Newly Summoned Demoness 2 - Chapter 29 – Dubious Missions (Patreon)

Gaston’s pace was brisk as he led the group back through the maze of the Mercenary District. Multiple times, groups of angry citizens rushed past them on the main street, ignoring the group. Elania trailed behind, barely keeping up as her turbulent thoughts and numb mood brewed like a forming storm.

The guards at the main gate opened for them and she missed the fact that they had arrived at the City Watch headquarters until the group came to a stop inside of its main courtyard. Most of the men broke off and headed back to their barracks to change equipment and gear.

This wasn’t the right place. Elania turned and started toward the gate, but Gaston’s hand caught her arm.

She turned to look at him; he stared at her with a worried frown.

“Where are you going?” he asked, his voice a mix of concern and command. “We need to go speak with Magister Bannon.”

“We need to go rescue Yolani and Henri,” she replied.

“You need to calm down,” he said.

“I am calm,” she lied.

“You’re letting your demon nature take over. What Yolani needs is for you to be in control, not barely contained, and going wild.” He watched her for a reply.

She swallowed and nodded. He wasn’t wrong. “You’re right,” she conceded, her voice quieter now. “This isn’t easy.”

Gaston nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Important things are often hard. I know how much you care about them, but you need to keep it together if you want to be able to help them.”

She followed him inside. It would be a good idea to speak to the Magister and get assistance. She repeated that like a mantra in her head. Dealing with the monks wouldn’t be possible for anyone to do alone.

Men stopped their conversations and stared at her. Whispers of ‘unbound’ were unmistakable, but no one challenged them as they passed by. No one was actually hostile—was that because she was known to them more, or because of Gaston escorting her?

Probably both. It was another prickle at her, but one easily discarded as unimportant.

The elevator was torture, restless energy coursing through her, urging her to… do something. Anything. The working part of her brain told her going off without a plan or anything wouldn’t help Yolani or herself. It would make the situation worse.

It was hard to explain that to the [Darkwalker] portion, though. Shoving her angry kitty instincts down took effort. But it became quieter as she tried to put the things she’d learned together.

The Lightbringers had framed the cult, and were working with the Conclave. Anxiety pulsed through her as she thought about the evidence of which there was very little. What had felt like a concrete thing to act on suddenly felt like they were grasping at straws.

There was the fact that the Lightbringers were staying in the Conclave District, but that wasn’t hard evidence either.

As they reached Bannon’s door, Gaston placed a hand on the wood but paused before knocking. He turned toward her.

“Remember, we’re here for Yolani and Henri. We need the Magister’s support,” Gaston said.

Elania met his gaze and nodded once, firmly. “I got my head on.”

He nodded and knocked. A few seconds later, Bannon called for them to enter. The ornate doors opened quietly, revealing Bannon seated at his desk, which was littered with parchments and various city reports. His eyes were weary, but he beckoned them in with a hand.

Gaston did not sit, instead giving a concise and factual report that had Bannon’s expression turning more and more serious. He recounted the information about the kidnapping, the events in the Mercenary District, the ambush at the Black Candle’s clinic, and the ensuing chaos that nearly led to them being caught up in the rioting on the streets.

Elania waited until he paused to add her piece, starting with the Lightbringers’ involvement in stirring the unrest that had caused the riots. She relayed Darius’ information regarding the Lightbringers and Conclave’s potential collusion and their increased presence in the Conclave district. That seemed to catch Bannon’s attention.

The Magister crossed his fingers. “I’ve been wary of the multiple groups of Lightbringers coming down into the city,” Bannon admitted. “Normally, worrying about small groups of them coming down isn’t much concern, but after events… It’s possible the Paladin only pretended to be placated about the loss of their artifact and retreated to gather forces.”

“He was gone before I woke up, but from the times I met him he didn’t seem reasonable at all,” Elania said.

Bannon’s gaze hardened as he came to a decision. “I’ll order the guard to prevent further Lightbringers from coming down the city elevator. We can’t allow their numbers to swell unchecked, especially if their inciting unrest.”

“That should help with keeping the problem from getting worse, but what about Yolani and Henri? We need to rescue them!” Elania urged.

Bannon looked between her and Gaston, his eyes sharp. “What proof do we have of their location?”

“What?” Elania blurted.

“From what you’ve both told me, we don’t have any hard evidence that it was, in fact, the Lightbringers that took them—and even more that they’re being held by the Conclave. Filling the city with militant groups is one thing, but where is the proof of the kidnapping?” Bannon asked.

“Darius… Darius said the Lightbringers were impersonating the Black Candle cultists and sowing unrest,” Elania offered.

“So, I’m to take the word of a man who claims to be leading a cult that tried to destroy the city to the Conclave, who have considerable clout and pull among the nobility and a small army defending their fortress?” Bannon asked.

Elania’s hands clenched at her sides, but he continued.

