Chapter 36 - Walk This Way

Like Taia, Xorn was working late in his office.

Or at least the room he called his office. Other than a desk and a chair there was virtually nothing else in the room. Not even a seat for visitors.

Xorn liked to make people stand to give their reports to him.

Frustration was evident in his face as his fiery red eyebrows knit in consternation. His furrowed brow giving his face an even more menacing look than usual.

It’s one failure after another.

He thought to himself as he went through a pile of reports just as his colleague had been doing moments before.

First the fires. Then the attack on the envoy. I still don’t even know who was in that carriage! Why hasn’t the capital responded to any of my messages?!

His fingers traced across his face and through his red hair as he sighed in frustration. He had long lost count of how many times he had done so this evening.

And Euryale! Why would she attack that carriage? Why would she attack anyone? Did she even do it? Is Taia involved? Was it all part of the twisted games that she plays? It’s been days and I still know nothing!

He flipped through more reports, hoping to find some kind of clue. But all he saw was page after page of normal reviews of the City’s security. Everything seemed perfectly normal the last few days.

Except for that peach!

He grumbled again, confused.

If I find out some guard is lying to me and just snuck down there for a snack!

He let the thought go unfinished. He knew he would be livid if it were true but something about the situation told him that there really was something greater happening behind the scenes. And his only lead was that their resident bookworm may have killed someone who worked for their King.

It was unfathomable. But it seemed to be true.

Another page, another report.

But then something caught his eye.

An order. An order signed on his behalf, but not by him.

“What is this?!”

It must have been in the pile by accident. Orders he’d already approved would have been sent out to those undertaking the work. But this order was here, on his desk.

He snatched the page from the pile and pulled it closer.

“A transfer? To the capital? Of all prisoners?! I didn’t…”

His eyes scanned each word carefully.

Not just the recent capture, the order included everyone currently in the castle jails.

“But other than that rebel the only prisoner is the woman the Lord Viscount tossed down there for some reason ages ago…”

Continuing to read while he spoke to himself he saw that the order specified times and routes for the prisoners to be taken.

Perhaps the strangest part of all was that the order specified a skeleton crew. Only 2 guards.

It was utterly illogical. Inept even.

“Practically begging the rebels…to attack!”

The realization hit hard as he thought for a moment that the goal of the transfer must be this.

“But who would benefit from freeing the prisoners?”

True, the rebels would want to free their fellow, that much was obvious. But in the demon exclusive castle there was no way someone would be working with them to forge this order.

“Then why take the risk?”

He scanned the document further. He recognized that his signature was a fake. Easily. It was far too neat. Crisp even. Nothing like the wild scrawl he used to mark his name.

But then he noticed the seal next to the name.

Every order needed the official seal to validate that the order wasn’t a forgery. But what few knew is that no two seals were identical.

And only four existed in the castle.

One for every greater demon there.

His rough fingers traced over the wax seal. His seal had the embossment of a shield, a sign of his status as Captain of the Guard. The Lord Viscount’s had a castle. And Taia’s had an eye.

Spying witch! He thought to himself.

But this seal. This seal had a book.

There was only one person with that seal.

“Euryale! Again!”

He stood quickly, his fists slamming onto his thick desk as he launched himself to his feet.

“What could she possibly gain by transferring the prisoners away?! Does she think I’ll find out that rebel didn’t really attack the carriage? I already know!”

He began to pace his spartan office rapidly.

“I must know what that crazy gorgon has planned!”

His mind raced as he thought of how he should handle the situation. It seemed to be a complete accident that he even learned of this transfer. A happy accident, but not one he could waste.

He stopped dead in his pacing as a terrifying grin passed his visage.

“Yes…that will be perfect. She can’t admit what she’s done, so she won’t be able to refuse.”

He pumped his fist slightly in triumph as he began to storm out of the room.

He briskly walked the castles halls until he arrived near Euryale’s office and saw Taia leaving.

She was walking with purpose and a grin was across her face as well.

“You look happy.” Xorn said, devoid of warmth.

“Oh I am. I’m on the hunt.” She paused and looked at his face. “And you look happy too. It’s a little frightening dear.”

“Bah! I am also on the hunt.”

They gave each other an evil grin as they waked past each other to their respective goals, quickly forgetting each other’s presence.

Xorn turned into Euryale’s office and slammed the door open.

“Again?!?” She startled.

Her strange expression made him pause, then he remembered Taia in the hall and realized she too must have surprised the woman.

Are they really working together? He wondered.

Refocusing on why he came he slammed the prisoner transfer order down on Euryale’s desk. From the look of horror on her face it was immediately apparent to him that she knew what it was.

“Do you see this?”

“What?! Why? Why are you showing me this?” She put on a brave face but it was clear she was terrified.

But against expectations Xorn didn’t yell.

He smiled.

It was somehow far more terrifying.

“I requesting your help, Euryale.” He said politely.

“My help?! What?” She looked confused not only by his friendly tone but his words.

“See this order? I authorized a transfer of the prisoners here in the castle.”

That he spoke like he had done so of his own volition confused the seneschal more than anything else.

“I’m going to send them to the capital to make sure they don’t escape.”

Euryale could only blink.

“And I’ll be escorting them…personally.”

He let that last word sink deep into her psyche.

“You!? What?!” She couldn’t hide her surprise. Or her fear.

“Yes. Me. I decided the prisoners will be safest if I take them myself. Well, that would almost be the safest choice…”

He paused to watch her eyes practically spin as the confusion remained evidence on her face.

“I also decided to bring you along. Two heads are better than one and all that.”

He gave a predatory grin as the panic on her face became more evident.

Mr. Witt told me not to interfere! What do I do? What can I do?! I wrote that in his name so he wouldn’t see it! So I wouldn’t be involved! Did I put it in the wrong place?!

“Me?! Why?!”

“Our reports don’t seem to be getting to the capital. They’ll want to hear all about what been going on here. From both of us.”

His words pierced her like a hot knife. But before she could even stutter a reply he spoke again.

“I will here first thing in the morning to collect you.”

“Do. Not. Be. Late.”

He turned and left, brokering no opportunity for her to refuse.

What do I do? What do I do!?

Euryale struggled to breathe as she sat at her desk.

Suddenly her arm snatched out and grabbed the waste bin at her feet and she leaned down to retch. It wasn’t even the first time today.