1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:05,460 Speaker 1: [gentle music] 2 00:00:41,740 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: Volaxis. Chapter One: False Flag. 3 00:00:48,220 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: Reese Greystone strolled through the ration house, pretending to look at the food on 4 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: the shelves. He waved at an elderly woman. He helped a lost child find their parent. 5 00:00:59,780 --> 00:01:04,379 Speaker 1: He was a model citizen, greeting everyone at the door and making a show of being 6 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: seen. And if he had to stay in this pigsty a moment longer, he was 7 00:01:10,420 --> 00:01:15,680 Speaker 1: going to rob the place himself. Seriously, how long did it take to rob a store? 8 00:01:16,660 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 1: Reese walked up to the counter. The middle-aged man shook visibly when he 9 00:01:21,100 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: approached. Reese took a step back, and the man calmed. Then he took another step 10 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 1: closer. He began shaking. They even behaved like livestock. 11 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:37,660 Speaker 1: Reese looked for a house pin on the man's clothes out of habit. He shouldn't have 12 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:43,380 Speaker 1: bothered. He wouldn't find a house pin within 10 square blocks of this place. The 13 00:01:43,460 --> 00:01:48,420 Speaker 1: man was houseless, so he couldn't own property. Perhaps they'd gone too deep into 14 00:01:48,460 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: the commonery for this one. Did they even know who he was? There wasn't 15 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:59,700 Speaker 1: much point if they didn't. His role today was to play hero. These people were to 16 00:01:59,740 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: play the bystanders assaulted by the FMR terrorists in a robbery gone wrong, but 17 00:02:05,340 --> 00:02:10,419 Speaker 1: ultimately saved by the legitimate Twinestone mage who happened to be in the area, 18 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: Reese. He looked up and down at the man behind the counter. 19 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: "Are you the tenant of this shop?" "I am, my lord." "I'm not your lord." 20 00:02:24,500 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 1: The man grimaced as if in actual pain. He was well-trained, at least. 21 00:02:29,620 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: "I beg pardon, but you are. T-This is a Greystone 22 00:02:35,700 --> 00:02:41,460 Speaker 1: tower, sir. Your tower." Ah. See, now that didn't fit the 23 00:02:41,580 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: storyline. Saving his own profit was something a noble would do, but it wasn't 24 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: a noble thing to do. Couldn't they have robbed a commonery tower instead? There were 25 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: some of those left, right? He couldn't remember. 26 00:02:58,740 --> 00:03:02,900 Speaker 1: By then, Reese had been there long enough to attract a few dozen gawking commonery. 27 00:03:03,380 --> 00:03:08,660 Speaker 1: As he surveyed them, they looked away, each pretending to be busy, like 28 00:03:08,740 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: livestock. A small crowd of people who idled around the shop, never quite able to 29 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 1: decide which of the identical bags of bread flour they wanted. Basically, people who 30 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:25,540 Speaker 1: were doing exactly what he was doing. Were they the robbers, perhaps? He 31 00:03:25,580 --> 00:03:30,620 Speaker 1: hadn't been told this part of the plan, at his own insistence. It was hard to act 32 00:03:30,660 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 1: when you knew what was coming, after all. 33 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: So Reese leaned on the counter and continued to play his part. The flowing sleeves 34 00:03:40,700 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: of his robe spilled onto the rough wooden countertop. It looked like the grime had 35 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: