Completed The Consequence of Treason

[Harry]

"Well, fair enough," He began to fold his arms, but the shirt's tightness prevented him from doing so without ripping the seams, "Elven is tricky, anyways." He spat the words out, more annoyed by his attire than the actual Elven language. Hal was never one to feel animosity towards others on the foundation of race. Rather, he held some respect for the Elves and their knowledge. Though, that never stopped him from killing them.

The sun fell closer to the horizon with every passing moment.

"I reckon our plan is rather straightforward. We enter under the guise of two agents belonging to House Pirian, gain an audience with the House's head, and then-" He snapped his fingers. "- I quickly freeze any in the room. I'm confident in my control, so you should be safe. Though, to lean on the side of caution, I will not do so without warning." The mission in the jungle had been somewhat traumatic to Hal. His lack of control had nearly killed his friends- his only friends. The boy's control had come a long way since then. He was capable of so much more now.

"If all goes well, we leave without them suspecting a thing."

It did not need to be said that if they were discovered, none were to be left alive.

 

[Talus]

He glanced over at Hal. "So we're killing him after all?"

Talus didn't particularly care which way this went. It wasn't his mission, and he doubted Fen would care much about the Underground or House Oudin's involvement in it.

It was likely also more tactically sound. If they just killed everyone then they could get out fairly easily, if they kidnapped someone...well it would most certainly complicated things. Either way was fine with him, but he wanted clarity.

"We won't get much but papers." He commented quietly.

There was a chance they could find something somewhere written down, but searching would also take time.

 

[Harry]

Hal nodded. In the end, he'd decided that a clean and swift resolution would be the best. Uncovering more of whatever plot was afoot would be biting off more than he could chew.

"We're here to kill," He idly waved a hand, "I decided it's not worth doing more than what's asked."

It would be far too soon for Hal to gain unneccesary attention, after all. He had Sierra and what they shared to consider. If too many eyes fell on him, he would not be able to defend himself from any potential threats. At least, he wouldn't be able to at the moment.

"Papers can be brought back with ease. We shouldn't spare much time searching, if we spare any at all. If something catches your eye, then grab it. Otherwise, we just complete the assigned task."

 

[Talus]

Talus shrugged and then nodded.

If that was what Hal decided then that was that. There was no need to question it, no need to do anything but the mission.

Fen likely would have made a comment of some sort, said something that pushed the edge somehow, but Talus didn't see the need. Tucking the dagger beneath the hem of his tunic the Apprentice straightened his back and headed towards the door. "Then lets go."

There was nothing left to discuss.

Within just a few moments both he and Hal were walking out of the door once more.

 

[Harry]

Hal wondered how Selene would handle the affair. He hadn't the opportunity to actually shadow her on a mission. As they left the establishment, he thought back to what Talus said before. Perhaps it would be best to simply and directly ask his mentor. He would need to see her in action at some point, even if it was to merely measure the distance from his station to where he wished to be.

He had a living example to work with and had yet to take advantage of that.

They crossed the street and made their way towards the manor. Soon, they came upon the two guards that flanked either side of the gate.

Talus was much taller than either of them, and Hal looked far more menacing.

"Oi," One called out as the pair approached. It was clear that his confident tone was forced.

"Stop there! What's your business?"

Hal tried not to show his discomfort in the disguise. His response came quick. He'd tried rehearsing a few lines in his mind as they'd walked up the street.

"Business on behalf of House Pirian. We require entry and an audience with the head of House Oudin."

Despite having a desire to, Hal fought the urge to cast a sideways glance at Talus. The apprentice would have to maintain complete confidence if he were to appear as an authoritative figure to the guards.

The guards looked between themselves, either unaware of what the procedure should be, or trying to decide which would speak.

The same one from before spoke.

"What kind of business?" He'd taken an aggressive tone, probably to cope with the anxiety he felt in facing two "agents" of a Great House.

