“Good to see you, Flash,” replied Nate, a small smile on his lips before turning to the two women. “Sorry, I don’t think I ever got your real names.”

  “I’m Abigail,” answered the first, locking one of her hands in Flash’s. “But I was Celeste, and before that, in the Guild Tournament, Helena.”

  “And I’m Genivieve,” replied the other. “Before that, I was Daphne, and before that Gabrielle.”

  Genivieve then glanced at Kiri, “Sorry. You know, about taunting you back in the Tournament.”

  Kiri just sniffed and shrugged, “Doesn’t matter. I won after all.”

  Kiri’s statement left the girls uncomfortable for a second before Abigail picked the conversation back up.

  “Anyway, we wanted to say thank you. To both of you. Flash told us that it was you who removed the Soul Mark our mother left on us.”

  “You’re welcome,” Nate replied. He would’ve done the same for anyone, after all, but he was too polite to admit to how uncomfortable he was around the pair. They had been spying on him on and off as far as he could tell for over a year, and even with them apparently having switched sides now that they weren’t being coerced, he still didn’t feel comfortable around them.

  “As the girls were, I am sure, about to explain,” said Hildi. “They think they are the solution to Garnet, Bordain’s Fire Mage.”

  “We’re her sisters,” explained Genivieve. “We thought she was dead. She left when we were young, after our mother put the Soul Marks on us. She told us before she left that she would find a way to free us! We’re sure she is only helping Bordain for our sakes. If we can find her and prove to her we’re free, we’re sure she will desert him, or maybe even join us.”

  “Sorry,” Nate asked. “But, who is your mother exactly? You’ve mentioned her a couple of times.”

  “Oh, sorry, our mother is Duchess Charlotte Desmarais,” answered Abigail.

  Nate’s mouth thinned to a line. House Desmarais, who had tried to kill him, almost certainly on a recommendation from the girls standing before him, or at the very least, due to things they had learned while spying on him and had revealed to their mother. While Nate sorted through his feelings and tried to figure out how he felt about that particular revelation, Kiri showed no such restraint.

  “The House Desmarais that tried to have us killed?” she demanded.

  “Yes,” replied Abigail quietly, and Nate sensed Flash squeeze her hand to try and comfort his girlfriend. “We’re sorry about that. Really. We were under orders from our mother, and to disobey was torture.”

  Both girls reached towards their chests in unison, their fingers brushing their clothes near their hearts.

  “Why did they target us anyway?” demanded Kiri.

  “Because we suspected what you revealed to Queen Morgane,” answered Genivieve. “That you both have Legendary Primary Classes. Our mother likely saw you as a threat to her position. The Queen has revealed to us that she is willing to raise you both to the rank of Dukes after we have retaken the country.”

  Kiri rolled her eyes at the offer and Nate noted the use of the title of ‘Queen’. He supposed it was necessary to add legitimacy to their campaign. Thinking about the offer itself, Nate could see the value in Morgane making it, since having two Legendaries in her court was a powerful message to other nobles. However, he didn’t think that was Morgane’s end goal. He’d been focusing on Hildi and her body language during the exchange to see how she reacted but the Unseen had revealed nothing. Still, based on Nate’s own conversations with Morgane, he had an idea about what the Royal intended. Assuming they were successful in dealing with Bordain, the entire country would be weakened to the point of losing the war with Asmuisil. Losing it, but not without cost. There were plenty of nobles who had refused to take a side, including an entire quarter of the country, as one of the three Duchies had refused to answer the call of the Royals. Asmuisil could conquer Etrua, but it would take time and the annexation would be costly.

  Instead, Nate suspected that Morgane intended to use the threat of Asmuisil and the weakened nobles of Etrua to force through changes. He wasn’t exactly sure how the politics of it would work, but he was guessing that Morgane would try to see Etrua become a vassal of Asmuisil, using some of her own forces to assist Asmuisil in bringing the rogue nobles to heel. At least, that was what he hoped. It would be a better outcome for everyone involved, and his mind was already going over the implications for the Artist’s Emporium, as he intended to leave the company in Jacque and Luc’s hands after he was forced to leave Galle.

  “Well, this shit is getting pretty heavy,” said Luc, breaking everyone away from their thoughts. “Think we could find five minutes alone?”

