As you approach the canal, sidling up Baronial Way, you notice that guards line the streets of Temple Way leading to the main city gates and up to Punishment Square. They stand at attention, as if expecting a visitor.
Kane pauses out of sight to see what is going on.
Khom-Bei rushes on, herding Thragga in front of him and keeping up a constant stream of patter:"Quickly, now. More stables to clean, more horses to feed, you wasted enough time watching Lord Valkris for one day."
As you watch amidst the crowds on Baronial Way, a procession makes it way slowly up the hill from the main gates up Temple Way. The procession is an honor guard of Spectral Legionnaries escorting a tall black coach bearing the royal livery of the Tol Nedra: a blood red vulture on a black field. A platoon of Urag mercenaries trot along behind the coach.
Thragga irritably bustles along as Khom-Bei herds him, looking like he wants to swat the Northerling.
Brion says to Kane, "Looks like an emissary."
Kane says, "Possibly. Any way we'll need to lie low until the guards follow them inside." He waits to see who emerges from the coach.
Khom-Bei watches the situation developing and turns into a dark alleyway to allow the procession to pass. "Thragga, wait here until they pass."
A voice calls, "Make way! Make way!" as the procession passes you and wheels into the square. From your vantage point on Baronial Way, perhaps thirty yards away, under the eaves of an old house, you can see the scene clearly as the procession enters the well-lit square. The black coach pulls up before the Old Keep and the honor guard of Sathanids dismounts. The Urag mercenaries assume a guard position about the square.
The door to the coach is opened, and a tall woman in elegant black silks and riding boots emerges. The torchlight of the square glints off the spun golden curls of her hair. Lord Valkris steps forward and offers a low bow, then kisses her hand.
Kane recalls that hair so well. It smelled of lilacs and summer when she lived. Merith. He lets out a low growl.
From this distance, you cannot hear the words exchanged, but this woman is clearly superior in the hierarchy to Valkris.
Brion scratches his head. "Never seen her before."
Thragga eyes Kane warily. He seems to recognize her as well.
Kane says, "I have." as he scratches a scar on his right cheek. "I wonder what mischief goes on in Camars this day."
The royal emissary turns and flashes a toothsome, fanged smile to the crowd. She is lovely to behold, even in undeath.
Thragga grunts. "Someone who needs killing, Kane?"
Kane looks towards Thragga then looks away.
The Vorghol boy, Valkris, exchanges pleasantries with Lady Merith, showing the gallows and impaling spikes set about the square.
Kane speaks as to himself, "I wonder what she is doing here and what this means for Camars."
Brion says, "By the sweet Lady of Healing, she's hot." He studies the Vorghol woman admiringly.
Khom-Bei says, "I would have to guess otherwise, Brion. Probably the coldest wench you would ever bed."
Kane says, "Yes, beautiful like a cobra, and as deadly."
Brion says, "When she was alive, I mean..."
Kane suddenly turns away from the scene.
Thragga says, "I say we kill her."
Khom-Bei says, "I say we should get out of this town as quickly as we can."
Kane fingers his sword as if he is considering the two choices.
Thragga looks towards Kane and back to Khom-Bei, silently.
Thragga says, after a few heartbeats, "I think she is unfinished business, Northerling."
Brion smirks, finally getting it. "Kane! You dog! You and her...well, that's something!"
Khom-Bei says, "I see that, Thragga, but she could be the business that finishes us if we attack her in this place."
Kane says, "Some business is better left unfinished."
Khom-Bei says, "I agree, Kane. And we have other business that is unfinished elsewhere."
Kane says, "As soon as it is clear we should make for the canal."
The spectral honor guard escorts the lady about the square, watchful of all who approach.
Khom-Bei nods silently and turns to watch the street for an opening to the canal.
Kane says, "Best we wait till Valkris and Merith go inside the keep. That should draw most of the guard away."