sunk an inch deep into the wood. This was the kinda place that never got clean 36 00:03:51,060 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: again, no matter how much you scrubbed. A little fire might do some good, actually, 37 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: especially now that he knew it was his property. He motioned for the shopkeeper to 38 00:04:01,260 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: lean in with two fingers. Somehow, the shaking man quivered even more as he drew 39 00:04:06,900 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: closer. Did he have some kinda condition? Nihlus would be interested in that. 40 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: "Have you been robbed already 41 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:24,280 Speaker 1: today?" "No. No, sir." "Are you sure?" The shopkeeper nodded 42 00:04:24,340 --> 00:04:29,780 Speaker 1: enthusiastically. If this man shook any harder, something was going to fall off. He 43 00:04:29,820 --> 00:04:34,660 Speaker 1: hooked a thumb at the door behind him. "My sons are working in the storeroom, sir. 44 00:04:35,620 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 1: They have clubs." As if on cue, four men filed out of the wooden door behind the 45 00:04:41,660 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: counter. Their laughter stopped as they took in the scene before them, their 46 00:04:46,420 --> 00:04:51,860 Speaker 1: quivering elderly father looking up at Reese in his imposing duelist robes as he 47 00:04:51,940 --> 00:04:57,260 Speaker 1: leaned over the counter. The largest of them, the oldest brother perhaps, made a 48 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: show of adjusting his belt. They were indeed armed with clubs. 49 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: Reese spread his hands in a show of peace. "Hold on, fellas. I'm not the one 50 00:05:08,740 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: robbing you." 51 00:05:11,020 --> 00:05:15,940 Speaker 1: He was still thinking about how stupid that sounded when he heard a single footstep 52 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:21,940 Speaker 1: behind him. Someone slipped their thin arm casually around his torso, almost like a 53 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: lover embracing him from behind, and then he felt a sharp object press into his skin 54 00:05:27,100 --> 00:05:31,340 Speaker 1: above his right kidney. He gritted his teeth and fought the urge to defend himself. 55 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:37,900 Speaker 1: This was all part of the plan. Just part of the plan. "Don't move, Noble." 56 00:05:37,900 --> 00:05:43,700 Speaker 1: "Took you long enough." "You're gonna walk nice and 57 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:49,380 Speaker 1: slow into that back room. Don't make trouble. I know what primed magic looks like." 58 00:05:49,380 --> 00:05:55,220 Speaker 1: "Ha. I don't think so. If you think you can threaten these people 59 00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:57,580 Speaker 1: while I stand by and do nothing..." 60 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:04,700 Speaker 1: The knife plunged into Reese's side, and his world shattered with pain. He gasped 61 00:06:04,740 --> 00:06:09,020 Speaker 1: and threw himself forward and felt the knife slide back out of him. In an instant, 62 00:06:09,060 --> 00:06:14,268 Speaker 1: the attacker was on top of him again. The knife flashed toward his throat. Reese 63 00:06:14,288 --> 00:06:18,888 Speaker 1: threw up his green glowing right hand. He caught the knife in the metal that had 64 00:06:18,968 --> 00:06:23,348 Speaker 1: grown like webbing between his fingers. The tip of the blade punched through the 65 00:06:23,468 --> 00:06:28,808 Speaker 1: iron, stopping inches from his throat. He held it there, struggling between his 66 00:06:28,888 --> 00:06:33,788 Speaker 1: fingers. His attacker leaned on the knife with her entire body weight. It was a 67 00:06:33,948 --> 00:06:39,648 Speaker 1: silent struggle. Real fights were like that, a quiet fight for control, marked 68 00:06:39,748 --> 00:06:45,088 Speaker 1: only by the sounds of effort, and then the final dying sounds of the defeated. 