Losing Tyrimma, who had run away from the temple, would be very disappointing. She and her husband had lived in the Church’s quarters, all expenses paid. Auntie Madie had denied her daughter, who wasn’t making any money, any financial support, and flat out refused to allow Russie inside her house. Everyone saw the situation; everyone knew the truth—and not a single soul of them helped! Wretches.
I went out to talk to the servitor alone, outside the gates. I couldn’t very well let that vermin inside or we’d never clear out the stench.
“Child of light, that just won’t do! You haven’t even greeted me yet properly...”
I stared right in his eyes.
“Oh, lightest one, I totally agree. I think it won’t do at all.”
My wholehearted agreement made the priest pause.
“So...”
“He’s your student. What an example he sets to people! Horrible, simply horrible. He tried to break into a lady’s house, threatened to kill her, swinging his fists around. Auntie Madie is getting on in years; her health is not the same anymore. If she has a stroke, the Church could never wipe that stain away!”
“Our student?”
“Oh yes, that drunk swine under the fence, the fat-bellied one.”
“Child of light, but who are you?”
“I’m the nephew of Auntie Madie’s daughter-in-law’s brother’s neighbor.”
Apparently, for the servitor, it was fish day, as he popped his eyes out and batted his gills.
“Umm...”
“In short, I’m a relative. So will you take your fellow home? I mean, he’s damaging the Church’s reputation, breaking the people’s trust!”
“I’ll take his wife off your hands, too,” the servitor added his two coppers, realizing he wouldn’t get anything more from me.
I threw up my hands.
“I can’t give you his wife; I didn’t take her in the first place.”
“Her mother lives here. Should I believe she’s somewhere else?”
“Why isn’t she with her husband, then?” I asked, showing my surprise. “And why are you looking for her here?”
“Umm...”
“Wait, let me guess! Has she run away...from love?”
The servitor knew then that there was no point in talking to her, especially since I was loud and clear enough to attract a crowd that promptly started whispering. The people there sure didn’t seem fond of the Church.
Quite right, too.
“That said, servitor, I’m not going to pull that creature from the puddle myself, and I’m advising you against it, too,” I warned him. “Maybe he’ll crawl to you himself after he wakes up?”
The thrall agreed.
Not much else he could do, really. Reprimand me for disrespecting the Church?
I beg to differ! I respect the Church. It still exists, after all, doesn’t it?
But if the Church thought I would drag that filthy stinking body somewhere, it definitely disrespects me, and itself, too!
The thrall returned empty-handed and I decided to have a talk with Auntie Madie. She was tired and upset, hiding in her room, mulling over a cup of herbal tea.
“Alex? Come in...”
“Auntie, we need to talk.”
“We do, boy.”
I was brief. We couldn’t just abandon Tyrimma. A man who could raise a hand against a woman was no man at all; he was an abomination, and every person had a duty to reveal his vile nature to the world. Not to mention that sooner or later, he would give her one blow too many and simply kill the girl. After that, he wouldn’t even need to deal with Auntie, as she’d die of grief.
Still, there was a way out.
We have to divorce Tyrimma from that guy. That won’t make her smarter, however—and to protect her from falling into another murky situation, right after her divorce, she’ll go with Innis to Andago, with you in tow, Auntie. Far away from the servitors and other beasts. There, you’ll lead a nice and quiet life.
Auntie listened to me, doubt written on her face.
“Alex, for you, it’s all so easy. But it’s people, real people, live people...”
That wasn’t much of a problem, especially for a necromancer.
“But do you agree with my idea in principle?”
“Yes...but Innis...”
“She agrees, even approves. Talk to her yourself.”
I hadn’t talked to Innis yet, but Auntie Madie didn’t seem like a bad choice. She could definitely keep Sidon and his ilk at bay. Once burned, twice shy—after the trouble with her daughter, she would keep Innis safe.
I went to Innis.
She was thrilled. Yet, even if she loved Andago, was going back there so fast such a good idea? Too many unpleasant memories there and only one ghost for a friend—not nearly enough for peace and quiet.
I calmed Innis down, kissed her forehead, and promptly retired. After all, I wanted to kiss her like a man, not like a brother. Gods, I am such a pig...
***
The bandits were waiting for me. They clearly weren’t pleased, but...apparently, I had scared them well enough. I could see three figures in the darkness; as for the other three, I could only think I had scared them to death. Or had I? Whatever.
One more scumbag, one less rat...
“We waited for you yesterday.”
“Then let this be your reward for a broken promise.”
There was enough money in the purse I handed to them to last a month. I had taken it from some other ruffians. One walk through the streets at night and everybody would be glad to help a poor lost noble boy.
“So what about Andago?”
“Royal Star tavern.”
“How humble of him. Where is it?”
“We’ll lead you there. It’s on the other side of the city.”
And so they did. They were all polite, too, scaring away my future prey as we went. We even talked a bit.
They didn’t seem like bad guys; they only turned to nightly crimes for the money. I liked that there were no bloodthirsty thugs in their group. They robbed people, true, but didn’t rape, kill, or torture. That was something, at least.
