Wayfare to an Uncertain Asylum, Chapter V

Back to story contents

Chapter V - Refuge in the Heart

Whisper spent most of his trip in solitude, there was Boko of course but he’d long sense grown tired of his sole companions company. He interacted as rarely as he could with the crew, one of the passengers on board disappeared after several days and Whisper was able to convince the crew that he should be given the missing mans room. Once he received his own room he was able to completely distance himself from the crew and other passengers, except for meals he kept locked in his room. Sometimes he played or wrote songs, played cards, or simply plotted out his own plans. He was now entering the heart of his master’s territory which was not at all what he had planned, he’d need to make a quick exit from the city, but also stay away from where The Walker had influence. Perhaps he would head north, likely to Port Calin. His master had some spies there, but it was not of large enough significance to warrant too much attention; also the large port would allow him the freedom to go wherever he wanted from there with ease. Fine, that be his new plan, a short stop in Nexus, to contact Voresyl, and then off the river to travel again by foot towards Calin.

Whisper was happy to be off the ship and at the familiar port of Nexus, he’d visited the city several times as both a mortal and as an exalt. He stepped off the ship and felt a new life breathed into him, his travel from Great Forks had been mostly boring, lonely travel with disastrous events mixed in. He was hoping that a more familiar and hopefully less hostile setting would provide more favorable entertainment than Walker’s Realm had. It was late morning when he arrived and a nice sunny day, were he not uncomfortable in the clear sunny day he would have thought it a beautiful day. He left the port, thanking and paying the crew for their trouble, spending most of the money that he had left from the last time he managed to get a job that paid. Another thing he would have to do while in Nexus, they were rather found of musicians in this town and there was likely a performance he could fill a spot in to earn a paycheck while keeping a low profile. The first thing he did was to make his way into the Nexus district; it was here that he would be able to send word to Voresyl that they needed to meet.

The busy market of Nexus is the beating heart of the Scavenger Lands.

Whisper approached the building which had several torches hung along its walls, unlike most buildings the torches around this one burned day and night. A mysterious and small building that didn’t seem to have any purpose or traffic going in or out, Whisper new better. It was likely serving some function for the Cult of the Illuminated, if nothing more than a hide out for agents who needed on in the city. Whisper removed a pinch of salt from a pouch at his side, something he kept in ready supply incase he needed a line to ward ghosts; he lifted his hands to the flame of the torch, which was unnaturally cool, and sprinkled the salt into the flame. The flame burned blue for a few moments as it consumed the salt, only a few onlookers noticed the brief incident and even fewer cared, there were much bigger things than a blue flame going on in the great city of Nexus. Voresyl had told him if he ever needed to contact him to burn a pinch of salt at buildings such as these would send word directly to him, he wasn’t guaranteed a quick response but Voresyl had always responded eventually. Since Voresyl had always been quite adept at finding him Whisper didn’t feel the need to wait around for some sort of response, so he left and headed for a part of the city where there were several musical halls. Not the major auditoriums that would require a full orchestra but a place a lone performer could get a small paycheck to play. Whisper preferred places like this these days, though he missed the glory that game from the epic performances given to a large audience, it simply wasn’t worth the risk of drawing attention. As Whisper maneuver through the busy streets of Nexus and approached the slightly calmer area of town he was looking for he entered the first several buildings without much interest. He though the crowd or owner looked too dull, the stage too small or meager, perhaps the place was simply lit to well. Regardless of the reason he didn’t stay long at any of the place, nor offer his services to play in them. It was after a handful of these disappointing visits that he started to notice a figure that seemed to be looming around the area, was he being followed already? He entered another small establishment, a quick glance around ruled out the place, hardly anyone inside, but that suited him for now as he headed towards the back door. He exited the back door despite half-hearted protests from those inside; he cut through several ally ways, back tracking his steps as quickly as he could. He came out behind where he thought the cloaked figure that was following him would be. He spotted the cloaked figure up past a crowd and started to make his way there. As he weaved through the thick crowd, which made it hard for him to be seen but also made it difficult for him to keep track of his target, he grew close and he slowly slipped a small dagger from his sleeve into his hand; he moved quickly to bring the knife up to the throat of the figure but found himself grasping at nothingness. Whisper was caught off guard by the supernatural affect that had occurred; most of the people around didn’t even seem to notice anything happen. As if the person had never been there, was he going crazy?