  The second question was directed at Hildi who glanced up at Luc in amusement, “As if you would need more than two.”

  Luc pressed a hand over his heart as if he’d been wounded, mouth open, but when Hildi glanced at Morgane, who still appeared deep in discussion with Aisling, she sauntered off towards the door.

  Luc winked at Nate and quickly followed as Kiri called after him, “See you in one minute.” The comment earned her a rude gesture which just made his sister smile all the more.

  “We’ll go as well, but again, thank you. It’s a debt we’ll never be able to repay, so, if you need anything from us, anything, just ask,” whispered Genivieve with fervor before vanishing into the crowd.

  Abigail nodded her agreement before following, with Flash hot on her heels.

  “I still don’t like them,” muttered Kiri.

  “Even Flash?” he asked.

  “Especially Flash.”

  Nate nodded, “That’s fair. He’s a bit…obsessive, I guess.”

  “He’s just an ass,” replied Kiri.

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  “True,” Nate acknowledged. “Not really our problem anymore though, is it?”

  “Think Aisling will assist Morgane?” asked Kiri, changing the subject.

  “I… think so. She said she would back when the assassination attempt on Morgane happened. I think she’s holding a grudge against Bordain and those he allied with for subverting the Guild and getting Guild members killed in the crossfire. The question is, will we assist Morgane?”

  Kiri looked thoughtful, “Dad doesn’t want us to fight.”

  “Us?” Nate asked.

  “Yeah, he mentioned both of us. Mum was silent, but I could tell she was worried. She just doesn’t want to feel like she is holding me back. What do you think we should do?”

  Nate gave the idea some thought. He had been preparing as if they were going to fight, but did they really have to? They could just sit the battle out and watch from the side lines. But what would their friends do? Aisling had agreed to assist Morgane, and if Aisling was involved, Evindal and Deverell would be as well. Then there was Luc. Nate figured his spatial mentor would normally have sat such a conflict out. Luc wasn’t really interested in power, or fighting, he just wanted to indulge in his riches with a dash of debauchery. A glance at the door Hildi and Luc had just exited reminded him that perhaps it was more than a dash of debauchery. But, even given Luc’s normally carefree and affable nature, Nate knew his mentor would get involved this time. There was clearly bad blood between Luc and his half-brother and Nate suspected that Luc would use this opportunity to bury their feud. Six feet deep to be precise. Null and Britt would get involved as well. They were loyal to the Guild, and therefore Aisling. Null, perhaps in part, to push himself. Britt, because that is just who she was. Stalwart. The kind of person you could rely on to always have your back.

  Nate sensed someone about to enter the room and acknowledged there were others getting involved. Cutter strode into the room with a few men and women right behind him. Decked out in Asmuisillan armour, carrying a spear, with eyes that shone with an inner light, the old smuggler looked like death come to collect his due. Nate noted that one of the men behind him was younger but there was a resemblance between them. Cutter’s grandson then, the one who had competed in the Guild Tournament.

  Moving to the window, Nate looked out over the courtyard. Where before it had been relatively empty, there were now over a thousand people milling about. Half wore the armour and carried the weapons that Nate had gifted them, but more were filing into the compound in small groups, carrying everything from smithing hammers, to fishing spears. There weren’t many axes, wood being uncommon in the Capital.

  The people of Etrua were rising up against the tyranny that Bordain represented.

  Cutter moved to join Nate at the window, and Nate noted the whispers from some of the nobles about the smuggler not presenting himself before Queen Morgane first.

  “More than I expected when I gave you that storage device,” Nate commented with a smile for the man, as Kiri flanked him, matched on Cutter’s other side by the smuggler’s grandson.

  “People been wantin’ a change fer years, lad. Just lacked tha means ta fight back. Pots and kettles dun do much ‘gainst armour and blades,” remarked Cutter, tapping his breastplate with his knuckles. “This though? This is all they needed. Ya gave us this chance, and for that they cheer your name.”

  Nate’s blood ran cold in discomfort, “They what?”

  “Didn’ think I would tell em who their benefactor was, lad? Course, I did. I lied plenty an fer a long time. Ain’ got it in me anymore to do it. Told em true. Told em about the art you made fer em. Told em when they were hard up ‘gainst the wall with guards kicking down their doors and draggin’ their kin into the streets that it was you who gave em the means to fight back. The older ones ain’t so sure. Hard ta trust after the lives we’ve led. But the young ones, they call themselves the Artist’s Revenge.”

