Chapter 57 – Skuldor
The morning sun was already higher in the sky than SJ had planned when she left a very weary-looking Lurtew in the workshop as she headed towards Petunia's. Yawnee still hadn't arisen. She knew that Petunia would be out and had deliberately planned her visit with her absence in mind; she wanted to speak to Skuldor alone.
She didn't fly directly; instead, she walked, wanting the time to work through her thoughts more. The city was in action around her as she passed carts and wagons fully laden with goods, making their way to the many stores or marketplaces of the city. No one paid her any attention, the way she preferred.
Petunia's home was its usual picturesque, quiet self. The perfectly manicured yard and shrubs lined the path to the front entrance. SJ knew she should have until early afternoon before Petunia was due to return from the tower, which should be ample time for her conversation to take place.
Skuldor answered the door after several moments when SJ knocked.
His perfect appearance always made SJ feel unworthy in his presence. His wings were folded perfectly behind him, not a feather out of place. The silvery tips caught the morning light, adding a layer of mystery to the valkyrie.
"SJ, Petunia isn't in currently."
"I'm aware," SJ smiled. "I came to see you if you're free to talk."
"Of course," Skuldor said, stepping aside. "What is it that you need?"
"I'm glad you started with need, but I'm not sure if it's what I need more than what you can do to help the city."
"The city, you say? What can I do to help the city that you haven't already achieved with your dealings over the months?"
"I didn't want to ask you this when Petunia was around," SJ admitted before she continued.
Skuldor raised an eyebrow at her comment, and a gentle smile traced his lips.
"I have my suspicions about what you may wish to discuss."
"You do?"
"Ever since you mentioned their existence in the city, I knew you would come and speak to me. Come, let us get a drink and go to the garden." Skuldor walked to the kitchen, filled a jug with freshly squeezed juice, and collected two glasses. They made their way to the gazebo in the rear garden; the sun's angle reached them underneath its cover.
Skuldor handed SJ a glass.
"Thanks," SJ said as she sipped the juice. She couldn't tell what fruit it had been made from, but it had a sharpness similar to that of Earth's apples.
Skuldor placed his glass on the table before folding his hands on his lap. "Please ask what you require."
SJ could feel her nerves tingling; it wasn't from speaking to Skuldor, it was because she was going behind Petunia's back. She dared not think what wrath she would face when she found out what she would ask of Skuldor.
"As you are aware, there are vampires in the city, the most dangerous of which is known only as the Master. My one meeting with him and seeing others' reactions showed me how powerful he was, without him having to demonstrate it. I am on a path currently that may bring me closer to him than I ever imagined due to a quest I have been given."
"A guild quest?" Skuldor asked.
"Yes, one for the guild," SJ looked away, a little embarrassed. She didn't like talking to others about her class, although Skuldor was aware of her abilities from the conflict in Killic.
"You're going after him, then?"
"No, not directly. I am going after the Chief," SJ whispered her title, even in the silence of the garden. "She is the other half of the city's underworld, and I'm afraid dealing with her may bring the Master out."
"I see, and you don’t believe you can deal with him?"
"No, I wouldn't stand a chance. There is absolutely no way I could fight him, even with support from what I can sense."
"So, you require seeing if I am willing to support you with your endeavours to combat this foul beast."
"Yes. I don't know for definite whether he will even appear, but I'm sure he will react in some way if I am successful against the Chief."
"I made my feelings about their kind clear last time we spoke. I harbour a hatred that burns brighter than any dragon's breath. I was shocked to hear that there were vampires even in the city, never mind that there is a clan here. I've already shared my discontent with Petunia."
"She wouldn't be surprised if you were involved then?"
Skuldor smiled. "She has forbidden me from getting involved in anything that may endanger myself or my family."
"Your family?" SJ asked, confused by the statement.
"I may be a gravonic cleric, but to be able to consider taking down vampires, it's not a solo being's job. You require support to hold the foul beasts while you deal with them. Incantations required to deal with them are complex."
"I know nothing of your branch; I'm sorry."
"I wouldn't expect you to. It's very specialist."
"I need to ask, is it all undead you are against? The reason I ask is that you didn't react when you met the skeletons in Killic."
"Skeletons aren't undead in the truest sense. They are necromantic creations, born from the dead. True undead are those that are born in the darkness and spread their seed. Lichs, ghouls, zombies, they are undead. They can only be created from an evil soul."
