The sewer lid shifted over. Rowan’s head appeared, looking
around. The sky was quite orange now. There were only a group of
middle-aged Dark Citizens about.
“This is my house,” Rowan announced. She
heaved herself out of the sewer and stood up. “Thank you.”
Kiyor’s head poked out. “You’re welcome.” He also climbed out.
Hawk climbed out after him. Then out came Manar and
last of all, Siren, who lifted the sewer lid back to where it belonged.
In the light, it was more easily seen that Hawk had his hair in
dread-locks while Siren had her hair in a long, exotic plait.
“What will happen now?” asked Manar.
“We get this amulet investigated,” Siren
told her, dangling the little black sack that blocked the shining light.
“I ask that I am kept informed about the
progress of the investigation. After all, the safety of Mistress Rowan
and the entire Kirilian family is under my jurisdiction.”
Hawk nodded in agreement. “We’ll call.”
The two walked off. Kiyor followed. “Later Rowan.”
Rowan hesitated a little before going to her house.
“You seem worried,” observed her bodyguard next to her.
“Yes.”
“Who are you worried about?”
Rowan gave no answer.
This room had unadorned white walls, which contrasted the floor of dark
brown wood. A small rectangular table, chairs with arms and two tall
black candlesticks, placed on either side of the room and relatively
near the door, were the only furniture. The chairs and table were made
of the same dark wood that matched the floor. All the light came from
the lamps on the walls, with brass sticks and fanciful shades. There
were two maids in the room, young and stereotypically adorned. They
poured tea for the four elders. One elderly man studied the amulet.
“Kiyor, did you say that the light had faded when you had distanced yourself from Rowan?”
“Yes Grandfather.”
“Then she is definitely the target,”
observed his elderly wife, sitting next to him. Her soft, mostly brown
hair showed her hidden caring nature, for she sat like a regal statue
with sharp eyes.
The maids were done pouring tea and stood at their
places on either side of the room, standing ready to attend their
masters when they were called. Kiyor could do nothing but stand in
front of the table.
“There is only one thing obvious about
this,” a dark-skinned elderly man announced coldly. “It is
Kirilian business, not ours.”
“However, my dear brother-in-law, the most
gracious thing to do is to at least offer assistance,” argued the
first man.
“Remember darling, we had already supplied the
security detail for Lady Kirilian,” his wife pointed out. Kiyor
stared at her. “Your father is a better sneak than you,”
she answered to his voiceless question. He looked away.
“We will help,” snapped a woman, so
withered and sharp, she must have been well over 100 years old.
“And why do you decide that mother?” asked the paler man.
“It may be no more than a skirmish, but, if it
turns out to be an argument between two families, the consequences will
be dire. The responsibility to keep the peace would then be ours.
You!” she snapped to the maid on her right. The maid tensed
slightly as she looked at her mistress in recognition. “Bring us
the details of all our contacts at once.” The maid nodded once
and walked out of the room as quickly as she could.
“I suggest you have some rest Kiyor,”
advised his grandmother. “It is not good for one to be too
excited.”
“Thank you Grandmother,” he said quietly. He turned to leave the room.
A dark skinned man made his way across a plaza, as busy by night as it
was during the day. He walked along the nearby streets. Increasingly,
less people walked about. Along an empty street, there was only him;
and a woman. Her hair was blonde of a shocking yellow, allowing him to
see her from far away. As he came closer, he was faintly surprised by
her solid, green eyes.
“Are you the speaker for the Sorcerers?”
he demanded. She gently nodded. “I am the speaker of the
Vilkons.”
“What is your proposal?” she asked, studying him.
“To investigate this.” He lifted the small, black sack.
She took it without even looking at it. “And what do we receive as reward?”
“Direct action on any who dare break the boundaries of sorcery and magic.”
She faintly nodded. “Accepted.” She
slowly turned and went into the alley next to her, melting into the
shadows. The Vilkon representative walked away without hesitating.
There was no sign of the woman ever being there.