Dark gray walls attempted to bounce the light of the monitors across the room. It was an office space with numerous stations set in place. Most were currently empty. This was not due to the lateness of the hour or the lack of personnel. Instead it was how Squire Lillie liked the office. Without hindrance, with the lowest number of support staff allowed.

  She lay in a chair at the center of the office. Her body was normal until you reached her extremities. Arms twisted and split into hundreds of spindly limbs that occupied the seemingly empty desks. The hands rested just underneath the table ready to crawl out like fleshy spiders devouring the keyboard. Her throat stretched up into the rafters of the room disappearing just out of sight. A head bobbed down from above with insectoid eyes bulging from its sockets.

  Each lens of her eyes watched a different monitor. The order had anywhere from one hundred to one thousand operatives on an active mission at any time. Squire Lillie was monitoring only fifty operations at the moment. She was still a lowly squire, though she’d been promised a promotion soon.

  *Knock*

  A sharp single sound on the door to the room prompted her to pull herself together. The administration valued her talents but regulations were to address superiors in proper form. Her neck retracted from above disjointedly it took a long time for all the miles of passageways to congeal. Head attached on she blinked rapidly, her once insectoid eyes pushed out of her head popping onto the ground. It looked like a mass of insect eggs. Pulling at her arms they broke off at the elbow.

  She looked down at her damaged arms. It was a flaw in her cleaning process. The tool they’d provided to her arms wasn’t potent enough to balance with her helm and choker. A soul pulled at different strengths would naturally warp in poor ways. It was an illogical way of forming her, they should have been more precise in their measurements.

  New arms bubbled out of her stump elbows. Her smooth skin was soft and elastic. She’d have to lop these off to properly reattach her control arms. The body ache always took a long time to return. The core of her being was laid out on the table, a small slip of clothing the only thing covering her. The ease of expansion was paid in a cold and stiff body.

  Donning her proper squires outfit she went to the door. The superiors were patient people and would not barge in without reason. Beyond the door stood three people. Their attire shared similarities to her own. Where Squire Lillie wore a Yellow military uniform fashioned after old naval officers, they were slightly different.

  Robes covered the first head to toe. This was a Swords branch Enforcer. Under those robes a full suit of metal and the unwavering power of a tenth level Paladin hummed. His form was unable to conform to decorum so he must remain covered. The other two were more eye-catching.

  Joan-of-Swords. She stood just behind the enforcer. Long light blue hair cascaded down to her knees, a naval uniform with a low cut skirt, and smiling blue lips. A Queen level Paladin who was one of the four queens that ran the Swords. Among the Sword Queens she was known as the most flippant. In a place ruled by logic Lillie did not see the need for her to be here.

  The last guest was a happy surprise to Squire Lillie. If she could be happy at all with her unemotive visage. Jack-of-Swords Anthony. He’d been one of her closest friends. They’d both been brought in to The Dyeing Facility at the same time. Amongst their cohort of fifty cadets only a handful remained. His impressive abilities had launched him straight to the rank of Knight, it would take her much more time to reach his level.

  “Squire Lillie. Have you been a naughty girl?”

  The Queen spoke teasingly. This was the reason Lillie hated her attitude. Her being her supervisor made it all the worse. Still she had to act proper, be logical. That was the way of a Sword.

  “Greetings to her highness, Joan-of-Swords. Greetings to his highness, Jack-of-Swords. How may I assist the Emperor today?”

  Anthony had as of yet not received a title. So it was only proper to refer to him as his rank only. She did not miss the smile that he was giving her from behind the queen. Another reason he’d grown so high in rank was his scheming. Clearly he had a new target.

  “You're always no fun. Seen Anthony, what a downer. Won’t even talk to me properly. Won’t you punish her for me?”

  The queen spoke in a sultry voice that was not at all serious. The enforcer was enough to punish Squire Lille not to mention kill her. From her own estimation the queen was ten times stronger than that mindless thing. She bemoaned internally that the queen did not share in its simplicity of mind.

  “My Queen, please refrain from joking about this serious matter.”

  The queen huffed in mock irritation. Anthony continued as if nothing had happened.

  “Squire Lillie, It appears one of your charges has become untethered. Why is he still in the field?”

  They had gotten straight to the point. Over the last week she’d worked hard pushed by some twisted logic to cover for Paladin Wood. She knew it was outside the bounds of her beliefs but he had done so much. Paladin Wood was the reason that she and Anthony had made it through the Cleaning Operations. It seemed her logic was far below Anthony's on the matter.

  “I apologize. Paladin Wood has chosen to deal with the Necromancer’s in the town. This follows his original orders. In effort to do so he is currently devouring the local souls. It is within parameters for him to grow his strength whilst on mission.”

  “But it is not his mission to decide how his efforts should be conducted. Investigation does not mean eradication.”

  Anthony said with a raised eyebrow. Disappointment seemed to drip from his eyes.

  “The necromancers are certainly a problem, but that is not for him to decide. He gave himself over to his passions; it is not for a wand to decide his own fate. So, Squire Lillie, why have you allowed this to continue?”

  The Queen was now curling her lip in disgust. It was no secret she’d run Paladin Wood into the arms of the Wands. If only he had stayed. He would have been able to make a bid for even the king's position. Seeing what was happening now it may have been for the best if he’d stayed.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “What are your orders?”

  “See, she is still within our domain. We could have sent a message over this small matter.”

  Anthony spoke up in support of his friend. If this was a ploy or not was unknown. Squire Lillie would just have to grit and bear it no matter what was to happen.

  “That is well enough. A squad shall be deployed to return Paladin Wood or excise him. Your orders are to lead him to the ambush positioning. Furthermore, you reported on a candidate, correct?”

