"...and why can't my overpaid mages tell me just WHAT you are, hmm?" said Gabrial Brinks. Brinks was alone, standing before an open window in his 'trophy room'... the criminally over-decorated chamber where he kept his paintings, statues, jewels and other miscellaneous treasure he'd accumulated over his many years in New Venyce. Most of his 'booty' had been obtained legally with the proceeds from his questionable smuggling operations. That was not true of the object he currently held in his hand.
It was a gem... a multi-faceted sphere of exceptional size and weight. The thing barely fit in the palm of Gabrial's hand, and he doubted he could hold it for very long without getting muscle cramps in his forearm. He held it anyway, gazing into the gem's bluish green surface as it reflected the light in the room. The shimmering colors seemed to pull Gabrial's gaze into the very core of the flawless gem, where the object's true mystery lay... for the gem, flawless and perfect though it was... was hollow. At its heart was a spherical pocket of what looked like water. Gabrial shook the gem, and watched the deep blue liquid swirl within it.

"What ARE you?" Brinks mused. His mages could only tell him that the gem was, despite its odd color, a real diamond, and that it had some peculiar magical properties. They couldn't tell what those properties were or how to access them. Or where the gem came from. Or how old it was. Or what Jake Fast was going to do with it. Naturally, Brinks was less than pleased with them, but partaking in the beauty of his new acquisition helped assuage his ire somewhat. "Whatever secrets you have, I will find them," he said to the gem. "Yes indeed, I'll find them. Until then, you shall take your proper place among my prized possessions."

Brinks placed the gem on a shelf above the unused fireplace, sitting it in a solid-gold stand that only added to the gem's allure. He stepped back and smiled, then turned to the window to view another of his favorite sites. It was almost dawn, and from this window he could see the sun rising up over the mountains and beaming its first rays down on the city of New Venyce. It was an event he rarely missed, but the heavy cloud-cover and steady rain of the past weeks had reduced sunset to a mere change from one shade of gray to another shade of gray.

Perhaps the rain would break long enough for him to catch a glimpse of sun.

As he watched the dawn, Gabrial heard the large iron door to the room sliding open...

"Ahhh, Faction," said Brinks. "Thank you so much for not sneaking up on me, you know how I hate that. Tell me... what has brought December to my little corner of Iffrean, hmmm?"

"I was unable to gather the information you requested."

"What?" Gabrial turned to look at Faction. All he saw was a dark cloak standing in the corner. "What to you mean 'unable'?"

"December's bodyguard was somehow alerted to my presence. Our combat roused the neighbors, and no doubt woke December himself. I was forced to leave to avoid being spotted."

Gabrial nodded.

"Well," he said. "I trust that December is minus one bodyguard now. He'll not be happy-"

"She still lives."

"She... lives?" said Gabrial. He frowned and eyed the cloaked figure with unconcealed doubt.

"I watched from the shadows. The woman stood guard all night, her wounds... her FATAL wounds... healed as if we had never fought. There is obviously magic involved."

"Of COURSE there's magic involved," said Gabrial. "This is December we're talking about. He's well-known for employing 'unique' individuals."

"I was not prepared for-"

"You should have been. It shouldn't have mattered WHO or WHAT she was... but no matter. You'll just have to try harder next time."

"I will not fail you again."

"Make sure you don't. Watch December and his people. I want to know everything they do, the names of everyone they speak to."

"You already have spies for this kind of work."

"And I have mages who can't tell me what a simple gem is, and NOW I have an assassin who can't kill one simple female mercenary. So why should I trust THEM now? Watch them, Faction. But first... fetch the mages. I have a task for them."

Faction left the room silently, leaving Gabrial Brinks to his thoughts... and the sunrise.

---

"A what?" said Zade.

She and December sat at a table in December's suite discussing last night's visitor while Theesa was getting dressed in the bedroom.

"A Ysiun," said December. "They are a dangerous assassin clan. They originated as an attempt to combine the considerable fighting skill of the Kykoro Knights with the stealth and agility of the Hicysi Ninju. The attempt was a success... and the Ysuin are among the most dangerous spies and assassins known."

"Ysuin? Hicysi? Never heard of any of 'em."

"These clans are only active on the far eastern continents of Iffrean. But, due to the large number of trade routes that converge in this city, it is not surprising that a Ysuin would turn up in New Venyce. Despite their claims to the contrary, the Ysuin are mere mercenaries... they are attracted to money and turmoil."

