System Break

Alejo strode up the street with a bag full of bandages. His senses were heightened, and he jumped when a small rock landed in his path. He watched it fly back into Sigwurd's hand.

The leader of the bluecloaks was dressed in his normal attire. A breastplate engraved with runes, leathers, and his blue cloak. 

"What were you doing there?" Sigwurd asked from the shadows.

"What were you doing there?" Alejo said far too loudly.

Sigwurd shook his head. "Follow, we can discuss this somewhere quiet."

"You've got to be kidding. No. I'm taking these to her; she needs me."

"Meet me after then. Say nothing to the Svartalfar."

Alejo scowled. "How do I know you won't try to kill me next?"

"I give you my word. I've never gone back on my word, you know this."

Alejo spat. "And you've never tried to murder one of your own protectors. It's a day for firsts."

Sigwurd growled. "Do not speak of this. That is why we need to talk, so I can explain."

"Promise me she is safe," Alejo said.

"I can't," Sigwurd replied. "It is out of my hands."

"How can this be?" Alejo cried.

"Quiet, you make too much noise. I'll be in my chamber. Come see me when you can."

Alejo growled. "Fine. I'll take a chance on you, but I will warn them."

"So be it," Sigwurd said and he marched back towards the castle.

Alejo watched his leader and old master depart with his hand on his sword. He released, gripped, and released it again. Then he sighed and turned back to the Forest's guild hall. He kept his senses on high alert and noticed critters as small as a mouse scurrying through a grate.

He hurried through the door and dropped by the healer. He nodded at me. "We need to talk."

"Talk then," I said.

Alejo peered at the fisherfolk healer. "Not here," he said. "But not out of sight either." He pointed to the corner with the fireplace.

Gisael pulled me to my feet and I flopped my arms over her shoulders. She grunted. "You can walk."

I turned my head and said softly into her ear. "But you're comfy."

She pushed me off and inspected her work on the poultice. "No games. I will look after you." I put my arm around her shoulder, and we sat on the comfy seat that she and Kysandre had shared earlier. Alejo sat with his back to her but seemed unconcerned.

I suspected he was using an ability and opened my qi-sight. He had sensed the commotion from across the street somehow and I had no idea what abilities these protectors possessed. 

When I looked at him with my qi-sight my suspicions were confirmed. His eyes and ears were covered in qi. His qi made a shape from his ear like a cone, a qi hearing aid if you will. I wasn't certain what the qi on his eyes did, but I suspected it enhanced his vision – possibly allowing him to see in darkness.

Gisael ran her hand across my shoulders and when my eyes met hers she flicked her head towards the stairs and then patted her shoulder.

"Go," I said, and she ran off to fetch her weapons.

As she ran past Kysandre stirred and moaned in pain. The healer hushed her and gave her something to chew on. "Rest. You're safe now. Chew."

Alejo watched the exchange and turned back to face me. I listened and studied his ability at the same time. It wasn't the first time I dreamed of having a photographic memory, but I would just have to study the patterns the hard way. Then practise and balls it up until I worked it out.

"You knew this guy," I said. "Who is he? Will he be back, or do I have to hunt him down to kill him?"

Alejo sighed. "I haven't worked out what is happening. Even to me it doesn't make any sense - so I can imagine for you it is unfathomable."

I leaned forward. "Fathom away."

He got a far off look. "He is the head protector of the city, which is a high office, but he certainly does not work on his own accord. He was ordered to do this."

"So, someone ordered him to kill Kysandre. What did she do?"

Alejo fidgeted with his fingers. "Perhaps its not what she did, but who she was with and where she was."

"Shit," I said. "He had one of our skinning knives when he tried to slit her throat. He tried to kill her here with our knife. What would've happened if he was successful?"

"Someone means to undo the forest. Not just you. Not just your guild but your domain. Such an act would have given cause for anyone and everyone to attack the forest. It was a sinister plan, because if he killed you. That would be it, you would come back. If he killed Gisael, it would be a tragedy. But the person who planned this and ordered Sigwurd wanted to bring your undoing."

I shook my head. "So not only would the fisherfolk hate us, so would all of Dawnharbour. And the Duke would seek vengeance."

He shook his head. "I think it would give rise to Loctris to act if they wanted. Salastria and Loctris could attack and claim the forest and use this murder as an excuse."

I peered at him. "Why are you telling me this?"

"So you don't act rashly and go after Sigwurd. Even in failure the one who plotted this could be successful. And," he looked over his shoulder. "I've trained her since she was little. She's like daughter or little sister to me. She's more important to me than anything."

"Can you protect her?"

He was a grown man, but a tear came to his eye. "I'm not sure. Sigwurd is powerful and experienced. And he's not alone - where I am."

"We can take her in," I said.

"I'm not sure her people would accept that. That she just ran off to the forest one day. She's a protector here but she's close. She could eat every meal with the fisherfolk if she wanted."

"Then what?"

He put his head in his hands. "I don't know."

Gisael watched from the second floor. She knelt between the railing with her bow ready.

"I'll wake Sakaala and Ailen. Maybe they can think of something, they're experienced with this type of bullshit."

I looked at Gisael and held up two intertwined fingers and mouthed their names. She nodded and headed to their rooms.

The bleary eyed twins headed down the stairs and when they saw Kysandre reality set in like a bucket of ice water in the face. Alejo and I filled them in with what happened and his speculation.

Ailen glanced at Sakaala who nodded. "It's possible there is outside interference," he said. "There are two factions who control the adventurers. But we'll need to look into it."

"I'll stay," Sakaala said, "And Ailen can dream walk now."

He nodded and went upstairs.

Alejo peered at Sakaala. "Is this how you travel back to your prime world?"

There was that name again. Prime world. "You mean our old world? Yes. But it's different from when a body dies."

"Why do you think it could be interference from them? What could they possibly hold over a Protector."

She shrugged. "We'll find out. We need to at least rule it out."

The night whiled away, and we took turns napping except Alejo who remained vigilant all night.

Ailen returned at dawn while we were moving Kysandre to a bed on the first floor. She was sleeping off whatever the healer fed her.

I stretched and yawned while Gisael fed me some dried fruit. Ailen sipped on some water before he began. Alejo leaned forward in anticipation and Sakaala sat on the arm of the sofa.

Ailen glanced at Alejo. "Some of this will be hard to explain without breaking into old world speak."

Alejo waved his hand in dismissal. "Say what you need to, I will share with no one other than Kysandre."

"There is a powerful person from the old world who has taken a role in Loctris. He still holds sway over many things, but my father has control of the organisation. My father cannot move against him because of these relationships the man has. He is the one who negotiates with the gatekeepers. He is the one who gathers resources and pays the gatekeepers."

I almost choked. "Shit. This dude is at the heart of things."

Ailen asked. "Did you ever meet a Director Buxiu?"

I shook my head. "Nope. I only talked to technicians. But they used to tell me that it was the directors who decided whether I come back in."

Alejo shifted in his chair impatiently. "Who is this person in our world? He must have sway over Sigwurd somehow. But I can't imagine an adventurer with that sort of power."

"He's been here for years," Ailen said. "He took over the relationships from Researcher 001 according to the records. Does the name Chancellor ring a bell?"

Alejo was an upright man. He was like a knight. Chivalrous, courteous, humble, and thoughtful. He said, "Fuck."