The Fall of Brikstrat 3 - A nightly visit

Ulal watches his door and waits. Any second now. Bored he crosses his naked arms, his upper half completely revealed, the legs and crotch covered by a blanket. He was just taking a nap after a talking session with Aclysia and following ‘experimentations’ of the unscientific kind when he heard steps up the stairs. He knows it isn’t Catherine, because he actually wanted her to be here earlier but she said “I don’t have time, I am too busy.” And vanished in her classroom. If it would be Alratha he doubts that he would hear her stomp around like that. Even at the worst of times the assassin tended to be quiet on her feet and let her mouth do the noise.

“Hello!” Alratha says and pushes open the door. “Dammit, wrong.” Ulal curses, having just lost a mental bet against himself. “Expected someone else?” “You could say that. What do you want here this late? Council isn’t until tomorrow you should know that.” Alratha smiles and steps into the room. Now the reason why he heard the footsteps becomes clear to Ulal. Even though Alratha herself makes no sound whatsoever the girl behind her does. “I appreciate the gesture, but no thank you.” Ulal says as he analyses the blonde thing. Somewhere between 18 and 20, athletic build, blue eyes. Pretty much an ideal Estaran woman.

“She is no prostitute you dimwit.” Alratha snickers. “She is my second recruit.” Ulal raises an eyebrow. “Her? I heard her from like a floor lower.” “She looks like she has potential.” Ulal looks at the girl again. “Well, if you say so…wait second recruit?” Alratha turns around. “Where did she? Ah, there you are.” Alratha leaves the room and drags another person in, her hood pulled deep in her face hides her face. “Reinal get in here too.” “Do I have to? I just got out of a naked man’s bedroom.” The blonde says, “You will do it or I will send you back.”

Not a tone Ulal is used from Alratha. Then again she never had underlings until now. Reinal hastily gets into the room following the threat and Alratha puts her arms around the two newcomers. “These will be my protégée’s.” She exclaims. “This is Reinal.” She nods to the left, at the blonde. “And this is Erica.” She nods to the right.

Ulal looks at Erica for a few seconds and then it clicks in his mind. “Ah yes, you are that person from the first recruitment wave. So she is the reason why you vanished, Alratha?” “Mhm, yes and no. Not that important. Erica here wanted to speak to you about…” “I can speak for myself, you know.” Erica says in a rebellious tone and gets away from Alratha’s embrace.

“Do it then.” Ulal says, “But first take down that hood.” Erica hesitates. “You are supposed to be part of my assassin order. If you can’t show your face to me you are unworthy of my trust.” Quietly Erica raises her hands and pulls back the hood. The reason why she had it on becomes apparent immediately. A large network of scars around her left eye stretches all the way down to her lips. She is a cute young thing with short black hair and the scars do little to obscure that fact but they are still a disfigurement one might want to hide.

“If you are uncomfortable you can put it back on.” She does and then speaks up again. “I am a member of the Cult of Five.” Now that is a surprise. “Okay. Why come to me then instead of Tarzana.” “I am not exactly a normal worshipper. I was on my pilgrimage to the north when I got the message of the branch I was staying with at the time. I hasted up here before them to get the chance of meeting you.” Ulal tilts his head. “Why?” he asks. Erica shakes her head in surprise. “You don’t know what your existence means for us? A human turned immortal by absorbing a Demonlord. You are pretty much a saint.”

He never looked at it from that angle. True enough for a religion that worshipped demons a person that has turned half-demon would be revered. Or hated. “Is that a common view amongst you?” Ulal asks. “Oh yes.” ‘Interesting. I might be able to use this.’ Ulal smiles. “Thank you. If you want to talk to me more listen to Alratha. If she deems your progress worthy you might get a private audience with me.” Erica nods and steps back behind Alratha.

Ulal now turns to the other newcomer. Reinal hasn’t said anything and is looking very uncomfortable with all of this. “What do you desire, child.” Ulal asks. “I just wanted to get away from all the horrible raping.” She says. “Well, mission accomplished. And now?” Reinal looks confused. “If there is one thing you got there is a new thing you want. Exhibit A, myself. I wanted to survive, I awoke my magic powers, then I wanted more power so I got better at it and finally left home. I got enslaved for a few years during which I wanted knowledge, after I gained that I wanted freedom, then I wanted immortality, achieving that I wanted this city and currently I am preoccupied with that.” Ulal points at her, “You are safe. What do you want now? Would you like the power to prevent something like that ever happening to you again?”

Reinal nods. “Very good. Then you as well should listen to Alratha. When she is done with you, you will have all the skills you need.” Finally Ulal turns back to Alratha.

“I don’t know if I approve of them but I am not specifically great in the art of assassination myself while you are…” “An absolute genius at murdering people?” Ulal chuckles, “I was going to say crazy good at it, but have it your way.” Alratha frowns, “Dammit that is better.”

“Thereby I approve of your selection if nothing else. Train them however you deem necessary once you think they are strong enough to handle it.” He makes a small pause for dramatic effect. “They get the procedure.” Alratha cackles and the young duo looks a bit terrified.

“With that out of the way can you please let me sleep? I haven’t done so in almost four days and it is slowly getting to me.” “Of course, Lord Ulal.” Alratha says and bows while walking backwards. “Until tomorrow.”