The Eye of Eademere

Ulfren Eademere looked from his castle’s enormous balcony to the aggravated townsfolk gathered before his keep’s moat. Humans, diminutive Brevians, hulking Rashoq, and a few of his fellow Alfir cried at the slender nobleman.

“Lord Eademere, this curfew’s hurting my pub!”

“I’ve hardly seen my new niece!”

“Please, lift the curfew my lord!”

Ulfren raised a tan hand, and the crowd glowered at him as they went quiet.

“Believe me, it is not my desire to ruin anyone’s evening – but until the ongoing attempts upon my life cease, the curfew shall remain in place.” The copper-haired nobleman stated. A turban-clad Rashoq lumbered forward.

“M’lord, we’ve tried finding who’s responsible, but ‘rest of the city’s as clueless as we are! The attacks must be coming from outside Eademere’s walls!”

“I appreciate the effort, but I assure you, the assassins have all been life-long citizens of this city! I do have my suspicions regarding who could be guiding them, however…” Ulfren looked across the moat to the Bloated Barghest Inn. Partially hidden by the shadow of its ceiling, a short figure stared back at the nobleman from the Inn’s own balcony. Ulfren looked away as a plump Human woman petitioned him.

“Your grace, surely you could pull back the curfew by an hour or two? I’ve heard these cowardly attacks are all happening at midnight – so forgive me, but there seems little point to all this!”

Ulfren sighed.

“Most of the attempts have indeed come at a late hour, but the true purpose of this curfew is to deter the meeting of less-reputable figures. That is why all must be within their own homes at the beginning of curfew – the quicker the Watch and I can force the conspirators into broad daylight, the better. Now, I must apologize, but I have other duties to atte-”

“You only care about yourself, you pompous brat!” a wheezing voice from the middle of the crowd cried out. Ulfren scanned the townsfolk, and they worriedly cast their eyes around for who had bellowed the interruption.

“To whoever dared those words, I hope you possess the courage to show your face as well. Your punishment will be far greater if you do not reveal yourself…immediately.”

Ulfren grimaced as none of the protestors moved. Instead, a high-pitched voice rose from the back of the massed citizens.

“This city was built by Brevian hands; we can’t let this haughty Alfir shove us around!”

Ulfren’s face contorted in rage, and he whistled like a cardinal. A towering bowman marched out of the castle to stand next to the Alfir. The figure’s fists, shoulders, feet, and head were encased in shining steel armor, and a tan coat covered his dull green breastplate. Most in the crowd uneasily stared at the single, central eyehole of the archer’s helmet. Ulfren’s tone was devoid of its earlier charisma as he spoke.

“Citizens of Eademere, there are agitators amongst you who are tempting my wrath. If you all are so eager to help, spread out and kneel. Now.” As the crowd hesitated to obey, the previous agitator taunted the nobleman.

“You gonna have that freak bodyguard of yours put holes in us, coward?!” Townsfolk in the back of the crowd panicked and roughly shoved a young Brevian woman forward, who kicked and screamed the entire way. An elder Brevian tried to stop those dragging the woman, but he was forced down to the ground by a pair of Humans. The Rashoq who had voiced his concerns earlier took a fistful of the tiny woman’s brown hair in one powerful hand and her lithe wrists in the other.

“Here’s the wench who spat on your name, m’lord!”

“Hold the cur still, loyal citizen.”

Ulfren nodded to the bowman at his side, and the giant drew an arrow from his quiver and prepared to fire. Sweat ran into the Rashoq’s dark beard as he stared at the drawn arrow, and the woman he held screamed at Ulfren.

“It wasn’t me! I swear it wasn’t me my lord!”

The nobleman sighed again.

“Do you Brevians still fail to comprehend the finesse of an Alfir’s ears? I have never forgotten the tone of those who try to piss upon my rule! Neither did my mother after she took this city; disloyal dogs tend to bark the loudest, after all.” He turned to the archer at his side.

“Fire.”

The giant’s bowstring gave off a thunderous twang as his arrow sailed through the Brevian woman’s neck. The Rashoq who had held her shook as he realized his left fist was full of severed head. He threw it into Eademere’s moat, and joined most of the other protestors in storming away from the castle in terror. All that remained was a handful of Brevians. The old man who had tried saving the decapitated woman shambled forward and embraced her corpse. He looked up at Ulfren with teary teal eyes.

“You’re a tyrant, Eademere! How could you take my daughter from me?! Damn your soul to the Abyss, you Alfir filth! And damn that foul archer of yours as well!” the aging man shouted. Ulfren let out a mocking laugh before responding.

