Cold Blood

by DarthKrzysztof

NOTE: This interlude takes place after session 4, in which our heroes dispatched the Shadowknave.

Toranna leaned over the last corpse, folding his right ear flat—this one wasn’t marked, either. She was expecting two tonight, and all she’d seen was the red-haired sod. What was keeping the Shadowknave? she wondered. He always took pains to make sure the Collectors would find his handiwork…

“Put this one in number five,” she announced, and her two assistants hoisted the body and carried it to one of the Overvault’s many portals, shoving it through with minimal ceremony. Donneray and Rindo had barely a brain between them, but at least they had no idea she was up to something.

Not like those sods earlier on, the Primes with the accursed Mystran. The whole point of targeting bubbers and barmies was that they wouldn’t be missed — now she had to deal with berks asking questions! They swallowed her line well enough, it seemed, but neither Green Marvent nor his replacement had prepared her for interrogations.

She would have to send the Shadowknave after them. They wouldn’t be hard to find, as long as that freak with the different-colored eyes was with them. Toranna snorted when she recalled how he’d fawned over her hand. Of all the nerve! The thought of the Knave slitting their throats brought her a moment’s satisfaction.

A scrawny githzerai came up one of the spiral stairs with a sack over one shoulder. “Got four more for you,” he announced. “Here’s the first.”

Good, Toranna thought. Maybe he’s finally come through. “Set him over here,” she sighed, pointing at one of the few empty slabs.

The githzerai complied, saying “Mourner Tom’s gang just dropped them off. No identification on any of ‘em,” before turning to leave.

As soon as her path was clear, Toranna glided over to the corpse and pulled back the bag — and let out a shriek which caused everyone else to freeze.

It was the Shadowknave.

Her mind raced. How did this happen? Who could have done this? Pull yourself together, woman! They’re staring at you!

She turned and offered a nervous laugh. “Sorry,” she said, “I thought it was someone I know.”

That seemed to pacify them, although Rindo elbowed Donneray as if confirming something.

The Knave must have crossed path with them — the pikers with the sodding questions! Cursing, Toranna raced down to her quarters, where she scribbled out a letter in the Infernal tongue. Once back in the Overvault, she surreptitiously stuffed it under the Shadowknave’s tunic, then marked him behind the ear with a bit of charcoal. “Number six,” she ordered, and the pair of Dustmen dragged the Knave’s body toward another portal.

That was the special portal. With any luck, Baltazo would get her message, and the troublemaking sods would cause her no more trouble.

If not, Toranna thought, it might be time to head back to the Moonsea…