“The Shadow Guild,” the wizard whispered a moment later. Down the street walked a man, flanked by ruffians dressed in black leather. Blue scarves covered their faces. The man wore a suit of polished leather armor with silver runes shining across his sleeves and neck. His scarred face showed the price of his position. They marched to the northern door, opened it, and went inside.

“Odd,” Tarlak murmured. “No checking. No searches.”

“More come from the south,” Aurelia said. Another group, this time adorned in pure gray clothes and armor, the black spider emblazoned on their clothing, traveled up the street. In their center walked a young man, his face covered by a hood pulled low.

“They look so much like Haern,” she said.

“He was to be their prized assassin,” Tarlak whispered. “Reared from birth to be silent and unseen. The Spider Guild planned complete conquest of the other guilds, and then dominion over Veldaren’s streets.”

Aurelia observed their silent movements shrouded by their long gray cloaks. They did not move like men. She shivered. “What stopped them?”

“They underestimated Haern. They thought his mind enslaved to their dogma. A certain red-headed girl saved him.”

“Delysia?”

A soft chuckle escaped the invisible wizard’s throat.

“Aye. He may not look it, but a small gold emblem of the mountain hangs from his neck. Ashhur saved him. In turn, Haern has saved us a hundred times over.”

The group of men reached the warehouse, opened the door, and marched inside. The door slammed shut behind them.

“Fun time. Do you know pass-wall?”

Aurelia shook her head, and then laughed when she realized the wizard would not be able to see. “No, I don’t,” she said.

“Very well, I was prepared for that. Um, hrm. Say something, I need to grab your hand.”