“Let me guess—that’s also because you don’t get visitors?”
“No, some of my men are simply assholes.”
“Why do you hire them, then?”
The Warden shrugged. “Assholes make for good prison guards, and I am running a prison, after all.” He paused. “In the interest of full disclosure, and as a gesture of goodwill, I will also tell you the prison is currently on lockdown… as such my men have been instructed not to allow anyone into or out of the complex without my strict authorization.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Lockdown? Did something happen?”
“Nothing you or the residents of Devil Falls should worry about. I can assure you, every single one of the dangerous animals we are custodians of pose no threat to the community at large.”
Animals.
Son of a bitch.
I swallowed the bile and put on a smile. “Right… well, that’s good news, then.”
The Warden’s eye twitched again. It was impossible not to notice. “So, Seline. I’m sure the head of the Obsidian Order is about as busy as I am—care to tell me why you have decided to make a house call?”
I paused, watching him from where I was sitting. “Of course,” I said, “Yes, I have come to offer our assistance.”
The Warden’s smile turned confused. “Oh? I’m not aware we require your assistance.”
“Then with all due respect, you aren’t paying attention. About a month ago, your people had a run in with a faction calling themselves the Crimson Hunters, is that right?”
The Warden’s eyebrow cocked, then his eye twitched. “Your organization is very well informed.”
“I know. It helps that we have had run ins with the Crimson Hunters before. In fact, when the faction was at its height of power, we were able to crush it. We thought they were all gone, but now a splinter group has emerged.”
“Splinters don’t bother me.”
“This one should. Warden, I lost people at the hands of the Crimson Hunters. Good people. They are brutal killers, ruthless, but they aren’t stupid. Tell me, when was the last time you dealt with a Hunter threat?”
“That information is classified.”
“I have it on good authority there was an incursion at a night club in the neighborhood. A pack of them descended upon it, causing all kinds of merry hell.”
His smile was all but gone, now, replaced by a frown. “Did you come here to tell me just how good your spies were?”
“No. I came here to tell you, we know they haven’t been seen since, and we know why. They’re planning another attack. A big one. This time, they’re coming to rip out the throat of your entire organization. I have seen the writing on the wall—literally, they tag the walls of their hunting grounds, leaving messages for others of their tribe. They’re coming for your people, Warden. And soon.”
The Warden took a deep breath and composed himself. I thought he was about to speak, but then I noticed he had started looking at me a little more closely, his eyes narrowing, his gaze tightening. I felt a shiver down my spine, and a prickle along the skin of my shoulders. He was using magic on me, I could tell, but it wouldn’t work.
The stone of Will hanging from my neck flared to life, shattering the Warden’s concentration, and sending him back into his chair.
I wagged my index finger at him. “Using magic on me…” I said, “That’s not very nice.”
He brushed his hair with one of his hands. “What… did you do?”
“Nothing that concerns you. But please, for your own good, don’t try that again.”
“I… apologize. But you come in here, talking about my organization’s affairs in ways you shouldn’t be able to. I had no choice but to try to find out how you could possibly know all this.”
“Good, old fashioned spy craft, Warden. That’s all it is. You dedicate yourself to knowing all that happens inside this place, I’m sure. I dedicate myself to knowing what others are up to.”
He rolled his neck, cracking it before giving me his full attention again. “Well, then. It appears your faction’s reputation is well founded. I’m still not entirely sure exactly why you’re here, however. You say you want to offer assistance with the Crimson Hunters, but what does that look like?”
“I have capable fighters at my disposal ready to deploy in order to counter the threat. We can arrive in Devil Falls within the hour.”
“And do what?”
“Strike at the heart of the hunters, destroy their lair.”
“You know where they’re hiding?”
“We do. We know how many there are, where they are, and how to attack them in order to minimize our own potential casualties.”
“How many casualties?”
I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “None.”
The Warden narrowed his eyes. “Alright, I’m interested. Now, tell me what the catch is.”
“There’s an inmate here…”
“Ah, of course there is.”
“I want to arrange for their immediate release, and in exchange we will move into Devil Falls and remove the Hunter threat. You won’t have to deal with them anymore.”
He waved his hand. “And which inmate is this?”
“There are two, but I’m not ready to divulge their identities just yet. First, I want to secure their release. Then you’ll get their identity.”
“I’m sure you understand I cannot write a blank check… we house some very dangerous criminals in here. Allowing you carte blanche to pick and choose an inmate to release, that’s not something I’m willing to do.”
“Warden, I know you don’t have the resources to real with the hunters. I know you’re going to hope your walls will be enough to keep them out. But trust me. This entire time, they’ve been stalking you. Watching you. Examining your guard rotations, shift changes, your processes. They’re coming for you, Warden, and you’re trapped in your own box.”
The Warden paused, his eyes darkening. I could tell he was analyzing my offer, trying to judge it on his merits. My heart was hammering, now. I couldn’t keep it from doing what it wanted to do, but I didn’t let it show on my face. I wouldn’t. To the Warden, I was unflinching, and entirely composed.
He suddenly stood and extended his hand. “I’m sorry,” he said, “But I cannot in good conscience negotiate the release of a single inmate, let alone two, without knowing who it is you want released.”
I stood. “I don’t mean to sound morbid, but you’ve just sentenced your entire prison population to death.”
His eyes narrowed. “Is that a threat, Seline?”
“I’m not the one threatening you, Warden. They are. I can assure you, the inmate I want released has done nothing wrong. They are only here for the crime of being what they are.”
“And that is?”
“An Outsider. Like me. It’s no secret the way you treat our kind, and as much as I dislike what you do, you occasionally catch real, dangerous individuals, so your operation is tolerated.”
His eyebrows arched. “Tolerated…”
“I came here today extending the hand of an ally. I want to try and bridge the gap between our peoples; mages and Aevians, natives and outsiders. If you aren’t interested, then I’ll just wish you good luck.”