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Twenty-Five: Tainted Honour

(I could never forget the time I was in Agnarge upon my return to Symphon. That was where I made my reputation. In the first sightings, the witnesses and papers described me as a Grim Reaper. They would see a hooded wolf pull out her "hooked swords" and consider me fast enough to evade the path of a bullet from a .22.

(The first place I had my friend guide me to in the city was a slum, where I would monitor criminal activity at night. It started small. I had almost lopped someone's hand off in preventing a mugging. I had split a ribcage open, preventing a killing of a much poorer citizen. I had slashed throats and stomachs of abusers. I had made sure to tear rapists' flesh to ribbons.

(Of the criminals that I had encountered in barely a month, my first significant one was a serial killer wanted by the police. I followed him to another slum where he was known to strike. Michibiku provided a safe route, away from prying eyes, even in the dark. I did not question his judgment, and he was right about how important I found that one particular man.

(My friend was able to bring me to that area even though he had not been in Highcond before, let alone Agnarge. I met him where he perched and there the dog was on the street. He held a woman at knifepoint as they were both naked and he was defiling her. I got around the sight and crept up behind him. I drew my left Khopesh, and I was quick with it. I grabbed his shoulder and slashed his throat, making him choke. He lost grip of both his knife and his victim. He turned around and I was the last thing that he would see. I thrust the blade through his midsection. Upon getting it out, I pushed him aside.

(Then, Michi alit upon the now lifeless body. The raven began pecking at the opening in the dog's windpipe. That was the first time I saw him eat my kills. I had no objections to it; he earnt that meat. However, I would wonder how he could stomach the people I killed, the foul-minded attackers and the lust-ridden drug lords.)

Time is against me. If not for Vadimir, I would have made it to Agnarge by now, but I missed its departure. So, I had to take a carriage all the way from the Heart of Highcond to the next borough south of Agnarge. Unfortunately, I have missed that train's departure. This cannot be happening. Even Michi can detect my vexation. He could have gone ahead of me, but this time he stays with me. If only he can assure me that I would make it in time to give them a chance.

But he cannot speak with words. Instead, he can only show me what is worth my attention. The next departure with which I align is near the dawn. The ride would still be a few hours. I am too distraught to even eat at this time. I stay on the train and go straight to Ventine. Giffard has already failed to claim leverage on me. This time, without me, he and the only people that he trusts will succeed.

Upon the halt of the locomotive, I get off the coach and make haste, hauling my baggage. Again, I rush along the road with a carriage. This time, I meet trains not needing tracks. That is a sight to behold, not that I have time to take it in. Even the operators are miffed by my driving. The two mares pulling the suddenly antique contraption must be questioning what I have in mind. Even when I am fast to shift along the roads, the drivers of both carriages and small locomotives curse at me.

The mares become distraught as well as they take the tugging gesture to stop, and suddenly, I have to brace for the shove upon the wheels halting along with them. Without taking my baggage, I leap from the driver seat and dash to the front gate, which has been blown, the serval at the station dead, along with one mercenary. As I speed, I draw both my Khopeshes--

And the place is in turmoil. Even the sand is littered with visible glass shards, fresh blood splotches, and bodies of both guards and mercenaries. It is at this moment, I take in the sounds of metallic clanging and the thundering of guns. Follow the chaos. But which side of chaos?

I tread along the sand, panting as I continue rushing. My first instinct is to head to the cubs' quarters. Along the way, I find other bodies of guards and mercs. I also find them fighting near the cabins. If I had eaten, I would be vomiting at the thought of what they could be doing to the cubs. To my horror, the mosaic walkway has taken damage from bombs and the door of the cabin has been blown off.

