The tavern smelled of stale beer, sweat, and desperation—a fitting backdrop for a meeting like this. Marco sat with his back to the wall, one hand resting casually on the table, the other hidden beneath it, fingers wrapped around the hilt of a short blade. Trust was a luxury he could no longer afford.

Three figures sat across from him, each as different from the others as day from dusk from night. They hadn't touched their drinks.

"Let me get this straight," said the woman on the left, her voice carrying the lilting accent of the Northern Isles. "You want us to help you—what was it again?—'resurrect a dying guild' against the explicit wishes of its founder? A guild with no money, no warehouse, and apparently no future?" Toranne leaned forward, her copper-red hair falling across one eye. She brushed it back with fingers adorned in thin metal rings that could, with a flick of her wrist, extend into razor-sharp claws. "That's not a job. That's a suicide pact."

"I didn't say it would be easy," Marco replied, his voice steady despite the tension coiling in his stomach. "But I didn't say it would be impossible either."

"Nothing's impossible with the right incentive," rumbled the mountain of a man to her right. Brom had arms thick as tree trunks and a face that looked like it had been carved from granite with a dull chisel. His size alone was enough to clear a path in most crowds, but it was the calculated intelligence behind his small, dark eyes that had earned him his reputation. "But from what I hear, Crimson Scale's coffers are emptier than a priest's wine bottle after confession."

"Are they?" Marco smiled thinly, pushing a folded parchment across the table. "Tresh is stepping down, so she's been planning this well. Moving assets, liquidating properties. The treasury's official records show next to nothing, but that's not the whole story."

Brom unfolded the parchment, his expression unchanging as he studied the figures written there. He passed it to Toranne, who raised an eyebrow.

"If these numbers are accurate..." she began.

"They are," Marco assured her. "Tresh keeps her real ledger hidden. These are the actual holdings of Crimson Scale, scattered across seven banks in three different provinces. More than enough to rebuild, and more than enough to make this worth your while."

The third figure, who until now had remained silent, finally spoke. His voice was surprisingly soft for someone whose left eye was a milky white orb crossed with scar tissue, and whose right hand had been replaced by an intricate mechanical prosthetic that clicked softly as he drummed its brass fingers on the table.

"Numbers on paper mean nothing if we can't access them," he said. Whisper—that was the only name he used, and it suited both his voice and his methods. "Tresh will have safeguards, passwords, verification systems."

Marco's smile widened slightly. "Which is why we need your particular talents, Whisper. You're not just muscle—you're the key that opens those locks."

"And after we help you get this money," Brom said, "what then? Crimson Scale is still finished."

"No," Marco said, his eyes hardening. "Not finished. Evolving. The guild model Tresh built served its time, but the commercial landscape has changed. We don't need fifty officers and a hundred clerks. We need a lean, focused operation built around the core business—luxury textiles—with diversified interests in emerging markets."

Toranne laughed, a sound like glass breaking. "You sound like a proper businessman. Hard to reconcile with the stories I've heard about Marco, Cisco's right hand."

Marco's expression didn't change. "The past is the past. I'm offering you a chance to be part of something new. Something profitable."

"And what exactly would we be doing in this 'new' Crimson Scale?" Brom asked, scratching his beard thoughtfully. "Besides looking intimidatingly handsome, which I do for free."

Marco stared at him, not a flicker of amusement crossing his face. "This is a serious proposition."

"Oh, I'm being serious," Brom replied. "My handsomeness is a tactical advantage. People get distracted by this chiseled jawline." He ran a massive hand along his scarred, pockmarked face. "It's a burden I carry."

Toranne snorted into her drink while Whisper's lips twitched in what might have been a smile.

Marco's expression remained stone-cold. "If we could focus on the matter at hand."

"By all means," Brom said, gesturing graciously. "Please continue with your very serious plan that definitely won't get us all killed or imprisoned."

Marco laid a detailed map of the city on the table, marking several locations with small red dots. "Wangara's success relies on three critical supply chains. Disrupt them, and they collapse before they can establish themselves properly."

"What kind of disruption are we talking about?" Whisper asked, leaning forward with interest.

"First, their communication crystals," Marco said, tapping the eastern harbor. "They've built relationships with a clan of merfolk who harvest crystals from the deep reefs. Without those crystals, they can't produce the magic devices that are winning them so much attention."

"Merfolk aren't easy to intimidate," Toranne noted. "They're not subject to surface laws."

"No, but they are subject to physical harm," Marco replied. "I've learned they meet Wangara's representatives at a specific cove every seven days—tomorrow night, in fact. The merfolk bring the crystals, exchange them for whatever it is they want."

"You want us to intercept the exchange," Whisper deduced.

Marco nodded. "Take the crystals, scare the merfolk enough to leave these waters."

"What's the second target?" Brom asked, suddenly all business.

"Their workshop in the craftsmen's quarter," Marco continued, pointing to another mark on the map. "Wangara's apparently built a secret production warehouse for their crystals."

"You want an accident," Toranne said, understanding dawning in her eyes.

"A small fire. Nothing that would harm people," Marco clarified. "Just enough to destroy their current batch and damage the facility. The city inspectors would shut it down for weeks."

"And the third?" Whisper asked.

Marco's finger moved to the northern district. "Their materials processor, Kern's Metalworks. They're the only facility in the city with the specialized equipment to refine the conductive alloys that house the communication crystals. Without these casings, the crystals are useless—too unstable to function properly. Wangara's entire communication network depends on a steady supply of these components."

"Let me guess," Brom rumbled. "Another 'accident'?"

