Chapter 2: Summons

⁶Of my blood, the oaths of my forebears shall be fulfilled. By my actions, my oaths shall endure.  – Vow of the Bloodsworn – Second Passage, Line 6

Kriv stood at the head of the table, head lowered and fists resting on the scarred surface. Victra was sure he had not slept at all either. A moment of collective silence passed. 
With a heavy voice, Kriv began without preamble. “By now, I assume everyone knows what transpired last night.” A few looks were shared around the table, but all were silent. The dark-scaled dragonborn nodded. “Then I won’t have us endure what does not need repeating.”
Victra felt a number of those gathered shifting as they avoided looking at her, while others were open with their concern as their heads turned in her direction. Matron’s shroud, she didn’t need their pity or concern. She maintained her emotionless posture of indifference. Mercifully, Kriv continued with no further comment. 
“Then I’ll be brief in relaying the scant information the city knows.” Kriv said, his tone clipped and efficient. “As everyone knows, deep into the night amidst all kinds of celebrations, accidents are bound to occur. Late last night, a barge docked along the river was spotted aflame. The fire grew, but quick-thinking sailors cut the ship’s mooring before it could spread. The barge burned thoroughly before sinking in the deepest part of the river. No injuries were reported, and at the moment no accusations or suspicions of foul play have been voiced. It seems Rodrigo’s assurances were fulfilled, but it would be wise for the guild to avoid any interactions with him for some time, should any uncomfortable questions arise.” 
“Rodrigo has assured me that he will remain in Aleria for now, but he will be returning to Bordova before winter.” Kriv said. “There will be many questions for him to answer before then.”
“What of what happened in the upper city?” Adrie asked, a hint of worry in her otherwise composed face. “What news there?”
Kriv nodded wearily. “Yes, a disturbance was reported to the City Watch, but I was informed that it was quickly elevated. Reports of a bloody affair and rumors of either anarchists or a criminal syndicate,” he added with a humorless chuckle. “I will continue to listen, but there should be nothing that leads back to us.”
The dragonborn drew himself up. “Until then, there is work that must be done. Contracts that everyone knew were coming, and can be pushed back no longer.” A few nods and muttered agreements from around the table greeted the guildmaster. 
Though still numb from everything that had transpired, Victra felt her fury rise. 
“Work?” She ground out through gritted teeth. “You are worried about contracts now? Heath is gone, vanished right in front of us. We don’t know how, we don’t know where to, or for what purpose. And your concern is for your next paid contract?”
“Of course we are concerned about what happened to Heath,” Nambu said gently, interrupting before Kriv could respond. Agitation flashed in the dragonborn’s eyes. “Everything about this is concerning, which is why we must tread carefully.”
“Aye,” rumbled Orsic, the dwarf crossing his muscular arms. “The fact that this occurred right in front of us and we were powerless to halt it is not something we can brush aside either.”
“It seems recent events have only revealed more questions,” Svrcina said softly, “and few answers. And the consequences seem to be great, even as we do not know the ends.”
“Then why aren’t we going out trying to answer those questions?” Victra asked. “Why aren’t we out there trying to help our friend?”
The awkward pause in the conversation caught Victra by surprise as realization struck her. She was the only one there who could count Heath as a friend. He had never allowed any of them to get close. Though he had been their ally for a time, recent events made it clear to everyone that he never fully trusted them. And that a few of them could justifiably consider him with suspicion. 
A pit forming in her stomach, she thought back to the conversations she had with him and Rodrigo before they abducted Murmur. The conversations where she had all but pleaded with Heath to tell the guild the truth. All men have secrets, but Heath more than most. Victra knew his were dangerous, and there were more that she didn’t know. What she did know was that those secrets were at the heart of everything that had been happening with Murmur. And now the reason her friend was gone.
Maybe if he had finally been truthful, if he had trusted them, that might have helped. It might have moved them to feel more loyalty towards him. Or maybe Heath had been right. Perhaps they were right to suspect him, not to trust him. She pushed those thoughts away, refusing to give them any more life.
The slow, rasping words of Kriv broke the silence. “We have carefully put the word out,” his hunched shoulders doing little to hide the tension he felt. “We have friends who have their ears to the ground. I have informants who will watch and listen and carefully inquire through the lower city and the docks, all the places we know Heath has frequented in the past. We will be diligent in doing everything we can to find out what happened, who is responsible, and try to answer the many questions we still have.” Kriv leveled his gaze across the table. “The hard truth is that he never made the guild his first priority, and now we get to return the favor. There’s actual work to be done.”
Despite the callousness to Kriv’s words, Victra found herself surprised how much had already been put in place to try to ascertain if there was anything to be found as to what happened to Heath. 
“A similar thing happened with Westro,” Kriv continued, though almost muttering just to himself. “He stepped away from the guild, making his own choices, and then no word from him. By all accounts he simply vanished. We could take the time and resources to look for him, but other responsibilities have to take priority.”
