Cultist of Cerebon

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Zareth felt a sharp spike of fear as he hurriedly leapt back from the blade which threatened to cut a chunk out of his side.

Although he trusted Rizok enough not to actually kill him during one of their spars, the lizardkin asserted quite firmly that practicing with a blunted sword would only be to Zareths detriment. According to him, Zareths greatest strength while fighting was his ability to regenerate from most wounds, which meant that he should apparently get used to suffering wounds in battle.

Zareth had thought this perfectly reasonable at first, especially since he could use [Deaden Nerves] to avoid the pain of injuries.

Unfortunately for him, Zareth hadnt taken into account how much Rizoks military background would affect how seriously he took combat training. Hed asked the soldier to teach him how to fight shortly before he began augmenting his own body, and Rizok had never shown him even the slightest amount of leniency. Every weakness was exploited without hesitation as Rizok made it clear just how easily Zareth could lose his life against a skilled opponent.

Worse yet, the two of them were sparring in a mostly empty room of Zareths spire that theyd chosen at random. This meant that there werent any obstacles or obstructions between him and the unrelenting soldier.

Focus!

Rizok emphasized his exclamation by ruthlessly cutting through Zareths hamstrings before sending him crashing to the ground with a swing of the soldiers tail. Letting out a curse of frustration, Zareth immediately sent spiked tendrils and streams of highly adhesive silk from his arms surging toward the bastard charging him.

He only managed to impede Rizok for a few moments as the soldier dodged his silk and cut his tendrils to pieces, but it was just long enough for Zareth to heal his wound. This meant that his legs didnt fail him as he was forced to dodge a sword that would have pinned him to the ground.

Good, your instincts in combat are improving, Rizok said approvingly, voice infuriatingly calm as he casually unleashed a flurry of blows that Zareth was barely able to avoid. But remember to always keep your focus. Your regeneration wont save you from an attack thats instantly lethal, nor can you afford to ignore Skill Exhaustion. Especially if you insist on wasting your stamina with [Deaden Nerves].

As if Id let you cut me to pieces without removing the pain first, you lunatic! Zareth thought to himself as he dodged another of Rizoks slashes.

Unable to fight and voice his complaints at the same time, Zareth responded by launching a barrage of quills laced with paralytic venom at the soldier. Unfortunately, Rizok was the type to only hold back enough so that the fight wasnt immediately ended, and hardly ever allowed himself to be injured.

Even without using any Skills, the level disparity between them allowed Rizok to move with near imperceptible speed as he either dodged or deflected Zareths attack like some sort of scaly ninja.

Zareth would normally be frustrated by this, but hed already gotten used to Rizoks ridiculous speed and hadnt truly expected his attack to be effective. His real goal was to simply keep the soldier distracted for as long as possible.

If you believe the odorless poison that youve been breathing out into the air is going to win you this fight, I would advise you to reconsider, said Rizok, causing a chill to run down his spine as the soldier dashed forward while deflecting his quills. You wont last long enough for it to take effect.

Zareth was wholly unable to dodge Rizoks next series of attacks as the soldier increased in speed. With every passing moment, the heavy fatigue of Skill Exhaustion grew worse as he was forced to heal wound after wound.

Hes right, Zareth thought as he rapidly healed a lung that had been punctured by a broken rib. Im not going to be able to take much more of this. I have to do something thats going to catch him off guard.

However, that was easier said than done. After several months of combat training, Zareth had already exhausted his bag of tricks against Rizok.

Fortunately, his recent access to magic-infused biomass via Meldoraths Heart meant that Zareth had been experimenting with new augmentations, and thus had a few new options.

Zareth patiently endured Rizoks attacks until he saw the lizardkin stab toward a non-vital spot of his body. Seeing his opportunity, Zareth decided to lean into the attack rather than attempt to dodge like he normally would.

As the blade pierced his body, Zareth felt a hint of satisfaction as he saw the surprise and confusion in Rizoks eyes. That expression turned to understanding as hardened keratin grew around the blade, locking it in place.

Rizok had most likely expected him to follow this trick up with a swipe of claws or a wave of sharpened tendrils, but Zareth knew that the lizardkin was far too fast for this to be effective.

Instead, he made use of something hed learned by studying the talons of Sefirahs Stormcaller Hawk, swiftly sending arcs of electricity coursing through the keratin and into the blade. The electric shock traveled up the metal, aiming for the one holding it.

