Evil knows no rest.

James felt the slap of the air, the sting of it even. It was a new feeling, flying under someone else's power.

The only pain he could register now though, was a gnawing in his belly. It rumbled as if to agree with his assessment. Something responded, though he didn't know how he could tell.

It wasn't a cloud of black smoke as it had appeared before, covering him like de p night. Now it was a small ball if black, with a few wisps of colour escaping every once in a while. It looked almost like what he'd expect an elemental too. Of course elementals only got their shape after bonding to an elf—

'You're awake?! Good, we are almost there.'

"And once there, you will stop following me around, won't you?"

It didn't answer. Even if he could see no face, he was sure this thing was studiously ignoring him.

"You are going to leave me alone, right?! Right?!"

He'd glossed over the fact that he was speaking normally now. He would have celebrated under any other circumstances. The thing still didn't say anything. He sighed.

"Why? Why me?!" he said to no one in particular.

'You are the hero, aren't you? Solas said you were.'

"I'm not a hero! If anything, I'm a villain. I hate the hero, or used to at the very least. The point is, I'm not the hero. And even if I were, why does that mean you should tie me to yourself?"

'You saved me. I feel like the reason I'm still on this side us to help on your journey. Besides, I can't very well investigate what happened yo me five hundred years on my own. I can't even read.'

"So what? You want a hero private investigator? And why the hell do you sound like Christmas came early for you or something?"

'Chris...private... I'm not sure what you're saying, but yes, I think the hero is my best bet in finding out what happened.'

He wanted to shout that he was no hero, but then the trees weren't the only thing he was seeing in the distance. He didn't know how this depleted dragon spirit had linked to him, but supposing his hypothesis about the spirit and ancient powers had some merit, then it had likely bonded to his witch factor.

The witch factor which had almost exploded at the pressure of bonding a second divine gift too soon. He wanted to ditch the little thing and fly under his own power, but he was afraid to so much as taste it.

Unfortunately he wouldn't be getting anymore divine gifts for the foreseeable future. And he hoped his preparations well in advance meant he didn't have to exert himself in the battle itself, otherwise his body might just explode under the pressure.

The city cleared into more than just a speck, and soon he could see his house with all the surrounding flora. It looked quiet, calm on the outside. But the sun was already in the West, and he knew there was little chance it was going to be as peaceful on the inside.

He got in through his still open office window, getting his feet on the ground and cleaning the tears from his wind beaten eyes. There was a sharp intake of breath from the room, and as his eyes came back into focus, he got the full picture.

'Why the hell is everyone here?!'

But then, with a cry, Nino and Eno were tackling him, giving him the tightest of hugs and shaking like they were sobbing. It was hard just to maintain his balance. Jason and the others stayed well clear.

Hansworth looked like a mother hen, lifting his hand, opening his mouth to say something, and then terminating both actions before he'd accomplished anything only to do something else.

Mary looked stoic as ever, but Ariane and Talia were both white as sheets. And why was Ariane still there anyway. Oh, he'd almost forgotten she was supposed to be training that day. He patted the kids on the back and assured them, and everyone else, that he was fine. It might have taken longer than he wanted.

In the end, a rumbling belly saved him. Every eye in the room turned to him in something not quite worry anymore, and he stopped short of covering his face with his palms. In the ensuing silence, he fought hard to own his embarrassment.

"Right, I think I'll go get some food from the kitchen," Talia announced.

"I can do it myself. You don't have to—"

"Not unless you want the whole capital talking about why you look like five tomatoes went and had a death match all over your torso. Oh, and you're going to have to explain what that is all about."

Then she was gone. Someone might have started to say something, but his stomach right roared this time. They all kept their silence after that. James didn't even have the mind to ask why they'd all gathered like this. Only the mercenaries, of whom only Talia was trusted enough to be here were missing.

He might have forgotten about his nobility when the food arrived. 'To hell with embarrassment,' he thought, 'one more second and I could have died.'

