The Red Hand

As the line for admission slowly but surely proceeded forward, the bad feeling within Nier's gut only grew worse. He had no idea why security was so tight, nor why a feeling of dread welled up within him, but his years of experience and instincts told him that whatever was happening was not good.

"They're checking everyone." Katlyn whispered in his ear. "I can hear something about looking for someone, but nothing specific yet."

"What are the odds it's one of us?" Kanato said with a defeated laugh. "It always goes that way..."

"They have no reason to be after us." Nier replied as the line continued to move forward, the group of guards primed to reach them in just a few minutes. "Not only would they have no idea we'd be in the area, but we've done nothing to warrant attention. If they're after us, I can't imagine the reason why."

{Unless the Gods have detected us and want us dead, but that still doesn't make sense considering we're of no value.} (Nier)

"It's gotta be me." Kanato said. "I'm a Hero, there's nobody else here they could be after. I'll just turn myself in and-"

"Stop." Nier interrupted him. "Just keep calm, and we'll see what happens. If need be, we'll run. I don't know the full story, but if what those Fairies said is true, we need you as part of whatever is going on at that Temple."

"I just don't want more people getting hurt because of me." Kanto said as the line continued to move forward, the entire group's pulse quickened as the heavily armed Elven guards approached them.

"Identification." The Elven guard barked at the four of them, his eyes drifting to Miz'ri. "Dark Elf."

"She's with us." Nier moved between him and Miz'ri as they flashed their guild identification along with Kanato.

As the guard examined the small metal plates, Nier kept his hand close to his weapon, ready in case a fight broke out.

"State your business." The guard growled.

"We're on a job for monster extermination and part retrieval. We only intend to stay in the city for a day at most to gather supplies, and we'll be on our way." Nier said with the perfect poker face as the guard seemed to think for a moment before yelling to one of the other guards in the Wood Elven language.

"Stay right there." The guard said as another came over and took out what looked like a small mirror that was pointed toward the group. It showed their reflections, and again, when it passed in front of Miz'ri, the Guards made distasteful comments but ultimately did nothing as the other guard put the item away.

{A Mirror of Truth? How long has it been since I've seen one of those? Whoever they're after must be trying to get into the city while disguised. They wouldn't use something that old and valuable unless they were a big enough threat.} (Nier)

"They're clear." The guard with the mirror nodded to the one who'd been interrogating them, who swore in his own tongue.

"I want you four out of the Capital before the Sun dips below the horizon." The guard scoffed as he handed them a small block of wood with Elven lettering on it. "And make sure your pet there doesn't cause any trouble else we'll have to put it down." He said as they were pushed forward into the city.

"What an asshole." Katlyn growled as they moved past the guards and into the street. "I'll pet him."

"Um... I think he was referring to me." Miz'ri said with a wry smile.

"No, it was definitely a reference to Kat." Nier chuckled, which resulted in his foot being stepped on by a certain irritated beastwoman.

"So, I guess they weren't after any of us." Kanato said, genuinely surprised that this hadn't gone like the dozens of novels he'd read in the past. "I was expecting a fight and chase scene if I'm being honest."

"I told you, it wouldn't make sense for them to be after us." Nier said as they continued down the crowded street. "Though considering how tense everything seems to be, we'd best make ourselves scarce. The less time we spend here, the better."

The reason for increased security remained elusive as the group traveled around the Capital. Shopkeepers seemed frustrated by shipment holdups and conifications, the local Guild branch complained that adventurers had essentially gone AWOL within the city, and even many of the Elven residents took issue with the guards' repressive measures. However, while everyone was frustrated with this state of affairs, the cause of it all remained elusive. Nier was able to discern that these crackdowns were a recent development, having occurred within the last few weeks, although anything more recent than that was merely rumor and speculation among the townsfolk. Some pointed to an internal political struggle as the most likely cause, though most simply avoided making such statements for obvious reasons.

"It feels like we're in a city bracing for a siege." Katlyn said as she chewed on a skewer, as the group sat at a table for lunch. "The draconian entry checks, high number of guard patrols, and the general atmosphere of unease remind me of that time we were held up in Ethumpkin in the days leading up to the Monster Break."

