by M. Gregg Roe
“From Zardis?” she asked, looking hopeful.
“Probably not,” admitted Valwyn. “You can go to the Witch’s City and get them from … Wait. That burned down.” Petra yawned again and then Hanna. Valwyn was feeling pretty tired herself.
“I want to go home and sleep in my bed,” said Petra. “I slept outside last night.”
“We slept outside in the Plain of Winds. It was freezing cold. And there were these really big wolves!” Hanna frowned deeply at her. “Okay; no wolves. But it was cold.”
“I slept on dirt and rocks in a hole,” said Petra. “With a bunch of big beetles.”
Valwyn suspected that was an exaggeration, but she said, “Okay. You win.”
“The three of us should get together to celebrate,” said Hanna.
“Yes,” said Petra. “Valwyn and I will go over to your house first, because nothing bad ever happens there.”
Valwyn burst out laughing as Petra grinned.
“That’s not funny,” said Hanna. “I’m going to bed.” She stifled another yawn before walking away.
“That sounds good to me too,” said Valwyn and Petra nodded her agreement. “But first I’m going to grab some more of this free food. I’m still hungry.”
“Actually,” said Petra. “I am too. Let’s do that and then get Branwyn to take us home.”
♦ ♦ ♦
“You heard?” asked Ermizad, raising one eyebrow and looking smug.
“Yes,” replied Branwyn. “Of course I did. You’re the one who insisted we eavesdrop on them.”
“Yes, and I believe that I have proved my point. Petra is happy here. She said that she wishes to go home. Your home.”
“But we can’t protect her,” Branwyn protested. “We proved that.”
Ermizad frowned at her. “No one could have prevented that. Stop this nonsense. You and Milric are doing a fine job with Petra. And with Valwyn.”
“Petra is already picking up some of Valwyn’s bad habits,” Branwyn pointed out.
“That simply shows how close the two of them have become. Hanna as well. It is nice to hear her speaking again.”
Branwyn couldn’t argue with that, so she changed the subject. “Those men that abducted them were from Zardis.”
“And?”
“Are you planning some kind of retaliation?” She knew how vindictive Ermizad was.
“Against whom? They were simply mercenaries. And the one that hired them is from the Witch’s City. That is the larger concern.”
Branwyn was certain that the Zardis Thieves’ Guild had some involvement, but there was no proof. “What about the Collector? It might try again.”
“That is possible,” conceded Ermizad. “It is certainly one of Andoran’s creations, collecting on his behalf and unaware of his demise. Ultimately, it needs to be located and destroyed before it causes further harm. I am planning to speak with Lady Josara about the matter when next she visits.”
“Milric is going to provide increased protection for Petra, just in case. But nothing extreme.” They hadn’t actually discussed it, but she knew how her husband thought.
“That is well. I know that you will do your best for her.”
“Yes.” Branwyn glanced over and saw her daughter stuffing a sweet roll into her mouth. “I’m going to take the girls home before they eat themselves sick. Good night, Ermizad.”
“And you, Branwyn.”
♦ ♦ ♦
He knew it might cost him his job, but Hagen simply couldn’t keep quiet.
“Lady Ermizad, you traveled here with no guards of any kind. As the Captain of the Witch’s City Guard, I consider that both irresponsible and unacceptable.”
Ermizad’s eyes narrowed and her posture stiffened. “I am quite capable of defending myself, Captain.”
“You are not invincible,” he countered. “Wilawin is now assigned to guard Ermiana. I understand that. But you need to find a replacement to guard you.”
“Another of Grasapa’s students?” she asked, looking slightly amused. “Shall I ask Audrey to guard me?”
Audrey would probably pass out if Ermizad asked her. Or just flee. “I don’t care who it is if they are capable. Do you want me to find someone?”
“No. I have already decided. It is someone that I have known for many years, and who is well-versed in combat with a variety of weapons. And she has a great deal of free time, so it should not pose an undue burden.”
Hagen was getting a bad feeling. He knew someone who fit that description perfectly. “You’re going to ask my wife to guard you?” he asked.
“Yes. Why not? It will only be when I leave the city or am meeting with those who might prove dangerous.”
It did sound reasonable, but he wasn’t sure how Carlinda would react. “Only if she agrees,” he insisted.
“But of course. I will ask, not order.”
“And I will accompany you on your way back tomorrow.”
She was frowning again. “No, that you will not. You will remain at least an extra day and spend it with your children. That is an order, Captain.”
Hagen saluted. “Yes, Lady Ermizad.” That was an order he was happy to obey.
♦ ♦ ♦
Audrey was at the port railing watching the trees go by when Ermizad joined her and casually said, “Captain Hagen insists that I be properly guarded when I am away. I hereby appoint you as my personal bodyguard until we return to my city.”
The woman was smiling, clearly amused. Audrey smiled back, saying, “I think I can handle that, Lady Ermizad.”
Audrey found it interesting that Ermizad referred to it as her city. Initially, she hadn’t understood the name. She had been expecting a city full of witches (although she hadn’t even known what a witch was at the time). After reading the history, Audrey understood. The witch that had conquered it had changed the name, declaring it her city.
