Legend of Ransera

Aurin wished he didn't have to spend the winter in Kalzasi. Winters in northern Karnor were disgustingly cold for one with southern river blood running through his veins. But the world-traveler needed to put his time in when he could in the office; the Golden Peacock Theater gave him some cultural and business clout in Kalzasi. His interests were global, and he was considering removing his anchor from Kalzasi, but for the time being... He was not on a beach in Solunarium eating tropical fruits and banging Hilana. He was not in Silfanore where the weather was naturally better and what wasn't natural was improved through their omnipresent magic.

But he was ensuring that his face was seen. Elric Hansom was an artiste and Lord Yserloo was a socialite, so it was good for the artists, designers, workers, administration, and all to see the one who ensured the lights stayed on and wages were paid. Aurin followed the money, so people followed him.

His secretary—low-key the accountant who kept things going in his frequent absences—found him glad-handing a vendor while an actress pretended to go through her blocking while instead admiring him.

"An Orkhan warrior...? Hm." He bowed shallowly to the vendor. "Forgive me, Venkatesan. We are being invaded. I will check back with you before the end of the week to ensure everything is copacetic for all of us. Good day."

His secretary filled him in as he strode purposefully toward the salon of the grand theater. Not currently in operation, a bartender was working behind the bar in preparation for the evening's crowds. A few musicians were on the small stage working through some difficult passages. And there was a tall Ork, standing out like a sore thumb. He was clearly Ecithian, not one of the more cosmopolitan of his cousins from Kalzasi.

Aurin offered the warrior a bow.

"Welcome to the Golden Peacock Theater. I am Aurin Kavafis. How may I help you?"

He didn't seem like a performer, but Aurin didn't rightly know what an Ecithian sword-swallower looked like. His secretary remained nearby in case Aurin needed him to run an errand.

Alas, it was not Imogen.

"Master Voreth," he said, imprinting the name into his memory. It was a mnemonic trick an actress had taught him while he taught her what cunnilingus meant.

"I have contacts and business across Ailizane," he agreed. "And some in Solunarium, though I haven't ventured yet into the Ecithian commonwealth." He would really have to get Imogen to set him up with contacts there if he was going to be a spider whose web spanned the world.

"I don't mind wards, but why don't we repair to my office, which is already warded, though you may certainly set up your own if you prefer."

He led the warrior upstairs to the administrative wing. His secretary had rushed ahead, stood by the door to let them in. When Aurin scanned the room, he saw the young man had placed something from the main bar downstairs to the already rather impressively curated wet bar he kept in his office. Ah, something new from Drathera. He hadn't had an opportunity to try it.

With the door shut behind them, his own wards sealed themselves. Talon Novalys had scrived the Rune of Initiation onto his skin and into his soul, but hadn't taught him anything. The ebberite key was heavily warded and somewhere else. His wards were rather expert now, he liked to think. Mostly, he had learned from observation, though there were a few warders among the covens who had answered his questions when he had them.

As there were Avialae, Orkhan, and even Mortallen in Kalzasi, the chairs facing his desk were of a size to be comfortable for anyone. There was also a sofa and armchair around a coffee table for more informal confabulation. He spread his hand.

"Please, make yourself comfortable. May I offer you a drink?"

He would pour himself some of the Ecithian spirit, anyway, and see to his guest's needs. Once they were ready to get down to business, he took a sip.

"Now, Master Voreth, who are you looking for?"

Aurin had a heavy hand when pouring drinks, and wouldn't let the Ork's glass go empty unless he begged off a refill.

He drank, and he listened. He thought, Ah, I had wondered what else he might have gotten mixed up with. No news from Valencia, but then she could be tight-lipped about coven matters, even with her prize pupil.

"Dreyfus Monteliyet is known to me," he admitted. "The last time I saw him was, hm, just over a year ago. He was at a Zaichaeri inn. He did not see me."

Aurin wasn't about to give up his alias, Ernst Klein, even if the name didn't mean anything to Voreth. In some ways, Aurin Kavafis was an alias, albeit one not too far from who he had been as an idiot youth with a deathwish.

"I know who he was speaking to, and I could ask when and where they last saw him if that would be helpful." He imagined Valencia and Eshar would be willing to update him if he asked, though the information might not come free and, of course, Aurin would have to upcharge to make it worth his time and effort. But he could get quick and accurate information for the Orkhan hunter; quick and accurate did not come cheap.

Voreth had wanted to be put on the Vampir's trail. If he wanted Aurin to actually track the Order's oathbreaker down, that would require more time and, of course, remuneration.

