Chapter Five: The Path of Blood

By Richard LeBlanc

In the web of tunnels and corridors deep beneath the chantry - the acting regent guided the assassin through places no outsider had ever been. Calloway studied the walls of the tunnels and corridors as they walked - some looked pretty new - other parts seemed way older than the city.

"This set up would put a Nos to shame. They know you warlocks have this kind of network underground?" Calloway asked curiously. The acting regent looked over his shoulder at Calloway and scowled.

"No - and it would be advised that it remain so," he rebutted. In the far off distance - they could hear sounds of powerful spells being cast.

"Sounds like they're still putting up some resistance," the assassin remarked.

"Were they not - we would not be speaking we would most certainly be dead," the Tremere pointed out. Calloway rolled his eyes. Why did everyone have to be so melodramatic?

It was then that they rounded a corner and found themselves in a large section that was being used to treat numerous neonates and elders that had been wounded and that were near to final death.

"No wonder the Tremere influence in the city has been what it was," Calloway remarked.

"Do you still believe that you can do - what dozens of our best could not - what dozens more neonates failed to do?" he asked seriously.  Calloway looked at the extensive wounds that ghoul retainers were tending too.

"Messy stuff," Calloway stated as he and his guide made their way through the makeshift infirmary. "What did they go in with?" he asked curiously.

"Guns - lots of them - and their knowledge and powers," he answered.

"Guns - never could find a use for them," Calloway muttered.

"They served little good against what they faced. The bullets - event the enchanted ones did little to even slow down the hordes beyond the gate," the Tremere added. The statement peeked the assassin's interest.

"So magic is not an effective weapon against what is beyond this gate?" he asked.

"It has kept them at bay thus far," the Tremere rebutted.

"Sounds to me like a Band-Aid on a throat wound to me. Anything else I should know before I hook up with the regent?" Calloway asked. The acting regent scowled as he glared at the assassin from over his shoulder.

"You may have been able to talk your way into this place - and into these tunnels - but I assure you - talking your way out - will prove a far greater task. You life - is in the hands of the regent now - yours mine and Palaseen," he grumbled.

"You make it sound like you don't want me here," Calloway remarked.

"Had I my way - you wouldn't have soiled the floors of the chantry with your presence. The - one consolation I will take in all of this - unpleasantness is that the regent will deal with you personally," he rebutted.

Calloway quietly laughed as they continued downward. As they did - the sounds of conflict grew louder and closer. Along the floor the two could see the bodies of Tremere that were in deep torpor.

"Some of these lads look pretty young," Calloway remarked.

"Some of them - many of them are retainers that were recently embraced," he replied.

"You mages must be pretty hard up if you are willing to risk traditional breaches to keep this mess quiet," he pointed out.

"That is the ticket assassin. Keep talking. The more you say - the more rope you will hang yourself with," he muttered. Calloway smiled as they rounded the corner and saw several Tremere working as fast as they could to make an archway.

"This - isn't a good thing?' Calloway asked.

"The gate is about to fall," he muttered. He picked up his pace and hurried by the working Tremere. Calloway was about to follow when the vampire wizards stopped what they were doing and barred the way.

"Shouldn't you be working?" he asked curiously.

"You are not of the clan," one began.

"You should not be here," another added.

"You did what!?" a voice boomed. They all looked to where the voice came from. Seconds later - an almost enraged regent stormed out from around the corner and glared at the assassin. "Get back to work - now!" he ordered. The Tremere bowed and resumed what they were doing. The regent made his way by them and stared Calloway in the eye.

"You - are the one I was supposed to see," Calloway remarked.

"You have ten seconds to explain to me why I shouldn't kill you where you stand," he rebutted seriously.

"I don't even need that much time. I know what is going on here - and so do others. I was fed enough information to be brought to your doorstep. As such - if I have that much information - others can - and will as well. Killing me won't silence the gaping hole in your network. All it would be doing - would be like shooting yourself in the leg," he answered. The regent glared at the Follower of Set.

"Fucking snakes - had I my way - all of your kind would be skinned," he almost spat.

"You aren't the first person to say that - and you won't be the last. How about this - we lose the attitude and get down to business?" Calloway asked seriously.

"You will address me with respect in my domain," he stated sternly.

"Don't quote traditions to me. I know you didn't ask for permission to sire these brats and I sure as hell know you didn't have permission to send them into whatever you sent them in there to get killed by," he rebutted.