They paid bribes to local guards, sometimes gave up some of their own—those who crossed the line. All in all, they found their niche. Too bad they didn’t really want to keep living like that. Getting out seemed impossible: the underbelly never fully let go of those it had caught. You went there for romance, for adventures, for riches, and one day, after waking up hungover and next to a drunk prostitute whose face you could barely look at, you realize that you are living your life in vain, that it was empty and devoid of purpose. You couldn’t even start a family, because the families of people such as you were given the bum’s rush, their property confiscated by the Crown. Who would want to give their children such a life?
It was a road to nowhere and after I had given those three a sound beating, and a real whopping to the other three—nobody had gotten crippled, but that was just luck—the guys started having second thoughts. The lesson wasn’t wasted.
Where would they go, though? They had no options. And that is why they were asking the noble sir if he was in need of servants for...special tasks, or maybe simple bodyguards.
I wasn’t, but I promised them I’d consider their offer. What if they came in handy?
Their auras weren’t too dark and they weren’t lying. Just people who had gotten enough of dumpster living. They wanted to live like actual humans—and that was hard.
How many of them had I crushed before? Maybe it was time to help. Let’s see if they prove themselves worthy. In the worst-case scenario, Ak-kvir is always hungry.
Maybe that’s why they were sucking up to me—because I was stronger. If they had encountered somebody else and that person gave them all of his money, they wouldn’t even think about redeeming themselves.
At last, we reached the Royal Star. I went around the tavern and examined it closely. I could get inside, all right, but that would be noisy as hell... S
o how about I make it even noisier?
I nodded to the guys and took more money out of my pocket.
“Go inside the tavern, sit there for about forty minutes, then start raising hell. Make passes at wenches, break something... They’ll try to kick you out. Your task is to apologize, start buying them off and draw the attention of all the tavern guards for at least ten minutes. Can you do it?”
Going by the gang leader’s face, it was not a problem. It’s just that usually, they got a beating for something like that, not money.
They went inside and I climbed the nearest tree, and waited. I had seen Riphar Morales before; I would recognize him. It wasn’t hard for a necromancer to sense a familiar person, especially with such...stains on his astral self. Still, there was a whole city around me and lots of people inside the tavern as well.
Forty minutes of waiting passed quickly. First, I concentrated on the building, then filtered out all the things I didn’t need, such as women, animals, and children, and then started probing men. Finally, I found Riphar’s room—as luck would have it, on the opposite side of the tavern. Whatever; I will get there anyway.
The sounds of screams, running around, and other noises came from the tavern, and something flew out the window. I slipped inside quietly.
Riphar clearly hadn’t expected me, but I didn’t waste time on greetings or explanations. I simply threw my dagger and the boy collapsed onto the floor, clutching the handle suddenly stuck in his throat. I moved behind him, pulled out the dagger, and waited until his soul left his body. Serves you right.
The three amigos were waiting for me near the tavern, hope written on their faces. I pondered it over. If they continue obeying me, why not?
“For now, you’re dismissed. In a few days, I will find you.”
“Same place?”
I nodded. They disappeared into the darkness and I went home.
They trailed me, of course. Let them. I wanted to sleep.
***
The morning started off well. I helped carry buckets of water from the well, picked out berries for a pie, snatched a few pieces from the baking pan as soon as they seemed ready, and bantered with a pretty girl.
Innis smiled at me while cooking.
Everything was so fine, warm, and cozy...until Tyrimma barged into the kitchen. She didn’t look any better. Her pale wishy-washy complexion was complemented by a dress of the same color, her hair was hidden under a shawl, and her eyes were cast down.
I definitely should send her with Innis. Let her scare her enemies straight! If demons see something like this in a pentagram, they will become vegetarians, for sure!
“I’m going to the temple.”
“We’re happy for you.”
“I won’t divorce Russie.”
“Don’t then.” I shrugged. “It’s your life and your problems. Just don’t come running here when he starts beating you.”
“And he will,” Innis picked up after me. “Do you really think that scum will forgive you for yesterday?”
“I can’t live without him!”
“How about we check?”
“H-how?”
“Leave for Radenor for a few years. If you don't die, then you really can live without your precious Russie.”
“You don’t understand me. Nobody understands me!”
I sighed, stood up, and pulled at her headpiece. Tyrimma froze, not even breaking. Great! I like it when people actually listened to my words.
“Don’t ever let me see you unless you decide to change something in your life. Got it?”
She blinked.
“You’re such an idiot. He beats you, and you gorge on his crap and thank him for that. Fine, it’s your choice. But don’t even think about getting on your mother’s nerves. If he kills you, die in a ditch somewhere, but don’t crawl here until you are ready to do something. Have I made myself clear?”
Judging by her expression, I had. She squealed and ran away, quicker than lightning.
I wasn’t a total villain, of course, and so I sighed and left home to tell my new associates to watch Tyrimma, daughter of Madie, and stop whoever tried to beat her.
