by C. A. McHugh
All thoughts of Oudesta vanished as Aerrin focused on her lesson. There would come a time when he could indulge in thoughts of diplomacy. Right now, he needed to take care of the problems in his own kingdom— the chief one being the Raven Bringer.
Chapter 12
Ceryst found Raimel hiding in an alley in the heart of Tenby, the largest city in the western province of Sauvegny. After a brief meeting with Aerrin and Master Binnius at the Academy three weeks ago, they’d been sent north to investigate more demon sightings in Highmounte.
Tenby, however, was an unexpected detour.
The low-hanging roof offered some protection from the snow that fell in thick flakes, collecting on his shoulders in small drifts as he crossed the street. “I got your message.”
“Good, because I have a feeling I’ll need your intimidation factor on this one.” Raimel shivered and stomped his feet. “I don’t remember Sauvegny as this blasted cold.”
Neither did Ceryst. This winter seemed harsher than it had been in decades. When Master Binnius presented the strange green pendant to Raimel, he explained it was due to the disruption in nature caused by the Raven Bringer’s presence, which did little to comfort him.
Or keep them warm.
He pulled a flask out of a pouch on his belt and offered it to his friend. “Take a sip and stop whining.”
“You’re a friggin’ lifesaver.” Raimel took a long drink of fire whiskey. A second later, a warm flush filled his cheeks, and he stopped shivering. “Much better. You’re my hero.”
Ceryst gave him a light shove to remind him they were here on business. Exactly what the business was remained a mystery, much to his disgust. If Raimel hadn’t told him that Master Binnius had sanctioned this plan, he wouldn’t have been standing there. “What next?”
“Hide anything you don’t want stolen.” He handed the flask back to Ceryst. “Especially this.”
Ceryst tightened the straps on the few valuables he had. “And then?”
“Pray we don’t fuck this up.” Raimel didn’t elaborate. He merely trudged out into the snowy streets, not bothering to see if Ceryst followed.
He suspected Raimel’s recent visit with the King of Thieves had something to do with today’s mission, especially in light of his friend’s refusal to share any of the details. As he’d said last week, there were some things Ceryst didn’t want to know, mainly because the price of the knowledge was not something he was willing to pay.
Raimel stopped and pointed to a small shadowy figure on a roof across the street. “You see that? It’s one of her sentries.”
Ceryst squinted to make out the details, but it vanished in the blink of an eye. He ground his teeth together. “Demon.”
“An imp, to be more precise. Noli loves those little fuckers almost as much as she loves her charges, so be nice to them, okay?”
Finally, he’d gotten a clue to why they were there. “Who’s Noli?”
Raimel cursed under his breath and continued on.
Ceryst stood where he was and cast an ice spell around Raimel’s feet. He might not have as strong a gift as his friend, but he could still cast basic spells, and the weather made it much easier to cast this one.
Raimel flailed as he alternated between trying to break free and maintain his balance. “What was that for?”
Ceryst walked past him and turned, setting them face-to-face with only a few inches between them. “I’m only going to ask this one more time. Who is Noli?”
“The person we’re going to have wine and a light supper with.”
“Not good enough.”
Raimel narrowed his eyes, and a hint of red flashed across the pupils. He was mildly irritated, not furious, but definitely reaching his limits.
And Ceryst knew all too well what happened when Raimel got pushed too far.
He stepped back. “You know I’m not going to give up so easily.”
“Too bad because that’s all I can give you right now.” He tugged at his frozen boots one more time before losing his patience and throwing a fireball at the ice. It evaporated on contact, but the flames continued to lap at his boots until he stomped them out. “Ouch, ouch! Too hot.”
“Like your temper,” Ceryst chided.
“As if you have any room to talk.”
“It seems to me that you’re the one who needs to be talking.”
“And end up like Gareth?” he asked, referring to the tongueless barkeep at The Painted Lady. “No, thank you.”
This definitely had something to do with the King of Thieves.
As they plowed through the streets, Ceryst weighed the consequences of learning more than he should. On the other hand, he hated walking into something blind. If Raimel wanted his help, then he’d be far better prepared for what lay ahead if he knew a few more facts. “Are there going to be more imps?”
“Absolutely.”
“Anything else?”
“And brats. Lots of scheming, underhanded, angel-faced brats with very sticky fingers.”
Ceryst placed a hand on his thin wallet. “This just sounds better and better.”
“Why do you think I invited you along?” Raimel jumped over a steaming pile of fresh horse dung in the middle of the street. “You can entertain the kids while I discuss matters with Noli.”
“I hate kids,” he muttered.
After crisscrossing a few side streets and backtracking enough to hopefully lose any tails they might have, Raimel stopped in front of an older stone building. The sign above it read “Tenby Home for Orphans,” as did the iron lockbox by the door that asked for donations. The voices of dozens of children inside drifted out to them.
Raimel pointed to the sign. “Don’t let that fool you. These kids may be orphans, but they’re quite skilled at helping themselves to ‘donations.’ ”
“In other words, they’re thieves.”
