“Kerana, tell them what you saw.” Tabitha waved a dismissive motion towards the Korek woman, then began to stride apart from the group slightly, whispering to her scribe.

“I see Rekiak.” She began, with a much softer accent than most Korek they had met. “Not far, I thought strange. What Ga’Se son doing out Korek Town? So, I tell Tabitha.” The Korek woman nodded, and Vallerian realized where he recognized her from. She was one of the ones that had accosted them the night that Celeste and he had first met Tabitha. Vallerian rubbed his stomach where she had punched him that night, perhaps it was best to stay on that one’s good side.

“You’re of the band then?” Celeste asked excitedly. “Your Terminian is excellent, once I’m done would you mind…” Celeste trailed off as the woman’s face turned dour.

“No longer of band.” She said simply, and it said everything they needed to know. These Korek were extremely harsh with their rules it seemed. Were all Korek that lived outside of their little community banished from their band?

“I’m so sorry.” Celeste said contritely, stepping forward and placing a hand on the Korek woman.

“Is past. I of Silver Skull band now.” She pounded the center of her stomach with pride. What an odd form of solute, he thought. “But I do care. Rekiak is south of the Southshore market…” The woman continued explaining where she had seen the man, but Vallerian felt a nudge at his side that pulled his attention free.

Tabitha’s scribe stood next to him now, the woman pressed something into his hand.

“The Mistress is quite satisfied with your work.” The scribe whispered to him. “This should be the last few.”

Looking down into his hand, Vallerian unfolded the parchment the woman had slipped him. Another list of names. Vallerian crumpled it up in his fist. No, he can’t. He had done his job and…

“It must be done.” She whispered to him. “It is necessary, then Southshore will be safe.” At her words, Vallerian deflated. She was right, it was necessary. He would do what he had to do. To ensure Tabitha was successful, to ensure she backed Celeste, to ensure Celeste was swayed by Crysilla, to ensure he didn’t get killed. You’re just trying to survive, he reminded himself. It was growing to be a hollow reminder though. How much more would he do in the name of self preservation?

“Are you alright milord?” Kriss asked again, placing a hand on Vallerian’s shoulder. Vallerian jumped at the motion. Looking around, he noticed that the scribe had left already. How long had he been there thinking? “You look pale as a Theremya, and for you that’s saying something.” Kriss jested, squeezing Vallerian’s shoulder. The young man had become quite friendly with him the past weeks. Perhaps it was gratitude for pulling him out of the Pits, or just being the only other sane person that spent a significant time with Celeste, Vallerian didn’t know. Overall though, he was growing to like the lad.

“I’m quite well, just…”

“Tired?” Kriss asked.

“Yes.” Vallerian responded with laboured breaths. Why was he having difficulty breathing? He forced himself to calm. He was Vallerian, Count of Tarnarquill, he would not be shaken by a few paltry names on a list.

“Well then come on, the sooner we find this Korek man, the sooner we can go home and rest.” Kriss smiled at him, then pulled him behind the girls who had already begun to walk away. Had they already finished with that Korek woman? Where had Tabitha and her people gone?

“Get yourself together.” Vallerian muttered to himself.

“You say something?” Kriss asked. Vallerian just shook his head and said no.

With a whistle for Charlotte, he began to follow along. She flew and landed on his shoulder as a familiar comfort, and she nipped away at his ear slightly. She'd been in a bad mood ever since he had started going out without her at nights. She had taken to sleeping in Celeste's room at night though, and he wasn't about to try and swipe her up every night he needed to sneak out.

With his friend on his shoulder, he followed along the girls' trail, trying his best to not let his mind return to his recent nights. Memories of those nights had been haunting his days and looking up at Celeste, he knew why. That girl was the problem. Try as he might, her words still lingered in his mind. Like the perfume of an exotic eastern lady, gliding through a sitting room. She was wrong though, he knew that for certain. There were some people in this world who had to die. Despicable people. Like the Pitsmaster. He truly deserved death. So why wouldn't these slum lords deserve it too? Killing them was a mercy. A mercy for themselves, keeping them from continuing their terrible actions, and a mercy for Southshore. He was doing a lord’s work, protecting the small folk. That was a duty of the peerage was it not? The reason he was a noble and they weren't was because he could make the hard decisions. As Seratos intended. Yes, that was it. He just had to...

“I'm proud of you.” Celeste’s soft voice pulled him from his reverie. Vallerian jerked his head up in response, realizing he had gotten caught up in his thoughts again. He stared at her, wide eyed. But she just walked beside him, gently floating along in that red woolen gown she had. She truly seemed to love that one for some reason, even if it was a bit short for her. “I really am.” She continued.

“I don't know what you're talking about Your Radiance.” Vallerian responded. Looking up, the handmaidens were walking along ahead with Kriss.

“I've noticed the effort you've been making lately and I'm sure the First Mother has as well. You pray with us, you hold back your anger. It means a lot to me. So thank you, and know that I am proud of you.” Celeste looked up at him with those big gold and silver eyes of hers. Those royal eyes. If his noble blood gave him the right to choose who lived or died, then what rights did hers impart?

“Thank you.” He finally whispered. It was all he could think to say. He didn't deserve her grace, but he would live within it anyway. All great lights cast great shadows, and right now he could be hers. Doing what she could not, from the darkness. For Crysilla of course. He reminded himself. He was doing it for Crysilla, so he could survive. It was all for survival.

“Is that him?” Arabella called back to Celeste. They were near the Southshore market, and as they followed Arabella's outstretched finger, they spotted a Korek. Vallerian's hand immediately went to his side knife. The man was wearing black robes. The Cult of X's robes.

“Rekiak?” Celeste called out to him, and the Korek turned to look at them. His eyes grew wide. “We're here to...”

Celeste couldn't even finish her words before the Korek dashed off. Vallerian and Kriss locked eyes, then Vallerian sighed. This was going to be on him wasn't it?

“I'll get him, you stay.” Vallerian groaned at the young man, then rushed off to catch a cultist.