It was late in the afternoon inside the warehouse belonging to the Scarab Sons. In the dimly lit back room, more so the manager’s office, another meeting was taking place. Inside stood, Emir, Itenye, and Aldrin on one side of the table and across from them stood Evie, Jared, Pierre, and Buramog-Kurdan, all of whom were peering down on the map of the city that was sprawled amongst the table.

  “From where I chased her, she led me here,” Aldrin said, pointing down at the map that was in The Tome territory, specifically The Shattered Chain, which was the bazaar and the auction house Aldrin saw Skarra run into.

  Emir stroked his chin as he eyed the map like the seasoned strategist he was. “Then we leave them for last, or at least until we have taken out The Veil.” He pointed to a strip closer to the southern gate where all three gangs that made up The Veil intermingled. “They are more amenable to working together, since one feeds the other two and vice versa. It's a vicious cycle, one that they have managed to keep a tight hold on. It's admirable if you look at it from a tactical approach. They control all the information that comes in.”

  “How do we get through to them then?” Pierre asked, albeit uneasy. He still didn’t trust Emir, not with what Aldrin had told them, and much like him, he also held reservations about the truth of Emir’s story to potentially sway Aldrin to their side.

  “Well,” Emir grinned. “You are all fine-looking young men. I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to get past and into an establishment.”

  “Are you trying to pimp us out?” Jared asked, slightly aghast but also intrigued at the idea.

  Aldrin gave Jared a flat look and shook his head. “Its just seeing what we can dig up.”

  “But we also still have to meet with that captain, too? Don’t we?” Evie said, keeping a wary eye on Itenye, the ifrit bound to Emir.

  Emir waved his hand flippantly. “Eh. Depends on who the pirate is? Did you catch his name by chance?”

  All eyes turned to Jared and Buramog-Kurdan. “Kron Everstrate,” they said in unison.

  Emir laughed. “Kron? Can’t say that I’m surprised,” he said between his laughter.

  Not sensing what was funny, Aldrin crossed his arms and stared at Emir. “What can you tell us then?”

  “He fancies himself ?an honorable pirate. Whatever the seven planes that means in this day and age. He is a believer in enslaving the nobles and high bred he captures among the seas.” Emir informed.

  Jared looked away and whistled as all eyes turned to him.

  “Are they at least dirty?” Pierre asked.

  Emir scoffed at the question. “Please, if you really get down to it, all nobles are dirty. How do you think they got to be noble in the first place?” he rhetorically asked.

  “Good enough for me then,” Aldrin stated, earning a look from Evie.

  She was about to say something until Pierre placed a hand on her shoulder. “We can’t afford to be picky about who we align with. We agreed we would need to get dirty once we started this crime syndicate,” he emphasized. “And besides, we could always blackmail them in exchange for their freedom. IF we ever get to that point.”

  Emir chuckled and nudged Aldrin with his elbow. “I like that one.”

  “We are getting off track,” Evie said through gritted teeth, although Jared, Pierre, and Aldrin knew she would be expressing her dissatisfaction once they got privacy. “What are we doing with The Veil?” she asked the group, but it was more so directed at Aldrin.

  “We could use an information network before tackling The Tome. We already have The Fist under control, given your people can corral the two rival gangs into working together as one unit?” Aldrin asked Emir.

  Emir raised one thin eyebrow at the question. “I don’t know if I should be offended or spiteful that you lack faith in the Scarab Sons turning that ragtag group of individuals into a cohesive fighting force.”

  “I’ve never seen it so call me ignorant of your ways,” Aldrin replied.

  Emir grumbled to himself in his native language, which surprisingly earned a soft chuckle from Itenye.

  “Right! So we have a plan then?” Aldrin said, looking around at everyone.

  Jared looked around nervously, then slowly raised his hand. “What exactly is the plan…?”

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  Pierre cleared his throat. “Infiltrate, barter, leave. In that order.”

  Aldrin nodded his head along. “Pierre, Evie, go to the districts first to see which one would be easiest to get into. Jared, Buramog, and I will go meet with Kron and discuss terms.”

  “And me?” Emir asked with a smirk.

  “For now, consolidate the two gang territories, fortify them, and train the others who need it.” Aldrin said.

  Emir nodded, then snapped his fingers as he remembered something. “Wait! Before we all scatter like sand in a breeze. I have something I believe you would be very interested in.”

  Before anyone could ask, Emir whistled sharply, and two guards who were Scarab Sons opened the door and pushed a chained Moira inside before shutting it. She was mostly unharmed except for the busted lip that she probably got from resisting, but she didn’t even have the decency to make eye contact with the group.

  “What the fuck is this, Emir?” Aldrin growled, trying his best to suppress his more monstrous side from escaping.

  Emir’s thin eyebrows shot up to the top of his head. “I thought you would want to know? As a gesture of goodwill?” He asked, confused.

