91

In the early years after your Embrace, you saw almost as much of Arundel as you did Corliss. He would later become more reclusive, allowing your sire to train you as she saw fit, but when you were still a fledgling, he shared a select few skills with you. You can see him now, through the dream ether. His eyes are serious, but not cold. He wants you to succeed and survive.

It was easier to travel back then, before the Second Inquisition began to ravage Kindred strongholds, but you made the most of it. By the time you returned to Ottawa, the Prince was so impressed with your level of skill that he set up a tournament for you to prove your strength. Amazingly, you managed to beat several opponents twice your age.

Through the memory, you feel stronger, the atrophy of your bureaucratic years serving Corliss melting away.

Next

You emerge from your bed feeling refreshed, if a bit more hungry than usual. If you were still mortal, these nights would be literally killing you. How had you even managed to get back here in one piece? You get dressed and leave your private rooms, simultaneously eager for and dreading Gerard's morning update.

The ghoul is sitting at his desk as usual, thumbing through a small pile of papers before settling on one and placing a pen on it as a placeholder. "Good evening, ma'am," he says. "Are you feeling recovered after all the commotion last night? I'm pleased that you remain unscathed. From what I've learned so far, it sounds like most Kindred made it out safely, though there were a few close calls."

"I suppose we'll be finding out more tonight," you reply. Ms. Grey will be furious when she finds out that Ichiro is dead. You managed to stash the ghoul's sword away in your private rooms without Gerard noticing. At least as far as you know.

"I'll compile any information I receive about the bombing for you while you're away tonight," Gerard says. "I also have an important message from your sire."

"That's not surprising," you say.

"I think you should take this seriously, ma'am. She says an Archon has been dispatched to the city. She says you'd know what that means."

It Means Trouble

You're struck silent for a moment, stunned. An Archon dispatched to Ottawa? Either that means the most powerful Kindred on the continent have learned that Prince Arundel is missing, or something even more sinister is going on. Archons act as ground enforcers for the near-mythical Camarilla elite and they're rarely seen, even when they're actively deployed. Few Kindred have ever met one in person, but when one is openly dispatched to a city, the local Kindred will bend over backward to give the appearance of compliance. Many view it as a great shame—a strong suggestion that the local Prince is incapable of keeping order in their own domain.

Gerard properly reads the concern on your face. "Someone quite powerful is concerned about the Anarchs causing trouble in public, I'd wager."

"That can't be the only reason," you mutter. "Anarchs cause trouble like this all the time. It would be beneath the Archon's notice unless something else is happening alongside it."

But how confident are you of that sentiment? Many younger Kindred aren't aware of the existence of the Archons, much less their shadowy masters. Even you have only heard of them because of Corliss's intense battery of studies while you were a fledgling.

Gerard remains dubious of your assessment. "The Anarchs are a problem. If the Prince were here that would be one thing, but if his disappearance has become widely known, these Archons might think they need to take matters into their own hands."