Part II Cont.

Shelves covered with dusky tomes and volumes lined the walls of the expansive study as Talin De’Marco paced the length of a beautiful carpet.

Nhari sighed heavily watching her brother. ‘Talin sit down.’

‘Leave him be.’ Shari said tilting her head to rest on Nhari’s shoulder.

Talin watched as Nhari’s ebony hair mixed and mingled with the pale white locks of her twin. Years of seeing them together had not softened him to their eccentricities. Fingers ran subconsciously over the silver pathways cutting through his palm as his mind churned through possible outcomes.

Looking down Talin spoke through the straight black hair obscuring his face. ‘We need answers. Piet is taking too long.’

‘He just needs more time.’ Shari said assuring him as Nhari finished her thoughts. ‘With enough time Piet can make anyone talk.’

Shari grimaced at her sister evoking a giggle from Nhari.

‘How much time can we really have left?’ He absently questioned taking a step towards the large bay window.

Scanning the courtyard below Talin made out the hulking form of Sumas engaged in conversation with a pair of guardsmen. Flowing black robe split open revealing his enormous girth beneath as Sumas pointed to the holding chambers. Talin watched as Morak De’Larus was led through a large doorway by the guards.

‘The old man is here.’ Talin said retrieving a small box from his desk. ‘Walk with me girls.’

The sisters stood in unison watching as Talin walked from the study. Hands still clutched together the pair moved as one down the long corridors trailing their brother. Ahead of them Talin stepped briskly as dual hilts protruded from his shoulders leaving the Khaari blades hidden beneath his cloak. Sumas turned the corner ahead obscuring the passageway behind him.

‘He claims to know noth…’ Sumas answered before Talin could question him.

‘He knows something!’ Talin snapped back silencing his companions. ‘Shari, Nhari, to the Mother’s chambers and see if they have anything new.’

Nhari frowned at him.

‘I mean now girls.’ Talin commanded pushing past Sumas. ‘You come with me Sumas.’

Inside the small interrogation room Morak sat with his arms folded, a look of defiance covering his aged face. ‘You waste your time on an old man.’

‘Tell us what you know and allow us to judge for ourselves.’

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The light around Piet’s slender form bent at strange angles where it touched the shifting gray and silver cloak surrounding him as he moved through the alley. Long black leather gloves covering pale white flesh came up to push back the hood shielding his features. His ebony hair pulled tight into a topknot at the apex of his shaven skull.

A short pudgy man came rushing out of a doorway towards him. ‘Master Piet. We had no word you would be arriving so soon.’

Piet waved a gloved hand to silence his host.

‘I’ll see myself in.’ Piet said pushing past Carab.

‘Master Piet! Wait!’ Carab called after him.

Inside the doorway an expansive greeting room adorned with statues and crests stood protected by two large guards. One of them spoke as Piet flew into action. ‘Has an audience been reques…’

Moving too quickly for the guards he easily subdued the first, disarming his opponent and knocking the wind from his lungs, before moving on to the second. Piet ducked under the massive baton sidestepping the less experienced man and brought both palms to rest against his exposed flank. A small pop signaled the reaction between his dull black gloves and the silver polished armor of the guard sending out a shock wave as the large man was thrown to the floor.

‘It has gentlemen but not by your employer. Carab if you value the coin wasted on treating your guardsmen then call out for them all to let me by.’ Piet strode from the room towards the large crystal spiraling stairs as Carab called out behind him. ‘Everyone stand down.’

Piet appeared emotionless and stoic as he gracefully moved up the beautifully carved stairs but inside his mind raced with questions. Each step he felt as though a huge weight lowered down onto his shoulders slowing his brain waves with docility.

‘They are stronger than I anticipated.’ He thought to himself moving past the final step. ‘No matter, all will come to bare.’