Chapter 23 - Shackles of Gold

788 I.C, February 25, Dracwyn: The Pierced Veil, Midday

I stepped up to the room, glanced inside, and saw Casey leaning over a small counter. Within moments he sniffed the air, noticed something out of the ordinary, and glanced up to meet my eyes. Cream colored fur covered the inside of his ears, chest, and lower muzzle while reddish-brown covered the rest. The rather thick but short fur invoked the impression of a fluffy puppy and the emerald green eyes were a rare but beautiful addition.

"Come on inside," Casey said with a bright smile that made his ears perk.

I'm not sure I've ever heard him speak before... Or smile for that matter...

I stepped inside, and smiled back, "Leonard told me-"

To my surprise Casey approached and reached out as if he was about to hug me. While reaching forward he shifted direction, reached for the door behind me, and pulled it shut with a click.

"Privacy," Casey whispered and then eased back.

"... Privacy?" I asked in wonder.

Casey nodded and fetched a pair of scissors, "Yes, now undress for me."

I blinked in surprise, "... Excuse me?"

Casey motioned to his neck, "Your mane needs to be cut," he then pointed at his chest, "and the chest-fur is too wild."

"I see," I answered.

"I'd bet you could need a trim here as well," Casey said and traced a claw along his abdomen.

"Is that really necessary?" I asked.

"Shy?" Casey asked and flashed me with an amused smile.

"Not really," I answered.

Casey inched closer and raised his nose to sniff the air, "If we just cut what others see, then you'll be in trouble if you're forced to undress."

"I wasn't planning on stripping in front others," I said.

Casey smiled but something faltered in his expression. For a moment he looked rather pained by something. "Things rarely go as planned. Besides, it'll look good on you."

"Alright," I pulled my shirt off, eased out of my pants, but let the loincloth stay.

Upon looking up I caught Casey observing me with the gaze of a hawk, "Something wrong?"

Casey snapped awake from his daze and motioned toward the middle of the room, "Over here, please."

I stepped into the center while Casey started circling me, "Tell me about yourself?"

Casey kept his eyes on me, "Name's Casey, up until Leonard saved me I was a slave in Karashak."

"Short story," I said.

"They're not pleasant memories," Casey said with a solemn smile.

"Then how about you tell me of the Casey I see in front of me, the one who's no longer a slave?" I asked.

Casey stopped by my side and blinked in confusion, "I'm..."

"Yes?" I asked.

Casey shook his head and felt my mane with one hand, "Talwin tells me you're a good guy."

Avoiding the question...

"You've spent time with Talwin?" I asked.

Casey's claws trailed through my mane, "We usually talk while you're busy in the tower. But I've hardly seen him since you returned from Bellkeep."

"His father passed away, and he needs some time to process that," I said.

Casey reached up with the scissor, and made a single cut that made a tuft of black fur drift toward the floor, "He'll get over it."

A tad cold...

"Oh?" I asked.

"We all deal with the loss of parents. Such is the way of life, and there's no need to bemoan it more than necessary."

"True. Though I hope you're not that callous around Talwin?" I asked.

Casey made a few more cuts and smiled, "Don't worry, I'm not."

"So, about my earlier question. Who are you, Casey?" I asked.

Casey chuckled for a moment and looked up to meet my eyes, "I'm whoever is needed at the moment."

"That makes little sense," I said.

Casey resumed cutting, "Does it? People like to believe in their 'true' self, but the fact of the matter is that they all wear a variety of masks depending on the situation."

"You're saying that you don't have a true self?" I asked.

"I'm saying no one does, it's just another comforting lie we tell ourselves."

"Based on what exactly?" I asked.

Casey stopped cutting and looked up once more, "Life is hard, grueling even, but some of us survive. Some are abandoned by their parents, others are sold on the market as sex-slaves."

You're shifting subjects... Again...

"I think I'm starting to understand what you are," I whispered.

"Huh?" Casey froze for a moment and then tipped his head in wonder.

