Private Tales New Responsibilities

[Ein]

"I have many concerns." Ein said as he looked down at the way he was dressed.

This memory would have to be burned from his mind like many others, possibly he would have to see Veren about it. He had been a Dreadlord from his class, good with minds, could place a memory that wasn't your own. Could also take them away.

Though he'd rarely done that. "None of them will help right now."

Ein finally finished, biting back a few terse words which he would have loved to say in that moment.

This had gone from one of the best missions ever, to one of the worst. Though he had gotten to kill Henly, that was kind of a consolation prize. Maybe he'd get to do some more of that...though Aisling didn't seem too keen on the idea.

Perhaps someone would try to kill them. That would be nice. "Let's just go."

He said, rubbing at his face before suddenly stopping.

"Sword." Ein glanced at Clarissa. "Did they carry swords?"

He'd not met anyone from Oban, but a weapon was an easy giveaway sometimes. Especially if it wasn't the right sort.

 

[Aisling Weiroon]

Many concerns? But he, curiously, wouldn't offer them. Perhaps it was just general paranoia. Dreadlords had to engage in a lot of harrowing activities and Aisling knew she used to get butterflies before some of her corsair missions. She could absolutely relate.

"We'll be fine, there isn't any need to worry," the both of them looked precisely how Obanese nobility from the southern frontier of their territory dressed.

Clarissa nodded. "They carry a thin blade. Similar to the one's used by the Anirian Navy."

Which was, precisely, why Aisling had used this family as a cover. Ein had his magic but if things got dicey she could 'borrow' his blade if needed. The attendant presented the weapon to Ein and Aisling nodded in glee. "You look the perfect part. We should get moving."

An hour passed as they traveled to the destination. A lavish mansion owned by one of the wealthy members of the Amroe City Council. The sun was starting to set as Ein and Aisling walked towards the massive door. She was fairly certain that Ein wouldn't have any issues playing this off the way they had discussed.

 

[Ein]

Ein was the one to step up to the door, deciding that it would probably be a better look. His fist pounded against the door, thundering loud enough that likely everyone in the manor would be able to hear it.

Not long passed before one side of the doors fell open and revealed a very smartly dressed man. He wore a suit, his hair slicked back, his hands covered in bright white gloves. He stared at Ein, then glanced towards Aisling with an equally appraising look. After a few moments he cleared his throat.

"Can I help you?"​

Ein scowled almost immediately. "You're going to take that attitude with a representative of the Cenros family?!"

His voice barked out like an attack dog, his stance flickering almost instantly. He stared at the man, his eyes wild and angry. The effect was almost immediate, the Butler balked, his eyes going wide and lips agape as he stared at Ein. He shook his head almost immediately and began to stammer.

"I-I...n-no of course not sir, I'm sorry sir please come in. The meeting hasn't begun yet."​

The Butler opened the door fully waving for the two Anirians to come inside. Ein glanced at Aisling with a slight smirk on his lips, and then stepped through the doorway.

 

[Aisling Weiroon]

Aisling grinned at Ein's display, it seemed the academy had prepared him for a wide array of tasks instead of just wildly swinging a weapon or thrusting magic forward. Of course, uncle Sullivan likely would've commented that Ein learned these extra skills in the months he'd spent under Weiroon's charge but Aisling wasn't quite so drunk off the idea of her House's exceptionalism.

A nod was all she issued to the butler as they entered the grand estate.

Amroe had... changed in the time since it shed its Vel Aren name. The architecture was still quite similar to Anirian work but the art and decor was reminiscent of the parties that vied for Cortosi liberation or groups like the United Cortos Front. She was glad she could hide behind her veil.

An Obanese family cared little for whether Vel Anir, Cortos, or Amol-Kalit called Amroe its territory.

Once they arrived into the main dining area most of the seats had already been filled. Primarily it was members of the Amroe Council, rich business interests for the most part. At the far end of the table sat the representative from Ivolia and near the center was a lone seat that likely had been held for Mr. Hinsley. A pity he was discouraged from coming by Ein.

