"There, all finished." Sahl dumped the still hissing water and oil mixture into its awaiting receptacle. In doing so, he was left holding Kaden's warm breastplate. Sahl hoisted the improved masterpiece of intricate piping along with the delicate delivery system for essence firmly installed on the back side of the metal.

"That is indeed impressive," Kaden complemented his friend and slave. The two of them were occupying the front portion of his father's old shop while the work on the breastplate was being completed.

"I am glad you think so, since you 're the one that has to wear the damn thing. Here, something else for you." Sahl retrieved a thin wedge of material from his bench with a small hole through it. "This should fit you better in your chest. And with less discomfort. It's as soft as I can make it. Covered it in the finest of mole skin. So if it still irritates you, you're just going to have to live with it."

Kaden's chest was raw and red around the wound from the Koronai's claw. He'd applied a vigorous amount of ointment to try to sooth the persistent tenderness, but the previous apparatus had proven irritating none-the-less. The Karo Shar took the chunk of material and slid it inside his chest. "It fits perfectly," he said, feeling the softness against his exposed wound. Like it almost wasn't there at all. "This is a wonderful upgrade."

"You know, me having to work on that?" Sahl pointed at the item now within the Karo Shar's chest. "It put me behind on making essence by two full days."

"You still have plenty of time to make quota."

"Easy for you to say." Sahl shook his head and got up from perch. He made his way for the back room where the stills had been set up. Just like when Kaden's father had run the place. "It's not your fingers that are on the chopping block."

"Relax. With the two of us working? There's no way we don't get enough. We'll probably make quite a bit extra too." Kaden snatched up his breastplate. While he followed Sahl, he seated the delivery pipes for essence into the pre-cut hole in the wedge and secured the buckles around his chest.

"Just wish there was more in this for me."

"More in it for you? Sahl, I've given you excellent pay. Enough that you'll soon buy your freedom. Isn't that enough?"

"Risk versus reward, my friend. Risk versus reward."

"The hunt will probably last several days," Kaden informed Sahl. "I can give you a bonus and send Hernah your way. The two of you can keep each other company while I'm gone."

"No thanks. I'd prefer not to scrounge around between the legs of another man's whore."

Kaden got his first look at the newly upgraded stills Sahl had established using money obtained from their first few sales. They were impressive, but not anywhere close to as grand as what Kaden's father once had accomplished. Even so, Kaden could see the streams of red, brown, and orange flowing freely. And at a good pace.

Kaden examined everything with a detailed eye, paying extra attention at the line producing Rage. "You have done a fabulous job on these. Considering what we had to work with."

"I'm going to need more raw material," Sahl complained. "You haven't given me enough blood from either demons or men to make the amount of essence you request."

"I'll see the quartermaster gets you more."

"The sooner the better. Don't wait until the last minute. We've got enough to make, hopefully, half of what is requested. But you know how yield can be unreliable to predict. Especially on what I would consider still to be virgin stills."

"That I do. I'll make sure we have at least thirty percent more stock than is required. I believe there is a fresh batch of Koronai ichor harvested from the last excursion into the Abyss. And blood from the dead soldiers of Ison as well. It'll have to be used quickly or it will spoil."

"Do you know how many pints?"

"No, but I will find out."

"I just fear you've place me in a bind there is no way out of."

Kaden sighed at his friend's persistent griping. "Will you please relax? I'll get you enough stock. If I have to sit here and bleed every day into a beaker, then I will. And I'll order my men to do so as well."

"They're the prince's men," Sahl snapped. "Don't you forget that. They're loyal to him over you."

"When the time comes, I know that."

"Just don't forget it, because it will be both of our heads if you do."

Do you have enough parts to set up another still?" Kaden changed the topic.

"There's some left overs, yes. Depends on what you need though."

"Nothing fancy," the young Karo Shar explained. "Just a standard still. But I want it to run at a hundred and fifty degrees hotter than normal."

