Nikolai watched the chaos unfold from a nearby roof. It had taken them a while to find the heavily injured owner of the brothel in his office. He had passed out after a while. Nikolai hadn’t been gentle with him; his anger at how these people used innocent people had driven his actions, anger was a great motivator.

  Afterwards, as he waited for things to unfold, he tried looking inward, trying to determine how he felt about it. It perhaps wasn’t surprising at this point that he really didn’t feel any kind of remorse whatsoever.

  He was disgusted by the necessity, perhaps — by the fact that he felt the need to punish these pricks — but not by the actions themselves. No, when he had written to the guild that this was a reckoning, he had meant it.

  Some might argue that it wasn’t really his problem, that he was going too far, that people would get hurt — and all of that was likely true. However, Nikolai had decided this for himself: he would not hold back. He would do as he bloody well wanted, and taking apart this slavery ring that forced young men and women into prostitution and abuse — yeah, that was at very the top of his list.

  He saw people milling about in front of the building now, guards looking in every direction, they looked really nervous. Then the man was carried out by two men, wrapped in a blood-soaked sheet, and brought into a carriage. He had barely entered before it took off, the driver whipping those poor horses like a madman.

  Nikolai watched it pass beneath him.

  “Sevrin.”

  The butler stepped up behind him. “Yes, Master?”

  “Follow them. Find out who someone this scared would ask for help. Who he reports to,” Nikolai instructed, and Sevrin seemed elated to receive his orders.

  That was one thing he had learned about the butler: he took extreme pleasure in doing his master’s bidding. It was a concept that was hard for Nikolai to grasp. Serving someone else to that extent was so foreign to him, but for Sevrin it was the purpose of his existence.

  As Sevrin had explained it, the Fae were absolutely true to their nature — unapologetic and unashamed — no matter what role or life they decided on. He had, in no uncertain terms, urged Nikolai to emulate that: to stop concerning himself with how the world might judge his actions or himself, and simply live as he pleased.

  There was a certain beauty in that, the freedom of having a clear purpose.

  Sevrin vanished, and Nikolai stretched. It was time to head back. He needed to catch up with Kaelith and go over all the stuff he had stolen from the office. It was going to be a long night.

  Kaelith was already waiting for him in his room when he returned. She was playing with Lantern, having the familiar produce bright purple flames and spin them around the room in intricate patterns.

  Nikolai raised an eyebrow at her. She had gotten comfortable wearing nothing but her black nightdress and a pair of slippers.

  “You know this is my room, right?” he asked when she didn’t even look up at his entrance.

  She smiled. “I am aware, yes.”

  “Is this your newest idea on curing my supposed naivety?”

  The smile widened. “Well… is it working?”

  Nikolai, who had already dismissed the suit back into the cane and was now wearing the white robe of a healer, walked further into the room. He kicked his boots into a corner, then collapsed onto the bed, his head resting in Kaelith’s lap.

  “I did some pretty horrible shit today…” Nikolai said, his tone painfully casual.

  Kaelith looked down at him, the smile turning from teasing to something gentler. “Tell me.”

  Nikolai explained the day’s events — what he and Sevrin had done, the information they had obtained, and how he had left Gregg, the brothel owner.

  Kaelith wasn’t bothered in the slightest by his story, instead listening and latching onto a vital piece of information. “Charles Keanton. You sure that is what he said?”

  “Yeah… You know him?”

  Kaelith nodded. “He’s one of the larger noble figures in the city, but he isn’t well liked. He owns some rather large estates a few days from the city, mostly farmland. From what I hear, he is brutal in his tax collection and will even take daughters and sons in trade for coin… Unofficially of course”

  “Forced labor…” Nikolai sighed. “It would seem all of this goes a bit deeper than we expected.”

  Kaelith shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. The guildmaster has agreed to take the job.”

  “That’s good news!” Nikolai said suddenly, excited. “And you?”

  “I am spearheading it, but I agreed to let the guild handle the organizing and planning,” Kaelith said with a smug smile.

  “Damn, delegation. That’s some prime leadership skills, Kaelith,” Nikolai teased.

  “I am honestly relieved. I was getting a headache just thinking of the logistics involved. We are meeting in three days to discuss final plans, and then all hell will break loose,” Kaelith said.

  “Well, we should probably spend that time going through the information I got from no-leg Gregg then,” Nikolai said, his expression completely deadpan.

  Kaelith burst out laughing. “That is horrible! Especially since you’re the one that removed the leg.”

  Nikolai chuckled. “I know, sorry. I have to make light of it, I think. I might feel sick about myself if I don’t.”

  Kaelith rolled her eyes. “Fuck him. With what he is involved with, being locked in a room for a few years while very large men bugger him daily wouldn’t be punishment enough…”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Nikolai winced. “Damn, Kaelith. That is pretty dark.”

  Kaelith gave him an exasperated look. “Don’t tell me you thought I was a dainty princess all this time, Nikolai. I’m a necromancer.”

  “No, nothing like that. It’s just… I mean damn… Well, anyway…” He sat back up, and while he might have imagined it, he was pretty sure he saw her face look a little disappointed when his head left her lap.

  “We have work to do, Kaelith. Sevrin is busy with his stalking, so we might as well start looking over the paperwork.”

  She groaned. “That is not one of my strengths…”

  Nikolai reached into his spatial pouch and pulled out a thick ledger. He threw it to her with a grin. “I thought you loved reading!”

  Over the next few days — broken up only by food, physical training regimens, and magical practice — the two of them went through stacks of letters, papers, and ledgers.

  At first everything seemed like normal bookkeeping records and personal letters, all seemingly on the level. It wasn’t until they had gone through everything once and began again that clues started becoming apparent.