69 00:06:46,047 --> 00:06:51,708 Speaker 1: But that would not be him. His mind raced. This wasn't a farce like they'd 70 00:06:51,748 --> 00:06:57,328 Speaker 1: planned. This person was trying to kill him. They were trying to kill him. Reese 71 00:06:57,428 --> 00:07:01,688 Speaker 1: used his right hand, now covered in an inch of fresh iron, to wrench the knife from 72 00:07:01,728 --> 00:07:06,788 Speaker 1: his attacker by twisting it out of her hands. She had dark hair and tired eyes. 73 00:07:07,528 --> 00:07:11,708 Speaker 1: Her yellowed teeth were locked in a grimace of rage and determination. 74 00:07:13,508 --> 00:07:17,688 Speaker 1: Unexpectedly, she shifted her weight and let the knife be taken from her, then faked 75 00:07:17,748 --> 00:07:22,868 Speaker 1: a jab at his face with the other hand. He flinched to block, and she used her knife 76 00:07:22,888 --> 00:07:28,308 Speaker 1: hand, now empty, to punch him in the throat with quick, efficient blows. One, two, 77 00:07:28,368 --> 00:07:33,988 Speaker 1: three. The room began to go black as Reese coughed. His vision was red at the 78 00:07:34,068 --> 00:07:38,768 Speaker 1: edges. He tried to push away, but he was up against the counter. He tried to throw 79 00:07:38,828 --> 00:07:44,588 Speaker 1: her off as she hit him again and again, but she moved with his weight. Reese 80 00:07:44,648 --> 00:07:50,568 Speaker 1: Greystone refused to be a victim. He refused to die on the floor. He was 81 00:07:50,648 --> 00:07:56,548 Speaker 1: a twin stone mage, not some common street urchin. He roared 82 00:07:56,608 --> 00:08:01,888 Speaker 1: in pain and defiance, spraying blood in her face. Then Reese's hands glowed blue 83 00:08:01,948 --> 00:08:06,728 Speaker 1: this time. He slapped the ground to the left and right of them, and the stone simply 84 00:08:06,908 --> 00:08:12,768 Speaker 1: fell away as if made of sand. He saw her eyes go wide for only an instant, and 85 00:08:12,828 --> 00:08:18,148 Speaker 1: then they were both falling through the hole he'd punched in the ground. They 86 00:08:18,328 --> 00:08:23,088 Speaker 1: smashed onto the stone floor one level down. Reese heard an awful popping sound as 87 00:08:23,128 --> 00:08:27,768 Speaker 1: they hit, unable to determine whether it was from his own body or from his enemy. He 88 00:08:27,848 --> 00:08:32,608 Speaker 1: tried to sit up, but his body screamed in protest. The attacker was getting up next 89 00:08:32,648 --> 00:08:38,308 Speaker 1: to him, so he prepared himself to defend. But instead, she started limping away. 90 00:08:38,968 --> 00:08:43,008 Speaker 1: By the time he forced his own body up, she had already disappeared down the flight 91 00:08:43,048 --> 00:08:48,968 Speaker 1: of stairs. That was when he heard the sound of zip lines through the hole in 92 00:08:49,008 --> 00:08:54,948 Speaker 1: the ceiling. He saw flashes of people in black outfits and masks. Everyone get 93 00:08:55,008 --> 00:09:00,428 Speaker 1: on the ground. This is the FMR. We'll be relieving you of your personal belongings. 94 00:09:01,008 --> 00:09:06,548 Speaker 1: Lay nice and still while we collect them now. That's right. Nope. Stay 95 00:09:06,608 --> 00:09:11,928 Speaker 1: behind the counter. And you, empty that register. Of course. 96 00:09:12,308 --> 00:09:17,188 Speaker 1: Now they come. A few seconds later, someone poked their head through the hole in the 97 00:09:17,248 --> 00:09:23,068 Speaker 1: ceiling and lifted their mask to look down at him. Reese? What are you doing down 98 00:09:23,128 --> 00:09:23,408 Speaker 1: there? 99 00:09:25,388 --> 00:09:31,228 Speaker 1: Someone stabbed me. I'm taking a shortcut. Meet me on the ground. What about the 100 00:09:32,088 --> 00:09:37,968 Speaker 1: But Reese wasn't listening anymore. This was so much bigger than another false flag 101 00:09:38,088 --> 00:09:42,708 Speaker 1: operation. He glanced at the stairwell. He'd never be able to catch her that way. 102 00:09:43,128 --> 00:09:48,748 Speaker 1: Something warm was running down his side, and his mind was getting fuzzy. Every step 103 00:09:48,848 --> 00:09:53,868 Speaker 1: was agony. So he stumbled into the closest stone wall before he could think better 104 00:09:53,948 --> 00:09:59,908 Speaker 1: of it. His hands glowed blue, and a section of the wall disintegrated. Reese 105 00:09:59,968 --> 00:10:05,968 Speaker 1: let himself tumble through the hole into the early morning air. The street, 106 00:10:06,328 --> 00:10:11,508 Speaker 1: six floors below, rapidly grew closer. Wind roared in his ears. 107 00:10:12,368 --> 00:10:17,568 Speaker 1: As he fell, he wondered if he would pass out and fall to his death. A stupid 108 