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Ok, part two of this weeks installment. Hope you enjoy it.

As always, comments are apprecaited and requested.

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Continued from 'The White Knight'

Shaden stood still and silent, his hands behind his back, watching as his father and uncle argued back and forth. Such arguments had grown more and more commonplace, especially in the weeks since Antaria had come under their control. The trio was in the planning room once again, but for once, they were not discussing the political maneuverings of the family. The brothers had been having serious arguments for years, as Lord Nael'eth made compromises in order to gain the support of more political groups. Nael'an had long thought that he was making too many concessions, and their arguments had become more and more heated as Nael'an's pride was wounded time and again by his brother's maneuverings. And when the Knight had arrived two weeks ago, their disagreements had come to a head. It seemed that Nael'an had assumed that the knight would be placed under his sole command, and his brother had not dissuaded the notion. And now, Nael'an seemed not to want to let the issue go. Instead, he kept reiterating the same points over and over again. That he was the leader of their soldiers, that it wasn't right that such a formidable warrior wasn't under his command and so on, and so forth. Shaden had stopped listening with more than half an ear as he continued on and on.

"Enough Nael'an!!" Nael'eth finally shouted, leaping to his feet, his gaze locked with his brother's, barely controlled anger filling his eyes. "It was not my decision to make. Aronus insisted that he send the knight to become a part of our family. He wouldn't have signed our treaty if I hadn't agreed."

"That shouldn't matter." Nael'an insisted, his own anger almost palpable. "Are we sworn into the service of Antaria, or is the king sworn into ours!?"

"I said, that is enough!" Nael'eth shouted, raising a hand as if to strike his brother, though he held himself in check. "I will say no more on the matter." With that, Shaden's father swept from the room quickly, ignoring the dark look that his brother flashed at him. When he was gone, Shaden waited a few moments until Nael'an turned his gaze away from the door, and then spoke, his tone carefully crafted to convey sympathy, regret and comradeship.

"I am astonished that my father treats you that way." He said, shaking his head as if in disgust and Nael'an half-smiled at his nephew. "His own brother."

"I would think he would have more respect for the bonds of blood." Nael'an replied, nodding. "If the roles were reversed, I would not treat him the same way."

"Then perhaps you should be the head of the family, not him." Shaden quietly suggested, phrasing it as an off-hand remark and the older snow leopard shook his head.

"No. As much as I hate to admit it," Neal'an said, shaking his head. "I don't have the head for politics."

"Perhaps." Shaden replied, nodding thoughtfully. "And perhaps you wouldn't need to be the one with that kind of mind."

"What do you mean?" his uncle asked, cocking his head to the side in surprise.

"I have already proven that I have the knack of politics, but I don't think that the other nobles would appreciate having such a young man in control of our house." Shaden said, making his tone as casual as he could. "If you would take charge, I could handle the politics and you could decide what moves we make. And with the army of Antaria under our control, who would dare challenge us?"

"You have a good point, nephew." Nael'an said, his gaze thoughtful, one paw stroking his chin. "I hadn't thought of that. I am not saying I am going to try and seize control, but that is certainly something to think about."

"My pleasure, uncle." Shaden said, giving a bow as the other leopard walked from the room, still absently stroking his chin. As he straightened up from the bow, Shaden allowed himself a small smile. What King Aronus neglected to mention when insisting on sending the Knight, was that it had been Shaden who had suggested it to him, but in such a way that it had seemed to the arrogant ruler to have come from his own mind. But the smile faded a moment later when he thought about the odd warrior that had caused such a schism between the brothers. When Aronus had told him one day that the reason he was able to consolidate his power so quickly after eliminating his rivals for the throne was the famed Knighthood of Antaria, Shaden had almost felt another step in his master plan fall into place.

