B.4-Ch. ##:

Salos: Stalking

Salos stalked along the balconies of Belden, his senses stretching below him to track his quarry. He could hear their footsteps on the cobble streets, their cadence unique to each of the three men. He could hear their conversation, even through the bustle of the surrounding crowds.

"Is this Tals Street?" the vargher asked. There was a rustle of paper, like he was checking a map.

"That's what the lady there said," the snake replied, his voice tinged with the agreeable notes of social skills.

Salos drew closer, watching them from his vantage point. Kohen stood behind his retainers, his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.

He wasn't running from Cass. He wasn't running from Alacrity.

He was making himself useful. Cass should thank him for his initiative. He ignored the pull of her soul.

It was shortsighted not to monitor her thrall. For all they knew, Kohen was looking for ways to kill her. They had no idea how long her Commands lasted, another thing that they should have tested more rigorously, even if it meant testing it on him rather than Kohen to keep that information secret.

Odds were good though that Kohen was no longer constrained by her Command that he could not harm her. He could be up to anything now.

So, it was up to him to keep an eye on the man.

"What was the place called again?" Daidyn, the vargher, asked. He squinted at the map and then up at the street.

"Trallyn's Apothecary and Clinic," Kohen snapped.

"Come on, Day," the snake—Tiador was his name?—said, elbowing the bigger man. "You must have heard of the place before. It's famous."

Daidyn shrugged. "Famous for what?"

"They are the preeminent curse breakers on the peninsula. They are famous for having broken the one on the heir of Celestine. People call them miracle healers for it." Tiador shot a meaningful look at Kohen.

The big man nodded as if he vaguely remembered hearing that story before.

Healing for the brat? Oh, did the boy think the demonic nature was a curse? Maybe it was, but it wasn't the kind that anyone could fix.

He'd already had the miracle. Cass had already fixed what could be fixed. He should be dead, and since he wasn't, he should be on his knees thanking Cass for what she could do.

It was disgusting that he put up resistance. He had no idea how much worse it could be.

The three continued down the street another two blocks.

"Ah, that's it," Tiador said, nodding at a narrow two-story building with sharply angled roofs all made of dark shale tile.

"Let's get this over with," Kohen muttered. "Wait here, Daidyn. Don't let anyone else in."

"You got it, boss," the big vargher said with a salute. He shifted to stand like a statue beside the door, his eyes appraising the crowds as they passed.

Kohen and the snake walked into the building.

Salos hesitated. Should he follow them in? What was he to gain by doing so? It was obvious what the brat wanted. Just as it was obvious what the results would be.

There was no fixing the compulsion to obey a master. The system had given them to Cass. It was what it was.

The alternative was rabid madness devouring any soul he could get his paws on.

His claws scraped against the wood of the balcony.

Entering would just increase the chances of being spotted. He needed to remember his Stealth was no longer the Stealth of a level 74 Assassin. It was the piddling skill of a level 23 amateur.

His claws dug in deeper.

He should watch from here. Monitor their movements.

"Hello!" the vargher called.

Salos glanced down. Had the man spotted a familiar face? A conspirator?

The man was looking up. At Salos's balcony. At him?

"Kitty!" Daidyn called.

Salos blinked slowly, confusion on multiple fronts paralyzing him.

How had he been seen? His Stealth wasn't perfect anymore, but he still should have had more than enough to avoid the sight of that walking muscle down there. The vargher was clearly a Strength specialist. With his big sword and heavy armor, he was the type you pointed at problems you wanted crushed into fine powder, not the type to find new things to crush.

What did he want? Why would he call out like this? The smart thing to do if you realized you were being followed was to quietly slip out of the tail's sights. Or to serendipitously have them killed.

Yelling at them? Alerting the tail that you knew? For what purpose?

"Come on down, kitty," the man said. His voice was soft. Softer than Salos had believed the man was capable of speaking. Almost enchanting.

But no, wait. Salos was ahead of himself. The vargher had called him 'kitty'. The fool was just cooing at a stray cat. For whatever reason, he felt he could do that on the job. Unprofessional, really.

But that was why there was no hostility in the voice. That was why it was soft. Maybe he should act the part of a stray cat. Climb down and let the man pet him? Why did that sound so appealing?