“Ah, that frail baritone of yours…so you were the other rabble-rouser! I warned you that your punishment would be far worse if you did not relent from hiding, did I not?”

The old man buried his face in his headless daughter’s chest to sob, and the rest of the Brevians walked to his side. Wordless, they picked loose stones from the ground, and aimed at Ulfren. The nobleman’s bodyguard readied another arrow. The Brevians’ combined volley fell short of Ulfren’s balcony, but his archer’s arrow blew one of the rebels to the ground. As the others tried to flee, knights of the town Watch arrived, and roughly dragged them into the castle via its lowering drawbridge. Ulfren looked back to the Bloated Barghest’s balcony, and the shadowy figure that had watched earlier stomped out of view. He laughed as he faintly caught the sound of a small fist smacking stone. Ulfren turned and left his own balcony, and muttered to himself with vindictive glee.

“A pitiful attempt, Desentus…”


On the third floor of the Belching Barghest, Desentus Varis rubbed his bloodied knuckle as he peeked at the balcony of Eademere castle.

“By Robustius, is there no way to harm that man? Neither assassins nor my best rabble-rousers can bring him to his knees! Why? Why?!” the pale Brevian shouted to himself. He dragged his feet to his office’s cushioned chair, and dropped his balding head into his hands. Two other Brevian men and a lean Rashoq woman came up the stairs from the inn’s second floor.

“Is all well, sir?” the older of the two Brevians asked. Desentus looked up at the brunette-bearded fellow.

“Would I be screaming like a child if it was, Onus?” the other Brevian shrugged as he joined his companions on the wide bench of Desentus’ office. Their employer continued.

“I have sent eight people to their deaths now. The attempts of my rabble-rousers have proven that few care for the plight of the Brevians, so trying to start an uprising is out of the question. Ulfren’s guardian has killed every assassin I have sent, and that…that horrendous archer never seems to rest! He is surely on to me…I swear by how he looked over here with that asinine glare of his!”

“Sir, I must be quaint; perhaps it is time to let your father’s death go. Eademere has an even tighter grip upon the city than his foul mother did…would it be so wrong to move on and let the bastard rule in peace?” Onus said.

“And spit on the memory of my father and forefathers?! Spit upon our fellow Brevians, who are treated like dirt in the very city that their hands built?! Hold your tongue from saying such remarks again, Onus, and remember your pride!” Onus cast his eyes down and tightly gripped his black and blue robe. The younger Brevian next to him narrowed his eyes at Desentus and spoke with a gruff tone.

“Sir, my brother has a point. Even if we aren’t treated well under Eademere, he’s a lot less harsh than his mother…if she was still around, the Barghest would be a smoking ruin and our heads would be on pikes, whether or not she had proof of you masterminding all this. That Alfir’s a bastard alright, but if we Brevians start going out of our way to get on his and everyone else’s good side, things could change!” Desentus slammed his fist against his oak desk.

“Go and lick his boot already, if you are so eager to please! But I am not willing to kneel and call him master! Life was much finer before his mother and her Rashoq allies took the town! Why could she not leave us alone...?” The woman seated next to Onus and Dus rose, and gave Desentus a glare as she leaned against a wall.

“You Brevians brought this on yourselves, stop moping around like your ancestors were innocent.”

“Hold your tongue Katiza! I will not warn you again!”

“No. It’s so petty that you like to gloss over how your father had Rashoq travelers kidnapped and sold to slave merchants. Sure the Alfir came here for conquest, but king Kedir had a damn good reason to aid them when it came clear why his people weren’t coming back from this city! I can’t speak for the Humans and Alfir, but your people are damned in the eyes of mine. So be smart, and listen to the Beledictus brothers over there.”

Onus and Dus each gave Katiza a half-hearted smile. Desentus got up from his seat, and walked back to his balcony. The archer on Eademere’s balcony snapped his head in the Brevian’s direction, and Desentus cringed. Even after turning his back to the towering guardian, the marksman’s gaze held fast.

“Whether any of you are right or wrong, I do not care. You are all in my debt, and if you want to be free of that, I expect obedience…obedience that you must give in but a few hours.”

Katiza grimaced at her employer.

“If you want us to try and kill Eademere, I’m out – and you can waste your bloodhounds on chasing me for all I care.”

“Do not be rash, Katiza – I found out your mother lives in the city. If you run, she will be punished even if I catch you.”

The Rashoq made the inn’s wall shake with a furious kick, and slumped against it.

“Onus and Dus, do you wish to complain anymore? Or can we discuss strategy?”

The Beledictus brothers looked at their employer in silence. Desentus took a deep breath, and continued.