00:10:17,628 --> 00:10:22,768 Speaker 1: thought. He'd practiced this a hundred times. But as the ground flew up at him, just 109 00:10:22,828 --> 00:10:28,668 Speaker 1: like a hundred times before, he was certain he would die. With a force of will, his 110 00:10:28,748 --> 00:10:33,747 Speaker 1: fingers, and only his fingers, glowed blue. He thrust his fingers into the side of 111 00:10:33,788 --> 00:10:38,848 Speaker 1: the stone tower racing past him. They sunk into the stone as if it were made of 112 00:10:38,928 --> 00:10:44,928 Speaker 1: water. But in his stupor, he'd waited too long to slow his fall. His 113 00:10:45,068 --> 00:10:50,688 Speaker 1: left arm ripped him upward violently, and he heard and felt an awful 114 00:10:50,768 --> 00:10:55,568 Speaker 1: tearing sound in his shoulder. Reese screamed, but kept channeling his stone 115 00:10:55,628 --> 00:11:00,688 Speaker 1: absorption. If he stopped, he would be hanging from the side of a building with a 116 00:11:00,748 --> 00:11:06,168 Speaker 1: dislocated shoulder three stories up. He rode the side of the building down, 117 00:11:06,288 --> 00:11:11,408 Speaker 1: dragging one hand through the stone to slow his fall. The pain was 118 00:11:11,648 --> 00:11:17,648 Speaker 1: unbearable. He clenched his teeth so hard he was worried they would break next. 119 00:11:18,348 --> 00:11:24,168 Speaker 1: Reese fell in a sad, boneless pile to the street at the ground level. It 120 00:11:24,248 --> 00:11:30,048 Speaker 1: was hardly heroic. Fire ran through his shoulder. Lava boiled on the other 121 00:11:30,108 --> 00:11:35,908 Speaker 1: side of his body where the knife wound was. He looked up at the pale blue morning 122 00:11:36,048 --> 00:11:41,448 Speaker 1: sky through the gaps in the stone towers. Little black silhouettes moving on thin 123 00:11:41,508 --> 00:11:46,868 Speaker 1: black lines that ran between the buildings like a black spider's web. Even though it 124 00:11:46,928 --> 00:11:52,868 Speaker 1: was early, people still used the zip lines. Traffic never truly stopped in Valaxis. 125 00:11:54,548 --> 00:12:00,128 Speaker 1: He just stared upward. There was no way he was getting up. He couldn't. 126 00:12:00,748 --> 00:12:06,608 Speaker 1: So he just lay there in pain, waiting, knowing how stupid he'd been. How 127 00:12:06,688 --> 00:12:12,048 Speaker 1: impulsive and reckless he'd been with his own life. And two of House Greystone's 128 00:12:12,108 --> 00:12:17,208 Speaker 1: greatest treasures. Not that his father needed two more stones of power, but if his 129 00:12:17,268 --> 00:12:22,816 Speaker 1: attacker collected them off his dead body No, no, that was unacceptable. He would 130 00:12:23,056 --> 00:12:28,376 Speaker 1: not arm the underground mages. So he had to stay alive. 131 00:12:29,616 --> 00:12:34,416 Speaker 1: Some eternity later, a young woman burst through the street door at the base of the 132 00:12:34,496 --> 00:12:36,276 Speaker 1: tower. Stop. 133 00:12:37,896 --> 00:12:43,036 Speaker 1: She heard him, of course, stopped, and turned to look back at him. 134 00:12:43,916 --> 00:12:49,656 Speaker 1: That was when he realized he was in no condition to fight her again. She looked 135 00:12:49,716 --> 00:12:54,716 Speaker 1: around in confusion, probably wondering why her victim had gone to such great 136 00:12:54,796 --> 00:13:00,556 Speaker 1: lengths to lay prostrate at her feet. Surely it must be a trap. No, 137 00:13:01,216 --> 00:13:06,856 Speaker 1: not a trap. I'm just an idiot. She stood over him, 138 00:13:07,096 --> 00:13:12,756 Speaker 1: but just far enough out of reach to dodge. It was dark down there on the ground. 139 00:13:13,336 --> 00:13:19,216 Speaker 1: If she was from the Free Magic Resistance, the real Free Magic Resistance, not his 140 00:13:19,296 --> 00:13:24,936 Speaker 1: team dressed like them six floors up, this would be familiar territory to her. They 141 00:13:25,155 --> 00:13:30,296 Speaker 1: loved dark, tight, filthy places like this. Not unlike other vermin, really. 142 00:13:31,256 --> 00:13:35,576 Speaker 1: When no one sprung out of the alleys to get her, the woman brought her foot back for 143 00:13:35,636 --> 00:13:40,156 Speaker 1: a swift kick to his temple. And though he tried to dull the blow with a quick layer 144 00:13:40,216 --> 00:13:45,796 Speaker 1: of iron plating on his head, the boot struck and Rhys started falling again, 145 00:13:46,456 --> 00:13:48,936 Speaker 1: this time into complete darkness. 