* * *
When brute forcecouldn’t handle the job, coin always would.
There was a very shady tavern on the bad side of Dolinska calledThe Crooked Whip.It wasn’t a nice place to hang out. It was constantly dark inside, even on the brightest of days, dirty, and attracted the worse people. Fae only went there if they were looking for trouble, which is exactly why the information I needed was most likely to be found there.
The ale was watered down and cheap, and the barkeep wouldn’t cut you off no matter how much you had, which made the tavern perfect for those with secrets to spill. I kept my hood up when I entered the tavern through the back. The hood concealed my face so no one recognized my mask.
A spindly dragon shifter polished filthy glasses behind the bar. Winavor Birivam was gangly and small for his Faction, but it didn’t fool me— I’d seen him pin an unlucky Seelie against a wall and nearly slit his throat for trying to walk out on a tab. The old man raised a greedy eyebrow as I leaned on the counter.
The Phantom knew the barkeep, kept him paid well to pass on information. Winavor hadn’t been able to give me any intel on where the Black Claw’s new hideout was based, but perhaps he could tell me something about the Hidden King.
“Did you find who I asked for?” I whispered, casting a quick glance to see if anyone was watching.
Winavor nodded. “In the back.”
I slipped him a few coins, which he eagerly pocketed. I took a side door to the storeroom. A man drank deeply from a tankard, sitting by a table that was placed haphazardly next to barrels of aged ale. We were the only ones inside, and he was half-drunk. He looked alicorn. Definitely not a cultist, but probably knew those that were.
I removed my hood. The alicorn lowered his tankard as he took me in.
“The Phantom,” he grunted. “Winavor didn’t tell me I’d be talking to a vigilante.”
“I’ll make it worth your time. I’m looking for information,” I told the man. “Who is the Black Claw’s leader? Who is the Hidden King?”
The alicorn smirked. “Asking the tough questions, are we?”
“I don’t have time for games. Either tell me what you know, or I’ll take my payment and leave.”
He scowled. “You don’t have to be unpleasant about it. I thought the answer would be obvious.”
“Obvious how?” I questioned. He was trying my nerves.
The alicorn shrugged, and took another swig. “I’ve got quite a few cultist friends. People I grew up with, you know. And they think their Hidden King is none other than Elijah Zlodia.”
My blood ran cold. Elijah? No. It couldn’t be. He was a total bastard... but was he that evil?
I started toward the table. The alicorn’s eyes became wide as I fisted a hand in his shirt. “Are you lying? Tell the truth!”
“What reason do I have to lie?” the alicorn rasped. “Zlodia came to the Black Claw before the Contest began. He vowed to restore the cult to glory if they followed his rule. At least, that’s how my friends tell it.”
The horror inside me grew and clawed its way at my insides. I wondered how far this man’s love of money ran. I let him go and took a few steps back. “Could you be persuaded to tell me where your friends are?” I dared to ask.
“I don’t want anyone getting hurt, here,” the alicorn said coolly. “My friends may be cultists, but theyaremy friends. And I won’t go giving them up so you can continue on your little killing sprees.”
That was fair. I needed to be cautious. I didn’t want to piss off my informant. Yet there was still so much I didn’t know. “What about Waldron’s death? You’ve heard of it. Who killed him?”
“Gods if I know,” the alicorn grunted. “It could’ve been some test by the cult, to make Zlodia prove himself.”
“Are you saying he murdered Waldron in cold blood?” I hissed.
“I don’t know nothing about no murder,” the man drolled. “All I know is the cult has vowed to follow Elijah Zlodia, their Hidden King. And they’re willing to spill blood to prove their loyalty.”
“What about the border wall?” I questioned. “Everyone knows it’s getting weaker. And monsters. The Black Claw is abducting them, but why?”
The alicorn huffed. “Why wouldn’t they try to ruin the wall? To destabilize the region, of course. If I had to guess, the Black Claw is gathering monsters to sacrifice for their dark rituals. They’re becoming stronger, you know. Stronger by the day.”
He crossed his arms. “I’m not saying nothing more about it. I’m already in hot water. I say any more, and the cult will have my head— if they won’t already, once they find out.”
I stood from the table and tossed a velvet bag of Malovian currency on the table. “Your pay.”
