The Foolhardies 145 Veiled Threa

"You will hand over the chosen one to me," he repeated, his hand out like he'd expected Ty was some small thing I could literally hand over.

"I can't do that, sir," I answered. "Tiberius Cruz isn't just some prize. He's my friend, and I mean to bring him home to Mudgard."

If anything, this just made Kairon's eyes narrow even more.

"You will do no such thing," he hissed. "With the power he displayed tonight, it is the height of foolhardiness to think that boy will not be stolen again when you return him to Mudgard."

I frowned. Kairon had voiced out the exact thought I'd been thinking in my head, and that was the fact that Ty was no longer free regardless of who rescued him.

Kairon shook his head.

"No, his only chance at an acceptable existence is serving the clan," Kairon insisted. "So, you will hand him over to me."

"If he's to serve the clan like you insist, then why can't he stay with my Foolhardies?" I asked.

"You would not know how to use him," Kairon scoffed at me. "You would be weighed down by your human sympathy and guilt. In your hands, he cannot be the weapon we need him to be."

"Ty isn't a weapon," I growled. I was beginning to lose my cool. "He's a human being."

"Sentiment," Kairon sneered. He stepped forward and invaded my personal space. "Very well, you leave me no choice but to pull rank."

He stood to his full height, which for a spriggan was considerably tall.

"Five-hundred Man Commander Dapper," he began. "In my capacity as Chancellor of the Moon for the High Council of the Trickster Pavilion, I order you to relinquish your rights over the human, Tiberius Cruz, to me. He shall serve the clan's greater cause."

I expected this underhanded bastard to pull off something like this, which was typical of spriggans, a fairy race known for being mischievous and thievish people. Why this kind of creature served on the council was beyond me. But I wasn't about to let him have his way.

Shaking my head, I said, "No."

"You would disobey a direct order from a member of the council?" he snarled.

His three lackeys behind him began to draw the shadowblade knives they'd hidden in the folds of their robes.

In response, both Shanks and Aura stepped forward. Shanks cracked his knuckles menacingly while Aura had raised a hand that was glowing at the fingertips.

"You will call off your attack dogs now, Commander Dapper!" Kairon yelled, his eyes widening.

If this idiot only knew who he was calling a dog, I bet he'd have shriveled into his chancellor's robes right then and there. However, I didn't think it was time for Aura to reveal herself. There were other cards to play.

"Chancellor Orryn was the one who sent me here with the blessing of the Patriarch," I said calmly. "It seems they're fine with me taking Ty under my wing."

Technically, this wasn't a lie. Orryn didn't order me to go, but he didn't stop me either even though he knew exactly that I was going. At least, that was the message I understood from Grimthorn. Besides, I figured he'd let this slide if it meant foiling Kairon's plans.

"Lies," Kairon hissed. "I would have known about this."

"Like they know that you're here, you mean?" I asked. "I was under the impression Chancellor Orryn had sent me without backup."

Kairon's eyes narrowed into slits. "Careful, human… you do not want to make an enemy of me."

Um, that was too late. We were enemies the moment he stole my brother from my world. But I feigned politeness nonetheless.

"I mean no disrespect, sir, but I am here under orders relayed to me by Great General Grimthorn, and I'm sure both the Chancellor and Patriarch will back me as well," I said, smiling impishly, a trait I'd learned from Thom.

The mention of the Patriarch along with Grimthorn changed Kairon's tune somewhat. He knew I already had Darah's and Aura's backing. If Grimthorn sided with me too, then I was someone even he couldn't boss around.

He raised a hand to his lackeys, and they sheathed their shadowblades.

"Besides," I shrugged. "This was a joint venture between the Tricksters and two neutral clans… Would you even have the funds to repay them for Ty's sale?"

Aura said he was rich, but even a rich fairy would have to think twice about shelling out that much from his own personal coffers, and Kairon didn't strike me as someone who was fast and loose with his cash.

"You play a dangerous game here, young commander," he said. "I say this again, give me the boy… and I will forget this exchange ever happened. You do not want to cross me…"

This time, it was me who stepped forward, putting us within inches of each other.

"You crossed me the moment you stole my little brother away," I growled. "Go away now, Kairon… or you find out why the other council members think I'm worth their time."

This was obviously a bluff. Not only did I not have my cheat of a sword, but I couldn't even activate my cheat of a fairy gift. But I imagined Kairon had heard enough about me to be wary of the young visere from Starlight City.

Kairon raised a hand in an action that might have ended with slapping my cheek, but the Chancellor of the Moon stopped himself before all hell broke loose.

Instead, he leaned down so he could whisper a threat in my ear.