Eyes followed the veiled woman who just entered and Aisling moved towards her seat as the butler anonunced, "a Representative from the Cenros Family of Oban."

Puzzled looks and questioning glances filled the room a the two Anirians had suddenly become the center of attention.

 

[Ein]

Ein decided that once again this was one of those situations where he did not need to say anything.

He was a body guard, dressed like a ludicrous painting one would find in an Allirian art museum, but still a body guard. As Aisling approached the table he pulled out her seat, gently helping her take her place at the table and then standing behind her.

Then he took on that same stern expression he'd tried to copy at the coffee shop.

It was easier this time, though he was also pretty sure it was much less effective.

Ein tried to console himself with the fact that if it came to it, he could likely kill everyone in this room with a snap of his finger. The thought was a comforting one, though it didn't help the fact that everyone was still staring at them.

What was up with that?

 

[Aisling Weiroon]

Aisling took her seat. Beneath her veil she sat stonefaced, not as if it mattered.

After a time most of the stares moved on. Amroe was a prosperous enough city and the southern tip of Oban's territory was close enough that the Cenros, or other clans, might consider expanding their sphere of influence further south.

After a moment mumbles ceased, alcohol was served (Aisling refrained), and a man at the head of the table tapped his fork against his wine glass.

"Thank you all for joining us," the man was adorned in a pressed suit and his hair was done up in a fraying style near the front and back to hide the fact he was beginning to bald. "My home is now all of yours for tonight as we embark on this great new journey together!"

The man speaking was none other than Jos Veylan, likely the wealthiest man in Amroe and a vocal critic of Vel Anir. He'd been a key target for Aisling to pull to their side with the "Weiroon cut" the nation was willing to offer for trading rights. Though his talk of a great new journey was already raising the hairs on her neck.

Several, "here, here's!", rang from the various attendees whilst glasses were raised.

After a quick sip from everyone in the room Jos pressed on. "Tomorrow we tell that Anirian bitch to go back home! Our new allies in Ivolia and Cerak At'Thul will more than fill our coffers and ensure Amroe's continued independence." A nod and upwards glass was issued towards Aisling by the head of the house as he spoke on, "and of course, our new friends in Oban!"

This city, likely everyone in this room, was already slated for death.

She came to that realization even while smiling and raising her glass of sparkling wine. Vel Anir would come and invade Amroe, they'd occupy the city, they'd kill everyone who attended this meeting as Aisling committed each member's face and name to memory. The nation would hunt down whichever operatives from Cerak were involved too and make sure they knew never to cross Vel'Anir again.

After a time the meal was served, Aisling finally spoke up, "I have another engagement to attend to. We'll be in touch. To Amroe!" she shouted as she took a long gulp of her drink and walked out, Ein just behind her.

Once they had emerged out into the cold of the night she pulled her veil off and looked at her companion. "We have to dispose of everyone who came from Ivolia." She couldn't allow them to report back to their city-state what had transpired here. Not before the Anirian Guard could mobilze.

 

[Ein]

Ein spent most of the meeting with a stone face. A few times he tried to glance down at Aisling, read her reaction, but the woman didn't move an inch. Most Anirians would have shown nothing but disgust at all being talked about in this room, true Anirians anyway. Ein himself managed to keep his face a mask, though it was harder than he would have liked to admit.

Loyalty to to Vel Anir had been literally beaten into him since he was a child. Hearing people disparage his father country was sickening in a way. More than a few times he wanted to spit out some insult, or silence someone with a snap of his finger and a burning tongue.

It would have been sweet, but he knew that was not why they were here.

So he kept his mouth shut, waiting until the party was finally finished and the two of them finally stepped out into the open. The door closed behind them, and as they made their way up the path Aisling tore the veil from her face and spoke.

