Surface- Valley of Origins

Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night

Middle City- Healers Hall

"How is she doing Abraxxus?" Jacob asked as he woke. The Lich and healers of the Healers Hall had worked through the remainder of the night and some of the day to stabilize Cathrine.

The Lich was exhausted but had not left until he was sure that his patient was stable, "Better and stable. She can be moved to the palace safely now. From what I understand of the attack, they were trying to kidnap her, the poison they used to subdue her was specifically engineered to weaken Banshees. However, between the poison and knife wound, she very well could have died Jacob. As is, she will be weakened for weeks, she needs a safe place to rest and recover."

Jacob nodded, "She will be staying here. I know she will not like being bedridden, but if the situation had been reversed, I am sure she would do the same to me. Ezekial and Darren should have analyzed and gone over the bodies of the attackers, when you have recovered I want you to take a look as well. I believe they were Noble Undead, if so I want it confirmed or if they are not, tell me what species they are."

Abraxxus was studying Jacob and fully awake now, "Why would you think they were Noble Undead?"

"They had similar complections to Cathrine and her family. They were stronger and faster than a normal human, could it have been magic or potions enhancing them? Yes but I don't believe so. Just go get some rest my friend and get me that information as soon as you can." Jacob told the Alchemist as James, Ezekial, and Darren entered the room. The Lich bowed to Jacob before leaving, the pair of Heart Guards and Dawn Guards closed the door firmly as the Lich left.

All three men looked exhausted and as tired as Jacob was, "Well, want to tell me what happened and how exactly our security was breached?"

James and Ezekial bowed while Darren frowned and looked away, "We apologize my King, but from what we can tell the team that infiltrated the city used legitimate codes to the portal in from the Hollowed Tombs. We have suspended their access for now. This won't stop any Deathwalkers from coming, they know the location of the city and have their own way to use Portals over long distances. From what we have been able to backtrack, they Portaled in early yesterday evening. Ate at an inn, from there we lost track of where two of their party went. Eventually, they were able to track your wife's location to the Middle City and a Crafters Hall. Once their they infiltrated the hall, assaulted Cathrine and her guard killing the two Heart Guards and disabling her. Three of their members were killed in the process leaving seven alive to escort her out. You were able to track her down and intercept them before they were able to get to the Middle City Plaza and escape. You managed to disable one of the kidnappers, he is currently being held in the cells below the palace." Ezekial reported.

"No, as far as anyone is aware, the prisoner died under questioning last night and did not reveal anything do you understand?' Jacob asked and all three men nodded. 'Make sure the Hollowed Tombs is locked out of our whole Portal network, not just here. Next, make sure the bodies are available too Abraxxus, I asked him to study them to see if he can reveal any more information about them and who sent them. Third, our borders are currently closed to the Hollowed Tombs, any Deathwalkers found within the Empire are to be arrested if possible and killed if they resist. We are not at war with them gentlemen, but as of right now I do not trust them." Jacob commanded.

James nodded, "After Abraxxus does his examination, what do you want us to do with the remains?"

"Burn them. James, I want Cathrine transported back to the palace as soon as you can arrange it. I want a healer checking on her condition ever couple hours, she is never to be alone for the foreseeable future. Once she wakes up, I am sure she will give us hell, but my orders stand. Is that understood Captain??" Jacob asked and the Heart Guard commander saluted before leaving.

Jacob waited for the door closed before continuing, "Gentlemen, no one could have predicted this. It was very unexpected, so I do not blame either one of you for what happened. I wanted to make that clear, but I do want to know everything the survivor knows. Ezekial, tell Nathaniel the gloves are off for this one. Push but do not break him." The Master of Shadows bowed and left the room leaving only the two Immortals and Cathrine behind.

"What are you going to do?" Darren asked.

Jacob snorted, "Can't do much with things heating up with the Free Cities, I can't afford to get bogged down in a war with the Hollowed Tombs so, for now, we let it skate. We need answers and information, I know they are isolationists, but even they need outside trade with someone. So we find them and squeeze them for info, then go from there." Jacob told Darren as one of the guards knocked and opened a door.

"My king, a cart is ready on the street, we can carry her if you are too tired sir." the guard reported but Jacob waved the man away. Cathrine without armor was barely over a hundred and ten pounds. Even exhausted as he was, Jacob would carry her that far at least.

Underdark- Unending Abyss Region

Caln Darguun Territory- Darkfang Hold

Chieftans Hall

Jacob strode through the halls, Dolbrug was out on patrol and Sosa was supposed to be in her office. Their clanmates gladly pointed out that their Chief was diligently working hard. Jacob snorted as he thought 'as always'. A pair of guards that usually flanked her door were gone which usually meant she was out but he would take a quick look and confirm it.

Sosa was there and so was so other halfbreed male Jacob didn't know, but considering the way she was sitting in his lap and kissing him, she knew him a lot better then Jacob did. Jacob was extremely tired and was not in the mood to deal with this bullshit after the last day so he did what every husband would do, kicked the door in.

Sosa immediately stood and started forward but stopped in shock when she saw Jacob standing there. He immediately moved over and stood in front of her looking down at her, "I can see what you have been so busy with now. Don't worry I came for something that belongs to me, then I will be leaving. No blood will be spilled unless you or lover boy do not do anything stupid." Jacob softly stated as he reached forward and ripped the engraved bracelet off her arm. The one he had given to her soon after their wedding that allowed her free access and aid anywhere within the Empire of Night.

