Book of The Dead Chapter B3C70 - A Dizzying Pace

Tyron looked down at the squirming rat in his hands. The thing was huge, as rats went, easily three or four tis bigger than it should have been. By far the largest specin hed co across in his sojourns into the sewers.

It reeked of blood magick. A dangerous amount.

Whoever these bloodsuckers were, they appeared to be growing careless. This much might be enough to be detected on the street above. Any more, and soone was bound to get a sniff of it. Soone other than him, who spent too much ti wandering through these septic tunnels.

They know

It wasnt easy to shave a ssage into the side of a squirming, giant mutant rat, but hed done the best he could. With a grunt, he tossed the creature away.

Squeaking furiously, the rodent tumbled through the air before crashing into the narrow stone grating, righting itself and scurrying away. It wasnt much of an introduction, but it would have to suffice. He wasnt foolish enough to try and track down these vampires himself. Here, in the dark sewers, at night? Hed be food before he even saw them.

Despite selling out their location to an unfriendly, rival coven, he hoped to maintain so level of cooperation with this new group. Anything to gain leverage over Yor and her Mistress.

Despite how much he hated working with them, this latest deal had proved yet again how valuable the undead beings were. Perhaps he could have learned the sa things from the Abyss, but he was still unwilling to pay their prices. Or maybe the Dark Ones could have inford him, but he was already so deeply in their debt that he feared what might happen when the bill ca due.

No ti to dwell on it now. Theres a lot to do, he muttered to himself, turning his back on the dank tunnels.

Back in his study, the proof of his labours lay everywhere. Bones, papers and half-ford constructs littered the ground in unceremonious piles, so dropped right next to the arch of bone that still stood proudly atop the ritual circle in the centre of the open space. Sheets of paper filled with diagrams, roughly sketched arrays and sigils were adhered to the walls in places, and he ran his eyes across them as he erged again into the light.

That was wrong, hed checked it two days ago. This one would fail, he saw it now, the design wasnt capable of handling the energy needed. That one was the worst of all. Overdesigned, elaborate, missing the elegance and simplicity all truly brilliant solutions required. Would it work? Maybe, but it wasnt enough for Tyron to cobble together sothing that rely functioned. It had to function well.

With a sigh, he tore down all of the scraps and crushed them to a ball in his hands. With a toss of his wrist, these too joined the growing pile of refuse in the corner of the room.

This place is a ss. I cant work like this.

Splitting his focus in too many directions at once had caused him to beco a little sloppy. Half of his ti was taken by the Red Tower, working with Annita to complete her tasks, as well as dutifully fulfilling his own. The effort required was not small; the magisters worked him like a dog. When he wasnt being dragged from one place to another, making corrections, giving advice, or grinding away at cores, he was being grilled by their own Arcanists. Expected to explain every stage in his craft, detail his decision-making process, point out the flaws in their designs, they were attempting to wring him dry of knowledge as well as sweat.

Coming back to the shop, he had to keep up appearances, fill the shelves, engage with his custors and continue to build a backlog of supplies so he could leave again.

When that was done and night finally fell, into the study he went. Filetta had been able to uphold her end of the bargain, despite the misgivings of her superiors, and the bones had continued to flow. Crafting weapons and armour occupied a portion of his ti, creating new minions took another, but experintation with bone constructs took the majority of it by far.

Before he returned to Cragwhistle, he was determined to unlock at least a portion of the potential he sensed within them. His initial attempt, rudintary, almost childish in his eyes now, had already been far surpassed, but more needed to be done.

Although he didnt like to say it, asking Annita Halfshard for advice had doubled his progress. Of course, he couldnt just show her what he was working on, but change a few sigils here and there, and a gathering array for death magick suddenly didnt look quite so illegal. Even just asking her for tips with so of the issues he was running into in general terms was enough for her to point him in the right direction.

Whatever had happened between her and Willhem must have been serious, because Master Halfshard was clearly the successor he had longed for all along. She was insightful, possessed a vast knowledge of sigils and their applications, and had razor-sharp instincts for finding the correct solution on the first try. Versatile in ways Tyron could never be, she was a staggering paragon of the Arcanists art.

If she were to sit in his study for an hour, Tyron was confident he could resolve most of the difficulties he was having. More likely, it would get him arrested and killed, but the thought was nice.

Reluctantly, he turned away from his desk, and the current iterations of his designs. He would need at least four hours of sleep tonight, and the room was becoming cluttered enough that it would soon begin to impede his progress. As he began to gather bones, cores and various other detritus, he cast his mind back to what Yor had revealed to him the previous day.

Soone kicked the hornets nest alright, she grinned. The gods themselves, your Five Divines.

What? How?

They have ways and ans of communicating with their servants here in the mortal realm, much as the Dark Ones do. I havent been able to learn exactly what was said, but the reaction was imdiate. Every noble house has been put on alert, every resource available to the state has been mobilised. They are planning to initiate a city-wide purge. Rooting out corruption, hunting down the evil within their midst.

Stolen story; please report.

You dont seem concerned, he observed. Isnt this a risk for your kind as well?

Her smile deepened.

We have already taken steps to protect ourselves, with more to follow. As for the filth spreading in the sewers, she grimaced with distaste, perhaps they will be taken care of without my coven having to intervene at all.

