Cole

Cole had fooled himself that he would reach the throne room easily. The fact that he had never been in Sráid Keep seemed inconsequential after the euphoria he felt from talking down Rodd. His new sword bobbed in its majestic sheath as he sprinted down the silver halls. He checked each room he passed, and those that were locked he at least attempted to kick in. He passed a window and spent too long with his face against the glass trying to guess how the battle was proceeding. He wrote down his observations before returning to his quest.

He found the sitting room, which looked as if thirteen hungry wolves had fought for supremacy within it. He was relieved to find Frost, but the wecher was fast asleep. No amount of shaking would wake him. At least that was one friend who was safe and alive.

Cole searched for a way to squeeze through the collapsed hall beneath the sitting room, but it was a futile effort. He needed a different way. He retraced his path to Odile’s bedchamber, cursing himself that he was lost while people needed him.

He heard someone approaching and fled for an unlocked room. Through the crack of the door he saw a person in an ash cloak enter Odile’s bedroom. They were not any member of the strike team, though it was hard to tell because of their hidden face.

The stranger entered the hidden passage. Cole looked in the direction of the throne room, considering his priorities. His curiosity and gut feeling won out and he crept back into Odile’s room

The stranger was moving quickly, unaware that he was being followed. Cole loaded his atlatl and slung a dart that skipped off the wall to their left. The cloaked figure froze.

Cole calmly loaded the next dart. “That was a warning. I’ve gotten quite good with this. The next one won’t miss.”

The stranger exhaled a hissing breath. He turned slowly to face Cole. The passage was poorly lit, but Cole could not mistake the chalk white skin beneath the hood.

“You’re Tohl Bahn!”

Tohl’s own shock melted to a defiant sneer. “Cole the Wanderer. Perhaps the last person I expected to see here. Too bad there’s no Automata board for a rematch.”

Cole gestured threateningly with his atlatl. “What are you doing here?”

“Here in Sráid, or here in this tunnel?” Tohl asked coyly. He jumped when Cole launched another warning dart.

“I know all about you Tohl. You’re more than a man lying at being a seer. You were financing both Solind and Corban. I’ll ask again: What are you doing here?”

Tohl’s lip curled. “Hmm. A siege is a good time to rifle through a castle’s valuables. There’s something quite precious you caught me in the middle of transporting.”

Cole edged closer to Tohl. “Just what have you stolen?”

“A knife.”

Tohl lunged at Cole. The dagger he had been concealing sank hilt-deep into Cole’s chest. Cole stumbled back from the surprise. A red stain spread across his undershirt. Tohl snickered to himself. He seemed content to watch Cole collapse and bleed out.

“Bastard.” Cole barked.

He ripped out the dagger, which was only stained at the tip. Tohl’s face fell. From his breast pocket Cole produced his journal, which now had a clean hole through it. He grinned at Tohl. “This journal was brand new.”

Tohl ran. Cole sprang to his feet to give chase. He was in better shape and caught Tohl by his cloak. A punch to the jaw dazed him before Cole wrestled him into submission.

After removing the sword, Cole used Rodd’s belt to restrain Tohl’s hands. Tohl hit the back of his head against the wall. He was powerless and furious. Cole sat opposite him. He inspected the damage done to his journal and came to the conclusion that it was ruined.

“What happens now?” Tohl asked in a mocking tone.

Cole shrugged. He tossed the journal aside. “I don’t trust myself to transport you alone. So we wait for my friends.”

Tohl forced a disquieting laugh. He looked to the castle-end of the passage. “You might regret that.”

Cole did not share his laughter. “Let’s try this a third time: What are you doing here?”

Tohl looked at Cole like he was nothing to him. “You could not even begin to guess.”

“Something tells me you were already in the Keep before the battle started, which means you must be close to Ghetsis or at least the Order.” Cole rested his chin on his fist. He felt like Tohl was a puzzle he had enough pieces to solve. “Why would someone with a criminal enterprise involving necromancers and rogue clerics want to put themselves that close to the Order of Suffering?”

“Clearly they were holding me prisoner.” Tohl offered.

Cole held his unsheathed white saber within cutting distance of Tohl’s throat. “Shut up.”

Tohl obliged. Hate boiled in his eyes the longer he looked at Cole.

“Odd that you should mention a prison. It was in a prison that we found the connection between the Order and a lot of foul deeds across the Confederacy. Foul deeds that the Order then blamed on others, but I’ve been wondering whether Ghetsis and his officers even knew about the true source of the poison at the Feast of Equals, or the murder of King Fellior Ruaidrí.”

Cole knew the answer. He had felt it in his gut since the moment he found Tohl in this passage.

“Ghetsis Reballo believed in the folklore of cut palms and diablans. He probably believes that albinos have magical seer powers too. I think you create crises for the Order to solve, then lie to Ghetsis that he’s doing the right thing, goading him to go further. The Order’s power grows, and with it your scope of influence. You’re the true leader of the Order of Suffering.”

A rumble in Tohl’s throat became a howling laugh. It echoed off the passage walls. Cole waited patiently for Tohl to stop. He squashed a spider on his neck as he did. As Tohl’s laughter died footsteps became audible in the tunnel. Tohl looked excitedly to the Keep entrance, but this new arrival had entered from the other side.

“Hello again.” Cole casually greeted the person. This passage was turning into a good place for reunions. “How’d you find this place?”

“I was in the area. A man with curly hair pointed the way.”

Tohl kept silent. His eyes darted between Cole and this person he did not recognize.

“Which way is the throne room?” They asked.

Cole shrugged comically. “If I knew that then I’d be there.”

“You’re no help.”

They continued past Cole and Tohl, humming a song under their breath with each step. Tohl watched the tunnel’s exit for long after the stranger left his view. He sneered. Cursing under his breath.

“Expecting someone?” Cole asked. He felt in control of this situation.

Tohl glowered back at Cole. Something sinister sparked in his eyes. “You’re going to die if you stay here. I promise that a thousand times over.”

“I’m not scared.” Cole was shaken by Tohl’s expression, but he wasn’t going to let him win.

Tohl’s brittle smile returned. “It is as you say. I’ve been threading the strings of this web from the beginning. You’ve guessed the ‘how’, but can you fathom the ‘why’?”

Cole squared his shoulders. He flattened his back against the wall and rested the pearl iron saber on his knees. “Try me.”

Tohl glanced at the Keep entrance again. He was suddenly content to wait. “I’m feeling honest today. Let’s start at the beginning…”