Chapter Five

 

Pandora sent a hotel worker to the five restaurants with a stack of bills for bribing the hostesses, promising an equal stack when he returned with news of her mother's location. There was a chance that she might not be in town, but Pandora doubted it. Selena wasn't like her father, she was vain and thin-skinned. The decades in the Eternal City being looked down upon as a lesser being had forged her personality. Pandora had witnessed her mother being ignored by the other maetrie, both her father's retinue and the nobles of the courts, who considered her an amusing story, not a serious figure to worry about. That was the part that her mother had never understood. She was always looking to please her father by doing whatever he wanted, but he wasn't looking for subservience. Dominion wanted to see her take down foe like a predator after its prey. Only then might he be proud of her.

The Savage Heights was a five-star restaurant in the financial district. The worker hadn't been able to get a visual on Selena, but the hostess had assured him that she'd just been seated in a private room in back.

"Ready?" asked Kuma before he stepped out of the limousine ahead of her. They wore the clothes that Hylakane had given them, not only because it would make them more recognizable, but because they had hidden pockets for weapons. She didn't expect trouble, but there was no reason to be careless.

"Srazhasa," she said in maetrie, which roughly translated to "to battle."

Her appearance caused a stir from the staff. The hostess couldn't speak, staring into her book and blinking occasionally.

"Right here," said Kuma, jamming his finger next to their names. "Lady Saha expects the finest."

"I, yes, there will be, we'll do our best, ma'am, I mean Lady," said the hostess, tripping over herself.

As they strode through the restaurant, all eyes were upon them. While the maetrie weren't an unknown quantity, they typically did not visit restaurants or other public establishments, which was why her mother was in a private room. The hotel concierge could have gotten them more private accommodations, but that had been part of the plan.

The hostess stopped at a table, stuttering for words and holding her hand out, the only thing her muddled mind would allow. Pandora still wasn't convinced she had the maetrie aura but she was coming around to the idea. She spotted the row of doors in the back of the main area where the private rooms were located and made sure she was facing that direction when she spoke next.

"This is an insult," said Pandora in her loudest, accented voice. The words rang through the restaurant like a warning bell. The other guests either ducked their heads or stared with their mouths wide open.

"I should have my body servant beat you for this insolence. I was told I would be treated with the respect I deserve, not placed with the doe-eyed cattle," said Pandora.

"My apologies, Lady Saha," said the hostess, looking delirious and a little nauseous. "There are no other spaces. If we'd known of your arrival..."

"Known of my arrival? And let my enemies plan an assassination? I'll have you know I'm a great warrior with many foes. I've fought Red Company on the Plains of Nethersong, and bested the Champion of the Fallow Wastes. They would like nothing more than to see my body riddled with bloody holes. Sake ehn faro!"

The last part meant "you discarded rocks that could have been a building," which wasn't as impactful in English, so she'd kept it in the language of the Eternal City. The bulging-eyed look Kuma gave told her that she was overdoing the outburst, but she found herself getting into the role of the arrogant nobility in a backwater realm.

The hostess looked like she might be sick, and two tables near the edge vacated quickly. Pandora suspected the others were too terrified of leaving and accidentally insulting her. A waiter in a black shirt and pants came running up to the hostess and whispered in her ear. They'd come from one of the back rooms—each spot had a personal waiter. If the relief in the hostess' eyes could have been turned into an elixir, it could have been sold for millions.

"Good news, Lady Saha. Another one of our guests, who hails from the same realm as you, has offered a spot at her table. If that's acceptable?"

"Who is this mystery guest?" she asked with chin raised.

The hostess approached and spoke in a low voice. "Selena Thule, daughter of Dominion Thule. She's a regular of our establishment."

Her voice held pride mixed with exhaustion. The hostess looked like she'd run a marathon even though it'd only been a few minutes.

"I believe I have heard of this Thule. Very well. If it keeps me from having to look at your disgusting human bodies during dinner, I will allow it."

During the walk to the back room, the adrenaline high of simultaneously making a scene and being taken supremely seriously hit the wall of realization that she would be face-to-face with her mother. It was one thing to play a part for people who knew of the maetrie only in stories and rumors, but her mother had lived in the Eternal City for decades. The only thing that would make this easier was that Lady Saha had been gone on her liebereisen for longer, and the time away would have made her less maetrie-like than most.

When the door opened, Pandora strode through like a queen. Her mother was sitting with a trio of guests, but Pandora barely acknowledged them. Selena wore a golden dress that matched the modification to her arm and head. She looked more like an android than half-maetrie, the chalky gray skin coming off as metallic.

"Lady Saha," said Selena with the off-putting smile that was common in the Eternal City. "Won't you join us for dinner? It would be lovely to visit with someone from the old country. It's been years since I've been back, I would love to hear about recent events."

"I'm afraid I cannot help you," said Pandora sourly. "I've been on my liebereisen for many decades and have only passed through the Eternal City as a way station. The machinations of the courts bore me. It is personal achievement that I value most, not the wielding of power accumulated by someone else."

Selena's mouth twitched with amusement. "Then you picked a wonderful time to visit the city of sorcery and the Savage Heights. Please join us. I think you'll find this encounter quite productive."

Pandora let out a sigh, trying to keep it from being so deep as to be insulting. She took a spot across from the others and Kuma joined her in the seat next, completing the final two spots at the table.

"This is my body servant Aman. He pledged himself to me on the plains of Brodaria after I bested a warpriest of Ghoghali in individual combat."

The blonde woman to Selena's right whistled appreciatively and spoke in a French accent. "I am quite familiar with the Brodarians. It's something of a personal interest of mine."