146 00:13:54,176 --> 00:13:57,296 Speaker 1: Chapter Two South Bloom Towers 147 00:13:59,096 --> 00:14:05,016 Speaker 1: Tessa watched the noble sleeping in her bed, and somehow it felt wrong. He 148 00:14:05,056 --> 00:14:10,176 Speaker 1: shouldn't get the bed. She would have put him on the floor, but he might do that 149 00:14:10,416 --> 00:14:16,036 Speaker 1: stone-melting magic thing again and get away. More likely, given his injuries, 150 00:14:16,396 --> 00:14:22,276 Speaker 1: ruin her floor and hurt himself. He seemed prone to that kind of 151 00:14:22,356 --> 00:14:27,356 Speaker 1: thing. Maybe she should have just killed him and taken the stones for herself. It 152 00:14:27,436 --> 00:14:32,696 Speaker 1: was an unbelievable fortune. If she could sell them without being killed in the 153 00:14:32,756 --> 00:14:38,696 Speaker 1: process, no guarantees there. Too late for all that anyway. Things were already in 154 00:14:38,736 --> 00:14:44,736 Speaker 1: motion. A safer deal, hopefully. It was always smart to take the safer deal, even if 155 00:14:44,756 --> 00:14:49,056 Speaker 1: you got paid a little less. Tessa was happy to let someone else take the heat from 156 00:14:49,116 --> 00:14:54,956 Speaker 1: this one. She looked out the window again. If she stuck her head out the window 157 00:14:54,996 --> 00:15:00,696 Speaker 1: and angled it just right, she could still see a sliver of blue sky. It wasn't a good 158 00:15:00,776 --> 00:15:05,336 Speaker 1: idea to make a habit of that, though. Besides the eternal rain of pigeon droppings, 159 00:15:05,576 --> 00:15:10,516 Speaker 1: she might get a face full of human droppings. People usually threw their waste down 160 00:15:10,556 --> 00:15:15,676 Speaker 1: the chutes in the center of the tower. But it was a long walk for some, and the 161 00:15:15,716 --> 00:15:21,716 Speaker 1: window was right there. Tessa looked down the rows of identical stone towers 162 00:15:21,796 --> 00:15:27,556 Speaker 1: outside. A few wretched souls stumbled around through the alleyways below, but most 163 00:15:27,596 --> 00:15:32,696 Speaker 1: of the traffic was on the zip lines far above. She got up and paced around the room, 164 00:15:33,216 --> 00:15:38,156 Speaker 1: stealing occasional glances at the door. Dawn, Frisk, and the others should have 165 00:15:38,196 --> 00:15:44,116 Speaker 1: been back by now. Didn't they know how big this was? Everyone in the FMR 166 00:15:44,156 --> 00:15:50,036 Speaker 1: would know soon. And that's what she was afraid of. Two stones of power. 167 00:15:50,576 --> 00:15:55,496 Speaker 1: And a noble hostage to sweeten the deal. I shouldn't have told Dawn. 168 00:15:57,176 --> 00:16:01,496 Speaker 1: There was a rustling sound behind her. Tessa spun around, heart pounding, and 169 00:16:01,556 --> 00:16:06,196 Speaker 1: reached for the knife in her belt. The movement made her arm roar in pain. She 170 00:16:06,256 --> 00:16:11,616 Speaker 1: winced and awkwardly used the other hand instead. It wasn't there. Her knife wasn't 171 00:16:11,696 --> 00:16:17,696 Speaker 1: there. A glance to the side. She'd left it on the desk. The pale man looked at 172 00:16:17,736 --> 00:16:23,636 Speaker 1: her sleepily from her bed, unmoving. He'd lost a lot of blood on the way 173 00:16:23,716 --> 00:16:29,336 Speaker 1: here. He looked so much different than the furious warrior who had jumped off a 174 00:16:29,396 --> 00:16:34,956 Speaker 1: building to chase her. Who did stuff like that? Even if you were a mage, you were 175 00:16:35,056 --> 00:16:35,976 Speaker 1: still human. 176 00:16:37,496 --> 00:16:40,576 Speaker 1: It smells like feet. 177 00:16:42,876 --> 00:16:48,276 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, welcome to South Bloom. The smell grows on you. Who's Dawn? 178 00:16:49,096 --> 00:16:49,716 Speaker 1: Your boss. 179 00:16:55,176 --> 00:17:01,116 Speaker 1: I'll kill him first, saving you for last. Tessa walked over to 180 00:17:01,156 --> 00:17:06,696 Speaker 1: the desk and slipped her knife back into her belt, then sat down, propping her chin 181 00:17:06,796 --> 00:17:12,576 Speaker 1: up on the uninjured arm. This man wasn't a threat anymore. Real life wasn't like 182 00:17:12,636 --> 00:17:18,176 Speaker 1: those rooftop plays. Your enemies didn't get back up after wounds like this. They 183 00:17:18,236 --> 00:17:24,176 Speaker 1: just laid there, waiting for the mercy of death. Your killing days are over. Look 184 00:17:24,216 --> 00:17:29,716 Speaker 1: at yourself. The noble just grimaced. A feral, bloody grimace. 