"More subtle," Marco replied. "We studied their device. Kern's process requires precise measurements of three key minerals in their alloy mixture. We're going to access their supply room and contaminate their mineral stores with similar-looking but incompatible elements. When they use these in production, the resulting casings will seem perfect but will gradually degrade when exposed to the crystal energy. By the time anyone realizes what's happening, every communication device they've shipped will be failing, and their reputation will be in ruins."

Whisper's mechanical fingers tapped a thoughtful rhythm on the table. "These actions would significantly hamper their production capabilities."

"And give us time to secure Tresh's hidden assets and rebuild," Marco agreed. "While Wangara scrambles to repair their supply chains, we'll be consolidating our position, approaching their displaced clients with better terms."

"It's not a bad plan," Toranne admitted. "Clean, targeted. No direct confrontation with city authorities."

"This isn't about revenge," Marco said firmly. "It's about business. Creating an opening for us to reclaim our position in the market."

"And if this goes wrong?" Whisper asked. "If we're caught?"

"Then we're no worse off than I already am. But I don't intend to be caught." He pushed three small pouches across the table. Each clinked with the unmistakable sound of gold. "This is just an advance. Help me succeed, and your shares would be fifty times this amount."

Brom picked up his pouch, opened it, and examined the contents with an expert eye. "This wouldn't cover the cost of my breakfast for a week." He looked up at Marco's unamused face and shrugged. "I'm a growing boy."

"That's the advance," Marco repeated coolly. "The full payment—"

"Yes, yes, fifty times this amount, riches beyond measure, we'll all be swimming in gold coins like festival ducks." Brom tucked the pouch away. "I've heard that promise before. Usually right before someone tries to stab me in the back."

"If I wanted to stab you," Marco said with deadly seriousness, "you wouldn't see it coming."

"See?" Brom grinned at his companions. "This is why I like him. Absolutely no sense of humor, but very honest about the stabbing."

The three mercenaries exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them. Toranne took her pouch next, fingers briefly extending into gleaming claws before retracting as she smiled. "This sounds entertaining at least."

Whisper was the last to decide, his mechanical hand clicking softly as he considered. Finally, he took the remaining pouch. "I want specifics. Plans. Schedules. Security rotations."

Marco nodded, relief washing through him though he kept it from showing on his face. "You'll have it all by morning."

"Then it seems," Whisper said, his voice barely audible over the tavern's ambient noise, "the Crimson Scale has found new blood."

Marco raised his untouched glass. "To resurrection," he said.

"Or a glorious last stand," Toranne added with a predatory smile.

"Or," Brom chimed in, raising his massive tankard, "to whatever gets me paid enough to buy that lakeside tavern I've had my eye on. 'Brom's Place'—has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

As they drank, Marco felt a flutter of genuine hope for the first time since Tresh's announcement. With these three, he might actually have a chance. One last, desperate chance to take back what was being stolen from him.

Even if one of them seemed determined to drive him mad in the process.

Tomorrow, they would begin.

And Wangara would never see them coming.

*****

The waves crashed rhythmically against the shore, a steady percussion that almost—almost—could have lulled Adom to sleep. He stifled another yawn, stretching his arms overhead as he settled deeper into his hiding spot among the rocks overlooking the cove.

The moon hung low over the water. Pretty, in a melancholy sort of way. Not that Adom had much time to appreciate scenery these days.

"Of all the nights for a stakeout," he muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes.

Today had been brutal. Three exams back-to-back. Then Krozball practice. Then classes. So many classes. All capped off with a surprise practical assessment in defensive spellweaving.

Sometimes, being a kid really was tiresome.

Adom pulled his cloak tighter around himself. The beach was nice at night—peaceful in a way the academy never was. Just the sound of water against sand, the occasional cry of a night bird, the distant shimmer of fishing boats on the horizon. No people asking questions. No professors with expectations. No destiny hanging over his head.

Just waves and darkness and salt air.

He might have enjoyed it if he weren't so tired. And if he weren't about to spring a trap on a desperate criminal and his mercenary friends.

"The things I do for justice," he muttered, shifting position to keep his legs from falling asleep.

This had all come together faster than expected. When they'd captured the Crimson Scale's spies, he'd originally planned to just replace them with Valiant's people and them to the Crimson Scale with misinformation—a standard counter-intelligence play. Bait Marco into a rash action that would alienate his remaining supporters.

But then opportunity had presented itself in the form of the three spies' unique skills. One was an expert in document forgery. Another specialized in blueprints and facility layouts. The third had an encyclopedic knowledge of guild operations.

So instead of just sending them back with bad information, Adom had decided to be more... creative.

He'd prepared an entire false intelligence portfolio. Detailed maps of nonexistent facilities. Schedules for shipments that would never arrive. Security rotations for guards who didn't exist.

It wasn't just misinformation. It was an entire alternative reality, meticulously crafted to lead Marco exactly where Adom wanted him.

"Like building a maze where all paths lead to the same center," he'd explained to Cass when laying out the plan.

Why not just confront Marco directly? Because Marco was dangerous precisely because he was cornered. A direct attack would force him to fight with everything he had—and despite his fall from grace, Marco still had resources, connections, and most importantly, nothing to lose.

No, better to let Marco think he was regaining control. Let him feel like he was striking back, reclaiming power. All while being guided, step by step, into a position from which there was no escape.

The sound of approaching footsteps pulled Adom from his thoughts. He pressed himself lower against the rocks, peering carefully over the edge.

Figures moved through the darkness below, making their way down the narrow path to the cove. Moonlight glinted off metal—weapons, probably. Adom counted silently as they emerged from the shadows. One, two, three...

