It was a chilly morning – but that wasn't going to stop me from sitting outside my favourite tavern. It was a good thing that I did, aside from getting some fresh air, I was soon set upon by another. Adelbern had managed to find me in record time, and he was just the man I wanted to see. Everyone was exhausted from the fighting, both Cali and Tahar slept like a pair of bricks, including me. There was no time to catch up with him and ask some follow up questions the previous day.
He didn't seem too unhappy about how things had turned out. We'd kept John alive, retrieved the sword, and by breaking some limbs, perhaps he considered finally throwing in the towel and heading back home. The only standout problem was his accusation that Adelbern was the one who organised the ambush. He did, but we didn't want him to know that.
"What did John have to say about all of that bullshit?"
Adel laughed, "Oh, he didn't have much to say. Once the adrenaline wore off the pain of his dislocated arms was too much for him. I hoisted him, Maria and Joseph onto a cart and sent them packing back to the fort."
"No. I mean you were worried about him finding out about our friendly agreement. That guy's a paranoid nut – he immediately fingered you when we ambushed him."
"I expected that much. A heroic rescue should be enough to abate his suspicion for the time being. Apologies for not telling you. I was hoping that such an intervention would be unnecessary."
So it was too early for him to say. It was up in the air whether the people back at the HQ would even be willing to listen to John after his adventure into the Federation. Blaming others at a time like this would only damage his reputation. He needed to keep quiet and lay low until the heat died down, kind of like I was used to doing. Adelbern reached into his jacket and placed a small piece of parchment onto the table.
"What's this?"
"A vote of confidence from the Absolver. One of his couriers was already waiting for me on the border. He sent this thing down before we resolved the John problem. Could it kill him to temper his expectations a little?"
I reached out and unfurled it in my palms. It was brief and to the point. It was nothing more than a name and a location. Another one of the cursed items had been smuggled out of the armoury and sent to a nearby town called Bristwaithe, placed into the hands of a man named Derian Rivers.
"Derian Rivers?"
Adel nodded, "You might have heard the name before. He's a major businessman in the midlands; has his fingers in a lot of places. His wealth is spent ostentatiously on various hobbies and collections. Weapons, armour, atrefaced objects that interest him. He's also a major supporter of the Inquisition."
I frowned, "But he lives in the Federation?"
"You'd be surprised at how many there are. Fools come in all shapes and sizes, and also many creeds. His family has roots that connect back to the Kingdom, and he was raised in an environment where the purity of being was emphasised. Or to be more cynical – he believes that the Federation's days are numbered and he'd like to play both sides in the case of a Sull victory. He can afford to."
"Yeah, rich blokes tend to do that. Always falling upwards. Why's he the mark this time?" I had reason to believe that my previous destinations had something to do with the Absolver's agenda. Why not kill two birds with one stone while he was at it?
"While he is a forthright supporter of the Inquisition, his money is aimed squarely at the wrong side of things. He is tipping the balance of power too far in their favour. Money makes the world go around, as they say, and it can buy the loyalty of many."
"Killing him would be easier."
"The act of killing is simple. Though in this case, it also serves as a delivery mechanism for you. But also, if we were to fail in our task – Sir Rivers would be tarred and feathered as the one responsible for stealing the cursed artefact. A self-destruction methodology that could potentially save the Absolver from being hoisted to the gallows for his part in the scheme."
Pretty smart; and I wasn't the type of guy to give credit to Inquisitors for their savvy. A way to advance his goals, maintain control of the organisation, remove an obstacle, and protect himself if things went to shit. It was everything he needed. That still didn't cover his ass completely, there were still a lot of things that could go wrong besides. People were irrational, they didn't always act like you expect. With money and pride on the line people's worst natures bubble up from the depths. That good friend of yours may be more materialistic than you expect.
"I don't imagine it'll be that easy."
Adelbern grimaced, "No. It will not. His estate is heavily guarded by some very talented mercenaries, and he is also planning on hosting a series of expensive balls and events to showcase some of his collection. I understand that you prefer to do things quietly, most of the time – there will be a lot of eyes watching."
I exhaled and tugged on the edge of my collar as I thought it through. I wanted to do this quietly, just as he said. I needed to get close enough to finish him, learn where the cursed item was being stored, and steal it all at the same time. How could I possibly justify getting so close to a man of his status? He wasn't a Federation nationalist. My new repute as a warrior for justice wasn't going to wash with him. Cali couldn't clout her way to an invite. I needed to get one myself.
What he was about was weapons. The pieces fell into place all at once. I had something that he may have been very interested in after all. An object I had taken from Versia and paid no mind for some time. The sword. It was unlike anything else I had seen in this world, clearly built and designed by an advanced, extinct culture. A simple appraisal from him would surely prove its immense value and its rarity. The type of thing a collector would simply love to have in their armoury.
"I might have a way of getting close. I need to get his attention first though. Where does he buy his stuff from?"
