Masters of Deception

by J C Kang

  Sameer gaped. Had she been the one who’d cowered back when he passed by the night before?

  “Smart. Your intelligence is one of the reasons the Scorpions want you.” Anish donned his featureless mask. “You all have weaknesses. For her, it is her need to protect whores.”

  Sohini lifted her chin, defiant. “You helped that foul prince do horrible things to that poor girl.”

  “And instead of protecting her with your Bahaduur skills, you reacted in anger.”

  Just like Sameer had.

  Sohini hung her head.

  The betrayer looked to him. “Your weakness is her. I was unable to convert her, but I would’ve succeeded with you. Until she intervened. Now, I have you both.”

  Sameer raised his naga. All his wounds screamed. “You can’t beat both of us.” If only Jie were conscious and could help.

  “Wait.” Sohini stayed his hand.

  “He’s the one who’s been turning Paladins. We need to stop him.” Sameer tugged free and charged.

  Cold crept over him. Time didn’t slow. The Vibrations felt still, like a ship’s sails on calm seas. Even so, Sohini flanked Anish. She moved like a normal person, while Anish blurred between their coordinating attacks. Anish’s naga streaked in solid arcs.

  Pain bit into Sameer’s wrists and arms. All shallow nicks which sliced skin and nicked nerves, but didn’t damage muscle. Still, every move he made burned with pain. He buckled to his knees, using his naga to keep himself from crumpling over.

  Anish shoulder-butted Sohini, sending her flying back onto her rear. Her naga clattered away.

  The traitor stepped back and snickered. “See? It’s just as Gitika said: with Paladin skills, you can incapacitate without killing.”

  Wounds burning, Sameer pushed himself up with his naga. Cold pricked the back of his neck. He looked up at the pyramid in the distance. The Dragonstone at its top pulsed, but whether with the Vibrations or not, it was hard to tell. So close, yet the Scorpion Master muffled his connection to it.

  Anish shook his head. “Such determination.” He zipped in and swung his blade.

  Sameer’s naga went flying from his wringing hand. Without its support, he fell on his face.

  Anish knelt down and lifted his chin. “You won’t join us?”

  “Never.” Sameer would’ve shaken his head, had it not been held in the master’s grasp.

  “Then you will join Elder Gitika in death and rebirth.” Anish lifted the sword.

  Sameer gave him a defiant glare.

  “Stop!” Sohini screamed. “Let Sameer go, and I will join you.”

  A grin spread across the traitor’s face. “You were always the one we wanted. If you swear loyalty to Madura, I will spare him.”

  She pressed her palms together and bowed her head.

  No. This couldn’t be happening. Sameer struggled to break free of the traitor’s grip. All the cuts across his body flared. “Don’t do it, Sohini. I’d rather die than for you to become one of them.”

  “No, Sameer. I couldn’t live with myself if you died because of me.” Shaking her head with a sad smile, she walked toward Anish.

  “No!” Sameer lurched forward, only to get yanked to the pavestones.

  “Kneel,” Anish said.

  Sameer looked up.

  Sohini sank to a knee.

  Anish set his blade on the top of her head. “Swear your allegiance to the Golden Scorpions of Madura.”

  “No!” Sameer crawled forward.

  “I swear.” A tear trickling down her cheek, Sohini pressed her palms together and bowed her head.

  His own vision blurred with tears. This couldn’t be happening. Everything Sohini despised, she would become. Sameer staggered to his feet.

  Anish returned his sword to his side. “Now, my apprentice, we have a mission: to escort Prince Dhananad to Arkos, for his meeting with the Teleri First Consul.”

  Weaponless, Sameer blinked away the tears.

  Sohini seized his arms and threw him over her hip.

  He hit the street with a heavy thud, not far from the half-elf. His eyes hazed over as Sohini followed Master Anish away.

  Chapter 29:

  To the Bitter End

  Outside of Signore De Lucca’s downtown office, Cassius helped Brehane off the horse. His heart might’ve fluttered from the way her ample breasts had pressed into his back on the ride over, but her arm’s tight grip around his chest had nearly choked out his breath. Thank Solaris the canter through the streets only took a few minutes.