  “Yes, Ma’am”

  “Good, contact them and let them know we come in peace.”

  The queen's command was undeniable. Paladin Wood had finally been decommissioned. His fate was sealed. Squire Lillie once more felt that odd illogical part of her grow cold. This was the way it was to happen, still the sorrow consumed her. Emotions were so far outside her existence that a momentary flash crossed her face.

  Anthony seemed to see this instant of weakness. The queen would not like it. He still held his own sympathy for his colleague. She was never going to rise beyond mid-level knight but she’d helped him many times. Within this world of logic it was only on twisted feelings that you needed to rely.

  “It is regrettable that we have not declared war on the Necromancer scum. Do you not think so, My Queen.”

  Joan-of-Swords allowed herself to be distracted. Her play thing was trying so hard to save a simple squire. It was an amusing prospect that could bring its own fun later. The logic of a queen was beyond what this conniving Jack could achieve. He would learn one way or another.

  “Oh, yes, how terrible. If the emperor were in better health than we’d never have signed the peace treaty. It would be a shame if while the enforcers were down there an accident occurred. You know Necromancers infight all the time. If something were to occur and wipe them out. Who’s to say where it started.”

  Both Paladin Lillie and Anthony looked at her surprised. She was only implying a course of action not ordering it. The implication was clear none the less. Necromancers must die. The old friends shared a look. Squire Lillie was being placed in a chance for favor if she did well.

  “Yes, that would be a shame, My Queen. Squire Lillie you are hereby ordered to execute the operation for Paladin Wood.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  The assembly scattered leaving the Squire to sink back into her reclined chair. For a moment she breathed deeply. What should she do? There was no way around her orders, and it was true Paladin Wood was mad. Was it for the best to follow the order? What of the Queen’s “Order”?

  ***

  Nate’d been engrossed in his new book. For the first time in a long time he’d been focused on learning. That feeling was being trampled on by the bright red lips now speaking without a face to accompany them. Nate spoke coldly, his heart pounding, defenseless.

  “So you have come to finish the job?”

  “I would never do such a thing. My job is information. No more, no less. I bring you a warning.”

  “Why?”

  “Our non-aggression pact with the necromancers extends to you. All Non-Paladins are included. The higher ups have determined it is best to let you know of Paladin Wood’s intentions.”

  Her forthwithness was suspicious. Why would she offer this information, for that matter why would her higher-ups do this? Nate couldn’t force her out so he played it cool.

  “Then you are saying he works alone? Is this a way to not start a conflict?”

  The lips paused for a second smacking a little in surprise. As it stood there it bobbed up and down like a charmed snake. It opened once more. For once Nate noticed sharp teeth within.

  “I did not expect you to catch on so quickly. We shall be deploying a contingent to clean up the problem. Please relay this to your master and to his lordship the Grandmaster of Stars.”

  “How do you know about my Teacher?"

  “I have always been watching.”

  “So I am your go between. Why do you call me a candidate?”

  If they were going to willingly give out information then he’d take all he could get. If they were to settle the matter with Paladin Wood he’d be angry. It wasn’t their place. He was to be the one to rip that man to shreds. His existence threatened his life, it even put Mandy and Teddy in a vulnerable position. His rage bubbled uncontrolled.

  “You are still not beyond our admission. That growth in your hand is proof enough. If there is nothing more I shall take my leave.”

  “And who said you could do that?”

  Nate responded angrily. He didn’t know where his confidence came from; it simply pushed out along with his anger. His face was frowning in anger and the spirits which had been wandering about the room shivered. They quaked with his words.

  “You hold no power over me. Shall I give you a piece of advice? You are still the lowest of lows. Do not mistake my duty as kindness. When we call you shall come. There is no dispute.”

  The ghosts feeling his emotions crashed down into the fleshy thing. She did not seem to expect such an occurrence and small wounds opened up as she recoiled. This was a weaker speaker tube with just enough energy to converse and then leave. The hope was that it would not set off any of the necromancers' alarm spells. She pulled back quickly as the assault was truly outside her expectation. This would be going into his file for certain.

  Within the far off office Squire Liliie’s body writhed with pain as the tubing leaked saliva and blood. To cast herself into the appendages used part of her soul. It was a double edged sword against spirits as the wounds inflicted on the flesh were of no consequence, it was the attacks to the soul that could truly kill.

  With the grotesque creature gone Nate calmed. The spirits gathered once more in their huddled masses. Helping Nate form the building had rendered them into nearly mindless creations, though their physical form remained. Guilt twitched inside him. They’d been able to speak before, they could have ended up somewhere to pass on. He’d taken that from them.

  *RING* *RING* *RING*

  Nate wondered if his teacher had cursed him with bad luck. Not even getting to read another word before someone interrupted him. The number was unknown but there were few people that would call him. He guessed it could be a burner Mandy was using.

  “Hello, This is Nate.”

  There was a long unanswered silence. Nate shrugged, must have been a misdial. Just as he hovered over the end call button a voice burst through. It was high-pitched and extremely girly, it wavered a bit as it came through. He knew immediately who it was.

  “Nate my darling. You sound healthy for one stuck in the hospital. I must see you. Which room are you in?”

  His emotions were split on how he felt hearing the Hurricane’s voice. She’d been one of the reasons everything fell apart. Well, he couldn’t put it all on her, he was just as much at fault.

  “Who told you I was injured?”

  “Of course our favorite pet.”

  “I hate when you say that.”

  “And I love to see you angry. I’ll be in town in an hour text me your room number or I’ll start fucking up this place.”

  “Fine.”