Ten in total. More than expected. Marco must have hired additional muscle beyond the three mercenaries.

"Interesting," Adom whispered to himself. "Getting desperate, aren't we?"

Ten heavily armed mercenaries for what was supposed to be a simple interception of unarmed merfolk traders. Marco was taking no chances. It would make tonight more challenging, but not impossible.

After all, there were no merfolk coming. No crystal shipment to intercept. Just Adom, waiting in the darkness.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a simple white mask. Nothing elaborate—just a blank face covering with slits for eyes.

"Showtime," he said softly, slipping it on.

*****

Toranne crouched in the shadows beneath an outcropping of black rock, her hair tucked beneath a dark hood. The cove stretched before her as ten men were spread out in strategic positions—three hidden among the rocks to her left, four concealed behind driftwood and debris along the shoreline, and two with crossbows positioned on higher ground.

"Anything?" she whispered to Drent, the burly man beside her who kept flexing his fingers around the hilt of his short sword.

"Nothing but waves," he replied, scanning the water. "Been almost an hour."

"Marco said midnight," Toranne reminded him, but doubt had begun to gnaw at her. Something about this job felt... off.

Drent snorted. "Maybe the fish people swim on a different schedule."

"They're called merfolk," corrected Lorik, a thin man with a face that seemed permanently pinched with worry. "And I don't like this. Something's wrong."

"You never like anything," Drent said. "Last job, you were convinced the warehouse was haunted."

"It was haunted. You saw those floating lights!"

"That was swamp gas, you idiot."

"Silence," Toranne hissed. "Both of you. Lorik, what's bothering you?"

Lorik's eyes darted nervously across the moonlit cove. "We're too exposed. If the merfolk spot us, they'll just swim away. If the Wangara spot us..." He let the thought hang unfinished.

Toranne had considered the same possibility. Why would merfolk, known for their caution, meet at such an open location? And why would Wangara, supposedly one of the most cautious merchant guilds in the city, conduct business in a place with such poor defensive positioning?

"Keep your eyes on the water," she ordered. "If anything moves—anything at all—I want to know about it."

Minutes crawled by. The tide began to rise, waves lapping higher on the shore. The moon inched across the sky. No merfolk appeared.

"I'm telling you," Lorik whispered, "something's not right. Marco's information—"

"Wait," Drent interrupted, pointing toward the center of the cove. "Look."

Toranne narrowed her eyes. There, where the moonlight danced on the water about fifty yards from shore, something disturbed the surface. Not the splashing entry of a swimmer, but a slow, deliberate movement.

"Is that..." Lorik's voice trailed off.

A figure was rising from the water. No—not rising from it. Standing on it.

Toranne blinked hard, certain her eyes were playing tricks. The figure was humanoid, wrapped in a dark cloak that rippled in the night breeze. Where its face should have been was only a smooth white mask, featureless except for two narrow eye slits.

And it was walking across the surface of the water as casually as someone might stroll through a marketplace.

"What in all hells?" Drent breathed.

"Get down," Toranne ordered, pulling both men lower behind the rocks. "It's a mage."

"A mage?" Lorik's voice cracked. "Marco didn't say anything about mages!"

"Obviously," Toranne said, mind racing. "Because he didn't know." She watched as the figure continued its steady advance toward the shore. Walking on water. Like it was nothing.

"Maybe it's a ghost," Drent whispered, his earlier bravado evaporating.

"Don't be stupid," Toranne said, but she couldn't entirely dismiss the notion. The figure's appearance was... unsettling. Unnatural.

"We should leave," Lorik said, already inching backward. "Now. Before it reaches the shore."

"No." Toranne's voice was firm. "We were hired to do a job. If this is the Wangara's representative instead of merfolk, we adapt. Wait for my signal."

She used hand signals to communicate with the others spread throughout the cove. Stay down. Hold position. Wait for command.

The masked figure reached the shallows, water barely rippling beneath its feet. Then it paused, head turning slowly, scanning the shoreline.

"It's looking for something," Drent whispered.

"Or someone," Toranne replied.

Without warning, the figure changed. Its slow, measured pace transformed into a sprint, moving with directly toward the rocks where they were hiding.

Lorik screamed, "It saw us!"

"Positions!" Toranne shouted, abandoning stealth. "Surround it!"

Her men burst from their hiding places, weapons drawn. The crossbowmen on the ridge loosed their bolts. Both shots should have struck the figure dead center—but with a casual flick of its hand, the masked mage sent the bolts careening harmlessly into the sand.

"Mage!" someone shouted unnecessarily.

Toranne extended her fingers, metal rings transforming into razor-sharp claws. "Take him from all sides!" she ordered, circling to the figure's left.

One of her men charged forward, swinging a heavy mace. The masked figure simply sidestepped, grabbed the attacker's wrist, and with a twist that looked effortless, sent the man flying through the air. He crashed into the rocks with a sickening crack.

The others hesitated.

"What are you waiting for?" Toranne shouted. "It's one against ten!"

Three men rushed the mage simultaneously. The masked figure raised both hands, and suddenly the sand beneath their feet erupted, wrapping around their ankles like living ropes. They stumbled, trapped.

"Drent, with me!" Toranne commanded, leaping forward. Her claws slashed through the air—and met nothing as the mage bent backward at an impossible angle, her attack passing harmlessly overhead.

A palm struck her chest, sending her stumbling backward. It hadn't felt particularly forceful, yet she'd been thrown back five feet as if hit by a battering ram.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Drent swung his sword in a vicious arc. The mage caught the blade between two fingers. Impossible. No one could—

With a sharp twist, the sword shattered like glass. Drent stared at the broken hilt in his hand for one stunned second before the mage's fist connected with his jaw.

