IGS #4, Chapter 30 (Bonus!)

Scorio

The large hall on the ground floor was filled with even more faces when Scorio descended to find his friends. The central firepit was blazing, and knots of people stood here and there in low conversation while others were eating meals at the tables proper.

Dinner time? Scorio’s stomach grumbled as he realized he’d lost track of meals, hours, days, even. The Silver Unfathom was the first place in Hell he’d visited without some kind of diurnal cycle.

Other than the two years he’d spent trapped in the depths of the Crucible.

Shoving that memory away, he stepped into the hall only for a wave of interest to ripple through the crowd as people noticed and heads turned to stare at him.

Great.

He didn’t recognize most of the people here, but a few were familiar, faces he’d seen somewhere or other but whose names he’d lost track of.

Still. He wasn’t here to meet folks and shake hands, so he stared straight ahead as he made his way to the far end where his companions yet sat with Massamach remained. They’d clearly just finished their meals as empty plates were set before them.

“There you are!” beamed Xandera as Scorio sat on the bench next to her. “It’s been so long since you flew away that I was growing worried. But Jova assured me I was being silly, and that this Aezryna wouldn’t kill you.”

“Healthy suspicion,” smiled Scorio, relaxing a smidge amongst his companions. “Though, yeah, I made it out in one piece.”

“How’d it go?” Jova pushed a plate of cold food toward him, then leaned forward, arms crossed on the table. “She say anything worth sharing?”

“You know.” Scorio took up his fork, appetite suddenly voracious. “The usual. I’m happy to share details when we’ve more privacy. How are you feeling, Nyrix?”

“Fine.” Nyrix frowned. “Annoyed and frustrated that I was the only one dropped during the exit, but… yeah. Fine.”

“So what’s the plan?” asked Kelona. “We staying? We going?”

“Going,” said Jova.

“Staying,” said Scorio, then laughed. “Sorry. Only for a day or two. Aezryna offered to help me with my training, and I’d like a chance to catch up with Druanna.”

Leonis was sitting stiffly at the head of the table, trying to not look uncomfortable. “She asked for you to find her. She’s of the same mind.”

“Great. We’ll stay one more night. Or whatever passes for a night around here. You’ve found rooms?”

“There are plenty of places to stay,” said Massamach. “Half the Red Keep is just empty suites and chambers. You can pretty much claim anything of them, but upkeep is up to you. With the lowest ranked Great Souls being Flame Vaults, the place is staffed by Silverines, but you can guess what they demand in payment.”

“And we’ll be needing a guide,” said Jova. “Someone competent and respected to take us out to the Tomb. I’ll work on that while you do your social calls.” Scorio went to protest, but to his amazement she smiled darkly at him. “I jest. It was a joke.”

“Ah,” said Scorio. “Ha. Very, ah, funny.”

“I liked it!” piped Xandera.

“Watch out,” said Massamach, tone low. A large man was approaching their table.

Another face from his past.

And not a pleasant one.

Kuragin.

It was like seeing a memory come to life.

He was as massive as ever, but no longer quite as youthful. He’d filled out, his bronzed skin taut and healthy over his husky frame. His features were hard and rough as ever, as if he’d spent years braving storms, and his thick black hair grown out and tied back into a ponytail.

Kelona and Nyrix glanced at Scorio in confusion as Kuragin stopped before their table and crossed his arms. “Scorio. The man himself.”

“Kuragin.” Scorio decided not to stand. “It’s been a while.”

“Jova.” Kuragin gave her an upnod, then sat without being invited, straddling the bench and placing an elbow on the table and turning back to Scorio. “I’ve heard the wildest stories about you.”

“That’s strange.” Scorio didn’t like the other man’s tone. “I’ve heard nothing about you at all.”

“Ooh,” said Xandera appreciatively.

Kuragin grunted in amusement. “Fair. I’ve been keeping my head down and getting work done. I just made Dread Blaze a few months ago. You?”

“Pyre Lord.”

“So it’s really true. Huh. I’d not credited the stories. That makes only six of us that I know of from our Class that’s advanced so quickly. Massamach, Jova, you’ve both got to hurry it up.”

Jova raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? I’m a Pyre Lady.”

“Ooh!” said Xandera, clapping her hands.

“Ah.” Kuragin recovered with a grin. “So. I guess it really was worth leaving the Academy like you did.”