Meldoraths Heart had allowed him to finally reproduce the abilities of a magical creature, with lightning-infused keratin being his first real success.

Rizok hissed in surprise, muscles seizing for a fraction of a second. It was a short moment, but Zareth had every intention of taking advantage of it as he surged forward with claws coated with his most potent paralytic venom.

Almost as if the world was moving in slow motion, Zareth watched as his claws were about to pierce Rizoks scales and burrow into the soldiers skin. Just when victory was within his grasp, Zareth felt a sudden, overwhelming wave of dread wash over him. His limbs froze, his heart pounded, and for a fleeting moment, all rational thought left his mind.

The terror was so all consuming that Zareth couldnt even stop to analyze what was happening.

Once Zareth finally managed to return to lucidity, he found himself lying flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling. He spotted Rizok standing several feet away, blade sheathed as the soldier waited for him to recover.

What the fuck was that? Zareth couldnt help but ask as he forced himself to his feet, voice tinged with a mixture of irritation and lingering fear. I was so sure that would work. How did you manage to defeat me so quickly?

That was the closest that Zareth had ever come to taking Rizok down, and yet, all of his efforts had been nullified in a single moment. It was extremely frustrating.

To make it even worse, he had no idea how he could have defended himself.

That was a lesson that I hope you take to heart, said Rizok, his voice unnervingly solemn. The Skill that I used is called [Aura of Terror] it allows me to instill a sense of debilitating fear in anyone within a certain radius. The effect is diminished by the number of enemies being affected and their Willpower, but it is still one of my more powerful Skills.

Rizoks description didnt do his Skill justice at all. [Aura of Terror] had left him so vulnerable that killing him would be as simple as swatting a fly.

What lesson exactly am I supposed to take to heart, and how do I counteract a Skill like that? Zareth asked, his voice filled with indignance. It seems ridiculous that you can just instantly win a fight by activating a single Skill.

The lesson is that you should never willingly fight someone who vastly outstrips you in levels, said Rizok, his eyes meeting Zareths with unflinching intensity. [Aura of Terror] was the Crowning Skill which I gained when I became an [Aura Blade] and is uniquely powerful. The leap in strength once an individual achieves a Class Evolution is more significant than most realize, so you will need to give it careful consideration once you reach that point.

Zareth considered it and felt his irritation begin to fade as he realized just how valuable Rizoks lesson was, though mostly for the last part. Crowning Skills were powerful and unique Skills that were offered with Class Evolutions.

Hed always been completely aware how much levels mattered in this world, but being able to attribute that specifically to Class Evolutions was useful information. He was only two levels away from making a very important decision.

The Grimoire of Cerebon offered some knowledge about what the System was likely to offer him. A few examples were [Cult Leader], which would offer him specialized Skills to enhance his followers, or another Class which seemed to focus specifically on creating flesh golems. Hed already intended to carefully consider his options, but it was still nice to be given a tangible example of how important a Class Evolution and the accompanying Crowning Skill would be.

Thanks for the lesson, Rizok, Zareth said reluctantly as he regained his composure.

Its good that one of Cerebons foreign worshipers is coming to TalQamar, Zareth mused as he began healing his wounds. Im sure theyll have some helpful advice that cant be found anywhere else.

Zareth had already needed to inform High Command that he was expecting foreign guests so that they would be able to get through the citys heightened security, so there was no sense keeping it from Rizok.

When do you believe we can expect them to arrive? asked Rizok, his tone mildly curious.

A few months, most likely, said Zareth, thinking back to the short conversation hed had with Cerebon after retrieving the tome from Meldoraths temple. I suppose Im stuck relying on myself for now. Speaking of which, give me a moment. Ive decided how to spend my Skill Point.

Rizok nodded in agreement, and turned his attention to cleaning his sword of blood.

Given that Zareth planned to deal with the Conclaves [Assassins], it would be best to dedicate his next Skill Point specifically on improving his combat ability. He had no intention of running up to them and fighting himself like some sort of Adventurer, but that didnt mean his enemies wouldnt come after him once he started causing problems.

There were only a few options which directly related to combat, specifically [Corrosive Bolt], [Minor Siphon Vitality], and [Template Body], though all of them seemed like they had specific weaknesses. [Corrosive Bolt] was redundant as a ranged attack when Zareth could augment superior alternatives, while [Minor Siphon Vitality] would require multiple Skill Evolutions to become useful.