I raised a claw and pointed at him, "Your behavior is all over the place. Seducing, kind, mysterious, cold, and finally a dash of stoic hardiness. You're trying to figure out what works with a wulfkin from the north."

Casey withdrew the scissors and stepped back. Moments later his ears lowered and he made a nervous smile, "Seems you caught me."

I reached out and gave his chest a jab with my claw, "Not only are you playing a dangerous game with someone who's supposed to be your ally, but your idea of self is lousy as well. Yes, there are times when we wear masks, and we are in many ways reflections of our surroundings. But the true self of a person can often be seen in the places where he finds himself most comfortable. When Archer and Leonard are in the lounge, you soon appear, and you drift to their side, listening, observing, smiling to yourself. You're the silent observer, surrounding himself by those he trusts. Relieved that for a moment, he no longer has to wear a mask."

Casey's expression shifted from fear to a frown of anger, "You make a lot of assumptions."

I bared my teeth, "Oh, you mean like the assumption that you could sway me with the right words and attitude?"

Casey's ears clamp against his head while he raised his hands, "That's not what I intended, not like what you're to make it sound like at least."

"Oh?" I asked.

"I'm sorry. Give me a chance to explain?" Casey asked with a sigh while his shoulders slouched.

I drew a deep breath and forced my expression to relax, "Please do."

Casey opened his eyes and let his gaze drift toward me with a subdued glance, "I screwed up, in more ways than one. This is what comes naturally to me, adapting to people, manipulating them. You helped the guild and Leonard trusts you, so I wanted to be your friend. But I'm not good at the whole 'friends' thing and you put me off balance."

"Off balance?" I asked.

Casey was silent for a moment, "You realize that you're a wulfkin, right? A monster from the far north, capable of ripping a normal person in two with only your hands. A creature created by necromancers to rend the flesh and souls of their enemies. Not only that but you're a powerful mage on top of everything. A nightm-"

I stopped him, "I get it. I'm a scary person."

Casey grew and embarrassed smile, "Sorry. I'm usually a lot smoother than this. But you're right, I'm the chameleon of the group. Whether you need information from someone, a distraction, or anything else that requires subterfuge, then I'm the one taking care of it."

"May I suggest being your natural self if you want to befriend me?" I asked.

Casey frowned, "My 'natural' self is a silent scowling fellow with a lot of sarcasm and cynicism."

I chuckled to myself, "Sounds just lovely."

Casey rolled his eyes, "I see."

"So, you were a sex slave?" I asked.

"Picked up on that, did you?" Casey asked with a curious glance.

"Yeah, the question is whether it was the truth or not?"

Casey inched closer, "It's the truth, for the most part. I've never worked in a brothel and my master wasn't keen on lending me to others."

"All your life?" I asked.

"My parents sold me at a young age and I spend my teenage years tending the master's estate. When I matured... Well, then my Master found other tasks for me."

"Is slavery in Karashak widespread?" I asked.

Casey nodded, "That's an understatement. Karashak is a patriarchy dominated by felines. Slaves are the foundation of their economy."

"I'm sorry for your suffering," I said.

Casey shrugged at the comment, "People usually say that. But it has never felt right to me, because my experience of it was tame compared to others."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Common slaves live a short life of hard labor and they're considered the same way that Agron treats common livestock. I was spared that and lived the life of a servant. I cleaned the floors, tended the garden, helped cook the meals. It was tough but I was safe within my master's walls and I had both shelter and food."

"I see," I said.

Casey continued, "As I matured my master saw and took note of me. I played along with it. More than that, I willingly sought a way to find something more in life."

"Go on?"

Casey drew a deep breath, "I'm like you and that gave me an advantage the others didn't have. I genuinely enjoyed it and my master picked up on that. He liked it, and rewarded me for it. Don't take it the wrong way though, I was his slave and I was not in control of my own body or fate. Because of that I will always revile him and everything Karashak stands for. But, given the circumstances, I was lucky, very lucky, and in some ways... happy."

"That thing you said, about being like me?" I asked.

Casey lowered his gaze and smiled, "The fact that you and Talwin are a couple is pretty obvious, if you know what to look for."

