Emergency Meeting

✧ ✦ ✧

Shion, Milton, Zero, Hachi, and I sat in the very same conference room in which I had met with the council earlier. I was personally getting tired of meetings and wanted to hurry before more people met the same fate as those in the cellar, but it couldn’t be helped.

The ruler of this province, Governor Mikail Starkraven, would have to be apprised of the situation before we started a full-on investigation into the matter. If the worst came to pass, however, we’d have to be ready for a fight as well.​

“You think he’ll show?” I asked, lightly tapping my foot out of impatience.​

“The Governor? I suppose it depends on how urgent Nana can make this sound at this late hour.” Shion replied to me. “He’s been here in the manor since our arrival, but was too busy to make greetings before. With the welcome banquet tomorrow and other matters, it couldn’t be helped.”​

“That right?”​

Come to think of it, it was a little strange that he wasn’t there to greet us as we arrived. Seems like a common courtesy in most places.​

Although he might very well have afforded that courtesy to the council and Guildmaster Milton, or any other more important personages. Shion aside, it wasn’t as if Zero and I were VIPs or anything. Nana had gone up to his quarters to fetch him while we waited around.​

“The Mikail I know would be hard-pressed to ignore something like this, even if it were only speculation,” Milton said. “If there’s a killer—or several killers—running rampant in the city at this moment, we haven’t a moment to spare. I have the other guild members we brought on high alert, in either case.”​

“What’s this Governor Starkraven guy like?” Zero asked. “Can we really count on him to help us?”​

I grimaced, meanwhile. What little I knew about the guy still pissed me off in regards to the twins.​

“Stoic, and a bit of a hardass. He and I don’t get along the greatest, if I’m being quite honest.” Milton shrugged. “But while his leadership methods are a bit… abrasive, there’s no question that his presence has been a steady factor in Ember becoming such a prosperous trading hub for the kingdom.”​

Ember was the primary gateway into the Opal Bay, after all, and received much in the way of foreign goods and travelers. The orcs were by far the most frequent visitors, however. Much of Redrook’s imports also originated from Ember’s docks.​

Even beyond the moot, it was a necessary component of the kingdom’s success. Were it to fall to outside forces…

Nana suddenly stormed in, her face visibly angry.​

“Whatever is the matter, child?” Guildmaster Milton asked inquisitively.​

“It’s my master! He… refuses to meet with us.” Nana exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips.​

“Huh??” We all voiced our confusion at once.​

“Even after I explained everything Ren told us about, he said that it was all under control and to leave it to the town guard.” Nana shook her head. “It’s unlike him to just leave things like this without a second thought…”​

“This is going to sound like a strange question, but did you see him?” Shion asked.​

“Wha-what do you mean?”​

“Like, physically, did he come out to meet you or even open the door?”​

“Now that you mention it… no.” Nana rubbed her chin, puzzled. ”Is there something wrong with that?"​

“Yeah, what are you getting at, Shion?” I asked. “When I explained what happened earlier, you seemed like you knew right away what was going on. Did you, by chance?”​

“It was only a suspicion, but now I’m fairly sure…” She simply said. “We need to go see the governor in his office. Right this instant.”​

Shion, not waiting for permission, abruptly stood up.​

“Well, when Miss Shion says so, we had certainly better follow suit.” Milton smiled, standing and pushing his chair in.

“Wait, everyone!” Nana exclaimed. “Aren’t you afraid the master will be upset if we intrude on his preparation time?? I’ve seen him when he’s upset, I think we should reconsider—”​

“—I thought you were done caring what that bastard thought, and letting him boss you around?” I asked. “A few minutes ago, you were even jumping for joy at the possibility of cutting him off for good.”​

“I know that, it’s just…”​

I glanced over at Hachi, whose concerned eyes were trained on his older sister. I sighed deeply.​

I knew it wouldn’t be so easy for the twins to flip a switch and turn on their master, even if he did hold them here with thinly veiled threats. In a weird way, he was the only parental figure they’d had since their mother passed.​

“I’m worried about him, too, but that’s why we need to hurry.” Shion stared Nana in the eye. “Can you please trust me on this?”​

Nana was taken aback by Shion closing the distance between them so quickly, but after sharing confirming glances with Hachi, she nodded in agreement after a few seconds of mulling it over. We then quickly made our way up the winding, carpeted staircase in the foyer until we reached our destination.​

“Master! Master, please open up!” Nana knocked loudly on the large oaken door to the governor’s quarters, but unlike she had described last time, there wasn’t as much as a quip from the other side. “I really must insist you hear our guests out!”​

“Maybe he’s asleep…?” I muttered.​

“Possible, but rather unlikely, dear boy,” Milton said.​

Point taken, Boss, I thought. You would have to have Mother Grabel’s hearing to sleep through all Nana’s hooting and hollering outside. This process repeated itself until a sense of deep unease set in. We all looked to Shion for what to do next, our options dwindling by the minute.​

