Chapter 49 – Surprise Admission
"Why me?" SJ asked, her voice a higher octave than usual.
Galvon laughed. Natalie smiled, and SJ frowned.
"You may be an Ambassador of Killic, but we are all aware of your pastime." The comment came from Galvon, not Natalie. SJ could have accepted Natalie potentially making a statement along these lines, but not Galvon. She had never met him, spoken to him, or even known he existed until today.
"Sorry?"
"Don't be so naive," Galvon said. "You are a trusted confidant of the Chancellor, an assassin and external to the city, yet you hold the support of some of the most powerful beings the city has. You took down the head of the Bank of Amathera here in the city. You ensured Jelart's removal from District 3. You have influence beyond the majority of the tower members and even the noble families of the city. Many of whom have been here for generations. Your actions haven't gone unnoticed."
SJ was in panic mode. Galvon's comments may have been true, but how and why was he aware, and if they were aware of her profession, then why was nothing done about it? She had performed various assassinations across the city.
"I can see from the look on your face that you don't understand and are now questioning how you can be standing in the head jailor's office and not be thrown into a cell for some of the things you have done." Galvon paused dramatically as ice ran down SJ's back. "Simple, your actions are those of a professional, not a murderer, not a deviant out killing for pleasure. You are ordered in your actions; your commitment to the truth goes unchallenged. Yes, many may say it's a grey area, but I don't know anyone who doesn't float in such areas most of their lives. Morals mean more than words, and yours have always been guided."
"Of all the dung-eating trolls of Amathera, how does he even know about you?" Dave said, his voice as full of surprise as SJ's.
SJ couldn't respond even if she had wanted to; her thoughts were scattered and chaotic.
"It's no different from thieves. Not all thieves are bad; some use their trade to help others, not just to profit for themselves. Some fighters kill indiscriminately, and there are clerics who worship the dead. The moral complexity of a being tells the truth behind who they really are. It's not clear-cut from the profession a being has. Your actions have always been selfless."
SJ knew that wasn't entirely true; most of her actions and quests as an assassin had offered direct rewards and bonuses. Not that she did them purely for the coin and often did turn down quests that she believed morally tainted.
There were no words SJ could string together in response to Galvon's revelation. If anything, it not only sent the absolute fear of God into her but also destroyed her persona and the careful actions she always undertook. If those in the tower were aware of her to such a degree, then who else was within the city? Her breathing started to come in shorter breaths as the panic rose in her chest. The walls of Galvon's office seemed to close in on her, and she suddenly felt very vulnerable and, in all honesty, scared.
"Calm down," Dave said, his tone back to normal, no snark, no surprise, his controlled and caring tone that she had come to recognise.
SJ breathed deeply, attempting to gather herself. She hadn't even noticed Natalie grab her elbow and guide her to a seat. It took her several moments to regain her equilibrium. She slowly looked up from where she was now sitting, confused and concerned.
"How do you know so much about me?"
Galvon had moved to sit behind his desk, and he leaned back, lifting his huge feet up and placing them on the corner of his desk. SJ was sure it groaned under their weight.
"Where do you think all the beings who have been brought to task by your actions end up?" Galvon asked.
"I thought they were dealt with by the Illithid?"
"Yes, many are, but I still receive full reports. I am, after all, the head jailor and second in line."
"Second in line?" SJ was genuinely confused by the comment.
"You aren't aware of the military structure of the city, are you? General Crawford is our de facto leader, and I, as the head jailor, am his direct replacement if anything were to happen to him."
That revelation was almost as shocking as the fact that this massive ogre was the natural replacement for General Crawford.
"My official rank is Colonel, although my positional title is what I go by."
"I had no idea," SJ stammered, absolutely shocked at discovering that Asterfal had an ogre as a colonel. Her only previous dealings with an ogre had been the atrocity Bordon. The city's complexity and its nature continually surprised SJ.
Natalie sat with a slight smile; SJ wasn't sure if she was amused or caring from her expression. It was controlled to such a degree.
"I need to understand the structure of the guard," SJ said honestly.
"I'm sure Natalie can fill you in on all the details. For now, we have more important things to discuss. We are," Galvon spread his arm, "unable to deal with the Chief if it is her henchmen behind this scheme. You, on the other hand, are able to. You don't fall under the same directive as the city. You are an outsider after all. Yes, I know you're a resident and have a home here, but your political allegiances lie in Killic. We all know that you would defend Killic before anything else if it came down to it. Even if the chancellor requested you not to. None of us is naive about understanding your roots and loyalties. You've come a long way since you first arrived in the city, and I have never known any being external to the politics of Asterfal that has ever had the influence that you have. The chancellor doesn't just listen to or meet with every being that asks for his audience, never mind that he took the extraordinary step of visiting Killic. A large part of that would have been because of your influence."
