the real reasons behind all the secrecy of the identities of the members of Comus. The current ‘Gatekeeper’ is a member of the of Orpheus, and has been since its creation and the man despises everything about me!
It wasn’t long before I navigated through the maze of hallways to the office of the Master of Arms. This title, unlike some of the others in the courts, isn’t ceremonial. Everyone who has ever held the post has been exceptionally familiar and comfortable with the practice and implementation of violence. Nathan Williams, who currently held the position, was in his mid forties with a heavily muscled physique, cold dark eyes, his square jaw line and calm demeanor that inspired confidence and loyalty in his men both now and when he was in the military. We met prior to his service to the courts and in the years since we had fought alongside one another on several occasions.
Nathan hardly glanced up from the file he was reading before nodded for me to take a seat. He finished the file and set it aside as he leaned back in his chair eyeing me carefully. “How are you today Viktor?”
“Well enough I suppose and you?” I could tell he had something on his mind but the dance of polite conversation needed to be adhered to, especially here where tradition and pleasantries ruled the day.
He pulled his chair closer to the desk as he leaned forward to push his phone to the side. The screen lit up revealing an open line. I nodded to let him know I understood we were being monitored as Nathan started the conversation. “It would appear that you not only put Robert and myself in a bit of a bind but disobeyed a direct order from the Gatekeeper.”
Cocking my head to the side I gave Nathan one of my ‘what the fuck’ looks along with the ‘you have to be kidding me’. He shrugged his shoulders as he leaned back in his chair. “All I asked for as per my right as Progenitor was to delay Gregory Aaron’s induction until he could make a well informed choice.”
Nathan smirked as he tried not to laugh. “I’m sure that the Gatekeeper would accommodate your request if we could put a reasonable time constraint on it.”
Holy shit, the Gatekeeper was even more petty than I had previously believed. The guy was going to try and force me into defying him openly so he could run me out of the organization to allow him free reign. “And what do you suggest is ‘reasonable’?” I asked as I spoke into the phone a little louder than necessary just to be an asshole.
“Sixty days should be time enough for him to make up his mind. Don’t you?”
I knew that would be more than enough time if we actually lived that long. Gregory would have time to study the Krewe’s background and history to find a good fit for himself here in the Big Easy. “Sounds fair to me.”
Nathan sniffed as he leaned forward and hit the end button on his phone terminating the call. “Thank god that’s over!”
“I take it that Robert is one of his lackeys?”
“Don’t get me started on that slimy little bastard but yeah he is.” Nathan was clearly disgusted by the whole affair. “Just as a heads up something big is going on. I’ve seen several of the Krewe’s leaders showing up this morning.”
“Thanks, I guess I should get going.” I stood up and shook his hand.
“Oh and one last thing. They are meeting in the council chambers down the hall instead of the formal reception area.”
That was just odd, but hell the Gatekeeper was an odd little man. “Thanks again, we should catch up after this is over and grab some lunch.”
“Sounds good.” Nathan settled back into his chair as he sifted through more paperwork as I headed out.
At the end of the hallway I opened the stairwell door and made my way up to the third floor. I’m not exactly a huge fan of elevators given the fact that if things go wrong you’re pretty much stuck there all alone at someone else's mercy. Over the years I had spent far too much time alone and stuck
It wasn’t long before I navigated through the maze of hallways to the office of the Master of Arms. This title, unlike some of the others in the courts, isn’t ceremonial. Everyone who has ever held the post has been exceptionally familiar and comfortable with the practice and implementation of violence. Nathan Williams, who currently held the position, was in his mid forties with a heavily muscled physique, cold dark eyes, his square jaw line and calm demeanor that inspired confidence and loyalty in his men both now and when he was in the military. We met prior to his service to the courts and in the years since we had fought alongside one another on several occasions.
Nathan hardly glanced up from the file he was reading before nodded for me to take a seat. He finished the file and set it aside as he leaned back in his chair eyeing me carefully. “How are you today Viktor?”
“Well enough I suppose and you?” I could tell he had something on his mind but the dance of polite conversation needed to be adhered to, especially here where tradition and pleasantries ruled the day.
He pulled his chair closer to the desk as he leaned forward to push his phone to the side. The screen lit up revealing an open line. I nodded to let him know I understood we were being monitored as Nathan started the conversation. “It would appear that you not only put Robert and myself in a bit of a bind but disobeyed a direct order from the Gatekeeper.”
Cocking my head to the side I gave Nathan one of my ‘what the fuck’ looks along with the ‘you have to be kidding me’. He shrugged his shoulders as he leaned back in his chair. “All I asked for as per my right as Progenitor was to delay Gregory Aaron’s induction until he could make a well informed choice.”
Nathan smirked as he tried not to laugh. “I’m sure that the Gatekeeper would accommodate your request if we could put a reasonable time constraint on it.”
Holy shit, the Gatekeeper was even more petty than I had previously believed. The guy was going to try and force me into defying him openly so he could run me out of the organization to allow him free reign. “And what do you suggest is ‘reasonable’?” I asked as I spoke into the phone a little louder than necessary just to be an asshole.
“Sixty days should be time enough for him to make up his mind. Don’t you?”
I knew that would be more than enough time if we actually lived that long. Gregory would have time to study the Krewe’s background and history to find a good fit for himself here in the Big Easy. “Sounds fair to me.”
Nathan sniffed as he leaned forward and hit the end button on his phone terminating the call. “Thank god that’s over!”
“I take it that Robert is one of his lackeys?”
“Don’t get me started on that slimy little bastard but yeah he is.” Nathan was clearly disgusted by the whole affair. “Just as a heads up something big is going on. I’ve seen several of the Krewe’s leaders showing up this morning.”
“Thanks, I guess I should get going.” I stood up and shook his hand.
“Oh and one last thing. They are meeting in the council chambers down the hall instead of the formal reception area.”
That was just odd, but hell the Gatekeeper was an odd little man. “Thanks again, we should catch up after this is over and grab some lunch.”
“Sounds good.” Nathan settled back into his chair as he sifted through more paperwork as I headed out.
At the end of the hallway I opened the stairwell door and made my way up to the third floor. I’m not exactly a huge fan of elevators given the fact that if things go wrong you’re pretty much stuck there all alone at someone else's mercy. Over the years I had spent far too much time alone and stuck
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