Oh, what a tasty meal it was. Nothing like a plater of tebderised meat after losing litres of blood. Was there a hint of wine in the chicken? Did he always appreciate how much different his diet was now compared to his life before? And there was fish too. He could die peacefully now.

He noticed the others doing their best to give him and his plate privacy. He wanted to shout that if what they were seeing made them uncomfortable, they should just wait outside, but his mouth was too preoccupied chewing and tearing and gobbling, and his throat bobbed up and down and swallowed.

The fork cracked on an empty plate. He let out a wordless cry of protest. Another plate replaced the first. Some blessedly perceptive person had gone and brought him another plate. Yeah, using forks might be overrated, but he still had a modecum of decency.

He only communicated through grunts now, but so do animals, and they are happy. Why shouldn't he be happy with his life? As long as he had food, what did respect matter anyway?

His stomach was bottomless. He could have eaten a whole feast if it had been present. As it was, the kitchen only had the four helpings he got.

He clicked his tongue, but he accepted Mary's help in wiping off his face. Apparently they didn't have time for him to take a whole bath just then. The only privacy he got was through his invisibility spell to change. Even Eno and Nino refused to leave the room.

He'd been too busy to hang out with them of recent, and apparently so had they. He hoped they didn't still harbour delusions of taking part in the upcoming battles. When he'd finished changing his shirt, he walked with all the dignity he could muster to the chair behind his desk.

The room was small, and it felt cramped. Normally they would have done this in his bedroom, but there was something he was just noticing for the first time.

"That wooden crate? So the delivery already arrived, or have they come to demand Ariane back?"

"Huh?!" Ariane complained, though it lacked heat for some reason.

"Yes, the delivery happened, but that's not important right now!" Talia groused. "What happened? Where did you go? Whose blood was that?"

Oh! Could Ariane be scared of him for some reason. Perhaps think he is some sort of cold blooded murderer.

"That was my blood!" he said in a rush. "All mine! I didn't go out and casually kill someone, only to return and demand to be fed like some kind of sociopath."

Talia shrugged. "I don't see what's wrong with that, as long the son of a bitch deserved to die."

Mary looked like she was in complete agreement. The kids wore puzzled expressions. James took both their faces and turned them so their eyes met his.

"Do not listen to those two, kids. They just grew up with the wrong crowds. I mean Hansworth probably did too, but he didn't grow up to be blood thirsty so... Any way, I'm just saying that what she said is entirely the wrong attitude towards killing people. Do you two understand that?"

They nodded, and James sighed in relief. He frowned at Talia, then at the rest of them.

"Hey, watch what you say in front of these guys. They are still kids, you know."

Everyone bowed their heads, except Talia who winced and turned away in consternation. Then it was time to get onto the business of the day.

"You'll be going back to mistress Vi, Ariane?"

"Yes, my lord. And before you ask, the training was as instructional as it was difficult. I have a lot of things to go through in the upcoming days."

"That's great, since this might be the last we see of you in the next few weeks. Try to learn as much as possible from the lady of whispers until we come for you."

"Understood."

'What,is this some sort of military unit I'm running?' though he didn't say it out loud.

"Any thing you might be interested in before I leave, my lord?" she asked, clearly having noted his intention in speaking to her first.

"The merchant king? Find out more about him. I hope you do realise he has a connection to the fat merchant Vi sent me, don't you?"

"He was fat too," Ariane commented, just as Hans asked, "you do know who it is though, don't you, young master?"

James shrugged. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't. This will be a sort of test, Ariane. I hope you make me proud."

She wasn't trained enough to start jumping through windows like Mary would have, so she used the door. James wanted to make sure she knew how to conceal herself properly, but apparently he needn't have worried. Or so he interpreted the small shake of Mary's head to mean.

"Now, onto more pressing matters. How goes your interrogation, Mary?"

"We have a lead," she said noncomitaly.

"Hopefully your lead can evolve before tomorrow is out, otherwise its pretty much useless at this point. The reconnaissance this afternoon?"

