Veil of Shadows

Chapter 28. Blueprint

"Ranger's left the others behind. She's going to Shadow's base alone to try to find out what happened to her apprentice."

The unknown figure smiled slightly. "Seems like something she would do. Anyways, if Patch was foolish enough to get stabbed by a poison ring, that's her problem."

"I see, but don't you think it's a little...suspicious? She's smarter than that." Wraith said. The unknown figure shook his head and walked toward Wraith, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"With Ranger, rational thinking goes out the window pretty quickly." He said. Wraith looked down at his hand, then up at his face. They were eye to eye now.

"I suggest you take your hand off me before I cut it off."

The unknown figure hurriedly withdrew his hand and stepped away. "Sorry. But seriously, an unauthorized rescue mission is something Ranger would go for."

Then, he paused for a moment, looking at Wraith. "You know...I think I have another mission for you to complete." He said, a wicked smile working its way onto his face.

Wraith raised an eyebrow. "Go on." She said.

"Get rid of Ranger as well. She isn't much use in my plans now that she's taken an unexpected course of action." The unknown figure said, grinning from ear to ear.

Wraith thought for a second. It would be relatively easy, since Ranger would be alone. It would be unbelievably simple to say it was a tragic accident. "I accept this mission as well."

"She's an Ender Hybrid, so remember that she gets hurt by-"

"Water, I know. Do I look like an idiot?"

"Well...that fact is debatable..."

"As are your intentions."

The unknown figure shot Wraith the champion of all death glares. The wither hybrid simply smiled and said "Just because you're my employer doesn't mean I have to like you."

"I could have you killed, and all it would take is a single word." The unknown figure said quietly. Wraith didn't drop her grin. Completely calm. Utterly unbothered by the fact that her life could be in danger.

"I'll have a heck of a time watching you make the attempt."

The unknown figure paused for a moment. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to threaten a master mercenary. After all, who knew how many tricks - or weapons - she might have up her sleeve?

"One of these days," he said in a casual tone, "your arrogance will come at a price. And that price will be your miserable life." With the last few words, his voice dropped to a growl.

Wraith merely grinned. "Quite a worthy price to pay."

The unknown figure's blood boiled. It was hard to issue ominous warnings when they were met with witty remarks. "Just get the Nether out of my throne room." He mumbled.

Wraith sketched a bow. "Expect to hear news of Ranger's demise within the next few days." And she vanished. The unknown figure sighed. This was why he didn't like hiring mercenaries.

Of course, he didn't have much of a choice, as his own men were as incompetent as animals and acted much the same way. They needed better discipline, better training.

"My Lord, the blueprints are almost finished. Would you like to view them?" A guard asked. The unknown figure nodded and walked over, taking the blueprint and spreading it out on a nearby table.

It was all wrong. The dimensions, the materials, the size, even the design was wrong! Struggling to keep his temper under control, he handed the blueprint back to the guard.

"I suggest you read over my instructions again and make sure everything is correct before presenting it to me again, because if I see this next time, I will have your head. Understand?"

The knight flinched, then replied softly "My apologies, sir, but some of the more complex materials cannot be attached in the way you need them to be. The design needed to be altered to fit the materials you want to use."

"Just get it figured out." The unknown figure said wearily, turning away from the knight, who inclined his head and left the room. Incompetent as animals, every single one of them.

Oh, the world would burn. They would all burn.

And he would stand by and watch.