Ein's head dipped in a nod immediately. "Quietly?"

He asked, turning his head towards her.

Killing them would be no problem, the method...well that was up to her. There were a dozen ways to make sure this would go well.

"Either way, doing it on the road might be best." Lest Amroe's new councilors catch wind.

 

[Aisling Weiroon]

Aisling chewed at her bottom lip as she considered their options. The killing she'd have to leave to her Dreadlord escort, not that she'd never taken a life before but this was his area of expertise. "The road is fine. But I will accompany you."

She had to ensure it was completed. That every member, from the lowliest servant to the representative himself, were all dispatched. Not a word of this could reach Ivolia before Aisling and her cohort returned.

"Ein?" A gloomy look overtook her as she continued her internal debate.

There wasn't any real reason to hide anything from him except for the fact that she knew what would happen when they got back to Vel Anir. He wasn't her friend or her confidant. He was a member of the Guard and his loyalty would be confirmed as soon as they returned.

The blonde woman cleared her throat as they took up a position outside of the manor. "I know that politicking is not something I excel at but Vel Anir will launch an invasion of Amroe over this." They couldn't allow such an important satellite city to go rogue like this. To trade arms with nations hostile to Vel Anir. "We have to make sure Ivolia stays in the dark."

Green eyes scanned their surroundings. They'd need to acquire horses and follow the Ivolians after this meeting concluded. "And Ein? When we get back you're going to be debriefed by the Guard. I hope you'll assure them I did everything in my power to further the interests of the Republic."

The last thing House Weiroon needed was the Guard suspecting Weiroon wasn't loyal.

 

[Ein]

Ein blinked for a second, not entirely expecting the level of candidness that Aisling offered him.

He had, of course, already deduced that there would be an invasion. Even as a Republic, Vel Anir was still a military power. The Guard was without a doubt the finest army in the entire world, now only made better by Dreadlords truly within it's ranks.

Diplomacy was commendable, but Amroe's refusal would always have landed them here. Ein was more than sure of that. Politics might not have been his game, but he understood it well enough to lay out the path this city had set itself upon.

"There was nothing you could have done." He assured her. "Even the five Generals couldn't have brought this city to heel with words."

That much he was sure of. "I'll be sure to inform them as such."

Ein told Aisling, a small smile touching his lips.

Then he turned on his heel and began to stalk towards the Hotel. There wasn't anything more to say on the matter, not to his mind. The one thing he had learned on this mission was that Aisling Weiroon was worth keeping around.

Perhaps even befriending.

"I need better clothes." He told Aisling. "And my sword."

The Dreadlord gestured to the thin blade on his side. "This thing doesn't suit me."

 

[Aisling Weiroon]

"Thanks." It truly was a shame that the houses had lost most of their Dreadlords. Ein would've made a fine addition and she couldn't help but think the Guard likely wasted his talent.

She kept walking as he continued speaking, eventually her gaze darted over in his direction. "We'll head back to the hotel.

"Slender blades are useful in the cramped corridors of ships," she answered smugly. Recalling the times the thin sword's thrust had saved her own skin. "I'll take the one you have and we'll get your weapon back."

They'd likely dress for the occasion, wear some unassuming cloak to appear as if they were simple highwaymen.

Not that there'd be any survivors. From what Aisling knew of Ein's magic there might not even be any corpses once they were finished.

Within a few moments they arrived and entered through the same backdoor they'd left from. Up the stairs, she could tell Ein hated the lift, and then down the final corridor towards her suite. A pit formed in her stomach as the upper level felt a bit... quiet. Perhaps it was nothing but adrenaline was already beginning to kick in before they'd even made it halfway down the hall.

 

[Ein]

"I don't need a sword for cramped corridors." Ein pointed out, though of course he utterly failed to consider why his magic wouldn't necessarily be good for a ship.

Without much of another word the two Anirians quietly cut through the city.