“Before we begin, I am not having you kill Eademere.” Katiza and the brothers looked at their employer in shock.

“Having him as the initial objective has been foolish; since the city’s castle was built by my ancestors, the only viable ways inside are through the drawbridge or the balcony. Hendrick tried chiseling his way inside, but he lies in Eademere’s moat with a hole where his heart was – nothing seems to slip by that monstrous bowman of Ulfren’s. And that is why you must kill him.”

Dus balked at the declaration. “If your best agents couldn’t get past that…thing…how in the Abyss do you think we can kill him?! I don’t know about you Katiza, but all me and Onus have done are extortion jobs!”

“Calm down, Dus. Indeed, he is definitely a terrifying opponent – besides Hendrick, I watched as Decia was shot down trying to scale the keep’s wall, and Quatrus’ brains were…stomped out of him after he managed to get onto the balcony - but there must be a way.”

Onus piped up. “I heard that Tatiana tried guiding a lightning bolt towards that giant of a man – how did she die?”

“She was struck by that very bolt. I am now certain that the archer’s breastplate is made of reflectite.”

“What in Robustius’ name is that? That breastplate of his sure isn’t reflective!” Dus spouted out. Katiza shook her head and answered him.

“Reflectite’s an ore that makes a mage’s spell backfire if their opponent’s wearing some.” The three Brevians looked at Katiza in surprise.

“What?! Using magic is a sin to my people, how in the Abyss do you think we make up for that? Sure helped my grandpa when he fought against Alfir during the Third Tar Sea War.” Desentus continued.

“Nonetheless, attempting to avoid the guardian’s detection has been fruitless. Tatiana had the right idea, but magic directed at the archer is suicide. However, you three are actually the best I could ask for.”

“I use Physicia magic…Dus has his crossbow…and Katiza could force the archer into hand-to-hand combat…I agree - this is a viable combination!” Onus said, enthusiasm thick in his voice.

“Good. Dus? Katiza? Any objections?” Onus’ brother was the first to respond.

“I don’t like my odds against him - it stings to admit, but I can tell he’s all-around better with that bow of his than I am with my crossbow. If I was the first thing he saw, well…he’d be the last thing I’d see.” All three Brevians looked to Katiza, who sighed.

“I get it, you tiny men need the big Rashoq to draw attention. I’m not going up against that giant with just my falchion here, though.” Katiza rustled the wide blade at her belt, and Desentus nodded.

“It will be uncomfortable since you are larger than he was, but Hendrick had a coat of plates, bracers, and shin guards that he…left behind. There should be at least one good warhammer in the armory as well.”

“That’ll do. Wait…how am I getting up to him?”

“That will be my responsibility. I will also do my best to shield the both of us via geomancy – reflectite can only cause a backfire if a spell is targeted at it, so that will not be a concern.” Onus said. Katiza uneasily nodded, and looked back to her employer.

“So when are we heading out?”

Desentus looked to Eademere’s balcony, and his eyes darted over the structure. When he glanced back at Katiza, his face was stern yet serene. “Sundown. The castle balcony faces the setting sun, so that will be when it is hardest for him to aim. May Robustius guide you three to victory.”


Bright red light hung over Eademere as Katiza and Onus slid into the shadow cast by the back of the city’s castle. The two climbed onto a boulder at the edge of the moat, and air hissed around Onus as he gestured towards the stone as if trying to dislodge it. Katiza braced herself as the massive stone rose from the earth, and Onus’ breathing grew heavy as he guided it above the keep’s wall. As the two hovered across the castle’s domed roof, Katiza stifled a laugh after seeing the dumbstruck citizens below them. The town’s Watch began to mobilize, but by the time an alert bell had rung, Onus had already guided the stone to the edge of the castle’s roof.

“Jump!” the Brevian cried with the sparse breath he had left. Katiza joined him in doing so, and the two haphazardly rolled to their feet as the boulder rolled straight for the castle’s balcony.

“No! Shit, shit, shit!” a member of the Watch screamed out. Onus and Katiza covered their ears as the boulder pulverized the balcony and fell into the moat with a gigantic splash. The assassins wasted no time in peering over the roof, but were startled by what they saw. Even though the middle of the balcony had been laid to waste, its guardian had managed to nestle himself into its left-hand corner. Onus and Katiza took cover behind the roof right as an arrow soared into the sky.

“What do we do?!” cried Katiza.

