Alisson's precautionary move had proved invaluable. Those within the embassy were unharmed, the apprentices included. They entered to find a scared pair of Marenix and Ashlynde, hugging each other tightly in their room. The envoys within were also shaken.
What had been Alisson's defense? He'd called for Ardinand to send some of his men to defend the embassy, since he'd planned on taking Celis anyway for protection, plainly lying to Tsuhara that he wouldn't. Ardinand's men did their job. They left the premises in the morning discretely; that was to say, that only the Sidonians and the attackers knew that they had been there. The Kistune guards outside the embassy were not so fortunate.
The attackers must have seen Celis and himself depart, and took the opportunity to strike. However, upon seeing the veteran Nekomata within, they decided to withdraw. Their actions pointed toward only one suspect; The heretics. The bombing must have been a way to isolate the Nekomata elements in the city, and destroy them piecemeal.
Their plan had failed. But the murders of the guards outside combined with the unharmed embassy residents would cause suspicion.
That was to say, Alisson was pulled into law council to give information about both events. Or, he would've. He left that job to one of the envoys in his company, who were infinitely better at speaking without saying anything than he was. His meeting with the Queen and the assassination attempt had all been covered up, and with the Queen looking out for him now, Alisson didn't think he needed to worry about getting into any legal trouble anymore.
The days after felt light and carefree. It was now a waiting game until the day that Ardinand's team enacted what they had been preparing all this time. Tsuhara met with them, and on her hands and knees, apologized. Alisson could only smile and tell her to raise her head. The Queen must have told her about what transpired.
He had another visitor that did not bring such amiable feelings. Captain Versatsu.
In a room empty save a table and chairs, Alisson and him spoke privately, as had been requested.
"So Alisson, you've gotten yourself into a whole host of trouble, haven't you…"
Alisson remained silent, and Versatsu smiled. "Don't worry, I'm not here to negotiate." His face straightened. "The separatists want you gone. I can't guarantee your safety here at this embassy, especially with original guards having been mysteriously dispatched…"
"An unfortunate occurrence." Alisson replied, but before he could continue, Versatsu cut him off,
"Yes, yes, all result of these 'heretics' you and yours keep prattling on about. We both know that the legal council that you sent a stand in for is just political theater."
Alisson straightened his posture slightly, and frowned. It seemed this was something more than just a stupid social call.
"Me and the garrison have been hard at work, and I believe we've secured a private little meeting where you and some separatists can settle your differences, outside of the protection of the garrison. You understand? Otherwise, they might just break into this place and cause all sorts of unnecessary bloodshed and bring unwanted attention."
Alisson closed his eyes. "I understand. That would be bad for the both of us. I'll agree to meet with them. Are there any conditions they imposed?"
Versatsu grinned. "Just keep it quiet. They ain't doing this with the Queen's blessing, you see. Oh, but there is one thing…" Versatsu clenched his hand. "My benefactors would like a small down payment to guarantee your cooperation…That Nekomata girl with the dark blue hair…"
Alisson stared at Versatsu with a blank expression. "You want a hostage."
Versatsu smiled greedily. "That's a extreme way to put it, but sure. Just think of it as a little escort duty."
Alisson sighed. "Very well. Come by tonight. I'll require something to put them unconscious, you understand."
"We can provide that. I'll send some people to come collect at sunset."
Versatsu gave a deep, self-satisfied smile to Alisson, who only looked on with a small frown.
With the deal having been made, Versatsu told him the date and location of the meeting. It was tomorrow in the early morning; The day that the hammer would fall on the city, the day that Ardinand's team would strike. When he finally saw Versatsu out, Alisson exhaled heavily. The separatists were clueless fools in arranging this.
They were growing anxious. They might not have consciously realized it, but they felt the pressure and danger growing, and like animals caught in a shrinking cage, the suffocation was making them act rashly.
"Alisson…Are you okay?"
Celis looked at him with concern, and he broke into a small smile upon seeing her face.
"Yes. We have need of Utsuru. Bring her here."
Celis frowned, but did as she was told.
Utsuru was none the wiser. He had one of the envoys cut her hair to Celis's likeness; she thought this was just to get her presentable to him for the night. When Versatsu's men arrived, they had with them a special kind of drug. One that their ilk were used to employing. He offered Utsuru a drink tainted with it, and she was out cold in the moments thereafter. He personally carried her to the back door of the embassy, and left them in the hospitality of the Versatsu's garrison soldiers, who probably didn't even know what they were doing for him.
Alisson watched as they carried Utsuru away into the darkening night with dull eyes. He knew nothing bad would come to Utsuru, but to do such a thing to an unsuspecting girl, who shared Celis's likeness no less, left him with a well in his stomach.
Celis. Keep her safe. Even if she's just your stand in.
I will…But only because you told me to. Ah…Ashlynde's lagging behind…
Celis was bitter about the arrangement, clearly. He spotted a blur move across a nearby rooftop, following Versatsu's men. Celis would both keep the bait safe, and see where they would take her to. Come the morning, Celis would exfiltrate Utsuru, and destroy any separatist elements nearby. It was akin to rats taking poisoned food back to their nest.
Alisson glanced at the rising moon. There was one last thing that needed to be done before tomorrow. He withdrew a business card, examining an official address. It was time to plant a little seed of debt for the far future.
…
The Seishin shrine at this hour in the night was empty and still. The wind blew heavily, and slight trickle of rain fell from above. Alisson sat before one of the thuribles in the shrine, a couple sticks of incense burning from its suspended bowl. With his eyes closed in thought, he could easily hear the unsteady and unrefined steps of the man who entered the shrine behind him.
"So you uh…Like sitting out in shrines during the nights…? Not the weirdest hobby but…" It was Ilodith spoke up behind him. "…What's the urgency?"
"Listen closely."
Ilodith came to a stop and said nothing behind Alisson.
"Tomorrow, a hammer will strike flint and the sparks will ignite a raging flame, the kindling Irine has prepared so generously will be set ablaze." Alisson opened his eyes slowly. "A feeling of overwhelming danger seemed to take you over the night before, and when everyone looked in the morning, you and yours had fled the city. Do you understand?"
Ilodith was quiet for a moment. "I…I see…" He started, though took a few more moments to process the implications of Alisson's words. "I won't forget this, Alisson Vi Nuam."
Alisson heard him clench his fist.
"Good business can benefit all. Irine's capital of Penthreigin will have pressing ventures that we'll both see to when the time comes. Now, your midnight stroll is over. Go."
Ilodith nodded despite Alisson not looking at him and he turned and fled the shrine. Alisson stared into the burning incense before him. Foulness to defeat foulness. It all left a bad feeling in his belly.
"I suppose guilt is a new feeling I'll have to get used to."
Alisson said to himself. He looked to side, deeper into the shrine, where within a tangle of flora, a set of eyes stared back at him.
***