"... I see," I answered.

Casey glanced away for a moment and I could hear his claws scratch against the floor, "I'm far from perfect and Archer couldn't stand me for a while. He considered me a treacherous snake. But Leonard saw that I wasn't a bad guy and was determined to give me a chance. Eventually Archer came to accept me as well."

"That ought to have taught you a lesson," I added.

Casey chuckled, "I'm a slow learner. But give me a chance and I'll prove it to you that I'm a good guy."

"Reasonable enough, but have you been your tricks on Talwin as well?"

"To be honest, Talwin caught me by surprise. I played my tricks, thought I had figured him out, only to realize that he was the one playing me."

"And?" I asked.

Casey threw me a grin, "We kept toying with each other. Playing games of chameleon, doing our best to figure out what is truth and lie. It's fun and we're careful not to let it wander too far."

"Oh, and what is it that you speak of exactly?" I asked.

Casey pointed at me with a claw, "We heard Leonard's stories about Everwinter, and it scared the shit out of us. If someone had told me I'd be grooming a wulfkin with pitch black fur and the eyes of a demon, I'd laugh in his face. Yet, here I am."

"Doesn't really answer the question," I said.

Casey crossed his arms with a rather smug expression, "We spoke about you as a person, your past, what you were like... If your fur is black all over."

I raised my brow in surprise and couldn't help but smile, "It is, as you can see."

"Well, I haven't seen everything yet," Casey mused with another sly grin.

"And it'll stay that way," I answered.

Casey gently hummed to himself, and glanced down, "Of course, I'd never be so rude as to remove someone's loincloth without permission."

I glanced down and to my relief the loincloth was still there,"You really like to toy with people, don't you?"

Casey flashed me a seductive smile, "It's what I'm good at, as long as my prey isn't too intimidating, handsome, or maybe both."

I smirked to myself and looked him in the eyes, "Talwin would be jealous if he heard such things."

Casey inched closer, raised the scissors, and made another cut, "Who said I was talking about you, handsome?"

"Funny," I mused.

Casey chuckled to himself and kept cutting, "Anything else you want to know?"

"You've spent a lot of time with Cromwell, haven't you?"

"Yes, unfortunately. He's a shrewd and intelligent man, though rotten to the core," Casey's answered with disgusted tone.

"Then let me ask you this, if he wanted to hurt you and the others, how would he do it?"

Casey raised his brow, "You mean worse than he already did? Cashed out, tricked the rest of us, and left the guild with enough debt to send us all into the darkest pit that Agron has to offer?"

"Pretty much. We foiled his plan, so what does he do now?" I asked.

"There's nothing worse that he can do," Casey answered.

"He sure seemed determined to try," I said.

Casey shook his head, "That's not what I meant."

My ears perked in wonder, "Explain?"

"There is nothing worse thing he can do, apart from ordering assassins, which he wouldn't do."

"I still don't understand what you're hinting at."

Casey drew a deep breath, "Cromwell's original plan was based on cashing out while getting rid of any incriminating evidence that could bring him down with us. Or at least, as much as he can muster."

"He can't get rid of the evidence completely?" I asked.

Casey nodded, "There's always a paper trail and if we go down then he'll become a subject for investigation. That's where his connection and wealth come into play, because unless there's explicit evidence against him, he'll be able to lean on others to disperse any suspicion."

"I thought Agron was free from this sort of corruption?" I asked.

"Well... To some degree at least. But keep in mind that this is Dracwyn."

"That explains it, thank you. But does this mean that there's explicit evidence against you out there?"

Casey shook his head, "No. But imagine this. You're a judging a group that owes a huge amount of money, on top of that there are documents that hint at a massive smuggling operation, that's bad, right?"

"Certainly sounds bad," I said.

"Now imagine that you find forged documents, but no missing money, no artifacts, stolen paintings, just a bunch of papers with unknown authenticity. They could dig deeper, perform interviews, make inquiries with other nations, trace the documents. But they won't do that for the simple reason that they lack the time and resources."

