Velin entered the room silently, as was his habit. An unfamiliar man followed him. Tangles of long grey hair obscured much of his face until he brushed it aside. He had a few scars, definitely from combat, though it was impossible to tell whether they were from street fights or warfare. His stride was confident, disciplined. It was difficult to pin down his position. Ex-military?

"Kaler," Velin said, his voice so faint it was almost a whisper. "This is Bryn. He has a proposition for you."

The man, Bryn, shook Kaler's hand.

"Well, what's this about then?" Kaler asked.

"I have some lucrative work for you. Shouldn't be too difficult for experienced mercenaries like yourselves."

Nira listened to his tone. His voice was strong, but not forceful; it was strangely sophisticated. She noted the subtle compliment. Bryn needed something, and he needed it more desperately than he was willing to admit.

"I work on details, Bryn," Kaler said. "What's the job?"

"The Hinterlands Cult kidnapped one of my associates. I need help to retrieve him. You can use whatever level of force you deem necessary against the cultists."

"I've heard of the cult. They've been growing in number. I doubt this will be as easy as walking in and grabbing your captive. What's the pay?"

"Twelve stone seals. I've heard one of your mercs is injured, so you'll get four each."

Kaler walked towards the window and leaned on the desk underneath. He gazed out at the street below, not bothering to turn towards Bryn as he spoke.

"A decent amount, but it wouldn't be easy, especially without Marn."

"Your number will be enough," Bryn said. "I'll be joining you as well, and I have my fair share of combat experience."

Kaler turned to face Bryn.

"Reassuring, but my mercs stick together. We're not abandoning Marn here."

"How long will he be out of action for?" Bryn asked.

"The rest of his life. He was poisoned, lost his axe arm."

Nira noted that Bryn's facial expression didn't change. He couldn't care less about their problems. His glance fell to Kaler's sword and shield, propped up against the wall.

"You were in the army?"

This Bryn had a sharp eye; either that, or he was ex-army himself.

"I was." Kaler looked up, a long-abandoned flame returning to his eyes. "Youngest commander of the Valrys Regional Army." A smile, laced with pride, flashed across his face. Nira noted that he sidestepped the reason for his discharge. Three regiments lost due to a rash decision; a decision boiled in searing anger. The Claret Fangs made sure never to remind Kaler of this fact.

"I could use a commander," Bryn said. The curiosity in his gaze gave way to cold determination. "I'm decent in a fight, but large-scale tactics are beyond me."

Kaler took a moment before replying.

"We need time to recover our strength, Bryn. You'll find another company easy enough."

He returned to the desk, to gaze out the window once more.

As Bryn turned to leave, the door to a side room opened.

"Excuse me, Bryn, was it? You're headed for the Hinterlands?"

Eleius looked as if death had abandoned him on an afterthought. He was thin, his body ravaged from the rock withdrawal. The dark sacks under his eyes betrayed the fact that he hadn't slept for days.

"I am, as soon as I find some mercenaries for my task."

"I'm Eleius," he said, offering his hand to Bryn. Bryn did not take it.

"So you're the cutter that Velin mentioned. What business have you with me?"

"Well, I'm an ex-cutter, technically. Besides, I'm not that easily defined. I'm a travelling scribe. You might have heard about my Glass Tomb expedition?"

Kaler's eyes locked on to the Scribe, like a wolf spotting its prey.

"That was you?" he growled.

Nira smirked. The withdrawal hadn't managed to dampen Eleius' ability to screw himself over.

"That's not important right now, Kaler," Eleius said.

"What do you want, Scribe?" Bryn asked. "I don't have time for this."

"I was planning on heading back to Narcys, now that I'm recovered. I can recognise a good story when I hear one, though. Can I accompany you?"

"What use will you be to me?" Bryn asked.

"Well, I can fight, for one."

"Fight what? Rabbits? I've seen more intimidating street urchins."

Nira could hold it in no longer. She burst out laughing, ignoring the dark look that Eleius shot her.

"I can take care of myself. Why, I killed an assassin just the other week."

Bryn looked to Kaler for confirmation. He grudgingly nodded.

"You can accompany me as far as Narcys, but you pay your way. I've already got one scholarly headache to deal with."

"I'll just convince you along the way, then," Eleius said with a smile.

Nira's smile died. If Eleius went to Narcys, he would sell his story. He could then buy more rock and fall into the same hopeless cycle.

"Kaler," Nira said. "We should join them."

Kaler raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? And why's that?"

"Marn's out of action. We need money to pay his physick bills. Besides, there are no real jobs left in Tresil now that the Silver Shards are snatching them up as soon as they're posted."

Kaler twined strands of his beard around his finger.

"True, but what would we do with Marn?"

"With that kind of money, we could pay for him to stay here while we're away."

"That won't be necessary," Bryn said. "If he can travel, he can stay at my residence in Bellais."

Nira, Bryn and Eleius stared at Kaler with varying levels of intensity, waiting for his reaction.

"Fine! We'll go. If this goes wrong, it's on you, Nira."

Nira smiled. She would be able to keep an eye on Eleius. Strangely, spending weeks enduring his drug-addled verbal abuse and cleaning up his shit, piss and vomit had only strengthened her affection for him. Why do I always go for the smartarses? she thought.

The next morning, Kaler used his contacts to secure a cheap carriage ride to the Hinterlands. They stopped outside the inn, waiting for Selenas to pile his books inside and settle himself in a seat. Bryn eyed Eleius with suspicion.

"You'll be hopping off at the last turnoff along the high road," he said.

"Of course," Eleius said. His smirk was less than convincing.

Before even a greeting could pass between them, Eleius and Selenas settled down to discussing the Ruins of Kela. Nira's attention was on Bryn. He stole glances of each of the Claret Fangs, including the unconscious Marn who lay wedged between the walls of the carriage. Nira was sure she could detect more than a hint of disdain for the mercenaries in Bryn's eyes. With a crack of a whip, the carriage began to move through the streets of Tresil. They were on the road by sunrise.