The Old World, The Cartel, Iron Gate

"How is he still alive?" A masked figure standing in the shadows snapped angrily at the two bowing dwarvans in the uniform armour of the city guard. "It was supposed to be done quietly! Look at the mess you all made!"

"Since you have paid us... He will be found!" One of the dwarvan promised. He was the same dwarvan who had ordered the arrest of the Prince of Fire in the tavern. "Our people are combing the streets and had closed off the city gates! He cannot escape!"

"Complete your task before dawn breaks!" The masked figure said coldly. "Do not let the Greenrock Clan find out about this matter..."

Both of the dwarvan city guard commanders watched the masked figure disappeared into the shadows. "By the Stone, this person must be someone important if they are willing to pay so much gold for his head!"

"Shh!" The snobbish looking dwarvan hurried silenced his companion. "Keep it to yourself! Just do as we are paid!"

"Fine!" The other city guard commander grumbled and he waved his troops over. "You lot of rock shitters! Find the escaped prisoner before dawn or I will hang you up by your balls!"

-----

The City of Ender, Ivory Palace, Annex of the Suugon Dynasty

The inner chamber was lit by scented candles and gentle notes of a string instrument could be heard. Lord Lei sat on a cushion pouring a cup of wine from a flask that was set on a long table before him. The translucent curtain that partitioned off the chamber was lifted as a servant entered and kneeled before Lord Lei.

"My Lord, this servant has received word from our agents by voice talisman..." The servant kept his head low against the wooden panelled floor. "The Prince of Fire has escaped from members of the Underworld Chapter."

"This lowly servant is willing to accept punishment for his failure!" The servant pressed his head down against the floor. "Please punish this lowly servant!"

Lord Lei took a sip of wine and savoured the fiery liquor in his mouth before he turned to look at the kowtowing servant. "Rise..."

"What happened?" Lord Lei asked.

"The hired killers had failed to ambush and kill the Prince," The servant explained. "Our agents have also bribed the local city guard to catch the Prince and even had him in their custody but he managed to escape!"

"The local city guard has closed the city and our agents are searching everywhere for him! He is also injured!" The servant hurriedly added. "He will not escape for long!"

"Leave me," Lord Lei sighed as he poured another cup of wine for himself. The servant bowed and retreated leaving him alone in the inner chambers.

Lord Lei picked up a delicate looking bell and rang it gently and the soft chimes brought a maid in. She carried a small tray that had a piece of magic crystal and yellow parchment on it. The maid gave a bow and placed the tray down before she left the chamber.

Lord Lei picked up the yellow parchment that was covered in red scribbles of runes and placed the magic crystal on the activating rune. The magic crystal glowed brightly and the runes on the yellow parchment flared up. "Underworld Chapter Master..."

"Greetings Lord Lei..." A low raspy voice sounded in Lord Lei's head as the communication talisman was used. "Something major must have happened for a being of your courtly status to contact this lowly one... What can the Underworld Chapter do for you?"

"The Underworld Chapter consisted of the deadliest killers and agents of the Suugon Dynasty," Lord Lei sighed softly. "All which were raised and trained from birth to serve the Eternal Emperor in the dark. Never will they ever see the light in their lifetime..."

"I have need of the services of the Underworld Chapter," Lord Lei said. "There is a person... who must die!"

"If Lord Lei wishes it so," The raspy voice in Lord Lei's head replied. "This lowly one shall send his best disciples to this matter!"

Lord Lei quickly gave the details and instructions to the Master of the Underworld Chapter. He watched as the glow of the magic crystal turned dull and lifeless while the yellow talisman slowly blackened and crumbled into ashes in his hands.

He dusted his hands clean and picked up his wine again and savoured it together with the soothing melody in the background.

------

The Old World, The Cartel, Iron Gate, The Silver Moon Inn

"Urkk!" There was a flash of silver and the shadow fell back with a soft gurgling cry. Dr. Sharon spun around in surprise and saw a body flopping on the ground behind her. The handle of a dagger struck out from the masked man's throat which clearly was thrown by the wounded elf.

Private Bartley pushed Dr. Sharon back and covered her with his bulk. He drew a sword bayonet and his pistol out and braced himself as several more masked figures detached themselves from the shadows. "Get back madam!"

Three of the figures rushed towards Bartley and Dr. Sharon while the rest aimed for the wounded elf. Bartley frowned and his suppressor pistol popped three times and knocked the assailants down easy. On the other side, the unarmed wounded elf faced off against four masked assailants. He dodged the slash of a sword and instead of backing up, he stepped forward and slammed his knee upwards and grabbed the sword arm of the attacker.

A sharp twist and a snap of breaking bones could be heard, the attacker's sword magically wound up into the wounded elf's hand. He smoothly parried the attacks of the other three attackers and seemingly effortlessly cut one of his attackers down.