  When her feet touched the ground, her tight expression relaxed. She looked so beautiful, the way the wind swept her coarse hair. “Will Signore De Lucca let Sameer go?”

  Cassius cast her a reassuring grin. “He is first and foremost a businessman. I’m sure we can strike a deal.” Whether they could do so before Dawit and Melas escaped with Makeda…

  Two Bovyans dressed in De Lucca’s purple livery stood guard by the front door. They stepped together to form a living barrier as Cassius climbed up to the stoop.

  Cassius bowed. “I have an appointment with Signore De Lucca.”

  One of the brutes shook his head. “The signore is attending to important business. Begone.”

  Cassius kept his expression calm, even if anger roiled his stomach. There was no time for this silliness. “I am Signore Cassius Larusso. The city’s business can’t wait.” He took a step forward.

  Both guards reached for their longswords.

  Behind him, Brehane grunted out feral sounds. Sand sprayed past. Both men crumpled to the ground, asleep.

  “Thank you, my lady.” Cassius turned and dipped his chin. He swept into a bow and held the door open for her. “After you.”

  She flashed a smile, which made her all the more beautiful. It was hard to believe the horrible sounds of her magic could come from such a lovely face. Her legs wobbled as she entered.

  He followed after her…and skidded to a halt. Brehane seized his arm.

  Six Altivorcs formed a rank to the side of the foyer. Standing half a head shorter than a man, their muscular frames might’ve been twice as broad. Scraggly black hair made the blunt features on their turquoise faces all the uglier.

  None of their species had come to Tokahia since the Hellstorm, when they’d marched on the pyramid. Now, with their chainmail and broadswords, it didn’t look like they were here for noble reasons. In all likelihood, De Lucca had been too blinded in his ambitions to realize they would do anything for the gods to return.

  The steward stood up behind the desk. “Signore Cassius, welcome. I’m afraid Signore De Lucca is indisposed.” His eyes darted to the Altivorcs, then back.

  What did that stare mean? No matter, time was running out for Makeda.

  “I will only be a moment.” Cassius strode toward the back office, clasping Brehane’s hand.

  “But…” the steward held up a hand, but just watched them pass.

  The Altivorcs stood so still they might’ve been statues.

  Open doors to the library and antechamber revealed they were empty. Up ahead, the double doors to De Lucca’s office were likewise open, allowing voices to echo through the hall.

  “All goes as planned,” De Lucca was saying. “We’ve made arrangements for the Madurans and Levastyans to meet the Teleri First Consul in Arkos.”

  Cassius stopped in place. What was De Lucca doing, brokering deals for the Teleri? Maybe it was in return for them providing Bovyans as pyramid guards.

  It was time to warn De Lucca that the Bovyans had ulterior motives, probably the occupation of Tokahia. De Lucca was inviting conquest. Expression tightening, Cassius started toward the office…and froze again.

  “You have done well, Carlo,” spoke a sonorous, accented voice. “The King will be pleased.”

  Carlo was De Lucca’s given name, but king? The only realms which used that title were the Nothori realms of the northwest, and the Eldaeri Kingdoms in the north. Before the latter’s empire sundered over a century ago, the
y’d tried to conquer all of the Estomar; now, they seemed content to transport trade goods. And of course, they were mortal enemies of the Bovyans, both races claiming to be the Chosen People of Solaris.

  De Lucca sounded smug. “It might take a little more negotiating, but I’m sure the Signores will approve the Bovyans as pyramid honor guard, after we frame the Mafia for slaughtering the local guards. Once I hear that their operation is complete, I will cap the pyramid myself.”

  Cassius’ blood ran cold. It wasn’t the Bovyans plotting. No—given the Altivorcs in the foyer, and the heavy accent of the voice speaking of pleased kings, De Lucca was making deals with the infamous Altivorc King. In his foolishness and greed, he either didn’t care about the pyramid prophecy, or perhaps… He turned to Brehane. “I think De Lucca wants the Altivorc gods to return on their flaming chariots.”

  Her eyes widened.

  Though every fiber of Cassius’ being urged caution, protecting the pyramid was his family’s Divine mandate. De Lucca was a scrawny little man; devious, but certainly not a fighter. “You put the Altivorcs to sleep, I will handle De Lucca.” Drawing his rapier, he charged in.