185 00:17:30,316 --> 00:17:36,116 Speaker 1: His body was falling apart, but his spirit just didn't know when to quit. So 186 00:17:36,216 --> 00:17:42,096 Speaker 1: who are you? FMR? No. And it was the 187 00:17:42,176 --> 00:17:48,036 Speaker 1: truth. That was her brother's thing. Freedom fighter. Revolutionary. 188 00:17:48,996 --> 00:17:54,176 Speaker 1: It was gonna get him killed. He was the idealist. Tessa's vendetta was 189 00:17:55,216 --> 00:18:00,556 Speaker 1: much more personal than that. Yeah, well, we'll see when my 190 00:18:00,636 --> 00:18:02,516 Speaker 1: erasers get to work on you. 191 00:18:06,076 --> 00:18:12,036 Speaker 1: It's funny you should mention that. And then the noble spirit was finally 192 00:18:12,116 --> 00:18:18,036 Speaker 1: cowed. The grimace turned ugly. Fearful. Apparently there were 193 00:18:18,116 --> 00:18:22,336 Speaker 1: things that scared him. You're lying. You don't have an eraser. 194 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:30,180 Speaker 1: Tessa leaned back in her chair, trying to look relaxed, trying not to mess up her 195 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:36,140 Speaker 1: throbbing arm any further. It was definitely broken. When she didn't answer, 196 00:18:36,420 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 1: he tried a different tactic instead. You got a name? Doesn't matter. 197 00:18:44,180 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 1: Why? 198 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:52,660 Speaker 1: Because in just a little bit, you won't remember my name, your name, or anything 199 00:18:52,700 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 1: really. Just, uh, what's the word? She knew the word. 200 00:18:58,500 --> 00:19:03,220 Speaker 1: Everyone knew the word. It was the Magisterium's favorite weapon. 201 00:19:04,420 --> 00:19:10,300 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, blank. The noble winced, and again with that look of 202 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:16,260 Speaker 1: fear. It surprised her. This guy had been willing to chase her 203 00:19:16,380 --> 00:19:22,360 Speaker 1: off a building, but he was afraid of losing his memories? How was death not 204 00:19:22,420 --> 00:19:28,100 Speaker 1: worse? He swallowed audibly, but continued speaking, also 205 00:19:28,199 --> 00:19:32,780 Speaker 1: feigning confidence. Humory, what's your name? 206 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:39,440 Speaker 1: She thought about giving him a fake name. It was the smart thing to do. But really, 207 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:45,660 Speaker 1: what did it matter? This catch was so big she was either going straight to the top 208 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: or going right down with him. It was almost enough to make her regret sticking him 209 00:19:51,140 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 1: up. Almost. But her temper did what her temper did. 210 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: Tessa. Nice to meet you, Tessa. I'm going to kill you 211 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 1: last. 212 00:20:06,260 --> 00:20:11,140 Speaker 1: She rolled her eyes, and for the ten thousandth time, she looked at the door to her 213 00:20:11,260 --> 00:20:17,160 Speaker 1: squat little apartment and wondered when the cavalry would finally get here. Best to 214 00:20:17,220 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: just keep him talking if he was going to be awake. He might not survive another blow 215 00:20:22,380 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 1: to the head. 216 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:29,780 Speaker 1: And you are? Rhys Greystone. A 217 00:20:29,940 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: slow, knowing smile spread across his face. She stared flatly at him. 218 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:41,920 Speaker 1: Am I supposed to know who that is? Greystone? Like, 219 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:45,120 Speaker 1: the name on the barrels? 220 00:20:47,060 --> 00:20:47,740 Speaker 1: The what? 221 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: Greystone. It's on all the barrels of grain that come in from the south. 222 00:20:55,480 --> 00:21:00,740 Speaker 1: Yes, that Greystone. The barrels, the grain, the horses, the 223 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: people. It's all ours. That and a thousand more things. 