He dropped like a stone.

"What is this thing?" someone cried.

One of the crossbowmen had reloaded, firing again from the ridge. This time, the bolt froze mid-air, hovering as the masked figure turned its featureless face upward. With a flick of its fingers, the bolt reversed direction, striking the crossbowman's shoulder. He screamed, toppling from his perch.

Toranne realized with cold certainty that they were outmatched. She'd never fought mages before. She'd always thought the rumors about them were at best, exaggerated. She'd never been angrier at herself for not believing it.

"Fall back!" Toranne ordered. "Retreat!"

Two of her men turned to run. The masked figure gestured, and suddenly a wall of blue flame erupted from the sand, cutting off their escape. Not hot flame—cold, somehow, but still fire. Impossible fire.

"Wangara knew," Toranne hissed, understanding washing over her like the tide. "This was a trap from the beginning."

The three men caught in the sand tried to free themselves, hacking at the animated grit with their daggers. The masked figure walked toward them calmly, almost lazily. A wave of its hand, and their weapons flew from their grasp.

Toranne circled, looking for an opening. If she could just get behind the mage—

The figure turned, as if reading her thoughts. It raised a hand toward her, and suddenly she couldn't move. Her limbs froze, muscles locked in place.

"What—" she managed to gasp, before even her voice failed her.

Her remaining men were faring no better. One charged with a spear, only to have the weapon twist in his hands like a snake, wrapping around his own body and pinning his arms. Another tried to throw a knife, but the blade curved in mid-air, slicing through his own cloak and pinning him to the ground.

The masked figure walked among them now, methodically disabling each attacker. No killing blows—Toranne noted that with distant surprise—but devastating nonetheless. A touch that left one man's arm hanging uselessly at his side. A kick that shattered another's knee. Precise. Controlled. Terrifying.

Only Lorik remained, backing away, knife trembling in his hand. "Please," he begged. "I'm just hired help. I don't even know what's happening here."

The masked figure tilted its head, considering. Then it raised a hand.

Lorik screamed, dropping his knife and clutching his head. He fell to his knees, eyes rolling back.

Toranne fought against the invisible force holding her, but it was like being encased in iron. She could barely breathe, let alone move. The masked figure turned toward her now, approaching with that same unhurried pace.

"Who are you?" she managed to gasp as it drew closer.

The mask revealed nothing. No expression. No humanity. Just smooth white surface with those two narrow slits.

It raised a hand toward her face.

"Hmm, maybe I should have taken the chance to evolve White Wyrm's Body," came a voice from behind the mask, surprisingly young, almost conversational.

Then pain exploded through Toranne's jaw as a fist connected with perfect precision. Her last thought before darkness claimed her was simple and unavoidable:

Wangara had, in fact, seen them coming.

*****

Marco organized his desk.

Travel papers here. Guild seal there. A small pouch of emergency coins tucked into his inside pocket. Everything had its place. Order amid chaos—that had always been his way.

"Is everything proceeding as expected?" he asked without looking up.

Rennick, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, nodded. "Just received word from Toranne's team at the cove. Complete success."

Marco allowed himself a thin smile. "Details?"

"Merfolk arrived exactly when your intelligence said they would. Minimal resistance. They scattered after the first few warning shots." Rennick straightened his jacket, a hint of admiration in his voice. "Toranne says they won't be back anytime soon. And the crystals—all fifteen crates—are now safely hidden at the warehouse you specified."

"Excellent." Marco closed his travel case with a satisfying click. "And the other operations?"

"Whisper just reported in. The materials at Kern's have been successfully contaminated. No one saw him enter or leave."

"Of course they didn't," Marco said. "That's why we pay him the exorbitant fees he charges."

"And Brom's team completed their task an hour ago. Small fire, just as planned. Enough to destroy the current production run and damage the equipment, but no casualties. City inspectors are already there, shutting everything down."

Marco sat back, allowing himself to truly relax for the first time in weeks. Three targets. Three successful operations. Wangara would be crippled for months—just enough time for him to secure Tresh's hidden assets and rebuild Crimson Scale into something leaner, more efficient. More his.

"We won," he said quietly, almost to himself.

Rennick raised an eyebrow. "First battle of many, I imagine."

"Yes, but an important one." Marco stood, shouldering his travel case. "The boat leaves in an hour. We should go."

The night air was cool as they made their way through the city's winding streets toward the harbor. Marco kept his head down, hood pulled forward. Though it was unlikely anyone would recognize him at this hour, old habits died hard.

"You're certain the bank documents are in order?" Marco asked as they approached the docks.

"Triple-checked myself," Rennick assured him. "Once you reach Vellerin, you'll have full access to Tresh's accounts. The branch manager there was... persuaded to cooperate."

"Good." Marco paused at the harbor entrance, taking in the forest of masts swaying gently in the harbor. Somewhere among them was his ticket to a fresh start. "Which pier?"

"Seventeen. End slip."

They walked in silence, passing sailors loading cargo, dockworkers securing lines, the occasional drunk stumbling home from waterfront taverns. The smell of salt and tar hung heavy in the air.

As they approached Pier Seventeen, Marco felt a weight lifting from his shoulders. Twenty-four hours ago, he'd been a man watching his life's work crumble around him. Now he held the future in his hands. Not just survival—triumph.

"There she is," Rennick said, pointing to a sleek merchant vessel with dark sails. "The Wavecutter. Not the most comfortable ride, but fast and discreet."

"Perfect." Marco handed Rennick a small pouch. "Your payment, as agreed. There will be more when you reach Vellerin next month."