Upon entering, no cub is in sight. I swiftly turn around, slashing my Khopesh, splitting the midsection of the mercenary about to shoot me. I then run it through his chin, flipping him. I run, Khopeshes behind my back, toward the faction of wolves. I slash mercilessly at the one on the end of their line. I then turn around, slashing in a semi-circle, followed by a straight-up jump with my boot colliding with his jaw. I backflip, and then spring myself forward, stabbing him in his chest with both Khopeshes. I drive the blades on an angle, as I wrench him on the side, using him as a shield from bullets. I pull the blades out. Now, I dash toward the next, swiping twice against his chest. I knee his groin, and then drive my left Khopesh through his midsection. I angle it and spin myself, expecting more gunfire, and I am correct. Thankfully, my armour takes the next few bullets. I body slam the next merc, and then slash his side. I stab his leg, and then his jugular. Upon dropping him, I leap to the man in front of me, stabbing through his arm, making him drop his gun. With the blade through his arm, I wrench him as I turn around. I end up throwing him, deterring the two other wolves. I lunge toward them, arms outstretched. I perform a scissor motion, followed by a reverse-scissor motion, slashing both their throats. On the last wolf of the group, I thrust my Khopeshes downwards. I manage to get both between his ribs.

Panting, I look around as I hear the sounds of clanging continue. There is only one other place here significant to both me and the High Priestess. I cut past the field where the cubs play, now damaged by fire. I sheathe my Khopeshes, so I can take out one of Jack's bombs for which I have not yet found use. Maybe, this is the time.

There the mercenaries are, aiming their rifles toward the roof of the bathhouse. I press the bomb's button and hurl it. In a glowing storm of blue, the four wolves groan and move erratically. This gives the guards the chance to shoot them, and the mercs collapse. I pass the guards with a friendly army gesture.

I end up taking a detour. I take out another orb as I head to the defence barrier, which the faction seems to have claimed. I click the bomb, and hurl it. As electricity crackles, I climb the ladder.

The rifle-armed wolves have withstood the shocks throughout their bodies. I sweep the first one in my range with my leg, and then stamp his face. I take out a third bomb, a different one, which I toss toward the mercenaries. Instantly, a cloud of grey smoke exudes and spreads, making the wolves cough. I draw my Khopeshes, dashing straight into the cloud. I accurately slash the throat of the next wolf, and then stab him in the side, between his ribs. The next one, I drive my left Khopesh from below his bottom rib and upward, making him splutter blood. As the smoke clears, one wolf shoots impatiently from his pistol, missing me. Even as another gun lets bullets fly, I thrust both Khopeshes into his midsection, and then out, gashing upwards. I kick him and leave him to bleed out. One wolf remains, having run out of bullets. He discards his pistol and raises his cane as I am about to strike him. He draws a sabre from his cane, and I freeze for a fraction of a second. Then, I back up as he thrusts his sabre to me. He then lets off a barrage of swings and stabs, which I successfully deflect. I await an opening as I am on the defensive, and then exploit it. I slash at his midsection, which comes out as a long slit. I parry the next strike of his vulture-hilted sabre and lock my right Khopesh with his cane. Upon deflecting his strike, I slit his wrist, and then his leg. However, that does not deter him. I sweep with a leg, which gets him off-balance. I kick him where I slit his leg. Still, he blocks my next attack. I back up before he can counter, and then leap toward him, slamming into him. I slash across his chest with both Khopeshes whilst he is disoriented. Both blades gash him. I jump straight up and kick where the new wounds are, and he groans loudly. He stumbles. I stab him with both Khopeshes. I jump again, this time pressing my feet to him, and yank, the hooks on his ribs. Flesh rips and bones break from his chest. He lays there, bleeding profusely.

Things are too quiet now, but there still must be someone here. I climb down from the barrier, expecting more... And I am right; a sudden explosion thunders.