[Template Body] seemed the best of the three, as it would allow him to create multiple sets of body augmentation templates which he could rapidly swap between during combat. Being able to instantly swap to the most durable body he could create would be very useful. The downside was that Zareths current body had already been augmented very well, so any other templates would be highly specialized for rare situations.

Zareth also considered finally acquiring [Create Lesser Flesh Golem], as Meldoraths Heart would significantly increase its effectiveness. It was a Skill which he definitely intended to pick up eventually since it had overlap with his cults intended focus on creating designer pets, war beasts, and other useful creatures. Anything they learned from their business could be applied to golems, which would be constructs entirely under their control.

Although he already had the ability to make all sorts of nasty creatures, he lacked the means to make them follow his orders.

However, there was a different option that had only become available to Zareth recently. It was only after he spent the past several weeks surveilling TalQamar from atop his spire with a magical eye when the System finally offered him a potential upgrade to [Eye of Cerebon].

It was a bit stranger than usual since the Skill Evolution came with a warning and didnt even change the name of the Skill, but the benefit seemed particularly useful.

Eye of Cerebon Evolution(s):

Eye of Cerebon - In addition to the eyes previous abilities, allows the user to see with enhanced visual acuity. Warning. This Skill has been added to the System by an external Divine Entity without prior authorization. Results not guaranteed. +1 Strength. +2 Agility. +1 Vitality.

He wasnt quite sure why the name of the Skill didnt change despite being an Evolution, but he assumed it had something to do with it being created by Cerebon rather than the System. The warnings were somewhat concerning, but he doubted that Cerebon would offer him a defective Skill without reason, so it should be fine.

The reason why he was partial to this option was because of something hed once been told by Rizok.

Many see it differently, but Ive always favored Agility over other Stats offered by the System. Speed, more than any other factor, determines the outcome of a battle. It affects your ability to attack vital points, dodge your enemys attacks, and flee from unwinnable battles. Im faster than most, but your inability to react or even see my attacks is one of your greatest weaknesses.

This most recent fight, and many others, only reinforced Rizoks argument. Agility would almost certainly lose effectiveness on a large battlefield where people often fought in formations and had limited mobility, but Zareth had no intention of going off to war.

Most of his fights were likely to be short and quick ambushes where quick reactions would make a great deal of difference.

Zareth had tried a few times to augment his own eyes so that they could better track fast moving objects, but hadnt had much luck. His Skills seem to come with a natural instinct regarding modifying brain tissue to account for new limbs, but he had no idea how to manually modify the highly complex nervous system to process information more quickly.

He had a good understanding of biology from his previous life, but there was a limit.

If upgrading [Eye of Cerebon] meant that he could start viewing things in slow motion, it would drastically improve his chance of winning a fight.

Moreover, Zareth had recently become very acquainted with exactly how useful his third eye could be when properly utilized.

The amount of information that hed been able to gather by simply watching TalQamar in the middle of the night was frankly ridiculous. Even if some buildings were magically warded against observation, Zareth had been able to freely observe several individuals who had been clearly up to no good. Criminals casually selling illegal potions in side alleys or robbing people in the dead of night were quite interesting to watch.

But most of all, his third eye had allowed him to notice people sneaking about under the shimmer of illusion magic in Silk Serpent territory. It had even allowed him to pick out a possible clue as to the location of the faction collaborating with the Conclave.

Therefore, Zareth felt like any upgrades to [Eye of Cerebon] was more than worth the investment. With those considerations in mind, Zareth spent a few more moments thinking it over before making his decision.

[Eye of Cerebon] has evolved to [Eye of Cerebon]!

With that delightfully nonsensical notification, Zareth felt a surge of energy focus itself on his third eye.

For a moment, the world around him seemed to blur before snapping back into razor-sharp clarity. Not only did the upgrade work as expected, allowing him to perceive his surroundings with enhanced speed, but the increased physical Stats were quite noticeable as well. His movements felt lighter, his reflexes sharper, and even the air seemed to move more slowly around him.

Testing his newfound ability, Zareth quickly retrieved his coin purse and tossed it into the air. To his delight, the object seemed to move in a somewhat slower arc than it normally would, giving him ample time to track and catch it.

This is great, Zareth said after a few moments, vaguely explaining his new ability to Rizok. Well have to test it out more thoroughly once we get the chance. Its a shame that today was the only day available for me to meet with Lady Marilith.