The revelations kept coming, and SJ was again at a loss for words.
"Zigferd is one of our closest, if not closest, allies in the south, but that still doesn't compensate for your position and why it came about."
Galvon mentioning Zigferd in such a casual manner meant that Galvon must know him. He had never mentioned him in any of their conversations, which surprised SJ.
"I still don't know how?" SJ said quietly.
Natalie chuckled, looking at her friend; this time, it was genuine mirth. "You really can be so blind at times. Why do you think the chancellor has asked you to perform tasks on his behalf? It's not because he doesn't want them dealt with by the city; it's because the city can't deal with them."
"Why can't they?"
Natalie looked at Galvon.
"I don't think you will be able to," Galvon stated, reading her thoughts.
"I can at least try," Natalie said as she turned back to SJ.
"What I'm about to tell you is only known by a few. The senior members of the council and the officers of the guard. No other beings are aware. Beneath the chancellor's cham..." Natalie gasped as she winced in pain. She took a deep breath before trying again. "In the chance..." This time, she let out a groan as she clasped her head, a bead of sweat instantly forming on her brow.
"Didn't think so," Galvon said, nodding his head. "Our oaths are limiting as to what we can reveal."
SJ knew instantly from Natalie's comment what she was about to try to say. "You're referring to Gallenshaw."
The looks of surprise on Galvon's and Natalie's faces painted a thousand words, as they both gasped in shock at hearing the name.
"You know?" Natalie asked, surprised.
"Yes. I'm aware. I've never seen him but know he exists and have a rough idea of why."
"But how?" Galvon asked, genuinely intrigued. "It's something we can't discuss even among ourselves."
"I have my means," SJ smiled back, at last feeling as though she had some control back in the way the conversation had been going.
"Then you know the history?" Natalie asked.
"I believe I do, yes. I know the Chief is directly linked to it and am aware she may have details that would cause catastrophic damage to the city, which has kept her free to reign terror on the streets." This was a slight exaggeration, as SJ wasn't fully aware, but it didn't harm her to state it. "It's all linked to the Gallen..."
"Please don't say the name," Galvon interjected.
"To him, the Chief and a powerful being known only as the Master."
As the final word left her mouth, Galvon sprang from his chair. For a being the size he was, the speed at which he moved came as a shock as he stood upright. "You know of the Master?"
"I do."
"There is no other being in the city who fills me with more dread than that abomination," Galvon slowly sat again, his face still dark with anger.
SJ was situated in the middle of two sides of the city. She worked in the dark of the streets, while the tower stood with its hands tied in the light. Yet, she was aware of as much, if not more, than some of them due to her ties to Fas. SJ hoped they didn't know about him, except for the notoriety his trade name, Carlito, brought. The last thing she needed was her friend to be drawn into this; his actions hadn't always been morally justified, and she was pretty sure that they would have to be dealt with if they were. Not that he wasn't already involved with the Chief and her quest from the guild, but at least she needed to ensure that she kept the separation here.
"It's a good job the Illithid can't read your mind," Dave said. "You'd be the biggest compromise of so many if they could."
I'm not sure I enjoy knowing as much as I do, even in the loosest terms I am aware of, SJ thought.
"You have always been in unique positions. You're an anomaly after all."
Dave's matter-of-fact response really didn't fill SJ with much warmth. All the things she was involved in and tied to. Aletheia, Nexis, Fas, the fae dark-elf conspiracy, and Gavia. There was so much that was still unresolved.
"From what I know, I can't deal with the Chief alone," SJ said flatly as she returned to the conversation at hand.
"Perhaps, perhaps not," Galvon said, still regaining his composure from his outburst. "But if anyone has the means, I'm pretty sure you could find a way."
The confidence in his words felt uncomfortable. How could he be so sure of her and that she could deal with a problem the city had owned for centuries?
SJ felt a vibration. She called her communication stone to her hand as she excused herself and walked towards the large window in Galvon's office that overlooked the tower gardens.
"Hello," SJ said, answering.
"Hi, SJ," Isavil's voice came over the stone. "Just to let you know, we will be back soon. Petunia wishes for you to come to dinner when we arrive if you're free."
"Of course," SJ replied. "I'm in a meeting now, but will check in later."
"No problem. I have some things I need to talk to you about as well, now we are out of earshot of Zigferd," Isavil chuckled as the stone fell silent.
Natalie and Galvon just smiled as SJ turned back around.
"What?" SJ asked.
Galvon just shook his head in amusement. "You're friends with one of, if not the strongest, clerics on the continent, who wants you to go around for dinner, and yet you don't fully appreciate the unique position you are in. If anyone has the contacts and sway to bring change, it's you."