Rennick weighed the pouch in his hand and nodded. "I've arranged for your cabin to be stocked with the, ah, comfort items you requested."

"You think of everything."

"I try," Rennick said with a slight bow.

They approached the gangplank. A gruff sailor checked their papers, barely glancing at the details before waving them aboard. Marco stepped onto the ship's deck, feeling the gentle roll beneath his feet. He breathed deeply. Freedom smelled like salt water and possibility.

"Your cabin is below deck, sir," the sailor said, pointing toward a narrow staircase. "Last door on the left."

Marco nodded his thanks and made his way down, Rennick following close behind. The corridor was narrow, dimly lit by swaying lanterns that cast long shadows on the wooden walls. He counted doors as they passed. One, two, three...

Here. The last door on the left.

He reached for the handle, then paused, a strange prickling sensation crawling up his spine. A feeling he knew all too well. The feeling of being watched.

"Something wrong?" Rennick asked, his voice oddly flat.

Marco turned slowly. "No, just..."

His words died in his throat as he saw figures emerging from the shadows of the corridor. Familiar figures. Thormund, the massive FreeMan from the northern wilds, his braided beard unmistakable even in the dim light. Jenna, who had once been Cisco's best infiltrator. Kavan, whose skill with knives was legendary among the guild's inner circle.

Former colleagues. People who had vanished after Cisco's fall.

People who should not be here.

Marco's hand instinctively went to his belt, seeking the comfort of his dagger. But he had left it in his bag. Fool.

"What is this?" he demanded, turning to Rennick.

Rennick's face shifted, features becoming fluid, malleable. Fingers reached up, grasping at what appeared to be skin, pulling...

The face came away like a mask, revealing a different man entirely. Sharper features. Eyes that Marco recognized all too well.

"Tam," Marco breathed, understanding crashing over him like a wave.

Tam smiled, tucking the face-mask into his belt. "Sorry to disappoint."

Marco lunged, but a strong hand grabbed him from behind. Thormund pinned his arms with his one remaining arm. Marco struggled, testing the grip, finding enough give to almost break free before Thormund adjusted, muscles straining against Marco's strength.

"Still as strong as ever, you bastard," Thormund grunted.

Marco stopped struggling, saving his energy. "You look terrible, Thormund. Lost weight, I see."

"Worth it to see this moment," Thormund replied, tightening his grip just enough to make his point.

"Now, now," came a high, slightly nasal voice from behind the gathering crowd. "Let's all be civilized about this."

The figures parted, revealing a small, rodent-like creature dressed in an immaculate burgundy coat.

"Valiant," Marco spat.

"In the flesh," Valiant said with a little bow. "So good of you to join our little gathering. I do hope the travel arrangements were to your liking? I selected this vessel specifically with you in mind."

"What is this?"

Valiant gestured, and three more figures shuffled forward from the shadows. Battered, bruised, and bound—Toranne, Brom, and Whisper. Toranne's face was swollen on one side, her copper hair matted with what looked like dried blood. Brom's massive frame seemed somehow diminished, hunched in pain. Whisper's mechanical hand hung limp at his side, clearly damaged.

"Your associates have been enjoying our hospitality for several hours now," Valiant said conversationally. "Though I fear they haven't been very forthcoming with information. Perhaps you'll be more cooperative?"

"I don't understand," Marco said, mind racing. "They reported success. All three operations—"

"Oh yes, about that," Valiant interrupted, tapping a tiny claw against his chin. "I'm afraid there was a slight miscommunication. You see, there were no merfolk shipments to intercept. No secret production facility to burn. No materials to contaminate."

"That's not possible. My information—"

"Was exactly what we wanted you to have," came another voice, this one from the doorway of the cabin Marco had been about to enter.

A figure stepped into the dim light. Young—far too young for the authority in his voice. A dark cloak. And in his hand, a simple white mask.

Marco felt something collapse inside him. "You."

"Me," Adom agreed, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Sorry about your mercenaries. They fought well, considering."

Marco's mind was still struggling to catch up. "But the reports—"

"Were delivered by people working for us," Valiant said with an impatient flick of his whiskers. "That doesn't matter now."

Marco's eyes narrowed. "How did you—"

"Hey, dude, look. I'm not about to stand here recounting every brilliant detail of our plan," Valiant cut him off, tapping his foot rapidly on the deck. "What matters is that you're here, and so am I. And now, you'll pay for what you did to my uncle."

"Hiding behind flunkies and traps," Marco spat, still testing Thormund's grip. "Always the coward, Valiant."

The mouse beastkin's whiskers twitched, but his expression remained composed. "Actually, I'm going to give you a chance. In fact, I'm being exceedingly generous."

"How gracious of you."

Valiant paced in a tight circle, his small claws clicking against the wooden deck. "Let me remind you of the rules of the Undertow, Marco. When you want to lead your own organization, you have three legal paths: you get permission from your boss to leave and establish your own venture, you inherit with your boss's blessing, or you receive consensus from other senior members."

He stopped pacing, looking up at Marco with beady eyes. "You did none of these things. Which means, by the old ways, you're soulless now."

Valiant glanced at Thormund. "Did I get that right? 'Soulless'?"

Thormund nodded, his one arm still holding Marco firmly. "Yeah, little boss. That's the term." He turned to Adom with a grin. "See? Told you this would make it more dramatic. Look how intimidating I am."

Adom rolled his eyes.

"Release him," Valiant ordered suddenly.

Thormund hesitated. "You sure?"

"Did I stutter?"

With obvious reluctance, Thormund released his grip. Marco immediately stepped away, rolling his shoulders, eyes darting between potential exits. There were none.