It's no surprise that the leader of a Great House would be particularly busy, Rizok commented with a deliberately neutral tone as he walked over to the door and called for someone to begin cleaning up the blood covered training room. Things would be much simpler if you were willing to meet with Steward Hissal. There is a good reason why he was made your liaison with House Vhelan.

Zareth hummed in agreement, but gave no other response to the implied suggestion. There were a few different reasons why he was going to meet with Lady Marilith today, with the public one being his desire to discuss his cults growing business. The Radiant Serpent had been selling very well amongst the wealthy naga of TalQamar, and Zareth had every intention of diversifying their products.

Money was a power of its own, and his cult was beginning to make a good amount of it.

But Zareths private, and more important, motivation was to seek Lady Mariliths assistance in dealing with the Conclave and their supporters in TalQamar. Hed strongly considered simply informing High Command about the location of the suspected Conclave hideout, but Zareth had decided against it

After they murdered a member of his cult, Zareth felt a burning need to uproot the Conclave from TalQamar entirely. Sending the military to deal with a few groups of [Assassins] only for them to adapt and resurface later was not an option.

Zareth wanted them gone permanently. This meant identifying all of their collaborators and tearing them down as well. Several weeks of careful observation had allowed him to narrow down one wealthy naga family in particular who was likely associated with the Silk Serpents, but there was little he could do on his own.

His only evidence was information given to him by Whitescale and his own eye-witness account of lizardkin servants from those families sneakily meeting with the Silk Serpents under the cover of illusions. This was far too little for a faction as new and undistinguished as his own to accuse a family of wealthy naga, especially without understanding the broader political situation.

That being the case, Zareth had decided it best to go to House Vhelan rather than the government. Not only would they likely be more flexible in their response than High Command, but this also served as a good way for Zareth to test his ostensible political ally.

This would be his first time going to them for anything other than business or the requisition of rare magical materials, so he was quite interested in seeing how they would react.

Especially after everything that hed heard about the Great Houses.

Now that you mention it, we should probably get going, Zareth said as he handed a silver coin to the young lizardkin girl who was cleaning up the gore. Tipping wasnt really a thing in TalQamari culture, but hed never heard anyone complain about receiving free money. Id really rather not be late to a meeting with Lady Marilith. That woman is pretty intimidating when she wants to be.

Rizok nodded in agreement and the two of them left the room to go clean themselves up. After all, the members of his cult may have an abnormal tolerance for seeing him walk around while covered in gore and blood, but not everyone was so understanding. After making themselves a bit more presentable, Zareth and Rizok left the tower and began making their way toward Vhelan Manor in the Sunstone Heights.

Zareth stumbled for a moment as he stepped out onto the streets, his sudden disconnection from the spire causing a short bout of disorientation. He soon recovered, and they continued on their way.

The Spire Gardens were fairly close to their destination so it wasnt long before they found themselves walking the well-paved streets of the Sunstone Heights. Zareth attracted more than a little attention given that he was a relatively well-known figure in TalQamar nowadays, especially among those who paid any attention to the citys politics.

The third-eye in the middle of his forehead likely didnt help matters.

Zareth ignored these looks for the most part, moving fairly quickly until he eventually reached the towering gates of the Vhelan Estate. This wasnt his first time visiting the sprawling estate, but the lizardkin guards at the gate werent even the slightest bit lax as they searched him and Rizok for dangerous objects. Both of them were summarily stripped of their weapons and subsequently exposed to an glowing enchanted ring which could supposedly detect Skills or magic related to shapeshifting.

Neither of them really had anything to hide, so it didnt take too long before Zareth was granted entry and Rizok was escorted elsewhere. There was little need for Zareth to have a bodyguard while walking through Vhelan Manor, so Rizok usually left to visit old acquaintances when they came here.

One of the guards opened the gate and began leading them up a marble avenue that was flanked by a row of exotic trees.

Despite belonging to a Great House, Vhelan Manor wasnt all that different when compared to what hed grown to expect from other wealthy naga families, except for being larger in scale. Unlike House Kavasa, which literally kept their manor in a magical flying prism, Zareths impression of House Vhelan was that they cared far more about practicality than perception.

Soon enough, they reached the main entrance of Vhelan Manor, an impressive structure made from white limestone covered with golden inlays that shone in the desert sun. The walls were adorned with geometric patterns and simple mosaics giving the compound an understated elegance.