"Tell me more," said Zade. "This guy had some kind of magic staff-"

"The Ysuin specialize in only one weapon other than their considerable hand-to-hand skills."

"The staff?"

"The weapon varies... each master has his own preference. He teaches it to his students, who then practice their skill on one another... killing their peers until only one remains. That student then becomes a master himself, and will usually acquire some kind of enchanted version of the weapon he is trained to use."

"In this case, a big flaming-throwing staff. So if these guys are so good, how come you don't have one working for you."

"The Ysuin are inherently untrustworthy. They keep far too many secrets. They trust no one, and cannot themselves be trusted."

"So how do I beat this guy?"

"You do not," said December.

"What?""

"You are an excellent warrior, Zade... but you are no match for a Ysuin. You cannot defeat him in a fight, and if you fight him often enough and he will discern your strengths and weaknesses... and then find a way to kill you."

"Got that much faith in me, huh?" said Zade.

"Faith is irrelevant," said December. "I have dealt with the Ysuin before-"

"GOOD GODS!" came a shout from downstairs. It was Sir Oliver, who had obviously just discovered the damage to his inn. He normally-soothing voice bellowed with uncharacteristic volume. "WHAT HAPPENED TO MY INN!"

Sir Oliver marched up the stairs, but was quickly interrupted by Zade who met him in the hallway as he approached December's room.

"YOU!" he yelled. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY INN!"

"Me?" said Zade. "I didn't do anything. There was an assassin here-"

"I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO BE TROUBLE!!! YOU PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TROUBLE!"

"'My people,'" said Zade through clenched teeth. She got the sudden urge to grab Sir Oliver and break him into lots of little tiny pieces... "What do you mean 'my people.'"

"YOU! MERCENARIES! RUNNING AROUND WITH WEAPONS AND... AND THINGS! MY INN IN RUINED! RUINED!"

"I doubt that very seriously," December's bass voice rumbled. The cold crimelord emerged from his room and walked toward them. The temperature in the hallway dropped with every step he took. "In my many years, I have learned that there is very little that cannot be repaired."

"But your.... BODYGUARD... caused SERIOUS structural damage to the-"

"I TOLD you, I'M not the one who damaged your inn! Accuse me ONE MORE TIME and you'll have to have my BOOT surgically removed from your ARSE!"

"YOU THREATENED ME! You.. you... YOU LEATHER-BOUND HARLOT!"

"That's IT! I hope you like the taste of teeth, because I'm about to FEED YOU YOURS!"

"AAAA! HELLLPP!!"

"Perhaps this will settle the matter." December held out his hand. Nestled in his palm was a collection of small diamonds that were easily worth more than the entire inn. Sir Oliver's eyes glazed over for a few seconds, then the innkeeper took a deep breath and composed himself.

"My apologies," said Sir Oliver as he took the diamonds one at a time and examined them. "I was out of place... I had no cause to accost your employee. I'll call the sheriff and we'll have the damage investigated."

"Perhaps the sheriff should be left out of this for now," said December.

Sir Oliver blinked... looked at the diamonds... and nodded.

"Of course. Twas probably a just a lightning strike that burnt the side of the building. It's been known to happen. I'll summon the architect and a team of carpenters immediately. I-If that's acceptable?"

"Make your repairs as soon... and as quietly... as possible. I do not expect to be inconvenienced by this."

"Of course, sir."

Sir Oliver scampered down the stairs and vanished into the lobby.

"No sheriff?" said Zade.

"Not yet," replied December. "We do not yet know who sent our visitor last night."

"The sheriff could be involved?"

"It is too early to eliminate that possibility."

"Good Morning!" said Theesa as she stepped into the hallway from December's room. The short woman had let her long blond hair down, and it cascaded down the back of her brightly colored dress. She looked like she was headed out for a day in the sun... which wasn't likely since it was still raining cats and dogs outside. She hooked her arm through December's and smiled at Zade. "How are you this morning?" she asked.

"Alive," Zade said with a sneer. She turned and walked down the stairs. December and Theesa walked behind her.

"So what are we doing today?" said Theesa.