"We now know five potential hideouts for the one known as Rebel Kaiser. Since we only have a few vague descriptions to go by, I can't be sure which of the men I saw was him. I'm pretty sure they were some of the top brass though."

"Good. Good. That is good progress, at least. Tonight, I'll have you three start in a few of the places I've marked on this map."

"Three?" Talia said with a raised brow.

"No disrespect, but I'd hardly consider you an ally right now. Perhaps when you've seen what the people you serve are willing to do to achieve their goals."

"You promised me information!" she snapped.

"And I'd argue that letting you sit in on these gatherings is enough. I really don't want my enemies knowing I want to, and have the ability to take the assassin's guild, yet I showed you that much trust. That's as far as I'm willing to go though. You can threaten my life, but not those of the people here."

Talia scowled. "Of course I didn't tell them that. I care about your life too."

"That's my point. I can trust you with my life, but not with theirs."

"Then tell me something I can use to placate my people, won't you?"

James sighed. "This is why I invited you to come to the palace with me earlier today. Whatever. Tell them prince Mikhail intends to shame lady Crescida at the gathering two nights hence, and that the house of Bladhaven might be ripe for conquest."

"What did you just say about Crescida?!" Jason was somehow in front of his desk already.

"Nothing you need to worry about."

"What do you mean? She helped us, don't you remember? And now you're plotting to have her house, what, disappeared?"

James frowned. "I'm plotting nothing of the sort. You did hear me mention the prince's name just then, didn't you?"

"Yes, but you're selling this information to the very people you're trying to fight."

James paused in going through the invoice he'd found on his desk. His head rose slowly to meet Jason's fuming gaze. His face was heated, fists clenched, teeth bared. James was being reminded of why he hadn't liked the guy to begin with.

'Tch. So he's in love with Crescida now?'

If he didn't need him for this small operation, he would have kicked him out there and then. But he'd already made a show of forcefully taking him from the Ken boy. And he hadn't yet thought of how that whole thing affected his plans. He nearly cursed, but then his mind returned to the present.

'I will get rid of him and his party once this is over.'

Yet he was slowly starting to depend on Mary. This was the biggest headache.

He rose to his feet slowly, so that now he and Jason were face to face. He leaned forward, his frown mere inches from the other boy's glare.

"Listen, Jason, perhaps its best you don't participate in these meetings from now on."

"What?!" Jason reeled back, his eyes finally coming back into focus.

"This," James pointed to everyone in the room, everyone who had taken the new information in stride, "requires a bit of trust to work. Perhaps that is difficult for you where nobles are concerned. I don't particularly care. I didn't invite you here to criticise my decisions, you're only here because you felt you owed me something. I only let you in because I could use the help, and because I wanted all debts between us voided. If you don't like how we do things here, then by all rights, you're free to leave.

"For now though, I think you should wait outside. I'll have Mary give you your instructions later. Whether you plan to see this through is up to you."

Jason looked confused for a few moments, looking to Hansworth for back up. The other man was standing at attention, his eye set at a spot somewhere above James's shoulder. Everyone else was in a somewhat similar position. Jason stalked out of the room.

James sighed and sat back down, rubbing at his forehead.

"I made a great show of forcing him out, but there really isn't a lot more to say. Get the things Mary, you know the ones."

"And what will you be doing?" Talia asked.

As if her words had been some sort of signal, his communication crystal went off. The dragon spirit used his black wind to turn it on again.

James sighed, though he wanted to do more just then, perhaps even curse loudly. "Ideally, stuffing my face with a bit more meaty food. There is no rest for the wicked, alas. Come, you two," he gestured to Nino and Eno, "probably the only thing I could think of you two to help with. And yes, I'm not telling you anything, Talia."

He'd all but forgotten about the princess and the children she was supposed to be hiding. But now perhaps the time had come to bring her into the fold. Of course he'd have to be forced into making rush decisions again.