"Oh, I see now. The documents act as a catalyst, it makes a crime seem that much more damning, and thereby warrants a bigger investigation. But the documents on their own only raise suspicion?"

Casey nodded, "Exactly."

"So what is Cromwell planning to do?" I asked.

"Somehow he finds a way to put guilt on us without the need to incriminate himself. Something awful, easy to verify, yet leaves no doubt that we're the guilty party."

"What would that be? A massive grave underneath the guild?" I asked.

Casey chuckled for a moment, "Smuggling might not be ethical, but we're not mass-murderers, nor have we ever been."

788 I.C, February 25, Dracwyn: The Pierced Veil, Evening

I looked across the basement and made an inventory of the materials that the new blacksmith, Matthew, had delivered. Metal plates, iron bars, crystal holders, and stacks of planks. They were to be the foundation of a cage and magically sealed chamber to hold Clyde.

That is if Clyde has the wits to survive and hasn't been caught so far...

As I wandered the basement my gaze drifted to the ground.

A massive grave underneath the guild... While unlikely... What if it was true?

I eased myself onto the ground, got on all four, and felt the earth with my hands. It hummed with the natural presence of the aether, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.

Precious things need not be magical... Especially not a bunch of bones...

I closed my eyes, focused, and shaped threads of aetheric energy to my will. They drifted through the room, grew twisted like drills, and lowered onto the ground. The energy surged as the tendrils began to burrow and made their way through the earth.

Deeper and deeper... What secrets do you hold?

The tendrils branched out like roots until I could feel the groundwater deep below the guild.

Nothing... Not a trace... No catacombs... Old sections... Nothing... Just... Dirt...

I let the spell dissipate, rose up, and brushed my knees from the dirt.

If it's not underground... Then what if there's something inside the guild itself?

I walked up to one of the walls and let my hand trail along the surface. The threads once more surged outward, felt the walls, poked into every crack, and listened for hollow areas. Yet once more, I found nothing.

What if there's a hidden compartment in Leonard's room? A vault hidden behind a bookcase perhaps?

It felt silly, but the hunt beckoned and I was compelled to follow. I ascended the stairs and felt the aether blossom around me, it drummed in my mind and I followed its beat with a rushing torrent of threads. They poked at every crevice they could reach and as I walked I found a family of mice nurturing their young, a discarded key buried in dust, and a dripping pipe near the bathroom.

The lower floors offered no treasure and I made my way to the staircase. I had almost ascended to the second floor when I felt something, a large space, hidden underneath me.

The staircase... Of course there's empty space beneath it... But...

I glanced over the rail and saw that the area underneath the staircase had been hidden behind a decorative wall.

It's not an empty space... There's something within... I can feel it...

I descended once more, faced the wall, and placed my hands on it. A gentle push made the wooden wall shift and groan a little.

I knew it...

I pushed harder but the wall wouldn't budge.

A mechanism to open it perhaps? Mechanical or aetheric in nature?

I looked around, felt along the wall, and searched every cranny. To my frustration I couldn't find anything to suggest a mechanical solution.

It could be aetheric... Sleeping... Waiting for the right signal to awaken...

I focused the threads on the hidden interior and found the construct, a large metallic box that had locked the wall in place with several spikes grounded in the floor. The threads felt the box, invaded a small gap, and searched the interior. They poked something in mistake and I felt a light jolt of aetheric energy.

A locking mechanism listening for an aetheric signal... I wonder who has the key...

I focused and let the threads poke around until they found the circuit that powered the spikes.

THUNK!

A jolt of energy made the spikes withdraw and the wall eased open to reveal a hidden compartment underneath the staircase. I held out my hand, summoned a spell of light, and watched the area brighten. Placed on top of a crate was an elegant box furnished with golden trims and a lock. I pulled it out, set it down, let an aetheric thread unlock it, and opened the box.

The inside was covered in red silk and consisted of several compartments filled with documents, tools, and several leather bags. I lifted a few of the tools and inspected them.