"I see. So you are willing to help if the need arises?"
"I am, although I would require informing Kara, and have some of her team on standby. That's where it's problematic. Petunia would be very suspicious if Kara suddenly returned to Asterfal from their home. I'm a rarity among valkyries in many ways; my kind stay away from most other beings the majority of the time."
"What can we do then?"
The voice that cut across the garden made both SJ and Skuldor jump from their seats.
"You can do nothing, you pair of plotting imbeciles," Petunia called as she walked from the rear of the house.
"I thought you were out until this afternoon," SJ said in shock.
"I forgot my notes," Petunia answered, holding a rolled piece of parchment in her hand. "I'm glad I did, though, with the stupidity I have just overheard being discussed."
"Petunia, I'm capable of making my own choices. I don't need you to dictate what I can and can't do," Skuldor said.
"Aren't you retired from the church? You blithering idiot," Petunia spat. Her face was contorted, her brow furrowed, and her look scared SJ more than anything she had witnessed before.
"I may be retired, but I am still a gravonic cleric, and I have always sworn vengeance against the undead, particularly vampires. You are more aware of my history than most."
"I may very well be, but that doesn't stop me from stopping you from doing something foolish. Don't you think if I believed that the Master could be dealt with, I would have done something about it by now."
"And have you ever had a gravonic cleric of my experience available to deal with them?" Skuldor said.
"That's an irrelevant point. He is too dangerous. I have seen what that being is capable of first-hand," Petunia replied.
SJ stood staring at Petunia as she digested her reply. "You've seen what he's capable of?"
"Yes, you nitwit. I was present in the tower the day that the one we don't talk about was brought in. I was present when the agreement was made. I was present when the understanding of what the city had to do going forward was agreed upon. He isn't a being to be messed with."
"I would never mess with a vampire; I would crush them," Skuldor said, bringing his fist into his open palm.
"With what? Your skills? Your incantations? Don't you think a being of his age and power hasn't considered who might threaten him? He isn't a young vampire of only a couple of centuries old. He is an ancient vampire; I'm not even sure of his true age, but I know he is at least two thousand years old."
Skuldor didn't flinch from his age being mentioned. "You forget my age, dear Petunia. I am over two thousand myself. Don't you think I have as much experience as any vampire ever would in dealing with them?"
"Don't you 'Dear Petunia' me," Petunia huffed. Although SJ noticed a slight chink in her armour. "Your age might be something, but you would be endangering Kara and her team as well."
"Don't you think that is what they have trained for? They came to the aid of Killic on behalf of my request, and didn't even question the request, which was unusual even by my standards. They would revel in the chance to take down an ancient. Kara's hatred runs as deep as my own."
"And you're quite happy throwing your only daughter into the dragon's nest? Quite happily, without fear of consequence?"
"I'm not heartless. I always worry, I'm her father, but it doesn't stop me from allowing her the freedom of choice that she has. I will never stop her from doing anything she freely chooses to do."
"More fool you then," Petunia retorted.
"Petunia, if you know so much about the Master, could you not help us?" SJ asked nervously.
Petunia spun and stared at her, her eyes narrowed, looking as though she were about to pounce. SJ stepped back unknowingly from her gaze. "If Zigferd's not large enough to not go over my knee, then you definitely aren't," Petunia said, stepping forward.
SJ gulped nervously at the fiery gnome.
"Petunia, behave yourself," Skuldor said sharply.
"Maybe a good spanking would sort out her attitude."
SJ backed off another step. There was no way she was going to allow Petunia to get a hold of her; she would shrink and flee if she had to.
Dave exploded in fits of laughter.
What's so funny, SJ thought in anger.
"You are. You're an assassin with exceptional skills for your level, and yet you are backing away from a tiny little gnome."
A gnome with the level and strength to crush me in an instant.
"She's a healer, not a murderer," Dave chuckled.
Have you seen the look on her face?
Skuldor stepped in front of Petunia, his arms folded defiantly.
"No, you will not, Petunia Tabatha Thistlewick, or you will end up over my knee."
Petunia froze mid-stride, her eyes shooting open wide in shock at being called by her full name. SJ had never even heard it before.
"You'd enjoy that," Petunia snapped back, regaining her composure.