“Yeah,” said Scorio, tonguing the inside of his cheek and trying to decide if this was going to end in a fight. “It was. You signed up?”

“I’m a House Hydra man.” Kuragin’s grin became predatory. “Though I didn’t exactly mourn Praximar’s death. His obsessions and vanity were bringing everything down.”

Jova leaned forward. “You are aware that Scorio and I killed him?”

“Yeah.” Kuragin grimaced. “I… I’m sure I don’t know half of what was actually going on. I wasn’t in Bastion for long after being recruited. Shockingly, I wasn’t good with the locals. They sent me out onto the Rascor Plains to patrol under Valtaire’s lead. Did that for a year, holding the perimeter.”

“I heard good things about Valtaire.” Though Scorio couldn’t remember from whom.

“He’s a good man. Fair, but not a fool. Strong. His powers are awesome.” All said in a factual manner. Kuragin shrugged. “But I got bored. So I transferred to the Hydra base out in the Iron Weald. Far from the Fury Spires. An old research outpost by the Defender’s Shield.”

“Haven’t heard of it,” said Jova.

“It’s, well, a giant shield.” Kuragin took a sip of the cup he’d brought with him, a wry, humorless smile curving the corner of his lips. “Huge. Made of bronze. Maybe a half mile across. It crushed an entire range between two of the Weald’s valleys. Draws the World Worms for some reason, as well as huge reserves of Bronze mana.” For a moment Kuragin just stared out into the middle distance, than he shook his head. “The higher ups there think it’s connected in some way to the Titan’s Causeway that’s just beyond in the Telurian Band. I don’t know. My job was to keep the Gurlocks away. They kept flooding out of the ground every few weeks. Was good fighting.”

“A half-mile across?” asked Kelona. “Just… a huge bronze shield?”

“Yeah. Hell’s weird.” Kuragin stared into his cup. “Anyway. Spent about a year there. But Praximar ordered us to draw down the research. Said if the specialists hadn’t learned anything in the past few centuries, they sure wouldn’t in the last few years. Drove a few of the old hands mad with fury. They were on the verge of some big breakthrough. Something about the shield being a summoned construct of matrix mana, or some other hodge podge of fancy words. Whatever. Myla and I opted to steer clear of the nonsense taking place in Bastion and transferred into the Band to the guard detail on the Causeway. We figured we’d be pulled into the Blood Ox war soon enough, but it never happened.”

“Huh.” It felt like hearing about an entirely different Hell. “A… friend once told me about the Titan’s Causeway.” Scorio thought of Plassus lying on the rocks, his spine broken, his Heart ruptured. “There a portal at the end of it?”

“Sure is.” Kuragin drained his cup and pushed it aside. “Permanent, too. But our job was to stop folks from using it. Kill whatever came through. Don’t know where it led. Bad news, apparently. Gold-ranked fiends would come out. But they always seemed lost. We had our work cut out for us.”

Scorio mulled Kuragin’s words over. “Gold-ranked fiends. So out into the Lustrous Maria?”

Kuragin shrugged again. “We were told not to speculate. So I didn’t.”

Scorio snorted softly. “Fair enough. What brought you to the Red Keep, then?”

“Praximar’s death resulted in a big shake-up in House Hydra. Our commander at the Causeway returned to Bastion, and we were all given the opportunity to renew our oaths or cut free. Myla and I cut free. She suggested we head deeper into Hell, and all roads lead through the Red Keep. There she is now. Myla!”

Kuragin raised his cup to a waifish girl who’d emerged at from the stairwell at the far end of the hall. Her silvery white hair was cut short, curling about her ears and jawline, and she wore a jaunty cap. Snub-nosed and with dark brows, she waved back eagerly and began making her way over.

“She’s a Dread Blaze, too.” Kuragin scooted over to make room on the bench. “Don’t underestimate her. She’s tougher than I am.”

Scorio watched Myla approach. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, as if she recognized him from somewhere, just before she tripped on something and nearly crashed to her knees, arms windmilling. Someone reached out to steady her, and she laughed weakly as she thanked the stranger before resettling her cap and reaching their table.

“Hey Kuragin. Uh—hi Scorio. Hello everyone. Don’t worry. I’m not absolutely mortified at nearly falling on my face like that.” Her grin was impish, her tone self-deprecating. “I, ah, tend to do that all the time. It’s… it’s my hobby.”

“I think we’re going to get along,” smiled Kelona.

