CROWDS FILLED THE Silver Peacock, a popular upper class restaurant in the Western Empire’s capital city of Golden Mount. Servers hurried around the dimly lit interior with the chaotic grace of honey bees. A hush fell over the room as a dark shadow framed in the double doors cast a pall on the gathered. Alimar sauntered into the main room, a smirk curling his lip as patrons and servers cleared a path for him to his table.

His gladiator bodyguard Tambek followed him closely. He frowned faintly but did not interrupt his master’s enjoyment of the wave of unsettled fear his passage caused. His gaze fell on their destination, and a weariness suffused him, muting his sigh so the sorcerer did not hear.

Alimar stopped short with a frown, discovering his table was occupied by a giant of a man flanked by two guards of his own. The giant held up his glass to the light, squinting at the quality of its contents. He informed him with icy tones, “You are sitting at my table.”

Simpkins arched an eyebrow with insouciance. “Truly? I did not see any names etched into the fine wood or any placards.”

The sorcerer blinked, caught off guard by the nonchalant dismissal. “You must be new to Griffin Isle, stranger. Do you realize you are speaking to Alimar the Black?” he challenged in a cold voice.

Simpkins looked up, lip curling with a superior air. “Excellent. I was hoping I would not have to have anyone beaten for lying to me.” The ogre rose to his full height, resplendent in garments that drew the envious eye of many of the high born in the establishment. Every glittering piece of jewelry, each stitch on richly dyed fabric woven with golden threads shot through, spoke of wealth. “I have been looking for you, Alimar the Black.”

Alimar arched an eyebrow, undaunted by Simpkins’ size or the two men, Gareth and Doom in his human disguise, who stood behind him. “Oh, have you now? Knowing who I am and the danger crossing me puts yourself into? You intrigue me.” He glanced at the sigil he wore. “A master of the Lavender Branch Tower. I do not believe I have ever had the pleasure of meeting one of your guild. A very rare ability, possessing the ability to wield two forms of magic. Psionics and conjuring, if I am not mistaken.”

The ogre smiled roguishly. “You flatter me. Not many know of my guild. It is quite small and reclusive.” He sat again, lifting the delicate wine glass, barely of a size suitable for him to hold easily. “Please, I have come a long way to seek the wisdom such a powerful, cunning and gifted magic user such as yourself.”

Alimar smirked and took the empty seat across from the ogre mage. “I admit. It is rare for anyone to arouse my curiosity. Few of our fellows are willing to seek me out. Prideful creatures. Though I can hardly fault them. It is quite a heady feeling, holding the power of life and death over the weaker riffraff.” The scowl on Doom’s human face and Gareth’s elbowing served to amuse the dark magic user. “I do not believe you gave me your name.”

“Simpkins, lord and master of the Stone Dragon. I have only recently come to Golden Mount seeking to expand my holdings. I heard there might be some land becoming available soon and I thought, who better than the man rumored to be more powerful than the sphinx Emperor Dayma-Lon himself to go to for advice?”

Alimar considered, then with an oily smile on his lips, leaned forward. “You are clever, ogre. Very well, you have my attention.”

Simpkins looked at the disguised bard and gestured dismissively. “Go tell the host I wish to have that lovely wine we were discussing earlier. And take Vaug with you to sit at the bar. I wish to discuss matters far too delicate for the likes of such bestial minds.” Doom scowled more deeply, but allowed Gareth to lead him away.

Alimar waved a dismissive hand at Tambek, echoing the ogre’s actions. “Keep an eye on my guest’s men, Tambek. I do not wish any distractions.” Though dressed well, the gladiator bodyguard still wore the shackles of a slave. He nodded and turned on his heel, following the other two without uttering a word.

Simpkins observed, “Your man seems to be in ill humor. You do not worry he might falter in his duty to you?”

“My slaves know better than to fail my expectations.” Alimar waved a dismissive hand. “It was a few years ago this day he earned the privilege to serve me as my personal bodyguard and not one of my prize gladiators. I allow him this one day to remember the cost of disobedience.”

“A gladiator? Fascinating. I had heard rumor you keep your bodyguards’ talents honed by putting them in the arenas.” He gestured towards Doom and Gareth. “I have considered doing the same with my man Vaug, but he is less than malleable.”

“I see no slave bonds on either of your guards. That is your first mistake. You are being too gentle with them. Allowing the misconception they have any choice weakens your position.” The dark mage turned his attention towards the servers, snapping his fingers. Two dropped their trays of empty plates in fright.

While Alimar’s attention was turned away, Simpkins’ expression reflected restrained anger and tension. He pressed his lips together, making a casual, reassuring gesture to Gareth.

ONCE THE BARMAN left to deliver the wine to Simpkins and Alimar’s table, Gareth exhaled loudly. “Can he possibly be so arrogant as not to suspect anything?” He looked back over to their ogre friend, returning a nod to the reassurance the plan was proceeding according to expectations.

Doom clenched his jaw and fists. “Ti told me attempts on his life are made frequently. The laws of the empire allow victims of crimes to choose to claim the criminal slave contracts of their attackers.”

