Chương 177: As is my due

"Fortune, while how this came to be is completely beyond me, know that I am ever grateful. And whether it was plan or happenstance, praise be to Knowledge as well," Kite thought, sending a silent prayer to the goddesses as well as anyone else who might have had a hand in this most serendipitous of events.

Across the table from where he sat, Little Crow was just finishing up the telling of his trip from the capital, the chance conversation with a wandering priest of Knowledge which had in turn led him to meet up with and join Soul. While she seemed to be content in letting the smiling assassin be the one to handle most of the storytelling, Soul did interject some protest every once in a while when her unsolicited companion went a bit too far in his embellishments.

"-and you should have seen it, Kite; little Raven doing her wobbling utmost to match our dear blessed of Warrior here as she went through her meditative katas. The recording I managed to snatch of that put me thoroughly in the grace of your aunties for years to come. I think I have it here somewhere," Little Crow said while he began to rummage around his dimensional bags.

"Later. Focus," Soul finally interjected, apparently feeling that the thirteenth sidetrack of the conversation was one too many. Ignoring the mock wounded expression of her companion, she continued.

"We got the message from the Adventure Society and set out immediately. While your compound is nice enough, that's not where my opportunities lie. Tell us about the sects and these troubles. And where is Dragonfly? Crow and Dove said that you left together."

"As for Dragonfly, she is currently out and trying to protect our people. Run counter-interference, as my teachers back at Gauntlet would have called it," Kite explained.

"And as for the troubles… Well, it is a bit of a story, albeit one with more frustration than excitement." He still did his best to summarize what he knew, from Walker's tellings of the first hints of the conflict to his and Dragonfly's intervention in the attempted blockade and the subsequent game of attrition that they were currently embroiled in.

"-and while the challenges initially worked as a way to strike back at their silver-rankers and keep them out of things for a while, their elders have started to make themselves scarce these days, instead content with throwing more and more initiates and disciples at our operations and knowing that three silvers we have had available won't be able to be everywhere at once. All of this still feels surreal.

I can feel that the sects would just love to get a reason to move against us with lethal intent, yet they haven't so far, instead playing by their own twisted sense of honor in striking downwards within their 'rules'," Kite finished, his exasperation clear.

"I would have imagined that they would have just made up a reason by now. This whole conflict just feels odd. While I know that the concept of a guild might be an eyesore to their national pride, we haven't tried encroaching on their territories, even focusing on contracts which they usually find beneath them."

"I believe that to be a most excellent que for me to make my own contribution," Little Crow said, producing a scroll which he slid across the table to Kite even as he continued his explanations.

"We started to catch wind of very subtle inquiries in regards to you, dear adopted brother, starting just before you returned from your time spent with the task group. While you sure made a splash during your crash of the local dueling rankings, things had begun to settle a bit in the months of your absence, so this broke the pattern.

And when these inquiries were starting to turn into small nudges, hints and suggestions as to direct attention towards you and the guild, I only felt that it was proper to provide some warning. We're family, after all."

"So this may not be limited to local politics?" Kite asked, realization dawning in his expression.

"The players of the capital have started to take note?"

"It would seem so. Or at least someone made them take note," Little Crow confirmed.

"Had it just been some idle rumors or posturing, I would have been content in just sending a message. But with the way things are moving beneath the surface in Heavenward, and a certain contract our family got offered from branch director Temren… Not coming personally and offering my services would have been terribly remiss of me." Seeing the spark of hope ignite even further in Kite's eyes, the assassin held up a hand to forestall him.

"But while I personally would have found no need for it, I am one of the Tengu's crows, part of the main family branch. Part of the reason that we have been able to keep our lofty and neutral position has been our mercenary nature and clear creed. You know that I like you, Kite. What you're doing here is an incredible source of amusement to me, as only the heavens know how many 'he dares?!' that has been uttered in the capital as of late.

But as one of the Tengu's crows, I cannot join this cause without proper payment, and only for a time."