I didn’t have to wait long. One of them was spying on Auntie Madie’s house, so looking for him didn’t take more than a few minutes. In half an hour, I reached the rest of them.
In the daylight, the guys seemed to be decent townsfolk. They agreed. And to think that it all had started so well...I had just wanted to help Innis and now I was accumulating all sorts of connections and problems. Really, getting the throne was easier!
I went to the market to buy berries and returned home. It might be only a game, and all that coziness wasn’t real, but it was my game, and nobody would take those seconds of peace away from me.
Never.
***
In the evening, we got a visit from Lintor.
Sidon Andago had demanded they find his daughter. On top of that, her fiancé had been murdered, and Sidon wanted his killers.
Lintor gave us an honest warning, but... We had three days. After that, he couldn’t guarantee anything.
Later, I left home again, this time, for the countryside, far enough away that I wouldn’t be detected, and there...
In one sweep, I drew a summoning pentagram. This time, however, the glyphs were different: life, search, gate, mask, summon.
I wanted a demon that would help me find a person—someone not human—the woman who had drained Miron dry and tried to frame Innis.
That bitch was clearly a strong one. Innis couldn’t even give a clear description, whether her dress was white or scarlet, her hair loose or in a braid... She knew how to cloud people’s minds.
Well, let’s see who is better at this game.
I didn’t set any candles, only relying on my own power. I spilled a few drops of blood in the center of the pentagram and waited, trying to mask the surges of magic energy.
He...it...appeared soon enough. A small demonic creature no larger than a squirrel. A hish-tarrash, a beast able to do only one thing: look for his own—demons, half-demons... It sensed darkness like hellhounds smelled human blood or templars felt dark magic.
“You have s-summoned me...”
Above all, the creature resembled a bald chipmunk: same size, same shape. Its face, however, was of a rat, and it had bear-like fangs, plus claws on all four paws.
“Yes. I will pay.”
Unlike Ak-kvir, there was no point in bargaining with such a low-level demon. It simply wouldn’t understand any of my words other than the simplest ones.
“With...what?”
“Blood. My blood. Will you?”
“Yes! Give it! Give it to me!”
I spilled a few more drops into the pentagram.
“Swear that you won’t harm me and that you’ll find whatever it is I’m looking for.”
“I will se-ek. I swe-ear.”
“You won’t harm me or do anything that might harm me or those close to me.”
“I won’t.”
It didn’t seem pleased. Whatever.
“We’ll do it tonight, until the morning, all over the city. Mask yourself.”
Hish-tarrash hissed, but obediently took the form of a cat. Now it looked like a big-headed red feline with huge claws.
I clapped myself on the shoulder.
“By my power as a necromancer, I give you freedom for the whole night.”
The red creature jumped onto my shoulder and sat there, almost like a real cat. My cheek felt the touch of red fur. It was time to go. I hoped we wouldn’t meet any templars on our way. Normally, a hish-tarrash was too tiny to be detected, too insignificant, but if we bumped into them face to face...
We scoured the city street by street. I passed by the temple, the food market, the livestock market... The hish-tarrash was clearly displeased, but I kept feeding him my blood so he would have the power to stay in this world.
We sensed a warehouse storing forbidden amulets that I decided I’d visit the nex
t day, a few places that housed necromancers or hosted dark rituals...but found nobody like me.
Could that woman vanish into thin air? Or had she already left? Hmm.
We examined all the gates but found nothing there either. If she had passed through, it was before the last two days.
Yet we continued combing the city, and at last, our efforts paid off. Near the caravan site, the hish-tarrash started to hiss in excitement.
“It’s-s here...”
“How far?”
“Near us-s.”
I rewarded him with a few more drops of blood and took a closer look.
It was a stopping ground for merchants from Irrolen, a southern nomadic state. Its inhabitants didn’t like houses and spent their nights in tents, putting them wherever night found them.
Was that romantic? Not if you tried setting one of those up. I had done it once because I was curious—a real nightmare. Still, we didn’t need to concern ourselves with the tents’ structure—only with their contents.
The hish-tarrash confidently led me to one of the tents. From the inside, I heard light music, a man’s heavy breathing, and a woman’s moaning.
Somebody was clearly in the midst of procreational activities.
All right, I’ll wait.
“Is this the one? Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
I rewarded the hish-tarrash with a spoonful of my blood, cutting my finger with my claw and letting my blood flow into the demonling’s jaw, and released him.
Well, if the bitch I was hunting was indeed inside, she was probably distracted. Maybe she didn’t think anybody would look for her or just didn’t take me into account...but that was her problem. I was there, and I was resolved to make her regret ever messing with Innis.
I had to wait for almost two hours before the romping inside the tent died out. Then I slashed the thick fabric with my claw and stepped inside, ready to have a word with the mysterious woman.
***
It had been a while since I felt like such an idiot. The woman lying on the pillows inside the tent was Lavinia—yes, my dear former wife, whom I had once escorted into obscurity.
I really should have killed her instead.
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