Precision instruments... Wax seals... Bottles marked with strange ink... Counterfeiting equipment?

I then fetched the leather bags, eased them open, and looked inside.

Cut gems... Gold... Coin... Lots of money here...

Finally I fetched the stack of documents, and held them up to see.

_ Dorlyan Royal Slave Market, Karashak _

_ Certificate of Ownership _

The court hereby awards ownership of...

Dardanos Nestor

Aias Aineias

Nikephoros Dardanos

Ealdwine Oden

Kassandros Heimirich

Kshathra Vairya

Gerulf Dorotheus

_To: Leonard R. Barker _

In Testimony whereof, I, _ Allamah M. Feralda , Clerk of the Royal Slave Court_ _in Dorlyan , have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said court, this 5'th day of June, I.C 779._

As I held the document in my hand I felt a weak signature, the same kind that was affixed on my own forged papers.

An aetheric signature... No doubt verifiable by the Academy... Does that mean... That this is true?

I flipped through the remaining documents and the only signature to be found on them was Leonard's.

A decade ago... Before we met... You were a slave trader back then, Leonard?

I kept the documents, closed the box, stuffed it in the hidden compartment, and closed the wall.

Did Cromwell infiltrate the guild? No... He placed it here from the very start...

This was his original plan... The proof a crime that could not be denied...

And the rest was just meant to drag Archer and Casey down with him...

Does Casey and Archer know of this? Surely Leonard must have known these papers existed... Yet...

I interrupted his plan by buying the guild and thus avoiding an investigation...

Cromwell didn't expect it... It scared him for a while... But now he's ready to spring the trap once more...

I need to think about this...

788 I.C, February 25, Dracwyn: The Pierced Veil, Night

I raised my hand, knocked on the door, and waited.

"Yeah?" Leonard called out from within.

"It's Avery, are you still up?" I asked.

"Yeah, door's open," Leonard answered.

I grabbed the handle, eased it down, and pushed the door open. Leonard was sitting by a small desk hunched over a bunch of papers with a pen in his hand.

"Busy?" I asked, and stepped inside.

"Not more than usual," Leonard answered without breaking his focus.

I shut the door partially, walked up to the Leonard's desk, and glanced down at what he was working with It looked like expense sheets surrounded by ledgers.

"Does that mean I should bother you some other time?" I asked.

Leonard jotted down another number, dropped the pen, and leaned back in his chair, "Not at all, what's on your mind, Avery?"

I eased myself onto one end of the desk and focused on Leonard, "I've been thinking about Cromwell's threat."

"And?" Leonard asked and stretched his arms.

"Are you sure there's nothing in the guild's past that could be used against us?"

Leonard tipped his head in wonder and let his hands rest on his lap, "No, why?"

I reached into my jacket, fetched the stack of documents, and held it out in front of Leonard. His ears perked in surprise while he leaned forward and inspected it. As his eyes scanned the document his expression grew strained and his started to fold back.

After a few moments he reached out but I withdrew the documents before he had a chance to take them. To my surprise he kept leaning over the table with a transfixed expression. I stood up and Leonard almost fell out of his chair before he finally stopped reaching.

"Well?" I asked.

Leonard shook his head a little, blinked, and his muzzle wavered, "Where did you get that?"

"Is it genuine?" I asked.

"Give it to me," Leonard whispered.

"Why?" I asked.

Leonard glanced up to my meet my eyes, "Give them to me."

By chance I noticed a small mirror on his desk. I reached out with one hand, and picked up the mirror.

"You claim that you have the power to look upon others and see whether they are good or bad."

"Avery," Leonard pleaded.

I held up the mirror and moved it so that Leonard could see his own reflection, "What do you see?"

Leonard lips twitched while glared at the mirror, "You really know how to push the dagger deep, and then you twist it around."

"Is the document real?" I asked once more.

Leonard leaned back in his chair, gritted his teeth, and turned his head to stare at the wall, "It's genuine. The document is real."

I set the mirror on the desk. "I found it in a locked box hidden in a secret compartment under the staircase. Did Cromwell place it there, or did I just stumble upon your closet of guilt?"