"Then… how much?" Kite asked, trepidation creeping into his voice as he saw the normally smiling man look a lot more serious than usual. So Little Crow told him, and Kite was suddenly very glad for the substantial remunerations stated in his contract with task group Gauntlet. Because he would surely need it in the months to come.

But even while his purse would surely suffer, they also desperately needed more powerful pieces on the metaphorical board, both to keep the sects in check and to enact their plan to break the current state of the equally metaphorical game.

"That… will be manageable," he eventually responded, smile a bit more strained.

"Do you perhaps accept essences, awakening stones or equipment as well?"

"Oh, of course, Kite, of course. The family even pays a premium for certain types too. Among others, we'll buy any potent essence you can get your hands on. If one is to take out something as tough as silvers in as short a time frame as possible, adding some more 'oomph' to a power set is always welcome. And I will see if I can't manage to at least get some kind of family discount or similar concessions from the elders."

"I am ever grateful for your generosity," Kite said, giving a small bow to the man before turning to Soul, trepidation rising once more.

"And you, Soul? What kind of compensation would you ask for to assist us?"

"How many fights can you give me?" The answer was instantaneous, and both Kite and his coffers had to suppress a sigh of relief.

"Hopefully, more than a few. If not against the sects and their elders, then against us. Neither I nor Dragonfly will leave until things are resolved."

"You did say that the elders were hiding like the cowards they are though," Soul noted.

"I haven't come all this way to be disappointed, Pathbreaker."

"We do have some plans to pin down as many of them as possible, which would be only that much easier with the two of you at our side. But that is only the beginning. I have actually sent word to other allies who should be in the region as well. With their help, and now with yours…" he trailed off, smile full of meaning.

"Well, get on with it," Soul said, not one for theatrics. So Kite told her and Little Crow, leaving the latter nodding thoughtfully while Soul… Actually smiled.

"True to form then, Pathbreaker. As long as I can have the Perfected Step sect, I'm in."

"Indeed, the idea won't surprise anyone who knows me. Or of me. But the execution will be a bit different than last time if we are to succeed, hence why Braid and Wander will be of great help," Kite said, his smile mirroring that of the battle-mad celestine.

"And while one shouldn't get too carried away, I will admit that turning the tables and kicking down the door of a sect or three would be greatly satisfying if we can claim victory."

"Report," said the high priestess of Discord after activating a privacy screen in one of the combs keeping her hair in place. Her servant knelt behind her while she kept her face in the same mask of half disinterest, half condescension that she always wore as she regarded the bickering court. Seated only two levels below the king, an outrageous position for someone not even part of the prominent families or sects, she had many an indignant gaze thrown her way during the proceedings.

But it was a place that she had occupied for a long time now, and the squabbles of her lessers did not bother her. She had held the place for years, after all. In fact, they made her rather satisfied as their positioning and scheming just kept furthering her deity's cause.

"From what we could gather, three local sects of the north have so far picked up the threads that were put out as a result of our actions here in the capital. They smell an opportunity to garner favor with their betters, and are putting pressure on the guild as we speak. It will probably crumble in time, but as they are keeping things public to maximize their legitimacy and as a show of force, things are moving slowly.

I have taken the liberty to prepare additional options to speed things along through our contacts in the church of Deceit and Disguise. They will stand ready to act should the council wish it."

"I see. I approve of your initiative. So far, I will cast my vote with patience. Better to choke down the weeds to an anticlimactic, inglorious end rather than risk making them martyrs among sympathizers."

"As you wish, high priestess." As her servant faded back into the background, the priestess started questing outward with her perception once more. While the use of her spirit would be limited among the golds keeping watch over their silvers, it was easy to forget and overlook the more mundane kind of gathering information. With her many powers improving traits like sight and hearing, the priestess could even weasel her way through a surprising amount of privacy screens and similar enchantments.