Sahl's eyes widened. "You'll have me burning what little stock we have," he explained his concern. "You know we run at fifty degrees below the temperature where stocks ashes to uselessness for a reason."

"I know the reasons. And I know what will happen to the stock cooked in the range I speak of."

Sahl cocked a questioning pose. "Then why are you asking me to do this?"

"Because, I think there's a transition range. If we push through it, and do so quickly enough, I believe that what we get out on the other end will be more stable. And it will be able to be mixed more easily with a long shelf life. And the essences will be more potent."

"And the reason for this belief that runs counter to what all alchemists know to be true?"

"Do we really know it to be true?" Kaden countered the claim. "Some notes I came across. Old notes. From many, many generations ago. Belonging to a former Chief Alchemist of Ison under Prince Jal, Son of Yuris."

"Old indeed. That's literally the reign of the First Five."

Kaden continued with his request, ignoring any chance of delving into a discussion on history. "I just want a small amount done as a test. Some Rage and some Courage that we can mix and see if what the notes describe are true."

"Assuming we get anything off the still other than smoke?" Sahl scoffed.

"Well, if that's all we get, then we know the notes are wrong. And we don't try it again. No point in wasting stock."

Sahl chewed his lip. "So you think we've been doing it wrong all this time?"

"Not wrong, per se. Just the way that was deemed by someone to arbitrarily be the right way."

"That is quite a statement of political couching," Sahl grinned. "I can do what you ask, but again it will put me behind."

"The stock for the hunt is the priority. This is just a side request."

"I assume you want me to make vials to go into your chest plate with them? These aren't to go to anyone else" Sahl pointed at the armor Kaden had just finished adjusting the fit of.

"Yes."

"And, let me guess, you don't want me telling the prince?"

"How did you know?"

"The tone in your voice." Sahl smiled. "I can tell when you desire to keep something from him."

"And will you? Keep it from him, I mean."

Sahl paused, as though he were sensing the air and if anyone else was listening on the wind. "You are my master, and I will do as you ask. For I must. Even if I think it is foolish to do so."

"I need to have some secrets, Sahl. Secrets are what will keep us both alive."

"You know, I used to think that you being the Karo Shar, and me being your slave, meant a death penalty was certain for me."

"And you don't feel that way anymore?" Kaden had become entranced by the flowing liquids around him. Their dance was enticingly distracting. But not so much that he couldn't concentrate on the conversation.

"Eh. I'd say it's only seventy percent certain that I get death as a reward now."

"I'm glad I could increase your faith in the odds."

"Believe me, Kaden, it wasn't that long ago that I almost went to Prince Relastin and would have confessed your desire to betray him."

"Oh? So you had treasonous thoughts against me?"

"Treason against you, Kaden, is ultimately loyalty to the Prince. And I still believe he is most likely to come out of this game on top. Except for one factor that I still have yet decide upon."

"And that factor is?"

"Your bride to be. The princess. She seems, how do I say this, supremely capable of upending the order of Ison. Don't you agree."

Kaden nodded. "I've spared against both of them. I think that is a fair assessment. She is more than capable."

"And do you think she will keep you around afterwards? If she is successful, that is."

"As long as I can remain useful to her, yes."

"And that's the rub. How to remain useful to a woman that powerful."

"Well, there's only two ways. One is by becoming a warrior capable of fighting by her side in battle. And the other is by being a warrior that can conquer her in bed."

"Well, you're certainly getting practice enough at both. Poor Hernah, I feel sorry for her."

"As do I, Sahl. As do I." Kaden bowed his head thinking of the slave woman. "I don't particularly enjoy having to fuck a woman just to keep alive knowing that she's going to die anyway."

"Don't lie, it's pleasurable to do so, I'm sure."

"In some ways." Kaden drifted off, thinking of the slave who was no doubt waiting for him in his bed. "Doesn't mean I like it though."