Chapter 64: The Missing Party

Aldous released his grip, walked back to his chair and sat down heavily.

"One more thing."

"Yes?"

"The C-rank party. Beeran’s Blades. They’ve been reported missing."

Emeric kept his face neutral.

"Missing?"

"They went into a rift three days ago. Haven’t come out. Their families are worried. The Guild has posted a notice to find and bring them home."

"I see."

"Do you know anything about them?"

Emeric met the old man’s eyes. This was the second time he was being asked about them. Did the guild know something?

"I met them once. At the Guild. They tried to start a fight."

"I heard." Aldous studied him. "You sidestepped. Embarrassed one of them. Ranga, I think his name was."

"Yes."

"And then?"

"Then I left."

Aldous was quiet for a moment.

"Their leader—Beeran—has a brother. Garrick. S-rank. He’s been asking questions. Looking into their disappearance." He paused. "He’s not the kind of man who gives up easily."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

"Do." Aldous picked up his cold tea. Took a sip. Grimaced. "That’s all, Halden. You can go."

Emeric stood.

He walked to the door, opened it and walked out.

Sera was waiting in the corridor.

"How did it go?"

"Well enough."

"Did he tell you about the Pierrot Broker?"

Emeric stopped.

"You knew?"

"I know everything." She pushed off the wall. "I’m the one who found the connection. Took me three days. The flier was placed by a courier. The courier was paid by a proxy. The proxy works for the Broker."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I’m on your side." She stepped closer. Close enough that he could smell her perfume. "And because I think you’re going to need all the help you can get."

She reached up. Adjusted his collar. A familiar gesture that he suspected was meant to be intimate.

"Be careful, Mr. Halden. You’ve made some powerful enemies."

"I know."

"Good." She patted his chest. "Then I don’t need to worry."

She turned and walked away.

Emeric watched her go.

Then he left the Guild.

---

The night air was cold by the time he was done with the guild.

He stood outside for a moment, breathing in the cold air.

Someone wanted him dead. Someone with resources and connections. Someone who knew how to use the Guild against him.

He didn’t know who. Not yet. But he would find out.

He started walking home.

---

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[NEW OBJECTIVE: INVESTIGATE THE PIERROT BROKER]

[REWARD: UNKNOWN]

[SYSTEM NOTE: YOU ARE BEING HUNTED. STAY ALERT. TRUST NO ONE COMPLETELY. AND PROTECT YOUR TARGET AT ALL COSTS.]

---

He dismissed the notification.

He had a party, he had a lead and a plan.

He just needed to survive long enough to see it through.

The notice was posted on the guild’s bulletin as he was leaving.

Emeric saw it when he got to the lobby at the Guild. A crowd had gathered around the main board. Vessels. Clerks. Even a few civilians. All of them staring at the same piece of parchment.

He pushed through.

[MISSING VESSELS — REWARD FOR INFORMATION]

[BEERAN’S BLADES — C-RANK PARTY]

[LAST SEEN: THREE DAYS AGO]

[LAST KNOWN LOCATION: UNKNOWN RIFT — NORTHERN HILLS]

[STATUS: MISSING — PRESUMED DECEASED]

[ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR WHEREABOUTS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE GUILD IMMEDIATELY.]

[REWARD: 5,000 GUILD CREDITS FOR VERIFIABLE INFORMATION LEADING TO THEIR RECOVERY.]

[BY ORDER OF THE GUILD MASTER]

Emeric read it twice.

His jaw tightened.

He knew where they were. He knew they weren’t coming back. He knew the rift had closed behind him, sealing their bodies inside.

But he couldn’t say that. Not without implicating himself.

He turned and walked away.

Across the city, in a lavish estate in the Pleasure district, Garrick Finn was drinking.

The room was extravagantly decorated with silk drapes, a gold trim and a marble hearth. Servants moved silently, refilling glasses, carrying trays of food ordered by their patrons and music played from a corner—a harpist, young and pretty, her fingers dancing over the strings.

Naked women danced on display for everyone to see.

Garrick sat in the center of it all.

He was a large man. Broad-shouldered. Muscular. His face was handsome in a brutal sort of way— with a sharp jaw and cold eyes. He had a scar that ran from his temple to his chin. He wore fine clothes, with a sword at his hip that cost more than most people earned in a year.

Two women lounged against him. One on each arm. They were beautiful. Young.

They laughed at everything he said. They touched his chest. His arms. They whispered in his ears.

He enjoyed the attention.

He always did.

But tonight, his eyes were cold.

A man stood before him. Nervous. Shifting his weight from foot to foot. A subordinate. One of many who worked for House Finn.

"You have news?" Garrick said.

"Yes, my lord."

"Then speak."

The man swallowed. "We’ve been asking questions. Following leads. The last person to see your brother alive was a clerk at the Vessel Guild."

"And?"

"She said he was involved in an altercation. A few days before the party disappeared."

Garrick’s eyes narrowed. "With who?"

"A new Vessel. A noble. Recently registered."

"Name."

The man hesitated.

"Name," Garrick repeated. His voice was colder now.

"Emeric Halden, my lord."

Garrick was quiet for a moment.

Then he laughed.

It was not a pleasant sound.

"Halden," he said. "The Unblessed one. The failure who married the crippled Mage."

"Yes, my lord."

Garrick sat forward. The women on his arms shifted, sensing the change in his mood. He ignored them.

"My brother," he said slowly, "was a C-rank Vessel. He had a party. He had experience. And you’re telling me he disappeared after an altercation with a nobody?"

"That’s what the clerk said, my lord."

Garrick stood.

The women fell away. The servants stopped moving. Even the harpist stopped playing.

He walked to the man. Stood over him. Looked down.

"Find him."

"My lord?"

"Find Emeric Halden. Bring him to me." He paused. "I want to ask him some questions."

The man bowed. "Yes, my lord."

He turned and hurried out.

Garrick watched him go.

Then he smiled.

"Lord Halden," he murmured. "Let’s see what you have to say for yourself."