"I don't understand," he said warily.

Valiant straightened his already immaculate coat. "I'm offering you a chance to walk away from this alive and free."

"How?"

"Single combat. You and me. The winner takes the life of the loser and keeps their freedom."

Marco stared down at the diminutive beastkin, certain he'd misheard. "You want to fight me? Yourself?"

"That's what I said." Valiant's whiskers twitched with irritation. "A singular combat. Winner lives, loser dies. Very simple, very traditional. The Undertow will respect the outcome, whatever it may be."

*****

Adom watched as the ship's crew formed a wide circle around Marco and Valiant, silently pressing back against the walls. Someone had placed a lantern in the center of the cleared space.

The rules were simple enough. No weapons. No outside interference. Fight until one couldn't continue.

By Undertow law, this was as legitimate as a magistrate's verdict. Maybe more so.

"This is absurd," Marco said, his eyes locked on Valiant.

Valiant's whiskers twitched, tiny blue sparks dancing between them. "Afraid to fight something smaller than you? That's new. You weren't so hesitant with my uncle."

A muscle in Marco's jaw tightened. "When this is over, I want everyone to remember you chose this."

"Oh, we'll remember," Valiant replied, rolling his shoulders. His burgundy coat slipped away, revealing a simple vest that left his arms bare. Blue markings swirled across his fur, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat.

Tam stepped forward. "By the old ways of the Undertow, this combat will decide both fate and freedom. No interference will be tolerated." He looked pointedly at Adom, then around the circle at the rest of the witnesses. "Begin when ready."

Valiant dropped to all fours, his back arching. His tail lashed behind him like a whip, leaving a trail of static in the air.

Marco circled slowly, hands loose at his sides. His face betrayed nothing, but Adom could see the calculation in his eyes. Measuring. Assessing. Searching for weaknesses.

Neither moved for three long heartbeats.

Then Marco lunged.

His speed was shocking. One moment he was five paces away, the next his hand slashed through the space where Valiant had been. The mouse had darted between his legs, spinning to face Marco's back.

Marco pivoted, a controlled turn that positioned him perfectly for a sweeping kick. Valiant leapt over it, landing on Marco's extended leg and racing up toward his torso. Marco slapped at him, but Valiant was already gone, jumping to the floor on the opposite side.

"Is this a fight or a game of tag?" Marco growled.

"I haven't decided yet," Valiant called, circling rapidly. "Maybe both?"

Marco feinted left, then swept right, herding Valiant toward the wall. The mouse darted to the side, but Marco anticipated the move. His hand slammed down, missing Valiant by inches.

"Getting closer," Valiant remarked, but Adom could hear a new tension in his voice.

Marco kept pressing, each movement more precise than the last. The initial flurry of attacks had been tests, mapping Valiant's patterns. Now he was getting serious.

Valiant seemed to realize it too. He stopped circling and braced himself, tiny paws spread wide. Blue light flickered between his claws.

"That's right," Marco said softly. "Show me what you've got, little monster."

Valiant's eyes narrowed. "You asked for it."

His paws came together with a sharp clap, and a bolt of electricity shot toward Marco. Marco dove aside, rolling back to his feet with surprising agility for someone his size. The bolt struck the wall behind him, leaving a scorch mark on the wood.

"That's new," Marco said, eyebrows raised. "Wangara's work?"

"Adom's, actually," Valiant replied, electricity crackling between his whiskers. "Bit of an upgrade."

He fired again, a rapid sequence of smaller bolts. Marco dodged most, but one caught his shoulder, making him hiss in pain. The smell of burned fabric filled the air.

"Stings, doesn't it?" Valiant grinned, showing tiny teeth. "That was just a taste."

Marco stopped circling and charged straight at him. Valiant fired bolt after bolt, but Marco moved with purpose now, ignoring the hits that landed as electricity scorched his clothes and skin.

Valiant backed up, his confidence faltering. "Stay back!"

"Make me," Marco growled.

He lunged, hands outstretched. Valiant darted away, barely avoiding capture. Marco's fingers grazed his tail, sending the mouse tumbling across the floor.

Valiant scrambled to his feet, paws raised defensively. A larger bolt shot from his claws, striking Marco square in the chest. Marco staggered but didn't fall. His shirt smoldered, revealing reddened skin beneath.

"That the best you've got?" Marco taunted, advancing again.

Adom felt a flash of concern. Valiant's electrical attacks were impressive, but recently acquired and Marco's endurance was greater than anticipated. If Marco managed to get his hands on him...

The fight continued, Marco relentlessly pursuing while Valiant darted about, firing bolts when he could. The air smelled of ozone and burned cloth. Marco's movements slowed, his body twitching occasionally from the accumulated shocks, but he didn't stop.

Valiant was tiring too. His movements became less fluid, his dodges cutting closer. The blue markings on his fur pulsed faster, more erratically.

Then it happened.

Marco feinted right, Valiant darted left, and Marco's hand snapped out with perfect timing. His fingers closed around Valiant's middle.

"Got you," he said, lifting the mouse to eye level.

Valiant struggled, electricity crackling across his body, but Marco just grimaced against the pain, tightening his grip.

"That tickles," Marco said through clenched teeth.

Adom moved instinctively, stepping forward. Thormund's massive arm blocked his path.

"No," Thormund said quietly. "This is the law. This is the Undertow way."

"He'll kill him," Adom hissed.

"Maybe," Thormund acknowledged. "Or maybe not. Watch."

In Marco's grip, Valiant thrashed wildly. His fur stood on end, sparks flying from every strand. Marco's hand must have been burning, but he didn't release his hold.