Leonard fixated on me in anger, "Cromwell did. If I had known where that document was, then I would have burned it a long time ago and been rid of a lot of troubles."

"Why did you do this?" I asked.

For a moment Leonard's expression twisted into hatred. It was strange to see him like that, to realize that the guy who had never raised his voice was not immune to emotions.

Leonard growled at me, "Why does anyone do bad things!? Because we tell ourselves that we have to! Because life is unfair and cruel at times, so we do dark things, to survive!"

"I'd prefer my answer with a bit less philosophy," I said.

Leonard's eyes became like pinpricks, "You have no right to judge me! Wulfkin of the north! Red Eye!"

"I have plenty of right to judge you, Leonard. Both as your business associate, and as your friend."

Leonard gasped for breath and then clenched his hands, "You can't tell the others, Avery. Please?"

"I'm guessing you haven't told them of your dark past?"

Leonard's expression wavered and he shook his head, "It was before I set them free. If they knew..."

"Smuggling is one thing, but slave-trade. Why?" I asked.

Leonard's expression twisted into a pained grimace and tears trickled through his fur, "Avery, please. Give me the document, let me destroy it?"

"Explain to me, and I might give it to you," I said.

Leonard struggled against the tears, and gripped the handles of his chair, "I told you that I was adopted and raised on a farm in Krobia, remember?"

I nodded, "I remember."

"That was true, I never lied about that. But it's more complicated than I made it sound. Krobia is not an empire or a kingdom, it's a gathering of various districts ruled by various clans. One district can bathe in wealth, while the one next to it starves."

"Go on?" I said.

"I never suffered growing up, my family worked hard. They paid their taxes to the local lord, and made sure that the protection rackets were paid. But we were in effect indentured servants, unable to rise in the social ladder, barely maintaining the status quo. It was how things were done where I grew up. Once a farmer, always a farmer."

"But that's not what you wanted, right?"

"I watched my mother grow crooked tending the fields, and I watched my father slowly lose his mind doing the same thing, over, and over again. I refused to face the same fate, I wouldn't have it!"

Leonard paused for a moment and drew a deep breath, "I managed to escape, and I left a message behind. I'd find new purpose in life, become a merchant, own my own store, and one day I would convince the local lord to let them go."

"Things didn't go as planned?" I asked.

Leonard shook his head, "They didn't. I wandered from place to place, and all I saw was suffering, decadence, evil. The farm I grew up in was safe, stable, and there was never any lack of food. Not having true freedom was horrible, but it was hard to realize that I was in fact... lucky."

"So what happened?"

Tears dripped from Leonard's eyes and he lowered his gaze, "Pride happened. I refused to return home. I refused to admit defeat. So I betrayed everything good and honest that my parents had instilled in me. I don't know why I have my ability, but I used it for bad things. I stole from the ones with good hearts. I exploited those that were innocent, and after a while I grew a reputation, not for the evil I did, but for my uncanny ability to pick targets."

"That's how you met Cromwell?" I asked.

Leonard clutched his head with a whimper, "Yes, and he was far more cunning than I ever was!"

"Meaning?"

Leonard drew a sobbing breath and pulled at his own ears, "A lot of thought and planning goes into slavery. A portion can't take the training and they crack under the pressure. Others become vengeful and patiently wait for a chance to get revenge. Some make excellent sex slaves, while a select few are fir to become spies. Cromwell assigned me the task of finding out who was who."

"You must have made a lot of money," I said.

Leonard made a choking chuckle and looked up, "Yes, I did, but..."

"But?" I asked.

"My ability does not work on myself, I can't look in a mirror and see whether I am good or bad. But when I stood there, watching the gold glitter around my neck, the jewels priding my fingers. It filled me with disgust, and I could feel the rot growing within myself. I was becoming a monster, just like Cromwell. I couldn't take it any longer, knowing that my fortune had been made from the suffering of others. So I refused and I stood up to Cromwell!" Leonard snapped.

"He wasn't happy I take it?" I asked.