“I prefer to call them self-reliant, but yes.” Raimel knocked on the door, and the voices shushed. “They must’ve been expecting us.”
Ceryst braced for an avalanche of kids when the door opened, but instead, a lone imp poked its long nose out and muttered something in an incomprehensible language.
Raimel squatted so he was at eye level with it. “Tell your mistress we’re here to talk to her.”
The imp grumbled something else, but Raimel grabbed it by the throat. His eyes glowed red as he added, “You don’t want to piss me off, and neither does she.”
Ceryst was one of the few people who knew what Raimel was, and his friend rarely exhibited that side of his nature, especially in public, but obviously, this mission called for a little extra persuasion.
The imp nodded and said something while gasping for air before Raimel finally released it. The door slammed shut, and when the mage turned around, his eyes were back to their normal shade of brown. “I hate imps. They have just enough intelligence to be annoying.”
“You understood anything he said?”
Raimel shook his head. “It doesn’t matter so long as he understood me, and I think I got my message across.”
This time, when the door opened again, it swung to the fullest extent of its rusted hinges to reveal a crowd of rag-covered children all staring at them. Their expressions ranged from merely curious to outright hostile, but not one of them moved.
The imp, however, was nowhere in sight.
“You didn’t tell me I’d have to take out kids,” Ceryst whispered, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword.
“You don’t. You can let them pick your carcass clean.” Raimel stepped forward and held out his hands in a defensive gesture. “Stay back and be good kids and maybe there will be cake for dessert.”
“What if we don’t like cake?” one of the older boys shot back.
Raimel gave him an eat-shit grin and jerked his thumb back at Ceryst. “Then you can get beaten to a bloody pulp by my friend here.”
The little hooligan had the gall to crack his knuckles.
Ceryst puffed out hi
s chest to make himself appear even larger.
Raimel, on the other hand, wagged his finger at the boy. “Now, that’s no way to treat visitors, especially since your mistress and I go way back.”
“Funny, that’s not what she said.” The kid looked around the room at his peers, who all nodded.
Ceryst cursed under his breath. Leave it to Raimel to lead them straight into an ambush.
He drew his sword, but before the tip of his blade could leave the scabbard, a woman’s voice from the top of the stairs ordered him to halt. He looked up and only saw a shadowy figure wearing men’s clothes, but the children knew the voice well enough to follow her command.
Raimel doubled back to Ceryst. “Play nice until I signal otherwise,” he whispered. “Got it?”
Ceryst let his sword slide back into the scabbard, but his gaze never left the ringleader. What he wouldn’t give for a chance to teach that kid some manners.
“Let’s go.” Raimel pointed to the top of the stairs. The woman had vanished, but the imp who’d answered the door gave them a fang-filled grin.
“Are you sure it’s worth it?” Ceryst asked.
“I have no choice in the matter, but you can hide out here if you want.”
“Are you calling me a coward?”
Raimel winked. “Does being scared shitless of children make you a coward?”
If they’d been alone, he would’ve taken a swing at his friend for that comment. But they had to appear united in front of the enemy. “Shut up, and get moving.”
“Fine, but stay close. I have an idea.” Raimel cast a spell up into the air, and a blue dome shimmered around them for a few seconds.
Ceryst didn’t think much of it until they entered the house and the children backed away as though they were being pushed aside by an invisible wall. “What did you do?”
Raimel’s grin widened. “Just a little variation on the circle of protection spell.” He sucked in a breath to mimic the kid on the staircase who had to do the same as they passed. “Getting kind of tight there, eh?” he teased.
Ceryst pushed him onward. “Just get to the top of the stairs.” And away from all these kids.
The winding staircase covered four stories, and by the time they reached the top, the number of kids had dwindled to one. She was a girl with hard eyes and tangled hair, and she regarded them with annoyance. “You interrupted my lesson,” she said with a frown.
“Sorry to spoil your one-on-one time with Mommy,” Raimel replied, patting her on the head, “but we grownups have important business to discuss.”
His friend walked past, his back to her when she pulled a knife out from up her sleeve.
Ceryst rushed forward to knock her away, but Raimel was faster. He could’ve disarmed her with a spell, but with a few lightning-quick maneuvers, he not only achieved the same effect, but he also had her pinned against the wall. “You think I didn’t learn the importance of watching my back years ago?” he asked.
“You’re not one of us,” the girl replied through clenched teeth as though she were trying her best not to cry out in pain.
Raimel could’ve been an ass and tightened his grip until she broke, but he remained firm. “That’s what you think, and if your mistress is only half as wise as a whore who can bed six men in a night, she’d tell you not to fuck with me. Got it?”
“Wendris, go downstairs,” the same woman from before ordered from the next room. “Raimel is far more trouble than you realize.”
“See?” Raimel released the girl and took a step back. “Your mistress is giving you a lesson right now.”
The girl gave them a hate-filled glare before descending the stairs.
“You’d really better watch your back when we leave,” Ceryst murmured. “And I had her.”
“I know you did, but these are my people, and they have their own set of rules.” He straightened his jerkin and ran his hands over his long brown hair. “Do I look presentable? My hair isn’t too messed up?”
