Page 169 of A Soul to Touch

“If I expected to ever be visited, it would be by an Elder and a handful of lower ranking members. That or you would call for me via a messenger bird.”

“Due to your circumstances, we can’t allow lower members to come into contact with you,” Jace explained. She only knew it was him by the weathered tone of his voice, as though he was tired and bored of the conversation. “As you know, your discharge was done under secrecy. We couldn’t allow you into the keep, and you are not permitted to step foot nearby.”

“And I have kept to my oath and told none as to why,” Mayumi snapped back in his direction. “So why are there so many of you here?”

There were nine Demonslayers at her doorstep. Such a large group was uncommon for delivering nothing more than a message or request. This was bigger than the size of a hunting party. It was safer to travel in a small group.

Then again... the distance to here is quite great.

If the message was a matter of priority and urgency, then a large party was to ensure that, hopefully, one person survived to deliver that message.

That didn’t explain why Cordon Hansley was here himself. He rarely left the keep unless it was for a council meeting with the three other Head Elders who were in control of the other districts of this continent. South, east, west, and north sectors.

Cordon stepped forward to be in front of the others.

Margo followed just behind him, the woman was a mountain of a human who stood even taller and bulkier than themen beside her. She was generally with Cordon, and many considered her his most faithful guard dog.

Mayumi may have barked at her a few times.

“We have a matter that must be dealt with and questions we need answered. I am here to ensure we have obtained what we need and that everything is completed.”

Mayumi allowed her head to slightly tilt in the direction that her pigeon went.

“You have been storing my bird until your arrival,” she stated before bringing her sight back to Cordon’s icy blue eyes and the pale skin she could see encasing them – the only parts of him she could see. “You baited me into coming outside so you could approach me out in the open. Why?”

“We wish to speak with you,” Cordon stated.

“You could have knocked on my door for that.”

One of the men in the back shuffled their feet before leaning towards another to whisper something while keeping their eye on her. The one they spoke to lowered their head and squinted their eyes in Mayumi’s direction.

She took a step back as a grand smirk curled her lips. Placing her hand on her sword hilt, she turned her body slightly to make herself smaller. She further turned when she noticed one of the women holding a bow tightening their grip on the weapon.

“You were hoping I’d come outside unarmed.” She chuckled in realisation. “Inside, I have weapons, hidden ones you wouldn’t know of. You wanted me outside where you could trap me. What do you want? It’s against the guild’s fundamentals to harm a civilian, which is what I am now. I am no bandit or a felon, nor have I further broken any rules of the guild.”

Cordon sighed heavily as he placed his palm on the pommel of his sword to rest it there.

“We wanted to further discuss your message,” he said as he shook his head. “You have gathered strange information that ispertaining to the Veil and Demons. Did you not consider the weight of your words and what they mean?”

A small amount of tension eased out of her.

“Well... yes. I knew it was important and would be invaluable to the guild.” She lifted an arm to shrug. “We know so little about the Veil and what’s within it. Even though I was discharged, I still stand for our mission and the pursuit of freedom for humankind.”

“Which is why I am here. I am the Head Elder, the one who collects and holds all knowledge.” He gestured his hands backwards. “These are merely the bondsmen I have chosen to learn of such secrecy in order to ensure my journey was safe.”

I guess that makes sense.She released some of the grip she had on her sword.

“I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have, but I’m afraid I don’t know much more than what I wrote in my message,” she conceded as she placed her forearm across her chest and bowed slightly, not that she really wanted to, but formality would probably assist the obvious tension. “I apologise for my rudeness and quick tongue. It is hard to trust anyone.”

“Of course,” he said, his shoulders visibly easing. Although his hand had been lazy on his pommel, he’d been ready to strike his hand forward to draw his sword. “We have come to your home unannounced and perhaps in ways that are alarming. The information you gathered is critical, and we were worried you would be resentful towards the guild after your dismissal. People tend to hold grudges. You understand, correct?”

“There are just as many Demons within us as there are among the trees,” she stated, a common saying among the guild.

“Excellent. You have informed us of the Demons who have begun mimicking humankind and have created their tree village. Do you know the safest path leading to it?”

“No. Like I said, I don’t have much more information as to what I specified. Maybe the swamplands, though?” Then she realised they wouldn’t know what that was. “Apparently, if you walk into the Veil from the southwest, not too far in is a swamp and marsh. The creature that guards it is hostile and dangerous, but it is a deterrent to other Demons. There is also a musk in the air that may hide our human scents.”

“I see... a swamp with a monster that even the Demons are afraid of.” Cordon waved his hand, and one of the other Elders pulled out a leather-bound book and began to record the information with a quill pen. “How about Jabez’s castle? Do you know what direction it is from the village and if he has any defences?”

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