“Zero, kick it in!” Shion commanded, pointing to the door with her index finger as if she were siccing her trusty pet on someone.​

Both Hachi and I looked at her like she was a crazy lady. Milton stifled a chuckle, turning his head to the side. I could tell he thought Shion’s nerve was at least somewhat amusing, though I couldn’t say I shared the sentiment.​

”If you insist, Shion-tan…” Zero hesitantly agreed to her order, passing an apologetic glance to Nana.​

The girl in question looked absolutely mortified by the prospect of us breaking into her master’s private study. However, before she could object, Zero’s foot had already slammed into the door and knocked it clean open.​

Say what you want about Shion, she sure doesn’t waste time. Must come with the territory of being a time keeper.​

“P-Pardon the intrusion.” Nana managed weakly as we stepped inside.​

We were greeted by a worrying scene, much like the alleyway from before. Signs of a struggle, a broken mirror with shattered glass, and a blood trail leading to the open window. Wind blew the curtains inward as we examined the now-empty room.​

“This sure isn’t good…” Zero stated the obvious.​

“What in the actual hell happened here?” I shook my head in disbelief. “Were we too late, or what?”

Whatever had occurred, it was violent. There wasn’t enough blood to suggest that someone had bled out, but whoever or whatever the source was, it had fled outside the manor.​

“Master… it can’t be…” Nana looked horrified, falling to her knees, until Hachi came to place a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I just spoke to him, how… How could this have happened??”​

“You spoke to something, that much is true, but I have my doubts as to whether it was your master,” Shion stated cryptically as I raised an eyebrow. “Ren-kun, where did you say that cellar was again?”​

“It’s in one of the side alleys coming out of the marketplace where these two bushwhacked me; you can’t miss it,” I replied before understanding her point. “Wait… Don’t tell me. We’re going back there, aren’t we?”

Where the skinned carcasses and all the rats were…​

“If you know, then you needn’t ask,” Shion smirked. “Our enemy makes for their nest as we speak, but there may be a chance yet to save Governor Starkraven from his captors before he falls prey like the others.”​

“You mean he’s alive!?” Nana asked, shocked.​

“It’s just guesswork, of course, but I believe so.”​

“Well, if that’s the case, then what took him??” I wondered out loud.​

“Skinwalkers.” Milton had an intense look on his face as he said the name of something I was unfamiliar with. “…That’s what Miss Shion was prepared to say, in any case.”​

“Correct, Guildmaster.” Shion nodded. “Capable of imitating human speech, and a choice thrall of the Black Sacrament cultists who lurk in Mistral Forest. This all but tells me they have their sights set on Ember, after all, but to what ends I don’t yet know.”​

“Then those pikes along the road, and the downed trees were a warning to stay out of their business?” Zero wagered. “I knew I had a bad feeling coming in…”​

“Fat chance of us turning a blind eye now, though,” I said. “I’m not too keen on going back to that hellhole again, but if we let the Governor die, then the moot will probably be canceled, won’t it?”​

“Most likely.” Shion nodded. “All my master’s careful preparation will have been in vain, and 'Prince' Nou would still find himself in danger from an assassin’s blade at any moment. For the stability of this nation and Nou’s future safety, we must prevail in crowning a new ruler.”​

Not to mention the twins won’t get to petition for their freedom. Sure, if Starkraven dies, it’s possible they could be released from their contract on some technicality, but…​

It was equally possible that Nana and Hachi would be considered amongst his belongings in the estate and given to the next Governor or an heir. That would be one problem making way for another.​

“If we’re dealing with cultists, can Hachi and I join in on the fight?” Nana, gathering her strength, stood up and suddenly asked. “We don’t want to sit by and do nothing while you all risk your lives out there. We’re begging you!”​

Both twins gave us pleading stares, their hands folded.​

“Fine, guess it can’t be helped. Just don’t slow us dow—OW, OW!” Zero, noticing the awkward atmosphere, started to joke around before Shion swiftly kicked his shin. “Joking…”​

“I don’t know...” Shion considered it carefully. “I don’t doubt that you two want to help, but you’re civilians.”​

“C’mon, Shion, give Zero a break. He’s got a point.” I said. “The squirt has guts, I’d let her in on the action if it were up to me. They’re stronger than they look, too, you know.”​

I was uniquely qualified to assess them as such.​

“Guildmaster Milton?” Shion looked to my boss, who nodded approvingly. “Well, if Ren-kun, and the Guildmaster think you both can handle it…”​

“What am I, chopped liver??” Zero crossed his arms, pouting to himself.​

“…then let’s go save your master.”