"You're Miss Mage Cass's kitty, aren'tcha?" Daidyn continued, his voice still soft and cajoling.

Salos flinched. What? The man recognized him and still was calling like that? He knew he was Cass's cat? Then he should know that Salos was watching his employer.

Was this a trap?

[Call Animal ignored]

A chill ran down Salos's spine. A skill? Oh, no. That explained his thoughts. Imagine—him—wanting to be pet by a stranger? He snorted at the thought. It was one thing for Cass to do it, because…

Why did he like it when Cass did it? Was it the feline instincts? His body accepting she was his master? He put a pin in this line of thought. It was hardly relevant to the current situation.

This was a trap. There was no two ways about it. That vargher knew who Salos was. Had Kohen told his people? Likely. He had tipped his hand too much. Too many people knew he could talk. He needed to be more careful.

What did he do now? Withdraw? And let this clumsy response to his spying stand? He bristled at the thought.

Did he stay right where he was? It wasn't like the man could do anything about him. Just yell and tell his boss about it when they came out.

If he was caught anyway, should he risk more?

"Come here, kitty, I've got treats," the vargher continued, fishing in his pocket and retrieving a pouch that smelled strongly of fish.

Salos froze again.

No, he couldn't— The man didn't—

Did this man carry around cat treats?

Why? Was this part of an increasingly elaborate trap? That didn't make any sense. If it was part of a plan to trap him, that implied the vargher knew Salos wasn't an ordinary cat. But if they knew he wasn't ordinary, would they really use ordinary cat treats?

No. The simpler explanation—the explanation that made more sense with the man's soft cajoling—was he just carried those around, in case he ran into a cat.

The man was trying to pet stray cats on the job.

What was Salos supposed to do with that?

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Did he act like a normal cat to maintain his cover? What would a normal cat do? Were there even normal cats at level 23?

Salos tried his best to remember how his last interaction with a cat had gone. He was pretty sure it had scratched him. Should he scratch the man?

Wait. This was spiraling out of control.

Daidyn shook his bag of treats again. "You want one?"

Why did they smell so good? He was a spirit. He didn't need to eat. The raw energies of the shifting continental plates was more than enough to maintain himself.

"Come on down, kitty," the man cooed again. A single dried fish shook out onto the cobblestone street.

Salos could feel the tinge of a skill on the man's voice. He should ignore it. Cass would ignore it.

On the other hand, he'd probably be able to hear what Kohen was up to inside the building from the front door. Eating Daidyn's treats would give him an excuse to be there.

It definitely wasn't because he wanted dried fish morsels. It wasn't because he wanted that man to pet his back. It definitely wasn't because he was hoping to overhear a fix for demonic compulsions.

Definitely.

He hopped down the side of the building, scampering from balcony to awning to street, and crept up to the big man.

People were always huge from this vantage point. It was easier on Cass's shoulder, where he could look people in the eyes, rather than staring up from their feet.

This man would have been huge either way.

"That's a good kitty," the man cooed, tossing a fish a meter or so in front of him.

Salos scooted up to it, snatching it up from the cobble street. It crunched delightfully in his mouth.

At the same time, Salos asked the stone to tell him what was happening inside the building. The street passed his question to the shop's stone steps and the steps to the tile floor within. They played back the last couple of minutes quickly to catch up to real time.

Kohen had strode into the building, his steps impatient and impetuous. Tiador followed, slower and easier.

"Welcome to Trallyn's Apothecary and Clinic," a woman said. She wore soft-soled slippers, and was likely a slight woman; she barely had any presence on the tiles she stood on. "How can I help you today?"

"Are you Arabel Diaentes?" Kohen demanded, as charming as ever.

"The same."

"Healer and curse breaker?"

"All things to do with purification, yes," the woman, Arabel, said.

"Is it true you can safely remove unwanted skills?" Tiador asked.

She must have nodded, because there was a pause before she said, "It sounds like there is a story here?"

"Unimportant," Kohen snapped. "I would request an examination and your assistance with what you find."

"With what I find?" she echoed. "Do you not know what ails you?"

Kohen made a noncommittal noise.

"Well, I suppose what you think it is is unimportant," she said finally. "Sit down over here. I will take a look."

They stepped into the back corner. Tiador paced the main room.

