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Chapter 56. A New Plan |
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ow had everything gone so insanely wrong? He could feel Shikai’s dark gaze upon him, her complex mind unreadable and her motives, as always, unknown. Zhou never doubted their love, but he also did not doubt that he was a small piece in a much larger game. Sometimes he wondered if she were one of the players. His hands tightened over the window sill and he stared blankly at the shimmering horizon where sea met sky. “I am ready to speak with Ming Xei.” Shikai swept quietly from the room and he folded his hands behind his back, dreading what his friend and guild officer would tell him. Ming had come back from Zhou’s errand in the dark of morning, wounded and eager to speak to him. Xiang Yi had attended to her before Zhou would talk to her. There was no need to take any further risks with her well being. He was angry at himself for endangering her in the first place. He felt the intensity of her mind moments before she pushed silently through the door and stood at attention behind him. It was odd being considered her superior now when they had trained together as peers. Matabe had promoted them both to officers of the guild at the same time. Ming Xei jokingly called herself the hidden hand of Dojin for her work was primarily intelligence gathering in defense of the guild and her leader. Zhou had not seen fit to change her role. “There is no need for formality, Ming. I still regard you as my peer.” If she was surprised that he knew she had arrived, she made no sign. It was a game they continued to play out of long standing habit. He turned and offered a respectful nod and a wan smile before gesturing to one of the couches and bidding her to relax. Ming stalked with the cautious lightness of a fox to her seat but did not partake of the cooling tea until he had done so. He sat down across from her, the bright morning light gleaming upon the black lacquer of the table between them. Her dark eyes alighted upon him, keen as her knives. Blue highlights danced over her ebon mane, neatly trimmed to shoulder length and no longer crusted with gore. “I apologize for sending you into danger, Ming.” “I was not ignorant of the threat, Master Bei.” “Are you free of pain?” “Yes, Xiang Yi has seen to my needs,” she replied, her words growing clipped and impatient. Ming resented the reminder that she was made of weak flesh and not the steel of her daggers. Zhou remembered her outbursts in the sparring ring. If struck a little too hard or made to bleed, her retaliation was swift and brutal. They had been made partners precisely because he took advantage of such recklessness. “I am ready to hear your news.” “As agreed, I interrogated one of Marga’s underlings.” Zhou did not press her to elaborate. Ming looked away, attempting to spare him the anguish of the doomed soul she had taken. He made no comment, only nodded for her to continue. “Mog Ruith and Liang Meng are being held at Ama Svenka’s house in Echovald. Keisha is with Marga being prepared for an attack on the Ministry of Air.” “How is Ama involved in this?” “I know not.” “How did the negotiations fail?” “Quickly,” Ming said with a sardonic laugh, relaxing now that she could see he was not disappointed, “I chose my escape route ahead of time and paid a messenger to deliver my request. I detected Marga’s thugs before they could entrap me at the meeting place.” “I trust you took no unnecessary risks. I am grateful you survived.” It pained him to place Ming in such peril both as a friend and as a member of the Crystal Palm. The guild could not afford to lose another prominent member. Most had remained loyal, but a few of the younger members were unhappy with leaving Cantha and having to hide their affiliation. Xiang Yi had done a good job of holding the Crystal Palm together in Zhou’s absence. Marga’s sudden refusal to ransom them had not come as a surprise. She had wealth enough and now she would have the satisfaction of doing further damage to an enemy guild. Keisha, Mog and Lemony would be slain, as had the others affiliated with his guild. The only question now would be what pieces might be sent back as proof of the deed. “One more thing,” Ming said, leaning forward, “Marga plans to strike the ministry on the dark of the moon.” “Midnight?” “Yes,” Ming replied significantly. “Then it is revenge. What for, I wonder?” “I do not know.” Zhou rose, his mind racing as curiosity and inspiration vied for his attention. So many details to iron out and so little time. Two days to prepare and one unknown quantity. “What would you need to storm Marga’s hall while they’re away?” “As many people as can be spared. I do not know who will stay behind when she goes to the palace that night.” “I suspect the strongest and best trained will go with her. Marga prefers overwhelming force, she fears weakness. It should not be too difficult to disrupt the portal and prevent their return. The difficulty will lie in finding it.” “Yes.” “Based on what you know, can you return to me this evening with a strategy and a list of individuals you wish to go along?” Ming nodded, her face dispassionate but her eyes gleaming with anticipation. “I want Keisha saved, if possible.” “Very well.” “I must make plans of my own now. Please