“You’re seething.”Thecorner ofNashala’smouth twitched.Almosta smile.
“When amInot?”
They reachedSaudane’sdoor on the third floor, overlooking the training yard, where new recruits were currently being pummelled by a particularly sadistic trainer.Calamitycould hear the screaming through the open window on the landing.
“Come in,” cameSaudane’sgravelly voice when she knocked.
The cluttered desk, walls lined with maps and bounty notices, and complete lack of anything approaching organisation were all familiar toCalamity.Theback wall was built of a different stone than the walls around them, having been knocked down in a battle with the first ofTheTwelvethey’d encountered and since rebuilt.Saudanehimself, their half-orc guildmaster, sat amidst the chaos.
“Ah, the heroes return.”Saudane’stusks gleamed as he smiled. “Itrust theShadowshardgave you no trouble?”
“Define ‘no trouble’,”Calamitysaid, dropping into the chair across from him.Nashalaremained standing, ever vigilant.Liamstood beside the door,Morganaat his side, andEdentook the other chair.Yorickwas absent, having gone to check on his family as soon as they’d arrived back in theCapital.
“We got it, though,”Liamsaid, “with minimal violence.”Noone mentioned the fireCalamityhad started, or the number of enemiesNashalahad felled to get the shard.
“Very good.”Saudane’seyes gleamed with somethingCalamitycouldn’t quite place.Anticipation?
“We made some progress onTheTwelvewhilst you were away,” he said, “and that criminal you’ve been tracking–TheVarjo?We’venarrowed his location to the warehouse district.”
“That’s excellent news,”Liamsaid, butCalamitywas studyingSaudane’sface.Hadhis smile always been quite so sharp?
“What’s that?”Nashalaasked from behindCalamity, and she turned, followingNashala’sgaze to a leatherbound tome onSaudane’sdesk.Apiece of parchment marked a place inside, a twelve-pointed star scribbled onto the visible corner.
“Ah, yes,”Saudanesaid. “Thisis a journal we recovered fromCaptainCinesha’spossessions.”Hepicked it up off the desk and handed it across toMorgana.
“This saysTheTwelveare followers,”Morganasaid after reading for a moment. “Theyall serve the same entity.”
“I thought they all just wanted control for themselves?”Edenasked.
“Maybe they do,”Liamsuggested, “but so that they can usher in that entity?Doesit say if the entity is controlling them?”Helooked overMorgana’sshoulder.Sheshook her head.
“Not in this section,” she said. “Itseems he never appears in person, just sends instructions.”
Calamity’s mind was racing.They’dtaken out six of the twelve so far – was the leader a thirteenth?Orone of the remaining six?They’duncovered no evidence of new members taking the place of the ones they’d dealt with, but could they still usher in this entity with half their numbers?Whywould they still be trying if they couldn’t?Andwhere was this entity?Rulingelsewhere?Orin exile, perhaps?
On the wall behindSaudanehung a map of the city.Redpins marked the locations where they’d found each member ofTheTwelveso far.Agreen pin in the warehouse district likely indicated whereTheVarjowas hiding– would that pin turn red once they’d vanquished him, too?
But no, there were other green pins up there, too.Oneon theAdventurersGuild, one in the palace, one all the way out in the stockyards … how had she never noticed these before?
Calamity stood, her chair scraping loudly against the wooden floor, and the others watched as she walked across the room to stand next toNashala.Shesquinted at the map, trying to focus on the pins themselves.Therewere six green ones and six red, alternating perfectly in a circle covering most of theCapital.
No, not a circle.Astar.
“What are you doing?”Nashalawhispered, butCalamityignored her.Instead, she strode over to the map, looking up close at the area in the centre.Almostperfectly positioned in the middle of the shape was a landmark she’d walked past dozens of times–ThePandemoniumTheatre.
“TheShadowshard,”Calamitysaid over her shoulder, pieces falling into sickening place. “Whatexactly were we told it does?”
“It’s a key,”Saudanesaid as he moved away from her and around the desk.Hissmile was definitely too sharp now. “Away to breach the barriers between planes.Verydangerous in the wrong hands.”
A key.They’dbeen told the guild needed it to prevent it from being used.Tokeep it safe.
But what if that was never the plan?
“When did he recruit you?”Calamityasked quietly over her shoulder, watchingSaudane.Herhand closed around her focus, feeling it warm against her palm. “Whendid my father make you one ofTheTwelve?”
Saudane’s pleasant expression finally cracked. “Clevergirl.Likefather, like daughter.”
Calamity’s fingertips flared with magic, but unlike that storeroom back inSouthhelm, this room was full of the people she loved most.Shecouldn’t afford to be careless.