Victra saw that the topic bothered Kriv. She had never met Westro, he had left the guild some time before she had joined, but she had heard a little about him. As Kriv spoke, there was a concern that she saw he held, the truth of it she found difficult to identify or fully untangle from her own feelings. 
Low conversations broke out amongst the table. Victra found herself sinking into her thoughts when Svrcina laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. The slender tiefling leaned down, speaking in a low voice. 
“I want you to know we aren’t ignoring this,” she whispered. “I know we have responsibilities as a guild, but we’ll do everything we can to find Heath. Early this morning I attempted a scry, but the magic found no target. There are only so many reasons that could explain that. We know how unlikely it is that he would be able to resist its effects, which means either he is warded from its sight, or he is somehow beyond the reach of the scry.” Neither woman voiced the remaining reason why a scry wouldn’t find a target. Victra made as though to speak, but Svrcina gripped her shoulder. “There will be time enough to unravel what is going on here, but right now there are other things that must take our attention.”
Victra met her gaze as sharp replies died on her tongue. She found herself trusting the open earnestness she had come to expect from Svrcina. She sighed and nodded. Svrcina gave her an encouraging smile and another squeeze on her shoulder before moving to the seat beside her brother as the other conversations around the table quieted down. 
“We have two contracts,” Kriv said loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. “And both are time-sensitive, so we’ll be sending out two groups. Assignments have already been handled by Nambu. One group will be tasked with preparing for a raid on a hideout suspected to have ties to the Magebreaker. This comes from a reliable source within the Alerian intelligence network. They intercepted sensitive communications, and containing a priority name, it has been relayed to us. Svrcina will lead, and will be accompanied by Cassian, Orsic, and Daen. We have the full report from the Silver Ring for you to review.”
From around the table, there was a shared acknowledgement between the members of the guild. There were many strong feelings regarding the enigmatic Magebreaker. Some three months earlier, the guild had taken a contract from a man named Adrian to oversee special goods being shipped south. Once they learned the truth, that this Magebreaker was imprisoning and trafficking youths with promising arcane capabilities, they had immediately focused on apprehending Adrian. However, he narrowly escaped their grasp, and there had been no word or sign of the Magebreaker since. 
Victra noted the darkened expressions mirrored in the Romero siblings, both Cassian and Svrcina unyieldingly stern. She also caught a look shared between Daen and Lilith, though it was far more solemn. Despite a few soft muttered words, Victra was keenly aware that no one made mention of Heath. The affair with the Magebreaker had been the entire reason Heath had met and stuck with the guild. Before the arrival of Miguel and Rodrigo Motovani and later Murmur, Heath’s attention had been focused on tracking down Adrian and any word on the Magebreaker. 
Kriv cleared his throat and focused the table once more. “This will keep a comfortable number of us close to the city, should anything unexpected arise. I have also given direction to Ellien, who most of you should be at least familiar with by now.” Victra had watched Kriv’s newest protege, though had never spoken with her. Heath had seemed confident in the streetwise teenager, and Victra had given her little thought since. Kriv continued. “She, along with a few others from the Sparrows, have been helpful since the Contest. They have been covering parts of the city we can’t, and will be our first indicator if anything arises after what happened with Murmur. While I’m gone, she will liaise with Nambu and anyone else necessary.”
“We expect everyone’s discretion,” Nambu said carefully. “This partnership is new, and while we are extending a good measure of trust, only the essential information needs to be communicated to the Sparrows. Ellien takes her direction from Kriv, and the others through her. Sensitive details and intelligence should remain within our circle.”
Affirmations sounded from around the table. Then Lilith straightened in her chair and looked around the gathering. She pushed her black hair to the side, maintaining her poise. 
“I won’t be able to help,” she announced as she looked around with fierce eyes. “I apologize, but there is something I have to look into.” She settled back into her chair, offering no further explanation. 
Initially, Victra dismissed her words. Lilith had often kept to herself, and the dark mage had not joined the guild on a contract for some time. But in the moments after the young woman spoke, Victra could immediately tell there was more involved. Several looks were quickly shared around the table, not the least of which was an expression of stark concern from Daen.
The tall elven form of Adrie inclined her head. “I’ll stick around,” she said with a practiced ease. “I can keep an eye out, and offer a hand if you need anything.” She gave Lilith a warm smile, but Victra caught the shared acknowledgement Adrie shared with Kriv. 
Someone at least is making sure no one else in the guild goes off on their own, Victra thought. 
“As for the rest of us,” Kriv said, “we will be taking another contract with Warlord Blahgrut Redmane and his Bound Legion. We’re going back to Hillhold. Reports have been coming in that the giants are on the move, and Redmane believes this time they are marching to war.”
“What?!” Mars erupted. Victra couldn’t tell if the massive man was more excited or enraged. “And this is the first we’re hearing about it?”
“I have been in communication with agents of the legion for some time,” Kriv growled. “As you might have noticed, we’ve been busy. Now this demands not only our attention, but action. Scouts have been observing their movements, but a sizable force is already underway to Hillhold. The news arrived only hours ago, and the reports indicate they will reach the fort on the morrow. Lord Blahgrut is rallying his troops to march as soon as possible, but mobilizing the legion takes time. He needs a force to reach Hillhold quickly, and he has entrusted the task to us.”