“Draw his attention, if I can get enough chunks of the balcony up here, I’ll be able to shield us both when we go do down!” Onus said. Katiza shook her head, and drew her warhammer. She crawled to the roof’s edge, and dangled half of the weapon over. As Onus peered over and levitated a trio of stones to the roof, an arrow sailed past the warhammer. Onus narrowly dodged a shot himself as he took cover on the roof. Katiza dangled her warhammer again, but no arrows came. She shot her hand out next, and her arm was rattled as the archer’s shot cracked the side of her bracer. Onus tugged up four more stones, and gasped for air.

“They’re staying out of sight, get some ladders!” a female Watch member cried out.

“We gotta move Onus!” Katiza said. Onus took a few deep breaths, then closed his fist and tightened it as he guided four of the stones in front of Katiza. They lazily hovered before her as the Brevian mage did the same for himself, and with a nod to one another, Katiza leapt over the balcony as Onus hustled to its edge. One of Katiza’s stones darted to stop an arrow from hitting her, and its front half exploded into fine powder as the Rashoq landed. Instead of drawing an arrow, the archer swung a fist at Katiza as she charged him. She narrowly dodged the blow, and sunk her warhammer into the guardian’s reflectite breastplate. As she pulled it out for another strike, the marksman’s fist plowed straight through her stone barrier and knocked Katiza to her knees. His next punch failed to land as he stumbled past Katiza, and a weary smile broke across her lips as she saw a bolt lodged in his lower back. For a split second, she caught the glint of Dus’ crossbow on top of one of the town’s higher-end homes. As the archer straightened himself, Katiza swung her hammer into the point Dus’ bolt had pierced. The giant knocked Katiza’s hand aside with his bow before her blow broke his breastplate, and he crushed her second-to-last ward stone with a powerful kick. Katiza struck the unarmored portion of his leg, but was dragged off her feet as the archer shook her around.

“What in the Abyss are you?! No one should be standing after all this, you freak!” she cried out. Her warhammer slipped out of the giant’s leg, sending her to balcony’s floor. Another bolt clanged off of the masksman’s left pauldron, and he readied an arrow in Dus’ direction. Katiza took a desperate swing at the giant’s firing arm, but her strike landed too late. She heard Onus cry out as she wrenched her hammer out again.

“Dus! No! I would crush your head if it was not for that breastplate of yours, monster!” Katiza could only cringe as she heard Dus’ body crack against Eademere’s dirt. The giant deflected her next swing with his gauntlet, and dropped his bow to deliver a flurry of heavy punches. Katiza’s last stone crumbled after she failed to dodge too many strikes, and an uppercut launched her into the balcony’s railing. Members of the Watch finally climbed to the roof and surrounded Onus. The mage clacked the stones of his barrier together to form smaller chunks, and shot them through the gaps in the armor of the gathered guardsmen. He struggled to stand as he turned towards the archer, and screeched as the giant drew another arrow. Onus covered his face and launched a larger stone at the marksman. The slab of marble almost impacted the archer’s breastplate, but seemed to bounce off right as he released an arrow at Onus. The Brevian’s chest was ripped apart as his own stone followed by the giant’s arrow struck him. Katiza got back to her feet, and let out a war cry as she launched herself at the archer. The giant tried to backhand her with his bow again, but Katiza ducked, and slammed the spike of her warhammer into the eyehole of the marksman’s helmet. Though no scream came from the giant, Katiza’s jaw was shattered as he immediately flailed around. He went to his knees and madly grasped for her. Katiza slammed her warhammer into one of the archer’s hands, but in his frenzy the giant flung the weapon out of its gauntlet to the moat. Katiza screamed and kicked at the archer, but he paid her strikes no heed as he pinned her down with his legs. The giant roughly gripped her head in both hands after wild reaching, and Katiza cried as she tried to tear the gauntleted fingers away. In a crude motion, the giant tore the flesh and bone around Katiza’s left eye. The Rashoq screamed louder than she ever had before as blood gushed from her skull, and it intensified when the giant delicately pulled her eye out. The awe-struck citizens who had gathered to watch the fight could no longer see the combatants behind the remaining section of the balcony’s railing. The marksman cradled Katiza’s stolen eye in one hand and pounded into her biceps with the other, shattering the woman’s bones. She could only watch in horror as the giant lifted her eyeball to his helmet, and dropped it inside. A few tense heartbeats later, the archer shoved his face within an inch of Katiza’s own, and she maniacally laughed as she saw her own eye staring at her.

“Thish…can’t be…happening.” The Rashoq muttered with her broken jaw. The giant got off of her, and lifted Katiza into the air by the throat. The assassin stopped struggling, even when the archer held her over the moat. With her remaining eye, she saw Ulfren Eademere open the balcony’s doors to stare at her. The nobleman puffed, and looked upon his citizens.

