Chương 105: Book 2 Chapter 57 - Learning The Truth

Kane had come to an understanding with each of the three factions. Officially, he told them he was the baron's eyes and ears, keeping a watch on things. He didn't mess with them, and they didn't mess with him. They let him come and go as he pleased, not that they could have stopped him if they wanted, as evidenced by their exit from Lord Goren's territory earlier that night.

That tentative truce allowed him to come and go anywhere in the city, even feeding each of the three factions information when it served him to do so. He knew each of their plans, and they had even extracted verbal promises from him that he would not interfere, and would not help the other side. That was fine by him. Once they were near the Norse storage warehouses, Kane led Shian up a ladder of a nearby building to the roof. The Heniton faction would be along any minute now.

"Thanks for agreeing to see me again tonight," he started out. She smiled in response. A light, gentle smile that caused a happy little ache in his heart.

"Thanks for inviting me," she replied.

"What are we doing on this roof?" He pointed to the Norse warehouse.

"Keep an eye on that building. While we wait, I wanted to… thank you. For the way that you've treated me during my time here in Easton. Most people are scared of me, probably due to my line of work. You're different, for some reason, and I appreciate it." She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes.

"You're welcome. Why does it sound like you're leaving, though?"

"I most likely am," he confirmed.

"My job here is just about finished, after which I'll return to Portish. If you're open to it though, I'd love to maybe come back from time to time. To see you." She blinked rapidly, then looked away shyly.

"Oh. That uh… I'd be okay with that, too." His heart soared. Step one complete. Now for the hard part: telling her who he really was, and what he was really doing here in Easton. He suspected she kind of already knew.

"What exactly is the job that you've almost finished?" she queried.

"Baron Norshod hired you?" He nodded.

"James Norshod contracted with the Silver Serpent Clan. Once my mission is complete, and the contract is fulfilled, I'll be heading back. Shouldn't be too much longer now, perhaps a few weeks."

"Oh, right," Shian said, whirling to face him directly.

"About the clan. Did you find out why they attacked my shops in Portish?" Kane flinched.

"That was Councilwoman Undril's doing. My boss. It wasn't anything personal, just a little welcome note for your house's arrival in Portish. A way to inform you that the clan is in Portish. She does it to establish the proper pecking order." Shian's eyes narrowed at the explanation. Kane scratched his head. Maybe he should have worded it better.

"She did it when no one was inside," he hurriedly added.

"No one was hurt."

"Says you," she replied accusingly.

"You should have seen that poor shop owner's face. He was definitely scarred emotionally." She turned away, facing the building he had pointed out moments ago, and he relaxed somewhat. She didn't seem too upset by Councilwoman Undril's actions, which was probably a good sign. After a pause, she asked, "And what exactly do you do for the clan, Kane?" Her voice had an edge to it that wasn't there before, and Kane's heart fell in response. Maybe he had misread the situation, and she was more angry than he'd realized.

Honesty was paramount here. His main goal tonight was to find out if he might have some kind of future with Shian, to see if it was even worth pursuing. If she couldn't accept him for who he was, then that was enough of an answer for him.

"I am a specialist for Councilwoman Undril."

"Which means?" He breathed in deeply, then pointed to the warehouse again.

"Let me show you. In fact, here they come now." Her eyes moved to the warehouse again, and she squinted in the darkness.

"That group of armed guards? Who are they?" He was once again enthralled by her complete lack of fear in the face of what many would consider a perilous situation. They were out at night in a city torn apart by a three-way feud, and now here came a group of armed men with obvious ill intent, and she hadn't even flinched. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"House Heniton's faction," he replied, leaning his elbows against the top of the roof's wall, next to her.

"That is one of House Norse's warehouses, and they are here to raze it." Shouting erupted down below as the Norse family guards stationed at the warehouse spotted the incoming group. Fighting quickly broke out. Shian made a move toward the ladder, but Kane laid a gentle restraining hand on her arm.

"It isn't safe down there right now." He saw the fierce look in her eyes, the lack of fear, so he added, "We shouldn't get involved." She glanced toward his hand on her arm, but didn't flinch or pull away. She locked eyes with him for a moment, then exhaled in resignation and nodded. She returned to his side at the edge of the roof to watch the fighting down below. He noticed that she watched every detail of the fight with an intense look of concentration and analysis in her eyes.