"Is this warded?" Kohen asked, his voice only captured by the tile directly underneath him.

"Yes," she said. "Patient confidentiality is important." But not important enough to keep the stone from listening. Salos smiled to himself.

"You want another fishy?" Daidyn asked, holding another dried fish in his palm. Salos hesitated. He needed to stay in front of the building. Stone didn't remember this level of detail long. In a few minutes, it would have forgotten the specifics of the words, abstracting the memory to just people talking. In an hour, it may not even remember how many sets of people had been inside.

But the man was holding the fish still. Salos would have to get closer to him to eat it. He hesitated. The last thing he wanted was to be picked up. He needed his feet on the cobble street or the shop's stone steps.

"I don't sense a curse," the woman said in her shop to Kohen.

"I don't know if it is a curse, exactly," Kohen admitted.

"Come here, kitty," Daidyn cooed.

"What should I be looking for then?" the woman asked.

Kohen hesitated. So did Salos.

"An infection. Of the soul," Kohen said in a whisper the stone barely caught.

"Come here," Daidyn said, dropping the fish and taking another step back.

Salos crept forward, his eyes fixed on the man, ready to bolt if the man's hands reached for him.

"Souls can't be—" the woman paused mid-sentence. "Oh. That's—They aren't supposed to feel like that."

"I know," Kohen said through gritted teeth.

"Are you alright? How are you even lucid?"

The second fish was just as crunchy and flavorful as the first.

"Can you fix it?" Kohen asked.

"I've never seen a case like this," she admitted. "This isn't a curse. I'm not sure what this is. How did this happen? I didn't think this was possible."

"Can you fix it?" Kohen repeated.

She took a step back.

Daidyn took a step forward.

Salos hissed up at him.

Daidyn edged back, his hands up and in clear view.

"I'm… I want to say yes. But, that would be irresponsible to promise that. I need to do some research. This is entirely unprecedented. If I knew how this happened, that would give me a better place to start."

"That's irrelevant," Kohen said.

"I assure you, it is not. If you could at least tell me if a god did this to you or an artifact or—I don't know—a skill? Are there mortal skills that can do this?"

Kohen's feet ground into the stone beneath him. "An artifact and a skill. I think. Maybe multiple skills."

She hummed to herself. "Multiple factors. That would explain some of this. That does make this more complicated. Do you still have the artifact?"

Another pause.

"No?" the woman asked. "What happened to it?"

"I… I ate it," Kohen admitted.

Another pause.

"You don't happen to have another one I could inspect?" she asked.

"No."

"A shame. And the skills, were they used on you or were they your own?"

Another pause.

"How is it, kitty?" the vargher asked. "Are they tasty?"

Salos hissed at him again. He didn't like how he was inching closer.

"Some of both, I think. I don't exactly remember what happened."

"Can you show me the ones you used?"

"No," Kohen said. If Salos wasn't busy watching the vargher, he would have snorted at that answer. The skills Kohen had used were demonic, soul-devouring ones. Even the brat wasn't stupid enough to use them here. Could he still use them at all with his soul smoothed out by Cass?

"Alright. If you are so sure. What about symptoms?"

"I keep losing my name," he said.

"What is your name? You didn't introduce yourself earlier."

A long pause.

"Kohen."

Another pause.

"Just Kohen?" the woman asked.

"No," he answered quickly.

"Then your family name is?"

"I'll remember in a minute."

"I see." She cleared her throat awkwardly. "And beside your name?"

"I keep remembering things that didn't happen to me," he said. "I keep thinking things that don't make sense."

"Such as?"

"A language I've never heard. Faces of people who I keep thinking are my lovers. A husband I don't have. Children."

Another long pause.

"Another fishy, kitty?" the vargher asked, shaking another dried fish into the palm of his hand and holding it out to Salos.

Salos stared up at the man, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. Daidyn wanted him to eat out of his hand. Salos's skin prickled at the thought even as his mouth watered at the smell of the fish. Curse this cat body. Curse these cat instincts.

He was Nyxdra. He had not been a pet for a long time.

"And my skills and concepts changed. I don't remember some of my spells. And, at the same time, I have these new skills that parts of me are sure I've had forever." If Salos didn't know better, it almost sounded like the brat was on the verge of tears. He couldn't imagine that arrogant boy crying, though.