224 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:11,780 Speaker 1: So, I'm supposed to be impressed because you make barrels? 225 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:17,440 Speaker 1: Rhys looked around as if searching for someone else to explain this to. 226 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:23,880 Speaker 1: One, I'm wasting my time. We can agree on that. 227 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:30,400 Speaker 1: Two, I changed my mind. What? And then 228 00:21:30,540 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: Rhys raised a glowing green hand four feet from her face. 229 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:39,460 Speaker 1: I'm killing you first. Goodbye. 230 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:47,620 Speaker 1: Then his glowing green hand flickered and died. He looked at his hand in alarm 231 00:21:47,660 --> 00:21:52,460 Speaker 1: and confusion, as if it were a misbehaving machine he could shake back into working 232 00:21:52,540 --> 00:21:58,260 Speaker 1: order. Tessa leaned back in her chair again. I force-fed you a null 233 00:21:58,360 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: stone while you were sleeping. Small one, but it'll do the trick eventually, I 234 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:08,620 Speaker 1: think. You, you Tessa raised an eyebrow, 235 00:22:09,380 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 1: waiting. Commonry trash! 236 00:22:13,780 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: Basement-dwelling, waste-bathing, tunnel-crawling. 237 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:25,800 Speaker 1: That was when the apartment door finally opened. Two men she didn't recognize stood 238 00:22:25,860 --> 00:22:31,820 Speaker 1: there. Tessa rose from her chair. Dawn? Donnie? Where? Right here. 239 00:22:32,900 --> 00:22:38,460 Speaker 1: Dawn stepped out from behind the other men. It's okay. They're with me. Tessa let 240 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:44,360 Speaker 1: her hand slide off the knife hilt and moved back out of their way. The two burly men 241 00:22:44,459 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: came in. They wore all black, unadorned uniforms. They looked 242 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 1: surprised, for some reason. The one without facial hair shot a glance at the other. 243 00:22:56,420 --> 00:23:01,260 Speaker 1: What, did they think she'd been lying about this? We'd better put a hood over him. 244 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:08,740 Speaker 1: Lord above, girl. You said you found him in a ration house? Yes. 245 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:14,940 Speaker 1: Then he jumped off a building, and we dragged him here. The two men exchanged 246 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:20,700 Speaker 1: another look. The same look, actually, just played again. Is he disarmed? 247 00:23:21,740 --> 00:23:22,900 Speaker 1: I fed him a null stone. 248 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 1: One of the uniforms gave her a sharp nod, and then they wrapped up Rhys Greystone in 249 00:23:31,020 --> 00:23:36,160 Speaker 1: a few blankets and lifted him as gently as they could. It was done quickly and 250 00:23:36,220 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 1: professionally. I want it when it comes back out, too. 251 00:23:42,120 --> 00:23:47,300 Speaker 1: Tessa just managed to catch Rhys' disgusted reaction before they left the room. 252 00:23:48,020 --> 00:23:53,260 Speaker 1: She was certainly playing into his fiction of the commonry. Well, he might be able 253 00:23:53,300 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: to let a null stone sliver go, but this was a fortune to her. Dawn 254 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: idled in giddy anticipation out in the hallway, watching the two men carry the 255 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: concealed Rhys away. This is big. Tessa, do you understand 256 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:15,780 Speaker 1: how big this is? Nope. She tried to put both hands in 257 00:24:15,820 --> 00:24:21,460 Speaker 1: her pockets, winced, then put only one hand in her pocket. That's the 258 00:24:21,700 --> 00:24:27,400 Speaker 1: son of one of the most powerful houses in Velaxis, and he fell right into our laps. 259 00:24:28,420 --> 00:24:34,256 Speaker 1: Really now, is that what you told them? Well, no. Don't 260 00:24:34,296 --> 00:24:40,016 Speaker 1: worry. I told them you helped. You told them I helped? 