Chapter 3: Back to the lair

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Restuz walked through the hallway, his cloak swirling around his ankles. He was careful not to let his nervousness show; that would be a sign of weakness that others could prey on. Weakness was not to be tolerated. His Master had carefully coached him in that and he refused to allow any others to bring him down. Yet as he approached his Master's chamber, his footsteps slowed. His Master would not be pleased with the way the evening had turned out. He paused before the door to gather his cloak around him. 'Enter, pup,' came the chilling voice in his head, and he pushed open the heavy wooden door. He hurried to kneel before the altar in the middle of the room, and then looked up to where there was a shimmering light above the candles. His Master's presence always left a chill in the air even without his physical form, and Restuz couldn't supress a slight shiver.

'You know why I called you here,' the voice echoed through the room.

"Yes, Master," he replied, bowing his head.

'Why did you attack them?'

"They were separated and alone. Centuris still has not learned of her true self, and I wanted to finish her before she learned."

'Your ambition is notable,' his Master's voice replied after a pause, 'but you still have much to learn about patience, pup.'

He winced slightly at that. "Yes, Master," he replied, clenching one fist under his robe.

'But there is still time. When the other Guardians leave tonight, test her defenses. I want to see if she can remember her true self.'

"Test her defenses, Master?" He looked up, startled. "We have much more firepower at our command than she does. I could bring in a sizable force and wipe her out now!"

'You will not!' The force of the voice knocked him over backwards, shaking his cowl back. 'Have you learned nothing? This game is not yet played out.'

"Yes, Master," he replied, struggling to keep his face calm and trying to think quickly. "A small group, under a Keeper."

'Better, pup. Revenge is best when drawn out. Pain will teach, whereas death simply releases.'

"I will do as you command, Master." He knelt again and bowed his head as the presence of his Master dispersed and faded. He rose slowly afterwards, carefully replacing his cowl and straightening his robe. He hadn't come that close to obliteration in quite some time. 'So, we are to play a game, then?' he thought to himself. 'In that case, this is a game that will be won by me.' He smiled grimly to himself as he turned, giving his cloak an almost absentmindedly dramatic twirl, and left the room. He had just the Keeper in mind for this job. If that failed, he had other tricks up his sleeve. He always had more tricks up his sleeve.