Their trip was a short one, and as they entered the hotel Ein immediately noticed the absence of the Anirian Knight who was supposed to have been at the door. A frown touched his lips, and he thought briefly about how he would definitely mention that to his commanders at the Guard.

It was only when he noticed the eerie silence of the penthouse floor that another thought kicked in. His eyes flickered towards the doors at the end of the hall, noting that one of them was slightly set ajar.

Lips thinned almost immediately, the sword slipping from his hip. He offered Aisling the blade, then quickly added. "Stay behind me."

Fire flickered over his palm, bright blue tinged with just a hint of green.

He stepped forward immediately, his hand landing on the open door and pushing it.

The sight beyond it was a gruesome one. Two bodies greeted them, one familiar, and the other one cloaked in black shadowy robes. Blood lay in great pools upon the floor, and in Clarissa's hand was a blade slick with crimson.

 

[Aisling Weiroon]

Eyes of brightly colored sage went wide as Ein ordered her to stay behind while passing the rapier over to her.

She took it, instincts kicking in as she drew the sword and left the scabbard on the floor. Aisling went through the mental exercises she learned in the corsairs to prepare herself for a fight, although with Ein's magic she wasn't sure how useful she'd even be. Still, it never hurt to be prepared.

He kicked in the room to her suite and... oh god, there was so much blood. How was, what was she, was her attendant alright?

"Claire!" Her attendant, no, her friend was clutching a blood-stained knife. Ein's arms stood outwards, likely to keep Aisling safe from the strange situation they suddenly found themselves in. "Are you alright?"

Clarissa let the blade fall to the ground and spoke in a rasped voice, "i-it was... awful... they came so fast that I just couldn't, I don't know how I..."

Tears began to well in Clarissa's eyes as Aisling moved around Ein and began to step closer to her attendant of the past twelve months.

 

[Ein]

Ein took half a step forward to stop Aisling, but then decided it against it. Instead he moved with her, quickly crouching besides the robed figure and placing two fingers against his throat.

No pulse echoed.

As soon as he confirmed the Dreadlord quickly stood, moving around the perimeter of the room and checking every nook and cranny that he could find. When he found no other of the assailants Ein quickly returned back to Aisling's side.

He frowned for a moment, squatting down besides Clarissa. Eyes flickered over her wounds, lips thinning. "I might be able to save her."

Ein said, first looking to Aisling and then to Clarissa.

"But it will hurt." The Dreadlord had no healing magic, not for anyone but himself, but fire could cauterize a would. "Enough that..."

He let the both of them finish the sentence on their own.

 

[Aisling Weiroon]

"Do it," she said almost immediately. Trying to ignore the fear in Clarissa's eyes.

It didn't matter to Aisling if Clarissa passed out from the pain. Didn't matter if she screamed or begged or cried. It didn't matter if the other woman scarred from the process that Ein was contemplating.

Claire wasn't about to die.

Not here, not today. Not while Aisling was present and had an option to ensure she survived. "Hurry please."

Clarissa's eyes filled with terror and moisture as she realized what was to come. "Wait," she said with a please, "m-maybe there's another way that we can try to-"

"Shh," the Weiroon heiress' words were soft, "it's ok now. You're safe." They'd need to get this done so that her attendant was stable. Then they'd need to change, gather their things, and go. Ivolia wouldn't wait for this to be over.

Emerald irises darted with sympathy to Clarissa and longing to Ein as the milliseconds ticked by.

 

[Ein]

Ein tore off a strip of cloth from the awful garments he adorned. With a quick few swipes he bundled it into a long cord. "Bite down on this."

The Dreadlord said as he gently tugged open her mouth and practically shoved the cloth between her lips.

He had done this before, albeit only with other Dreadlords. May had more than once suffered under his medical touch, and there had been time during missions where it had become necessary. All of them had handled pain rather well, but he doubted the same would be true for Clarissa.

A breath filled his lungs, and then he held up his index.