"It would seem that things are indeed moving towards a champion being assigned to challenge the king within a few years," she thought as she took in the varied conversations, adding the information to the great wealth of knowledge that she had tucked away in her perfect memory. She was unsure if the conspirators in question knew of the plans themselves, but for someone well-versed in reading the patterns of her deity's garden, the precursor signs were there.

"My dear majesty doesn't get to wet his blade that often these days. It should be a welcome distraction. I'll see what I can do to speed up the process. A power vacuum after a failed attempt is always fertile grounds for our cause, after all," she thought, already forming plans.

"Let the weeds wither in the periphery up in the north. They won't even know their insignificance to our cause as they fall back into obscurity."

"So, there won't be anyone coming from the Perfected Step sect?" Elder Leaping Tide of the Mirrored Mountain sect asked his counterpart, as Elder Eastern Dusk Song sat down across the table from him at the noodle shop in one of Convergence's finer districts.

He activated a privacy screen built into his elder's medallion, and the shimmering sphere soon surrounded them to keep their conversation private, even though the presence of two silver-rankers in sect robes had already put quite the dampener on the atmosphere within the restaurant.

"No. They have been holed up in their sect lately. Haven't you heard? Apparently the Pathbreaker has recruited some old enemy of theirs, and she's apparently enough to have them running scared. Just a single silver though. They'll need plenty more of those to start getting around our numbers."

"Bah. Cowards. I have respect for your Luminous Cloud sect, Elder. But it would seem like Perfected Step is starting to slip. When we're done with handling this eyesore of a guild, we can finally start organizing the next sect tournament between the three of us, and see if Perfected Step has slipped in that regard as well."

"A correction, if you don't mind-""What-""Who-" Both sect elders leapt to their feet the moment the disembodied voice spoke up from the empty chair at their table, and a moment later, a smiling celestine man with a colorful parasol resting at his side appeared in the chair inside the privacy screen. Or at least where the privacy screen had been, as it had burst like a soup bubble the moment the man appeared.

"There are two of us. New silvers, that is. My name is Little Crow Plucks the Moon, and I would like to challenge you to-" The word 'challenge' had barely left his lips before Eastern Dusk Song vanished in a wisp of flame, teleporting away in an instant to leave Leaping Tide looking at the empty space with a clear sense of betrayal in his eyes.

"Oh? Didn't stick around? A shame," Little Crow said, speaking loudly enough that his voice easily carried throughout the room, making this the public spectacle that it was intended to be.

"Well, elder, I suppose it is just you here to address my challenge then. Your people have seemed so keen to find the members of the Autumn Wanderer's guild wherever they may be, so I thought that I'd return the favor. For formality's sake, I shall repeat myself: I challenge you, to a clash of paths. What do you say, elder? Up for a little trading of pointers. Your fellows in both your and the other sects seem to have become very scarce lately.

Scared of fighting some 'outcast trash' as you seem to be so fond of calling us?" From the cornered look in the elder's eyes, the man knew that he was left with few options. While most had initially been keen on teaching the outcasts a few lessons and forcing them out of the conflict, things hadn't worked out too well for the sects in that regard, and most elders seemed keen on staying out of the conflict these days to let the initiates and disciples interfere through sheer numbers.

Most would escape when Kite and the others showed up, but managing to deliver a challenge like this in a public enough setting forced them to a decision point; accept and risk the consequences, or refuse and admit themselves weaker than the outcasts. Running away was definitely more than just skirting the realm of the latter, but it would at least not force the kind of public admittance of actually declining.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Little Crow could see the war inside the other man, and the moment when his internal risk analysis determined that the chance of victory was a better choice than the one which would bruise his ego for certain.

"Not the wisest choice, but at least he's staying true to his path," Little Crow thought as elder Leaping Tide managed to muster some steel in his voice as he delivered a bold response to the challenge. From the feel of the other man's aura, he felt rather assured of the outcome. Not that the elder was objectively bad, just that if he had been good enough to move closer to the heartlands, he probably would have.