The Grand Temple! Pasht! Ghaliya! I sprint there, hearing another explosion. The mercenaries are there, running through the smoke, but others stay behind, knowing that I am here. Suddenly, four guns fire from behind me, assaulting these men, which wear armour. One of the four falls upon his skull seeming to explode. I throw myself at the rest. I slash the throat of one--

And the hook gets stuck in a mesh. Fuck. I have to time for this. I yank the blade by the hilt, pulling him toward me, and stamp his shoulder. I turn another merc around, driving my right Khopesh into his arm and yanking him. Two guns fire, and both targets go limp. Then, I can get my left Khopesh out of the complex mesh. I take the last wolf mercenary of the faction head-on. I tug his arm aside, and then kick his midsection, making a resounding metallic clang. As a result, I dent his armour. I circle my left Khopesh, slashing his upper arm, and then making sparks against his armour with my right. The distraction works, for I drive my left Khopesh up his jaw and then thrust him aside by the head.

Panting, I look around. To distract me from the distress sounds coming from inside the Grand Temple, I see a familiar grizzly bear in a black overcoat, under which he is bare-chested. And he is accompanied by an equally familiar grey Shorthair with a green eye and a blue eye. I turn to my left, and there Themba is, carrying a rifle. Even at such a time, he wears no shirt. I swiftly turn around upon hearing a voice speak.

"You 'ave given me too much trouble, false goddess." It is him--Giffard. The white wolf with black, grey and brown tinges. Even worse, by his side, restrained with one arm is the lovely Mau, her white robe and blue sashes streaked with dust, a pistol to her head. I should have known this would happen. Another bastard willing to cheat to win.

As if that could get no worse, Giffard's remaining five mercenary wolves each restrain a kitten, as well, with an arm around their necks. And the badger, the red tinge of his fur seeming to be enhanced by the yearning to use his metal claws--on Ghaliya! From where I stand, I can see the fear in her eyes, as well as that of the other kittens.

Giffard, who wears a black suit over a white shirt with raised collar and scarlet tie, speaks, "This is but an example fer those who expect to interfere with my operations. I give you only one chance: let me leave this place alive or today is the last day fer these cats."

I reply, "I know whot you intend t-do with them. That will not deter me from my mission."

Giffard scoffs before retorting, "Your 'mission' is folly. Nobody makes an enemy of me and lives."

I object, "Tell that to Jack! And his bollocks are larger and more active than yours!" Giffard growls, nudging with his gun against the High Priestess's head. I continue, "I know the kind of man you are, Giffard. You never wanted to go in your mother's family business; deny it not. You only did whot she wanted, and you still do." I note the mercenaries looking at each other with puzzlement. "I saw fer meself whot abuse does to someone and whot abusers do. You were moulded to look the role, but not act it."

"Belt up, Munter!" he barks.

I go on, still holding my Khopeshes behind my back, in my preparation stance, "There is the difference between you and me: you are but an actor on a stage, portraying what y-wish t-be, whereas this mask and this costume are my true self. I saw you with Nadine in Agnarge Asylum. It was I you thought was your mother. Whot role has Nadine in your operation?" I make no pause as I expect no answer. "She must have control of something as she is your sister. Why tell Lieven that y-need go over her 'ead? As she is a member of the Lowell House, she is as influential as you are. You should be partners, though you resent her. You may 'ave 'ad these men deceived, but not me. Is Rodica there? Is she whispering in your ear, ordering you to kill me? Or is she shrieking for you to kill another influential woman in your arms whilst you 'ave the chance?"

One of the wolf mercenaries speaks up, "Is that oll true, Lord Lowell?" That gets both the attention of Giffard and Lieven. "You promise us money, but yeh're right not to order us to kill cubs. It is an act of cowardice."

As it turns out, Lieven carries a gun, which he pulls out from his belt, and aims at that brown wolf. He fires twice, the first bullet landing in the wolf's midsection, and then upon him dropping his hostage, the second bullet landing in his chest. He stumbles, coughing blood. The now free kitten looks around, wondering what will happen next. She eyes Giffard, then the merc, and then Lieven before she runs my direction, but past me.