"Bristwaithe has a strong history of auctioneering, and racketing, but mostly auctioneering. Many people flock there to sell their goods on the open market. Rivers is no different. I'm sure you're capable of figuring out when and where he might appear, knowing that."
"Hm. I'll take your word for it…"
I wasn't familiar with the town in question. The midlands were generally wealthier and more well protected than the border cities. The guardsmen closer to the capital didn't screw around. Your bribes had to be bigger, your skills sharper. There wasn't much of an industry for rogues as a result. No supply meant no demand. I had been there once or twice but never delved too deeply. Those were jobs that started or ended there. Simple deliveries of illicit goods for the most part. Attending auctions was too legit for the likes of me. Even so, all of this sounded too easy. There was no doubt in my mind that this was a lot more complicated than Adelbern and the Absolver were letting on.
"The town is quiet at the moment. Far away from any fighting. You can focus on retrieving the item from him. You must also ensure that he dies in the process. I doubt you have any moral quandaries about that."
"No, not at all."
Adelbern sighed; "I would say that he's trying to blackmail you by withdrawing support should you not do that, but we both know that he is more invested in 'completing' Stigma than he is killing Sir Rivers."
"I'll do it anyway. I don't care about the guy."
He leaned back, "You know, I'm not used to dealing with people like you."
"Like me?"
"Survivors, or people without many moral scruples. Everyone in the Inquisition is… obsessed with hierarchy and honour. That doesn't always show in the way they behave on the battlefield, but when it is easy to do, such as in a time of peace, they stick closely to those principles no matter what. I keep expecting you to refuse one of these orders because of their dubious nature. I should know better by now."
That was understandable. We lived in two different worlds. Adelbern's reaction was more subdued than John's though. The zeal with which he detested those not born into an advantageous situation was unusual. John did not try to comprehend it. He hated it, it scared him. He believed that everything I did, I did by choice. Never once realising that choice was expensive. I didn't have the freedom to turn my nose up at dirty tricks.
None of the lives I could have lived in this world were as comfortable as my upbringing in Japan. That was just the reality of things. Modern inventions allowed even the downtrodden to live a life of comparative luxury. Adelbern was the same. He knew how good things could be, and because of that he also understood how tough they were.
"Are you willing to tell me more about the Absolver yet?"
He shook his head, "I can offer you nothing that you'll find useful. You're seeking more information about his intentions, but I cannot say what they are for sure. I've been endeavouring to uncover them myself, but he is extremely cautious about saying anything to me."
I'd heard that before; "He's minimising exposure. I'd be careful if I were you. He might decide that you're too much of a liability one day."
"I know. I am not under any illusions here. I am a tool for him to use to get his way, and once that happens I cannot rely on loyalty to protect me. I have already made some plans should that come to pass."
A silence developed as I struggled to come up with anything constructive to say. After a minute of consideration, I decided to ask him about something else. "Did the Absolver ever say anything about what Stigma does?"
"Not directly. I suspect that he knows more than he says. He's been nose deep in untranslated tomes for some months now. These are books that no one else has access to, ones that have never been translated into a common language."
"What's in them?"
"I can only guess. I think he's looking into the origins and history of the sword, and the events that led to it being here on the continent."
"The only way to figure that out would be to ask him directly, then?"
"If you can figure out a way to get him to talk, feel free to share. I've tried and failed on many occasions."
And that was all he had to say. Adel advised me to head out and find the target as soon as possible. He believed that more 'jobs' designed to smuggle things to me were coming down the pipe. The Absolver wanted to speed up the process. I wished that he was more forthcoming with what he knew, but I wasn't going to burn such an important bridge just yet. The seat which was previously occupied by Adel was soon taken by someone else. Stigma materialised her body for the first time in weeks.
"To what do I owe this displeasure?" I grumbled.
I was already pissed off by the face she was making. The crossed arms and furrowed brow gave the impression that I was the one who had done something wrong. After our previous bust-up, she hadn't said a word to me. I was starting to forget that she was even in control of my body. But nothing nice was going to happen while she was still around.
"I see my silence has not affected you in any way."
"I was enjoying it, to be honest."
She scoffed, "I can no longer sit in silence and watch you flail about like a fool. What happened to your resolution, to do anything that was required? Sally forth to their castle and take the rest of my pieces!"
"Not every problem is solved in a fight. And I never would have considered doing anything like this before you showed up."
"But-"
"But nothing. What the fuck are you going to do about it? Freeze me again?"
"I could. I could leave you to starve, or die in battle – and then a new wielder, who is more agreeable to my orders, will simply take your place."
"Oh, will they now? And you're willing to start over again from zero? Bouncing from person to person until you find the one who might be able to go a few weeks before biting it? I have a lot of leeway now, and you don't want to waste it any more than I do."
"I miss the times when you were compliant…"
I stood from my seat and started walking away so I could prepare for our trip. "When have I not been compliant with you? I'm still collecting these damn things. If I wasn't being compliant, I'd tell Adelbern to shove his jobs where the sun doesn't shine."
"I don't understand you," Stigma complained. She could keep it to herself.