Sworn to obey only the King of Antaria, the Knighthood had stayed out of the Antarian civil war until someone had a clear claim to the throne, and then they had added their formidable strength to Aronus' political influence. Since they were not only the best warriors on the world of Antaria, but also the commanders of the king's army, their entry into the fighting had effectively sounded the death knell of Aronus' enemies. Shaden had immediately seen the benefit of having one of the most elite warriors from a world of deadly warriors as part of the family. He also had known that it would anger his uncle, and an angry warrior was much more pliable than one that was thinking clearly. Not that it took much to anger Nael'an these days. His unrelentingly savage instincts had only seemed to grow stronger in the last few years, as if he were steadily losing the battle for control.

But even as the Knight's arrival had made Nael'an more pliable, it had also thrown an unintentional kink into Shaden's plans. He had intended to convince the Knight when he had arrived to join him, to serve his ends, but he had failed to take into account the very nature of the knighthood's members. Using magics he had found in the tome that was the source of his current power, he had looked into the knight's spirit during an unguarded moment to see if he was the sort of man who would follow his plans, or the sort that would foolishly stand against them.

And the result of that spell had not been promising, nor had he really expected it to be, once he learned of their traditions. The Knights had a reputation on Antaria for being noble and pure, good souls devoted to honor and duty above all. That in itself had not put much of a disruption into his plans, since he had put other plans into place to compensate for that long ago. But what had caused such a large disruption in his grand plan was what had come afterward. He had watched the testing of the new warrior with great interest and great care, searching for weaknesses. And that was what had so handily devastated his plans.

The knight didn't seem to have a single weakness. His talents in combat were so far beyond anything Shaden had seen before that he knew of no way past them. And conventional magic was of no help whatsoever, the knight evading or blocking everything with what seemed like an appalling lack of concern. So, Shaden could think of no way he himself could go about eliminating him, short of using dark magics, magics that would be a dead giveaway of his involvement.

Nor did the knight seem to have any vices he could exploit. He refused alcohol when it was offered, likewise all of the vices other nobles enjoyed. And, he seemed to have no interest in pleasures of the flesh, treating every beautiful woman that crossed his path with equal courtesy, and it seemed, disinterest. Not even rich and exotic foods seemed to catch his interest, for the knight always chose simple foods wherever possible. It was frustrating in the extreme, since as of this moment, he had no means to control the warrior. His visage faded into a grimace a moment later. Another unknown, uncontrollable quantity, much like his sister Shandi. Fortunately, this was one quantity that he could deal with, given the right means. Shaking his head, he walked off, heading for his chambers.

He would need privacy for what he had planned. Since the Knight obviously wasn't going to help him carry out his plans, then he had to be removed before he could interfere. And there was only one way he knew of to go about doing that. But to do it, he would need to make contact with someone, someone that the magi of house Kit'ranth had once tried very hard to be rid of. Someone who owed Shaden a favor...

***

Shaden stalked through the halls of the silent manor house, his hands held behind his back, as if he were doing nothing more than taking an evening stroll. It had been a week since his father and his brother had nearly come to blows in the planning room, and Shaden had been gently and subtly guiding the two, nudging them apart, inflaming their attitudes. And now, long after midnight, when practically everyone was asleep, his uncle had called on him, asked him to meet him in one of the store rooms, as private a place as could be found in the manor. Neal'an's message, delivered by a servant, had said that it would be better if no one knew they had met. Shaden had snorted in derision when he had read that. As if he needed to be told that such a clandestine meeting needed to be secret. Pausing at a corridor intersection, he checked both directions, and seeing no one, he continued down the hall toward the spiral staircase leading down into the store rooms. He was still smiling when he entered the underground chambers and headed for the farthest one from the stairs. His plans were going like clockwork, and if what his uncle had to say this night was anything like he expected it to be, one more step of his plan would have been accomplished.

Suppressing his grin quickly, he walked through the towering stacks of crates containing foodstuffs, and into the rooms that were stacked floor to ceiling with casks of ale and fine wines. Finally, the rooms became darker, dustier, and Shaden knew he was entering the area where the truly rare vintages were stored, some of which were so rare that their worth couldn't be measured in terms of gold or silver, the standard currency of the nobles. And finally, in a part of the storeroom where the casks were covered in inches of dust, great cobwebs stretching across them, Shaden paused, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He could, of course, have brought a torch, but he knew that to any servant that might have came down into the storerooms, torchlight coming from this deep in the stores would be more than suspicious. And, while Shaden certainly had no problem permanently silencing someone to keep a secret, he preferred not to kill servants of the family, since such an act could easily snowball into something that would lay all his plans bare.

