The Broken Halo

Simon glanced at his surroundings as he felt the Murmur Bone become active in his spatial ring.

He folded his arms in a way that none could see what was in his hand, then he brought out the Murmur Bone and clenched it in his right hand.

He didn’t respond to the call yet. Instead, he created a tiny shell of controlled air around his hand and the bone.

Using his high wind affinity and terrifying control, he made the Voice’s words to travel through a narrow current of wind directly into his ear.

None noticed or perceived what he was doing, then Simon also created a narrow current of wind from his mouth to the bone.

”You took your sweet time.” The Voice said.

Simon kept his gaze on the road, his sky blue eyes reflecting the amazing sight of the convoy moving.

A few seconds later, he replied.

”I’m surrounded.”

The Voice did not respond for a few seconds.

”You’re already at the convoy?”

Simon raised a brow.

”Where else would I be to accomplish the mission you gave me?”

The Murmur Bone released a crimson pulse, and Simon could feel the irritation and faint anger of the demoness on the other side.

”Talking to you can be so infuriating at times.”

Simon’s lips curled into a slight smile.

”Or maybe you have anger issues. If you need help, I can render my services to you. You just have to tell me your location and I’ll become your psychologist and massage therapist to lessen the tension in your life and body.”

The Voice remained silent, but Simon could hear the rough breathing on the other side of the transmission.

It was obvious that she was trying to control her irritation, frustration, and anger.

And Simon found this amusing.

Aside from the fact that the Voice was angry at Simon, she was also amazed by his capabilities.

She had no idea if he was posing as a guard, soldier, recruit, beast handler, or whether he found another way to hide inside the convoy... however, finding a way to join the convoy was not an easy feat.

She knew how many rebels they lost trying to infiltrate the convoy.

Dozens.

Though she was tempted to ask Simon how he managed to enter the convoy, she knew that he would not give her an answer.

And if he did, it would most likely not be the truth.

’There’s also the possibility of him not hiding or faking his identity. He might actually be a guard, soldier, or a beast handler. A recruit is very unlikely because all the recruits are too weak to accomplish everything he has accomplished.’

Just as the Voice had these thoughts, Simon spoke.

”Are you going to give me the information you want to give me or do you plan on just wasting my time?”

The Voice remained silent for a moment, then she finally spoke.

”You’re to attack the eighteenth wagon. That is where the three cases I want you to steal are located.”

Simon looked down with a slight flicker in his eyes.

This realization was rather... unexpected.

The Voice also remained silent for a moment almost as if she were listening for a change in his breathing.

”Are you certain? The eighteenth wagon is at the center of the convoy. It is among the most heavily protected part of the convoy.”

The Voice scoffed at his words.

”You entered the lower levels of Black Horn and left with one of the prisoners. Surely a mere wagon should not be beyond you.”

Simon’s lips could not help but twitch at her words.

’The mere wagon is literally beneath me at the moment. What sort of coincidence is this?’

Simon, Akaza, and Sonya had been assigned to protect the eighteenth wagon.

And coincidentally, the eighteenth wagon was the target.

If he wanted to steal the cases from wagon, he would have to either involve Sonya and Akaza, or find a way to do so under the noses of Sonya and Akaza.

And that was easier said than done.

He could fool Akaza, but Sonya with her high perceptivity using the earth was going to be a problem.

’Aside from that. There’s a bigger problem at hand. It means the rebels are going to attack this wagon.’

’Things are going to become chaotic... and Greater Demons are going to be involved.’

Simon’s eyes flashed with a cold calculating light.

”When are your people planning on attacking the convoy?”

”The convoy should reach the first cracked lands before the crimson moon sets. There is a narrow stretch of road between two ridges. Black smoke will rise near the front of the convoy shortly after the first wagons enter.”

Simon’s eyes flickered as he recalled the map Korran had shown them.

”Do your people know about me? Or do you want a similar occurrence of what happened to the Fifth Needle to happen to them?”

”Do not think so highly of yourself, Outsider.”

”Answer my question.”

The Voice scoffed in anger and irritation.

”They know about you.”

Simon nodded slightly, but the gears in his mind were still spinning rapidly.

”And you’re certain the cases are in the eighteenth wagon? Just so you know, if you’re sending me into a trap, I would find you and kill you in the most horrifying way possible.”

The Voice scoffed.

”The feeling is mutual.”

Simon remained silent and just kept on staring at the road ahead.

A few seconds later, the Voice spoke.

”Our information is hundred percent correct, and I’m not sending you into a trap. I don’t know where, who, or what you’re currently doing in the convoy, but your main goal is to help us get those cases.”

”Also, do not attack the rebels. If you do, we won’t take it lightly even if you successfully give us the cases and accomplish the mission.”

Simon remained silent and didn’t say anything for a few seconds.

Then he spoke.

”Do you have anybody that’s positioned close to the eighteenth wagon?”

The Voice remained silent for a moment, then she replied.

”Yes, we do.”