“And yet again, my brave bodyguard has stopped another attempt upon my life! Citizens of Eademere, I regret that this spectacle came to be, but I have fine news for all of you; I hereby lift the curfew!”

Ulfren’s people hesitantly cheered, and he looked back at Katiza.

“If…this failure of an assassin confesses who sent her to kill me. Lighten your grip on her neck.” The crowd stared at Katiza with pleading eyes, and the giant did as his master bade. Katiza took a few strained gasps, then nodded towards the Bloated Barghest Inn. Ulfren took on a light smile.

“You pointed your head towards the inn of Desentus Varis – does that mean he is your employer?” Katiza nodded again.

“That was quicker than I expected! I sincerely appreciate the aid – set her down, but keep an eye on her.”

The archer dropped Katiza in the balcony’s corner, and Ulfren looked to a trio of Watch members.

“Officers, seize Desentus Varis from the Bloated Barghest Inn!” The three Alfir jogged into the Barghest, and came out with Desentus in tow. The balding Brevian was stoic as he was dragged before the moat. Ulfren’s smile grew wider as he looked down at his nemesis.

“Desentus Varis, you stand accused of conspiracy to commit murder as well as conspiracy to incite public unrest. What say you?”

Desentus turned to the crowd as much as the Watch would allow him, and addressed the citizens of Eademere.

“To the Humans of this city, I damn your neutrality towards my people. Most of you have turned a blind eye to the mistreatment of your Brevian neighbors since the day this city was lost to us.”

Humans in the crowd sneered at Desentus. “Your rambling can wait, Desentus! What say you?”

“To the Rashoq, I apologize for the actions of my father, King Faustus, for he never owned up to his atrocities. It was abominable of him to detain and sell visiting members of your people into slavery.”

“Hold him still! Answer me, Desentus!” The officers who held Desentus faced him towards Ulfren, but the Brevian shouted to the sky.

“To the Alfir, I damn your conquest of this city! If it was not for King Kedir’s aid, my father would have broken your backs against these walls!”

“Silence! Do you plead guilty or not, Desentus Varis?!”

“To my fellow Brevians, I loathe your cowardice! After we lost this city and the Alfir put down our initial attempts at rebellion, you all hung your tails between your legs and let the boots of the Alfir rest upon your heads from that time forth! Leave this city and find a better place for yourselves – you dishonor our ancestors by tainting their home with your feebleness!”

Members of the Watch had to hold back a few Brevians as they attempted to stone Desentus. He finally looked at Ulfren, and the two glowered at each other.

“Finally, I admit to my attempts to assassinate you and undermine your despotic rule, Ulfren Eademere! But though I concede victory to you, I will not give you the pleasure of my execution!”

Desentus bit and swallowed something, and began to spasm in the Watch officers’ hands.

“What happened? Someone get a healer!” Ulfren cried. By the time one had arrived, Desentus laid still on the ground. The healer fished something out of the Brevian’s mouth, and held it up for Ulfren to see.

“He poisoned himself with a Manticore gland, Lord Eademere!” the Alfir woman said. Ulfren suppressed a yell, and looked to his bodyguard.

“Take her to the dungeon. I tire of this spectacle!”

The archer slung Katiza over his back, and made his way to the balcony’s exit. He stopped mid-step when the Rashoq woman launched her leg at Ulfren’s neck. The nobleman’s windpipe collapsed as Katiza’s shin guard made contact, and he plummeted into his own moat. The archer gripped Katiza by her shins, slammed the Rashoq into the wall of Eademere castle, and tossed her in after his slain master. The crowd erupted into chaos.

“Lord Ulfren! Ulfren Eademere is dead!”

“Who…who will replace him? He has no heir!”

“I am worthy! It is high time a Human was lord of the city!”

“Know your place! Only an Alfir deserves to rule!”

The archer took up his bow, drew an arrow, and shot at the feet of the crowd. Their bickering ended with a collective gasp, and everyone’s eyes looked to the captain of the Watch when the marksman pointed at her. He pointed back to Eademere castle, and the captain hesitantly nodded. The crowd parted as she walked to the edge of the moat, and the draw bridge operators had taken the hint. The bridge lowered for Eademere’s new lady, and she took on an uneasy smile as she entered the castle. The archer stared at the crowd for a moment longer, then finally pulled Dus’ bolt out of his back as he shambled inside. The people of Eademere scattered when he slammed the balcony door behind him, and an ancient Brevian woman mused aloud before joining them.

“The pawn has become puppeteer, and now it is not Ulfren but his Eye that we must fear…”