Chapter 27. Uriel's Ordeal

riel was escorted to one of the smaller of the abundant halls in the Red Lotus Clan compound.  It seemed her lot in life was to be moved from one place to another by the same pair of black-clad guards who never spoke nor harassed her, only followed a few paces behind to prevent her from straying.  She had been ordered to don her elementalist gear before meeting with Nitaje Kohaku and she had hooked her fiery wand and starry focus anxiously to her waist so that there was no mistaking her intentions.

Her thoughts strayed to Lemony and she wondered how the little monk fared since they signed their lives away.  What had they done with her?  For that matter, what would they expect of Uriel?  She strode through the wide dragon-embellished lintel, approaching a lone figure sitting at the head of a low table.  She recognized the man and blanched.  It was he who had captured them, who had stood beside them on the ship and seen to it they were locked in irons every night.  The silent figure turned his malevolent black eyes upon her and gestured for her to sit beside him on a floor pillow to his left.  He had the satchel with the mark of Nolani laid on the table before him.  He had already broken the wax seals on the documents and had been prying through them.

“Apparently your master thought very highly of you,” the assassin said, breaking his long silence, “His letters refer to you with only the highest praise.”

Uriel lowered her gaze and placed her hands demurely upon her lap.  The man spoke fluent Tyrian with a slight Krytan burr even though his features were almost feline and golden, a handsome son of Cantha.  When she made no response, he continued.

“Dojin Matabe is a highly revered and respected man.  He helped found a school of magic and taught there in the summer of his life.  Let me impress upon you that his works are legion, for his power is matched only by his charity.  As a result, only a fool would stand against him for his friends are equally abundant.”

“I would not harm him,” Uriel replied, expecting this was what Nitaje Kohaku wished to hear and was shocked when he swiftly raised his palm to strike her.  A burst of purple and red flashed before her eyes and she swooned, her face burning in pain and humiliation.

“You will not speak unless I ask you a question,” the assassin hissed.  Uriel nodded, lowering her face again, “If you are required to perform a task you will do so without question or hesitation.”

The man rose gracefully to his feet, his lean figure powerful and confident as he strode toward the column-lined hall where the paper screen walls had been pulled away to give view to the blossoming trees in the courtyard.

“The letters state that your master, Tasos Leonitus, gave Master Dojin a large donation of both arcane tomes and money of which he expected one hundred platinum pieces would be laid aside in trust for you to found a new school of magic when you came of age and had gained the blessing of the gods through Ascension.  I expect you to recover this money from Dojin without arousing suspicion. You will convince him that you are preparing to found the school without breathing a word of your obligations to Red Lotus Clan.  The funds will be given in full to me and you will lose one bond in exchange for it.”

His eyes narrowed as he approached her and to her horror he placed his hand under her chin and raised her face to meet her gaze.

“And if you do all that I ask, I could be convinced to remove two.”

She pulled away from his touch and stared at the floor, tears rising to her eyes as she swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry.  He laughed viciously.

“We have work to do and I plan to enjoy my evening.”

Trembling, she watched as he set aside the original documents of her master and instead put sealed and forged replacements inside the satchel.  Without a word, he handed it to her and departed, expecting her to follow.  She had not left the compound since her arrival and as they neared the great courtyard with the blossoming trees that had greeted them on their first night, the assassin wrapped a blindfold of black silk around her face to ensure that she would not be able to find her way to or from the compound in the unlikely event that she escaped.  His grip was hard and cruel upon her shoulder as he guided her beyond the gate of the guild and out into the reeking streets of the city.  A few times he spun her around to keep her disoriented and she stumbled a few times on the uneven cobbles.  At last he let her see.  They were standing at the edge of a marketplace that bustled with shabbily dressed townsfolk going about their business.  No one seemed to pay them any mind as she walked past in her shimmering red gown and flaming diadem.  Nitaje no longer touched her but guided her with curt gestures.

The two of them progressed in this way, a tense silence between them as they passed city dwellers and the odd adventurer.  Uriel felt mildly claustrophobic as she strode through the deep shadow of the cramped and towering buildings, ducking occasionally to avoid strung up laundry and fish left out to dry in the sun near the docks.  At last they turned eastward toward the depths of the great city.  Her boots seemed unnaturally loud upon the stone track as the lowly tenements gave way to rich mansions with enclosed courtyards.  The stench of the lower city was replaced with odors of flowers releasing their perfume onto the humid afternoon air.  At last they stopped before a beautiful round gate through which she could barely see the private courtyard and herringbone bricks that led to a mighty doorway.

