Stuck in the Middle With You

[Bjorn]

"I didn't see one, my Lord," Bjorn replies, moving over to the locker, "but I didn't search thoroughly either."

Kneeling by the locker, he carefully searches through the locker, removing each bundle and spreading it out on the floor, and taking a detailed inventory.

[Brian]

You find two knives, actually.  One of them is nearly a short-sword, a leaf-shaped blade with a shining golden hilt, worked through with elvish script.  

The other is of what looks like dwarven steel, a proper dagger.  The blade is completely black, and non-reflective.  The handle is wrapped with some leather-like substance by look.  By feel, it's probably shark-skin.

Kevin stares at that blade with a combination of obvious fear, disgust, and anger.

[Bjorn]

"What is this knife?" Bjorn asks in a quiet voice, studying it carefully.

[Brian]

"The blade of Verrik the Unseen," Kevin says slowly.  "The legendary assasin king of Soth."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn simply blinks at Kevin, in confusion and in surprise.

[Brian]

"According to these notes," Kevin says grimly, "Dorian managed to force Verrik into his service by stealing this knife.  Verrik then assumed the name of 'Paul Durant' to accomplish his tasks more easily."  He looks up from the papers, frowning.  "I think it will be some time before he is released."

[Rezantis]

Rez looks somewhat blank.

"While it sounds somewhat familiar . . . I, er, have a very bad record with remembering these things. Could you refresh my memory on Verrik and Soth?"

[Brian]

"Soth is somewhat further south than the upper kingdoms," Kevin explains, shaking his head.  "It neighbors the Archonae lands, but is further north than Kith.  Verrik is the foremost assasin in the world -- his fame is unrivaled in his task.  His efficiency is only rivaled by his viciousness."

Kevin looks at the knife pensively.  "It's said that he almost becomes a new person every time he accepts a task," he adds.  "It's entirely possible that Master Durant may not have realized he was Verrik until the opportunity to slay Dorian came to--" he breaks off, seeing the periapt.  "Of course," he says somewhat slowly, "there are other questions, as well.

"If all of this is true, Dorian was an ally of Solariat.  But his open attacks on Breke, Lammermore, and the lorekeepers place him firmly in the Dreadmarch camp."  He eyes both Nathan and Bjorn meaningfully.

[Bjorn]

"Mattias didn't know of any connections between Solariat and the Dreadmarch," Bjorn says, straightening to his feet.  "Which means that Solariat is playing his own game.  Not suprisingly."  He frowns pensively.  "I am tempted to suggest striking directly at Solariat, but that may be problematic.  He likely has at least one more agent in the Keep, though, and now we know there is no guarantee that agent is a Lorekeeper."

His brow furrowed, he glances over at the sheaf of papers that Kevin is holding.  "What else did Dorian write of?"

[Rezantis]

"This doesn't entirely seem to fit," Rez opines, "if Dorian forced Verrik to serve him, and Durant is Verrik, who was he supposed to kill? Obviously not Dorian . . ."

[Brian]

Kevin purses his lips thoughtfully, and scans through more of the scrolls.  "A priestess of Hammar," he says finally.  "And he did everything at the behest of Solariat."  Kevin tosses the sheaf of papers carelessly atop the writing desk.

"Well," he says, sighing.  "Verrik isn't our foe.  But he is the assasin king.  I'll not release him any time soon.  Dorian thought he could control Durant ... Verrik, I suppose.  He was wrong, and we already know the consequences of that."

[Bjorn]

"What else is in the scrolls, my Lord?" Bjorn repeats his question.

[Brian]

"His personal thoughts on the inferiority of humans," Kevin sighs, rubbing at his temples.  Shaking his head, he adds, "We'll need this blade sealed away -- try not to touch it, if possible.  I'm certain a blade that Verrik sold his loyalty to Dorian to try and obtain has some power, and I'd rather it not be tampered with until Matt--"  He stops himself.  "Damnation!" he hisses.  "Mattias said the axe your storm-rider friend carries is safe!"

[Bjorn]

"Alec should be waiting just outside this room," Bjorn reports, moving over to the door to look for him.

[Rezantis]

Rez blinks, and swears. "He was the only one to examine it?"