I announce, "You still ignore the question." Silence. I scowl at Giffard. "Your demeanour betrays you. Maybe your men know not the truth, but does Lieven? Does he support you no less?"

Lieven interrupts, "Giffard ist mein Freund!"

"Then you think that he is worthy of commanding the Lowell House himself, but you are mistaken."

Giffard howls, "I said, belt up!" He nudges his pistol against the High Priestess's skull. I have him angry, but I still convince myself that I can get him to aim that damned machine at me.

"After you kill her and the others, what ull happen? There is only one way this can go."

Giffard interrupts, "With us leaving and you fucking off!" Pause. "No chin wags! Nobody dies! I know the truth about you, too, Lady Death: how much this woman means t-you! Let us alone or she and the others die! Only after I end me war with MacNiadh, I might--just might--release them."

I call, "High Priestess! Ghaliya!" I cannot risk the lives of Giffard's hostages, to kill him. I drop my Khopeshes. "This battle and war cannot be won without yer casualties. But I promise to yer names, you and the rest will be free of his clutches. Giffard! You will learn the rage of someone who carries the revenge of oll yer victims of slaving and trafficking."

Without flinching or even scoffing, Giffard calls to his men, "Move out!" He nudges the High Priestess before moving along himself. I watch as Giffard, his right hand and his mercenaries tread the sand. My eyes meet his. He may scowl, but I know his look. His eyes show... fear... It is fear of me? The High Priestess? Or is it the trauma of his mother's intimidation? Regardless of your horrors, I will kill you, Giffard, and every last mercenary you use as shields.

He walks backwards after he passes me, expecting me to quickly lift my Khopeshes and kill him. The mercs show a threat, too. They walk backwards, as well, expecting my allies to shoot them. I follow Giffard and his group to the front gate, reaching in a pouch on my belt.

Giffard has another two wolves and two dogs at the front gate awaiting him and his company, not that I care. I have been meaning to use these hooks. Another good time. I raise my arm, three pitons in hand. I lash my arm sideways to hurl them. All three make a path at once. All three of them hit my targets, each of them stuck in a mercenary's back. The rest swiftly turn around. The attack is not enough to make them fire their guns, but not enough to stun them, let alone kill them. Even the ones watching the gate raise their guns but hesitate to fire at me or my allies. I let them leave. I see not whether he has a trackless train for transportation. The battle is now over, but there will be another one to come.

I do hear a locomotive engine roaring, until it is out of range. Then, I close my eyes, head down.

(Over the three years since my return to Highcond, I was what the people from Seikat call a Ronin--a warrior without a master. They would have been right. Even though I would regularly return to the Sanctuary, I followed no orders except my own. I was no agent or assassin on the payroll. I would kill people everywhere I went, but they would become cub's play.

(Every petty criminal, every gangster, and every lunatic beyond redemption became practise to me. That was until someone came along. How I first met Seàn MacNiadh was not in a pleasant way. I unknowingly did him a favour, which he was happy to return. He had not been a gangster for a long time, and he had something that no other leader in organised crime had.

(I had already caught Jack's attention when I had been a vigilante for two years. Then, he got to know me. I would know him more for his broad sense of humour than as an influential racketeer. He would know me for both killing viciously, depending on the type of person, and for my image. He had seen me without my mask on, but I would still have my eyepatch on around him. Even long before I met him, I knew that others would recognise my unique eyes. So, I would wear that eyepatch over my right eye in public and let passers-by believe what they wanted to.

(I would be called the Reaper, the wolf with the golden mask, the assassin, the Dark Angel, the sin punisher, and--most notably--Lady Death. That would be my name to the public. That would be my standing. Let others believe what they wanted to. I found my cause with which I would kill.)

A small hand takes mine. I look to my right, and there Holly is, worried about me. She wears no more than a white bodice and black skirt. Hard to believe that Giffard's men took her seriously even when she pointed a gun. She asks, "Are you oll right?" I shake my head. Then, I look up. The grizzly is still there.