  A cold rolled over him, and the Gods’ Whispers quieted to near inaudible. He stuttered to a halt.

  De Lucca sat on his tall chair, turning a metal box the size of a head in his hands.

  Across the desk, an Altivorc turned and looked at Cassius. Unlike his ugly brethren, this one was handsome, like an angel. Perhaps an angel of death.

  “Signore Cassius,” De Lucca said, shaking his head. “I thought it was my steward traipsing around out there. I’m afraid you have heard too much. For that, you will have to die.”

  The Altivorc jumped to his feet, sending his chair flying back. Drawing a broadsword, he barked out several foul sounds toward the hall. Heavy boots marched from the foyer.

  De Lucca set the box down and flipped a serrated knife over in his hands. The scrawny traitor wouldn’t stand a chance with the weapon’s short reach.

  Cassius deflected the Altivorc’s hack and spun past him. Kill De Lucca, and the threat would be removed.

  De Lucca hadn’t even risen from his throne.

  It would be dishonorable to run a sitting, unarmed man through, but easy was always better than risky. Cassius stabbed.

  With a sweep of the knife in his hands, De Lucca sheared through the rapier blade as if it were made of paper.

  Cassius’ hand didn’t even hurt from the impact. He held up what remained of his weapon. Longer than a dagger, but shorter than a gladius, it still gave him better reach. He reached for his dagger.

  It wasn’t there.

  Of course: Jie had taken it from him earlier.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Brehane’s stomach knotted as Cassius exposed his back to the Altivorc. He was so intent on killing De Lucca, he’d abandoned all caution and charged in. It was so unlike everything else she'd ever seen of him. Rather dashing, actually.

  And maybe that was for the better. No child could help but cry when told of the horrors mankind suffered when the Altivorcs controlled the world. If their gods returned…

  Cassius stabbed and chopped with his castrated rapier, but De Lucca looked almost bored, sitting while deflecting and parrying with his knife. Thank the First Mystic the Altivorc hadn’t engaged.

  The Resonance, so strong outside the office, was no more than a whisper here. Using as much as she could draw on, she channeled Neuromancy with soft words and gentle gestures of her hand. She pointed at De Lucca to finish casting the charm spell. Vitality seeped from her limbs.

  He didn’t so much as look at her, continuing to avoid Cassius’ attacks with nonchalant grace.

  Barking out words of Pyromancy, Brehane pointed. Fire darts streaked toward De Lucca…

  And dissipated, as if De Lucca had cast a shield right on his skin.

  How could it be? An Estomari shouldn’t have been able to use magic to shield himself, nor had he made any of the gestures or sounds required to do so.

  Her energy guttered, and neither Pyromancy nor Neuromancy had worked on him. She grunted out more words of magic, combining several schools of magic. There was no way he could resist. A thin wisp of web undulated past Cassius toward De Lucca.

  It separated into thin strands over his body.

  The way the Resonance was muted…it was just like when she’d tried to cast a charm on his sister. Brehane bent over, supporting her now-onerous weight with trembling hands on wobbling knees. Nothing she threw at him was having an effect. Without her necklace to help reinvigorate her, it was becoming harder and harder to draw on the Resonance.

  The Altivorc interposed himself between De Lucca and Cassius, and now pushed Cassius back with hacks of his broadsword. It clanged against Cassius’ blade.

  From the hallway, the other Altivorcs were now rushing in, broadswords raised.

  With her last reserve of energy she swept her hand toward them, flinging some sand she’d collected in the streets. Singing out words of Neuromancy, she unleashed a sleep spell. The draining effect buckled her knees, and she collapsed. With a hand on the ground, she held herself up, panting.

  The two in front stumbled to the ground, unconscious. The next four veered around their fallen comrades. They ignored her and fanned out around Cassius.

  Cassius disengaged from De Lucca and circled in place, eyes darting from the surrounding Altivorcs and back. He raised a pleading eyebrow at her.

  The message was clear. He couldn’t take on so many enemies, and he needed her help. Yet she knelt, gasping for air, no magic on her lips. She shook her head.

  The handsome Altivorc leader stepped back while his four underlings charged in. Broadswords hacked at Cassius, forcing him back toward the window beside De Lucca’s chair.

