"As much as I pity you poor darling, I hope that it won't be too much for you to do what I ask of you." Guinevere's voice echoed in her skull, Callista letting out a deep heavy sigh as Jarren's words kept on coiling in her skull. "Or course, what do you want?" Her tone flat with her mind elsewhere.
"These demons I'm working with are far from competent. I asked them to breach the eastern walls of Reuthar and have a new stock of my food and other supplies sent to Reuthar's army but so far nothing has happened." Callista could already see what Guinevere would ask from her.
"They think that this will stop my growth, pathetic." Her harsh clicks eliciting no emotion out of Callista. "I should have new batch sent to you however the noble present is... stubborn to say the least. I want you to go deal with him, his family nothing's more that collateral."
Her orders echoed through. Guinevere on the other end sensing the girl's despair softened her tone. "I'm so sorry that you had to go through that but you'll have to endure Jarren with time. I'll make sure that nothing will happen to you." Callista let out a faint snob that echoed through Guinevere's ears back at Redfall.
"But if you don't want to execute it then I can get someone else to do it." Callista mused last second with the intent of accomplishing it. "When he chose you to be his center piece, what did you tell him?" Callista's words though gravel insisted. The air between the two, despite not being in the same room fell silent.
'Or did I ask the wrong question?' Callista couldn't help but wonder as she rose to her feet. She looked around in her apartment, the same the pair had booked earlier but now in a far more classier level than before. The balcony let in a cool breeze, the city beneath her was fainter than before as tempting aged wine sat at her table.
And yet what her mind had been plagued with was Jarren's words. 'Will you run or will you play?' His words sharp making her teeth gnash. "I told him what he needed to hear, you may see me filled with nothing more than rage but there's more to it and he knows this." Guinevere's words solemn letting a strange weight rest on Callista's shoulders.
"There is a means to break his game, after all what is a game with no rules? You just have to say a few specific words to him." Callista's brows furrowed hearing this. "I take it that you won't tell me what the words are." And just as she had thought, Guinevere agreed on the other end. "Thank you Guinevere, after all without you I'm not sure what I would do."
A familiar laugh was shared between the two before the contact came to an end. Rising to her feet, her mind tried to wonder what the game breaking words were. "Looks like I'll have to conclude that myself." She cursed inwardly as she glanced at her fingers. The obsidian strings glimmered in the light affirming that Jarren had yet to dispose of her.
"But I won't have the luxury of time forever." She muttered to herself as she made her way to the main hub. She was aware that Jarren was still in the same hotel as her meaning that he was giving her a chance to redeem himself. "Jarren, nothing but games for you..." She rolled her eyes as she made her way into her limo.
She looked at Jarren's room only to be met with a serpentine smile. 'Will you break the cycle?' The question was more than just about the he played. "You didn't have to make it so hard Jarren." She clicked her tongue as the world around her began to glide past her as she made her way to the Eastern Border.
***
"Sir we've managed to capture two traitors among us. We suspect that they are working with demons." A man, his face grim as he reported. "What about the demons, have you managed to capture them?" Lord Marchel Veyden, the warden of the eastern border inquired. "Unfortunately not yet but it's a matter of time. We suspect that they are trying to let goods contaminated with spores to seep into the kingdom."
Marchel clutched his chin, falling into thought. 'For them to be so persistent with this border, it's sufficient to make the conclusion that they know my border is the least protected.' He gave a heavy sigh as he waved his subordinate off. "Tighten the security, make sure that everything runs like clockwork, anyone out of their allocates position shall be taken as a traitor."
The man made a respectful bow before taking his leave. 'I can't let Guinevere manage to get her goods into Reuthar. It would be my greatest shame.' He thought as he rose to his feet and looked past the border where a battlefield seemed fresh. It wasn't just the eastern but the other borders as well that had been attacked by the swarm of demons.
Most of which were easy to deal with individually but their numbers made it hard to keep them at bay. "With each passing day, I doubt that I'll be able to see my son grow up." He muttered to himself as he heard a faint pair of footsteps making their way to his office. A warm smile flashed on his face as he turned to face his guests.
"Father!" A boy, no older than ten mused with glee. His innocent young face bringing joy to Marchel. "Adrian! What did I tell you about meeting me during work hours?" His tone playful as he lifted his son onto his shoulders. He turned to face his wife, in her late thirties with unparalleled beauty. He saw himself as one of the most luckiest man alive with the two.
Having a stable well playing job and a loving family, what man wouldn't want to be in his shoes. "I couldn't wait, I have to show you what I learnt." The little kid spoke, his voice filled with eagerness as he stretched out his hand.
