The Broken Halo

Simon looked at the Second Claw’s outstretched hand for a moment before reaching into his pocket. Then he brought out a plain disposable spatial ring.

The Second Claw did not take it immediately.

Instead, she produced a rectangular black box and placed it on the table. The box was covered in thin isolation runes, while a dull layer of lead lined its interior.

The Voice opened the lid.

”Now,” the Second Claw said.

Simon sent his spatial perception into the Sword Daemon’s ring then he waved his hand to the side.

Thud

Thud

Thud

Two narrow black cases and a round case vanished from its protected space and appeared outside.

A second later, three faint disturbances that only Simon could perceive pressed against the surrounding space.

Korran’s trackers had awakened.

Simon furrowed his brows, then he quickly solidified the space around them to make communication between the trackers and Korran to be more difficult.

With another wave of his hand, he sent the three cases into the plain, disposable spatial ring before tossing it across the table.

The Second Claw caught it and dropped it into the lead-lined box almost immediately.

Click!

The Voice closed the lid.

The isolation runes lit up one after another, and the disturbances disappeared before they could properly spread beyond the chamber.

Only after confirming that the runes were stable did the Second Claw send the sealed box into a separate spatial artifact.

Simon then released his control over space.

The entire exchange lasted only a few seconds. However, the Voice and the Second Claw could not help but look at one another before giving Simon a strange expression.

”Your spatial affinity and talent must be high for you to be able to solidify space as an Archfiend.”

Simon leaned back in his chair and nonchalantly waved his hand.

”Nah. I just have a rather high knowledge on how to apply space.”

The Voice’s lips could not help but twitch at the arrogance in Simon’s tone. Although she wanted to say something, her Master suddenly rose slightly as though preparing to leave.

”We have what we came for. There is no reason to remain here longer than necessary.”

”Hold on.”

The Voice’s expression immediately became irritated.

”What now?”

”I have questions.”

”And why should we answer them?” she asked, her tone carrying no attempt to hide her annoyance.

”Because we have an agreement now,” Simon replied calmly. ”And because giving me enough information to understand the operation will benefit all of us in the long run.”

The Voice looked ready to argue, but the Second Claw settled back into her chair.

”What do you want to know?”

Simon’s eyes rested on her.

”The Chrysalis.”

”No.”

The answer came so quickly that even the Voice glanced at her master.

Simon raised one brow.

”I only said the name.”

”And I answered the question you were about to ask.” The Second Claw crossed one leg over the other. ”You already know more about the Chrysalis than you should. You will learn nothing else about it tonight.”

Simon did not press immediately.

”The Seven Nails, then. Their identities and the exact roles they will perform when the official road stabilises.”

”No,” the Voice said this time.

Simon looked toward her.

”We do not trust you enough to place seven of our most valuable assets inside your hands,” she continued. ”You know they exist. That is already more than most Wardens know.”

Simon’s expression became shamelessly thoughtful.

”What if I include a condition regarding them in the oath you intend to give me?”

”No,” the Second Claw replied.

Simon tilted his head slightly

”Then what is the oath for? If I add such a condition that satisifies you, you should be able to tell me after I swear the oath.”

”The oath is to prevent the agreement we just made from becoming meaningless,” she said. ”It will not turn you into one of us or give you access to every secret the Eastern Faction possesses.”

Simon tapped one finger against the armrest.

”The White Crown then.”

The Second Claw’s golden eyes flickered.

”What about it?”

”Who is the White Crown?”

She studied him for a moment before answering.

”That I can answer...”

She paused for a moment before continuing.

”The White Crown is not one specific demon.”

Simon’s fingers stopped tapping.

”It is a title,” she continued. ”When the eastern region or any region in fact requires direct intervention from the royal family, one member of the Two-Horned Winged royal bloodline is chosen to wear the White Crown.”

The Voice remained silent beside her.

”That demon becomes the royal authority over the region for the duration of the intervention,” the Second Claw said. ”Military commanders, city rulers, and clan heads who would normally argue with one another are expected to obey.”

Simon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”So the White Crown arriving in Velmora means the royal family has decided the road to Earth is too important to leave entirely in local hands.”

”Precisely.”

”How are you certain one will come after the convoy failed?”

The Second Claw smiled.

”The convoy’s failure is only one of several pressures moving the palace in that direction.”

”What other pressures?”

Her smile widened slightly.

”Do not worry about that. We have our ways.”

Although Simon wished he could get his answers, he decided to move on. However, numerous questions were beginning to appear in his mind.

”The Seven Seats.”

Unlike the Nails, the Second Claw did not refuse.

”The Seven Seats are the seven most powerful ruling positions in the east beneath direct royal authority.”

”You can actually know who the Seven Seats are if you go to a library or if you ask somebody like Korran for the seven most powerful ruling positions.”

She raised one finger after another as she spoke, and Simon listened without interrupting.

”The demons occupying those positions are publicly known,” she added. ”Their names are not the secret. Their importance to Crownless Dawn is.”

”And together with the White Crown, they make eight.”

Simon said, and the Second Claw nodded.

”Eight pillars holding the east together.”

Simon’s gaze became more focused.

”You intend to kill all eight.”

”We need all of them dead.”

The calmness in her voice made the statement colder.

”Killing three or four would create instability, but the survivors would restore order. Killing the White Crown alone would bring another royal demon and cause the royal family to send stronger reinforcements at us. Killing only the Seven Seats would leave the Crown with enough authority to replace them.”

She rested one hand against the chair.

”But if all eight die within the same period, their command breaks. Their armies would wait for orders that never arrive. The clans would start accusing one another. Cities would have to protect their own resources without helping other cities. Every possible successor begins fighting before the bodies of the eight are cold.”

The Voice’s lips curved faintly.

”And while the east tears itself apart, Crownless Dawn opens another road.”

Simon already understood that much, but hearing it confirmed was useful.

”The Eastern Hand,” he said next. ”Who is it?”

The Second Claw’s expression did not change.

”My superior.”

”I know that.”

”Then you know enough.”

Simon smiled faintly.

”You are both very generous with your information.”

”You are still alive,” the Voice replied. ”Consider that enough generosity.”

Simon ignored her.

”What of the Sleeping Commander.”

For the first time since the questions began, the Second Claw’s gaze sharpened. However, Simon ignored it and continued speaking.

”And the Old Banner. Is the Old Banner Damar?”

The Voice’s expression became ice cold, and the Second Claw stared at Simon for several seconds without speaking.

A faint hope had remained inside her that the Eastern Warden’s letter had been incomplete. Perhaps the fool had destroyed the most dangerous section before his death.

However, that hope was snuffed out with Simon’s questions.

Her jaw tightened.

”That useless bastard truly kept everything.”

The disgust in her voice was deeper than before.

Simon watched both demonesses calmly.

”So?”

”No.”

The Second Claw’s answer carried finality.

”You will not learn the identity of the Eastern Hand, the Sleeping Commander, or the Old Banner under our current agreement.”

”What agreement would be enough?”

”A different one.”

Her golden eyes became cold.

”One in which you swear loyalty to the Eastern Faction, accept our authority, and place yourself beneath the Claws.”

Simon’s expression did not change.

”Until then,” she continued, ”those names remain beyond your reach.”