"Not a fun thing to be reminded of, but yeah, that's what I was thinking." Nier sighed as he watched a group of guards interrogate a merchant. "These guys are in a hurry to find whoever the hell it is they're after, that's for sure. I nearly stepped in when they shook down that mother and child."

"Wood Elves are not the kind to impose such measures lightly. I can't imagine what's got them so riled up if they're acting more like the Empire." Miz'ri commented. "They're generally quite lax, at least when it comes to law enforcement."

"Nothing is normal right now..." Kanato said as he took a drink of water from his flask. "Honestly, it reminds me of that time in Kikalth where-"

"Where your then-fiancé had everyone on edge." Jacabey finished Kanato's sentence for him, startling the group as he appeared at the edge of their table. "That woman could freeze the Hells with her presence alone, so pardon me from saying that I never understood what you saw in her!" He laughed.

"Jacabey?!?" Kanato went wide-eyed at the sudden appearance of his 'friend.' "What are you doing here?" He said as he quickly shot up.

"It's good to see you too, Kanato." Jacabey laughed as the two men exchanged a brief hug. "And I see you're in the company of some new compatriots. Always a busy man, aren't you?"

"You don't know the half of it." Kanato said with a dry laugh before introducing Burning Light.

"Ah, now that's a group I'm familiar with." Jacabey said while stroking his beard and observing the party. "My name Jacabey. I've known your friend Kanato here for a good while. It's nice to meet you."

"Good to meet you too." Nier shook his hand with a diplomatic smile. "Any friend of Kanato's is a friend of ours."

"I've heard of the party of Burning Light a few times over the years. Your reputation paints you as a crack team that handles jobs nobody else is skilled enough to handle." Jacabey said. "It would seem our Hero is in capable hands."

"But anyway, what are you even doing here, Jacabey?" Kanato asked again. "The Elves here don't have official diplomatic contacts with the Confederation."

"I am not here on official business, at least business related to Northwind." Jacabey said, his tone shifting from jovial to a bit more curt. "Let's call it some off-the-books discussions." He smiled.

{This guy...} (Nier)

"I see..." Kanato nodded, understanding the meaning behind his words. He'd been around the merchant long enough not to ask too many questions. "Do you know what's got the Elves in such a tizzy? I've never seen them crack down this hard."

"Hmmm..." Jacabey hummed as he debated whether to give him an answer. Kanato nor Burning Light knew of his partnership with Akagi, and he was not about to give that information out freely if it could be avoided, even when he was aware that the four of them had been roped into working for the Demon as well. "I must be getting soft in my old age. I'll tell you what I know, but you've got to promise that you'll keep it to yourselves." He said as the group looked at each other and nodded.

"There is a rumor going around, and remind you this is just a rumor, but it looks like a certain woman you know quite well is gunning for the Elven leadership." Jacabey said, which made Kanato's eyes go wide.

"Wait." Kanato paused. "You don't mean-"

"Indeed, I do." Jacabey interrupted him. "It would look like the Reaper has been sent on a new mission. From what I understand, there was a bit of falling out between the Gods and the Elven King, and well..." He shrugged.

"If she's out for their leadership's heads, then that would explain the heightened security." Nier clicked his tongue in frustration. "Rehael is not someone I want to mess with. We should get out of here immediately. I don't want to be in the same country with her if she's on a war path."

"Crazy bitch." Katlyn agreed, and while Kanato did want to retort in an attempt to defend his Wife, he was also under no illusions about her true nature and was honestly in no mood to deal with her at the moment.

{Rehael...} (Kanato)

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<Shiva>

“The Empire's Hero?” Shiva quickly moved out of sight as she spotted Kanato and the members of Burning Light conversing with Jacabey in the plaza. “What is he doing here? And those three. They feel familiar for some reason...” She'd never actually met Burning Light before but had heard of them, though couldn't quite make the connection. “Why would he be here? Was he not sent to that other world? Lady Reflia didn't make any mention of the Heroes' return, so perhaps...” She shook her head. “I'll keep an eye on them. The Reactor below the Palace can wait. Something tells me that the Hero's movements will be far more important.”

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