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he first sign that things were going terribly wrong occurred soon after he was allowed into the Red Lotus Compound and blindfolded. After walking in silence amid his escort for many long breathless minutes, he was shoved forward and forced unceremoniously to his knees.
The cloth was tugged from his face. He blinked at the brightness of the small hall, wincing away from the glare of the long pleated lanterns that hung thickly from the low rafters. Before him was a slightly raised area of floor that gave prominence to the front of the narrow chamber. There, four people stood behind an ornate gold leafed chair where the graceful figure of a woman reclined. At their backs the wall was covered in the rich red banner of the Red Lotus Clan. The hilt of the stylized dagger drew the eye to the chair upon which Kiku was enthroned.
Morisedd bowed his head to the woman respectfully, glancing back as he did so to see that the wide doors to the chamber were barred and warded by four heavily armed guards. Running was not an option.
“The Crystal Palm insults my intelligence,” the woman growled, her beautiful face now transfixed with rage, “Spare me your foolish attempts to obscure your mind, I do not need a mesmer to know you were sent here at their behest to spy.”
Morisedd swallowed and lifted his face to behold her. He would not die without meeting the eyes of his enemy. Kiku was coldly beautiful, a figure carved from translucent marble, her rich black hair neatly wrapped in elaborate spirals at her nape and adorned with sprays of mother of pearl and gold. Her almond eyes were a warm shade of brown yet held such malice and disdain they had the same malevolent luster as those of a shark. A long black gown and robe were draped over her lithesome form, its hems edged with smoky knots of brocade that depicted ravens.
She was flanked by a pair of male assassins, their bodies gleaming with blades to match the hatred burning in their eyes. A heavily scarred woman with bones plaited in her silvery hair smiled crookedly at Morisedd over Kiku’s right shoulder and he knew her for a necromancer. At Kiku’s left shoulder, the fourth figure bore an equally malevolent grin but the majority of his face was concealed beneath an elaborate beaded headdress and his hunched figure was darkened with tattoos.
“Who else was with you?” Kiku demanded, her fiercely pursed lips painted the color of fresh blood.
“I was alone.”
“The grounds are being searched now,” Kiku snarled, “When we find your shadow stepping friend, you will eat her liver before we kill you. I hope you are hungry.”
Morisedd did not break eye contact. He was not afraid of death. In his line of work, he could ill afford to be.
“Strip him,” Kiku said coldly. He made no move to resist as first his armor and then his clothes were ripped away. The heat of the lanterns drove off all but the chill of fear as the necromancer came forth to study him closely, searching for something that closer examination did not reveal.
“Clean,” the woman rasped.
Kiku nodded and raised her hand, gesturing to the guards. Morisedd was driven back to his knees and his arms were folded behind his back and strapped together. A silken cord tethered them to his ankles so that he was forced to remain kneeling and sitting at attention. Fear pulsed through his body at last as he sat helpless and exposed before the leader of the Red Lotus Clan.
“Name?” Kiku demanded coldly. A flash of metal drew Morisedd’s eye to a pair of curved knives clutched in the necromancer’s hands. They were stylized razors honed to brutal sharpness for only one purpose. They meant to torture him.
“Morisedd Dunvael,” he replied, his voice barely louder than a whisper. He watched as a scroll was unrolled by the ritualist and held out before Kiku. She scanned it for a moment then laughed bitterly.
“Crystal Palm has no honor sending a guest to do their dirty work,” Kiku hissed coldly, “Did they seriously think we never cease watching their doors? Or that we do not have an informant planted in their midst?”
“Idiots,” muttered the ritualist, “May I have his ear for my collection?”
“Be patient, Lu,” the necromancer snickered, “There will be lots of bits to collect when I’m done.”
“First he will tell us what he knows,” Kiku snapped, “I doubt you want to be alive when they begin cutting you up, Master Morisedd, so please do not insult us with silence when you are asked a simple question.”
Morisedd shook his head, his voice gone now. Fear surged through his body as the necromancer approached, her narrow blades at the level of his eyes. Blessed Dwayna, let his death come quickly if now was his time.
“Why were you selected for the job?” Kiku asked, her voice low and silky.
Biting his lip, he gazed down at the polished wood beneath his knees. He could not betray his knowledge of Pendaran’s murder for it was the only chance the Crystal Palm had of pressing their cause against the Red Lotus Clan. He had not yet spoken of his desire to see Uriel. Zhou had instructed him to seek an audience with an officer of the guild to discuss a private matter. Now that things had gone so terribly wrong, he resolved to remain silent on the issue. Whether they knew his mission or not, he would not volunteer his connection to Uriel. Bad enough that he should be tortured to death, but the thought that she might be dragged into it was too much to bear.
“Cut him,” Kiku snapped.
He did not flinch away as the necromancer grasped his scalp and drew a line across his brow. At first it was only a light pressure until sweat and the warm stagnant air stung his exposed flesh. Blood crawled down into his eyes, burning them as he blinked and fought down a cry of pain.
“Everyone has a breaking point, Morisedd,” Kiku said coldly, “It looks like we’re about to find out where yours is.”
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