I orate, "I bloody well told yeh, they would come fer you."

Wickerson calls back, "The blast wos not enough ta kill me."

I comment, "Bears are survivors."

"So are wolves."

I turn around, to approach him. "How did you even know I would be here?"

Wickerson raises a finger. "A long story, Death. It ends with that I followed you 'ere from the Heart of Highcond and put up a right fight agains' th-mercs." He lowers his jacket from his shoulders, showing a hole and lines in his fur starting from above his right pectoral, the lines running across his chest and down his midsection. Upon placing his jacket over his shoulders again, he continues, "The shrapnel gave me cack when th-bomb triggered, but not enough ta make me bleed out."

I state remorsefully, "I caused that."

Wickerson scoffs, blowing against my nose and ears, "Fuckin' bollocks! I'm here now and righ' as day. And I've enough evidence on who Lord Lowell is, the wanker."

"'Tis not your fight, Payton"--

He interrupts, rolling his eyes, "Like fuck! His men tried ta kill me! And failed!"

I object, "I know as well as you do, if Giffard is prosecuted on the grounds of conspiracy murder, slaving, and contraband distribution, he will deny it and make bail. Nobody will believe the cubs and prostitutes that his people sucked dry, and believe even less as he has access to people that can make evidence disappear."

"Quite correct. That is why the badge is off."

"And let 'is mercs shoot you until they exhaust oll their bullets?"

Wickerson growls, "Yeh may think that only other criminals can dispose of criminals because of rivalry, but the gang wars are even bloodier withou' the police ta keep petty crime in check." Pause. "I know the risks, Lady Death. You, of oll people, should comprehend that."

I sigh. "I still find your involvement a mistake."

"Try and stop me, cur!" He eyes Holly, pausing in disbelief about her eyes, and then walks away.

When expecting that he is out of earshot, she remarks, "Pleasant chap."

I look at her sternly, and then to the bear's back. I add, "I must commend his stubbornness. It prob-ly got 'im where 'e is." Pause. I expect an argument, but Holly does not answer. "Where were you when Giffard's faction stormed in?"

We begin wandering, when Holly answers, "I wos in the infirmary. Nothin' serious. I bin considerin' practising medicine. So, the doctors let me study the compounds." I have not forgotten about her forced drug addiction when she was under an unfair contract. This reminds me of the worry that she will relapse and almost destroy herself. "When the barrage of explosions rang, I argued with the doctors about whether to go out there and 'elp the others or stay with them. My first choice wos the children's cabins. I was with the guards when they escorted the cubs to the Grand Temple. Once the cubs were inside, I wos the one to slam the gates. The High Priestess did not hesitate to lock them." As before, I see cats scouring the sand for shrapnel and glass shards where possible craters have now flattened. Holly continues, "I stayed near the front gate, where Wickerson encountered me. I knew he was 'ere ter 'elp. So, there we were, standing back-to-back, shooting at what mercs were in our sights and we drew fire from rifles."

I interject, kicking sand and expecting to find a glass shard myself, "What about Themba? The Savanna Wolf."

"That's what you call his kind?" She shrugs. "He wanted me an' the bear to follow a division that he positioned near us. So, we did. Thember and 'is men volleyed rifle fire to the men on the barriers. The bear and I followed the squad to the training grounds. As much as one guard insisted that I take 'is shotgun, I doubted that I could hold it. So, I was at the outline, patiently aiming for any merc in the crowd." I now examine the damage done to the gate of the Grand Temple. The sides at the hinges having melted and blackened from the explosions. They have fallen inside, to the aisle. Holly follows me in.

In the centre of the aisle is a dent where six gunmen lay dead. Two are each missing a leg. Two each have gaping a hole in a side that could be put together as a full circle. One seems to have been split in half. The last one seems to have taken the most shrapnel to his body. Every bench is now in disarray, having been shoved forward or aside. The altar has taken enough damage by the fire of explosives to lose recognition, singe marks and melted splotches defile the podium. Even the lion statue has dents and dust. My heart sinks even further than it already has upon that sight. All this damage is my fault. I look down, ashamed.

