Sweat poured down Domanic’s wrinkled face as he stared at the tiled floor, trying desperately to avoid the ire of his patron before him. The floor was hard on his bad knee, spikes of pain shot up his leg; yet he dared not move. His master kept their chamber hot and humid, they seemed to enjoy the sweltering conditions. Swallowing a lump in his throat Domanic considered the events that had led him to where he was now. Everything was going exactly as his master had foreseen, everything was falling into place for their trap. That was until Viola had taken it upon herself to try and eliminate the targets on her own.

  He could feel his heart pound in his chest, his face flush with anger. Viola’s mistake was colossal, it had thrown the whole plan into jeopardy.

  The warmth drained from Domanic’s skin, a chill ran up his spine as he felt the cold hand of death drag its finger up his back. His mind screamed for him to run. It took tremendous will to not soil himself as he bit down on his lip to keep his mind from unraveling.

  His master was looking at him.

  Although all that stood between the two was a flimsy piece of cloth, Domanic dared not cast his gaze directly at his master. He had seen the results of such a suicidal endeavour first hand. A gentle voice rang out from behind the curtain that separated Domanic from his master. “Good evening Domanic. I sense you bring ill news.” The sickly sweet voice of his master forced its way into his skull, like maggots burrowing into a corpse. The voice was neither masculine nor feminine. Hells, It didn’t even sound like air passing through vocal cords, instead it sounded like a multitude of strings being played in a mockery of human speech.

  Steeling himself, Domanic spoke, his voice holding steady through sheer force of will. “My apologies master. One of the mercenaires I hired took it upon herself to try and kill the targets.” He winced. “She took the Phorebearer shells from the armory.”

  From behind the curtain came the gentle rapping of his master's fingers. Domanic thought the sound seemed off. His eye spasmed as he realized the rapping sound had one too many beats. “A shame. But no matter, we will adjust the plan accordingly.” The choir that was his master’s voice sounded indifferent to the troubling news.

  Domanic snapped his head up in surprise, stopping himself a moment before disaster. “Sir, I thought…” He trailed off, thinking better than continuing his line of thought out loud.

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  The sound of rustling fabric told him that his master was changing their posture. “You thought I was going to punish you for the acts of this mercenary?” It said calmly.

  “I was the one that hired her. Her theft happened under my command.” His voice shook as he spoke. It felt like he was digging his own grave with every word.

  “My child. I have never questioned your loyalty. While it is true you hold some responsibility for the actions of this thief; It would be unfair of me to punish you for the mistakes of another.”

  “Thank you master!” Domanic cried as he dropped his head even lower.

  “Was there anything useful to be learned from her failed attempt?”

  Reaching to his arm brace, Domanic pressed the activation rune for the wall mounted projector. The far wall was illuminated by the moving images that were being streamed from his brace’s data crystals. “Viola’s neural link captured much of her botched attempt. Thankfully she never realized we had a backdoor to access it even when she thought it was turned off.” Images of Viola’s vision played on the wall, the burning building, the fight with the hybrid monk, and her well deserved death. Oddly, the images continued from there. “In a stroke of luck the neural device was absorbed by the Phorebearer intact. Because of this we have vital footage of the target's combat styles and abilities.”

  The video played for some time, the point of view chased the three targets onto a bridge, flashes of light and grain filled the feed as the Phorebearer was cast into the ocean. After a few more minutes the feed showed the titan of metal laying waste to the bay, until a streak of red and gold appeared in front of the beast's face. His master spoke up suddenly. “Pause the feed.” A hint of emotion had crept into its voice.

  Domanic reached down quickly and pressed the rune to pause. The still image on the wall was that of the Stormpriest frozen in place midair. His whole body was wreathed in flames of gold, his eyes brimming with power and electricity as he held his arm back to throw the shimmering spear that was hurtling towards the camera.

  “I take it back, my child. This mercenary should be venerated as a martyr; for her sacrifice has revealed that which we have been searching for.” His master rose from its chair as it walked forward through the curtain. Domanic scrambled out of the way as the soft padding of his master's bare feet on the tiled floor rang out. It approached the still image on the wall and placed a hand on the surface. “Despite your best efforts to hide it All Mother, it would seem the threads of fate are on my side this time.” Domanic’s master turned to face him once more. It’s voice swelling with power and anticipation. “There is a change of plans, my child. Eliminate the others, but bring this one in alive.”

  Domanic saluted across his chest. “It will be done, my master.”