"Locating Jake Fast," December replied. They entered the lobby, where Sir Oliver was speaking to several messengers. One of the bellboys was opening the large curtain ... revealing a huge window that took up nearly the entire east wall. New Venyce stretched out before them, ready to receive the first light of morning.
Leaving Theesa with Zade, December walked over to Sir Oliver. The messengers scattered as he approached.

"Ohh, I bet sunrise is WONDERFUL here!" said Theesa.

"It's still raining," said Zade. "There won't BE a sunrise."

"Oh, there's always a sunrise, Zade," said Theesa. "Even if you don't see it."

Zade rolled her eyes, sighed, and headed for the front door. She intended to watch the streets and other buildings for other signs of trouble. Zade stood on the top of the stairs leading down to the street and looked out at the rain. She wasn't expecting any trouble during the day but she wasn't going to be caught by surprise. She also didn't expect Theesa to follow her out.

"So... I hear you had some excitement last night," said Theesa as she stood next to Zade.

"I heard the same thing about you," said Zade.

"Hmm?"

"Thin walls," said Zade.

"Thin walls? I don't unders-... oh." Theesa's face darkened to a lovely shade of pink.

"The guy I fought was trying to get in through the roof. How did the other guy get in?"

"Other guy?"

"Yeah... the other guy. Mr. Obaby... I heard you screaming at him for hours last night. Where'd HE come from? Is he a friend of December's or something? YOU certainly seemed to know him pretty well..."

Theesa turned bright red.

"And I got another question-"

"E-excuse me," Theesa muttered. She walked back into the inn.

Zade chuckled, then laughed out loud.

"...Most fun I've had since we left Montfort," she mused. Her fun was cut short when she felt a strange chill run down her back. "eh?"

Zade watched a strange figure walk down the street below her, seemingly oblivious to the rain. At first glance, he looked familiar. He looked up at Zade and smiled... then kept walking.

"Hey!" Zade shouted. "HEY YOU!"

The man walked around a corner and disappeared. Zade wanted to go after him, but knew that it wasn't a good idea to leave the inn with December and Theesa still inside. Even to chase after a man she distinctly remembered killing several months ago. He'd been part of a gang that attacked Lovvorn and Eric Hood... Zade had wrapped her whip around his neck and snapped it like a chicken bone. She never knew his name, but he was most certainly dead. Absolutely dead. Unquestionably... and without a single shred of doubt... dead. And yet he'd just walked down the street and smiled at her.

"What the hell?" said Zade.

Now someone ELSE appeared, a tall, thin man with a nearly-bald, egg-shaped head exited a small building across the street headed straight for the inn. Zade moved to intercept him, but then remembered that it wasn't HER inn, or December's inn, and thus she had no reason to prevent people from entering it. She stepped aside and waited as he marched definitely up the steps. The man paused when he reached her. He looked her up and down-

"And who are YOU supposed to be?" he said.

"I-"

"Never mind."

The man entered the lobby, and Zade followed right behind him.

"OLIVER!" the man shouted.

Sir Oliver was discussing something with December. He looked up, and when he saw the old man approaching them, he got an exasperated look on his face.

"OLIVER WHAT THE HELL WAS ALL THAT NOISE LAST NIGHT!"

"I, uhh... Mr. December, allow me to introduce Dr. Azarius."

"The very TIRED Dr. Azarius who didn't get any sleep last night because of all that damned NOISE over here? What... was there a PARADE transpiring on your ROOF, Sir Oliver!?"

"My apologies for the disturbance," said Sir Oliver. "We think lightning struck the building and-"

"Lightning, HELL! It was HER!" Dr. Azarius turned and pointed a bony finger at Zade. "I saw you rolling around of the roof like a damned circus clown! And jumping in the damned river in the middle of the night! What the hell was that about!? Don't you know people SLEEP around here!?"

"Dr. Azarius is a very light sleeper," Sir Oliver added.

"Who are you?" The doctor asked December.

"I am December." December extended his hand "A trader in diamonds and other fine gemstones." Azarius looked at December's hand... then at December himself, as if appraising the man's worth. While December wasn't wearing any fancy rings or jewels, his tailored clothes were easily more expensive than what most common citizens would wear. Azarius grasped December's hand and shook it.

"Azarius Park," said the doctor. "Pleased to meet you. EGADS you've got cold hands! Like slapping palms with an iceberg! You're not a vampire, are you? I don't take kindly to the idea of the undead running around New Venyce! This town already has enough LIVING parasites running around.... and more than enough corpses floating in the river!"