"I'll try to put him down gently." Rain pattered on the roof of the guildhall, with the distant thunder of the summer storm echoing occasionally from off in the distance. And Kite… Was doing paperwork.

"It somehow feels like Uncle Walker is volunteering for a lot of these extra sweeps and escorts," he thought with a wry smile as he closed one of the guild's ledgers. His uncle made no secret of which part of leading the guild he actually enjoyed, after all.

Usually, Second Spring picked up the slack when the silver-ranker was absent, but even the bronze-ranker had started to look a bit frazzled after a week of effectively being the acting guild master as Walker had gone out to simultaneously keep an eye on five different teams of the guild during their contracts. In his defense, Walker was the only one with the path able to shoulder the burden of covering such a large area, but Kite had still chosen to step in for a night and let Spring get some rest.

"But I truly don't get why uncle detests this so. With the mind of a silver, these things are easy. Even a bit meditative. It's probably the principle of the thing." He chuckled with amusement at his own thoughts and was just about to start reviewing the next part of the guild's bookkeeping when he froze, the pen hovering perfectly still just a centimeter over the ledger. An aura had touched upon his, the spiritual contact feeling like someone dragging a pinprick of ice through the inside of his spine.

The only reason why Kite hadn't already sprung to his feet ready for battle was the fact that the nudge, aside from the deeply unpleasant sensation of it, had been surprisingly careful. Not in the way of someone trying and failing to sneak past Kite's spiritual defenses either, but in the way of announcing oneself. A greeting. He still spared no time in locating the source through his own aura, having no trouble finding its source on a nearby rooftop.

Seeing the silhouette crouching there in the gloom, only faintly illuminated from the occasional passing light below, Kite still gathered his spirit into readiness before pushing open the window and stepping out into the air while donning the wide-brimmed hat gifted him by Walker to keep the pouring rain away.

Given the current weather, few people were out and about, and none of them had much reason to look up from under their protective umbrella to see the two silver-rankers squaring off against one another, one standing untouched by the rain on panes of force that kept him aloft while the other still crouched on her rooftop, entirely uncaring of the pouring rain that caused her white, almost translucent hair to cling tightly to her head and cheeks.

"Dancer on the Broken River," Kite greeted, his voice soft enough to get drowned out by the soft rumble of the rain hitting streets and rooftops yet loud enough for another silver to hear him.

"Annoying one," River greeted in turn. Standing in front of the adherent of Pain and feeling the strength and sharpness of her aura, ritual scars visible like faint lines on her exposed face, Kite once more felt the resemblance between River and Amica, even if the method and circumstances of their scarring were quite different.

"Why are you here?" Kite asked, and while his voice was carefully moderated to avoid notice, it held no warmth, only wariness.

"We have a common enemy. Ever since the revelation at the fall of the Descending Star sect," River replied, her tone brooking no nonsense as she got straight to the point. And it wasn't hard for Kite to make the connection of who she meant. After all, had it not been for River's presence that day, neither of them would have found the trail of Discord's influence.

"So we might," he agreed, but kept it short. Both knew better than to speak the deity's name out loud. While only Knowledge knew all things known to people, Discord was still a god. And actively drawing the attention of a god that was your adversary felt rather unwise.

"I have found traces of more of them. Here. In the sects." Apparently noticing Kite stiffening in surprise and realization, River continued.

"But the sects' defenses are too thorough. I need a way in and a distraction."

"And thus you come to me?"

"You of all people should know what they did. They need to be punished. And I need to know more." As River spoke, Kite clearly felt the frustration and cold, tight anger in River's aura. And while he knew that it was something she let him perceive, her powerful aura more than adequate to hide the feelings should she wish for it, he took it for what it was; a show of sincerity. But sincere or not, River was still a follower of Pain.

And they had been enemies, and she still should be due to the very nature of her powers. Should be. Because at that moment, Kite was thoroughly reminded that reality and circumstances weren't always as clear cut.

"You can detect them?"

"Yes."

"And catch them?"

"Possibly. Probably."