  Pierre sighed and hung his head before walking over to Moira. The Scarab Sons didn’t tense up at the action but still kept a watchful eye on the stoic man. “Why?” He asked amid the silence.

  Moira chewed her lip but winced at the pain. “They… they said if I didn’t do it, they would hurt my brother.”

  Aldrin’s ire, along with everyone else's, turned towards Emir, who looked nonplussed by the accusation as he stroked his grey beard. “That’s true,” he admitted.

  “Alright, why did you do that?” Pierre asked.

  Emir narrowed his eyes, then shifted them to Aldrin. “She was always in my grasp for a debt she owes me. I offered her freedom and her brother to capture you. Had I known who you actually were… well, things would have gone a bit differently.”

  Evie turned to look at Moira, and her softening features didn’t escape the notice of Pierre. “You could have told us still. We would have helped. We had no reason not to trust you after you helped us.” She said, moving to stand next to Pierre. She placed a hand on Moira’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

  “I’ve done what you asked, Emir, now free my brother… please…” Moira quietly said as guilt and shame rose within her.

  “That is no longer up to me,” Emir replied with a cunning smile while keeping his eyes locked on a fuming Aldrin. “That is up to him. After all, you did betray him. Not me.”

  Aldrin’s opinion of Emir lowered from the manipulation, knowing he would have to keep Emir at arm's length as far as trust went. He struggled to tear his gaze away from the man, then settled back on Moira, who still hung her head low. “Give her brother back and set her free,” he said, trying to keep as calm as possible so the monster within wouldn’t rampage. He had a soft spot for family that Emir had unknowingly exploited. From now on, he knew he would have to be careful around dangers that posed as friends, for the fact of them trying to figure out his weaknesses. He was lucky with Jared, Pierre, and Evie, but he was also unlucky with Moira and now Emir.

  Moira’s head snapped up, her eyes searching everyone’s faces for any tricks before she landed back on Aldrin. She was expecting to be killed or worse—turned into a ghoul under his control, but freedom never once crossed her mind. “You’re letting me go..?”

  “You didn’t betray us to just betray us. You were trying to protect someone. Lesser people would be upset over that, but not us. I can’t speak-“

  “Jared,” Aldrin firmly said, cutting him off.

  Their eyes met, and Aldrin gave him a look, then flicked his eyes to Emir, who couldn’t see him. Jared understood immediately before turning back to Moira. “Just… we understand… is all,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck and Moira’s blue eyes became watery and bloodshot as she tried to hold back tears.

  “Better yet, bring her brother here,” Aldrin demanded, but the Scarab Sons didn’t immediately move and instead waited for the command from their leader.

  “It’s fine. Bring him,” Emir waved them off.

  The Scarab Sons dipped their heads before taking two steps back and turning on their heels, leaving the suffocating room.

  Aldrin let out a heavy breath he didn’t need and braced himself against the table. “If we are going to work together, Emir, then I need to trust you.”

  Emir only chuckled. “And you can, my friend! Nothing to worry about,” letting a smirk grace his face afterward.

  His statement did not garner any confidence within Aldrin, who fully committed to keeping the mercenary leader at arm’s length. “Buramog, how many did we lose?” He asked, switching the topic as they waited for Moira’s brother.

  Buramog, who remained silent but ready to pounce into action, stepped closer to the table. “Only nine, chief.”

  Aldrin tried not to wince, but his forces were already low, and he had no intention of counting the Scarab Sons among them either. “Any wounded?” he asked, dreading the answer.

  Surprisingly, Buramog stood taller, “Only two, Chief. The Tribe of Tar still stands!” he thumped his fist to his chest.

  Emir chuckled at the display. “Quite the loyalty you have amassed.”

  Buramog rumbled a deep growl that reverberated in his chest, sounding more animalistic than it should have. “The Chief has earned that by Har-Jugag,” he spat.

  Emir dipped his head slightly and raised his hands in mock surrender. “I meant no disrespect, friend.”

  When Aldrin was about to intervene, the door slid open again. Two Scarab Sons, the same ones that left not a moment ago, flanked the sides of a teenage, red-headed boy. Moira wanted to rush, but her chains along with the silent stare of the guards rooted her in place. The boy looked around, his eyes taking moments to adjust to the dimness of the room before his pale blue eyes landed on the other redhead in the room. “Moira!” cried the boy, but he didn’t dare move from his spot either.

  “See! No harm done, as promised!” Emir said, clapping his hands twice. The Scarab Sons stepped forward, freeing the boy of the chains before moving to Moira and doing the same. Once their chains dropped, the brother and sister rushed towards each other in an embrace as if their lives depended on it.

  Everyone besides Emir, Itenye, and Buramog watched the exchange with soft smiles. Aldrin especially as it reminded him how much he missed his own sister and grandfather. He hoped to one day reunite with them under better circumstances, but for now, he was content with just seeing what was in front of him.