Gareth looked at Doom in shock. “Slaves are not supposed to be abused when they are contracted. How can he possibly get away with that?”

“Because by the time Master is done with them, they are broken and will not only deny he did anything illegal, they will swear their lives and souls to him in a binding, lifetime contract,” Tambek stated tonelessly as he sat on Gareth’s other side. The man did not turn to look at the other two. “No one dares to cross him. The price of disobedience is…” He shook his head. “You and that ogre mage are fools if you think you can succeed in whatever it is you’re planning to do.”

The bard traded worried looks with Doom. “Will you be telling Alimar about our plans?”

Tambek snorted, making a sharp gesture for ale. “Why? He would call me a liar and have me whipped, and then call me a failure and have me whipped after my warning was borne out. I’ll suffer only one beating on your account. He can protect himself.” The man finally turned hard eyes towards them. “He will enjoy torturing you when he has your criminal contracts, too.”

“And the empire does nothing about this? Has no one told them?” Gareth demanded after the ale was brought to Tambek.

“Sacrificing a few to spare many from Alimar’s wrath is a trade the Empire makes, since they have never been able to prove his guilt without doubt,” Doom growled.

Tambek frowned, looking at Doom with narrow-eyed curiosity. “Do I know you? You sound familiar.”

“If you did know me, what would you do?” Doom countered cryptically. “Attack me? Hope that I kill you?” Doom looked to the black crystal he rubbed, eyeing it dubiously. “Not even a compulsion spell could kill you, do you really think I would try to correct that, even if you tried?”

Tambek’s eyes went wide. Thankfully, he was already sitting, though Gareth discretely made sure he did not topple from his stool. “Doom? But…it can’t be you. You look…” His words drifted off when the disguised gromek leveled a look very reminiscent of his true appearance. “You are supposed to be dead.” Tambek looked over his shoulder at Alimar and Simpkins, then back. “Master would have gone after you if he knew—”

“He does not know,” Doom stated flatly. He let the crystal drop into his palm, closing his fingers around it. “Yet. He will know soon enough.”

Gareth looked between Doom and Tambek, worried. “Doom, he belongs to Alimar. You’re taking a risk—”

“Tambek lived through facing Ti in Alimar’s death matches. She trusted him. I would not betray her by killing the one she succeeded in saving.”

Tambek looked away at the mention of Tiwaz. “Did she get to know freedom at least for a little while?” he asked in a husky voice filled with grief. “Even though the gods care nothing about Alimar’s slaves, I prayed that she finally knew freedom. We all had. She sacrificed everything for us.”

Doom looked at the dark stone in his palm, then closed both his eyes and hand. “As much as she was capable of understanding freedom, yes.”

“I’m glad,” Tambek murmured. “She deserved so much more.” He glared at Gareth and added with hostility in his voice, “You need not worry about me betraying you to Alimar. He does not speak to me unless it is to order me to do something or mock me.” His eyes flashed malevolently. “I volunteer nothing to him.”

“Tambek!” All three men flinched at Alimar’s sharp call. “To me, now!” None in the room could conceal their surprise to see Alimar and Simpkins being confronted by a pair of the sphinx emperor’s court guardsmen.

With the purest white avian wings, hair the color of spun sunlight rivaling the luminosity of her skin, the tall woman’s ice-like gaze looked down at the three at the bar. Bronzed armor hugged her body like a second skin, and the lightning arrows in her quiver crackled softly. The ornately carved crossbow was held at the ready, another lightning arrow nocked, ready to be drawn and fired in a heartbeat.

The man’s crossbow was slung on his hip, a scroll in hand in its place. There was little but the form of their armor that distinguished their genders. “Alimar of Shurakh Arln, you are summoned to stand before Prince Jondal, son of the sphinx emperor Dayma-Lon, on charges of slavery, abuse of servants, torture...” The list continued for several minutes, the entire inn silent in shocked awe.

Alimar’s smile was empty, his eyes burning dark with fury. Before he opened his mouth, the woman stated, “If you and your associate do not immediately surrender to the throne to face these charges, you are to be judged guilty of these crimes and executed immediately. If we do not return, you are to be judged guilty of these crimes and all truces between the greater territories of the Sundered Lands will be suspended until such time as you are executed.”

Simpkins sat back, draining his glass. “It seems like you will have to stand before the emperor to state your innocence.”

“Is this your doing?” Alimar demanded of the ogre.

“Me?” Simpkins affected surprise. “I never even heard of some of those crimes. How could I possibly be the one to accuse you?” With a put upon sigh, Simpkins rose. “Looks like I am also accused by proximity. I suppose it would be prudent to attend to this matter sooner rather than later, hm? These two do not seem to be particularly patient sorts.”

“Did you do this?” Tambek demanded under his breath to Doom and Gareth, furious. “Do you know how many deaths, how much suffering will be visited on not just all of us but anyone you crossed paths with when he hunts out and punishes anyone who even might be associated with you?” Doom said nothing, falling in with Simpkins. Gareth could only offer a mute expression of apology to the gladiator bodyguard.