Fire bloomed almost instantly over him, and then without another word he reached down and pressed it against her wounded flesh. He used his other hand to pinch the skin together, and then with practiced precision cauterized each and every wound.

It was a painstaking process, Clarissa's screams muffled by the cloth in her mouth. Though it took no more than a few moments, the ordeal was excruciating, and before he finished the attendant fell into unconsciousness.

 

[Aisling Weiroon]

Aisling averted her eyes, she didn't want to see Clarissa in pain. Not like this at least.

She moved closer though and grabbed hold of her attendant's hand just before the process started. The room itself got very, very, hot. It would've been incredible to behold if the situation itself wasn't so incredibly tense.
As Ein's fire touched her friend's wound she had to shut her eyes from the combination of Claire's muffled screams and the intensity of the grip that was applied to Aisling's hand. There wasn't anything for her to do but be there for Clarissa and hope it ended soon. After a few seconds the hand that held hers into a vicegrip went limp. Her attendant passed out and fell to the floor.

The operation was over. "Thank you," Aisling said while wiping away a tear from her face. She bent over and rubbed a hand on Clarissa's face. "You'll be alright," she whispered.

They'd have to hide Claire somewhere safe. And get changed. And arm themselves. And then go and hunt down the Ivolian delegation that came here.

"Let's hurry," Aisling said as she ruffled through her bag to get commoner clothes before heading behind the divider. She didn't bother being careful, simply ripping the elaborate dress that Clarissa had spent an hour assembling upon her.

 

[Ein]

Ein stared down at Clarissa for a brief moment, lips thinning, then slowly stood as Aisling began to urge him onward once more.

He spun on his heel, and with a brief burst of flame the clothes which had wrapped around him so ornately burnt to a crisp. Ash fell on the floor around him as he stalked across the room and scooped up the clothes he had left behind earlier.

Within a few seconds he pulled on his usual garb, dragging on the fireproof vestments and tussling his hair as he finally felt like a person again.

”The Anirian Knights.” Ein called out to Aisling.

One of them had left his post, though if the Dreadlord had to guess he would most likely assume him to be dead. The Guard was…useless, but they weren’t the type to abandon their post either. The man was likely tucked away in some closet somewhere, his throat slit. ”The two others should still be alive if the assassins came in through the back entrance.”

As Ein grabbed his own sword and slung it over his back.

”They can watch Clarissa.” There was no need to stand guard at the door, and he doubted that the assassins would be coming back any time soon. That would at least ease Aisling’s mind.

Then he paused, glancing towards the screen. ”Oh, and how are you with heights?”

If they wanted to get ahead of the Ivolians than a hunt for horses and supplies would only put them behind the curve. They had to move fast, and Ein knew only one way to outpace even the fastest mount.

 

[Aisling Weiroon]

Aisling nodded. The Knights would look after Clarissa just fine.

She could rest easy knowing that her attendant was alright, knowing that no further harm would befall her. A gentle hand wiped the sweat from Claire's brow as she stood to her feet and looked over towards Ein. "Heights aren't a problem. We just need to be quick."

A half truth. They really did need to be quick. Aisling didn't want to have to explain why they'd let the Ivolians escape. They couldn't risk them getting away, not if she wanted to avoid a political mess when they returned home.

However, she hated heights.

Aisling had always avoided climbing the rigging or any job that involved the crow's nest back in her naval days. There was something strange about being up so high and knowing that one false step could end you. Seeing the ground from a high up place always filled her with a strange sense of desperation.

"Let's hurry," she said, resigned to her fate of being up gods knew how many feet.

 

[Ein]

Ein nodded quickly. "Good."

For just a brief moment the Dreadlord departed from the room, gathering the two remaining Anirian Knights and ordering them to stay put within the room. Both men were aghast at what had happened, but they were professionals.

Taking watch over Clarissa was second nature, and they assured both Aisling and Ein that she would be well looked after.