Holly changes her subject. "I know how you feel, Death. I jus' started ta connect with her, too."

"There is more than that, Love. She helped me through my grief when I was a cub. She taught me patience and philosophy. She taught me to be strong and willing. She was there for me when I thought that nobody else was. The High Priestess lived up to the goddess for which her mantle is named. I read every story about that goddess and her family. Pasht is not just a name; 'tis a symbol." I finally look at Holly. "You were right to not stay here; Giffard would have killed you. I am still pleased that Pasht never goes down without a fight."

Holly asks, "How will you find her and the kittens?"

"I might go back to how I used to obtain information about cults in Subroot and Agnarge." I really hate to admit it, but I will need Jack again. I know that he will help me, for we have one thing in common. The question is whether I will trust or need him again once my mission is complete. "Giffard will use them to make sure that I will back off, but that will not stop me from settling a rivalry between two crimelords." To do so, I must use cleverness to rival that of a fox.

Holly returns to her story. "I insisted to Wickerson that we return to the entry gate after the men on the training grounds were terminated. The guards had received word of your presence. So, I wanted to help. There Themba was, too. He and his men all still stood when the gunfire on the barriers ceased."

"Thanks for the assist there", I say casually.

She takes my hand. I turn to be face-to-face with her. I lift my mask from my face. I lean down and kiss her. I can sense the cat melt into me, but I pull away before she can kiss me back. I look into her eyes sadly. You and I are not meant to be. Still, I hold her hand as we walk down the aisle and out the desecrated sacred construct.

The next place I go is to the stores. Every space seems well intact. Then again, Giffard might have not cared what items that anyone here owns is worth filching. I head to my space, which stands out with the leather scabbard mounted on the wall. It is here that I undo the clips of my chest guard. I carefully slip each half along with my epaulettes off of my shoulders and along my arms. I kneel to set the plates down as carefully. I then open the leather straps, separating the greaves from my boots, and then the gauntlets from the sleeves of my jacket. It is time that I remove my shroud and jacket, as well, revealing my white business shirt. I fold up the jacket and place it in the trunk.

Then, I focus on the sheathed sword in front of me. I slowly reach out with both arms as if the treasure is delicate enough to break with the slightest touch. I lift the sword from the hooks and flip it over so that the hilt is in my left hand. I pull the leather scabbard, revealing only a part of the blade. I read the etching on the side of the blade--the blacksmith's signature, and a fighter's dying words. Among the many Samurai stories that I read, I drilled one particular line in my head: "A reason to fight is your only true honour." I read that text as if it were my first time seeing it. I examine them, memorising every line, dot, and dash.

I fully sheathe the blade of the Katana again, and then turn to see none other than the Savanna Wolf, standing there with his arms crossed. I speak, "You can object all you want, Themba; it will only tempt me further." He makes no movement bar his midsection rising and falling as he breathes. I sigh, lowering my arms. "You were right, Brother. My acts wrought a calamity, and the Sanctuary paid for it."

Themba asks, "And how will you atone for it: seeking the High Priestess and the cats?"

I approach him, still carrying the Katana. "I am the reason Giffard has 'er at 'is mercy. If I cannot save any of them..." I cannot finish that statement, but I remain stoic. "Her capture wos my doing; that is why I must go alone. I want nobody else to get killed by Giffard or whoever is under 'is contracts."

Themba says, "If you go alone, he and 'is men will swarm upon you like ants. Even your Khopeshes will break."

"That is why I will 'ave a plan."

"Sister..." he looks down, sighing. Usually, he would never budge with a shove. "The High Priestess needs me, too."

I pause, gobsmacked at that. He must be daft to request such a thing. I object, "But... the Sanctuary needs you more, as Head of Security."

