Chapter 114: A Chance To Run
The Black Sheep were pleasantly surprised to learn that they were being given a cart and a strider - which to Kir looked like a shorter-necked, brown, and striped giraffe.
The evening went pleasantly enough, but Kir was acutely aware that the Black Sheep were dining on their own; the rest of the camp had gone to another hall to eat, one marked by the same symbol from the backs of the men he’d seen earlier.
The symbol of the Chain Syndicate.
"If the Syndicate’s out here, it’s probably because they’re expecting people to start running from the major cities soon," Caroon said, when the conversation inevitably turned to their presence. "Probably setting up for some rich pricks down the line."
"Why?" Sam asked before Kir could.
Caroon finished his swallow of wine before answering, "Every now and then you get someone who wants to outrun the Heavenswar by setting up a colony somewhere else. About fifty years back the Eye opened a bit, made about half a year of false winter. Everyone was scared the war was coming early, so my clade packed up and left. That’s why Tov got founded."
He looked at Kir. "And yes, people would rather deal with slavers than demons. A slaver will take your body, but a demon will take that and your soul."
Kir hadn’t made that mental leap, but Caroon assuming it sparked curiosity and anger. "I wouldn’t know," Kir said. "Considering I was raised by an elf and a human, and have never tried to take a soul. How exactly do they do that?"
"By turning contractors into demons," Caroon replied. "And making their contracts damned easy to violate."
"That’s it?" Kir almost laughed.
"What do you mean that’s it? Getting turned into a demon is a death sentence-"