Not knowing Ecithian Orkhan culture well, Aurin's back remained straight. Whereas he might sprawl and play the rake in Kalzasern circles, he knew that wouldn't read the same in every realm. If his reputation had reached Ecith, he did want to keep it sterling. One never knew when that might come in handy.

Aurin considered, stroking at the dark red stubble on his chin.

"Coin is nice," he allowed. "Secrets and favors are preferable. However, you have piqued my interest, so I am going to look into this anyway. I'll look into this tonight, and if you return here on the morrow, we can discuss what solid intelligence I can gather and how much it might be worth to you."

His vulpine smile wasn't evil, but it was certainly crafty.

After seeing Voreth out, he buckled down to ensure everything that needed doing was done. Sometimes his jaunts took him out of Kalzasi longer than expected and he didn't want anyone to miss their wages or payments on his account. Unless they were cunts; then all bets were off.

He checked in with his various agents in Kalzasi: Ashoka, Elwes, Dhruv, et cetera.

Then he rode the 'rails' to the covens' market in Zaichaer to drink and follow up on the Monteliyet question with Eshar and Valencia. He even had Ernst Klein check in on the apostate's family estate whose people look much improved with supplies from the Brass City. On the morrow, Voreth returned and Aurin greeted him in much the same manner: with Orkhan spirits in his office behind a screen of silence to obfuscate any who might seek to eavesdrop.

The Ork didn't need to know he was a Railrunner. When Aurin's intelligence proved accurate, its speed could add to his mystique.

"On the 18th of Searing last, he was actually in Kalzasi seeking relief from spiritual possession at the Tranquil Gardens. He left still afflicted by a Spirit of Betrayal that he apparently collected while in Ecith. In the meantime, he has been going on forays into uninhabited parts of Zaichaeri territory. His people aren't sure what he is looking for exactly."

The intelligence might seem slim, but Aurin felt it was enough to go on, at least if he were the one investigating. Either Ernst Klein could spend time at the little village that had grown up around the Monteliyet estate until the Vampir returned and then track him toward wherever he was going, or he might glean more details from more time spent among the people's minds, and then narrow down areas where he was searching.

What Voreth could do on his own, Aurin didn't know.

If nothing else, he could take Voreth to the Market to meet with the powers of the covens or even to the estate, shroud him in human-seeming glamours, and set him on the path. Aurin could get a nominal finder's fee and plenty of goodwill from the covens. It didn't seem as though Dreyfus Monteliyet was actually doing for the covens what he claimed he would and could, so he doubted they would care terribly if the Orkhan hunter had his way with him.

To Aurin's mind, one less ticking time bomb near his interests in Zaichaer, though he didn't bear the man any particular ill will. He was going to have to start asking Lady Kala more pointed questions, though. He had been let into some of her secrets by signing a magically binding non-disclosure agreement because he didn't want to stand in the way of Torin's advancement and Torin had no secrets from him. But he would have liked to have known that she had examined a spirit-cursed Vampir in Kalzasi proper.

He liked to think he hadn't put down roots, but Kalzasi had been his base of operations for years now. He had people here. Some had moved on or moved away, some had other options, but he wanted to know when things were aimed at this place that might require a sudden migration.

Aurin took a sip of his Orkhan spirit, observing his Orkhan guest and awaiting his decision.

"Did he now?"

Aurin rubbed fair fingers over the hint of ginger scruff along his jaw. A keen-eyed Orkhan hunter might notice all the barely visible scars on his hands, signs of a knife fighter. The fact that a knife fighter survived long enough to claw his way into a situation like this likely meant he was a good knife fighter, too.

"Well, the Imperium did float a ship over toward Zaichaer while it was reeling from the rift in the sky. They didn't take kindly to that. Nor would any call him a hero for betraying his homeland to the Imperium. He already betrayed the Order of Reconciliation from what I understand. They aren't my favorite people, mind. But if one's word is meant to be taken as bond... Well." He didn't know much about Ecithian Orkhan, but he assumed they had a strong sense of honor. Aurin had one, but it was murky and convoluted and he had never been able to articulate it to himself, let alone anyone else. Then again, to most people, he offered a sort of 'honor among thieves' if anything.

"Only so many betrayals before a spirit of betrayal comes stalking you as a prey or... kindred, eh?"

He took another sip and set his drink down, leaning forward slightly.

"I can take you there now, if you like. To his family's estate. Glamour you to seem human so they don't turn on you. Help you catch the scent."

Aurin had already done a fair amount for a bit of knowledge about Dreyfus Monteliyet, and he would do this as well. If nothing else, he might have an ally should he find himself in Ecith and in need.