The noise of the fighting woke the people resting in the stables and they watched in awe at the expert way the handsome elf dispatch the other two masked beings. Finally, the last attacker was disarmed, his sword sent flying off on the courtyard, the handsome elf pointed his blade at the disarmed attacker's throat. "Speak! Who ordered you?"

The masked attacker suddenly laughed and started coughing and gagging. Foam and blood leaked out from his mask and he flopped lifelessly on the ground. Dr. Sharon rushed over and ripped off the mask, revealing a scarred face and blood everywhere. She checked the pulse of the person and shook her head sadly. "Dead..."

"Who are you?" Dr. Sharon stared at the elf who was casually wiping the blood off his new sword. She could tell from his bearing and the way he handled a sword that he was not just a simple criminal. "Clearly they were after your life!"

"I told you I am not a criminal!" The elf replied with a chuckle. "And yes, they want to kill me. That is why I wanted your help to leave this city..."

"We better find someplace else to talk," The elf said as he glanced around their surroundings. Already a crowd had formed and the staff of the inn were starting to poke around the bodies. The manager of the inn came over and started demanding answers all the while gesturing to the dead bodies that littered his courtyard. "Handle this!"

Seeing the nonchalant attitude of the elf, Dr. Sharon felt angry. She heatedly turned to the manager and snapped angrily, "Thieves and murderers! How can such an inn like yours be so dangerous? If we were not alert, we would be robbed or worse murdered!"

Her words heard by the crowd, sided with her and started to blame the manager for not providing some security for their guests. The manager could only open and close his mouth in shock as he was at a loss of words to refute anything.

"We are leaving this inn! We do not feel safe here!" Dr. Sharon glared at the elf. "Let's go! We will not stay at such a place ever again!"

"Wait!" The poor manager was confused and in a panic as more and more guests started to declare their intent to leave and were calling for refunds. Magister Thorn and the rest gave curious looks at the elf while Dr. Sharon hurried everyone to pack up and leave.

"Don't ask questions for now," Dr. Sharon whispered to the rest. "Let's us get out of here first."

Just as they left the inn, a small troop of city guard soldiers arrived and they stormed into the courtyard. The party causally joined dozens of the other guests that decided to leave the inn in the middle of the night and slipped away into the dark.

Finding a tavern still opened, the party crowded into it and took over two tables. Food and drinks were ordered and once the serving wench had left, all eyes turned to stare at Dr. Sharon and the elf, waiting for them to explain.

Dr. Sharon seeing everyone looking at her, let out an uncomfortable cough. She turned to the elf and said, "Alright, why don't you start to introduce yourself and tell us what the hell is going on here?"

"I am the... Iron Kingdom's Third Prince Herod... Chief Knight... Greyer," Prince Herod used the identity of his Chief Knight. "There is... a plot on my Prince and I am being hunted for finding out about the plot."

"Really?" Dr. Sharon did not feel that he was speaking truthfully while the rest seemed excited to be involved in a plot to murder a Prince especially the students.

"Greetings, Knight Greyer!" Professor Hamlot quickly gave his salutations. "I am Professor Hamlot from the Arcanum School of Steamworks and Magic!"

"Chief Knight!" One of the students, Uwen cried out and he saluted in the custom of the Iron Kingdom. "I hail from the line of the Lockrich, my father is Iron Lord Lockrich! I shall do everything in my power to help you and the Third Prince!"

"So what is the plan now?" Magister Thorn asked. "We can't leave the city now and it is still a few hours before dawn..."

"We could get to the city's Cathedral?" Professor Hamlot suggested as he looked at Prince Herod. "We can get help from the city watch?"

"No... Some of the city watch have been bribed too," Prince Herod shook his head as he rejected the idea. "I do not know who is in the pay of the plotters!"

"The safest way is to leave the city and cross the border into the Iron Kingdom!" Prince Herod said. "But first... I need to leave the city and find passage with an airship to cross the border!"

"We should get some rest here now," Dr. Sharon suddenly said. "I think we are safe enough here in the tavern so many people around. At least for now, the guards have said the gates will reopen in the morning."

"We just let tag along in our group and leave the city together," Dr. Sharon suggested. "His enemies should be on the lookout for a single person and won't think twice able checking a large group of people..."

"But before that, we might need to do something about that blonde hair of yours!" Dr. Sharon gestured to the golden hair of Prince Herod and pushed him towards the fireplace. "Grab some soot from the fireplace and rub them into your hair. Your hair is too striking and recognizable!"

Prince Herod looked at the fireplace and he hesitantly rubbed some soot onto his hands. Dr. Sharon shook her head at his reluctance and she grabbed some of the soot and started rubbing her hands through his hair, much to his annoyance.

After a moment, his once golden hair under the vigorous application of soot had turned dull and dirty. Dr. Sharon gave a smile of satisfaction and patted her hands clean and said, "Finally, that is less eye catching!"

"Now, let's see what we can do about those clothes of yours!"