"I assure you that I am very much alive. My temperature is a result of a my affliction-"

"Affliction, eh?" The doctor observed December's pallor. "Hmmm... albino? No, no... jaundice? Leprosy? Nooo.... hmmm..."

"It is not a disease, merely a... condition. And quite beyond medical treatment."

"Bah... I'm not a medical doctor anyway. Don't trust medical doctors... bunch of idiots, if you ask me! If they knew all they CLAIMED they know, then they'd all live to be two-hundred years old, wouldn't they?"

"Then what is your area of expertise, doctor?" said December.

"History! Mythology! Literature! All the grand tales of man and elf... and whatever else."

"Dr. Azarius rents the loft across the street," said Sir Oliver. "He's here on an extended research grant from... what university was that, doctor?"

"Not a university, you ninny! Bayne-Mohr Historical Institute."

"And December hails from Montfort," said Sir Oliver.

"Montfort, eh?" said the doctor. "Didn't ever happen to run into my idiot son there, have you? Skinny little whelp by the name of Princeton?"

"I do not believe we have met," said December.

"He'd probably just ask you for money, so consider yourself lucky," said Azarius. "But not all THAT lucky, since you're here in New Venyce. Damned town. And I mean that in the TRUE sense of the word... this town is damned! All the drugs addicts and criminals creeping around... even the RAIN doesn't keep the RATS in their holes!"

"Ahh, well, Mr. December and I were discussing some business-" Sir Oliver tried to pull December away from the doctor, but December wanted to hear what Azarius had to say.

"Criminals?" said December. "I was lead to believe that New Venyce was relatively free of crime."

"HA!" spat Dr. Azarius. "Again I say: HA! Who told you THAT rubbish! You were DECEIVED, sir!"

"Dr. Azarius... don't you have some research you need to get back to?"

At this point, Theesa, who had been standing by the window, came over to see what all the fuss was about:

"What's all the fuss about? Oh, good morning sir," she said to the doctor.

"My companion, Theesa Lemay," said December.

Azarius kissed Theesa's hand when she offered it. Zade wondered when anyone was going to get around to introducing HER... although Sir Oliver tried to kiss her hand she'd punch him in the face. Hard.

"And you bring a WOMAN to this town, sir?" said Azarius. "You really HAVE been deceived."

"Would you care to elaborate?" said December.

"Rapists, miscreants and thugs!" said the doctor. "Running the streets more and more."

"Sounds as if this town is in need of stronger law enforcement."

"BAH! Those boys to the best they can... but with all the Dust coming it, you get ten new criminals popping up every hour!"

"Dust?" said Theesa. She looked honestly confused, although Zade and December knew exactly what the doctor was talking about.

"It is a drug," said December.

"Calling Dust a drug is like calling the Great Flood a 'little bit of water.'"

"It is a personality-altering substance," December elaborated. "It induces an intense euphoria, but it is more well-known for its unpleasant side-effect."

"Unpleasant?" said the doctor. "It turns a person into the exact opposite of what they are! Turns normal, law-abiding citizens into murderers and thieves and... and worse!"

"And with repeated use, the changes become permanent, and irreversible."

"Oh, my!"

"The drug is not a natural substance... it is created in laboratories by those with the proper knowledge and equipment. Dust was originally developed by well-intentioned alchemists as a method of reforming hardened criminals. Early experiments were quite successful... but the resulting addiction to the drug was impossible to cure. The experiments were halted, but somehow the formula-"

"Somebody STOLE it!" said Dr. Azarius. "And within a year... POOF!... ya got children and old ladies running around slaughtering each other!"

"Oh, how horrible!" said Theesa.

"Indeed. The substance is illegal in every city," said December.

"Except this one," added the doctor. "Sure, Dust is illegal to produce here... but it is perfectly legal to possess, trade and transport."

"That's absurd," said Theesa.

"That's New Venyce. It's a city of traders... and the lawmakers here figure that just because something is illegal somewhere ELSE doesn't mean that people should be prohibited from profiting from it here. That bastard Gabrial Brinks has made a FORTUNE off of Dust... importing it and shipping it away... and of course, much of it ends up getting sold right here in New Venyce. The streets are FLOODED with the stuff thanks to that bastard Brinks."

