Chapter Three: The Hornet's Nest
By Richard LeBlanc
Atop a building that overlooked a small bar and a large vacant lot - Seal and Gregory looked down and saw where Man Basher - prince of Eco was holding her conclave. The two studied those that wandered in and out of the lot and shook their heads in modest disbelief.
"I heard stories of her arrogance," Seal began.
"Holding a gathering out here? In so open a place?" Gregory added.
"Had I so desired - not one of them would have survived. Three well placed charges is all it would take," she stated as she sat down on the edge of the roof. Gregory sat down beside her.
"Stay focused. We don't want to lose sight of our mouse," he reminded.
"I am focused. I am just - assessing this city should the need arise that I return," she rationalized. A backhand knocked her back onto the roof. "What was that for?" she demanded.
"You are forgetting - the prey we seek - is no timid mouse. Look beyond him - you will look no more," he stated seriously. She sighed as she lowered her eyes and bowed to him.
"You are right. If I am so - careless - this assassin will make short work of me. Not because of his skill - but because of my lack of focus," she replied politely. Gregory nodded.
"I think - it is time that we make ourselves - more social to the masses below," he suggested as he flipped himself back to where she was standing.
"If we must," she replied.
"We must. The kindred we seek to hunt in under her protection. I would hate for her to think we were poaching," he mused as the two headed towards the roof hatch and vanished back into the building.
Down below - at the conclave - the kindred of Eco mingled and played political games - each hoping to climb the ladder - using others as rungs.
At one spot the Malkavian Primogen Slap Happy was talking to a few Toreador kindred that had traveled from the States.
"Is it true that our clan has no representation with the prince?" one asked.
"That - would be very - true. And I am not just saying that," he replied with a wry smile.
"What do you mean?' one asked.
"Well - if you want the title - go ahead and ask. Your clan hasn't had much luck with Primogens as of late though. I mean - don't get me wrong - that guy Vincent - he was a straight shooter. Then he sided with someone that wanted the city and went poof. Then there was some other guy - but - he ended up crossing Doctor Jest and - well - it wasn't pretty," Slap Happy said with a giggle. "But I am sure that you kids will do much better," he reassured as he began to walk away. "God knows you couldn't fuck things up any worse then they did," he muttered to himself as he mingled with others.
On the other side of the gathering - by the fence - Grater and a few of his people watched the fools mingling - attempting to gather knowledge - secrets and power.
"Any news of the rumor?" Grater asked curiously - not taking his eyes from the crowd.
"The assassin? Everything that we came across leads in a circle. I have a hunch the pest is still alive," one of the other Nosforatu stated.. Grater muttered something to himself as he shook his head.
"The  worm probably started the damn thing himself," he rationalized. He took a deep breath and sighed. He would deal with Calloway at some later time. Now was a time for clan matters and politics. "Anything going on that I should be aware of?" he asked.
"Some big game hunters were spotted in the Warzone," one stated.
"How big?" Grater asked.
"Two shooters that go by the names - Seal and Gregory," one answered. Grater tensed up.
"I know those names," Grater remarked.
"They are considered to be among the best," one of the other Nosforatu stated.
"Other aliases - Butterfly and Peter, Fox and Mathew - most current - Blackbird and Salem," another Nosforatu said - checking a notebook. Grater leaned against the fence behind him.
"Blackbird - she was the one that took out the Sabbat higher ups in the city west of Chamberlan - the strike that allowed Archon Maxwell to charge in and force the inhabitants to flee. You say she is here?" Grater asked.
"Sources say - she and her partner were spotted in the Warzone by the ruins of a water tower," another answered.
"Have any of you crossed any lines - that would merit her kind of attention?" Grater asked seriously. The small gathering looked at each other and shook their heads. "If I find out otherwise," he warned.
"The clan has not done anything of consequence that would have merited someone getting a gun of her caliber," one reassured. Grater sighed and shook his head at the thought of an assassin of her training and quality coming after him.
"Go mingle - gather knowledge so that we may sell it back to them at an inflated price," Grater said waving his allies off. "Two more assassins - that is just what this city needs," he muttered to himself.
On another side of the gathering the Setite harpy Glare was watching things.
He too had heard the rumors that Calloway had perished - but unless he saw proof - he knew better than to believe it. More likely than not - it was a ruse started by the assassin himself. What puzzled him - was why.
"You look deep in thought," a voice stated. He looked over and saw a well-dressed man standing before him.
"Ventrue - it will take some time getting used to having you people around again. What can I do for you?" Glare asked curiously.
"I was wondering if I could borrow a moment of the prince's time," he asked. Glare quietly laughed and shook his head.
"I'll let you in on a little secret - Man Basher - she doesn't like your clan all that much yet. The only reason that she even let you blue bloods back in her city was because she thought Tamina was cute," Glare stated.
"I heard that," a voice stated. The Setite looked over his shoulder and saw the prince.
"You deny it?" he challenged.
"I never said that - but - you should be careful what you say offhand to a total stranger. you know how rumors fly in this wondrous place," she remarked.
"True enough. Have you heard anything about Calloway?" he asked seriously.
"I thought he was dead," she mused.
"You can't believe that," he rebutted.
"Of course not. He did an errand for clan Tremere and got a little messed up. He started the rumor to keep prospective vultures from circling while he was not at his best," she replied seriously.
"How do you know all this?" he asked.
"I'm the prince. It's my job to know everything. So have you heard? Two more sharp shooters are heading to town," she remarked.
"Seal and Gregory - I heard mentions of it wafting through the mob. You think they are after you or your council?" he asked curiously.
"No - I doubt that. I haven't done anything that would merit that kind of price tag," she began as she looked over and saw two people making their way - straight towards her through the crowd. Others seemed to move aside as they walked. "Speak and they shall come," she muttered.
Seal and Gregory approached the prince of Eco and politely bowed to her.
"We have heard a great deal of Eco. It is said that - the greatness of a city - lies not in the city - but in its prince," Gregory eloquently began.
"I am amazed that you can talk so smoothly with your lips so firmly on my ass," Man Basher retorted. Gregory quietly laughed as he stood up. "You - must be Gregory - or whatever you are calling yourself these days," she added.
"You are well informed. My friend here - is Seal," he introduced. She smiled and bowed to Man Basher.
"I have heard much of what you have done - most impressive," she said politely.
"You people lay it on thick. What brings you this way?" she asked. Glare sighed as the three continued to talk. The conversation had lost interest to him. He knew that they could go on playing that cat and mouse game for hours. It was then that he felt that - something was amiss. "You don't say?" she remarked - pretending to care about what the two Assamites had to say. He looked over and saw - Calloway standing by the edge of the crowd.
"He survived - he's here," he muttered to himself - almost oblivious to the fact that he spoke out loud. Man Basher and the pair of assassins looked over and saw Calloway as he made his way through the crowd.
Glare looked at the smile that formed on Seal's face as she saw the serpent warrior heading their way. If there was any doubt in his mind before - it was gone now.
"They came here for him," he rationalized. Man Basher looked over at him from the corner of her eye but quickly returned her full attention to the three assassins that were now standing only a few feet away from each other.
"Calloway Harmer - I presume," Gregory stated.
"I had a hunch that you two might show up here," Calloway stated as his eyes darted over. He had seen Glare standing with the prince moments ago - now the harpy was surprisingly absent.
To Be Continued...
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