Pandora hid her grimace. If the woman wanted to talk about the Brodarians, it might expose her lack of knowledge.

"My apologies," said Selena, inclining her head. "Let me introduce my guests. This is Sandi LaFleur, head of Ares Industries. Her Montreal company is known throughout the realms for its superior weaponry, armor, and magical trinkets. To her left is Lee Travic, owner of Acoustic Excavation, and finally, Barry Williams, who heads the Global Banking Institute. We were catching up on some mutual business interests."

The gentleman, Lee, looked the least suited for the table, staring into his napkin as if it were the latest football game. His suit was expensive, but lacked the stylings of the others, unlike Mr. Williams, who had rich brown skin and a patina of shorn gray hair on his mostly bald head. He looked like the kind of guy who hadn't had a single meal under four figures in decades.

"Maybe I have something that might interest you," said Sandi as she lifted a glass of pale liquid. "My company has a large cadre of mages from the Halls who design the most wonderful weapons."

She said the last part as if she were making decorative teacups, not weapons of war. The sneer wasn't hard to conjure. Her years in the clans had given her a different perspective than how people saw things in the light, and Pandora didn't want the woman to get chummy.

"I do not care for magical baubles. The most important weapon is the one who wields it. A proper practitioner can turn a piece of paper into a killing tool. I have spent my journey honing my skills in the art of battle."

The others looked equally impressed, while her mother let the corners of her mouth curl.

"Then what a prescient time to visit the city. You know my father of course, Dominion Thule."

"I think I've heard of him. A minor thug with a talent for survival who exists at the edges of the aphena."

The insult barely registered in Selena's eyes. "He has made himself useful to the courts for a long time. Maybe things have changed since you left."

"It matters little and is why I haven't bothered to return, except as transit."

"What brings you to Invictus?" asked the banker.

"Rumors of an infernal invasion had piqued my interest, but I was disappointed to find out that they'd been felled long before I could make it back. But since we're between wars in Brodaria and the giants of Illithusus have returned to the winter lands, I find myself without opponents to test myself against."

Pandora had been concerned about this part of the plan. Coincidence was never a good opening into intrigue, but the glee in her mother's eyes, coupled with the glances from her table companions, eliminated that worry.

"What a delightful time then to visit," said Selena, holding a hand up to her chest. "My father is holding a grand tournament in the Undercity in a few days' time. Great warriors from all over the realms are coming in hopes of garnering great prizes and being named Champion."

"I care not for prizes, and I doubt any of your pathetic cretins here could give me a moment's challenge unless it was one of your Patrons. I might find it interesting to duel this Invictus, or maybe one of the others I've heard so much about."

"I think you'll find this tournament to be to your liking. One of the aftereffects of the invasion was the discovery of faez crystals, hardened stones of magic, which under the proper usage can turn ordinary warriors into supreme beings of combat. I've seen them myself. They are quite exquisite in battle, or scrapping as they like to say."

"Sounds dull."

Kuma kicked her under the table, letting her know she'd overdone it. She glared briefly, hiding her expression as she took a drink.

"Perhaps I might be interested."

"My father would be quite pleased."

"When does this tournament start?" asked Pandora.

"You're in luck. Only a few days away. I could have my father put you up in one of the better establishments in the Terreno. It won't be anything like what's available up here, but it will be better than what you could find on your own."

"I spent years sleeping in ditches waiting for the next wave of battle. If there are no other accommodations, I will accept what's available," said Pandora.

"Wonderful," said Selena. "I'll send along word and prepare a space for you and your body servant."

"Aman is only my body servant. My weapon keeper, food taster, and footmen will require lodging as well. I would prefer to stay in the same extended suite. They can sleep on the floor if necessary."

"It shall be done." Selena rang a silver bell on the table. "Maybe we should order."

"I'll let you do the honors, since I know little of your world's culinary amusements," said Pandora.

She spent the rest of the evening asking her mother's companions questions, feigning interest in anything that was battle-adjacent, which meant that Sandi was the main focus of discussion. The banker tried to engage in conversation while the man on his left barely opened his mouth, looking out of place at the fine dining establishment.

"What does an Acoustic Excavation company do?" she asked, feigning ignorance.

Mr. Lee cleared his throat and fussed with his napkin. "We provide mining and excavating expertise."

"I assume this is more than a casual friendship," said Pandora.

"I'm working with the Thules on a number of projects in the Undercity. Faez crystal mining and other ventures of interest in the more difficult places to access," said Mr. Lee, clearly uncomfortable.

"Is this Undercity a dangerous place?"

He swallowed. "Until the recent invasion it was much worse, but the faez crystals brought in more people and now it's not so bad, but still, one of my crew wandered too close to a restricted area and something dragged him into the shadows. They only found his left leg, half-chewed and covered in a glossy slime."

"That sounds delightful. I would love to meet the creature that did that." Pandora turned to her mother. "Will there be menagerie fights during this tournament?"

"The details have been kept secret, but I can assure you there will be twists as fitting for a grand event like this," she said, eyes sparkling with mirth.

At the end of the meal, Selena gave her contact information. Pandora left, motioning for Kuma to follow. He'd barely spoken during the evening, deferring any questions to her as he his station demanded. When they were back in the limousine, she slumped into the seat.

"That was exhausting."

"Exhausting? You looked like you were having the time of your life."

"I guess not being me made the difference, either because I had to throw myself into the role, or because she treated me differently. I was nervous at first, but it never felt like I was talking to my mother."

"At least it went well," said Kuma. "Hopefully the others didn't have any problems. We have a few days to get their disguises ready before we return to the Undercity."

The Undercity. Talking to her mother was one thing. But her grandfather, Dominion, would not be so easy to fool.