Melissa was, in fact, pleased to see Adrian in town. They met at a small bar that was devoid of customers—specifically because it was for them alone—and when Mason left to “take care of his own business,” Adrian didn’t bother with more pleasantries. He bent her over the very table they were speaking at.
When Mason returned some time later with a smaller hooded figure in tow, Adrian was seated at another table with Melissa straddling him. She, a rather tall, slender, but relatively muscular woman, held shears to his unruly hair. It was nearly back to its original length from when Veleria first woke.
“Better not have fucked on my bar,” said Mason, patting his companion before joining Adrian and Melissa at their table.
“We may or may not have ended up there.” Melissa smiled, rolling her wrist with the shears. “Maybe you shouldn’t have made it the perfect height for our boss.”
“Woah, you caught me. How did’ja know I was imagining Adrian’s cock while I built the thing?”
The three of them laughed, with Adrian shaking his head once his hair was styled. He watched with a little interest as Melissa removed herself from him, noting the length of her black hair as it bobbed against her back…Her similarity to Veleria reminding him to think with his head as opposed to the traitor below his waist.
“Could I bother you for a drink?” He asked Mason. The man shrugged, stood, and then joined Melissa as she slid behind the bar. A minute later and Adrian wet his throat and mind. “Thanks for that.” He said, keeping to his table while his gaze moved between his two members. The third individual that Mason had brought was sitting nearby, though Adrian had already tagged his loyalty. Glimpses of the snake-and-jewel tattoo were easy enough to spot on the man.
Adrian leaned forward.
“I came here on a personal obligation for a woman I met. Things got complicated, and I was tasked with accompanying her to Cromwell…This being a request from the lich himself.”
“A personal request? That’s serious, Adrian. Who is she, and where? Shouldn’t she be with you?” Melissa inquired, her previously calm demeanor transforming quickly into sincerity.
“A sorcerer by the name of Caed kidnapped her. The level of power he displayed cannot be understated, so I was heading to the mountain to ask Cromwell for assistance directly.” Between his knees, Adrian rubbed his fingers together. “Even with the Mask of Many Faces, I don’t think I could fight him head-on.” He looked up, locking eyes with Melissa. He continued, “Mason told me you know his editor?”
Melissa shrugged, “we fuck on occasion.”
With brow raised, Adrian had to wonder. Was she really into that kind of person? A guy who proofread history books? Not that it mattered. He just couldn’t help his own thoughts from wandering.
“Can he communicate directly with Cromwell?” Adrian hardened his brow.
“He can. Do you want me to take you to him now?” Her eyes scanned the windows. It was still light outside. “Even if he closed shop for the day, Wren should still be in the building.”
Adrian was already getting up.
“Let’s not waste any more daylight.” He said, and Melissa swiftly joined him by hopping the bar.
* * *
Strange Commodities was a small corner store that the titular Wren headed not far from the guild tavern. While they walked, Melissa explained that her occasional fling generally remained in the store after hours to edit tomes for the lich. During the day he sold a number of strange, potentially magic items to whomever had the coin for them. Most of them, she said, previously belonged to Cromwell but no longer held his interest.
The outside was nice. Dark wood paneled frosted windows, and a sturdy cherry wood door barely creaked as Melissa pushed it open. A little bell sounded their arrival.
Behind the front desk was a long-haired man getting on in years. A small, slightly protruding belly offered a glimpse into a life led without hardship. He was…Handsome, Adrian supposed, but he did glance sidelong at Melissa regardless. Wren and him were very different looking men.
“Oh!” The man stuttered, shoving some parchment aside on the desk. “Hi Mel, and…”
“This is Adrian Giarmund, Wren. Basically the equivalent to a leader for my outfit.”
Adrian was more surprised that she said his entire name. Even outside of the empire he was still famous.
Wren stared for a moment before realization struck him.
“Oh…Oh no, wait, wait, shouldn’t you have someone else with you? Black haired girl, golden eyes? Lord Cromwell said…” As the man scrambled to his feet, Adrian clenched his fists.
“Veleria was taken from me. I need Cromwell’s help.” He stated, matter-of-factually.
Wren paused between them and the desk. His eyes were wild while he processed what Adrian just told him.
“T-t-taken? P-please, don’t tell me that the sorceress Al-Alk’Hath was in-involved.”
Adrian sighed, “maybe. Not exactly. It’s complicated. Look, if you can speak with Cromwell directly then I need you to do that as soon as possible.”
Sheepishly, Wren looked around in thought before shaking his finger at nothing in agreement.
“Yes! Yes, of course, I will do that. P-Please wait here.”
He scurried off, and Adrian glanced at Melissa beside him. He had to ask.
“Does he have a massive hog or something?” He narrowed his eyes as Melissa started to laugh.
“He’s a very sensual lover.” She smiled, crossing her arms over her chest. “You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.”
Adrian rolled his eyes. The irony wasn’t lost on him. Still, he left it there, and waited patiently for Wren to return.
They ended up waiting for a while yet. If he had to guess, then Adrian would assume it had nearly been thirty minutes or so before the shopkeeper came back out from a side door behind the desk. He and Melissa made some small talk. Nothing too serious, and Adrian avoided answering too many questions about the woman he had been traveling with.
Wren opened the door but stepped aside to beckon them inside.
“Quickly now, Lord Cromwell is coming.”
“He’s what? Here? How? Is he flying, or…”
Adrian was in shock. Was it even possible for someone to just appear like this?
“No more questions. Melissa, please forgive me, but Lord Cromwell requested an audience with Lord Giarmund alone.” Wren said, frowning in her direction.
“I understand. Adrian, can you make it back to the tavern by yourself?” Melissa asked, her hand already on the front door.
“Yeah, no problem.” He replied, hastily waving her off while Wren ushered him inside the room. It was a narrow stairwell that led down to a large storage room with an even larger empty space in the middle. A book was left open-faced in the center.
Upon their approach, Wren grabbed Adrian by his shoulder to hold him back. Normally he would have words for anyone who touched him, but Adrian was suddenly grateful for the intrusion. Before them, the book’s pages began to flip wildly. Gusts of wind tore into the shelving that surrounded them. It whipped Adrian’s hair into his face.
Normally, the flow and concentration of magic in any area was completely invisible to those uninitiated or not born as sorcerers. But, here, before him, Adrian could see pale wisps gathering in the center of the room. He had only ever seen them with the mask on.
With the flow converging into the center of the room, he and Wren watched armored hands, connected to arms, tear through the fabric of reality. What followed was a sinister masked cowl, complete with functional battle-ready robes and boots.
“You’ve gotta be shitting me.” Adrian mumbled, his eyes bugging out of his skull. He knew Cromwell the moment the four-eyed mask came into view.
Then, suddenly, the winds died down. Before them, the very real figure of Althalos Cromwell floated just centimeters off the ground. He moved his head to face Adrian and Wren and, as he did so, the eye holes in Althalos’s mask came alight with blue fire.
Where is Veleria Garris?
The otherworldly voice sounded as if it were in his mind. He knew it well, but Adrian still couldn’t prepare himself for the intrusion. He squeezed his eyes shut, ashamed, and told Cromwell what he could.