When he could see properly once more, he walked forward slowly, until he could make out the shadowy figure standing against the only open space on the wall. Nael'an saw him coming, and pushed himself off the wall, crossing his arms. He was clad once again in his black cloak, the cloth drawn close around him, allowing him to hide in the shadows with almost the same ease as his black furred nephew.

"You asked to meet, uncle?" Shaden asked quietly, pretending ignorance as to the subject.

"I have given what you said a lot of thought nephew." Nael'an began, coming forward slowly, his voice a bare whisper. "If I was to go along with your idea, how would it be done?"

"My father would have to be neutralized." Shaden whispered. "And my mother as well."

"Neutralized?" Nael'an replied, raising an eyebrow. "You mean killed, don't you?" Shaden simply regarded him in silence, his expression unreadable. Nael'an shook his head. "Perhaps we shouldn't proceed..."

"Uncle, did you really think my parents would relinquish power willingly?" Shaden sneered, his tone mocking. "If you want control of the house, then there is going to have to be bloodshed. The question then, is how badly do you want it?" Shaden's uncle looked offended, his lip curling in the beginning of a snarl, but Shaden knew what he was doing. When he didn't back down, the older leopard's snarl faded a little and he nodded slowly.

"How do you propose we do it?" He asked his nephew and Shaden smiled, showing his pale teeth. "Send troops?"

"Of course not." Shaden said dismissively, as if speaking to an ignorant child. "Our soldiers are ultimately loyal to Nael'eth, you know that."

"Well, you are the political genius, what do you suggest?" Nael'an replied, irked by his nephew's attitude.

"It is better that your brother not know what is happening until it is too late." Shaden stated. "We hire assassins."

"Well I don't happen to know any assassins." Nael'an said, apparently getting impatient. "Vile, untrustworthy creatures, the lot of them."

"Leave that to me." Shaden said, "I know just who we need. Assuming, of course, that you wish to proceed?" For a moment, Nael'an was silent, seeming to consider deeply. Then he took a deep breath and took the plunge, nodding to his nephew.

"Very well, my lord." Shaden said, giving the title the emphasis of a word that disgusted him. "Just be sure to relieve the guards at midnight and not to send others to replace them." The young nobleman turned to leave, but he had taken all of about two steps when his uncle spoke again.

"And what of your sister?" he asked, his tone turning the question into a challenge. "Is she to be 'neutralized' as well?"

"Shalendrea?" Shaden replied, not even turning back, though his heart began hammering out a swift beat at her name. He shook his head, giving a practiced snort of derision. "No. She is no threat. You know as well as I do that she doesn't care about politics."

Nael'an nodded and Shaden continued back up and out of the store rooms. It was time to put his plans into motion...

***

The chamber was dark, as black as pitch. It was darker even than Shaden's rooms back at the Kit'ranth manor house, so dark it was as if the darkness had become a corporeal substance, clinging close like mist to every surface, every object sheathed in thick shadows. Any light brought into the room was leeched away from its source, swiftly extinguished as if it had never existed. To anyone else entering this place, the darkness was terrifying, suffocating in its intensity, but to Shaden, it was actually sort of comforting. But the reason he was here was not for comfort. Giving a slight grin, he looked at the room's sole occupant with something akin to polite interest. The creature that called this place home, the creature from which the darkness flowed, was much more dangerous than anyone he had ever met, and therefore demanded his full attention.

"An interesting proposition, I must say." The creature commented, its voice a sibilant whisper, almost a rasping hiss, as if spoken through clenched teeth. It was also cold in tone, bone-chilling to hear, sending a shiver down even Shaden's spine. "But as I have said, the favor that is owed does not outweigh the risk, especially against so powerful a family."

"Then you will not aid me?" Shaden asked, knowing full well that the creature's mind was hardly made up yet. But this was how one had to deal with creatures such as this one.