Only fifteen minutes later The Dreadlord lead Aisling out onto the balcony of her penthouse room, silencing any objecting with a few quick words. "Trust me. This will be faster than any horse could hope to be."

He glanced around for just a moment, then swept a deep breath into his lungs.

Brilliant bright blue wings of flame exploded from Ein's back a second later. They burned brilliantly, a torch within the nights sky, extending outward from the Dreadlord and doubling the span of his arms. He looked to Aisling, his voice calm. "Hang on tight."

Then, before she could offer any objection, he scooped the Noble up in his arms and sprinted towards the edge of the balcony.

With one quick leap he jumped over the railing, dropping towards the ground until there was one quick beat of his wings and they soared into the sky.

 

[Aisling Weiroon]

"Wow," she said as her eyes squinted at the brilliant light of the blue-flame wings. "Let's get moving," the Weiroon woman steeled herself as she tried to process what was about to happen.

They'd be up high, very high, and it wouldn't be pleasant. Her stomach would turn... that was inevitable. But she'd be able to-

In an instant she was scooped up by the Dreadlord and flying over the balcony. Her feet touched nothing and her hands clung to the phoenix's arms as tightly as she could muster. Her eyelids shut tight to avoid seeing the ground beneath her.

Everything was going to be fine. It was all going to be ok. The Dreadlord could definitely fly, that was obvious already as her body felt weightless. And he wouldn't drop her. That would ruin the career he had before him if he simply dropped the heiress of one of the richest houses in Vel'Anir.

None of that logic or rationale helped very much though. Aisling began to shake slightly as she could recognize, even with her eyes closed, they were up to an incredibly high altitude and traveling at an incredibly fast speed. "W-we nnnneed to catch," she shut her mouth.

The wind whistling into her ears and flooding her mouth caused her to feel a rush of nausea. Instead she kept her mouth closed, there wasn't any point iterating how important it was for them to reach the fleeing Ivolians. Ein wasn't an idiot, he knew what they were to do.

She just needed to focus on not losing her cool.

 

[Ein]

Ein flew as fast as he could.

His wings extended out in great beats, rushing them through the air and cutting just below the cloudline. Anyone who looked up would see them, there was no avoiding that, but at the heights he flew they would look like little more than bright wings of fire.

He held onto Aisling as tightly as she could, feeling her shake against him. A small smile touched his face, but he said nothing as she half called out.

Flying was a rare thing, even within the Dreadlords. Few could do what he could, and fewer still actually saw it as something to be enjoyed. Ein had always liked it though. The freedom of rushing through the air, of soaring in the sky. It was liberating.

They cut through the skies for nearly an hour, following the main road which he knew lead to Ivolia. He spotted figures rushing upon horseback, riding hard and fast.

For a time he watched them, and then picked up his own speed to overtake them. Then finally, Aisling would feel the drop in her stomach as Ein carried the two of them to small ridgeline which the Ivolians would have to pass over to get to their home.

A perfect place to stop them.

 

[Aisling Weiroon]

Ein flew far faster than she imagined. Even with eyes shut she could hear the wind whistle past her ears as they soared high in the air.

Her stomach nearly flipped itself over when they descended at a rapid pace. Dropping out of the sky like a stone was an almost exhilarating experience had it not been so terrifying. Once they made touchdown she stumbled forward slowly, legs woozy and shaking from the experience.

If she had any choice in the matter they'd be walking back to the hotel after this done.

They stood idly in the ridgeline was the Ivolians approached. Aisling brandished her thin sword but she hardly thought she'd even get a chance to show off her corsair prowess. It was far more likely she'd discover the other reason why Ein was such a prized candidates from the Academy.

He'd already cauterized her attendant's wound, shown his ability to fly, and from the dossier House Weiroon still kept on their former Dreadlords she assumed that he could be quite... violent... when the time called for it.

"I can cut down any stragglers but you'll have free reign otherwise, she assumed the inferno he was to unleash likely wouldn't allow for stragglers. "No survivors."