  All was lost. Her necklace, heirloom of the First Mystic, lost to Melas. Makeda, lost to the Teleri.

  And her tribe. She’d been their best chance to restore the Biomancers’ honor.

  No, there was still hope. She just needed a few minutes to regain some energy. Enough to put the rest of the Altivorcs to sleep. She cleared her throat. “Please, Signore De Lucca, we won’t tell the Signores of your plan. Please let us go.”

  De Lucca held up a hand.

  The Altivorcs took a step back, but kept their weapons trained on Cassius.

  This was their chance. The Resonance echoed in her core, slowly restoring her. Not enough to cast a sleep spell, though. Not yet.

  Setting his knife down, De Lucca steepled his fingers under his chin. “Signore Larusso will never agree to it. It’s his family’s Divine mandate.”

  “Spare Brehane, and I will surrender.” Cassius lowered his blades and bowed his head.

  “My, my,” De Lucca said. “I would never believe Cassius Larusso would sacrifice himself. Funny what love can do.”

  Love? Did Cassius love her? She stole a glance at him.

  He was chewing on his lip. He looked up. “Swear it, Brehane. Swear that you will leave Tokahia, and that you will take everything you have heard here to your grave.”

  A chance to live. A chance to recover her heirloom and rescue Makeda. All she had to do was betray Cassius’ trust. Curse the slow trickle of energy! She rose to her feet. “I… I…”

  “You have three seconds,” De Lucca said. “One.”

  She looked at Cassius.

  If he could nod any more violently, his head might wobble right off.

  “Two.”

  She might have enough for a sleep spell, but with such low energy and without sand or rose petals to help mediate the spell, she’d have to draw on her base energy. At best, it would knock her unconscious. At worst, it could cripple her magic forever.

  “Three.”

  Brehane swept her hand at the Altivorcs and barked out the sleep spell. Vitality drained from her limbs. Her vision faded black at the edges.

  The last thing she saw was a single Altivorc collapse, while the others charged at Cassius.

  ✽
✽ ✽

  With Sameer’s arm draped over her shoulder, Jie wobbled toward Signore De Lucca’s office to meet up with Brehane and Cassius. From there they’d get the Tarkothi marines and rescue Makeda.

  Her head ached from Master Anish’s elbow, and everything looked blurry. Sameer had shaken her out of her stupor, but none of what he’d said about scorpions made sense. Still, he’d agreed to help assail the sorcerers’ hideout… Catch the Illusionist, and she’d be one step closer to the attempted coup back home.

  The poor boy winced with every heavy step. It didn’t look like he’d make it to De Lucca’s, let alone be able to fight. Still, he soldiered on, and they at last made it back to the site of last night’s misadventures.

  “They’re here?” He looked at her incredulously.

  On the stoop, a thin man in De Lucca’s purple livery was shaking two unconscious Bovyans. From the look of it, Cassius’ and Brehane’s courtesy call hadn’t been particularly courteous.

  Jie unslung Sameer’s arm from her shoulder. “I think Cassius must’ve asked for you, and then gotten into a fight when De Lucca claimed he didn’t have you.”

  “No. De Lucca is dealing with the Bovyans, Madurans, and Levastyans. They might be in trouble.” Sameer straightened and picked up his pace. Though his stride lengthened with each step, he was still slow. “Go on without me, I’ll catch up.”

  Jie was already well ahead. The servant stood and held up a finger, but she slipped right by him and into the foyer.

  Clashing metal echoed in the hallway.

  Jie broke into a sprint, passing the library. One of those marvelous knives might be in there, but Cassius and Brehane might not have that much time. Up ahead, the doors to De Lucca’s office were open, providing a view of the man himself lounging behind his desk, head turned to the scuffle on the right.

  She surged through the doors, Cassius’ dagger in hand, and…

  Froze.

  Brehane struggled on all fours. Two Altivorcs lay on the floor beside her, chests rising and falling in sleep. Three more had pushed Cassius to the window, and he was doing an admirable job fending them off with his broken rapier. One already lay dead—or sleeping—by his feet. An Altivorc Prince, handsome despite his teal skin tone, stood back, barking orders.