"The type that an individual of your station has no business knowing." Hal would have liked to cross his arms and make himself larger to the guard, though that would have actually risked bursting the disguise's seams.

The guard seemed either unconvinced or offended from how Hal responded.

 

[Talus]

Talus stayed quiet, that was until the guard did not allow them entrance.

Hal had laid the ground work, but he supposed a small push wasn't going to hurt anything. He had made sure to control the emotion on his face, but when they were still denied a scowl appeared on his face.

It was a practiced visage, something that he had learned while commanding men outside of Vel Ciruk. The lessons he'd learned there had been important. Most men were not leaders. They did not want the burden of decision.

They did not want the consequence.

"Let us in." It was the first time he spoke, and he did it as he placed a single hand on his hip, as though getting ready to draw a weapon that wasn't there. "Or would you prefer your master hear you denied his patron House?"

Lips turned to a scowl, almost as if the suggestion even falling from his mouth was distasteful.

He made sure his voice sounded as condescending as possible.

 

[Harry]

While the guard stammered in response, Hal's thoughts were occupied by a brief cheer for his friend. Talus backed the guard into a corner. It seems both guards were somewhat young, perhaps only a few years older than the two apprentices.

Though, Hal and Talus looked years beyond their respective ages. Both apprentices looked down at the guards. Being surrounded by physically superior boys for nearly his whole life, Hal sometimes forgot how they compared to the average man.

He quickly silenced the guard's stammering by presenting the letter they stole from the courier. Hal only flashed it for a moment, to show the seal of House Oudin, and then stowed it back into a pouch on his belt.

"It would be rude to turn away an invited guest. You would lose sleep in fear of having your throat cut in the night." He coldly stated. The air seemed to drop in temperature.

Even the second guard, who had been silent, seemed quite anxious now.

"Jon," He whispered, and shook his head. He swallowed, hard.

Jon turned to address the two apprentices. The guard cleared his throat.

"Aye, sirs, many apologies." He turned and without a word opened the gate for Talus and Hal.

Jon, the guard, walked rather briskly towards the manor's front door with the pair following on his heels. He opened the door, stepped in with the two, and finally faced them.

"I'll return with a servant. They will show you to Lord Oudin's chambers."

He left and soon returned with a young woman in a grey and white dress. She eyed Talus, starstruck, then gave the two a polite curtsy. Jon slipped past the two and closed the door behind him as he returned to his post.

"Right this way," The servant said, and led them through the manor. They walked into a moderately sized dining hall.

"The Lord is currently occupied, for he was not expecting your presence. If you'd please wait, he will be ready shortly."

She didn't wait for a response and left the dining hall. She would only be gone a few minutes at the most and would return when the Lord was ready to see them.

When they were finally left alone, Hal looked to Talus, shrugged as if saying so far, so good, and sat at the table.

 

[Talus]

Talus tried to remain as relaxed as possible. He knew that servants often were not all that they seemed.

Paranoia told him he had to keep up the act for every second they were inside the building. His eyes watched everything, his fingers tightening as he considered grabbing the knife on the small of his back. Lips thinned as Hal moved to sit at the table.

Instead of following the other Apprentice instead began to walk around the room.

He did so casually of course, as if he were simply admiring the tapestries and statues that had been placed all around for decoration.

His gaze flickered towards the door. It did occur to him that House Oudin could be aware of who they really were. That this could just be a trap. Hal and He would sit here, and then a dozen soldiers would burst through the door to fight.

Talus didn't voice that concern, instead he simply made his way around the room.

Slowly ready for anything.

 

[Harry]

Hal nonchalantly examined his surroundings. The expensive, well-crafted table. The luxurious chairs. The interior decorations. The grandeur lifestyle of nobility was impressive indeed. Hal could understand why that would drive many Dreadlords' ambitions.

But, it didn't drive his. He didn't need things like statues or opulent furniture. He didn't even need an impressive home. His exact wants were a mystery, even to himself.