"And how can I be assured that you will share what you learn from them? Or even better, hand them to me when you have had your answers?"

"I can swear to share, if that pleases you. You can even witness me extracting the information, but I assumed that you are too weak of mind and spirit to stomach it."

"The Adventure Society is quite apt at extracting information," Kite countered, but River only shook her head.

"Are you dense or just blinded by naiveté? What would happen if it was found out that the Adventure Society had imprisoned what are ostensibly 'honorable' members of the local sects that mysteriously vanished from their homes? Even I have a good enough grasp of local politics to see the risks and find them too high. That would be exactly what they want, after all. To sow more spite and conflict. And I will not give more to them if I can avoid it."

While he most assuredly did not like the thought of what River implied, Kite had to give it to her; she had a point. An uncomfortable one, but a point nonetheless. So he let the harder, more jaded parts of himself consider things; the side of himself that he needed to bring out when things were more complicated but decisions needed to be made.

The side born in the conflict with the Fallen Sect back at iron rank, and further tempered through his conflicts and strife ever since, be it when ambushed in a warehouse by four sect initiates, or when he decided to kill disciple Mist as his foes threw honor to the wind and ganged up on him at the end of his grand clash in Gilded.

The side he had to bring out every time a contract had him bring someone in alive to the Adventure Society and local authorities, knowing full well that questioning, trial and probably execution was what awaited them. And while that part of him was only just that - a part - it agreed that they did need answers. If Discord was present in this conflict, they needed to be rooted out. And the priestess of Pain before him was indeed their best way to do it.

"I will have to discuss it with the others before making such a decision."

"If you must, but do not tarry. My - our - prey is elusive." River responded. Her frustration was clear, but she had apparently chosen to remain as diplomatic as possible.

"Return in two days. I will probably have an answer for you then. And I will tell you that we already have plans that, should the others agree, would suit your needs. If we can reach an accord that is. A temporary one."

"Had I been able to do this alone, I would already have. Thus, I have no reason for deceit," River retorted.

"But fine, I will return in two days. Do not let this opportunity go to waste. They need to suffer for what they have done." And with those words, River turned and left, leaping through the rain without looking back, apparently confident in her ability to sense any hostile move Kite might decide to make.

He was left there in the rain, thoughts whirling with both the implications of this potential collaboration, but even more with the all but confirmed presence of priests of Discord within at least one of the sects here as well.

"Or is it all of them? Is this mere happenstance? Has their church taken notice of us? Or is this just what they do; sow conflict?" And while each thought tugged his mind in different directions, his silver-ranked mind easily unfurling long series of speculative deduction, Kite at least had enough clarity to also realize that none of these hypotheticals would be best resolved out in the pouring rain late in the evening.

Glint, apparently having sensed his unease, strode into his room in her draconian form just as he closed the windows behind him.

"Kite? Is something amiss? Sensing your unease, I have stood ready to bring the wrath of the thousand rivers down upon any and all foes."

"Amiss? Maybe. Danger? Not this time. Thank you, little beauty," Kite replied, still not having become fully used to his little carp companion now being so verbal, sounding more like a young mistress each day. As he tried to include her more and more into their dealings, Kite took some time to summarize his odd encounter, with River being the third unexpected arrival into this conflict between their guild and the sects. Albeit one a lot more complicated than Little Crow and Soul.

"-and then she left. If what she said is true, the implications are as troubling as the potential lead is enticing. Is this a pattern? How widespread is it? Can we even trust that priestess of Pain enough?"

"Did she seem sincere, following her path?" Glint asked in turn, while busy smoothing out some of the stylish tassels of her current set of layered robes.

"I… think so?"

"Did she seem ready to unleash its wrath on her - and our - foes, given the chance?"

"Most certainly."

"Then what is there to question? It is the duty of each path to cause the heavens to tremble. Trust those that are true to themselves." The exchange did leave Kite a bit… stunned. And suspicious.

"Glint?"

"Yes?"