“Myla, grab a cup. How’d it go with that thing upstairs?”

“Weird. And a waste of my time. I can tell you the details later.”

“All right.” She sat on the bench and flashed a smile at everyone. “Hello! Hope it’s all right to join you all. Just… kind of hard to pass up on an opportunity to embarrass myself before Scorio, you know?”

Kelona nodded knowingly.

“Have we met?” asked Scorio. Something about her seemed familiar.

“No!” Myla laughed. “Not in this life, at any rate. I just know who you are. I mean, everyone knows who you are. Scorio the Disrupter, Scorio the Ass Kicker, and so forth. Sorry. I should have pretended not to know so we could be properly introduced. I’m Myla, Dread Blaze, Class of 871.” She extended her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Bemused, Scorio shook. “Scorio. Pyre Lord. Class of 873.”

Everyone else chimed in with their introductions but Jova.

“I’ve heard so many rumors I don’t even know where to begin,” said Myla, smiling shyly. “But playing ‘true or false’ for half an hour will only make things awkward, so I’ll just assume they’re all true.” She grinned. “What brings you all to the Red Keep? Heading down to destroy the Viridian Heart?”

Scorio chuckled. “Not just yet. Doing some research here in the Unfathom. We’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

“Research?” Kuragin sounded intrigued. “On the Silverines?”

“You should talk with Lady Krula,” added Myla. “She’s obsessed with them. Has all kinds of amazing theories about their Suns. Maybe she can help? Unless!” Myla winced. “You’ve probably already spoken with her. Sorry. Should have guessed.”

“No problem,” smiled Scorio. “But yeah. Jova and I had an audience a few hours ago.”

Kuragin shifted in his seat. “This research of yours. It have something to do with Bravurn being a traitor?”

“Word’s getting around?”

“Sure is,” said Myla, tone turning serious. “Everybody’s talking about it. How he was in league with a True Fiend against our forces in the Bone Plain? And part of a secret cabal that’s been ruining things for everyone all this time? The Wordsmen?”

“Herdsmen,” said Scorio. “And yeah. He was.”

“Damn,” said Kuragin. He scratched his chin. “Everybody’s second guessing themselves now. Their next course of action. We’d originally planned to hit the Emerald Reach, help with the Heart, but…”

Kelona nodded sympathetically. “Same here. I met Scorio in the Band, but after learning the way of things, I realized that if we can’t trust the leadership, how are we to know what’s the right thing to do? Made sense to just try to hunt down more traitors?”

Myla nodded sympathetically. “That’s exactly it. The more the higher ups tell us to just relax and do what we’re told, the more suspicious we get.”

“Can’t blame you,” said Scorio, then forked a mass of squiggly green fronds into his mouth.

“Um.” Myla glanced at Kuragin, as if for reassurance, then back to Scorio. “Actually, Kuragin and I have been killing time here while trying to figure out what the right next move is. Do you by chance need help on this research trip?”

“Myla,” began Kuragin.

“Because, well, we’re both Dread Blazes and I for one am sick of guard duty or being told to kill fiends by superiors who can’t be bothered to explain why.” Myla glared defiantly at Kuragin. “Don’t tell me you’re not.”

Kuragin glowered. “Scorio and I have some old bad blood between us. I doubt he’d just want to sweep that under the rug.”

“What I know,” protested Myla, “is that the Unfathom has become a really wild and dangerous place. You leave the Red Road, you’re in trouble. Maybe having a couple of extra Dread Blazes along will help keep everyone alive? I don’t know. There’s no harm in asking. And!” She turned to beam at Scorio. “I bet we’ll hit Pyre Lord far quicker if we’re in the thick of it with you than sitting in some war camp in the Emerald Reach.”

“I’ve asked everyone joining my group to swear they’re not Herdsmen, or working for them,” said Scorio, glancing at Jova.

“No problem!” Myla beamed. “Seeing as we’re not Herdsmen, we’d be happy to swear, right Kuragin?”

“Nobody’s extended you a formal invitation,” said Jova. “So don’t get too excited.”

“Right,” said Myla, nodding firmly. “Absolutely. But at least we’ve submitted our application. Or something.”

Jova frowned at her.

“Well, let me think about it,” said Scorio. “I appreciate the offer. But the team and I have to discuss these kind of things before I can make a decision.”