All he truly cared to gain was unrivalled power.

"I think I would want a manor in the countryside," He admitted to Talus, though he didn't look at his friend.

"They'd let an Archon lived wherever, right?" The countryside would be nice. Plus, if Hal didn't die an early death and did achieve his goal, who would dare deny him? Away from the massive walls and how suffocating they could be. Or perhaps the villas that surrounded the Academy. There was relative silence out there. At least it was far from the conflicts between Houses. From an operational standpoint, the Academy was close to the Falwood and the Cortosi Sea. It would make transportation convenient.

He wondered what Sierra would like.

His thoughts were interrupted as the servant returned. Hal flinched. While his thoughts hadn't been as focused on the potential of an ambush, the possibility hadn't completely escaped him.

"If you would follow me, sirs."

The servant turned away to lead the apprentices. Hal flashed an anxious glance at his friend. The closer they got to their target, the more Hal began to think. He began to doubt his plan, the simplicity of it seeming uncertain now.

Not knowing exactly what awaited them was a scary thing.

 

[Talus]

Walking through the hall made Talus tense. They had no idea what was awaiting them at the end of this walk, for all they knew it was a full contingent of Dreadlords ready to murder them.

Minor houses rarely had many Dreadlords, but a few had managed to get enough clout to garner the support of one or two. Usually it was only under special circumstances, such as a son or daughter returning to the fold after training. Cousins too, but Talus knew there were other circumstances too. Lips thinned, and he looked over towards Hal.

The Apprentice quietly watched the servant just ahead of them.

Briefly he wished that he knew some sort of telepathy. There were rumors that one Apprentice had such ability, but he hadn't been in Talus and Hal's class. He glanced briefly towards his companion, wondering what was going through his mind as they approached a massive set of double doors.

The servant grabbed them, pulling each of the doors open and revealing a large state room.

 

[Harry]

The room itself was well-lit. It was modestly decorated and furnished compared to what the pair had seen up until then. Behind a large mahogany desk sat a tall man with a full head of dark hair. Hal could see streaks of grey as he looked closer. His features were sharp, and his pale blue eyes even more so.

Lord Oudin looked eerily similar to his son, Yves.

He set his quill in its stand then looked up from whatever it was he was doing to address the two young men.

"Thank you, Sylvie." He addressed the servant, then gestured to the two chairs across from him. "Please, sit."

Hal nodded, "We understand that our visit is unexpected. We will be gone soon. Master Pirian needed questions answered, is all."

Channeling his magic without being discovered would take some time. It seemed talk was unavoidable after all.

 

[Talus]

The man was almost identical tot he Proctor that Talus had met briefly. He had very little knowledge of Yves Oudin and his father, but the family resemblance was more than apparent.

Briefly he wondered if he looked like his own father.

Meeting the man was all but out of the question, but...well he couldn't help the thought sneaking into his own mind. Lips thinned for a brief moment, and he shook his head as he refocused himself on what was going on. "I assure you, this will be quick."

Talus added to his companions friends.

"However it was an emergency, thus the late hour." The patriarch of House Oudin seemed to nod slightly, though there was something in his eyes as he glanced between Hal and Talus.

A small smile touched his face.

"Is that so?"​

He sounded almost amused.

"What are your questions then?"​

 

[Harry]

Hal locked his fingers together in his lap and leaned back into the chair in an attempt to appear stoic- in control.

“We would only like to understand the nature of the situation, of one of your men being found slain in Anir Square.”

Oudin’s small smile hadn’t changed in the slightest.

“I haven’t any id-“

Hal raised a hand, gesturing for the Lord to stop.

“No games. We retrieved the letter that the messenger carried. You can tell us now, or tell the torturers later.”

The mentioning of the letter seemed to break his composure for a moment. Whether it was fear, anger, or something else entirely was unknown. However, nobody could miss the flash of emotion across the Lord’s face.