He was more and more intrigued by her personality, charm, and her general way of being. Eventually the fighting below died down, and the Heniton group fled. House Norse's guards had successfully repelled the attackers, and the warehouse remained intact. Shian looked back up at him inquisitively, with a hint of suspicion.

"How did you know they would come here tonight?" It was time to come clean.

"I know the plans of all three factions. I… even helped coordinate some of their movements." She studied him, a look of dawning realization in her eyes.

"Baron Norshod hired you to…?"

"To help him regain a firm hand in ruling Easton," he explained.

"The noble houses here had grown too comfortable, too powerful, and his hold on them was slipping. He hired the Silver Serpent Clan to help him stabilize his rule."

"So you what?" she asked, her face growing more astonished and shocked with each passing moment.

"Pitted some powerful families against each other so they would focus on fighting each other instead of standing up to Baron Norshod?"

"Essentially," he confirmed, nodding.

"There's no stopping it, now. The situation is too far along. They'll kill off some of each others' powerful house retainers and guards, whittling each other down until they're practically begging James Norshod to step back in and mediate for them. His tenure will remain secure. The mission will be complete, and the clan's contract will be fulfilled." He let out a mental sigh of relief at having said his piece. She knew who he was now – what kind of work he did. How she reacted next would be telling.

He held his breath without realizing it, waiting for her response. He watched her, hoping for the best, but he could already tell from her face that his hope was in vain. She was clearly disgusted with him.

"How could you?!" She asked accusingly, her voice rising in pitch.

"You turned people against each other, knowing they'd kill each other, just to fulfill some stupid contract?" He stiffened. The contract was sacred. It was the clan law. It was how the clan survived, and was able to afford saving kids like him from the streets, how they paid for his magical instruction at the academy. Some jobs were dirty, and the Silver Serpent Clan was paid well to do them.

"My loyalties are to the clan," he replied.

"I do what is best for the clan. If the clan accepts a contract, it is my duty to see it through, whatever it may entail." Her jaw dropped in shock.

"Regardless of what it entails? Are you serious? You don't even think about it first, how it might affect other people?" He shrugged.

"It's not my place. I serve the clan." Yes. This is who he was. The full truth. It felt liberating to lay it all out there, and he stood taller now as a weight lifted from his shoulders. If she couldn't accept him like this, he was wasting his time. He had been a fool to think this might go somewhere. The clan was his only family, the only thing that mattered. He turned the conversation back on her.

"You've never killed someone?" He knew she had. She had openly admitted to killing Lord Grivalt. She pulled back, hesitating.

"Only those that deserve it."

"Oh? And who are you to decide who deserves it? Lord Grivalt had a family, you know that. His death affected Baron Norshod, but that didn't stop you."

"Lord Grivalt was a pig," she spat out vehemently. He could tell he had hit a nerve. He wondered what the man had done to her to earn that level of vitriol in her response.

"He attacked me, and I defended myself. He threatened innocent people, and I protected them." He nodded.

"Good, you have a code. So do I. I serve the clan. Whatever the clan needs, for me that is what is right." She shook her head in disgust, and he could tell that all hope for a future with her was gone. Shian Yountal acted differently than other people sometimes, but deep down she was just like everyone else. Only the other members of the clan truly understood his perspective. Only they had been saved by the clan as he had.

He felt a sharp ache in his chest at the loss of a future he'd been secretly hoping and yearning for, but he pushed the ache down, ignoring it. Stupid emotional pain.

"You disgust me," she said a second later.

"I can't believe I was feeling… that I thought… Ugh. Whatever." She stormed off the roof, descending the ladder. He let her go. His mind filled with clarity as soon as she was gone and he was away from her intoxicating presence. She was one of them. She was a very influential person here in Easton, part of the upper class, and in order for the contract to truly be fulfilled, he needed to deal with her as well.

He couldn't have her working to unravel all of his work here after he was gone, leading to an unsatisfied customer down the line. His mind filled with cold, calculating thoughts. Now that he knew where Shian Yountal stood, everything became crystal clear, and he knew what he needed to do. Elsa hadn't yet discovered if House Yountal was powerful enough to be untouchable politically, but even if they were, he realized he might know a way around it.

He was already formulating a plan to deal with Shian Yountal for good, and he needed to go fill in Baron Norshod on the details.