From how vicious she seed to feel toward other vampires, he rather doubted she would hold herself back.

I dont suppose youve been able to find out when this might be happening? How much ti is left?

The titable is being kept in strict confidence by the baron, but you yourself have weaselled your way into the Red Tower, have you not? Surely, you can discern sothing on your own.

Unfortunately, he hadnt been able to learn much of anything from the Magisters. They were extrely tight lipped around any of the outsiders working within the tower, and he didnt possess the necessary skill to try and elicit anything from them.

What this did an, is that his titable was much shorter than hed anticipated. Once the Baron initiated his purge, even working within his study, shielded and protected from prying as it was, would no longer be safe. In what ti he had remaining, Tyron needed to complete his current projects, bolster his forces, and prepare for his next journey out to Cragwhistle.

It would only get harder to gain levels as ti passed, he had to scramble for everything he could right now. First thing first. He had to finish dealing with this ss.

~~~

You look awful. Have you been taking care of yourself properly?

Geez, Elsbeth. Nice to see you too.

The two had t in a nearby tavern, one with a good reputation for serving a decent stew. Though now, as Tyron looked down on it, he thought he detected the faintest trace of what might be blood magick within.

No wonder this place is so cheap, if thats where they source the at.

Lets skip the stew today, Im not that hungry, he lied.

Elsbeth frowned.

You need to eat. I know what you're like when you get busy.

I know, I know. Ive been good, I swear. Ill eat later, just not just not this.

Fine, she pushed her own bowl away before grabbing a bread roll and nibbling on it. You really do look rough, though. Are you sure youre taking care of yourself?

Youre worse than my aunt. Yes, Ive been sleeping every night and eating at least two als a day. Ive just been extrely busy. Now, lets not worry about what my schedule looks like and talk about why youve asked to talk?

Fine, she pouted slightly. Although it could have been the case that I just wanted to see you. Its been weeks since we spoke.

But we both know thats not true. Theres a lot happening right now and we both have a lot on our plates.

His old friend sighed and nodded.

I would have liked to catch up earlier, but it's just like you said.

Elsbeth grew more serious.

I wanted to tell you that Im leaving Kenmor. Its getting less and less safe for my people here.

Tyron nodded.

Ive been wanting to tell you about that, but I suppose you have your own ans of finding things out.

You probably know more than I do, she shook her head, but thats fine. The Venerable has summoned us to his side. My people are leaving their hos all over the province, heading west. Ill be joining them. Which ans you are going to be here on your own from now on. Will you be alright?

The Necromancer blinked in surprise. She was worried about him?

Ill be fine. This is a dangerous mont, but theres also great opportunity. Ill be in the city for another few weeks, then Ill be heading to Cragwhistle again for training. Who knows? I might actually beat you there if you travel slowly.

Id rather take my ti than use your particular route, she shivered. I dont know which is worse, that I suggested it, or that you actually did it.

Travelling through the Abyss was not sothing Tyron would describe as pleasant, or safe, yet the ti saved was too valuable to pass up. The deal he had struck with the creature within would still hold, for a ti, so at least he wasnt required to provide more sustenance.

Things are beginning to accelerate now, Tyron told her seriously. Its only going to get more difficult and dangerous for you and your people. Make sure youre as careful as you can be. I dont have any doubt a large reason for the coming trouble is because of the increased activity of your patrons. Theyll be hunting for people like you.

His old friend nodded slowly.

Ive heard stories from the others. This kind of thing has happened before, many tis. We go underground, we hide, we run, and we wait it out. So make it, others dont.

Her eyes hardened.

But that was in the past. Things are different this ti. They havent been so active at reaching out to their people for nobody knows how long. Theres a chance theyll protect us, shelter us from danger.

Theres also a good chance they wont, Tyron pointed out. I wouldnt feel comfortable leaving my fate to their whims.

Theyve taken good care of you so far, without asking for much in return, Elsbeth said tartly. Or have you forgotten?

It was true. Tyron hadnt even realised the extent to which the three had been acting on his behalf. Now that he knew, he wasnt comforted by that fact. There would be a price.

They help because they want sothing. Not everyone is in a similar position, thats all Im saying.

The two fell silent for a mont, contemplating the strange place that they found themselves in. Elsbeth had many things on her mind, had committed herself to many people, all of whom she hoped to keep safe. Tyron had devoted himself to one thing, and one thing only: vengeance. Even now, the hatred he felt burned steadily in his chest. It was always there, an ever-present fire, threatening to rise like bile up his throat and co pouring out of him.

That was the fuel that kept him pushing forward.

I should thank you for all the help youve given , Elsbeth. Without you, I would be in a terrible state at this point. Thank you.

She brushed her golden hair back and smiled at him.

What are friends for? she replied. Things may not have turned out the way we had planned as kids, but I, at least, was always a true friend to you TyLukas.

In a way, Elsbeth had gotten what she always wanted, to help people, to serve a community on behalf of those they worshipped. It wasnt the goddess shed expected to serve, nor the community, but here she was, sacrificing and helping.

I know that, Tyron said softly. I always knew that.

He breathed out, then stood up, extending a hand across the table.

Travel safely, Elsbeth. Ill see you in the West.