“Arkanian.” He heard the familiar voice as almost a whisper, but yet it was from afar and he knew he never should have been able to hear it. He turned quickly and slipped away from the crowd, seeing the cloaked figure standing alone at the end of an ally, he smiled knowingly as he suddenly recognized the cloaked man.

“Hello Saros, I didn’t expect to see you here.” Arkanian was guarded as he approached Saros, he had not spoken or seen anyone since the incident with Sarefine, and was unsure to what extent Saros knew of the events. Perhaps Saros was here to avenge his sister?

“I’m afraid I can’t say the same for you Arkanian, unfortunately we’re short on time so I’ll spare the formalities. Voresyl sent me to reestablish whose side you’re on.” Saros remained at the end of the dead end ally; Arkanian had made his way closer to Saros so no one outside the empty ally would be able to hear their conversation.

“Sides are not so easily chosen after the fact, but I assure you my actions have remained aligned with your goals more so than anyone else’s…Despite how it may have appeared.”

Arkanian and Saros stood looking calmly at one another, untrustingly waiting for either to consent their trust or attack. After a long and tense moment Saros broke the silence, “Voresyl suspected as much, I suppose that will have to do.” Saros paused for a moment but not long enough for Arkanian to speak, Saros started leading the way back towards the street waiting for Arkanian to follow. “I have a proposal for you, I need your help and you need mine, whether you know it or not.”

Arkanian returned Saros’ bold statement with a skeptical look, but remained beside him as they reentered the busy streets of Nexus. They traveled with Saros directing them, though Arkanian remained acutely aware of his surroundings, weaving through the streets of Nexus and passing effortlessly through the crowds which seemed to part for the duo. “If that is the case, I believe you have some explaining to do. I don’t see how I need you, I think we settled that at our last meeting.”

Saros gave Arkanian a stern look though it went unnoticed due to the hood of his cloak. “You need me because for some reason you decided to waltz into the Heart of The Scavenger Lands right before the Council of Concordant meets. Which means the deathlord activity in this city is abnormally high, especially the Mask of Winters who always maintains an elaborate spy network here.” Saros led them through a few more turns into some of the less populated city streets, Arkanian gave no response so Saros continued, “If you want to live long enough to get your revenge you’re going to need my help.”

Arkanian followed mostly in silence, nodding occasionally when he thought it was appropriate but also paying close attention to the few eyes that watched him, Saros’ words had struck an unfortunate truth. “Fair enough Saros, I admit my timing appears to be a bit unfortunate. What is it you would have me do for you?”

Saros smiled slightly under the hood of his cloak, “I need your help protecting someone who a deathknight is trying to assassinate.” The duo now approached the Nexus district where the guild headquarters was along with a number of other important government buildings. “It seems a mortal astrologer happened to make a prediction of particular consequence, somehow involving the deathlords. We’re not exactly sure what the prediction was or which deathlord is so enraged by it, but we’ve caught word that they intend to kill the astrologer before the prophecy can be revealed. If you haven’t guessed yet that is who we have to protect.”

“I am no bodyguard Saros, you know that. Besides what could this mortal astrologer possibly see that the mighty Sidereals could not?”

“Certainly an excellent question, it is imperative that we discover the nature of this prophecy before the deathknights get to him. As for a bodyguard…well consider yourself a consultant if you prefer, we are in fact trying to stop an abyssal assassin, which we both know you are.” Saros stopped in front of a grand looking marble building with pillars in the entry way, pausing at the foot of the steps. “Now then, be on your guard.”

The Previous Chapter
The Next Chapter