The forests of Torodus was a vast stretch of mighty trees, peppered with jagged hills and mountains. Today, the branches of the trees were in bloom, their leaves full of rich emerald green, ready for the summer skies. Beneath their beautiful cloaks, the ground had darkened with a great shade. Only a few drops of sunlight capable of piercing through the roof with the aid of the winds. A single dirt path was drawn into the dirt to enter the land. The air was cool and gentle, a peaceful gift of the season.

  From the forest walked out Grey. He was a well-built man. Tall and lean, but carrying an obvious strength to him. Tuffs of jet black hair pointed out from the side of his head and curled down toward his head, but just short of his face. His eyes had a deep intense stare, which he held at all times. He was wrapped in black cloth, from his shoulders to his boots, clearly made for stealth, but had no purpose in the bright summer light.

  Grey made his journey to the barred metal gates of Torodus. Stood upon the walls were two armoured guards, overseeing the entrance from their stone battlements. Grey stopped just short of the entrance. He looked up at the guards, his sharp stare had vanished and in its place was held a more innocent and casual expression. He held his hand above his eyes for shade from the sunlight.

  "Are you gonna let me in?" Grey loudly threw his voice up at the guards, with the confidence of a man who belonged there.

  The guards looked down on him. "Where's your travel permit?" Luke Hornby spoke up.

  Grey flew his hands up with an air of arrogance and ignorance. "I don't have one, I was in a bit of a hurry." His voice was devoid of hesitation or worry.

  Luke yelled down again. "And who are you that you would demand entrance to this town without a permit?"

  Grey huffed and rolled his eyes. "Morven did not tell you?"

  Luke looked to his partner, and Belmont Stone looked back at him, each looking for a silent assurance from the other. But when they received none, they looked back at Grey. Belmont shouted out "Tell us what, man?

  Grey shook his head in feigned disbelief. "Let me guess, there's been a situation in the town? Am I right?"

  "Aye, that's right." Belmont responded.

  "Morven has asked me to aid him in this. Has he not informed you?" Grey explained as if it were obvious.

  The two guards shook their heads. Luke replied "We have not. Are you an Agent, sir?"

  Grey nodded with full confidence and clicked his finger to a point for the added charisma. "Exactly. Newest Agent. Grey of the Crown Isles. At your service. Or, more accurately, you are at mine."

  Luke and Belmont looked at each other once more before they each shrugged their shoulders. "Alright, sir. We'll let you in. Give us only a moment." Luke yelled out before he stepped down off the wall. He came to the gate and lifted the metal bar holding the two halves of the entrance together. He pulled on the iron bars and opened Torodus up to Grey.

  Grey stepped inside, stopping just as he got in as Luke closed the gate behind him. "Thank you very much, you've been very helpful." Grey waved his hand in appreciation.

  "It's no trouble, sir. But I do suggest you try to get a travel permit on your next journey, guards less accommodating than myself and Mister Stone might have denied you."

  Grey nodded with understanding. "Of course, I certainly will, thank you. I'll be going now, if you don't mind."

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  "If you'd want, I can spare you two of the men to help you on your way to Morven's bastion."

  Grey waved his hands and shook his head. "Oh, no, no, no. I'll be fine. Don't worry, thank you though." He began to slowly step away, a subtle way of ending the conversation before it went on too long.

  "Are you sure, sir? It's no trouble at all." Luke continued, almost eager to be of service.

  "It's alright. Thanks again. Goodbye!" Grey turned and quickened his pace as he waved to Luke.

  Luke finally accepted the answer and turned back to go back to his station.

  Grey's sharp stare returned as quick as it left as he stepped into the piling crowds of the commonfolk. The way they all moved was rather uniform, despite the discomfort of it. They moved like tight cogs and gears, always pushing against each other but never coming undone.

  Grey travelled around the town for a while, searching for something out of the ordinary. Places of interest for residents and guards alike. But it was never what he was looking for. But fortunately, his investigation was soon over, as he saw a collection of guards at the entrance of an alleyway. Grey's casual expression returned as he approached the guards.

  Immediately, they blocked his path. Alliser spoke with a heavy tone "Piss off. This is official investigation on behalf of Agent Morven and King Simon II. Not for your eyes or ears."

  Grey let down a deep sigh. "You don't know who I am?"

  "Keep moving or I'll give you a smack on the head, boy." Alliser raised his voice as he began to subtly loom over Grey.

  Grey's smile vanished and the earlier sharpness started to leak into his expression. "I am an Agent of the Kingdom and you will address me as 'sir', unless you wish to lose that hand."

  Alliser let out a hearty laugh. "And I'm the fockin Dragon Knight. Get out with that shite or I really will smack you on that fool head of yours."

  Grey's sharp stare returned in full force now. He let out a deep breath through his nose before beginning again. "Do you know of the Reaper?"

  Alliser's smile shrank a small bit at the mention of His name. "Aye. What of it?"

  "Do you know what he does to his subordinates? Specifically those who disappoint him."

  Alliser's smile had now left completely. "No. No I don't."

  Grey began to lean in. The once looming Alliser now forced to retreat slightly. "Exactly. Nobody ever hears of them. Not ever again. And if you continue to treat me like I am some common fucking twit, I assure you that no other soul would hear of you again. And seeing how you've treated me so far, I don't exactly imagine they'd want to. So what's your choice here? Let me through?" Grey was now looming over Alliser, all pretence of humanity gone. "Or are you going to have a problem here?"

  Alliser stood silent for a moment, as if unable to formulate a thought. And then he spoke, smaller and quieter. "Sorry, sir. Go ahead." Alliser moved aside, granting Grey the access he wanted.

  Grey walked into the alley. He was relieved that the guard was more bark than bite, or else he may have had a real issue. Two guards were crouched around something out of Grey's sight. But upon his arrival, they had quickly stood up and moved away to give him space.

  Grey's eyes constricted at the sight. The shock hitting him like a punch to the gut. He could not believe what was before him. It was Manderus' body. His cold lifeless eyes still open, a smile implanted on his face, a frozen image of his last moments. Grey tried hard to contain his feelings, but could not stop the shaking in his tightly closed fists. The adrenaline coursed through his blood. A whirlwind of anger, grief and fear stirred inside him. He crouched down at the body, getting to eye level with it. He could see the veins under the skin, blackened from the venom, and blood running down his stomach. He kept still for a moment, as he silently mourned over the corpse. He lifted his hand to the body's forehead and closed his eyes in concentration. Nothing appeared to happen, but Grey's expression shifted slightly when he was done. A hint of determination in his gaze.

  Grey whispered to himself. "Rest now. It will all be okay."

  Grey stood up and quickly walked out of the alley, now with a clear destination in his mind, like a natural compass had come to him.

  He moved smoothly through the crowds, the mud and the people were of little consequence. Each step filled with an air of anger and resolve.

  His journey had taken him toward the edge of Torodus, where the crowds dispersed, the mud was thicker, and the homes were poorer. This was where his goal had brought him, but even Grey's resolute expression wavered as he took in his surroundings. "This is where Manderus' successor is?" He thought. He looked around as he continued his search. And that's when he found it. A small shack, barely two storeys high.

  Grey came up to the window, and peaked inside. His gaze caught Makar, sitting with his father at their table. Grey retreated out of sight of the window once he had located his target. He was confused and surprised. But that would not deter him. It was settled then. Grey knew his next steps forward.