“Oh. Of course. I’m sorry.” Myla slumped. “I should have—I mean, you obviously—”

“Don’t worry about it,” said Scorio. “Honestly, I appreciate the offer. We’ve already discovered first hand how treacherous the Unfathom can be. We’ll let you know what we decide.”

Kuragin stood and extended his hand. “Well, it was good running into you. And to see that the rumors, if anything, haven’t done you justice.”

“Yeah,” said Scorio, shaking his hand. “It was good to see you again.”

“Jova. Everyone.” Kuragin nodded and began walking away.

Myla also stood, still obviously abashed. “Pleasure making your acquaintance, Scorio. Bye, everyone.”

“Same. I’ll be seeing you guys around.”

She hurried to catch up with Kuragin, and began talking animatedly as they crossed down the length of the hall.

“Eager, that one,” said Jova.

“I liked her,” said Kelona. “Nothing wrong with being friendly.”

“Agreed.” Xandera shrugged. “There are very few nice people in Hell. It’s nice to meet nice people.”

“I don’t know.” Leonis hunched forward over his crossed arms. “Kuragin seems competent, but Myla…”

“Nice people can be competent,” protested Xandera.

“Let’s head back to our rooms so we can talk,” said Scorio, cutting off Nyrix.

Everyone nodded, rose, and cleared away their dishes and cups. They then took Scorio up to the suite they’d claimed, which was composed of four bedrooms off a central living space.

People claimed chairs, and Scorio turned back to Nyrix. “I cut you off, downstairs. What were you going to say?”

“Just that I wouldn’t mind having them along.” Nyrix shrugged. “It’d be interesting to know what they can do first, but Scorio wasn’t kidding when he mentioned our already having run into trouble. And that was right by the Red Road. Imagine how much worse it can get deeper in.”

Scorio caught Jova’s eye. “What do you think?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “Kuragin’s good in a scrap. Myla? Liable to get on my nerves.”

“I’m hoping to recruit Druanna.” Scorio took another large bite of his food, chewed it mightily, then swallowed it down. “And Aezryna didn’t immediately decline my invitation, either.”

“Aezryna?” Kelona’s eyes went wide. “She might come?”

Jova crossed her arms. “What happened to asking out opinions before inviting folks in?”

Scorio grinned. “Given that we’re going somewhere your Crimson Earl self couldn’t handle? I figured you’d accept a Blood Baroness’ help. You guys worked together on the Plain, right?”

“We did.” Jova scrunched up one corner of her lips, then sighed. “She’s good people. I guess. Though she’s completely loyal to the Seamstress.”

“I’m serious, though.” Scorio made eye contact with each member of their little group. “After what happened with the warren, I want to minimize risks. And as far as I can tell, the best way to do that is to bring competent people with us. Druanna, Aezryna… hell. Maybe even Kuragin and Myla.”

“As long as they swear,” said Nyrix softly.

“As long as they swear the same Heart Oaths.” Scorio nodded. “The deeper we get into Hell, the more word spreads about what we’re trying to do, the more we should anticipate the Herdsmen taking notice and trying to sabotage or kill us.”

“The Shadow Petal’s still out there,” said Jova darkly.

Xandera twisted around to study the back corner of the room.

“Don’t I know it. Worse, Dameon’s around. That makes everything worse. Jova, you tell them about Lady Krula’s offer?”

“I did, yes.”

“And how we refused?”

“We agree with your thinking,” said Leonis, tone dark. “There’s absolutely nothing that man can say that I’ll believe. He could tell me that we’re in Hell and need mana to Ignite our Hearts, and I’d call him a liar.”

“Right,” said Scorio. “Lady Krula having drawn him into her plans means I just can’t risk taking part in anything she’s angling for. We’re going to decline soon. Then we’ll see who wishes to join our group, conduct the Heart Oaths, find a Silverine guide, and head out into Hell.”

Nods all round.

“Well.” Scorio rose to his feet. “I’m not going to waste any time, then. If Druanna told me to come find her, that’s what I mean to do. And you all?”

“Training,” said Leonis.

“Agreed,” said Nyrix.

Jova leaned back in her chair. “I’m going to start working on my vortices.”

“Don’t master them just yet,” grinned Scorio. “Give me a fighting chance to keep pace.”

“That’s on you,” she smiled.

“Fair. Anyway. I’ll circle back around once I have news. With a little luck, we’ll be out of here by tomorrow dawn. Sound good? Then keep your heads down, and I’ll see you soon.”