Seeking Help

"You are insane." Vesta said after I finished with a quick explanation of the situation.

"I know it doesn't sound good." I said.

"That's because it isn't good. The Union went to great lengths to protect you and you just… just put yourself in more danger." She said.

"Look I get it. But they've known what I've been doing and when. They know things that have happened in the Union as they happen. As much as I wanted to come to the Union with this problem I wasn't sure who I could trust." I said. I couldn't tell her that I also wanted to figure out what my spirit mark with Thelora meant.

"Please tell me you aren't one of those guys that wants to do everything themselves because they don't want to owe anyone?" It seemed she was speaking from experience.

"If I was, I wouldn't be coming to you for help since I'm going to owe you for this. You're one of the few people I can trust." She blushed a little from what I said.

"Well, that's good because it never turns out well. And...and I'm glad you can trust me." She said.

"I know it's going to be risky but can you help me?" I asked.

She looked around as her face contorted as she thought it over. "Fine, I'll help you. But I don't want anyone to know my name or see my face."

"That shouldn't be a problem. In fact you won't even be in the thick of it. Mostly you'll be in charge of the diversion and if things go sideways, you don't need to stick around. With Zephyr you'll be able to get away without any issue." I said.

"You're such an idiot. Do I really look like a person that would abandon you?" She said.

"Me in particular or…" I began.

"My allies, I'm not the type of person to abandon anyone that I'm allied with." She interrupted me. Damn here was another woman that I needed to figure out my feelings for.

"Except for a few people that I'll point out to you, it will be okay for most of our side to die. While our main goal is to free Skadi and help her become the Bandit Queen, our secondary goal is to cripple their overall organization." I said.

"That works for me. There is one thing I should mention. The Azure Shadow has always had a difficult time infiltrating the Bandit Queen's organization. It always bothered my uncle and I had a feeling he knew something about her that he didn't tell me which was strange since he told me almost everything." She said.

"What were the types of things he kept from you?" I asked.

"Anything to do with the royal family and some of the deeper secrets in the kingdom. Everyonce and awhile I felt that something was missing from reports he had me analyze but I could never find out if he was intentionally leaving things out or if the information wasn't there to begin with. While he was grooming me to take over, I think he understood that he didn't have the ultimate say and so kept the bigger secrets to himself." She said.

"Do you think there's something bigger going on here?" I said.

"I don't know enough about the situation. I just wanted to warn you." She said.

After I told her where to meet up outside the city I went back to my room. When I started to take my clothes off I felt that someone was watching me. I didn't feel a warning chill in my heart and knew of two people that could sneak into my tiny room and remain hidden.

As I took my shirt off I tossed it on my bed taking a guess of who was there. The shirt landed and formed to show a woman's body. The firefly-like lights surrounded Floriana as her body came into view.

"My client cancelled tonight, so I thought I'd drop by." She said.

"What a lucky guy I am." I replied.

"That you are. I also learned a few more things." She said.

"Bornhilda captured Skadi and asked for a ransom of 8?" I said.

"I figured Thelora would have already told you." She said.

"But you came anyway." I said.

"Well I didn't just come to share information." She sat up on the bed and began to run her hands across my chest.

"Before we begin, there is something I need to ask you. I was going to visit you tomorrow but you saved me the trip." I said.

"Oh two days in a row. Does that make me the lucky one? And still feel free to stop by." She said.

"I know you're good at gathering information but how are you at dispensing it?" I said.

"Hmmm, if I had to guess I'd say the information you want me to spread is false, correct?" She said.

"It is." I said.

"That will make it a little difficult as I'll need to make sure it can't be traced back to me. Not only do I have a reputation to uphold but my employer wants me to stay out of this. If she finds out, it would cause problems for both of us." She said.

"I just need Bornhilda to think that Skadi's forces are larger than they are and are gathering somewhere else." I said.

"Does that mean there aren't a lot of you and you'll be trying to free Skadi?" She wasn't really asking a question.

"There's a little over 15 of us and we'll be heading out in a few days." I said.

Her nails started to dig into my skin. "I didn't know you had a death wish. Bornhilda has close to 50 people and the keep she's in wasn't abandoned for too long before she took it over. Unless you have a decent plan, its suicide."

"It's a fairly simple plan. Cause a few distractions to pull out some of her people while a select team sneaks in." I said.

"So if she bites on the information I spread you're hoping she'll send some people out to investigate. That's not too good of a plan." She said.

"Do you have any suggestions?" I asked.

"Use your enemies against your enemies. There's a few other rumors I could spread, I'm not sure if they will have a decent impact with such a short time frame but I might be able to get Wassa's people to also start to move. If Bornhilda has to respond to both of you, that should help thin out her people." She said.

"I like it." I said.

"Is that all you like?" I bent down and gave her a kiss in response to her question.

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The next morning I made sure to be seen practicing my sword stances in the training ground. Lariss and Vesta should both be heading to the rendezvous. I was just now realizing that the two of them would be meeting up before I arrived. Before lunch I made my way towards the Flask and Anvil.

"I'm not very happy with you at the moment." Vegaror said as I walked in.

"I'm sorry?" I replied.

"First that idea you put in Uhtric's head has had him in his workshop since then. If he didn't bring me in to consult on alchemic substances, I might not even see him. Then this morning Lariss stopped by to sell me some alchemy equipment and she wouldn't even tell me where she got it from. She used to tell me everything over tea but since she's met you, there's a bunch of secrets and she's always in a rush." He said.

"Again I'm sorry." I said.

"Ah I'm not mad, just not happy. It's been a while since I saw Uhtric this happy about a project and I was always worried that Lariss wouldn't meet anyone she'd call a friend. Of course if you told me you were more than friends I might feel a little better about the situation." He said.

"We're just friends." I said.

"Sure you are. What can I help you with? Lariss said she was leaving the city and only took basic supplies." He said.

"I was hoping you'd have a few items in stock that could help with a large group of monsters. Maybe an alchemic item that has an acidic mist or one that spreads fire easily?" The potions that Torfredr used at the resting place would have been very effective if I wasn't the only one fighting on that side.

"Stuff like you're describing is regulated since it's been used to cause mass civilian casualties in the past. I can sell a limited amount if you have a quest that might call for it." He said.

"Unfortunately that isn't the case. This is more private hunting." I said.

He eyed me for a moment. "Come with me."

I followed him into a back room. The door to the room was made of heavy metal and contained various enchantments. The room itself was heavily warded. On the shelves were an assortment of dangerous magical items, some of which I recognized from my father's armory. There were some blood stained silver seals, a few potions I recognized as truth serums, a glass cabinet with various rings, bracelets and necklaces, and in the back corner was a covered bird cage whose cloth moved as if breathing.

He pulled out two ceramic jars, one with a red cloth covering and one with a green covering.

"I'm willing to sell you one of each. But if I find out you did something stupid or illegal with them, there will be consequences." He said.

"Don't worry I won't. I also have something for you." I pulled out a small pouch from my Storage Ring and handed it to him.

"Are these Janir Leeches? Please tell me they came directly from a Ganmudr stomach." He said.

"They did." I replied.

"These are hard to get. And it looks like they are still alive. We'll need to get a goat to feed them. I'll forgive you a little more for what you've done." He said.

"Thank you." The leeches took care of most of the cost for the ceramic jars and after I collected a few other supplies, I placed an order for gauntlets with the Osgar enchantment. Vegaror couldn't give me a time frame as to when they'd be done since Uhtric was spending most of his time on a 'camera'.

With the last of my preparations made, I went back to the Union to train my auras before heading out the next day.