“Here,” Nitaje said, breaking his silence, “Ring the bell.”

A small bronze bell hung beside the gate and she tentatively rattled its colorful red and yellow cord.  Within moments, a richly dressed attendant opened the gate and proffered a low bow to her and glared coldly at Nitaje.

“What is your business, my Lady?” the man asked in fluent Tyrian, guessing her origin.

“I am Uriel Ninnocha and I have come from Nolani on behalf of my Master Tasos Leonitus bearing a missive for Master Dojin Matabe,” she said, holding forth the satchel so that the man could see it.  His scarlet brocade shimmered like dragon scales as he leaned forward to study it.

“You may come within,” he said politely, “but the Order of the Crystal Palm does not allow assassins from other guilds into her halls.  He must remain here.”

Nitaje frowned, then glared at her meaningfully, only his predatory eyes visible above his mask.  She nodded at the gatekeeper and followed him inside, grateful to be away from the brooding assassin.  The gate closed behind her and the gate keeper smiled, extending his hand to her in Tyrian fashion.

“I’m Zhou,” he said pleasantly, “My sister studied at Nolani before the Searing.  Welcome to the Crystal Palm guild hall.”

“Thank you,” she said, grasping his hand.

“That man that was with you? What is his name?”

“Xun.  I hired him to protect me.  I was told the streets were rough.”

Uriel was relieved that lying came back so naturally after all those years of being unable to do so.  Yet a wrinkle in Zhou’s brow suggested he was not completely deceived; however, he let the matter drop and led her past the carved door and a screen of entwined phoenix and gingko leaves.  Light bathed the richly appointed hall and she heard music flowing from the chamber up ahead.

“If anything is amiss,” he said conspiratorially to her, “I will have you followed and taken from danger.”

“No need,” she laughed as her stomach seized with fear.  She was not just concerned for herself, she also had to think of Lemony.  Just her luck the gatekeeper was a mesmer, no doubt picked for his ability to sense deception.  Perhaps he believed her or perhaps he sensed her fear, but he merely nodded politely.  They flowed past a gathering of musicians and acrobats to a high table where the guild had gathered in celebration.  An old man rested sleepily in a richly carved chair at the head of the table, a goblet of wine clutched in his hand.  The remains of a great feast littered the table and the chatter of the guild members nearly drowned out the music.  Zhou led her to Master Dojin and presented her with a deep bow.

“Master, I bring you Lady Uriel Ninnocha of Tyria, student of Master Tasos Leonitus of Nolani Academy.”

“Uriel!” the old man roared happily, his dark eyes opening wide, “Welcome, child!  At last we meet! The old dog never told me how fair and beautiful you were.  Tasos was always bragging about you in his letters.  And here you are, his treasured student.  Please, come pull up a chair and dine with us.”

She smiled, concealing an impending sense of doom.  Zhou watched her as he stood behind his master’s left shoulder and she felt the faint tickle of his mind probing her surface thoughts for impressions of her emotional state.  She looked at him and he held her gaze, his expression inscrutable.  Perhaps he was simply very protective of the guild leader and it was his job to ascertain the intentions of strangers.

“You are too kind, Master,” she said, “but I am afraid I am in haste and cannot linger here.”

Laying the satchel before the old man, she saw Zhou come forth and open it on his behalf, his black gloved hands cautiously reaching inside and extracting the documents.  He then stood back once more and watched as Dojin read through each one in turn.

“Ah child, I see how it is,” the old man replied sadly, “Of course you are in haste to restore what was lost in Nolani.  I will have the money restored to you immediately with interest.”

Zhou lowered his face and the two of them conferred in low whispers. Finally, Zhou nodded sharply before departing.

“In the meantime, you simply must tell me how Master Tasos is doing?”

“He is resting at Serenity now.  I am afraid he is soon to go to the Mists.”

“Ah, I am sad to hear that, yet he was old when I knew him in my youth.  One grows weary of life eventually, I expect.  Some mornings I certainly do, but there is much I still wish to accomplish before I rejoin my ancestors.”

“I am sure that is true, Master.”

“Are you in trouble, Child?” the old man asked softly, touching her hand, “Zhou tells me you are fearful.”

“I believe he misreads my awe in finally getting to meet you, Master.  Tasos taught me to revere you with his tales.”

The old man laughed softly as Zhou returned with an embroidered satchel and laid it clinking with coin before her.

“Have a safe journey, Child.  And remember that the door of the Crystal Palm is always open to you.”