The guard knocked three times on the massive door before it swung open, revealing the figure of a middle-aged naga man dressed in finery who Zareth recognized as Steward Hissal.

Welcome, Cultist Zareth, said Hissal with a slight bow. He and Zareth have been in semi-frequent communication for the past few months, so the nagas expression was far less condescending than when they first met. Youve arrived earlier than expected, but I doubt that Lady Marilith will have any complaints. If you would follow me, please.

Without another word, Steward Hissal turned around and began to lead them through Vhelan Manors courtyard and on towards the reception chamber in the central section of the estate. The important members of House Vhelan typically resided in the western wing, so Zareth had yet to come across anyone but the many lizardkin servants during his occasional visits to the manor.

Said servants moved about with militant efficiency as they walked about the richly decorated halls. Given that House Vhelan was more closely associated with TalQamar's military than any other Great House, he wouldnt be surprised if many of them had received combat training at some point.

Eventually, they arrived at a set of ornate double doors that led to the reception chamber. Zareth wasnt particularly surprised when Hissal pushed open the doors without knocking, as he assumed the Steward had a Skill that informed him when and where he wasnt welcome in the manor.

However, he was quite surprised to see that Lady Marilith already had a guest, a well-dressed older naga man with dark, leathery skin. Even while Lady Marilith projected calm and grace, Zareth could tell from the older mans agitated expression that the two of them had been having a tense conversation.

Ah, it seems that Ive lost track of the time, said Lady Marilith, her lower half spread out across one of the cushioned divans arranged around the room. Well have to continue this conversation at a later date, Guildmaster Veriss. Perhaps in a week's time? Im sure that the matter we were discussing can wait until then, especially given the circumstances.

Lady Mariliths firm tone made it clear that she wouldnt suffer any disagreement, and the older naga man nodded with obvious reluctance.

Very well, Lady Marilith. A week from now it shall be. I trust we will reach a more agreeable conclusion then, Guildmaster Veriss said before bowing slightly and making his way out of the room, his eyes flicking to Zareth before he left.

Steward Hissal followed soon after, closing the doors to the reception chamber as he departed

I hope I didnt interrupt anything important, Zareth said as he took a seat on a divan, more than a little curious why hed been used as an excuse to end a conversation between two influential naga.

Thankfully, Lady Marilith seemed willing to indulge his curiosity.

On the contrary, I would say your arrival was quite serendipitous, Lady Marilith said with a wry smile, gesturing idly toward a servant who rushed to bring a plate of fruits. Guildmaster Veriss is important to the war effort as the leader of TalQamars Blacksmithing Guild, but his competence is woefully overshadowed by his merchant instincts. The greedy old serpent actually wants permission to export surplus weapons and armor to Eldamir, as if this war was already won.

The disdain in Lady Mariliths tone made it clear what she thought about this. Zareth was inclined to agree, but he didnt know enough about the state of the war to judge.

That sounds risky, but I thought General Nasrith had won a decisive victory against FalAshar some time ago and was close to besieging their city. Has something changed? Zareth asked curiously, deciding that he should take advantage of the elderly nagas indulgent mood to get more information about the war.

TalQamar had endured the war admirably so far, but Zareth had started to notice early signs that the citys quality of life would gradually diminish over time.

FalAshar has recently formed a military coalition against us with the cities of FalMera and Ankhet. It was an expected development, but a troublesome one, said Lady Marilith, her eyes growing distant as if lost in memory. It is quite fortunate that TalQamar is uniquely blessed with a ruler who possesses a Class well-suited to lead us to victory. We would have been in much more trouble under Raqasors leadership.

While Nasriths exact Class was something that High Command had chosen to classify as a state-secret, hed heard rumors about its effects. Compared to Raqasors [Wealth of the Land], which had notably improved the citys prosperity by increasing the production of its natural resources, Nasriths Ruler Skills seemed to be all about war.

[Blacksmiths] took longer to grow exhausted while producing weapons, [Alchemists] made fewer mistakes while mixing healing potions, and anyone else contributing to the war effort saw a distinct increase in efficiency. Even Zareth himself sometimes felt more focused when working on a soldier sent by High Command for either healing or augmentation.

It was a very strange phenomenon for him to experience firsthand, and made him wonder what kinds of things other rulers may be able to accomplish.

