Chapter B3C69 - Labours of the Loyal

Chapter B3C69 - Labours of the Loyal

I didnt expect to see you here, of all people.

Tyron leaned back from the lens he was looking through, putting his pliance down as he turned with a smile to greet the newcomer. Short, dressed in a humble-looking shirt and pants with an irritated scowl on her face, Master Willhems greatest apprentice looked much the same as she did the last time hed seen her.

Back at you, Annita Halfshard scoffed. Have the Magisters really grown so desperate theyd bring in a barely qualified hack like you?

Well, if Im good enough to fix your conduits, then I must be good enough to fix theirs.

You didnt fix my conduits.

I improved them, then.

Fine.

She rolled her eyes and approached his bench to look over his shoulder. The other Arcanists in the workshop had reacted strangely to her appearance, almost recoiling as she drew near.

Master Halfshard did have a mixed reputation within the profession. An undoubtedly top class expert, but irascible and prickly. There was no need to draw her ire if it wasnt necessary.

And of course its transmission work, she chuckled, leaning closer to peer at his work through the lens. Oh, shit! Is that an error there? This rah glyph. Its misaligned.

She smirked, pleased to have found an error. Tyron only shook his head.

Im transmitting fire magick with this array.

So?Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

So, if the rah was placed any closer

It would burn out. Damn you, Lukas Almsfield. Can you fuck up one time?

At this? No. If I attempted to do any of the thousand things you can do better than me? Absolutely. Endlessly.

Much like he did while working with his more advanced death magick constructs. There had been many, many mistakes, but also a great deal of progress. Failure was a teacher, as Master Willhem had often said.

Well, get up off your backside, I need you for something.

Tyron pushed his seat back and rose, glancing around until he found Regis Shan standing nearby, looking bored.

Do you know anything about this, Magister Shan?

It takes a second for the lordling to get his bearings, standing around watching Tyron work had been unspeakably dull, and some days he almost fell asleep on the job.

Is this Master Halfshard?

Yes. She wants me to go and work with her. I wanted to make sure I cleared it with you first.

Annita rolled her eyes before jabbing a thumb at Tyron while she spoke to his handler.

Ive been asked to go upstairs and work on some stuff. Without a capable assistant, she emphasised the word assistant, prodding Tyron in the chest, itll take twice as long. This guy is good enough that I trust him to handle transmission and conduits for me.

Another magister hurried into the room, wheezing. It appeared as though Annita had rushed off, leaving the poor fellow, who appeared to be advanced in age gasping in her wake.

Master Halfshard he gasped, we have just one moment.

He gathered his breath, sweating heavily in his robes.

We have arranged for our best Arcanists to assist you. There should be no need for extra help.

Master Halfshard frowned.

Did any of them graduate with a recommendation from Master Willhem? she asked forthrightly.

It was a pointless question. Only two people had ever received Willhems blessing upon completing their apprenticeship, and they were presently standing next to each other in this workshop.

Well, no. They havent, the old man muttered, reddening in the face, but their skills should not be dismissed. These Magisters work on the most powerful and secretive enchantments in the empire.

What brings you to my door, then, Tyron? More blood tablets? I hear they are bleeding you dry over at the Magisters tower. So many status checks. Whatever could they be up to?

Information, Tyron said. I know youve snaked your fingers into every crevice you can reach in Kenmor. You know a lot more about whats going on than I do.

Yor blinked, then sat back in her seat, the colour of her eyes shifting from a lighter ruby into a deeper red, like carmine.

A trade, then? What are you proposing?

Once again, she did him the courtesy of letting the mask slip, setting free the unfeeling monster who sat behind the facade. It was chilling, sitting across from her. There was no emotion in this creature, nothing real. Except, perhaps, her thirst.

Theres something big going on in the city. The Magisters are acting like a hive poked with a stick. Security is bordering on paranoid around every secure area in Kemor. Something has spooked everyone from the nobles down. I dont know what it is, and I dont know what they intend to do. You can fix that.

She smiled, revealing her fangs.

I can.

I presume there is a price.

She narrowed her eyes.

Its rather bold of you to come in here, into my lair, with such a contemptuous air about you, Tyron. I would have thought your recent experience would have taught you a little fear.

Tyron grinned humorlessly in her face.

Ive seen what dealing with you respectfully will get me. No thanks.

If you thought that was bad, you are mistaken. It can be so. Much. Worse.

Tyron pressed his hands to the table and stood, sighing.

Clearly, this was a waste of time. If you arent interested in giving me the information I seek, then I will have to find it elsewhere.

Now, Yor allowed herself a slight smirk.

You think youll find someone as adept as vampires at hunting down secrets? I know everything that goes on in this city. Everything.

The Necromancer turned to leave.

Oh, I agree with you, vampires are certainly unparalleled at ferreting out secrets from mortals.

He would never forget just how easily the creature in front of him had woven the nobles around her fingers.

I just need to bargain with another coven, he finished, smiling over his shoulder. After all, you arent the only bloodsuckers in town.

The atmosphere around Yor changed instantly. No longer icy cold, she became furious.

There is no chance you have found them, she snarled, rising from her seat.

Tyron turned back to face her.

Oh? he said, brow raised. I take that to mean you havent located them yet? How odd.

Think very carefully before you take this step, Tyron Steelarm, she said. Getting between two factions of the Scarlet Court is far more dangerous than you can possibly imagine.

Oh, so I should remain loyal to your faction? After all the care and consideration youve shown me? Dont be ridiculous.

She watched him warily, like a beast assessing its prey.

Have you really found another coven? If you have, then Im willing to trade information. I will tell you what you want to know in exchange for the location.

In truth, he hadnt located them, not exactly. However, a few things hed noticed had clicked together. The rats in the sewers around his study had continued to grow, an anomaly which eventually led him to investigate one. The whiff of blood magick had been oh so faint, but it had been present.

As his explorations of the nearby tunnels had widened, he found other clues. Small rodents, exsanguinated and left to rot in the putrid sludge had been a major find. Who else could be bleeding rats dry in the sewers beneath the city? Or employing blood magick against the rodents?

Tyron grinned.

Im not sure youre going to like the answer, but I accept the terms.