His mouth opened, though words never came. Instead, the old man sighed and let his head fall.

“Well,” He finally said, “No helping it.”

There was a spark, then a flash of light as a sword exploded into reality next to Oudin. It flew. Fast. Hal kicked back, falling backwards in the chair to avoid the spectral blade while spewing forth profanities. It cut above his collarbone and into the flesh of his shoulder. Had he not fell back, it would have pierced his heart.

Another sword was summoned, but the old Lord plucked it from the air and vaulted over the desk with more speed and efficiency than any man his age should have. He aimed the point of the sword at Talus’ throat.

 

[Talus]

Shock painted Talus' face.

There had been rumors of course, there were always rumors, but the idea that a Noble could do magic had always been abstractly out of the question. Mages went to the Proctors. It didn't matter if they were Noble, Peasant, or any class inbetween.

Magic was to be used by the state, not the Great Houses. The fact that Yves Oudin had been a Dreadlord, the fact that Luther Urahil had been on his path to become one...that had proved it.

Yet here was a man, pulling swords from nothing and attacking with all the flurry of a mage. Talus had only a split second to churn the thoughts through his mind, the Patriarch of House Oudin dashing with a blade towards his throat.

Before the blade could land Talus snapped back to reality.

In an instant his form became an ethereal shadow of it's former self.

The ghost took a single step, Talus body snapping to the side of the Oudin. In his hand was the Elven Knife he had taken from the Messenger, the blade quickly stabbing upwards towards his attackers belly.

 

[Harry]

Alexandre Oudin must’ve been in his forties, possibly even his fifties. Hal couldn’t fathom how this decrepit old Lord could move the way he did.

As the back of the chair hit the floor, Hal rolled backwards and sprung to his feet. At that moment, he saw as Talus’ form snapped next to Alexandre.

The Lord, despite being stunned by the Apprentice’s swiftness, caught Talus’s wrist. Pale blue eyes, almost milky and dull in color, flashed down at the knife then back up.

A wrathful, vicious smile contorted the man’s face.

“Lying rats. Lying”- His grip tightened on Talus’ wrist. Alexandre looked down on Talus, though only slightly. “- fucking rats!”

He was swift, and surprisingly strong with impressive reflexes. However, they too possessed qualities of the same, if not better caliber.

Hal heard stomping in the hall outside. Several sets of feet, all rushing towards the state room. With a wave of his hand, ice barricaded the door behind the two apprentices.

At the sight of Hal’s display of magic, Alexandre laughed.

“Who would’ve thought that I had both Fenrith’s and Selene’s apprentices attempt to take my life!” It was information he shouldn’t have known. Hal, maybe. But to know of Talus, who had flown far below the radar compared to Hal?

Hal dashed forward to help his friend, but a mere glance from Alexandre summoned a pair of swords that flew out at the Apprentice.

Alexandre turned on Talus, thrusting his sword towards the young man once again.

 

[Talus]

Talus was too focused on the fight to try and figure out why this man knew about him.

It was clear from the way Alexandre Oudin moved that he was no weak noble. The Apprentice had originally thought this fight would be quick, easy, but the way that the Patriarch moved made it obvious that he was more of a soldier than many others.

As soon as the sword thrust forward towards him Talus once again turned translucent.

His wrist slipped from the grasp of Alexandre Oudin, his entire body shifting as he took three swift steps backwards.

The blade that would have gone through his gullet stopped just a few inches short as Alexandre tried to impale him, his arm outstretched and overshot. Opportunity shone through, and quickly Talus grasped after the blade.

His hand however was not solid, no, he knew better than that.

A ghostly appendage separated from his palm, and with it he grasped the blade of the spirit sword and suddenly squeezed. He had no idea what it would do, but his hope was the blade summoned by Alexandre would shatter into a thousand pieces.