"Perhaps," Skuldor chuckled. "Now, have you calmed down enough to talk normally, without threatening anyone?"
Petunia grumbled under her breath before she stomped over to one of the empty chairs and sat down.
"SJ, tell the cart driver I will be delayed returning, and on your way back, you'd better grab me a bottle of brandy from the lounge," Petunia said, not even looking at her.
SJ froze momentarily before she hurried across the garden to carry out Petunia's wishes.
The driver of the cart confirmed he would wait, that he was in no hurry, and that he had been assigned to Her Worship all day. SJ returned to the garden after collecting a bottle of brandy and some glasses. SJ placed the bottle in front of Petunia, who picked it up, uncorked it, took a swig, and didn't even consider using a glass.
Petunia let out a sigh. "You'd better sit down and tell me everything from the beginning."
SJ shuddered as she took a seat. Only once had she been in the headmistress's office at school, and it felt no different now. Sitting across from the city's matriarch.
It took SJ time to explain everything that had happened to her, from accepting Navina's quest to where she had got to in dealing with the Chief. SJ knew that there was no point in even attempting to lie to Petunia or hide details.
Skuldor nodded along at certain points, impressed with what SJ had been up to.
"So you are poking the dragon's nest, while Skuldor want's to throw his daughter into it."
"He isn't a dragon," Skuldor stated. "He is a creation of evil, who needs to be removed from this world."
"I'm not doing anything to the Master directly. I'm only tasked with dealing with the Chief, and I expect he will get involved. Or at least attempt to take further control of the city. I'm assuming that the Chief's immunity is tied into the deal the city made originally when the Master arrived," SJ said.
Petunia hadn't taken her eyes off her as she spoke. "Yes. Her immunity is directly tied to the city's security. If one falls due to the threat of the tower, then the other will seek revenge. The pair of them have worked alongside each other amicably for two centuries without any problems. They handle their own interests directly and share their rewards."
"They share their rewards?"
"Yes, from what I am aware."
"You know much more than you have ever let on," SJ said, and Petunia's eyes narrowed again. "I wasn't accusing you of anything," SJ hastily added. "I just mean that you must have some information you can share with us if we were to do this."
Petunia looked away and sighed heavily. "What you are dealing with already is a ridiculous request from someone of your level, never mind adding in the Master as a secondary target."
"I'm not adding him; I'm trying to cover potential outcomes."
"Bah. I would say the folly of youth, if I didn't know better," Petunia humphed, looking at Skuldor, who grinned at her.
"How are you planning to corner the Chief?" Petunia asked.
"I haven't confirmed the details yet. The rumour is still being spread."
"Wherever you do it, it must be in the open," Petunia stated, her tone contained warning.
"Why in the open? I'd prefer not to do anything in the open if possible."
"It is your safest option, allowing you a method of escape if necessary. You have accepted a target with significant experience and magical abilities. She may not be very high level, but she is exceedingly skilled. And her henchmen are no slouches."
"Do you have any suggestions for a location?"
"A park, perhaps, one of the larger ones."
"That means doing it in the inner city."
"Yes. It would be the safest place to complete your quest. That way you are near the support of your friend you mentioned."
SJ knew she meant Liam. Petunia didn't need to mention Fas; she knew enough about him to know what he was capable of; his notoriety was infamous. The information this gnome held on the members of the city on both sides of the law was immeasurable.
"When is this likely to go down?" Skuldor asked.
"I don't know yet. How long would it take to rally Kara and her team?" SJ asked.
"It would take her two days to arrive from their sanctum, if the winds were fair."
"I will keep that in mind when we get nearer to confirming anything."
"You do realise that my hands are tied and I can't help you," Petunia said.
"I'm aware," SJ replied. Petunia fell under the same restrictions as other senior members of the Tower. She was unable to deal with the issues directly herself without breaking the oath, or whatever it was that was held over them. Petunia had been unwilling to explain the full details of the agreement, and SJ wasn't even sure she would have been able to, even if she had wished.
Petunia stood. "I need to get back to the tower. I have meetings to attend. When it is time, you can tell Kara she may stay here." She said offhandedly as she walked away.
Skuldor smiled at SJ. "She wasn't as bad as I expected," he said.
A distant voice reached their ears from within the house. "I heard that."
Skuldor winced.