Leonard's voice cracked with another whimper, "No, and it was then I realized just how shrewd a man he was, and how badly I had screwed up."

"How?"

Leonard's claws raked over his head while he focused on the document in my hand, "I told myself I was doing a good thing. I could put the slaves where they would suffer less, where they belonged. In return Cromwell offered me my dream, citizenship within Agron, shares in the guild, the connections I'd need to start a shop of my own."

"Go on?" I said.

Leonard fixated on me with another glare, "All I had to do was to observe the slaves and whisper in Cromwell's ear! That was our deal and it kept my name clean! Until Cromwell tricked and bound me to his service..."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Leonard slumped into his chair and shook his head, "I was an idiot. One day Cromwell was missing and one of his aides told me he had taken ill. We had a big deal coming up and the slavers are not the patient sort. So the responsibility fell on me. I pointed out the slaves, as usual, and then they wanted me to sign."

I looked at the document in my hand, "And you did."

Leonard snapped to attention and growled, "Yes! I did! I had to! I was pressured into doing it! I had no choice unless I wanted to face their wrath and risk becoming a slave myself!"

Leonard's shook his head once more and made a chuckling sob, "They sampled my aetheric signature, placed it within their records, and affixed a copy to that document. Forever marking me as a slave-trader."

"But somehow you got out of the slave trade, right? You said you stood up to Cromwell."

Leonard wiped his tears, "I did, I refused, and he threatened me. To tell my parents, to have my citizenship in Agron revoked, he even threatened to make me a slave."

"And how does the story end?" I asked.

"I claimed that I had made insurances that if anything happened to me, then I would drag Cromwell down with me. My knowledge of the guild, the contacts I had, and the respect Cromwell had for my power was enough for him to fall for my bluff. So he offered me a deal, I would never have to deal with slave trade again, and in return I'd start smuggling ore."

"And that's how you ended up in Everwinter?"

Leonard nodded, "Yes. Cromwell likely counted on that I'd lose my life in Everwinter, sooner or later."

"What about Casey and Archer?" I asked.

Leonard drew a deep breath and exhaled, "They were part of my way to atone for what I had done. Cromwell wasn't happy with it, but he tolerated their presence."

"No wonder Cromwell is out to get you," I said.

Leonard wiped his nose and coughed, "When the wulfkins attacked he probably saw his chance to empty the coffers and get rid of me. Once I fell along with the others he'd just buy the guild house back."

"I see," I answered.

Leonard looked up and held out his hand once more, "That document is Cromwell's hold on me, and it has shackled me for a decade. The aetheric signature is practically impossible to copy and Cromwell wouldn't risk using a fake. Please, Avery. I'm begging you. Give it to me, and let me destroy it?"

"What about the others?" I asked.

Leonard pleaded with his ears clamped to his head, "They can't know. They'd revile me, hate me. I've done my best to repent for my crimes. Please?"

"Alright," I held out the documents and Leonard took them in his hands.

"Thank you," Leonard whispered.

"I asked Casey and Archer to wait outside, Leonard. They've heard everything," I added.

Leonard looked up once more and his eyes widened in horror while his muzzle dropped open.

I made a somber smile, "Don't underestimate the bonds you've forged with them, Leonard."

Leonard turned his head while the door was pushed open by Casey and Archer.

788 I.C, February 25, Dracwyn: The Pierced Veil, Night

I closed the door to give the others some privacy and then turned around. Moments later I passed the corner and came face to face with Talwin.

"Hey," Talwin whispered with a gentle smile.

"Oh, you took me by surprise," I said.

Talwin stepped into the corridor and looked toward Leonard's office, "By surprise? Is that possible?"

I chuckled to myself, "I was distracted, how much have you heard?"

Talwin looked up at me, "All of it. I felt you in the aether earlier, when you were going crazy searching the for something. So I decided to listen in on everything."

"Sneaky, but I'm glad you've left your room," I said.

"I know I asked for some space to clear my thoughts. Well, I've done that, and I could use some company."

I motioned toward the lounge at the end of the hall, "A drink before bed?"