“You’re not asking her to dance.” Ceryst pushed him forward. The sooner they got out of enemy territory, the better. Besides, he was even more curious as to why Master Binnius even considered coming here was a good idea.
If, in fact, Raimel had been telling him the truth.
Noting could’ve prepared him for the woman waiting for them inside the room. Her skin was the color of amber—a warm sort of brown he’d rarely seen in this part of the kingdom. But what made her appearance even more stunning was the shock of white hair that cascaded down her back. He’d never seen such a color on someone who appeared to be no more than about twenty-five summers.
“Tell your friend he can pick his jaw up off the floor,” she said as she cleaned her nails with a small knife, not looking up at either one of them.
Raimel arched a brow when he turned to him.
Ceryst blinked several times before he focused his attention elsewhere. He hadn’t meant to stare.
“Noli, darling, so lovely to see you,” Raimel said, stretching his arms out to welcome a hug.
She responded by flinging her knife at his feet, the blade landing two inches from the tip of his boots.
“You missed,” he quipped, not the least bit worried.
“I meant to.” She stood up from the windowsill she’d been leaning against and sauntered toward them, hips swaying in skin-tight black leather breeches that matched the flat black of her eyes.
The hair on the back of Ceryst’s neck rose when he looked into them, noting there wasn’t a fleck of white where there should be. Whatever she was, she wasn’t entirely human.
But then, neither was Raimel.
A second later, her eyes shifted to a startling shade of teal, appearing more human, but that couldn’t erase what he’d first seen.
His friend flashed her his most charming smile. “Quite an establishment you have here. You’ve done well for yourself.”
She snapped her fingers, and a dozen imps blinked into the room.
Raimel didn’t appear the least bit intimidated by her theatrics. Instead, he blithely continued to prattle as though they were old friends catching up. “Aw, look—your imp must’ve bred with a dog, and now you have puppies.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Stopping wasting her time and get down to business.” Ceryst nodded in respectful acknowledgment toward her. This was her turf, and he could sense their time as guests was growing shorter and shorter.
“But a little small talk always helps break the ice, gets everyone feeling a little looser—”
Ceryst finally took the swing he’d been holding back since they’d met up in the alley.
Raimel, of course, dodged it, but the gesture earned him a small smile from their hostess.
“I think I like you,” she said to Ceryst. “Someone needs to rough up Raimel every once in a while to keep him in line.”
The teasing note in her voice eased some the tension between his shoulders, but he still kept his guard up. Whoever—or whatever she was—this woman seemed the type who could disarm with a glance, right before running someone through.
“Just like the good ol’ days, eh?” Raimel pulled the knife out of the ground and handed it back to her. “Remember how we used to scream in harmony as the Raven Bringer tortured us?”
Her expression immediately went blank, and her face turned a shade paler. “Why are you bringing him up?”
At least now he’d learned how Raimel knew her.
And based on her reaction, she had experienced enough unpleasantness from the Raven Bringer to be on their side.
“Oh, you didn’t hear? He’s back to terrorizing the kingdom again.” Raimel crossed over to the table and hopped up on the edge, legs swinging. “You’d think he would’ve looked you up for old times’ sake like he did with me. Oh wait, I forgot—you still have that little cloaking charm, don’t you?”
If Ceryst hadn’t personally witnessed the impact of the Raven Bringer and his apprentice’s contact with Raimel, he would’
ve taken his friend’s tone as merely flippant. But there also lay an edge of harsh sarcasm and a hint of jealous accusation to his words.
Noli reached for the ring on her right middle finger. The stone was a deep blue, but Ceryst suspected it was similar to the new charm Raimel wore to protect him from the Raven Bringer. “I want proof.”
Raimel laughed. “You don’t trust me? Why don’t you take off your ring for a few hours and find out for yourself?”
She dropped her hands to her sides and stood straighter. “I appreciate the warning, and if that’s the only reason you’re here—”
“Not so fast.” Raimel reached into the hidden pocket of his jerkin and tossed a quartered coin to her. “His Majesty sends his greetings, too.”
If she feared the Raven Bringer, she appeared to hold nothing but contempt for the King of Thieves. Her lips curled into a snarl. “Did he send you here to threaten me?”
“No, not at all. If he really had it out for you, he’d send me here on my usual business, and we wouldn’t be having this delightful conversation.”
Ceryst knew enough to keep his mouth shut. Although Raimel had never actually revealed what his past duties for the King of Thieves had been, he had a hunch they didn’t involve handing out food to orphans.
“I’m no longer under his dominion.”
“Of course not. And although you killed his duke here in Tenby six months ago and took over the region, he’s been kind enough to let that slide, especially considering you once pledged loyalty to him.” He pointed to her hand, his legs still swinging back and forth like a carefree child. “Pledges are made with blood and bound for life, so if you want to stay on his good side, you might want to start sending him some tributes soon. Oh, and take part in this little scheme he’s hatched to help defeat the Raven Bringer once and for all.”
Finally, the real reason they were here. Ceryst leaned back against the door to make sure one of those brats from downstairs didn’t barge in.