"Is there anything else?"

"Is this not enough?" Kohen growled back.

Another pause.

"It's okay, kitty," Daidyn cooed. "Come get the fishy."

The wretched baby talk grated, even as his body relaxed against his wishes, the man's skill—likely an animal taming skill—wrapping itself around him. It was barely even about maintaining his cover now. He wanted the fish. He wanted it despite knowing it was a cheap animal treat.

And yet he could not run. He was here. He needed to know what Kohen was doing. He needed to know if the brat was plotting to kill Cass. Or if he'd found a way to free himself from her control.

"There is one more thing," Kohen admitted. "I find myself compelled to follow a particular person's commands."

"Who's?"

"Some woman."

"How is she related?"

"She is one of the ones who used a skill on me to put me in this state."

"What Authority is she using?"

"None. She isn't anybody. She shouldn't have any power over me."

"Would it be possible to bring her here?"

Kohen snorted. "As if."

"I encourage you to try. If I could see the effect in action, I would be better able to diagnose the issue."

"And if she commands me not to seek treatment?" Kohen asked.

"Ah, do you think that is likely?"

It wasn't. Cass—soft, stupid Cass—wanted nothing more than to break her control over him. But why would Kohen believe that? Only someone like Cass would even think of giving up that kind of power.

"What exactly is your relationship to this woman?" the doctor asked.

"She is my master," Kohen said without thinking. He winced. Salos winced alongside him. "No. She's—"

"Don't force it if you are unable to say it."

Kohen should be glad it was Cass and not another who was his master. And yet, Salos hadn't been able to stop himself from physically recoiling at the system-compelled answer. Every broken piece of his Concept of Loyalty dug into his soul like splintered glass into exposed flesh.

"Are you hurt, kitty?" Daidyn asked softly. The big man set the fish on the ground, inching back again.

Salos inched toward the fish, barely able to control himself. He could feel the man's eyes on him. Scanning him for weakness.

"Does Miss Mage Cass know?" the vargher asked.

"She's just some mage. No one knows where she's from." Kohen ground out through gritted teeth. "All of this is her fault."

Hardly. Salos dragged the fish a few steps away from the vargher, his eyes never leaving the man.

Stupid Cass had saved Kohen, and this was how he thanked her? Slandering her name wherever he went.

"I understand," the doctor said, her voice measured and calming—there might have been a skill under it, subtle but potent. "It would be best if you could bring her here and she was willing to cooperate. I have a few tinctures that may help with the other symptoms in the meantime." All the stone tile could hear her voice again.

He didn't care about Kohen's other symptoms; all that mattered was what they intended to do about Cass. If they asked nicely, Cass would probably even come with them. If they demanded it from her, she'd probably tell him to get lost.

He looked forward to seeing Kohen's face as Cass ordered him to get lost. Would the Command interpret that literally? A grin spread across Salos's lips at the image of Kohen wandering the streets of Belden increasingly desperate.

"Yeah? You like that, kitty?" Daidyn asked.

It was time to go. Salos scarfed down the last bite of the cat treat and dashed away.

"Kitty," Daidyn called after him sadly.

Salos ignored him, climbing back up onto the balcony of the neighboring building.

A moment later, the shop's door swung open.

"Day, are you terrorizing the stray population again?" Tiador asked as they stepped out.

Daidyn shot up, shoving his bag of treats back in his pocket. "No, my lord. I was standing guard the entire time."

"Of course." Tiador patted his shoulder, a playful smirk on his face. "Keep it up. I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" Daidyn asked, looking back at the closed shop door.

"The good doctor is going to run some more tests on Ko for us. I'm going to run an errand for him while they're doing that. You should head in and keep an eye on him."

"Can do." Daidyn pounded his chest and went into the building.

Salos watched the other man wander down the road back toward the inn.

They were splitting up? Unfortunate. Tiador might actually ask Cass nicely enough that she'd fold.

He watched the retainer leave, ignoring the impulse to follow him. He was almost certainly headed to Cass, and Cass could more than handle that one.

No, whatever was happening to Kohen was almost certainly more interesting.

The vargher was still likely near the door just inside. Salos could probably hop back down there, but the idea of being treated as a common cat again sent all sorts of confused feelings down his spine.

No, he needed to find a new place to listen from.

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