"You are no longer allowed access to the Empire, due to your betrayal, our marriage will be dissolved. I will contact your uncle soon after I decide if I want to dissolve our alliance. Do not follow me, do not try to contact me." Jacob stated calmly before he turned and left, the broken bracelet on the floor.

Two guards were waiting outside in stunned surprise, "Don't worry, no one was hurt and no one died." They nodded as Jacob left Dolbrug caught up with him just as Jacob was activating the Portal Pad to head home.

"What's going on, my sister refuses to talk and I saw your wedding gift broken on the floor. Her guards refused to answer my questions." Dolbrug stated.

"Our marriage is over, she chose some other Orc halfbreed over me. Our alliance is on rocky ground, I would suggest your people give a wide berth to the Empires borders for now." Jacob told him as he activated the portal and walked through leaving a stunned Dolbrug staring at the ground.

Surface- Valley of Origins

Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night

Palace of Night- Master Suite

Jacob continued to review the reports he had in front of him. With Cathrine bedridden and Jacob keeping a close eye on her, he had plenty of time to catch up on all the paperwork that had been stacking up waiting for him to read, approve, and deny. They had purchased 200,000 units of grain, corn, and beans during the last Greater Harvest Market. Everything an army needed to feed its soldiers, and with portal travel being denied to the Legions possible targets, it would be essential to have the food on hand.

So they had to figure out where to store all the food, they couldn't keep it all in Middlebrough, the town didn't have space. So they had to split it all up and store it where they could easily get it to the Legions when necessary.

Next, approval and wagon and cart purchases to carry supplies for the growing armies. The approval of the purchase of mobile smithies for the two Legions that did not have them yet. Each one cost a whopping 1,000 Gold. Approval for wage spending all the new recruits in the Home Legion. Approval for new armor and weapons to keep the stockpiles full.

Denial of Tax increases and Tariffs, denial of building any more roads in the Arathia Basin region. Denial of opening another Quarry outside Eternal Night. Denial of captured soldiers to be transferred to the Pit before they get vetted and checked by Ezekial and Darren.

The list went on and on and made Jacob seriously reconsider changing his Profession to Administration. A soft knock on the door brought his attention out of the endless stack of papers that were trying to eat him. "Come!!!" Jacob called out as he looked at Cathrine before turning toward the door, his hand on Moonlight hilt ready to draw it in a moment notice.

Eiloma poked her head in before walking in, Jacob relaxed as she sat a letter down in front of him. "Is this a joke? Tell me its a joke, because it is not funny."

"Its no joke, that is my letter too Alog Tor'akon telling him that I am dissolving my marriage with his niece because she couldn't keep it in her pants. I also told him that I was considering dissolving our alliance and that both I and the Empire need our space for now. If its the second letter to the Council of Nine telling them that any of their Deathwalkers found within the Empire will be arrested and charged with Espionage due to the fact that someone on their side thought it was ok to kidnap my wife and almost killed her and did kill two of my guards in the attempt. Mikeal is waiting downstairs in a cell closely watched by 8 guards, if he moves in a way any of them don't like, he will be torn apart." Jacob stated while looking calmly at Eiloma.

"She really cheated on you?" Eiloma asked.

Jacob nodded before looking back at Cathrine. His psychic link had gotten stronger, so he knew she was out of the woods and just sleeping at the moment. "Yes, I caught her sitting on his lap, checking his throat with her tongue. Between that and the fact I have not seen a whole lot of her in the last month, pretty much screams she is having an affair. So yeah, I am getting her out of my life." Jacob stated as he considered what to do next. Their strongest ally might turn into a new enemy and the Hollowed Tombs, which they never had the best relationship with, just tried to kidnap the wife of a Monarch. With other countries, it would be grounds to declare war, but with things heating up with the Slavers Union and the Free Cities to the north, the Empire of Night could not afford to get bogged down in another conflict. Not too mention the Duergar clans in the Underdark.

"Did you review the Non-Aggression Pact that Clan Hammerhead proposed?" Jacob asked her moving on.

Eiloma nodded her head distractedly, "Yes I looked at it and the wording is fine for both sides and establishes the current borders for both sides. Clans Brokenaxes and Frostbeards are minor signatories since they don't have any lands directly bordering the Empire, but with the conflict they had with the Sisters of the Damned, they want us to know what they consider theirs. I would suggest you sign it as soon as you can."

Jacob nodded and pulled out the document from the pile of paperwork, read over it and the map quickly one more time and signed and dated it before pricking his finger and placing it next to his signature. The small drop of blood would bind it to him and the Empire. If they decided to break it for any reason, he would have to notify Clan Hammerhead. Suddenly the document started glowing brighter before rolling itself up and sealing. The four seals of the Empire, Hammerhead, Brokenaxes, and Frostbeards appeared on the document signifying that all parties had signed. If any of them broke the accord, said parties seal would break notifying the other parties.

Jacob tapped Eiloma and the arm getting her attention, "You know where this goes, please make sure it gets there and make sure those letters get out as soon as possible to Clan Darguun and the Hollowed Tombs."