IN THE BACK ALLEY OF RADIANT CLUB, ECLIPSARA
Kristen stood at a short distance from the bleeding man lying face down on the ground. Blood seeped through his clothes and pooled around him. With sympathy in her eyes but a stern expression on her face, Kristen said, "Mr. Olekh, tell me where the book is, and I will ensure you have a peaceful journey to the next world."
Mr. Olekh glanced at the two sentinels who had stepped back on her orders, allowing him a few moments to stabilize his breathing. He tried rolling onto his back, but the agonizing shift snapped his already fractured ribs. He cried out in pain, and the sound was nearly unbearable for someone soft-hearted who was unaware of his crimes. He had betrayed Eidolon for the throne and aided the demons of Mosvil in stealing the Book of Mordune (Death). The book itself was not the main issue; it was the spells binding the book and the secrets the books held were of great significance.
In Eidolon, the Games of Betrayal and Deceit for power were commonplace, but even the nobles understood their limits. Making a deal with the demons of Mosvil was a line that, once crossed, could not be undone, and it ensured a turbulent afterlife. Mr. Olekh had crossed those lines.
Once the pain became bearable, he looked up at Kristen. He knew he would not survive, even if he withheld the information.
"What do I get out of it?" he asked.
After a moment of deep reflection, Kristen cleared her throat and replied, "I can't promise you will live. You have betrayed us too gravely to be forgiven. However, if you provide me with the book's whereabouts, I promise to ensure your daughter, Lady Olekh, has a life that others can only dream of. I will make sure she gets what she wants and never learns of your deeds."
Mr. Olekh sighed. If Kristen weren't a healer, she might have taken the sigh as disagreement. But knowing he was suffering immensely, she interpreted it as a sigh of resignation.
Confirming her position, Mr. Olekh said, "We have an agreement, Your Royal Highness. I trust you to keep your word. It's with a demon passing through the trails near the Lock Woods. I don't know where he will go after that. If you are lucky, you might catch him on the trails. He is a shadow demon."
With his spirit broken, Mr. Olekh yielded to his fate. The sentinels looked at Kristen with uncertain expressions. She gave the sentinels a subtle nod to finish the job, then turned on her heel and walked out of the alley.