102

Your attitude betrays an ignorance of Kindred history," Bouchard says. "Though it is to be expected in a neonate coddled here, away from hotbeds of conflict. The Banu Haqim and Tremere have been enemies for centuries, and the hatred runs deep. I could spend weeks explaining why this is so, but we simply do not have the time necessary to educate you." The Sewer Rat takes a moment to scan the sewer in both directions. "But for all their faults, the Tremere have proven they deserve their place with the Camarilla. Kashif Salik's presence here has upset the natural order, and his rejection by our society has driven him into the hands of our enemies."

"The Anarchs have recruited Kashif Salik to aid in their disruptions. I have reason to believe that the wards found on the bombs used to attack Ms. Grey's exhibition were not of Tremere origin. Blood Sorcery, most assuredly, but the Banu Haqim are well-versed in those arts even if their areas of study are different."

"Do you have evidence of that?" you ask. "The last thing Kashif would want is to be associated with Ward and his Anarchs. Corliss is openly antagonistic to him, and from what I've heard, she's been looking for any excuse to remove him."

"All the more reason for Kashif to discredit her and have her removed while all the other Primogen are fighting their silent wars to seize praxis in Arundel's absence. Your sire's affinity for the Warlocks is well-known. If her allies were to be implicated in an attempt on the lives of the local Primogen…"

"It's bad optics," you say. "But I don't think that would take her down."

"Sometimes bad optics are all that's needed to topple an empire," Bouchard says. "One nudge to set a chain-reaction in motion."

"Do you have a suggestion for what I should do with this information?" you ask. "It's hard to act if you don't give me solid proof."

"That's up to you," the old lick waves a clawed hand as he starts walking back the way you came. "I'm not here to dictate your actions, I'm here to provide information. My sources must remain anonymous, otherwise they'll quickly find themselves quite dead." A clatter of stone echoes further down the tunnel and Bouchard stops in his tracks. "Shit," he says. "I knew I wasn't being paranoid! We were followed!"

You scan the tunnel for movement but find nothing. By the time you look back to find Bouchard, he's vanished from view.

You slip into the shadows and advance cautiously, careful not to step in the slop that coats most of the passageway beneath your feet. By the time you've reached the main tunnel where you met Bouchard, you're starting to wonder if the noise had been your imagination. You wait, ears perked up as you listen for any sign of an eavesdropper. Your patience is rewarded when a small, squat vampire detaches himself from the wall less than three feet to your left, looks back and forth furtively, and then starts quietly sneaking down the main tunnel. You creep up behind the goblin-like creature and grab him by the collar, instantly becoming visible again as soon as you make contact.

"Let me go! I didn't hear anything! This is uncalled for abuse!" Now that you're up close, you recognize him as the tiny Leper you caught leaving Bouchard's private quarters several nights ago, trying to hide a sheaf of papers from you.

Bouchard materializes in the air beside you, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "Shawn. You keep turning up in all the wrong places, little man. Who else was with you?"

Shawn pulls back, beady brown eyes darting this way and that, as if he still believes escape is somehow possible. "Just me," he says. "I heard voices and thought it was the Warlocks you've been talking about. When I realized it was you, I tried to get away before I overheard anything I wasn't supposed to!"

"Come now, you sickly thing," Bouchard growls, reaching out to grasp Shawn's arm tightly. You can hear bones crunching, even over the pathetic whimpers. "I haven't lived this long by believing lies like that."

"It's true!" Shawn wails, trying to yank his arm back. Bouchard reacts by gripping it harder, a sharp crack echoing through the sewer as the bone snaps in two.

"What do you think, Mekuztli?" Bouchard asks. "Is the little Leper telling the truth?"