  At Cutter’s words, the man’s grandson pointed at an image crudely drawn onto his armour. It took Nate a moment but he realised it was a mediocre copy of one of the paintings he had done in the shopping compound in the Slums. The image was clearly meant to recreate the swirling of fabrics and a ship behind it.

  “Aye, lad. Even my fool of a grandson be gettin’ involved.”

  Someone in the courtyard had spotted Cutter’s eyes through the window as they spoke and Nate watched as whispers ran through the crowd until the people of the slums began to chant his name, reverberating against the walls of the Guildhouse, a thousand voices strong.

  Nate closed his eyes for a moment. His friends were going to fight. The downtrodden people he had tried to uplift with a little art and beauty were going to fight. A glance at Kiri and her eager grin told him his sister was going to fight. She was just waiting on his agreement.

  “Let’s go talk to Queen Morgane,” Nate said.

  As a group, Nate, Kiri and Cutter moved to join Aisling and Morgane. Only Cutter’s grandson joined them from the man’s own retinue.

  “I’m so glad you could join us, Nate and Kiri,” greeted Morgane, the nobles behind her shifting uncomfortably. By now every one of them knew that Nate and Kiri had Legendary Classes. The actual truth was yet to come out, but Nate knew it wouldn’t be long now. “Prefect Teigland was just telling me that whether or not you both joined the offensive to retake the Palace and depose my patricidal brother was up to you. Can I count on you?”

  Nate nudged Kiri who stepped forward, “We will, we just need to negotiate what that will entail and what you’re offering for our assistance.”

  “How mercenary of you. I take it that national pride and the urge to do the right thing will be insufficient?” quipped Morgane, most of the nobles behind her bristling. All except Baroness Olithia who smiled suggestively at Nate, running her hands casually down over her hips.

  “Well, given the fact that you both hold Legendary Classes, I was thinking a Duchy each. Once we depose House Desmarais for siding with a regicide and House Pleras for refusing to answer the call of the throne we will have two Duchies free of rulers. The lands might be slightly less than they currently are, but I doubt you would object.”

  Nate shook his head and Kiri countered the offer, “We’re not interested in titles. We want access to the Royal Treasury, a writ that guarantees a steady supply of mana for the Artist’s Emporium in perpetuity, and access to the Legendary Dungeon beneath the palace.”

  Nate sensed multiple people listening in stiffen at the mention of the Dungeon. He also knew Kiri had outed its existence intentionally.

  “What do you want from the Royal Treasury?” asked Morgane, her lips tight, not betraying the discomfort she likely felt from having the secret Dungeon outed.

  “Anything Mythic inside?” Kiri asked casually.

  Morgane snorted. “No, or if there is, I am unaware of it. There are Legendary items though, taken from the Dungeon. Skill Orbs, Spell Tomes, Equipment, even a few materials for Nate if he desires them. Say… two items for each of you?”

  Kiri shook next to him and the smile on Morgane’s face told him the woman who would be Queen thought it was from excitement at the prospect of Legendary items. Nate, however, knew his sister. She was trying not to laugh. These gifts that would likely have the nobles themselves salivating felt like little more than trinkets to Kiri and himself. The other requests were more important though. Access to the Dungeon would likely let Kiri pull out some Mythics, as Nate already knew his sister had asked for access because she wanted to solo it. The other request would make sure the company they had created and grown, founded on Nate’s creativity and crafting coupled with Kiri's business acumen, would last long after they left this world.

  “The other two requests?” Kiri pressed.

  “I can agree to both,” answered Morgane.

  “Then we have a deal. Let me just write this contract up so we have it all in writing and it can be signed by a few witnesses.”

  Nate smiled sadly. He was going to fight, even though he didn’t like fighting. But sometimes, there were things worth fighting for, even when you didn’t want to. Things like family, and friends, or the hope of a better future for the people around you. Luc and Hildi chose that moment to sneak back into the room and Nate acknowledged that others might fight for different reasons. Like revenge, or wealth, or so you could convince a Platinum-tier assassin to have a quickie with you in a cupboard on the third floor of the Adventurer’s Guild. To each their own, Nate decided. He had his reasons, and they were good enough for him.

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