Zhonn’s omegaknife glinted as it ripped the throat of an unsuspecting guard. “Sorry ’bout that, *ninka*.” Ninka being the Grarpathan word for “friend,” Grarpat being the region in which our hero currently finds himself. “But higher cause.” Saying the third canto, he wisped the omegaknife into the alpharealm, where Smokeguardians could store all their implements of death. *Something moved* at the edge of his vision. His senses far surpassed those of an regular man, and as such he spotted the figure slinking out of the shadows far earlier than would a regular man, even though it was dark with just a few torches here and there, as foreshadowed earlier when it was mentioned that his omegaknife glinted. Just want to make sure you’re following.

“Another clean kill, Zhonn?” That would be Aaaah’dam. Smirking, he stepped into the light. Smirking is Aaaah’dam’s one defining characteristic. Despite the pedigree as an bloodthirsty warrior, accomplished scholar, international merchant, noble but not like most nobles, and more as yet to be revealed, Aaaah’dam is laid back and knows not take life too seriously. He also happens to look quite a bit like your bestselling author – tall, tan (but not too tan), dark hair, eyes like a hawk. Zhonn suspected his friend’s patented smirks were actually hiding some deep-rooted psychological problem.

“I did what had to be done”

“As you always do. But do you ever wonder if all this killing is actually necessary?” Said Aaaah’dam while smirking.

“For Queen Eoliolio, I would see all of Grarpat reduced to smoldering *kelliluc*.”

Using heat-vision, Zhonn made another quick scan of their surroundings to ensure none of the remaining Grarpathans were feeling plucky. *If they’ve any sense at all, the rest of their regiment will be halfway to Fligolanta by now*. Checking the poor ninka’s body, he noticed a strange insignia sewn into the right arm. An eleven point sun swirled round the visage of a monk with candles for eyes. *By Tella and the Ancients, it can’t be!*

“Aaaah’dam! I think you might want to look at this”

“Seeing ghosts, my Pactbrother of the Golden Tear?” Said Aaaah’dam while smirking.

*Sigh. You always knew what to expect with this guy. But it never got any easier.* “Just… just take a look, okay?” Aaaah’dam bent down to inspect the corpse, smirking all the while.

“Holy Bwiw of the Mountains! I haven’t seen one of those since I was last in Zhardonkavi!” He was no longer smirking. This, this was serious.

“If the Deathknights of the Unholy Candelabra have returned…”

But before Zhonn could finish airing his thought, the very ground beneath them began to quake. Calmly, he reached into his alpharealm and selected his favorite soulkiller. The time for stealth had ended…