As soon as Kaedros stepped inside, he knew their guest wasn’t just anyone.
The room had been cleared, no scattered chairs or half-empty tables like earlier. Only a single table stood in the center with three chairs. On one of them sat a man drinking tea with all the politeness of a Lord.
That was the word that came to Kaedros’s mind. The man was massive, his body spilling out of the chair, his meaty fingers curled delicately around a porcelain cup that looked far too fragile in his grip.
Behind him stood two tall figures draped in black robes. His guards, Kaedros assumed.
The man’s dark eyes were deeply set beneath layers of fat.
"So, you’re the newbie lighting my town on fire with gossip."
His town? Kaedros studied him carefully. He wasn’t a noble, at least not by title. He tested the waters. "Word is... the real owners of Solmere are back."
A flicker of red energy pulsed across the man’s flesh like heat lightning, his aura momentarily slipping before he yanked it back.
But Kaedros had already stepped backward, instinctively dragging Taria with him.
The raw pressure that leaked out, it scraped across his skin like sandpaper. This man was powerful. No, more than powerful.
Even in his full Dragon form, Kaedros wasn’t sure he’d win that fight. Just what rank is the man before him? He took things seriously then, his eyes narrowing.
The man laughed, a sound like that of a dying beast. "Word on the street ain’t always truth, boy. And you know that."
Kaedros shrugged coolly. "And if the real owners want it back? They’ll take it, won’t they? Owners take all."
"Wrong," the man said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
"Winners take all. Power takes all."
Kaedros didn’t disagree, he couldn’t. He had taken all from all the bounty hunters that came after him because he was powerful.
"I’ve forgotten your name," he said.
"That’s because I never gave it." The man gestured to the chairs.
"But you’re my guest. Sit."
It wasn’t a request, and Kaedros hated that he couldn’t ignore it.
There was weight behind the invitation, coiled threat in every word.
"You want my name?" the man asked as one of the robed guards refilled his tea. "I’m Zevrak Talonspire, Master of the Solmere bounty hunter’s Association."
Taria tensed beside him. Of course. This was the man in charge of the Association here in Solmere, the real hand behind local power.
Today just keeps getting better...and interesting.
"So you’re the one running things in Solmere," Kaedros said. "No wonder you call it your town. But aren’t you forgetting someone? Like the Celestial Order?"
He smiled when Zevrak’s lips twitched.
"The Celestial Order, hmm." The man stared at him through half-lidded eyes. "Sure. They’ve got their fingers in the pot too. We built this town together, after all."
"But you didn’t come here to discuss city planning, did you?" Kaedros leaned back, eyes watchful.
Taria watched the tension between them slowly coil tighter and tighter. She prayed there wouldn’t be a fight. If it came to that, they were both dead.
"As much as the innkeeper’s tea surprised me," Zevrak said, "I’m not here for the flavor. I’m here for you, Kael."
Kaedros sighed inwardly. First Rauk, now this? All he wanted was food and rest. Warm bloody meat, maybe with a touch of raw fire first.
"I’m not interested in working at a brothel," he said dryly.
There was a pause. Then Zevrak’s expression darkened.
"What?" he asked slowly. "Brothel?"
Kaedros met his eyes, unfazed. "You seemed the type to offer strange jobs."
"You’re bold. I’ll give you that." Zevrak’s voice went low. "But let me warn you, boy. I’ve seen men lose their heads for jokes worse than that."
Kaedros didn’t doubt it.
He schooled his features into something more neutral. "Apologies, Master Zevrak. But truly, I don’t see why someone like you is here to speak with someone like me. I’m just a low-level bounty hunter."
"You’ve got a smooth tongue, just like the reports said," Zevrak replied, snorting like a piglet. "But I’m not here to trade pleasantries. We both know why I’m here."
Kaedros didn’t know, but he didn’t let it show.
The reports? That bothered him more than he let on. Someone had been watching. For how long?
He glanced briefly at the two guards. He couldn’t sense anything from them. Either they were masking their power or they weren’t normal at all.
"What did the report say?" Kaedros asked carefully.
"Exactly what was sent to the Young Lord."
"Rauk?" Taria asked before she could stop herself. All eyes turned to her. She cleared her throat. "I mean... Lord Rauk."
"Yes, warrior Taria," Zevrak said. "The report of your team’s potential was sent to Lord Rauk. I assume he already came to see you?"
Kaedros frowned. He had assumed the Refiners had given the report to Rauk. But now it sounded like the bounty hunter’s Association had compiled it, and maybe the Celestial Order have their own too.
Were they all working together... or keeping secrets from one another?
The fracture between the factions gave Kaedros a thread of hope. If he could find the weak point between them, maybe he could exploit it, to stay free of their games.
’...all I want is to advance, grow stronger, and shove my power down the Draconic City’s throat...’
"I don’t see the issue then," Kaedros said casually. "You gave Lord Rauk your report. We heard his offer and respectfully declined. I don’t see the need for another visit. Unless you’re really interesting in brothels."
Taria blinked at his tone. How did he manage to make polite words sound like such sharp insults?
Zevrak gave a wheezing chuckle. "I already told you. That tongue of yours won’t work on me."
He clasped his hands on the table. "I’m not here to repeat Zevrak’s offer. I’m here to reinforce it. I want you to join his team."