"I have to admit," Marco said, his voice strained but steady, "I expected more from Cisco's nephew. All that talk about following the old ways, and this is all you bring? Pathetic."

Valiant went still in his grasp. His eyes, ringed with electric blue, locked with Marco's.

"You want more?" he asked, his voice suddenly very quiet. "Fine."

Something changed in the air—a pressure, a charge that made the hairs on Adom's arms stand up. The blue markings on Valiant's fur brightened, going from gentle pulses to a steady, harsh glow.

"What are you—" Marco began.

Valiant screamed. Not in pain or fear, but in rage—a sound no mouse should have been able to make. Pure, unadulterated fury given voice.

Light erupted from his body. Not just sparks now, but jagged bolts of lightning that coiled around Marco's arm like hungry serpents. Marco's body went rigid, his back arching as electricity coursed through him. His mouth opened in a silent scream, eyes wide with shock.

Still, he didn't let go. His fingers remained locked around Valiant's body, either from determination or because the electricity had seized his muscles. Smoke rose from his sleeve as the fabric began to burn.

Valiant's scream continued, rising in pitch. The lightning intensified, spreading across Marco's chest, crawling up his neck. His hair stood on end, glowing with the same blue light that consumed Valiant.

Someone in the circle shouted in alarm. Others backed away, pressing against the walls. Even Thormund took a step back, his face grim.

"Should we stop it?" Tam asked, looking to Adom.

Adom didn't answer.

Marco's eyes found Adom's across the circle. For a moment—just a moment—there was recognition there. Understanding, even. Then his lips moved, forming words only Adom could see.

"This is all your fault."

Then the lightning consumed him completely.

A blinding flash filled the corridor, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. The sound was deafening—not just the crack of lightning, but a deeper boom that vibrated through the ship's timbers.

When Adom could see again, Marco was on his knees. His clothes were in tatters, smoking in places, completely burned away in others. His skin was full of branching red patterns, like a tree's roots spreading across his chest and up his neck.

His hand was empty.

Valiant stood before him, fur bristling with residual electricity. The blue markings pulsed slowly now, returning to their normal rhythm. He seemed smaller somehow, exhausted by the effort, but still standing.

Marco swayed on his knees, eyes unfocused. His mouth opened, closed, opened again. No sound came out. The branching patterns on his skin darkened from red to purple to black.

"That," Valiant said, his voice ragged, "was for my uncle."

Marco tried to reach for him, but his arm wouldn't respond properly. It jerked spasmodically, muscles twitching beneath burned skin. He managed to lift his head, looking past Valiant to where Adom stood.

Then he toppled forward, landing face-first on the deck with a dull thud. He didn't move again.

Silence fell over the corridor, broken only by the creaking of the ship and the distant sound of waves against the hull.

Valiant stood over Marco's body, chest heaving with each breath. The blue light in his fur had dimmed to almost nothing. He looked up at Adom, eyes haunted.

"Is he...?"

Adom stepped forward, kneeling beside Marco's body. He didn't need to check for a pulse. The smell of burned flesh told him enough. The branching patterns—Lichtenberg figures, they were called—had turned completely black, spreading across every visible inch of skin.

"Yes," he said simply. "It's over."

Valiant nodded, a small, jerky movement. Then his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the deck beside his fallen opponent.

Tam rushed forward, carefully lifting the unconscious mouse. "He's breathing," he announced. "Just exhausted."

Thormund stepped up beside Adom, looking down at Marco's body. "By the old ways," he intoned formally, "judgment has been rendered. Let none dispute the outcome."

The others in the circle murmured agreement, the tension in the air finally beginning to dissipate.

It was done. Marco was dead. And with him, the last of resistance to the seat was removed.

*****

2 weeks later...

The last employees of the Crimson Scale filed out just before sundown.

No words had been spoken in the last few minutes. The heavy kind of silence had settled--the one that came with endings you didn't want to touch for fear they might shatter.

Tresh stood near the old banner as it was folded for the last time. Crimson fabric, gold edges. It had flown over three separate headquarters, five expansions, and nearly half a century of hard-fought deals.

She raised a hand to still the archivist, then took the cloth herself. Folded it slowly. Precisely.

Deroq's old desk was empty. His chair was gone. His name, scrubbed from the records. Tresh didn't speak his name aloud--not out of bitterness, but practicality. It was time to make space.

She turned to the dozen remaining officers and managers. None met her eyes for long.

"I built this guild to give merchants teeth," she said quietly. "We bit too many hands. And I forgot what it was like to simply enjoy the meal."

No one interrupted. Tresh had never needed a podium. She was the podium.

"I will not be rebuilding. There will be no rebranding. No vengeance. No rebirth."

A pause.

"But if any of you ever call yourselves former Crimson Scale, do it with your chest. We did damn good work."

She stepped down, banner tucked under one arm. Walked straight past the teary-eyed staff. No ceremony. No party.

It was done.

*****

"Where to, Madam Mavarin?" the driver asked as Tresh settled into the hired carriage.

She hesitated, her hands resting on the folded crimson banner in her lap. "The Wangara Guild warehouse first. I have a stop to make."

The driver nodded, snapping the reins. The carriage lurched forward, wheels clattering on cobblestones as they moved through the merchant district.

Through the window, Tresh watched the familiar streets slide past. She had walked these paths for decades, commanding respect with every step. Even now, she noted the nods of acknowledgment from passersby, the whispered conversations that followed in her wake.