"How much have you been listening to Soul lately? Because combined with what Auntie Crow told you, you are treading rather close to sounding more like a 'proper' Hua-Xian than I am."

"Good. I'm a dragon, after all-""A bit of a late bloomer though."

"- The most beautiful dragon in the land," Glint continued, ignoring Kite's comment.

"You may now stroke my fins, as is my due." Without further ado, his familiar punctuated those words by turning back into her small carp form before floating expectantly into his lap. Fortunately, her shapeshifting did include her clothes and other worn items, so at least Kite didn't have to worry about constantly picking up robes and accessories whenever she felt like going back to her original form.

"Is it that simple to you, then?" he asked, his amused smile breaking through his worries for a moment as he started gently stroking the shimmering veils of her fins. Glint didn't even bother answering, except for a self-satisfied feeling through their bond.

"Oh, little beauty. I'm still most unsure if these lands are ready for you and all you can become. Tomorrow, we'll see what the others think of this. Somehow, I feel that my ardent Dragonfly will be a bit more… skeptical."

"-and you want us to work with her? Her? The crazy, torturing Pain-cultist?" Dragonfly asked in disbelief, unable to halt her pacing in the conference room.

"And why am I the only one who seems to think that this is madness?" The accompanying accusatory glare was directed toward Walker, Soul, Little Crow and Second Spring, who sat spread around the room while seeming half lost in thought after Kite's telling of his unexpected conversation the night before.

"If she steps out of line, I'll deal with her," Soul said with a shrug, seeming to think that was that.

"She tortures people," Dragonfly retorted.

"As is her path," Soul noted, not seeming to think more of it.

"If she's skilled in combat, like you seem to think she was in the past at least, I might even be able to get a good spar out of her. Never fought a follower of Pain before."

"Kite, Walker, you saw what her kind was like during the war. What her grand elder did. What she did," Dragonfly continued, seeming to realize Soul for the lost cause that she was as she moved on.

"Believe me, Dragonfly, I do," Kite repeated.

"I'm not saying that we need to properly trust, and definitely not like, her. But… She can find them. Them. And if they're in the sects…"

"Then we need to get to the bottom of things," Uncle Walker agreed, holding up a finger to forestall her protests.

"Don't misunderstand me, Dragonfly, I haven't forgotten either. But she did assist Kite, if somewhat uneasy, at the fall of the Descending Star sect. And if what she implies is true, that gives me a bad feeling for the region. For my home. And this old man has seen a bit too much to still see the world as only blacks and whites." Turning to the last person present for some kind of support, Dragonfly quickly wilted as Little Crow just gave her a beaming smile.

"Alas, I am but a mercenary in this case. But from what you told me of this little intrigue when we stopped by the temple of Knowledge… Well, it does paint a complicated picture. Glad that I won't have to make any real, major decisions here," he finished, leaning back in his seat and taking a drink of his tea.

"Most excellent local blend, this one. My gratitude, Spring."

"I-it was nothing, master Crow," the bronze-ranker stammered where she sat next to Walker. Seeing that Spring wasn't going to voice any protests either, which was rather unsurprising as the bronze among silvers, Dragonfly sighed as she sat down next to Kite.

"So… We're really doing this then?"

"I won't choose between you and River's assistance Dragonfly," Kite said honestly.

"If it would mean you not taking part, then it is no choice at all. But… I believe that including her has merit. Uncomfortable, troubling merit. But merit nonetheless."

"Look who's talking about something not being an actual choice. Of course I won't back out. It just… doesn't feel good," she grumbled, leaning into Kite. He could sense that she was still clearly conflicted, as was he, but there was the steel of determination in her aura as well.

"You'll have to make it up to me though."

"If it is any consolation, my ardent Dragonfly, the rest of our plan is still rather unchanged. Braid and Wander sent their confirmations and should arrive soon. Including the priestess will only take minor adjustments on Braid's part. Most of us will probably see our fair share of fighting soon, so taking your frustrations out on some elder will be an option."

"That… does sound nice."