"Of course, that's just Dr. Azarius' opinion," said Sir Oliver. "Really, the streets are quite safe-"

"Yeah, if ya call having your THROAT SLIT by some serial-killing grandmother 'safe'! I saw that happen with my OWN TWO EYES! I see everything! I've got a telescope up in my loft... and I WATCH!"

"This man Gabrial Brinks," said December. "Tell me-"

"A patron of the town," said Sir Oliver. "A lovely gentleman with an undeserved reputation. Gabrial Brink has never done anything illegal-"

"BULLSHI-... oh, I'm sorry, i forgot there was a lady present."

Zade cleared her throat to draw attention to herself. It didn't work; the doctor kept right on talking.

"What I meant was, just because the law can't touch Brinks and that gold-plated bodyguard of his, it DOESN'T mean that they aren't criminals!"

"I don't think I want to hear anymore," said Theesa. "Let's talk about something else."

"Just be careful out there," said the doctor. "you never know WHO'S strung out on that damnable Dust! They'll stab you in the back just to hear the sounds you make while you're dying. Seen THAT happen, too!"

"Since you have seen so much, doctor," said December. "Perhaps you can be of help to me."

"Eh? Help? Help with what?"

"I am in town on business, however, the acquaintance I am to meet seems to have vanished." December gave the doctor a description of Jake Fast, and the doctor shook his head

"Never seen a man like that around here," said the doctor. "But I know a good place ta look.... you might want to try the casino."

"Ahh, yes, Lowell's Casino," said Sir Oliver. "An excellent place to visit. The only licensed gambling establishment in the city... grand entertainment!"

"And the fact that Gabrial Brinks owns 30 percent of it has nothing to do with why it is the ONLY licensed gambling establishment in the city, I'm sure," said the doctor. "But in all fairness, I do hear it's a nice place. Not that I'd ever go there, of course. With all the rain, its one of the only places tourists can go for some fun... so your man's probably shown up there during his visit."

"And I'll put word out among the messengers and bellboys," said Sir Oliver. "They'll visit the other inns and find out where he was staying. We should know something by morning at the latest."

"Excellent," said December.

"Now, about all that NOISE last night..."

"There was someone else on the roof," said Zade. "But I suppose you didn't see HIM, right?"

"Of COURSE I saw him," said the doctor. "But people sneak around this town all the time... just because two of you happen to bump into each other doesn't mean that it's mandatory that you wake up the neighborhood trying to beat each other senseless!"

"I am sure the incident will not be repeated," said December.

"I should hope not! Hmph!" the doctor started to leave, but turned to say one last thing.

"And if you have time, Mr. December, you may wish to stop by my loft. Perhaps the annals of history or the ancient tales of other cultures contain a cure for your 'condition,' whatever it is."

"I rather doubt that, Doctor Park."

"Still... I'd love to research it for you anyway. It's what I do, after all... Farewell!" Azarius left the inn, and Sir Oliver breathed an audible sigh of relief.

"The doctor is a bit eccentric," said Sir Oliver. "It's best not to place too much faith in what he says. But I DO recommend the casino if you're looking for entertainment. It opens at midnight, and your friend just might be there."

"Oh, how quaint!" said Theesa. "A casino!"

"Do you even know what a 'casino' is?" said Zade.

"Don't speak to me," said Theesa. "You are a crude and vulgar woman!"

"Who, me? Hey, I'M not the one who was-"

"DON'T YOU DARE!!"

"-for half the night."

"Ladies, please..." said December

"She started it!" said Theesa.

"Awww... I hurt the little baby's feeeeliiiings... awwww...."

"OOOOO!!" Theesa, now bright-red again, stormed up the stairs to her room. Laughing almost uncontrollably, Zade went back outside to watch the street.

"Perhaps you made a mistake?" said Sir Oliver.

"Mistake?" replied December.

"Bringing TWO women on a business trip? I've seen these things get rather nasty before."

Somewhere upstairs, a door slammed hard enough to shake the wall and echo through the entire inn.

"Perhaps you are correct, Sir Oliver. But then again... both women are now exactly where I want them." The corner of December's mouth twitched in an almost-smile, then he headed up stairs after Theesa.

"Hmmm...." said Sir Oliver when December left the lobby. "I hadn't considered that."

[To Be Continued]