Her tone was cold, calculating, and quite foreign. She knew the punishments for herself and her house if Ivolia got wind of what was to come though so, no survivors it was.

 

[Ein]

The wings that had sprouted from his back slowly flowed back into his flesh, leaving only small scorch marks on his clothes. His shoulders rolled for a moment, hand coming up to rub at his neck as Aisling stumbled and drew herself back up.

A small smile flickered over his features, watching as the Noble composed herself.

There was something endlessly amusing about putting one of the nobility off kilter. Their usually composed and put together nature drawn away. The amusement lasted only a short while before Aisling got back to business.

His expression grew more serious as she commanded him, his head slowly tilting in a nod. It was not the first time he had heard the command; No survivors.

Weeks ago he had relented to May that things were different. That he felt like a leashed dog. That the Revolution had changed and shifted what he was meant to be. Perhaps, just maybe, it had not changed so much after all. "As you wish."

Ein spoke as the whole of his body became consumed in bright blue flames.

His body flickered forward, rushing down the ridge in a blur of fire until he flickered into place upon the middle of the road. The Ivolian's headed straight for him, their mounts letting out nervous wickers as they spotted the flames.

A few shouts went up, warnings, calls, but none of them mattered.

Ein raised his hand, and then snapped his fingers. The air seemed to flicker, becoming a haze, and then a wash of bright blue flame surged forward. A tidal wave of immolation drew across the length of the road, rushing through air and earth and tearing apart everything in it's path.

Screams echoed out at the Ivolian's broke left and right to escape it's path, but as it traveled the wave grew only larger and larger. Within seconds it all been consumed the thoroughfare, and the fleeing dignitaries were caught up within the flame.

Man and beast alike screeched as their bodies burnt up within seconds. Flesh and muscle melting away, bone turning to ash.

The tidal wave of fire traveled along the path a little more, and then slowly it's breath died out. The only sound below the ridge-line being the small crackle of those branches which had caught within the flame.

 

[Aisling Weiroon]

Aisling nodded somberly as Ein confirmed he understood the order.

He left and for a brief moment her stomach wretched. Aisling had been forced to order deaths before but it was back in her naval days. It'd been ordered to save her own crew or to eliminate pirates who had made their bed. Ending criminals who had made decisions to place themselves on the wrong side of the law, who were actively threatening law abiding citizens, was one thing.

Now? She was ordering the deaths of diplomats and servants who were very much on the right side of the law. She knew there wasn't much of a choice. If they leaked details to Ivolia it would make Vel Anir's eventual conquest harder. She'd be judged harshly for allowing it.

Her House would be judged harshly for allowing it.

But as the flames consumed them all screams cried out in the night. Aisling averted her gaze and tried to think about something, anything at all, to distract her from the sounds of bristling flesh and the pleas of the dying.

Once it had all ended there weren't any survivors. Ein had been thorough. He'd done a good job.

"Let's go." Her tone was flat, saddened slightly, as the Dreadlord came back to her side. "You've done well, I'll report your good work to your commanders." It was the least she could do for him when they returned home.

 

[Ein]

He could hear the shift in her tone, the flatness and quiet despair that lay within it. The Dreadlord knew why. It wasn't hard to follow what had been going on with the Noble Lady. Certainly not after she had made her request back at the Hotel.

Ein looked at Aisling for a moment, then glanced over his shoulders at the still smoldering trees.

He forgot sometimes, the squeamishness of normal people.

The Dreadlords had been trained for this. Their entire lives had been built and structured around the needs of Vel Anir. Ein was a weapon. A thing for killing. A fist for whatever Vel Anir needed him to be. That was how he'd always seen himself.

Even now that things were different.

Slowly he looked back towards Aisling. "And I'll keep my word."

He told her.

"Perhaps something good will come of all this." The Dreadlord said quietly, though he wasn't sure either of them would believe that lie.