 

[Harry]

Hal, having no time to draw from his magic, dove to the side. Again, he was grazed by a sword. A gash in his side, just under his ribs. He rolled back to his feet, and clattered against a bookcase in the process. The wood splintered and broke under his momentum. Several thick tomes fell onto the apprentice as he regained his balance and pushed off the furniture to join his friend.

Meanwhile, the sword that Talus grasped seemed to flicker from existence, much to Alexandre Oudin’s dismay. The Patriarch could feel the effects of his magic already. Yves has been particularly gifted in that he could summon Spectral Arms in succession without as severe a drawback. A trail of blood flowed from one of the Lord’s nostrils, and a pounding headache struck him.

Two great bounds was all it took for Hal to cover the distance between him and the Lord. Behind him, the two swords that missed suddenly stopped, spun around, and flew towards Hal’s back.

Having quickly recovered from his state of shock, Alexandre turned on Talus. He threw a fist out towards the apprentice while keeping one hand close, wary of the elven dagger that Talus wielded.

 

[Talus]

Blood.

Was he weakening? Had it been what he'd done? There was no way to know for sure, but the man was striking out at him with a fist.

Hubris.

It had to be. Alexandre moved with all the confidence of a King. There was no hesitation in his attacks, no holding back, nothing that would denote an ounce of doubt in what he was doing. Yet the approach was foolish.

Talus blinked to the side. The movement was so smooth and sudden that such a description was only apt. His ghost separated from him, and in a single swift moved the Apprentice was standing to the right of Alexandre.

His free hand shot forward, grabbing the Patriarch's arm in a quick grapple as the Elven Knife came down to separate Alexandre's forearm from his body.

 

[Harry]

Alexandre, having processed what was about to happen, let out a wrathful cry.

The blade severed the Lord's arm from the elbow down. Whether it was shock from the pain or a loss of focus, the swords shimmered before fading from existence. Talus had inadvertently saved Hal's life by inflicting such a severe wound onto their target.

Fists hammered on the door behind them. The ice would keep the guards out for a while, granted there was not a Dreadlord among them capable of breaking through the barrier.

Hal seized the lord by the collar of his shirt and crossed his leg across the man's abdomen. Hal twisted his body and pulled the lord, flipping Alexandre over his leg. The lord flipped, his feet swinging far above either of the apprentices' heads as he was thrown and violently crashed against the floor.

The man tried to quickly rise back to his feet, but a swift knee to the temple halted that completely. As always, Hal was swift and brutal in a melee.

A shard of ice, no longer than the elven dagger that Talus wielded, formed in Hal's hand. He pounced on the Lord's curled form and drove it into the old man's midsection. Then again. Again. Again. The only noise louder than the repeated stabs into the man's gut was the ripping of the tight doublet that Hal wore. The gaudy, tasteless colors of house Pirian was soon stained with blood.

After several seconds of stabbing the Lord, he did not stir. Hal rose then, hair matted against his brow with sweat. It only took a moment to correct erratic breathing.

He looked at Talus.

"We should leave."

 

[Talus]

”You think?” Talus said as he glanced at the corpse on the ground. His features twisted in displeasure for a moment, head shaking as he took a step over the body and moved behind the desk at the back of the room.

He knew that Hal was right, that they should just go, but it felt odd leaving without something in hand.

Perhaps that was the difference in their Mentors. Selene saw Hal as a blunt object, Fen had trained Saul to be a scalpel. This man had known about him, had known about Hal. There had to be something.

Quickly he began to dig through the desk, finding reams of parchment and small notations. His hand thumped against the desk, inside drawers, above them, until eventually he heard a hollow sound. A ghostly hand separated from his own and reached into the hollow wood, grasping at something.

There was a loud click, and then a compartment fell open at the side of the desk. Inside lay a heavy leather journal.

Talus scooped it up then looked to Hal. ”Go out bloody?”

He asked pointedly.

