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[Deacon Drake]

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Zento was not quite as crowded as usual. In fact, there were only about three or four recruits training in the town square. Steel rode through the town square and up to the bank canopy. Before he had a chance to approach his bank box, a parchment nailed to a nearby post caught his attention. He dismounted and read the poster.

".....wanted for arrest......" he muttered allowed. "...Isil Narmolanya... murder... Necrophilia? She has sunk to a new low."

"Konbonwa, Steel-san," Tai spoke, approaching the bank canopy.

Steel looked around. "Oh, deafine, Tai." He pulled the flyer from the post and stuck it in his pack. "I think I've gained a new friend, whoever posted this warrant. Either way, with people looking for her, I know exactly where she'll be."

Tai stared at Steel. "You're not considering going after her?

Steel sighed. "This is closer than any opportunity I've ever had. With as many people having seen this poster as there must have been, she can only hide out in Umbra. I have to finish this."

Tai nodded. "Then go. But be careful. Umbra is a treacherous place."

* * *

Walking into Umbra was definitely a new thing for Steel. He detested the city, but he was on a job that had to be finished. He rode through the town, looking for any signs of civilization. The occasional shopkeeper would look up at him, frown, and go back to his work. After about five minutes of pointless searching, he headed for the bank.

When he arrived, it seemed deserted. Odd, he thought, not even a minter here. He rounded the corner and entered the building. He was greeted by two men. One was skeletal in appearance, the other was human, his face hidden by a mask.

Norture glared at Steel. "State your business in Umbra."
"I'm looking for a criminal and a traitor by the name of Isil Narmolanya. She lives here, or somewhere around here."
"Ah, yes, Isil," replied the other man, Nathan ap Waels. "Yes, she's been around. What is your business with her?"
"My business with her is my own," he replied.
Norture walked closer. "I know why you've come," he spoke softly, almost at a whisper. "You've come to destroy her. I must say, it's about time. She is a pest and a bother, and is of no use to us. She is an annoyance and we'd like to be rid of her. Any 'accident' you can cause would be of great help."
Steel nodded. He didn't doubt that other people had grown tired of her.

Norture spoke a few words, and a moongate appeared. "She is patrolling around the Cathedral. You can deal with her there."
Steel nodded, and cautiously walked through the moongate. Norture and Waels waited a couple moments, then quietly followed him.

Steel walked around the side of the Cathedral in search of his target. He knew she was here, somehow he could sense her presence in the area. He rounded the corner to the back of the Cathedral and stood before the Ebon Spire behind it. The structure was very tall, and had an almost mystic quality about it. Through one of the windows, he could see iron castings and bars. A prison, he thought. What a waste of time for a clan of murderous heathens. He approached the Spire, all the while tightening his grip on his bladed staff. One sudden move from anything would be sure to sever the being's head.

He was mere steps away from the Spire when his senses became stronger. He could feel the presence of his mortal enemy growing stronger as he approached the Spire. His eyes stared coldly into the black stone of the building. His mind became clear, and instantly he realized his mistake.

He took a wild swing with his staff around him, but Waels ducked quickly. Norture sent a punch into his neck which stunned him, and he dropped his staff to the ground. The two men took him by the arms in his weakness and hauled him up into the building. Despite his unnaturally heavy weight, the two men didn't seem to struggle hauling him into the jail cell.

When he finally regained full conciousness, Steel was locked in the jail cell, tied by the legs and arms. Staring through the bars at him were Norture and Waels, who he now recognized, Sethos, who he didn't know, and of course, the presence he had felt since he had gotten there: Isil. She smiled and waved at him. "Hi, Steel! Where have you been!?"

He spat at her. "wench. You can't even fend for yourself, you have to let your dogs do your bidding? You wouldn't last seconds if they weren't there to save your hide." Her smile did not fade. Instead, it grew wider, as she unlocked the cell and walked in. Norture locked it behind her.

She stared down at his bound body. "Pitiful," she muttered. "You let yourself get captured, finally. I hope they let me do the killing... oh, how I long for it."

Steel had created the distraction he had wanted. His arms were bound and tied to his feet, so he had easy access to his boot. He strained, but tried not to strain too hard, lest he reveal his intentions.

"You had to feel it, Steel, that some day, I would finish my job. I spared you the last time, and this is how you thank me? By coming to kill me?" She knelt beside him, hoping to prove her point further.

Steel had other plans. "Fool," he muttered, smiling. He ripped a knife from his boot and slashed the ropes, then thrust the blade into her arm. She screamed in pain as Steel recoiled and set the blade slashing across her cheek. He stumbled up, stretching his legs carefully to get the blood flowing, and leapt at the door to hold it shut. He knew the skeleton could overpower him, but instead, Norture seemed to be enjoying the struggle.

Isil stood slowly, staring coldly at Steel. "So, what now. Are you going to kill me?" Steel put the dagger up, and pulled out another weapon. It was a black bone harvester, the Breath of the Dead. The coldness of its blade flowed through the handle, but he didn't alter his grip.

As he walked up to Isil, she pushed by him and leaned against the gate, then began to flip through a book of Necromancy. Steel tightened his grip and sent the blade of the harvester down into the lock, destroying it and pinning the gate shut for good. "If I have to live my life out here," he said, "it will have been well worth it. But she's not leaving." He knocked the book from Isil's hands and wrapped the cold curved blade around her neck.

"She won't leave. Go ahead, Steel. Kill her." The other members were actually encouraging him to kill their companion.

"What are you going to do, Steel," she said calmly, "kill me?" Steel wavered. "You won't do it, I know you, Steel. You've wanted this for so long, but you can't handle the power. You are weak. You won't do it."

Steel glared at her coldly, pondering what his actions would bring. Her smile grew wider. He was given the chance, and he would take it.

"Kill me, Steel."

With a flick of the wrist, her head was severed, and the other members of the Order grinned at what he had done.

A grin of ultimate satisfaction crossed Steel's face as he looked down at the body before him. Years of torment were finally dispelled. His mortal enemy was dead before him. He tried to pry the lock from the gate, but at a failure. The door was closed for good. The other men stared at him, talked amongst themselves, and just left. Steel sat in the corner of the cell, wondering what they would decide to do with him.

He didn't care. He had finally had his revenge.
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