Kaelariel and Zalkar had begun working together to allow the serilis-rir to try to integrate into society after Kari’s work on Tsalbrin, and the Order had ceased killing serilis-rir of the lesser types on sight, to gauge their loyalties. Relations were rocky between the races—it had only been a few years since the Apocalypse, after all, and many still called the serilis-rir “demons”—but peace was digging its roots into the hearts and minds of both sides. Kari was certain that with time, the wars between the rir and the serilis-rir would be a bad memory.
Kari came to attention as Devin finished speaking and the worshipers began making their way from the church. The priest beckoned his guests over. “Lady Vanador,” Devin greeted her. Kari saluted the priest, and Eli bowed his head. “It is wonderful to see you again. I understand you are in town for a hunt; how may we be of assistance?”
“Master, I was wondering if you can put a warding spell or something around the inn we’re staying at,” Kari said. “The demoness we’re hunting is an assassin, and she’s good at slipping into peoples’ rooms at night. I want to make sure we’re not in danger when we’re sleeping, and that the inn and its customers are protected.”
“Around the inn?” he repeated, rubbing his chin. “I’m afraid we can’t ward anything quite that large, though we should be able to ward a room or two.”
Kari nodded. “That will do. I suppose you’d better ward mine and the innkeeper’s; we don’t want her getting hurt, either,” she said, and she turned to Eli. “You can stay in my room so you’re within the ward, too.”
Eli shrugged. “If things go the way I expect, I doubt I’ll be at the inn most nights. But when I am, I can sleep on the floor in your room; that’s not an issue.”
She turned back to the priest. “I was also wondering if you’ve heard anything that might give us a place to start looking for this assassin. Kaelin Black said that there’ve only been two killings in the last few weeks, and both of them were guards. Have you heard anything else?”
“You may want to check with Kaelariel’s priests,” Devin answered. “I understand there were some disturbances at the graveyard in the last week, but since they are the experts in dealing with the undead, we have left them to that task unless they ask for our help. Also, I understand there are some young paladins in the city, working on finding what I suspect is the same demoness that you are hunting.”
“Yes, they’re friends of mine I brought to help me. Please give them any help they need, as if they’re part of the Order,” she said, and Devin agreed. “Eli, do you have any questions?”
“What do you know about BlackWing and his relationship with Kaelin Black?” the half-corlyps asked, and Devin’s brows arched. “There’re a lot of forces at work here, and the lady suspects that any number of them could be involved with this assassin’s plans. I know the Order thinks Kaelin Black and BlackWing are the same person, so I’m interested in what you’ve seen and heard firsthand.”
Devin sat on one of the stone benches, and Kari and Eli sat across from the human as he thought to himself. “Yes. For the longest time, many assumed that Lord Black and BlackWing were the same man,” he began. “We believed that Lord Black was running his legitimate businesses as the Earl of Southwick, but that under the alter-ego called BlackWing, he was also head of the assassin’s guild and black market known as the Black Dragon Society. It was this supposition that led the Order to list Kaelin Black as one of its most prominent mortal problems, and generally refuse to help him. This has led to strained relations not only between Lord Black and the Order, but also between Lord Black and all of the other nobles of Askies.”
“Several years ago, however, the people of this city witnessed a most improbable event: Lord Black and BlackWing in the market square at the same time,” the human continued, but he held his hand up to stave off any interruptions. “It is a rare enough thing for the people of the city to see Lord Black on his own streets; he is quite reclusive and does not spend much time among his people. But for him to be met and waylaid by BlackWing was something no one would have ever seen coming. We initially suspected the incident was set up by Lord Black to mask his wrongdoings, but the use of numerous divinations revealed that while they look exactly alike—BlackWing is virtually a twin of Lord Black—neither of them was under the effects of illusion or shape-altering magics. They were two separate, very unique individuals, and furthermore, their fight was no sham or show: They were trying to kill each other. It is also important to note that BlackWing has poisonous fangs and claws, and nearly killed Lord Black but for the timely intervention of the guards.”
“Poisonous fangs,” Eli repeated to Kari, and Devin paused for a moment. “Might explain where the succubus got it from.”
Kari agreed but gestured for Devin to continue.
“BlackWing is by and large considered the deadliest assassin in the known world,” the priest said. “For Lord Black to have held out this long against so deadly an adversary seemed to point to some sort of collusion, but the way the Black Dragon Society undermines Lord Black and his men does suggest otherwise. Either Lord Black is truly at war with BlackWing and his guild, or he represents a cunning that even Seril lacked when she sought to conquer our world.”
“But he said that BlackWing wasn’t always the head of the Black Dragon Society, and that he only appeared a little less than sixty years ago,” Kari offered.
“That may or may not be true; our church and your Order have never learned much about the Black Dragon Society, other than that it has been around at least as long as Lord Black has been the earl,” Devin returned. “We know the name BlackWing, but nothing of the man behind the nickname, other than that he is a deadly assassin. Further, we know virtually nothing of the people who work for him.”
Kari tried to keep her thoughts clear. “Black said he believes BlackWing is a black dragon who’s assumed his form to try to take over the city. But you said neither of them was under any sort of shape-shifting enchantment when they fought?”
The priest considered that but nodded slowly. “Correct. However, if he is a natural shapeshifter, our divinations would not detect that; they only detect the use of magic to enact such effects. I am afraid I do not know enough about black dragons to tell you whether or not they are, or at least can be, natural shapeshifters.”
Kari had known a black dragon in her prior life. Ashurinax the Black, he’d been called, and he definitely possessed some ability to change shape, because he’d sired a half-dragon daughter. The dragon theory was an interesting development in what she’d thought was a fairly straight-forward scheme in the beginning.
“I have a feeling that’ll get revealed when we wrap up this hunt,” Kari said. “Is there anything else you can tell us about dealing with Black, the Society, or the assassin?”
“Unlike the Blood Order or the Five Clans, the Black Dragon Society is secretive, which is why we have never really learned much about them,” Devin answered. “You will not find them patrolling the streets with tattoos or markings on their clothing; they do not want anyone to know who they are. You will likely be unable to find them unless they want to be found. Likewise, however, you will not find them plying their trade at random against the citizens of the city. They target Lord Black and his operations specifically, and if you ever see BlackWing, it will be because he has come to kill you. I do not imagine they will give you much grief while you are hunting a demon, but they will also not offer you any aid.”