TRAILING SHADOWS

However she noted this, and smiled quite briefly.

"Please, make your self at home, Malinton. Awon Eshu nii ota wa(1). Not us, and not me either."

She spoke, a false sense of assurance flooding his mind.

Malinton smiled rather uneasily.

'Who does she think she's deceiving? The last time an Alpha had drank little drop of wine, she had practically beheaded him with her b.a.r.e hands. And she's telling me to relax... Who do you want to fool?' Malinton shivered yet again, turning aside.

"What is it? Am I that ugly?" Orunmila Shope asked, a concerned touch seeping into her voice

"Uh... No... No... I'm ... I apologise!"

"For what?" Her voice whispered in.

Sweat broke out his forehead.

"...well... For my dismeanour earlier. I was only bored." He finally spoke.

Silence reigned about, while three set of eyes peered at him. At that Malinton felt like the ground would open and he would jump in.

This is really unfair... He cried out mentally.

And then , the emotionless cold look on the Orunmila's face slowly smoothened into a smile. And from a smile, into a light chuckle.

Taking a cue, he laughed cautiously, breaking the laugh into parts as he gazed from her to her two aides. The laugh that started up slowly broke when he looked at Silas who scowled at him. He then stole a glance at Ajibade and almost peed himself as the laugh hit a voluntary breakpad, vanishing away.

Ajibade's face was a mess of rage and rage. Nothing could be said more about that. He saw him clenching his fist and at that moment, felt the stingy aura of him prickling into his skin.

Just then, Silas and Ajibade laughed. A short one, one that read of danger and danger and danger and danger. He stiffened.

"I called you in because there is something we have to do, Malinton. I am sure my aides would brief you on it. While it's not necessary, I want to hear what you think. After all, you are from Ilu Ifa." The Orunmila spoke now, her previous cold stare completely replaced by one of great responsibilities.

"Well, Malinton. You have done a great job in letting us know immediately. However, we must extract Sunday from the scenes." Silas spoke as he crunched his knuckles on the table.

'What was with that guy and his fist?' Malinton observed.

'If it's not on a blade, it's fisted to attack. If not fisted, it's on his blade. Gash...'

"S-so, you want me to capture him? Why not arrange a troop to do that?" He asked, nervous seeping out of him.

"Let's be honest here. You and him on an encounter would leave you as a trail of energy on the spot." Silas sneered.

"What Orunmila means to say is that we want to set a bounty. That way we can be involved without being in the picture. A bounty on Niniola, the exiled and Sunday lastly." Ajibade spoke now. He was now composed better.

"Oooh... I see. So, my assignment is to spread the word, making sure the best of the best mercenaries hear of it." Malinton responded, understanding coming to him.

"Exactly. You are truly a son of the soil. " The Orunmila added.

"And what would be the reward?" Malinton asked, curious as he dropped his both hands on the table.

"An high grade Orb of occurence at it's best. And a cracked orb of occurence for the girl!" Orunmila Shope replied with half closed eyes.

"Whaaaa..." Malinton almost coughed out blood.

An orb of occurence?

For what? Just to capture some children?

An Or of Occurence was a orb that could be used to manipulate fate to the owner thoughts. For example, if an Irunmole was caught in life threatening situation, the orb of occurence could be used to twist fate into his favour.

It was one item that had been used to contain the energy of fate essence. However since it was very hard to compress raw fate energy into a glass ball, the item of occurence was therefore rare.

It could only be made by someone who had gained 80% understanding of the Aspectual Law of Fate. And even at that, it was had a 1% success rate.

Thus splitting orbs of Occurence into High Grade, Middle grade and low grade. The high grade was only for three uses.Once its second use had been exhausted, the orb cracked and when it was used for the last time, finally, the orb would break.

For the Orunmila to reward the capturer of Sunday with a high grade Orb and Niniola capturer with a cracked orb.

Something was definitely up. But even yet, there were still children.

'They wouldn't be much of a problem for me, right?' Malinton thought, drool escaping the corners of his lips

"Isn't... That a little too much, Orunmila Shope?" Ajibade questioned now.

"It is for the greater good. Something is coming. It's big and I fear, it's bigger than the gods themselves. If you would understand, then you must know how important your response to this is." She heaved with closed eyes now.

Just then, Silas smacked the table lightly, pointing to Malinton.

"I hope you are not having an ideas of taking them out yourself. Niniola alone, Last time she was graded, she was en elite. And due to the time she spent in Orun Apaadi, who knows what class she'll be in now? Don't kill yourself. Just make sure the news spread, evenly." Silas grinned, breaking into the daydream of Malinton.

"Y-yes... Understood." Malinton eyes were still bulged.

'Last time she was an Elite? Aiyeeee... How talent could this Niniola be? I mean, last time we heard the news of her banishment, she was only a basic class.' Malinton cursed his luck, a silent sigh escaping.

Why did Niniola have to be so talented now... Now he would have had a cracked orb to himself. Wouldn't I have used that to step up my Ascension?

He muttered as he bowed to the council members.

"My job here is understood. I shall take my leave, Council " He said, as he rose.

Now, he had something to do. Something quite hasty. Something about children. Something he wished he himself could be the sole partaker of.