The words bring change had been spoken frequently in relation to her, since her arrival on Amathera, and they still carried the same weight of uncertainty they had when she had first heard them. It was probably worse than being called the 'truth seeker' by Aletheia.
"What did you want me to do?" SJ asked.
"Ideally, if at all possible the perfect solution would be to remove the Chief and her henchmen. It's something I have dreamt about for a very long time. The Master, unfortunately, is a different story. I'm not sure any being can compare to his power. If their influence were removed from the city once and for all, things would change for the better."
"Wouldn't their removal just leave a gap for another to take?"
"Perhaps, perhaps not, and even if they did, they are unlikely to have the contacts or influence that the Chief does. She is the greatest threat this city has ever faced and remains so."
SJ already had her assassination as a task from Navina, and now the Tower guard was stating a similar bidding from her. I wonder who created the quest? SJ thought.
"I don't know, and I'm not sure we will ever know," Dave replied. "Although the more I hear, the more suspicious I get about the Tower being involved somewhere along the line."
Perhaps. The thought had crossed SJ's mind; there was just something about everything and the interconnection that made her feel very uneasy.
"Can I ask what will happen with the money from Tarquin that was recouped? I have friends who were affected by the scheme and are at a loss."
"It will be dealt out once we have the details of those who invested," Natalie said. "Although the tiny amount we have recouped won't stretch far. The ledger we found didn't have much detail in it, so we are unsure without beings coming forward."
SJ still had the ledger in her inventory and called it to her hand. "Here, this may help," she said, handing it to Natalie.
Natalie raised an eyebrow in surprise, accepting the book. "I won't ask," she said, shaking her head.
"Best not to. Anyway, I think I've been here long enough. I'll take what you have said and think about it."
"Please do. I'm pretty sure that a hefty reward would be coming for anyone who managed to bring the Chief down. Even if not publicly announced," Galvon stated as he rose, offering SJ his massive hand.
SJ took it nervously, gently shaking it. "It's been a pleasure to finally meet you," Galvon smiled. "I hope next time it may be under better circumstances."
"I need to head back as well," Natalie said.
As SJ and Natalie walked through the jail, they didn't speak. SJ was still attempting to process everything, and Natalie was deep in her own thoughts. Once they left the jail, Natalie excused herself as SJ exited through one of the side doors out into the large garden area of the Tower. The area was pristine, with perfectly maintained shrubs and bushes. Low, swooping trees and brightly coloured flora. SJ found herself sitting heavily on an empty bench when she did. The sun was still up, and it cast its warmth down as she turned her face to look up at it. It was nice to be out of jail. The whole time she had been inside, she had felt nervous.
I'm not sure what to think now, SJ thought honestly.
"You have your quest; that is your goal. The added consequences or bonuses that it may create are just that. I doubt they will be defined until the Chief is no more."
And then that leaves the Master. What is he likely to do? I've never seen so much sheer fear towards a being.
"I have been thinking about that," Dave said. "And I know you won't be happy with my suggestion."
Go on, SJ thought cautiously.
"Petunia. If there is one being that you know who even potentially has the ability to deal with a vampire of his supposed strength, it would be her."
SJ had to stop herself from replying aloud. No. I'm not getting Petunia involved in my schemes.
"They aren't your schemes. These are larger than you alone."
I saw Petunia's reaction when Gallenshaw was mentioned; there is no way she would consider getting involved.
"You don't know unless you ask," Dave said.
Perhaps, but for now I have the Chief to deal with, and that's still an uncertainty. We don't even know if this immortality concept will draw her out.
"If what you read in the book and what Fas has told you about her dream of immortality and knowing how fixated elves can become on things, if she is, then she will be drawn to it."
What do you mean by elves being fixated?
"It's a racial trait. Some call it a hindrance; others, a help. Once they are fixated on something, they will not stop until they achieve it. There are stories of elven mages who have spent their entire lives travelling Amathera, searching for new spells. Others have become perfectionists in their professions to such a degree that they even stretch the Master concept. You have witnessed the passion of Fran training her mages, Isavil and her knowledge of trading, Larianco and her wish for peace. They may not always appear on the surface as fixations, but they really are."
I wouldn't call those fixations, but professionalism.
"That's where many don't understand the elven psyche. Look at Isavil and her wish to marry Zigferd. She would have had every opportunity to marry another after his refusal. Yet, she didn't; she always held out for the chance that her dream would come true."
That's ridiculous, we could say that everyone has fixations then. Not just elves.
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Elves are renowned, though, for their persistence."
SJ sat in silence, watching some bellpops buzz between the flowers. The scene reminded her of Little Stuart. Her memories drew back to finding him with his siblings in Killic. As she stared at the insects, her mind wandered. This world had so much to answer for.