  The first and most obvious were the ledgers. They were almost identical at first glance, but once studied more closely, differences became noticeable.

  Over the last year or so, the first ledger detailed varied expenses: maintenance, guards, and staff. They were sorted into bulk amounts, making it difficult to discern how much was used on each category. The income side was much the same — no names, only daily, weekly, and monthly totals.

  The second ledger, the one taken from the safe, was different. The totals were the same, but every expense was more precisely divided, which made several things stand out.

  Guard expenses had increased recently, and one of the letters explained the change.

  “To G

  Recent events demand a stricter security detail. We must keep the goods safe and ready to be moved.

  Signed C.K”

  It was probably caused by Nikolai’s rather public escape from captivity and the subsequent attention from the adventurer’s guild.

  What seemed strange, however — or perhaps not, knowing these people — was that staff expenses were inordinately low. It was by far the smallest expense category, and Kaelith guessed it would barely cover wages for a few people and daily necessities for the prostitutes.

  Another suspicious entry was medical expenses. They were nearly nonexistent, yet Nikolai knew from experience that these young men and women weren’t sent to the hospitarium. So how? It made sense when considering the reason for his own kidnapping — they had wanted his skills as a healer — but did that mean there were even more slaves than they had thought?

  On the income side, things were equally interesting. Several large donations had been made to the brothel, but the sources were difficult to identify. Again, only initials appeared. A few letters shed more light.

  “To G

  Deposits have been made, as per the usual agreement. We expect a new delivery of goods to be delivered forthwith.

  Signed A.G”

  Nikolai felt fury bubbling in his chest at what he suspected the word “goods” referred to and wanted to rush out immediately. This letter described a deposit delivered only a week ago.

  Late on the second day, Sevrin returned, popping into the room without warning. Nikolai jumped, sending papers scattering. He shot Sevrin an annoyed look. “Could you perhaps warn me before you do that…”

  Sevrin bowed. “I shall endeavor to do so, Master. I have come to report.”

  Nikolai wiped a hand over his face. He was more than a little weary from sitting so long. Even Kaelith had gone to take a bath and had been away for a suspiciously long time.

  Sevrin surveyed the room with distaste. “This will not do, Master. I will take care of this. Have a cup of tea while I clean.”

  Nikolai waved a hand in protest. “It’s fine, Sevrin. I can do it myself…”

  Sevrin looked aghast. “I will perform this duty, young master. It shall not take long.”

  He produced a steaming pot of tea, a cup, sugar, and cookies from nowhere. With a snap of his fingers, every scrap of paper floated into the air. The tea and snacks were placed on the desk instead, and Sevrin gestured politely.

  “Please, take a break, Master. You look terrible.”

  Nikolai raised an eyebrow. “A little rude, but fine. Thanks, Sevrin.”

  “You are most welcome, Master,” Sevrin replied, wearing one of his genuinely pleased smiles.

  As it turned out, he wasn’t wrong. Nikolai had barely finished his first cookie before the room was spotless. Papers, clothing, and bedding moved in a blur as Sevrin worked like a conductor orchestrating chaos into order.

  In less than a minute, not a trace of dust remained. Ledgers and letters were stacked neatly, and the bed was made — looking painfully inviting. Nikolai felt exhausted.

  “Bloody hell, Sevrin. That’s amazing,” Nikolai said in awe.

  Sevrin bowed. “I am glad to please. Now, I have information that might interest you.”

  Nikolai nodded. “Should we call Kaelith? She’s in the baths right now, so we might have to—”

  Sevrin smiled mischievously. “She is not. She left earlier and is currently napping in her room. Shall I retrieve her?”

  Nikolai grinned. “That little... No, let her sleep. Tell me.”

  The butler nodded. “Gregg was taken to a mansion near the government district. Large and elaborate. The owner’s name will be familiar.”

  “Charles Keanton?” Nikolai asked.

  Sevrin nodded. “Indeed. I observed the location briefly but sensed a powerful presence and withdrew. Apologies, my abilities are still limited by your current stage. I saw no reason to risk exposure.”

  “Don’t apologize. I’m the one holding you back. Anything else?”

  Sevrin smiled. “I followed messengers. Most traveled between brothels, but some went to noble estates. One of interest belongs to Algart Gillen.”

  “A.G…” Nikolai whispered. “Good. He may be our next target. Charles is too dangerous right now. If he has powerful guards, cutting his support network makes more sense.”

  Sevrin nodded approvingly. “I infiltrated Algart’s estate. It is significantly less guarded. Beneath it lies a large cellar complex with tunnels leading beyond the city.”

  “The letters here,” Nikolai gestured, “suggest movement of goods soon.”

  Sevrin tapped his chin. “That would explain the chained people I observed below.”

  Nikolai stared at him, fingers tightening on the desk edge.

  “Sevrin,” he said quietly, “why wasn’t that the first thing you told me?”

  Sevrin tilted his head. “Other information was more relevant to the broader structure. I decided to start with that first.”

  “People. Chained. In a cellar. That isn’t relevant?”

  “You misunderstand. I said I wanted to start with the other part first — not that it wasn’t important. I ensured they were monitored.”

  “Additionally,” Sevrin added, “there are many guards, though none beyond stage ten. Do not underestimate them however.”

  Nikolai leaned back with a sigh. “Shit… Can you locate the tunnel exits?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do it. If we pressure them hard enough, they’ll move their slaves early.”

  Sevrin smiled sharply. “And if we are waiting on the other end…”

  “We cut the legs out from under them. If we capture Algart, we might be able to make him talk. The guild can handle that part.”

  Sevrin nodded. “And Charles?”

  “Watch him. He’ll likely run once things start imploding around him.”

  Only one question remained.

  Where and who was the bloody illusionist?

  Nikolai intended to find out.