Inverted Deck

Inverted Deck (Chapter 50)

Chapter 50

"What do you mean we can help each other out? And why is a Prince of Harena here in Urbs?" I ask Talos.

"Well, let's just say I have an answer to your question is all, and I'm here for the same reason she is." Talos points at Abba'Gaia. "The Vigor Games."

"The Vigor Games?! That isn't supposed to start just yet is it?! I didn't miss the opportunity to sign up did I?!"

Talos sighs, before stroking his perfect mustache.

"No you fool, The Vigor Games don't start until another two months. It's traditional for at least one representative of the three other Courts in Cor, typically a Prince or Princess, to visit Urbs two months prior to The Vigor Games, on the exact same day, The Day of Convergence. It just so happens that the Day of Convergence, is the same day we get the Royal Court get's attacked Coincidence? I think not. And I have a pretty good idea whose our band of perpetrators."

I take Talos by his arm and pull him into the room behind us, before closing the door.

"H-Hey! This is Royal Authentic Harenean Synthetic Cotton, this stuff ain't cheap you know!" Talos says fixing his arm sleeve.

"Sorry, I just felt like this more of a private conversation, now you said perpetrators as in more than one person?" I ask.

"You really think that one person is capable of successfully invading and attacking the Royal court of Cor? Well other than an Apex Cardholder or an Apex level Ace of course."

"What's an Apex-?" I begin to ask.

"This is the work of one specific group. One capable of sneaking past the borders of the Kingdom undetected and plotting an attack this calculated." Talos continues talking. "The Joker's Hand."

"The Joker's hand?" I ask.

"Yeah, an organization comprised completely of Jokers. I'm surprised you haven't heard of it, being a Joker yourself." Talos says glancing down at my right hand.

"Perceptive." I say as I put my right hand in my pocket. "But just because I'm a Joker, doesn't automatically mean I know them."

"Not sure if I believe you or not. I mean to be fair you ARE a Joker so I wouldn't even be able to tell, but I'm going to go on a whim and say you're honest to your word."

"What makes you say that?" I ask Talos.

"Just a hunch is all." Talos responds. "Anywho, not much is known about the Joker's Hand in retrospect, I mean I only know what I know, because as Prince of Hareba I have access to information that others don't. The most I could tell you is that their VERY intent on keeping themselves a secret, well, at least until today. I mean, everything about them is a mystery, their intent, their single leader, who nobody knows his or her identity, they all where strange masks, heck nobody even knows how long they've been around, but it's suspected to be a couple of decades."

"Really? A couple of decades?" Ja'Krob asks.

"Yes, and that's not all-!"

The door opens and all of us stop in our tracks.

In steps a tall, blonde and white haired woman, with light blue eyes and an extremely light, pale skin, as if she were freezing. She wears a long sleeved blue and white stripped, leather top, with white leather bottoms, and silver and black long boots, adorned with blue shiny elegant emblems. Two belts separating the top and the bottom, one white belt to hold the leather pants up, and the other a blue belt, to holster the beautiful blue and white katana on her side. I can only partially see it though, because the rest is covered by the large white cloak draped off of her shoulders, with the sigil of a Gray Eagle. Looking at the familiar looking cloak, I realize that it looks like the Cloak of a Knight Commander.