Rexi and Talon

By Onyx Tao

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15. Rexi

The day continued as miserably as it had started. Exactly what was Zackton talking to in the mirror? And where did it go? Why was it critically important to send a messenger to the goldsmith, and tell him do not proceed on my order. What order? Who was Zackton working with? Why?

Rexi was practically grinding his teeth.

And how in the name of Hell itself had Zackton blundered into the family secrets_!_

It was all falling apart, and a day ago it had looked so promising. But. Still. Regardless of what Rexi decided to do about Zackton, he needed to look compliant.

The arrangements didn't take long to make, fortunately, and - much as he'd expected from Zackton's cryptic hints, Harald was waiting for him with one of his discomfortingly rare smiles. "You have something."

"I had a dream ..." Harald said quietly. "About a room. Here. About how to get in. About how to get out, even. There's an old shrine here, Uncle. Waiting for me. For the family."

"A shrine ..."

"To," and Harald's voice dropped even lower, "the Reaper. Specifically." He was quiet. "I had my doubts, Uncle, but ... I think we were guided here."

"What does that mean about the Master?" Rexi said. "Did you ... dream anything about him?"

"No," said Harald. "Why? I thought you were managing him?"

"I thought I was, too," said Rexi grimly. "But ... he knows."

"That's ..." Harald paused. "Unfortunate."

"He knows about the shrine, too, I think," said Rexi.

Harald looked surprised. "How?"

"I'm ... he clearly knows a lot about this house," Rexi said. "I think ... I don't think he ended up owning it by any so-called happy accident. But he knows ... a lot about the house's secrets. Things that it would take us months to find ... he knows. I suspect he had a journal, or a diary, of a previous owner, and he's looking for ... something."

"Gold," said Harald.

"Gold," said Rexi, dubiously. "Maybe. Given the way he spends, it doesn't seem that critical. I don't think it's his motivation."

"The way it runs through his fingers? It's got to be a concern."

Rexi thought about what the financial discussions in the music room. "Maybe, but I think ... he's looking for something else."

"We should find it first," Harald said reflexively.

"That's the plan," said Rexi. "Could you ... ask advice on that? I'm ..."

"He knows too much," Harald said flatly.

"Yes ..." said Rexi. "But ... Harald, honestly, I don't think that's a good idea. I think that would be ... asking for more trouble than I want."

"He knows too much," Harald repeated.

"We know too much," Rexi said. "I had a talk with him. He knows. And ... he's not concerned about us. He wasn't concerned about the Hellknights. Harald, I think he's something we're going to have to live with for a while."

"A half-orc?"

Rexi shook his head. "I know, I know, but ... he's dangerous. Really dangerous. I don't know what he knows, or what he plans ... me, I get all his orders, I carry out his instructions, I listen to him talk, and I am still in the dark. And I'm not even sure if he's hiding his agenda from me specifically or not. And that means he's really really good.

Harald gave Rexi a questioning look.

"This is not something I will accept disagreement on," Rexi said. "We will not bet the family against him."

"He's one half-orc."

"He's off limits," Rexi said firmly. "That might change. But right now, we've got a perfect cover, he's offered to ... well, not work with us, but work in tandem with us."

"You don't trust him."

"Please," said Rexi. "Of course not. I just think ... we need to step very, very carefully here."

"Fine. But we should put something in place, make plans ..."

"Yes," said Rexi. "Start planning. But ... don't do anything. Wait."

"Understood. I'm going to have to reconsecrate ..."

"No," said Rexi. "Too dangerous. The Hellknights are almost certainly watching him ... which means they're watching us. No ... disappearances. Not yet. We have to wait."

"But ..."

"Wait," ordered Rexi. "We've been preparing. Casing. Getting ready. And we'll continue doing that. But we do nothing until the eyes are off us, understand?"

"Yes," said Harald. "I understand."

"And you do nothing with respect to Master Zackton, either. Plan. Case. Get ready. But ... not until I give the word. Understand?"

"I understand," said Harald.

"Do you agree with me?"

"I ... I think you're being too cautious, Uncle. The shrine is a sign."

"It is. It's a sign to respect secrets and caution. And that is what we will do."

"I ... yes, Uncle."

"Good."

"I want you to work with Master Zackton to find out what he's looking for," Rexi said. "Whatever it is, I want to find it first. If he's working from a journal or something ..."

"Then it should be in his things," Harald nodded. "Got it."

"Be careful. Take Sassy."

"Not you?"

"No," said Rexi. "I want ..." and he stopped as Brandas ran up. "Uncle! There's a ... a ... somebody! At the door! 'Maestro Crandolous', he says, and he's demanding to see Master!"

Rexi huffed a sigh. "I'm coming, I'm coming ..."

The Maestro Crandolous, it turned out, was a tall, lean human clad in deep red and black velvet robes that would have been far more impressive if they had been a little cleaner, and less rumpled. "I must see your Master immediately!" He paused. "I trust he's in. My card."

Rexi took the card politely. "I will present it to Master at the first opportunity, of course, but I'm afraid the Master is not at home for calls."

"This is of the highest importance. Present my card immediately," the Maestro said.

It was surprisingly difficult, but Rexi managed to shake off the compulsion in the Maestro's voice. Still ... just because one wasn't compelled to take an action didn't mean it wasn't the right thing to do. Rexi bowed, mouthed more polite formulas, and went off to ask Master Zackton just what to do about a man who turned up and attempted magical compulsion on the Master's slaves. Rexi thought, at a minimum, the result would be instructive.