But I doubt you came here to discuss the state of the war, Lady Marilith continued, leaning over to retrieve a piece of fruit from the table.

Zareth nodded, sitting up straight in the divan. It felt somewhat strange to have a serious business meeting on what was effectively a luxurious couch, but it was to be expected given naga physiology.

Thats correct, Lady Marilith. I would like to discuss the expansion of my cults designer pet business in TalQam

Youll have to excuse an old lady for interrupting, but it would be better if you discussed that with Hissal, said Lady Marilith, her eyes narrowing as she cut him off. Gods know those pretty little snakes of yours have been the talk of every rich woman in TalQamar, but Hissal knows the details of your business better than I do. Im far more interested in whatever put that determined look in your eyes.

Zareth was momentarily taken aback, but quickly recovered. It shouldnt surprise him that someone as politically experienced as Lady Marilith would see through him and get to the heart of the matter.

Very well. Then Ill get straight to the point, said Zareth, taking a deep breath before continuing. Im sure youve been made aware of the Conclaves recent actions. I couldnt sit back and allow them to freely attack my cult, so I decided to search for their agents myself. Unfortunately, what I found was beyond my ability to handle alone.

Zareth continued on to describe his findings, explaining to Lady Marilith that the Conclave was being sheltered by the Silk Serpents with the cooperation of a moderately wealthy family of naga. He had looked into the Vhysara family and confirmed that they werent affiliated with House Vhelan. So, he wasnt too worried about stepping on any tails by naming them explicitly.

Zareth then talked about why he had come to her rather than High Command, explaining his desire to deal with the Conclave permanently rather than just temporarily chasing them away.

Naturally, he left out the part about his desire to test House Vhelans suitability as a long-term political ally. Lady Marilith listened patiently throughout his entire explanation, only breaking her silence to calmly ask the occasional question.

Once he was done, Marilith leaned back as she processed the information. A few moments passed in thoughtful silence before she finally asked the obvious question. How exactly was it that you managed to acquire this information?

I have my own means, Zareth said vaguely, wondering how Lady Marilith would react. His cult had a right to keep its own secrets and House Vhelans willingness to respect that be one of the primary determinations on if they would be able to work together in the future. However, I assure you that everything I told you is the truth. Ive verified it myself to the best of my abilities.

Much like Meldoraths Heart, Zareth had no intentions of sharing the true abilities of his third-eye with anyone but his closest allies. Rizok and many other people knew the general details, but nobody but he knew just exactly how far it allowed him to see.

Should that change, Zareth had no doubt that they would immediately deploy countermeasures against his sight and his cult would lose one of its few advantages.

Another moment of silence passed between them, this time much more tense as Lady Marilith seemed to study Zareth with an unnerving intensity. Finally, the old naga seemed to come to a conclusion and her expression softened.

Did High Command ever inform you that they managed to identify the [Assassin] who attacked you? asked Lady Marilith, idly accepting a document that had been handed to her by a servant.

Zareth blinked in confusion at the apparent non-sequitur, but still shook his head. No, they did not. I assumed the matter had been left unresolved, but I guess that someone deemed it not important enough to share with me.

He doubted there was much he could do with the information, but he would have liked to know the name of the woman who had stabbed him in the throat and nearly killed him.

It turns out that shes a relatively skilled cut-throat from Eldamir. People have taken to calling her the Mimic Killer, Lady Marilith continued, scoffing disdainfully at the name as she quickly read over the document and signed it. Rather uncreative, but Assassin Guilds are far more common in the east, and people in those lands have a tendency to indulge in ridiculous titles. In any case, youre quite fortunate to be alive. I dont imagine that would be the case if she hadnt underestimated you.

Zareth didnt either. It was only due to that and Rizok that he was still around, but hed already been aware of that.

Thats very interesting to hear, Lady Marilith, but I dont see how it relates to the matter at hand, Zareth said hesitantly, wondering where the conversation was headed.

I mention this for two reasons. First, the woman sent to kill you belongs to an Assassins Guild native to an Eldamiri city in which only the Vhysara does any substantial business, Lady Marilith explained, finally getting to the heart of the matter and focusing on him fully. It is for this reason why I believe you speak the truth, and know that your accusations have merit. Well, that and the many means I have of detecting falsehoods.

Zareth let out a sigh of relief. If House Vhelan believed him and was willing to help, then uprooting the Conclave from TalQamar would be much easier. However, it did beg a rather obvious question.