None of Audrey’s companions were on the ship with her. Saxloc had decided to stay an extra day, Hankin had some kind of Novox business to attend to, and Gabriel was going to be taking Petra to dinner tonight, raising an obvious question.
“Is Petra going to be moving back?” asked Audrey hesitantly.
“No. I did give her the option, but she declined.” Ermizad ran her left hand through her hair briefly. “I am pleased. As I had hoped, she has become a part of Branwyn and Milric’s family, much as you are now part of Draymund and Almera’s family.”
That made Audrey smile. “I really do feel like that.” Just thinking about it gave her a warm feeling inside.
“I have been revising Ermiana’s educational plan,” said Ermizad. “She is ahead as far as what can be learned from books and scrolls, but I also wish for her to learn practical skills and to see the kinds of things that people do to earn a living.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Audrey told her. “She’ll be ruling them some day.”
“Exactly. I would like for you to teach her about sewing.”
“Me?” Audrey felt both honored and nervous.
Ermizad nodded and gestured. “Yes. Just the basics. It would be at your cottage. That way Ermiana will also be able to run around the mansion’s grounds. She very much enjoys that.”
“Okay.” With Aliva getting a new assistant, Audrey would have more free time. “I can teach her to sew something simple and then demonstrate more complicated techniques.”
“That is precisely what I want. Ultimately, she will visit farmers, carpenters, potters, and so forth. I may visit some of them myself.”
Audrey was impressed. Ermizad often came across as cold and arrogant, but she was a good mother. And it was clear that she also cared about the people of her city. The Witch’s City was in good hands, and would be for some time to come.
♦ ♦ ♦
Celebern’s presence at the castle when they returned with Petra hadn’t really surprised Hankin. The man was very conscious of his public image. He wanted to appear concerned for Petra’s fate, even if he really didn�
��t care.
The next day, Hankin found himself summoned to see Celebern, not at the castle, but at the local Novox office. He was already working on a written report, but Celebern wanted to hear from him in person so that he could ask questions. It took most of the morning for Hankin to describe all that had happened, and when he finally finished, Celebern leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes as he thought.
“You did well,” he stated as he opened his eyes and leaned forward. “It would have been nice to gain more information about Hard Rock City—the dwarves there are incredibly secretive—but bringing Sofia to you was more efficient.”
Hankin simply maintained a neutral expression as he listened. Celebern preferred to have his say without interruption. Then there would be time for him to comment or elaborate.
“The magical device that Oljot crafted to locate Petra is very interesting. I have never heard of anything like it. Oljot is secretive as well, but he may have imparted information to Adrian and Asria. We will look into that possibility.”
Hankin knew exactly what Celebern was thinking. He wanted a way to track people, in particular Ermizad, who frequently seemed to know things she shouldn’t.
“The Collector is also of great interest. It is still functioning even though Andoran has been dead for years. I would very much like to see what is in its collection. Given how loud and obvious its vehicle appears to be, it’s possible that others have observed it before. That may enable us to determine the location of its base of operation.
“And finally there is Petra. She is now in your debt. That provides an opportunity. I would like for you to begin to court her.”
It was one of Celebern’s long-range plans. If something were to happen to Ermizad and her daughter, then Petra would be High Witch. And Petra’s husband would have great influence.
Hankin decided that the time had come to assert himself. “No. I refuse. I don’t like her and she’s still infatuated with Gabriel. Find someone else.”
Celebern’s face had gone hard as he spoke, but he was now smiling slyly. “Very well. I won’t insist. You are dismissed.”
Hankin was so relieved when he left the office that his knees nearly buckled. But he was happy. He had faced down Celebern and won. He decided to go out for a drink to celebrate.
♦ ♦ ♦
Gabriel was expecting Petra to show up clad in the same revealing dress that she had been wearing when she attempted to seduce him in the Witch’s Castle, but she surprised him. She opted instead for a pale green shirt and a long brown skirt. Her hair, which she normally kept unbound, was neatly braided into a ponytail. He thought that she looked quite cute dressed that way.
They were in a restaurant so new that part of it was still under construction. It was called “The Eatery”, a title Gabriel thought quite clever. It eschewed glow-cubes, relying on candles for lighting. And in a city where fish was the most common food, it specialized in pork and beef dishes.
She waited until they had ordered their meals and been brought their drinks before turning serious. “Gabriel, I want to apologize for what I did at the Witch’s Castle. I don’t know what I was thinking. I should never have done that. I’m sorry.”
He wasn’t sure how to respond, so he simply waited as she pursed her lips in thought. “I’m not saying that I’m giving up,” she continued with an earnest expression. “But I’m going to try to do things properly. I’m going to continue my education. I’m going to improve myself. And when you do decide to start dating, I hope you’ll consider me.”
It was so unexpected that it took him time to formulate a reply. “I will consider you,” he told her truthfully, and her smile in response was lovely. “Are you happy here? In Rohoville?”
Petra hesitated and her smile faded away. “I am, but I’m worried now. Because of me, Valwyn and Hanna were kidnapped. I want to stay, but it might be safer for everyone if I went back to the Witch’s City. I talked to Ermizad, but she said that it’s up to me.”