The Wangara warehouse came into view as they rounded a corner—newly constructed, its pale stone gleaming in the afternoon sun. Workers moved around the entrance, loading crates onto wagons, checking manifests. In less than a week, Wangara would undoubtedly claim their seat in the House of Merchants. The seat that had once been hers.

Tresh stepped from the carriage, banner still tucked under her arm. Several workers paused as she approached, offering respectful nods. Her reputation might be tarnished, but years of commanding the Crimson Scale still carried weight.

Inside, she spotted Cassandra Drake speaking with an employee by a stack of crates. The young guildmaster looked up, surprise flickering across her face before her expression settled into careful neutrality.

"Madam Mavarin," Cass said, dismissing the worker with a nod. "This is... unexpected."

"I need a moment of your time," Tresh replied. "Privately."

Cass studied her briefly, then gestured toward a staircase. "My office is this way."

They climbed in silence, Tresh noting the efficient layout of the warehouse, the quality of the materials, the smooth operation below. The girl had built something impressive in a remarkably short time.

Cass's office was still being furnished—a few crates sat unopened against one wall, and the desk looked freshly polished. Through the window, the harbor was visible, ships coming and going like the tides of fortune.

"Please, sit," Cass offered, taking her own seat behind the desk.

Tresh settled across from her, the crimson banner resting in her lap. "I've officially dissolved the Crimson Scale Guild," she said without preamble.

"So I've heard," Cass replied carefully. "Your decision has been the talk of the district."

"I'm sure it has." Tresh's lips curved in a humorless smile. "Just as I'm sure you've heard about Marco's disappearance."

A flicker of something—caution, perhaps—crossed Cass's face. "I... do not know anyone named Marco. Though there are rumors of recent... fights."

"There always are." Tresh's fingers traced the golden embroidery of the banner. "I'm leaving Arkhos."

"Oh?" Cass leaned forward slightly. "Where will you go?"

"Ghilverin. I've purchased property there. A house with land."

"Retirement, then?"

Tresh met her gaze evenly. "Of a sort."

Silence settled between them—not uncomfortable, but weighted with things unsaid. Through the window, gulls wheeled and called, their cries carrying over the constant noise of the harbor.

"You played a good game," Tresh said finally. "But I want you to know something."

Cass didn't respond.

"I am furious."

Tresh's voice stayed low. "Not because you lied. Not because you tricked me. But because you knew I wouldn't crack. And so you didn't come for me. You came for what I loved."

She continued.

"You made me watch my guild unravel. You turned my deputy into a pariah, my reputation into ash, and the last decade of my life into a goddamn punchline."

She paused.

"And the worst part? It worked."

Silence.

Cass still didn't speak.

Then, after a breath, Tresh laughed.

It wasn't a long laugh. Just a short, bitter sound—like something she hadn't expected to come out of her own mouth.

Cass tilted her head slightly. "What's so funny?"

Tresh shook her head, smiling faintly now, not kindly.

"When I took this seat—forty-nine years ago—I did the same thing. Found an opening. Exploited a rift. Played patient. And when the time came, I made sure the guild ahead of me stumbled."

She looked toward the far window, like she was seeing a younger world.

"There was an old woman back then. A diviner mage. She told me, 'The one who replaces you will look like you did on the day you took this seat.'" Tresh glanced back at Cass. "I didn't believe her."

Another smile. "But she was right."

Cass finally responded, voice dry as bone: "Madam Mavarin. If you do not. mind me asking. How old are you?"

"I'm eighty-nire years old. Turning ninety next week."

"You look amazing for your age. I'd have sworn you were in your mid forties."

Tresh blinked. Then, deadpan: "My great-great-grandfather was half-elf."

"Ah," Cass said, nodding solemnly. "That explains it."

"Lucky," Tresh replied.

"Yes," Cass agreed.

Another pause. Then:

"I bought a place in Ghilverin. Near the forest. River view. I'm opening a teashop."

Cass blinked. "A teashop."

"Yes," Tresh said flatly. "I have twenty-seven blend recipes and two acres of herbal plants waiting to be planted."

Cass almost smiled. "You're not going to raise an army out there, are you?"

"Not unless the rabbits start unionizing."

Tresh stepped back, one hand resting over her chest in the old guild salute.

"Good luck, Guildmaster Drake. I suspect you won't need it—but take it anyway."

Cass returned the gesture.

As Tresh turned to leave, she paused at the door.

"I don't forgive you," she said softly. "But I respect you."

And then she was gone.

As the doors shut behind Tresh, the silence lingered a little too long.

Cass exhaled, slow and steady. Her posture didn't change, but something in her shoulders finally eased. She walked back to the table, sat down, and reached for her crystal.

Adom's voice came through, a little quieter than usual. "...She likes tea?"

Cass blinked. "Apparently."

A pause.

"...Damn," Adom muttered. "Now I feel bad for what we did."

Cass raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because tea lovers can't be bad, Cass. That's a rule. It's like… a universal law. You don't betray tea people."

Cass finally let herself smile. "You didn't betray her. You beat her."

"Still feels dirty," Adom said.

"Drink some tea. You'll feel better."

"...You think she'd ship us some blends?"

Cass chuckled. "Not in this lifetime."

"Figures," Adom sighed.

Cass's eyes drifted to the folded newspaper on the corner of her desk. She reached for it casually, unfolding it with one hand while still holding the communication crystal.

The headline caught her attention immediately. An unexpected laugh escaped her lips.

"What?" Adom asked through the crystal.

She shook her head, still smiling as she scanned the article. "You'll never believe what they're calling us in the papers now."

"What?"

"'The Wolf of Merchant District.'"

There was a moment of silence from Adom's end, then: "That's actually... kind of awesome."

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