 

[Harry]

Hal watched in silence as Talus searched the desk. When he'd pulled off the throw and pounced on the now-deceased Lord Alexandre Oudin, it had ripped just about every seam of the doublet that Hal wore. The apprentice removed the article of clothing and used it to wipe some of the blood from his hand. He wore a white shirt under, the lacing of the collar was loose and the strings dangled as he moved about.

The pounding and shouts from outside were ignored for the moment.

"Do you not fear to uncover something beyond our station? 'Could bring unnecessary attention our way." Hal's lips pressed into a tight line, "Not that I'll stop you."

Then he saw Talus pull his arm out clutching a leather journal. How thorough and reliable, Talus was.

"If you've the stomach for it," He replied with a wry smile. If Ademar was present, he'd be able to smash through the wall to take those on the other side by surprise. The pair, however, possessed no such capabilities.

"We're going to end a noble house tonight." Hal rolled his shoulders as he approached the ice-covered doorway. "Are you ready?"

 

[Talus]

"Nothing is above our station anymore." Talus said as he slipped the journal into his coat, shifting slightly with a weight that he couldn't really place.

Hal was right of course. There were certain things that it was easier not knowing. Yet the time when Talus could ignore those things was gone. The time when any of them could ignore them was gone. They had already taken the next step.

"We're in the game now, Hal." He said quietly. "Whether we want to be or not."

Adjusting himself Talus wiped the edge of his bloody knife on the corpse of the patriarch and quickly flipped it in his palm.

Odd blue wisps of smoke began to rise from his body, a strange paleness falling over the Apprentices eyes. "I'm ready."

His muscles tensed.

This would be a slaughter.

 

[Harry]

Hal placed his hand on the ice-covered door. Despite the nature of his magic and how an aura of cold air always seemed to surround him, he could still be cold and feel cold things like any others. But... his own ice was never cold to him. He could feel the door tremble as those on the other side attempted to batter it down.

“I suppose we are,” He sighed, dropped his head, then after a moment poised himself. He would not let himself be the loser of this game.

The ice cracked and broke away as soon as Hal willed it. Then, the head of an axe broke through and splintered the door.

“I’m through!” Hal heard a man shout on the other side. The axe retreated and the next bashing came from a shoulder. Hal shuffled back as the door swung in and a man almost as tall as Ademar barreled in.

 

[Talus]

Talus dashed forward.

There was no hesitating now, no holding back. They had already killed the patriarch of this House, and as far as he was concerned everyone else would just count as collateral damage.

His ghost sprang forward from it's body, the ethereal copy of the Apprentice dashing forward. The tall man stood in shock, his eyes bulging out of his head as Talus' ghostly blade sliced through his neck. Another man behind the first met the same fate a step later.

Then Talus' body snapped forward.

Two bodies fell to the ground, each of their eyes a pale white with no wound where the knife had touched them.

Four men stood remaining in the hallway, all of them staring at the man who had just appeared in front of them. Talus smiled briefly, then took a single step to the side to allow Hal space.

 

[Harry]

Fog rolled out from the doorway as Hal stepped into the hall and past Talus. His hands were in front of him as if he were holding a ball. Swirling between his palms was an orb of ice and snow. It was as if Talus' display of magic had confused them but Hal's ability, which was much easier to make some sense of, snapped the four men back into reality.

"Dreadlords!" One shrieked, "They're D-"

It was almost instantaneous. All of the magic gathered into the small orb exploded outward in a fierce blizzard that froze nearly the entire hall, and those standing in front of Talus and Hal. The four men stood in place, their skin pale and blue, frozen solid through and through.

Hal's blew into his hands, trying to warm them up.

"Takes a while to gather magic like that," He explained and began to proceed down the hall, stepping past the frozen men. "I was going to do something similar to Oudin, but things got out of hand. Where was the stairwell?" He looked back to Talus. "Anyways, we've come quite far since the elves in the jungle, huh?"