Then why hasnt House Vhelan taken action? asked Zareth, feeling his frustration grow as he thought about the Vhysara growing rich while they helped the same people who boldly murdered one of his people. Youre powerful enough that this is something you should be able to easily handle.

It may seem that way to you, but thats only because youre unaware that one of your colleagues is coincidentally married into the Vhysara family, Lady Marilith immediately responded before looking at him with an expectant expression.

It took Zareths brain a while to sort through the matter and reach the conclusion that Marilith was leading him toward. The only person who she could be referring to was Kassan.

TalQamars internal politics was a convoluted mess, but hed been keeping a close eye on his colleagues and the growth of their religions.

He also remembered his first meeting with Lady Marilith, when she called his naga colleague Kassan the favored pet of House Khrysar and revealed that they were wielding their influence to restrict his funding. Putting all of these connections together painted a very ugly picture.

Hed noticed that Kassans people had been targeted the least out of all the new religions by the Conclave, but hed attributed that to them being primarily naga.

Now it seemed like there may have been another explanation

I see that you understand, said Lady Marilith, interrupting his rapidly spiraling thoughts. I sincerely doubt that House Khrysar itself cares about you enough to deploy such complicated subterfuge. However, I could believe it from a servant of Ghisara. She is the type of deity to reward both subtlety and ruthlessness. Theres a good reason she was once so popular with my people.

Zareth nodded absently as all the pieces started falling into place, although there were still a few things that didnt make any sense to him. That seems like too big a risk for too small a gain. Wouldnt there be massive consequences to anyone who gets caught associated with the Conclave? Theyve done a lot of damage to the interests of TalQamar.

Without incontrovertible proof, I doubt the Great Houses will take decisive action against one of our own, said Lady Marilith, a bitter smirk appearing on her face as she explained. It is how the Conclave managed to divide us and take control over TalQamar the first time. This city is so hopelessly fractious that it couldnt even hope to exist if not for its advantageous geography.

Zareth was beginning to see that, and he was growing just as frustrated with it as Lady Marilith seemed to be.

Am I supposed to believe that House Vhelan is the exception? said Zareth, his voice filled with skepticism. Would you act any differently than them if circumstances called for it?

His words were probably more disrespectful than was wise, but he felt the need to challenge her to prove him wrong.

I suppose I should be grateful youre even willing to ask at all after meeting with Farida, said Lady Marilith, chuckling softly to herself as she turned her gaze toward a window that offered an unobstructed view of the city. I have no doubt youve heard many awful things about the Great Houses, many of which are certainly true. House Vhelan holds no greater moral authority than the rest, but our interests commit us to supporting TalQamar as a true city rather than as a collection of warring factions. It is why I chose to approach you, over any of your fellow religious leaders.

If that was truly her philosophy, then it made sense to him why he would be superior to his colleagues. The only other temple who didnt focus on a specific race was Kinta, and the followers of the Serene Guide.

Zareth studied Marilith for several moments in an attempt to discern any lies in her words, but could only see sincerity. It was fully possible that someone as experienced as her could lie to him, but he decided to believe her for now.

Ultimately, it was only through watching House Vhelans actions that he could figure out their true nature. Until then, it only made sense for Zareth to make use of any resource he could get his hands on.

If thats the case, then do you have ideas on how to best proceed against the people betraying our city? Zareth asked, finally breaking the silence.

Something nearly imperceptible flashed through Lady Mariliths eyes before she responded. I suppose that depends. Are you willing to act, knowing the potential consequences? Depending on how much evidence of treachery we uncover, this matter could have significant political consequences.

That wasnt even a question as far as Zareth was concerned. Hed learned intimately that ignoring someone who attacked you never ended up well.

Something in his expression must have given Marilith her answer, because she merely nodded in sharp approval before continuing. Very well. There are a few available options that I can see. Several more if youre willing to get some blood under your nails.

The next hour was enjoyable as he and Lady Marilith gradually formed a plan to deal with their mutual enemies, the old naga even going so far as to cancel her other appointments. By the end, Zareth felt no closer to knowing if he could trust her and House Vhelan, but he did know one thing.

With her assistance, everything was coming together. For the first time in a while, Zareth knew exactly who his enemies were, where to find them, and he now had a rudimentary plan for how to confront them.

All that remained was for him to put that plan into action and claim his pound of flesh.