“If the giants are on the warpath…” Victra trailed off. “What kind of force are we expecting to meet?”
“One large enough that Redmane is preparing the entirety of the Bound Legion,” Kriv said heavily. “We don’t know how many, but it is no small force. If there weren’t other urgent matters, I’d rather bring all of us that we can. But the reality is that we can only spare a few. So tactics will have to change.” Kriv grimaced,a hiss of frustration breaking through his scaled lips. “And Vicia’s favor would have this be the moment Heath takes to disappear, since he was the one actually taking the time to learn how to deal with the giants. Now I have to go find someone even remotely qualified to be an expert for this endeavor.” He grumbled to himself. 
Kriv looked up, addressing the table as a whole. “I’ll ride out today with Mars, Iden, Victra, and Cael. And dragon’s blessings, if I’m able to find anyone else in this city foolish enough to face giants.” A somber sensation settled over the table. The black-scaled dragonborn gave a nod. “We all ride before sunset. Make your preparations and gather only what you need. Meet back here two hours past midday, and if you have any other questions, ask Nambu. I have work that needs to be done.”
Feeling her anger rising once more with no place to go, Victra stormed out of the guildhall as the meeting adjourned. Without fully intending it, Victra found her way through the heart of Aleria, past the busy markets to the relatively quiet streets surrounding the docks. She looked up, blinking as the weather-stained sign of the Black Crow tavern creaked in the wind. The storm had raged through the night, but the skies remained grey with the smell of rain still dancing on the wind. 
Trusting her instincts, Victra pushed into the tavern, her elven eyes easily adjusting to the low light. The common room was empty, late enough in the morning that all the dregs of the night would have been ushered out. Behind the bar, a heavyset man with a coarse black beard and a face crisscrossed with scars looked up. He smiled broadly, resting muscular arms on the smooth bar in front of him. 
“Mornin’ lass,” Mo said in greeting. “Tis a wee bit early, but what may I-”
“Have you seen Heath?” Victra interrupted impatiently. “I know he lodges here, and we haven’t been able to find him since last night.”
The barkeep’s warm countenance vanished and a serious demeanor clouded his features. “He hasn’t been by,” Mo said evenly, his dark eyes keenly studying Victra. “But tain’t unusual for him to be out for some time.”
“Well, not like this,” Victra replied. “Where is his room?” Her cold fury flared impatiently, but she held it in check. 
Mo held her gaze a moment longer before nodding to himself. “Aye, ye’d be Victra, he really did describe ye true.” Victra bristled, but the man motioned with his head towards the far corner of the tavern. “Upstairs, single room at the end.” He reached under the bar, and set a metal key in front of Victra. 
With a tightlipped nod, Victra took the key and walked upstairs. Not knowing what she could find, or even what she hoped to find, Victra stepped over the threshold. It was a small, simple room, which should have come to no surprise. A single bed, little more than a sleeping pallet. Against one wall was a desk, and opposite was an off-kilter dresser. The floorboards were scuffed and the walls scarred, but the room was clean. A single window faced northeast, viewing the city expanse. 
Victra breathed in. She had never been in the room, but it was immediately clear that it was Heath’s. The simplicity, the tidiness, even the familiar smell. Victra stood in the door, unmoving for a moment. She blinked, breaking the reprieve. She had work to do. 
Closing off her emotions, Victra took in the room with keen eyes. She ignored the sign of living, instead looking closer for the details less readily apparent. Quickly, the signs of a recent struggle became clear. Her eyes followed deep grooves in the floorboards. In the wall near the window, a gouge from a blade. Signs of the few pieces of furniture being overturned. 
From under the bed, Victra pulled a sturdy chest with an unlocked padlock. Lifting the lid, the chest was mostly empty. A few glass vials, spare bowstrings, and a whetstone. Turning to the dresser, Victra pushed aside the few spare articles of clothing when tucked into the back was a leatherbound notebook. Victra opened the worn leather cover, noting that several of the pages were torn or stained. The notebook was filled with a rough, but steady script that was interspersed with the occasional sketch. Maps. Drawings of creatures. This was Heath’s hunting journal. 
Victra turned to the final entries. She saw a more frantic hand. And names. Murmur.
Setting her jaw, Victra closed the journal and tucked it into a pouch at her side. There would be another time to read its contents in full. A final pass over the room revealed a pouch of silver under the mattress. Victra tucked the pouch away as well, and withdrew from the room. 
Descending the stairs, Victra tossed the purse of silver on the bar. 
“Send word to the guild in Turen if you hear any news of him or his whereabouts,” Victra said to the barkeep. “I trust you know which one.” Mo nodded. Victra paused. “Likewise if anyone else comes looking for him, I want to be the first to know.”
With even more unanswered questions, Victra left with no further words. Allowing her warring emotions to disperse, she returned to the guildhall, ducking into her own room and began preparing herself for the expedition in the afternoon.