9: A Way Into Darkness

They visited the barkeep who was allusive with his information, Vo and Shane saw why. The soul mark was stronger.

Every time the man tried to tell the truth and give them more details, his neck burned at the nape to make the man scratch it and forget.

The group occupied a table instead and watched the coming and goings of the clientele for the time being.

"The soul mark is working faster than it should. It might be a new moon phase tonight." Shane noted.

"New moon energies empower sorcery intent of overwriting. Makes sense, which I don't like the sound of."

"If the Denison Family are behind this, Vo, you're in danger. I know I urged you to help these people, but not at the expense of your identity being revealed and used against you."

"Shane, when haven't I been in danger since we've been together? I'll sort out this mission and carry on. No one will know who I am."

He felt a short spurt of heat from his sword, before Shane answered in his mind.

"Fine, but if you die I won't hesitate to bond with another warrior."

"And how many times have you said that again?" Vo chuckled.

'Gah, if you weren't such a devilishly handsome bane to my existence I wouldn't be your sword spirit."

"You're the one who said you couldn't live without me. And I don't hear you complain every time I stroke your blade." Vo smirked but dropped his expression when he caught an odd look from Zen.

The sword's energy went dormant.

"So what do we know so far?" He pulled everyone's thoughts to the matter at hand.

Lyra and Sam looked glum when they recapped.

"Lyra, we have to find Kiara."

Zen growled rose from his seat. "Well, we won't do it sitting here."

"Okay. So what we can tell, there is definitely a hand behind the disappearances. The people are being kidnapped via Black Crow Eye vials after they've given a Soul Mark."

"Soul Mark?" Sam slammed a fist to the table to stir a flinch from surrounding patrons.

"Calm down." Vo warned the guard. "What we know is that magic of the dark kind is most definitely at hand, we have a lead."

"The boulder entrance." Zen added.

Vo nodded. "My guess is, the people get marked so thoughts enter their minds to enter the entrance freely. Only those marked can open the way."

"So if we want to find the people..."

"We have to watch and follow someone who is marked."

Lyra and Sam got up. "Let's go, we're on the clock and we need to hurry."

"We'll find someone who looks like they're about to make their way there." Vo told her of his plans.

Lyra pulled out her small flute-shaped whistle. "Blow this to alert us of your location." She hesitated before handing Vo the instrument. "I shouldn't be giving you this, doing so invokes a punishment but we need to keep in contact."

"Thank you. I'll keep it safe and return it." Vo patted her shoulder, understanding the risk she took.

"Well, technically, you're part of the guard so I'm not really breaking any regs from loaning it to you."

The group dispersed to do their tasks.

Zen and Vo entered the market square and caught sight of the spice merchant hurrying out of his hut with a knapsack, only to pause and stand in a trance. Then the man dropped his bag and turned to take a brisk walk to the north gate.

"Shit."

They sprinted after the man, then slowed to discreetly follow: eventually returning to the dead-end clearing. Only this time, three armed guards were waiting for them. They hadn't seen them before.

"Stop the intruders." One listlessly stated an order as they pulled out their longsword.

Vo saw the merchant pass through the boulder space and the stone slam shut behind him.

The three guards unsheathed their swords and lunged for an attack.