welcome for dinner tomorrow evening."

"Yes, mi'lord."

[Patryas]

A calm hung about in the city. The horror that lead the house of O'Seth was now gone. With his house guard gone, he had his assassin watch over his home. He was waiting for Thengar to pay him visit. He wondered what had happened in the Council in the past few days. Of course he had countless sources who could have informed him, but he needed to keep up appearances. A knock came at his front door. He calmly picked up a candlabra and walked to the front door and opened it.

A look of annoyance came over Patryas' face. It was not Thengar.

"Yes?" Patryas asked the delf.

"Master of the Fenn'dal house, I presume?" the delf asked him.

"Yes, with whom am I speaking?"

"Master Patryas, I am a representative from the city's Shadowknight guild. We feel that you need to stop your present extra-curricular activities and return to a regular service schedule with the guild. May I come in?"

Patryas just decided how the man was going to die. As Patryas showed him to the main room, the man continued talking.

"We know of your business you are conducting here in Neriak."

Patryas could barely control the rage within him. The guild here in Neriak was always a little too worried about it's former members. Their minds worked with archaic ideas. True power would never come to them the way they operated.

"If I may interupt sir, just tell me exactly what business I am conducting that the guild is not fond of?" Patryas asked him with a cruel smile.

The other delf hesistated. Patryas instantly knew that the man knew nothing of his doings. No one knew. He had made sure of that.

"Please excuse me for a moment, sir"

Patryas walked downstairs and instructed his wizard to wipe anyone's memory of this man coming here. The wizard smiled at the explanation of his task and left.
Patryas went back upstairs and saw to his guest.

"Before we continue this business, may I introduce an associate of mine."

At that, a thump could be heard from the roof. The man looked about in confusion. The dark shadow from outside seemed to invade the room. An unnatural breeze blew through the house, blowing out all the candles and the fire in the fireplace. The man stepped away from Patryas, knocking a table over. All he could see was the red glow from Patryas' slitted eyes. Patryas watched the man's eyes fill with terror. Suddenly from behind the man, a second pair of red eyes opened.

All that could be heard was the sickening sound of a blade plunging into flesh and sinew. And the sickening sound as the blade was pulled out. In and out, in and out, as the silent master stabbed the man several times. Patryas heard the man's last gasp of air as he tried to call for help. THUD! as the man fell to the floor, dead.

Patryas slowly walked over and re-lit the fire in the fireplace. All that could be seen in the room was a small puddle of blood on his floor.

[Patryas]

The Grand Denouncer dies and suddenly everyone comes out of the woodwork and has business to conduct. This will be a messy couple of weeks, Patryas thought to himself. He sat in his main room, reading reports from his field spies.

He picked one report about guild activity and slammed his wine goblet down on the table, breaking the goblet.

He threw all the reports in the fireplace. Something had angered him.

Just then he heard a knock at his door. It was a servant of the O'Seth house with a message from Lady Nikki, thanking him for his help. His dismissed the messenger.

"She will want to meet me soon," he thought to himself. "I will have to prepare for that another evening."

He summoned his assassin to him.

"Yes, master?" he answered in his almost demonic voice.

"Tonight, we pay a visit to the Indigo Brothers guild. I will not have Phelan dragged down with meaningless tradition.

[Patryas]

Patryas read over the letter he wrote to Adaun.

Dear Miss Adaun,
I recently heard you have come back to Neriak. I have some news for you. Please drop by my lodgings at your earliest convenience.

Patryas

Patryas sent for one of his house servants.

"Send this letter to Adaun of Seladria. She is currently at the O'Seth house."

"Yes, mi'lord."

Patryas readied himself for his visit to the Indigo Brothers. This was not a problem he could kill his way out of. He would have to use other tactics.

[Patryas]

Scornmaster U'dedne sat in his chambers alone. The addition of Phelan and Adaun would do nicely. He could use them well. They would excell in the ranks quickly.
He was too busy in his own thoughts to notice the dark shadow invade his room.

A black gloved hand moved from the shadow with the speed of a snail. He did not start to panic till the hand closed around his neck. A second gloved hand was put on his shoulder to prevent him from escaping. He struggled for breath as the unknown force choked him.

"Wha-What do you want?" he asked in between gasps for air.

"I want your cooperation, U'dedne"

The voice did not come from behind him, but from in front of him. Two of them. He was going to die.

"You were a tool of the late Grand Denouncer. He is dead. Now you will be my tool. If you displease me, I will see you fed to my guests as an appetizer. Do we understand eachother?"

The hands that gripped him were as strong as steel. He slowly filled his lungs with air before he answered.

"Yo-You can't.....scare.....m-me"

"Wrong answer, my friend"

The hand around his throat seemed to squeeze harder. He felt his throat being crushed.

"Okay....(cough)...okay"

The hand released his throat.

"Who are you?" he asked the voice, desparatly seeking a face to go along with it.

"Who I am is of no concern to you. You will recieve your instructions via my companion. I will be in touch."

Absolute silence filled the room. As he rubbed his throat, the scornmaster looked behind him. Nothing. He checked the hall. Nothing. Just when he thought he was free. At least he hasn't been given instructions yet, he thought to himself. Yet......

[adaun]

Adaun began looking for Nikkii untill she realized what time it was. She didnt' want to upset her futher by interupting her sleep so she headed out to visit Patryas. She didnt' care if she woke him up or not. She slipped out the front door and reread the note as she walked, not noticing Phelan gazing out over the water.

What could he possibly want? she thought as she came walking up to the door to the Fenn'dal house. She knocked loudly.

[Patryas]

Patryas sat in his main room. "I think you re-acted to the Scornmaster a little too quickly. He will know it's about Adaun and Phelan," he thought to himself. He has let his anger carry his actions far too many times. It would be his downfall. A knock came at the front door.

Patryas' face frowned. Neriak was a busy place. He watched as his servant walked to front door.

"Yes, how may I help you, miss?"

[adaun]

"I was told to come here." Adaun said as she stuffed the note in front of the servants face.

[Patryas]

"My dear, no one is told to come to the house of Fenn'dal. This way please."

The servant walked her into the main room where Patryas was sitting. He saw her come in and got to his feet to greet her.

"Adaun. It has been too long."

[adaun]

"Patryas I haven't thought about you in years... why do you wish to talk to me now? If you are hoping to get in Lady Nikkii's good graces talking to be won't get you very far, I am mearly the captain of the guard." Adaun said,wanting to make it clear where she stood in the house O'seth.

[Patryas]

"Yes, it's good to see you as well. I merely want to say hello and catch up on old times. I have not seen you in a very long time. Almost five years. How are things?" Patryas asked.

He got up and started to pour two glasses of wine.

[adaun]

"Old times are gone, they happened and I have moved on, I really don't want to talk about them..." Adaun said not wanting to remember her past she drank the glass of wine he offered her in one swallow.

[Patryas]

Patryas' eyes grew wide. One gulp.

"You'll need more of that I see. So, you are involved with the O'Seth house now?" he asked as he poured her more wine, and gently sipped his.