"Be careful, Dapper. Not all of us are enamored of you, and not all of us will stand by while you attain power beyond your station," he hissed into my ear. "The nail that stands out will eventually find itself hammered back into the wood."

With his threat finished, Kairon turned around and walked away from me. His lackeys followed after him, but not before giving me the evil eye.

I breathed a sigh of relief when they were finally gone.

"I'm sorry, Dean," Aura said with a shake of her head. "I should have stepped in before he got a chance to try and intimidate you."

I shook my own head at her. "This isn't the time to reveal yourself to him… that would cause more headaches for us, believe me… Besides, if he didn't recognize you when he was this close to you, then that's his own fault."

"I believe he was too focused on you to even consider the princess," Kallista interrupted. "That is one powerful enemy you've made, Dean."

"He was always my enemy. Now he knows it too," I said, shrugging. "So, how about we go pick up our prize now."

We'd made it all the way down to the first-floor lobby when we were waylaid by another visitor.

She was a gorgeous, redheaded elven maiden with broad shoulders and a bust that could rival Kallista's. I recognized her as one of the half-naked females who were hanging around the Lord of Stars. Only this time, she was fully dressed in a red party dress.

"My lord sends his greetings," she said smiling.

When she offered me his letter, I had a whiff of a flowery scent. It was quite a nice smell.

Weirdly enough, the she-elf had come and gone but I was still thinking about how nice she smelled. This prompted Aura to slap me lightly on the back of my head.

"You are too easily charmed," she scowled.

"Sorry," I said sheepishly.

Then I opened the letter and read its contents.

Congratulations on the win. I'll let you have this one.  So let's meet soon and discuss which fairy race has the hottest looks.

- Chris Pint, Lord of Stars and Starfall

"What did he want?" Aura asked as she read over my shoulder.

I passed her the note. "Not much."

"He certainly is… an eccentric one, isn't he," Aura said, her brow furrowing.

Luca joined us on our way to pick up Ty. He wasn't alone.

"Hello," said the pilgrim at his side. "I am Liu Xiang, a representative of the Pilgrimage in the Undercroft."

He offered me an honest-to-god business card as if we were in a business meeting at a fancy hotel.

I raised the simple white card to my eye level and inspected it. On one side was the red cross that was also on his robe. It reminded me of the Knights Templar symbol that was popular in the movies. On the other side were his name and designation.

Liu Xiang

Logistics and Communications Officer, Undercroft Division

The Pilgrimage

Beneath the Pilgrimage was a quote.

"Not all those who wander are lost."

It was a line from a poem in the Lord of the Rings, the one regarding the prophecy of the return of the king.

"We did not mean to intrude in your business, but as your rescue mission had failed, we thought it best if Tiberius Cruz did not end up in the hands of the other fairy clans," he explained.

"So that's why," I said, my eyes narrowing. "What does the Pilgrimage want from me?"

I might as well ask now that we were face to face. At the very least, I could glean some insight from his response.

"We wouldn't presume to ask anything of you," Liu insisted. "But we would be very glad if you keep rising up the ranks. Your growing prominence does have a positive effect on your fellow humans in the Fayne, you know."

I didn't quite believe his words.

After he'd said his piece, Liu Xiang bowed his head and left us alone, promising that he would offer us aid if we needed help while in the Undercroft.

"What do you think of him?" I asked Luca.

"He seems okay, but…" Luca hesitated.

"Go on," I insisted.

Luca sighed. "Anyone willing to work in the Fayne, no matter how altruistic the goal, I don't know… it feels kind of shady, doesn't it?"

I patted my brother on the shoulder. "It's good that you're using your brain one in a while, Luca."

He shrugged me off and laughed. "Whatever, Dean… Jerk."

"You're the jerk," I countered.

Our banter continued all the way to the acquisition room where we were greeted by Carta himself.

After he'd confirmed receipt of payment from Kallista, he ordered his men to, "Bring in the merchandise! I want that brat out of my house before anyone has thoughts of tarnishing this auction."

After about a minute or so, the kobold guards brought in Ty. He was battered and bruised all over but they at least gave him normal clothes to cover himself with.

He saw me, and a smile appeared on his bloody lips. A tear fell down his blackened right eye.

"About time you got here," he croaked in a hoarse voice.

I walked over to Ty and gave him a hug.

"Sorry I'm late, man," I said in a voice full of emotion.

I felt Ty shake in my arms, and I knew he was crying. I couldn't fault him for it. He deserved to let it out.

"Sorry…" he whispered.

"It's all good, man," I said. "Let's get you cleaned up and ready for home, yeah?"

Chapter end