go with haste and send word to Armand Leblanc to come here immediately.” Ming rose and bowed to him before departing in silence. Zhou waited until the door was closed before rising to his feet and beginning to pace. Inwardly he seethed with a yearning for blood and a settling of old scores. In the long minutes that passed while he awaited Armand, he remained outwardly calm. He stopped pacing and turned his back to the door when it finally opened to admit Armand. Hands once more folded behind his back, Zhou gazed out of the window toward the gleaming line of the sea. He found it easier to focus on the mental chatter or lack of it without the distraction of visual cues and opened his mind to Armand’s defensive if not arrogant aura. He sensed annoyance in the pronounced closing of the door but the man was otherwise unreadable. Armand was an undisciplined lout, but he knew how to shut others out. “I’m not here to apologize,” Armand grumbled, “I stand by what I said yesterday.” “I do not doubt that, Master Leblanc.” Zhou concealed his impatience and remained silent, waiting for the Tyrian to realize he had not been invited to Zhou’s chambers to argue. When Armand sighed angrily, Zhou continued. “There is tea if you wish it. I can also ask a servant to bring coffee.” “What do you want?” “Sit down, please.” “I don’t plan on staying long. I have things to do,” Armand replied, his voice laced with venom. “I will not detain you long. Whatever resentments you have with me, please set them aside for the moment.” “Your wife and your necromancer friend chained Belenus’ spirit. How am I supposed to set that aside?” “Belenus attempted murder and kidnapped Pendaran. I ordered his interrogation.” “But he’s dead!” “Consider it a final opportunity for Belenus to make amends before facing Grenth.” “Mog would be very angry if he knew.” “I suspect that might be the case, but he is not here to ask and we have little to go on. I want Pendaran returned to me and I will do what I must without regret. If that were the only way to save Mog, perhaps your opinion might be swayed.” “I don’t approve of necromancy.” “Necromancy probably doesn’t approve of you,” Zhou laughed despite himself. He turned to face Armand now, enjoying the flummoxed expression on the man’s pale face, “Please sit now, I am done with this nonsense.” Zhou did not wait to see if Armand followed directions but simply sat back down on the couch and poured himself another cup of tea. He had been around Tyrians enough to know when it was worth the trouble of helping them behave in a civilized fashion or not. Armand was spoiling for a fight and Zhou was determined not to give him one. “On the matter of your friend, Mog, I have had some news.” Armand finally sat and gazed intently at him. “And?” he demanded. “Have you heard of the Rite of Midnight, Master Leblanc?” “No, of course not,” Armand snorted disdainfully, “I told you I did not go to an academy. My parents taught me just as my grandparents taught them.” “Master Leblanc, a simple no would suffice. Please refrain from contradicting me…” “…No I won’t. I’m not in the mood for another of your insane rites. Just tell me where I can find Mog.” “I am offering you a way to save Mog that does not involve placing him or us in undue peril.” “You could have told me that sooner instead of throwing tea and pleasantries at me.” Zhou ran a hand over his face, silently praying to Lyssa for patience. Thankfully the Tyrian leaned back in his seat, mentally lowering his hackles. “It was never my intention to abandon your friend, Master Leblanc. I felt it was necessary to attempt buying his freedom to spare further damage to my guild by Marga’s hand. I also knew there was a good chance those negotiations would fail. However, I have not been idle in that time and we have ascertained that an old enemy of mine holds both Mog and Sister Lemony. “Long have I wished to strike this enemy, but it was never expedient to do so. She wards herself well and none in my guild supported what I am asking of you. You may refuse me, of course, and I will respect that. I wish I were asking this of my apprentice instead of you, but fate has not made that an option.” “I’m not interested in being your new apprentice. I’m not Pendaran.” “I am all too aware of that and that has never been my intention. The rite requires two who are attuned to Lyssa’s art, and it requires hatred. I believe you are qualified on both accounts.” Armand’s visage softened and his lips turned in a sardonic smile. “And how does this rescue Mog?” “We open a portal to Ama, we strike her down and retrieve our friends. We will have an hour.” “And you are certain our friends will be at hand?” “Quite certain. I know a great deal about our prey and her home. She will never expect what we are about to do. As far as she knows, my spirit is still trapped in a tiger and my body is possessed by imprisoned spirits.” “I have no better plan at the moment,” Armand said, “So it would seem I am joining you for this rite.” Zhou stifled a sigh of relief that the tensions between them were falling away. “Meditate and cleanse yourself for the coming trial. Since the burden of opening the door lies with me, I will prepare myself with Lyssa’s subtle art to stay in balance.” “Good,” Armand replied, oddly gleeful, “I prefer to mess with their minds.” |
