Chapter 3 Part 8

When Miguel entered, he saw his father, the general and two other men, one of which was Axlea, his father's close friend and a high ranking member of the assassin's brotherhood. The other man was a stranger. The stranger was dressed in a magician's robe with the Blackheart coat of arms, a reared cobra head with a planet in it's mouth, embroidered on the right breast.

Serpentine Blackheart had been speaking to the stranger when Miguel came in. Seeing his son enter the room, he motioned for him to join them.

"This is my son, Miguel," Serpent Blackheart said introducing his heir to the stranger.

"Miguel," Serpent said to his son in turn, "this is Tyson."

Greetings were exchanged, then Serpent Blackheart said, "Tyson is one of the newcomers."

Miguel gave his father a questioning glance. The decision had been to kill the newcomers as quickly as possible. It had been his father's own decision, but now some circumstances had undoubtedly changed his father's mind.

Seeing his son's confusion, the dark demigod explained. "Tyson," he said, "has wisely decided to trade his freedom to us in return for his life."

"A very profitable trade," commented a figure from the shadows. A white-haired, pale skinned man, who Miguel recognized as Earlrich, his father's Master of Assassins and an artist with a torturer's tools.

Earlrich spoke in a low hiss-like voice. "The newcomer, Tyson, has redundant powers to those that we seek," he explained. "He was one of the two grandmaster monks and the least of the three archmages. His death would be a waste."

"I concur," Serpent said with a sharp edge creeping into his voice. "But I am not entirely pleased with the results of last night's operation."

"What happened father?"

"We made an ambush from complete surprise and lost almost all of our troop in the counter attack," the dark monarch roared with barely checked fury.

"Was it an entire failure?" Miguel asked hoping to find the dark cloud's silver lining.

"One of the survivors reported to me that we had made two confirmed kills,” Axlea answered. “Tyson has identified their descriptions as being a healer and a druid. Both skilled warriors as well."

"Excellent," Miguel said with a smile.

"I do not relish the idea of trading my soldiers ten to one for any campaign," Blackheart said with a calmer voice, "but this mission is of the greatest importance." He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I am offering Tyson a place in my service."

Tyson knelt down before the tyrant. "Your will is my blood," he said.

"We shall see, Tyson. We shall see. For your first assignment will be to kill your former allies."