*Whoosh*
A silver gray glyph came to view, it's base rudimentary which flickered for no longer than a second before dissipating. "See! I can finally use malcore!" Marchel glanced at his wife who wore a smile laced with familiarity and tenderness. "I told him that you would be more than glad to see it." She chuckled.
"Color me impressed Adrian. It would seem that you really are a malcore expert!" He roared as he started to make his way to the exit. The three made their way down the halls. "It's only a matter of time till I become the greatest malcore user to be. Then I'll get rid of all of these pesky demons and make dad spend more time with mom!"
Adrian naively posed eliciting a laugh from the two. "I'm sure you will. But it won't be easy. Not to mention there will be people who will be as talented as you so your determination may waver." Marchel poses as the two came to the courtyard. A giant cherry tree blossoming filling the scene with an air of serenity and tranquility.
Marchel put Adrian down as he let out a low grunt. The little boy stretched out his hand with the hopes of reenacting his feat. "Argh!" He cried out in exhaustion as he nearly collapsed. "There's no need to exert yourself too much Adrian. Why not rest for a bit before you show what you've managed to learn."
Marchel's wife cooed as she watched Adrian keep on trying till he eventually admitted defeat. "Urgh! It's so hard and I'm so tired. Can we have something to eat?! How about biscuits!" With a clap of her hands, a servant made their presence and left with their requests. Adrian who was now focused with the cherries that fell to the ground, the air between the two shifted.
No longer carrying warmth. "How is it at the borders?" She posed clenching her fingers. "So far the hordes as of late have been getting harder and harder to contain." His pause souring her face. "And an abomination attacked at that. Twenty men gone before we could chase it away. If it were to come back, I'm not sure whether we'll be safe."
Marchel's done grim as his eyes drifted to Adrian who remained aloof with the topic of discussion. "I'm sure that things will get better as time goes on darling. We just have to endure for now." She reassured him reaching for his hand. His gaze drifted back to her as the two shared a light kiss. "With you here I'm sure that it'll be okay." His chuckle dry.
"Of course it will. After all we've been through much worse." Her urges turning his chuckles into a full blown laugh. "We have. Thank you darling." Before the two could share another kiss, Adrian's claim attracted their attention. Look dad! This cherry flower isn't like the rest." He boy mused as he made his way to show his findings.
The two glanced at it with curious faces. "There's no way that this is a regular flower." Marchel mused as he observed the flower in his palm. Rather than the usual organic fibers, the one in his hand gave dazzling glimmers in the light, it's color black obsidian further intriguing Marchel.
"Is this a threat?" His wife couldn't help but wonder. "Probably, I'll have more surveillance to be installed." His tone grave as he handed the cherry to his wife. 'I can't sense any form of malcore off it but such a flower to form naturally is implausible.' He was sure that the flower was artificial.
'The level of craftsmanship on it is nothing short of immaculate either. This person may be problematic to deal with.' He had already concluded that it would be an assassin meant to exterminate his life given that he had just recently caught two demonic traitors. "However for it to arrive so soon, are there more within my ranks that I am not aware of?"
He mumbled to himself as he took the cherry back. "Dad! It's so pretty! Can I keep it?!" Adrian asked, his gaze locked with the cherry in his palms. "I'm sorry but I can't let you have this. After all it's clear that someone wanted us to have it. Someone bad." Adrian flashed a look of disappointment upon hearing this.
"Come on, I'm sure that the biscuits should cheer you up. After all you were hungry, weren't you?" The servant made their way to the three and laying her tray. "Sir." Marchel who was about to take a sip of his tea was halted by a voice to the side. "It pains me to intrude like this but the matter is too important to ignore."
The man from before mused as he exchanged a light pleasantry with his wife. "Oh hello Jeanette , nice to see you again Adrian." His tone light as he glanced at the two who indulged in tea and biscuits. "It's nice to see you Angus." Jeanette posed, her face radiating a warm expression while Adrian could barely talk.
"Oh, hi...Ang- us..." He managed to say with his mouth full. "First make sure that your mouth is empty before talking." Jeanette mused making Adrian shy away. "Understood mom." Angus couldn't help but laugh at the two before his gaze went back to Marchel who rose to his feet. "Very well Angus."
The two made their way out of the courtyard and down a hall making their way to the cells. "We managed to her the two to talk who said that they worked for Guinevere and the demons. However the ease of it all makes it odd. They have this information surprisingly easy rather than the use of force."
Angus, a man riddled with brown-greyish facial spoke, his brows furrowing the more he thought about it. "It is quite odd but it does explain as to how Guinevere was able to survive without the other human kingdoms." Marchel's tone contemplative as the two arrived at the cells.
Now underground with torches lighting the path, the two went past the empty ones and arrived at the pair's cell. A guard on standby opened the cell and the two stepped in.