Talwin drew a deep breath and nodded, "That would be wonderful."

We entered the lounge, walked up to the bar, and I fetched a pair of glasses, "Krobian wine?"

"Got anything stronger?" Talwin asked and leaned onto the bar so that the moon's light grazed his fur.

I reached down, opened the cabinet, and looked around, "Some kind of whiskey sound alright?"

"Yeah. Was that the right thing to do? Telling Casey and Archer?" Talwin asked.

I stood up, and placed the bottle on the bar, "Lets say we hide Leonard's secret and investigators show up by the door. During that critical moment his secret is brought up for some reason. Cromwell could whisper in Casey's and Archer's ears. What happens?"

Talwin pondered it, "It would definitely seed distrust, and I'm not sure how good a liar Leonard is. Especially when pinned to the wall. In other words, it would be a disaster."

"This way we revealed it under circumstances we can control. Thereby crippling the hold Cromwell has on us."

"And what if things go badly?" Talwin asked.

"Then that is how it is, but we're still in a far better position to deal with the outfall. Not to mention that it was the right thing to do. Casey and Archer deserved to know, and Leonard needs to be ready for the day this comes to hunt him once more."

"Once more?" Talwin asked.

I unscrewed the bottle as I spoke, "The records in Karashak still exist, until those are destroyed he's still marked."

"True," Talwin whispered.

I poured a shot in each glass and held one out to Talwin, "I understand why Leonard tried to hide it, but I am also quite angry, and disappointed in him. He was after all willing to risk everything we've built in order to hide his secret."

Talwin took the glass, raised it to his nose, and sniffed, "Sometimes a choice can bury so deeply into your mind that you lose perspective on things."

I raised the glass, emptied it in one go, and swallowed. It burned for a moment but quickly passed when I cleared my throat. "Any more secrets you have to tell me, Talwin?"

Talwin chuckled and shook his head, "No, well... Not any secrets of this magnitude at least."

"Oh?" I asked while Talwin emptied his glass in one go.

Talwin coughed, set his glass down, and smiled, "What do you say we settle in the sofa?"

"Sure," I approached, wrapped around his waist, and led him toward the sofa.

"Hey," Talwin whispered as I settled down and he lay down on top of me.

"Yeah?" I asked while he leaned onto me, angled his head, and rested on my shoulder,

"I wanted to explain," Talwin whispered.

Our scents mingled, his arms embraced me, and he closed his eyes while resting on my chest. The warmth of his body, the gentle beat of his heart, and the slow steady breathing felt like a panacea. It filled me with a sensation of comfort and belonging that soaked my mind.

"About?" I murmured.

"I pushed you away earlier, and withdrew into my own self. I asked to be left alone. It felt wrong, and it was wrong to leave you confused like that. But I needed to do it."

"I understand," I whispered.

Talwin gently shook his head, "No, you don't."

My thoughts started to drift, "Well, explain then?"

"I joined you on this journey to find myself, and to help my father. Since then I've learned so much, found so much, and discovered far more about myself than I ever knew. But there's a part of me from back then, the one still clinging to those old thoughts, the one where the only loyalties I held were with my parents."

I let my gaze drift toward the moon outside the window, "And?"

Talwin held tight, "The death of my father marks the end of my obligation to the person I used to be. It took me some time to realize that, but now I am free to make my own fate."

"Your father. What about your mother, do you have no loyalty to her?" I asked.

Talwin smiled, "My mother, Martha, the Crimson Rose, is who she is, and I will always love her. But there's a part of me that doubts we will ever see each other again."

"Why?" I asked in wonder.

"At times my mother would speak of her days as the Crimson Rose. Her smile flourished and her eyes shimmered with emotion when she did. She treasured those days, and longed for it. But she never wavered in her obligations to me or father, because we needed her, and she loved us. But now that my father is dead, and I no longer need her..."

"Then the Crimson Rose might return once more?" I asked.

Talwin nodded, drew a deep breath, and slowly exhaled, "Yes, if she hasn't already."