261 00:24:41,176 --> 00:24:47,176 Speaker 1: I seem to remember doing a lot more than just helping, Don. Don turned to 262 00:24:47,236 --> 00:24:52,996 Speaker 1: her and placed his hands on her shoulders. Then he lifted them off her 263 00:24:53,076 --> 00:24:58,556 Speaker 1: shoulders and grasped at the air as if trying to crush two invisible rocks 264 00:24:58,596 --> 00:25:04,576 Speaker 1: suspended there. You don't get it. That's okay. You don't need 265 00:25:04,636 --> 00:25:09,916 Speaker 1: to get it. Just, I love you. I love you, I love you, love you, love you, love you. 266 00:25:11,016 --> 00:25:15,756 Speaker 1: Tessa gave him a faint smile. This was next level, even for Don. 267 00:25:16,956 --> 00:25:22,416 Speaker 1: We getting drinks later then? Drinks? Tessa, I'm gonna buy you a 268 00:25:22,556 --> 00:25:27,916 Speaker 1: tavern. I'd like to buy my own tavern, if that's all right. 269 00:25:28,796 --> 00:25:34,716 Speaker 1: He pointed a finger at her and flashed a brilliant smile. Ten taverns. You can 270 00:25:34,776 --> 00:25:38,016 Speaker 1: have your own damn tower once we topple the Magisterium. 271 00:25:39,636 --> 00:25:45,316 Speaker 1: Hold on, Donnie. I'm not waiting that long. I want to get paid, like, right the 272 00:25:45,376 --> 00:25:50,936 Speaker 1: hell now. They know that, right? Of course, sis. Of course. He 273 00:25:51,036 --> 00:25:55,176 Speaker 1: started to spin away from her, but she grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him 274 00:25:55,236 --> 00:26:01,036 Speaker 1: back, gently. Donnie, tell me I'm gonna get paid for 275 00:26:01,096 --> 00:26:06,676 Speaker 1: this. He grimaced, and Tessa knew things were about to get 276 00:26:06,816 --> 00:26:12,796 Speaker 1: ugly. Control, control, control the anger. 277 00:26:14,956 --> 00:26:20,096 Speaker 1: Listen, if you get paid, then there's proof you were involved. 278 00:26:20,956 --> 00:26:24,656 Speaker 1: Honestly, Tess, we're lucky you're not going to the Eraser, too. 279 00:26:26,176 --> 00:26:31,776 Speaker 1: The world started to boil and close in on her all at once. Her 280 00:26:31,996 --> 00:26:37,656 Speaker 1: vision narrowed to a point. I'm getting paid. 281 00:26:38,956 --> 00:26:44,696 Speaker 1: Tessa, please don't make this a thing. She fired a simmering look at him, and Don 282 00:26:44,756 --> 00:26:49,976 Speaker 1: took a step back, hands raised. He was not ruining this for her. 283 00:26:50,636 --> 00:26:56,456 Speaker 1: Payday didn't matter. She wasn't going to buy a tavern. She wasn't 284 00:26:56,516 --> 00:27:01,436 Speaker 1: going to buy drinks. She was going to buy something far, 285 00:27:02,256 --> 00:27:08,136 Speaker 1: far more important. Don knew that, and that made it hurt even worse. 286 00:27:08,876 --> 00:27:14,716 Speaker 1: He knew what he was withholding from her. I want to talk to them, your 287 00:27:14,816 --> 00:27:20,676 Speaker 1: goons at the FMR. Tessa, it's not going to bring her back. You 288 00:27:20,776 --> 00:27:26,216 Speaker 1: can't buy something like that. You can, actually. There's a price. 289 00:27:27,616 --> 00:27:33,056 Speaker 1: Don started to speak again, but stopped as Tessa brought her hands very 290 00:27:33,316 --> 00:27:38,936 Speaker 1: slowly to his shirt collar and grabbed it tightly. She ignored the 291 00:27:38,996 --> 00:27:44,196 Speaker 1: blaring alarm of pain in her right arm as she pulled his face toward her. 292 00:27:45,096 --> 00:27:50,116 Speaker 1: Even though she was a full six inches shorter than him, he recoiled from her. 293 00:27:51,036 --> 00:27:55,956 Speaker 1: Take me to them. I can't. I can't. 294 00:27:56,796 --> 00:27:59,256 Speaker 1: Listen, they're taking him to To 295 00:28:00,896 --> 00:28:06,076 Speaker 1: And then she released his shirt and walked right past him, because she knew where 296 00:28:06,116 --> 00:28:11,216 Speaker 1: they were taking Rhys now. It was almost too easy to get information out of her 297 00:28:11,256 --> 00:28:16,516 Speaker 1: brother. He might be the revolutionary, but he was a coward, in his own way. 298 00:28:17,736 --> 00:28:23,516 Speaker 1: Tessa, don't Don't go. They'll kill 299 00:28:23,596 --> 00:28:29,596 Speaker 1: you. She didn't look back. No. They 300 00:28:29,656 --> 00:28:30,196 Speaker 1: won't.