"I could 'ave offered my aid to you the last few times you came here to rest and prepare, but I did not. When one becomes a member of the guard here, they must read an oath aloud. Among the oath is 'to protect the other residents and the superiors with your very life'." He scowls and scrunches his muzzle. "To slay this crime boss controlling your life would take more than the one vigilante."

I interrupt, "I am not the only enemy of Giffard. If Jack's luck has not olready run out, he and I still 'ave a chance ta take Giffard together."

Themba objects, "And what about his men?" He knows well about Jack by now. "By my understanding from the time you were ill, he was under dire circumstances. It could be much worse by now."

I will never find out if he and I keep arguing. I tell him, "Better we continue later, then." I place the Katana back on the hooks, and then dash past him. He is right, though; Jack's syndicate is surely under heavy fire even though the leak in his ranks has sealed.

I find trust hard to come by. I trusted only myself to take out Giffard's inner circle. There's the logic: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Jack is as crooked as they come, but I mean what I say comparing the wolf hybrid and the arctic fox. I have known of their rivalry since I made friends with the whimsical fox. Trusting the police is hard in these times, too. The one corrupt officer that I found in Solmil is no fluke, especially knowing that I was right about someone made a threat on Wickerson's life--which he was fucking lucky to escape. How can I know that no police officers in Knightsedge have taken bribes from the Lowell House, as well?

I move as fast as I can among the messes that Giffard's men made on the courtyards, refusing to assess damage further. It will only make matters worse for me. I cannot let emotions make a faffed bundle, either; it will only deter my focus. Twice now, I have seen blood spill upon these sands and constructs. I already knew at the start that tearing down the Lowell House's assets would piss Giffard off, but I never knew that he would treat the situations like Bedlam.

Upon entering the dining cabin, I sense a thick tension in the air. Even its outside has taken damage, but no interior damage. Not all cubs are here, and not just because criminals took five of them. I approach the counter, where much of the foods to select are still available. I would not blame the cooks for being close to the edge, as well. I see most of the present cubs express worry or sadness, given this morning's events. Looking at them, regardless of their species, I think of Ghaliya, the cat that reveres me as much as she does her mother. If anyone, I let her down the most. I scowl and look up. I swear to both of you, I will correct my error. These cubs also look to me for their morale. They need me as much as they need the High Priestess.

I sit down at a table, scowling at the few guards eating along with the cubs. More than ever, these cubs need to know that the world does not end when they lose a loved one. I shoot my stern look their way, my orange and violet glare beaming all the way across the joined table. I look back down at my plate, eating up. I will need all the food that I can eat. One does not go into battle on an empty stomach. I plan to depart on this day. So, I must make my visage sink in for these cubs.

Having left the contents of my plate as crumbs, I stand up and announce, "I need you oll to listen." I pause. As the talking has been only whispers and mutters, getting their attention is ridiculously easy. I orate, "I know what has transpired upon these grounds this morning and I know how you oll must feel right now. But sulking about it will get you nowhere. Believe me when I say, I have been where you are. My mother and step-father were taken from me. To this day, I hunt the man who did it. Only when he is dead, I can move on. The fact that you are orphans brought you all together. We have one woman to thank for that. She is living evidence that not all of the world is against you. Where I must go is after the man who has ripped families apart and taken advantage of the destitute. I owe the High Priestess my life, and I will not allow her demise, or those of your friends, to eventuate. In my absence, I expect that you will keep strong, protect one another, and await another attack. The people you saw will kill you when they have the chance. Do not permit them." I tread across the chamber, having spotted the grizzly bear at the far end when I first entered. I whisper to him after getting him to lean forward, "As one with experience, these cubs need as much protection as possible."

He whispers back his objection: "This place is also an embassy for Dahalo. I wos olready unwelcome 'ere."

I growl, "Security has dwindled after the assault here. What they could use is additional muscle. You proved your worth to them despite your wound."

"And let you go t-yer nex' destination blind?"