Once again, he wasn’t certain what to say. The food arrived, and the two of them ate in near silence. His meal wasn’t as good as he had hoped, although Petra praised hers. Afterward, they walked together to the west, heading toward where Milric and Branwyn dwelled.
“I’m going to stay here,” said Petra suddenly just after they passed by The Lion. “I like Rohoville, and I like the people here. The Witch’s City is just too big. I’m also closer to where my mother and the others live.”
Gabriel smiled at her. “I think you have made a wise choice.”
When they arrived outside the house, Gabriel dutifully bent down to allow Petra to kiss him goodnight. It wasn’t as good as the one Mianna had given him, but it was close.
♦ ♦ ♦
It was hard to believe, but Siljan was actually looking forward to returning to the temple, even if she was now short one candidate. In a way, it was fortunate that Rosalind had brought out Vydan’s hidden prejudice against half-elves. Finding out about it only after he started training at the temple would have been much worse. When she tracked him down and told him that he was no longer welcome, he had actually referred to Rosalind as an abomination. She was proud that she had simply turned and walked away, as opposed to beating the crap out of him. Instead, she had seen to it that he lost his job and his magic instructor. Siljan suspected that Vydan would probably be gone from Rohoville by the next time she returned.
Rosalind wasn’t the ideal candidate either. She still wouldn’t go out into the city unless someone accompanied her, and she kept apologizing about her altercation with Vydan. Siljan was tired of dealing with her and looking forward to turning her over to Alessandra and Isadora.
Siljan was also getting really tired of listening to her father. Sabrina had finally managed to convince him that there was no need to build a lighthouse at the confluence, pointing out that there weren’t any big rocks there for ships to run into. (But Siljan had to admit that her father’s plan—an enormous statue of Roho with glowing eyes—would have been interesting to see.) Now he had moved on to complaining about his broken spear. He was now planning to seek out “the most good blacksmith in all the land” to make him a new one, even though it wasn’t the head of the spear that had broken.
The final insult had been that very morning when she went to wake up Rosalind for breakfast. Siljan had been thrilled when a handsome young man approached them the previous evening and then annoyed that it was Rosalind that he was interested in. She had gone home alone, and he had ended up in Rosalind’s bed.
“How was your date?” asked Siljan as the two of them descended the hill.
“Nice. I’ve never been with a man that big.”
Siljan desperately wanted Rosalind to clarify but was afraid to ask.
“Those big lizards really don’t eat people?” asked Rosalind, sounding very worried.
“No. They’re herbivores. They only eat plants.”
“Okay. Will you hold my hand until we get across?”
“Of course.” Siljan took Rosalind’s left hand with her right. Rosalind really did look frightened.
“Can we stop at Farmerton?” she asked. “I want to see where Audrey is from.”
That made Siljan realize something. “We will stop in both Merryton and Farmerton to see if anyone needs healing. That’s what clerics do.” Good ones, anyway. “You can be my assistant.”
“Okay! I want to help people.”
Rosalind made the ferry crossing with no problem, but Siljan forgot to warn her about the goblins.
♦ ♦ ♦
The sound of the key in the iron door woke Buris instantly. Today was the day! He had been imprisoned in a cold, dark, Guild prison cell for … He didn’t know how long. He had lost track of time. They hadn’t told him the length of his sentence because that made it even worse. But it had definitely been a long time judging by his beard.
Now he was free to take vengeance on the one who was really responsible. Every day he devised new tortures for Sasha and p
rayed that she hadn’t been caught yet. It was her fault, not his. She had been secretly loyal to Novox, and he would make her pay dearly for lying to him. He would spend years torturing her. He had invented new tortures for just that purpose. That was what had kept him sane.
Buris climbed unsteadily to his feet as the door opened outward with a metallic screech that hurt his ears. Standing outside—illuminated by a glow-cube sitting on her left palm—was someone he recognized. And unless there had been major changes, she wasn’t here to set him free.
Natalia stepped forward, wrinkled her nose in disgust, and then smiled in a manner that caused Buris to stagger backward until he was pressed against the damp stone wall. “That little trap you left behind blew me to pieces,” she said in an even tone. “Unfortunately for you, I’m back.” She drew a knife with her right hand and began to slowly move it back and forth. “I’m going to carve you into even more pieces. I’m going to put every bit of you down that hole in the corner.”
Buris felt his bladder let go as he glanced at the hole she had referred to. It was barely six inches across. He was raising his hands to beg for mercy when another figure he recognized moved into view outside the door of his cell.
“I don’t think we have time for that, Natalia,” she said in a sexy voice that he had never forgotten, even though he had only spoken to her once. She was the sexiest woman that he had ever encountered.
“I work fast,” Natalia told her. “The jailer confirmed that we have over five hours until the next check. You said he was handsome. Go finish him off. Take your time. Enjoy yourself.”
“Okay. Have fun, Natalia.”
Buris watched speechless as Natalia set the glow-cube down on the floor to her right, next to the wall. Natalia drew her other knife and smiled. “Ermizad sends her regards. And Sasha too. Now let’s get started.”