57. The Heir's Passage

Nymm 16 - Nymm 18, YK 1000

On the morning of Nymm 16, the Wandering Wolves, accompanied by Delano d'Orien, took on the job of private security to make sure that Aeromus d'Orien reached the Tower of Inquisition in Wroat in three days.

They were traveling aboard the lightning rail, in a secure private coach designed with help from House Kundarak. The rail car boasted a private kitchen, bedrooms for six and a private cell for Aeromus. It also prevented any teleportation from taking place, to keep any allies from breaking Aeromus out.

Aeromus spent three days trying to convince the Wolves that they should free him, trying to use whatever blackmail material he had. He maneuvered Brand into revealing Saia's aberrant dragonmark, warned Pel that he knew of his identity as Viorr and tried to use his knowledge of Delano's smuggling, all of which earned him nothing but further animosity. He also intimated that both Saia and Traega could be in danger back in Passage, and that he might have information that could help.

In order to check on Saia and Traega, Lysander and Brand jumped from the moving train, with Pel shifting to take Brand and Lysander's places from time to time so it looks like they're all still onboard.

Delano briefly talked with Pel, trying to convince him that it would be safer for everyone if they just killed Aeromus, but Pel wouldn't do that without Brand's permission. William, meanwhile, engaged in wordplay with Aeromus that neither one of them particularly enjoyed.

When Lysander and Brand reached Passage, they found that neither Traega nor Saia were where they were supposed to be, and set about looking for them. Brand used House Sivis to leave a secure message for each of them, and then he and Lysander found a safe place to use Seek Rumor, at which point they learned a rumor that Traega had been murdered and security was looking for the assassin. With no more time, they took a portal to get to Sword Keep before the train reached there.

Meanwhile, on the train, Delano used his magics to set Aeromus on fire, then opened the lock to put him out, bluffing both Pel and William to believe he had nothing to do with it. The end result was that William took up a more active guard over Aeromus, intent on protecting him as duty compelled him. He even resisted sleep, despite increasing weariness, as Pel and Delano took shifts outside of the cell.

At Sword Keep, Lysander and Brand reboarded with the help of Pel. Both Pel and Lysander noticed the familiar faces of House Tarkanan assassins Lady Hellena and Baron Garu through their disguises as they boarded the train. Pel made his way out into the passenger car to talk to them and assess the threat, but when he got into the passenger car, he spotted only another assassin that he recognized as a psion, not Garu and Hellena.

The psion, noticing Pel noticing him, used a domination effect to cause Pel to leap off the train. With their cover partially blown, the assassins made their way back to the private car.

Hellena used her ability to turn to mist and flowed into the cell, rushing forward and slashing at Aeromus's throat and very nearly killing him. William crashed into the cell to battle Hellena as Lysander began firing arrows at her and Brand used his dimensional bond to prevent her from escaping.

Delano unleashed flames on Hellena and Aeromus both, and as it appeared that their target was down, Baron Garu used his teleportation magic to cut a path through space and escape. The psion used his abilities to help Lady Hellena make her escape right before being compelled to get off the train by Lysander, and then three Minotaur mercenaries, protected by illusion spells, came crashing into the train car to fight. They were no match for the Wolves, however.

Aeromus quickly revealed that he was alive, and that he had pocketed something from Lady Hellena that could be used in scrying or locating spells to find her.

With the assassination attempt failed, and Aeromus out of options for escape, the Wolves delivered him to the waiting arms of House Medani before taking an Orien teleport circle back to Passage.

There they learned that Traega had indeed been assassinated, a professional job that included the use of a spell to steal his soul to prevent easy resurrection. Baron Kwanti spoke privately with Brand and offered apologies for how the House had treated his father, and how they hadn't treated his uncle.

Kwanti admitted that Saia's aberrant dragonmark made things politically difficult for him, but he had a solution in mind. If Brand would agree to exile with Saia in Xen'drik, taking over as The Native, Kwanti would grant them dispensation to marry (although never to have children) as long as they agreed not to set foot on Khorvaire again. He would also send Aeromus to Dreadhold, no matter the political consequences that would come from Aeromus's many allies.

Brand agreed, with the caveat that Kwanti also help him set up a new identity that would allow Brand to adventure with the Wolves from time to time. The deal was struck, and Brand went to say his goodbyes to the Wolves.