A young Tobon approaches as you lurk near the mouth of the alley. "Psst. Sirs, may I speak with you?"
Kane turns and looks at the Tobon, then says lightly: "I think you just did."
The Tobon opens his cloak, showing a variety of dangling objects. "Fine talismans, sirs, from far lands. Brought from distant Mazirin by my own nuncle, sirs."
Kane says, "I have no need but perhaps my young friend here does."
Merith indicates a tall, guillotine-like device on display in the square.
Valkris explains in gestures, then points to a nearby Gholibin servant. Aghast, the Gholibin shrieks in terror. The honor guards seize the small Gholibin about the shoulders and hustle him forward.
The Tobon holds out the talismans to Brion. Brion scoffs. "Look, kid, move along or my Urag friend there will eat you."
Kane says, "Or perhaps yonder Gholibin could use one."
Merith smiles at the victim. She sets her hand on his forehead. The effect seems to calm the Gholibin as he is led to demonstrate the execution device.
The Tobon says, with the cynicism of someone who has seen much bloodletting, "Too late for him."
The Gholibin is strapped in, his head positioned just in the path of the blade. Merith smiles cruelly. Valkris rocks forward on his feet.
Thragga sneers at the Tobon. "I am not his friend, but I will eat you anyway, Tobon."
Merith seems to be positively enjoying the display.
The Tobon says, "No harm meant, just trying to feed my poor sick old nuncle, sir!"
The blade is long and wickedly serrated, intended to fall and split the victim's head like a melon. Valkris steps forward and reaches for the long lever that triggers the falling blade.
Thragga takes a menacing step towards the young Tobon.
Kane says, "Easy friend, no harm done. The young Tobon here is just trying to make a living." He then says to the Tobon, "Better be on your way boy. Apparently this is not the friendliest of crowds."
The pale boy throws the lever. The curved blade whistles down with a horrid noise you can hear clearly from here. The device bisects the Gholibin's head, splitting it neatly down the center. The small body kicks once in reflex and is still.
Lady Merith rises, gracefully, strolls forward, extends her long fingers into the center of the bloody mass, and licks daintily at the blood and gore on her hand.
Brion gulps."I take it back, that part about her being hot."
Merith snacks on the dead creature's blood. Vorghol just love the taste of Gholibin blood, but cannot sustain themselves on it.
Thragga hisses, "What you loved in her is gone, Kane."
The Tobon hawker of wares has moved on, to sell his talismans elsewhere.
Khom-Bei turns to face Kane, realization dawning; "My wife died at the hands of the Dark Ones, Kane, but this is...simply unthinkable."
The Lady sated, the guards unstrap the small body, which is dumped into the canal unceremoniously. Nearby the lip of the canal, a female Gholibin servant stares emptily into the dark waters as the body sinks and is swept away.
Kane says, "I realized that long ago my friend. The face just gets to me sometimes."
Brion sighs, fingering the strings of his lute under his cloak. "I should write a song about her."
Valkris turns to enter the Old Keep before Merith.
Thragga says, "She needs killing. And so does that boy."
The Sathanid honor guards fall into an escort around the royal emissary.
The Urag mercenaries fall to fill their places in the square, not welcome inside the Keep itself.
Kane says, "You are right, my friend. But I'm not sure that today is the day. Do you forget about Verraine?"
Thragga says, "No."
The fat Urag in charge bellows out order in Urag-ta. He kicks at one of his soldiers who has stooped to drink from the flooded and fast-moving canal. The Urag seem sloppy in discipline but their fat Captain bellows orders at them and they snap to sentry positions.
The honor guards escort Lady Merith and Lord Valkris within the bulk of the massive Old Keep, once, long ago, the great palace of the first Kings of Tol Nedra. The massive brass doors slam shut behind them.
Brion says, "A royal emissary, and on good terms too, by the looks of it. I wonder if Valkris is the new King's Claw?"
On the edge of the canal, the Gholibin widow weeps tears into the dark waters.