"I did not say that." The hissing voice replied, emanating from across the room. Shaden could just make out the shadowed figure seated in the chair across from him in the darkness. The chair itself was high backed, reaching almost to the ceiling, and carved with many talon-like spines, curving forward as if reaching out to grab him, or else clutch the figure seated in it as if it were a throne. The shadowy figure was lounging back in the chair, one hand stroking his chin, obviously considering what he had been asked to do. "I wonder, my young nobleman, what it is you stand to gain from this plan of yours?"

"As I have already told you..." Shaden began, starting to reiterate the explanation he had given before.

"No, Shaden." The voice said, cutting him off, the cold words sliding like a blade through the thread of his words. "I am not a fool, nor am I some arrogant politician that will take you at your word because you promise what I desire." Shaden looked up, surprised. "One does not live as long as I have by being stupid. If this plot succeeds, your fool of an uncle will take power, and you know as well as I that the standing of your family will fall. And if your plan fails, one way or another, your family will have lost one of its greatest assets, for your uncle, though he may be unskilled in politics, is a more than competent battlefield commander. Either way, you appear to gain nothing, while your family loses. And if you are discovered as the mastermind of this, your life will be forfeit. So what then, is the profit that outweighs the risk?"

"Very well then." Shaden finally said, licking his lips, surprised that the creature had seen right through him. "If this plot succeeds, my uncle will leave the politics of the family to me, and if not, my uncle's hot temper and savagery will no longer be a problem. Either way, my position within the family will be more secure. And in the long run, house Kit'ranth will be the stronger for it."

"Ah, so it is for your benefit alone that you wish I do this?" The creature asked, his sibilant voice taking on an amused tone. Shaden nodded, knowing it would do no good to attempt to lie to him. "Excellent."

"You have heard my answer." Shaden said, pausing a moment, not wishing to press too hard. Such an action could very well mean that he would not leave here alive. "But time presses. So I ask you once more, will you aid me, or will you not?" For a long moment, Shaden thought that the creature would refuse him, which would seriously undermine his confidence in his plans. But then, the creature spoke again, and his worries were put to rest.

"I will." He said, leaning forward a little, a faint, eager light kindling to life in the red depths of its eyes. Like Shaden's, the creatures eyes were red upon black, the mark of a user of dark magic. "Anything else you wish to tell me?"

"Yes, two things actually." Shaden said and his host waved for him to proceed. "First, if your assassins fail, you are to ensure that no one can tell that I had anything to do with this." His host nodded, waving dismissively with a hand as if that was obvious. Shaden took a breath and spoke forcefully when he continued, trying to put as much strength into his words as he could. "And second, you must take my sister alive at all cost. If she dies, there will be nowhere you or any of your men can hide that will be safe from my wrath. Is that clear?"

"Oh yes, quite clear." The creature hissed. Shaden nodded and rose to his feet, intending to leave. But the creature was not finished speaking just yet. "But are you sure that is a wise course? Your sister is powerful, more powerful even than you, I deem. Leaving her alive could be most...dangerous."

"Yes." Shaden replied without hesitation, then smiled slightly. "Trust me."

"I think not." The creature said, as if those words had been an invitation, not an assurance. The red gleam in the crimson eyes revealed that the creature was smiling, its long fangs gleaming, but Shaden knew he was not smiling out of happiness. He was more likely smiling about the absurdity of the words. "You are like a great spider, my lord Shaden, a spider at the center of the many webs he has weaved. Does any beast risk entering such a web on trust alone? No, I do not think so. So do not forget, young lord, that I do this only because, for now, our goals are the same. When this task is finished, then our dealings will be done."

"I will not forget." Shaden said, bowing slightly and walking from the room, a slight shiver running down his back as he felt the creature's eyes upon him, an unblinking stare that made him supremely uncomfortable. This creature was like him, remorseless, evil and very, very powerful. More powerful than most of the magi that still lived. If he didn't think it a necessary part of his plan, he wouldn't have had anything to do with this creature, favors owed or no...