“If we go to them directly, they will just deny it. Storming their cloister fortress inside the Conclave district is out of the question as well—they have hundreds of monks inside, many of whom are powerful combatants in their own right. Even if we form up the entire city guard to attempt something, they could likely withstand a siege indefinitely.”

Her heart fell at the man’s estimates of what could be done.

“If what you say is true, then the Conclave has overstepped, but we cannot be rash in our actions. First, we must convene the council and inform the other Magisters. Steps can and will be taken, but a frontal assault to attempt a rescue is out of the question,” Bannon declared.

“What about applying pressure? If you inform the Conclave Elders that we know they have them, and are demanding them back, won’t that force their hands?” Gaston asked.

Bannon frowned. “That will need to be calculated. If we demand for them back that could backfire. They might want to get rid of them to hide any evidence of wrongdoing.”

“So we can’t force the issue,” Elania whispered. “What about… sneaking in and finding them and getting them out?”

“It’s a fortress,” Bannon stated dismissively.

“It might be possible,” Gaston countered. “We have a few contacts inside. Some junior monks that have been passing information, nothing decisive or that useful, but they might be able to help us infiltrate the place and locate where they are being held.”

“And get them out,” Elania added.

Gaston eyed her. “It would depend on where and how they are being held.”

“If such an attempt was made, we couldn’t ask for your release if you’re detected and captured,” Bannon said.

Gaston nodded. “I know a few who will be willing to take the risk of helping Henri, and…” He turned to look at Elania. “I know someone who has some abilities that would be very useful for the attempt as well.”

“I doubt the girl can fight her way through a fortress of monks if they’re caught,” Bannon replied.

Well, he was probably right about that. Although there were things she could prepare to help with the odds. She just needed to ask… The loss hit her in the chest again. She’d have to figure things out on her own without Yolani there to help.

“Regardless, we’ll need a few days to prepare,” Gaston stated.

Panic filled her. “A few days?” she hissed.

“At least. There isn’t any way we can speed up contact with our men inside. They have strict schedules and the Conclave doesn’t allow its lower-ranking members free rein to go as they please,” Gaston replied. His expression told her he didn’t like it either.

Elania frowned and looked at her lap. Days. She wasn’t sure she could wait that long.

“Very well,” Bannon said after a moment of silence. “Lieutenant, coordinate with your contacts. Elania, prepare yourself for what you might face in there. I’ll inform the council and we’ll see if there are any official and direct channels or pressure we can use to request their return.”

“You said we can’t let them know that we know they have them,” Elania replied.

“I said we can’t accuse them of holding them prisoner or kidnapping them. We can let them know we are searching for them, and their safety and health is very important to us,” Bannon answered.

Gaston grunted. “If they are working with the Lightbringers to sabotage and stoke the unrest… it could be that won’t matter. They might be seeking to overturn the authority of the Magistry and replace it.”

“If it comes to that, it will be a war, Lieutenant,” Bannon said, deadly serious. “Inform Harik that we will not be accepting any more groups down the elevator except the Syndicate’s standard caravans.”

“Yes, sir.” Gaston saluted.

Elania stood up. “I’ll… I’ll get ready. But if this delay causes Henri and Yolani harm…” She paused and frowned. “I don’t know what I’ll do,” she whispered, the vulnerability in her voice obvious.

“If needed, we can set up a contract for you. To reduce the backlash from you appearing un-contracted,” Bannon said.

Elania tensed. “I don’t know how long it will take for them to return to gold. It’s probably best to not have a contract to increase the rate of divinity replenishment and not dilute it further.”

The mention of divinity made Bannon twitch, but he acquiesced.

Not that making a contract was out of the question if needed, but for some reason, she felt hesitant to make one with anyone—except Yolani. Maybe it was the fact that the connection it had provided had felt special.

Bannon stood up and stared out the window of his office as she and Gaston left. The trip down the elevator was silent until they were near the bottom.

“I’ll have a new squad to escort you. We’ll provide an artifice carriage, so there won’t be any problems,” Gaston declared.

Elania nodded, not interested in rejecting the offer. She had learned her lesson during the riot. Although that had been partly to blame on them, just not being aware of their surroundings.

He froze just as he turned to step away and frowned at her. “I forgot to ask about this, but do you have a way back into the shop? If you don’t have access to the wards, we don’t want you to have to try to break them. We can provide housing.”

Elania shook her head. “The wards are keyed to me and Yolani, so I can get in.”

“She keyed them to you specifically? She must trust you a great deal,” Gaston remarked.

Elania nodded quietly. “We get along well.”

She waited alone near the external gate for nearly ten minutes before a group of men approached. They exchanged pleasantries, but her mind was already running ahead.

There were a lot of things she had taken for granted with Yolani doing the work.

How did she order chickens?

She was going to have to ask one of the other artificer shops.

Because there was no way she was going into the Conclave without as many full mana shards and things as she could carry.