"I will prepare."

I can just tell that Wickerson has his teeth clenched and tries to suppress a growl. He straightens himself and snorts. He seems to not care who I am. He knows my full visage behind the mask, but I doubt that he will arrest me, especially as he wants Giffard to think that Wickerson is dead. As Giffard never planted the bombs himself, he would know none of Wickerson's physical traits. I exit the cabin, to move on to my next objective.

Given the news from the last two days, Knightsedge has seen a lot of shite. It is every day in the slums to see someone get killed by a mugger or someone working for a debt collector, but things have grown worse now. Mercenaries have now swarmed upon the borough of the aristos, strutting like peacocks. In the Knightsedge Knowledge, the borough's most prominent news publisher, over the past two days, four full pages are taken up by every last gruesome piece of detail on gun and knife fights.

Even the petty criminals are afraid to be caught in the crossfires of the two factions of mercenaries. Jack and Giffard. The gun and knife battles have become so bad that too many shops have taken damage as well as more blood than can be cleaned off. It seems that for once, the most infamous slum of Highcond is a subject of these issues. While the borough of Tolden itself comes off as a massive slum, Knightsedge has a district long since forsaken by the council. The houses in that slum were the first to go, according to what I find. Then, the factions expanded their war zone.

I get so eager that I pick up the telephone and dial the number. This has to be the first sign that Jack is all right. The telephone rings five times before I hear, "Ahoy."

I sigh with relief upon hearing the familiar Glashish-accented voice. "Jack. You know not how glad I am that you still live."

He jests, "Is it me time, Lady Death?"

I miss even that. "I just want to know how you 'ave been keeping."

"I bin keepin' well, Death, but the same cannot be said fer me men."

"The chances are much too high of you running out of resources before Giffard does."

He speaks, "Aye, things 'ave become oll too dreary here. It seems that the only place of mine in Knightsedge ta remain untouched by Giffard's mercs, is the Queen o' Clubs. Giffard's arms dealers 'ave had quite the business, too. So, the Lowell House can regain what they've spent. Thanks to your efforts, me men were able ta move in on the other boroughs. Me men slew his lesser-known traffickers, his drug manufacturers, and his dealers."

Leaving his arms dealers, the arctic fox's actual competition. "Jack." I pause. "I cannot say much over the telephone; how can I know that Giffard has no access to the feed? We need a place to meet. Also, contact Dolan if he is still alive, as well. I require his informant Leigh-Anne."

"What a bizarre request", he comments. "But fer you, anything."

"I am surprised yeh trust me even after I accused you of betrayal."

"The enemy of my enemy. Yeh might be whom I need ta turn this war around. After all, I did give you the names of those highest ranks in Giffard's empire."

"For the next part of my mission, you and I need ta work together. I require your knowledge on whot guns Giffard's dealers distribute, and how they work."

"As yeh wish. Tonight. Ten o'clock. Scolopen Park."

"I will be there. Until then, Jack."

"Ta-ta." He then hangs up before I do. I sigh, hoping that no one under the Lowell House payroll overheard the conversation. I expect that he would want me at the destination early.

Without looking back, I orate, "I will be at Knightsedge. There is no changing me mind."

Themba replies, "Then I will not stop you. And I know that you are true to your word to the cubs. They will still worry, though, about their Big Sister."

I stand up, turning around, seeing him in his black tunic and matching trousers, complete with epaulettes and a badge with a sabretooth cat symbol. I approach him, taking his hand. "Whot I am doing is a risky gamble, but it is the only way, Themba. The High Priestess means the world to me. I cannot stand by whilst he has leverage against me." I already know what to do.

Before Themba can continue this conversation, I pull him close by wrapping an arm around him and kissing him. After a long kiss, I look tenderly into his eyes, and then pass him. Stay strong, Themba. You are of more help here than in the city. The Sanctuary, this oasis, orphanage, and embassy, needs the right leadership to defend it.