"Your value to me is fading - very rapidly Calloway. You managed to slither your way past Palaseen - who I instructed to not let anyone in. You even managed to connive your way past Herman - who actually brought your sneaky ass down here," the regent said in disgust as he looked over his shoulder and glared at the Tremere in question. "You - I will deal with after this situation is resolved," he added.

"This situation is why I am here - regent. You need help," Calloway stated seriously. The regent laughed as though Calloway had said the funniest thing imaginable. "I am glad you are still able to laugh in the light that a tenth generation scholar with the knowledge of Cain - is about to run amok on Eco. I am glad that you are able to laugh in the light that as he escaped over your broken bodies - that the chantry - all of its protective and beneficial wards and rituals go poof. I am glad you can laugh in the light that this fuck up will cost your clan - should it survive - everything it holds in Eco," Calloway began as he stepped closer - so that his face was inches away from the regent's. "You aren't laughing anymore?" he asked seriously.

"You tread a very - thin - sharp - dangerous line," he warned.

"As are you. As you are wasting time posturing - the threat grows more powerful and harder to contain. You tried sending your best - tried sending the knowledgeable - you even broke traditional law - by embracing those fools and sending them in. you want this dealt with - you need help - and the help you are waiting for - won't get here until it is far - too - late," he pointed out.

"Okay smart ass - how would you do this? How will an assassin succeed where fifty - Tremere kindred have failed? Tell me. I would love to hear this," he challenged. Calloway looked over at the person that had brought him down and smirked.

"You and your boys have been using magic to fight your scholarly friend?" he asked.

"You think?" the regent rebutted.

"Okay - if he has the knowledge of Cain - or even just partial - wouldn't that mean - he knows more of the arts you are using than your sleeping elder did? You people would probably try to drown a fish," Calloway remarked. The regent blinked as he looked at the assassin. "Apologies - if I seem - impatient or out of line," he added politely - stepping back and politely bowing his head to the regent.

"I never thought of that," the regent admitted. Loran - stop what you are doing and fetch the sealed artifact in my study - hurry!" he ordered. One of the Tremere working on the archway nodded and hurried away.

"You have a plan?" Calloway asked curiously.

"You - are so eager to rush to your death. You - are so eager - to help. Perhaps - just perhaps there is a way," the regent stated as he began walking around the assassin. Calloway stood still but was ready to pounce should the Tremere regent try anything.  "A while back - a - crisis of sorts hit Eco - to stop it - a special artifact was forged," he continued.

"And this weapon could take this scholar down?" Calloway asked. The regent quietly laughed as he finished circling the Setite assassin and once again stood before him.

"Most assuredly. The scholar as you call him is bound within a ritual - a magic one. It is - very powerful - but - this - trinket of sorts should short it out and possibly render him docile," the regent assured.

"I just know this is going to make me smile - what is the catch?" he asked seriously.

"Oh good she's back," he remarked. Calloway looked over his shoulder and watched as the Tremere hurried over and handed a small specially bound box. "Thank you - now back to work," he said as he returned his attention to the assassin.

"Whatever is in that little thing - is going to take down something with the knowledge of Cain?" Calloway asked in modest disbelief.

"Be not so quick to judge," the Regent warned as he carefully opened the box and showed the contents of the box to Calloway.

"You have to be joking. This isn't middle earth - so don't be telling me that - that trinket is the one ring that will save the day," the Setite sarcastically stated. The regent quietly laughed.

"That's a good one. No it - isn't so much a magic ring - it is more of - an anti-magic ring. Powerful binding wards and spells focused into this ring - turned it into a nullifying device so potent that no Tremere can touch it," he said as he placed the ring box in Calloway's hands. "If you can get that - on any of his fingers - the spell that empowers him - will fizzle and he will revert to normal," he reassured.

"As simple as that sounds - I know there is more than just that," Calloway stated as he put the ring on.

"Yes - the scholar knows of the ring. If he sees it - he will avoid it. you wanted to play in this game - you got your wish," the regent sarcastically stated as he stepped to the side and motioned for him to go.

"We will talk about - the fee - after the fact," Calloway stated with a smile as he walked by the regent and the working Tremere. The regent and the others watched as the assassin vanished behind the warded doorway.

"If he survives?" Herman asked.

"I doubt that will come to pass. But at least the fool will buy us some time. Back to work - I want this archway ready in case that bastard and his minions smash through the other one," the regent ordered.

To Be Continued...