“I smell your doubt,” Krissaw said. “But I understand. The idea that death is the end drives us to do many things. To make choices we will regret, in a rush to get our hands on everything we can before we go. But what in your heart would change if you knew this wasn’t the only chance you had?”
“I don’t think anything would change,” Elias said.
“You would care less about yourself and more about what you do for society,” Krissaw continued. He slithered away from the dinner table and moved towards a decanter of brandy. “Humans live like they have one go, and so they grab everything for themselves and leave nothing for each other. Serpentines live communally. I will live many times over, so I can be patient. I make the best for those around me, and we prosper.”
“But how can you be sure that you’ll actually come back? How do you know it’s not some delusion?” Elias asked.
“If delusion builds a community as tightly knit and healthy as my homelands, then I would not want to snap out of it,” Krissaw said.
“Thank you for sharing your views with me,” Elias said, hoping to end this strange conversation. This was not the direction he had been wanting to take. “I will reflect on them.”
“No, you won’t,” Krissaw replied. He grabbed the decanter, untwisted the top and then proceeded to drink the entire bottle within seconds. “But that’s fine. I’m not here to convert you. Just to tell you that your friends will come back again, if they wish to. You sacrificed them for the greater good. That was their duty and purpose. Their souls will be stronger for the contributions they made.”
“What if they were unwilling?”
“When we see the whole of it, as our souls as pushed through the fine mesh, we become willing,” Krissaw replied. He placed the decanter back down and slithered to his food. “No doubt they are seeing the wisdom of your actions and are thankful to you.”
“That… seems like an easy way to justify any behavior,” Elias said. “But…yeah, I suppose if they were truly good people, then they would have to agree with me.”
Krissaw said nothing but dug back into his meat. A servant girl came by with another plate and he eagerly took it from her. Elias felt his stomach rumble a little. He poked at the meat with his own fork and took a deep breath. There was no reason to let a good meal go to waste.
Chapter 34:
“Lady Mira?” the attendant asked, entering the small waiting room where she had been sitting. Two young men, who were wearing full plate mail armor and were sitting across from her on benches, eagerly leaned forward as the door opened. They leaned back once the attendant announced Mira’s name.
Mira stood to her feet and followed after the guide.
“Good luck!” one of the young men yelled after her. Those boys were most likely applicants to join this exclusive guild, but Mira was not here to apply. Rather, she was in need of extra security for her people. During her prayers, she had received a notion that perhaps Markov and Elias could not be trusted. Whether the notion was given divinely or just her gut instincts, Mira knew that she owed her crew the ability to operate safely. The Sworn Blades would be able to provide that protection, at least, so she hoped.
The attendant led her into a brightly lit office, where an elderly man was waiting for her. He stood and shook her hand.
“Lady Mira! My name is Minser the Scribe,” he said as he gestured for her to sit in the chair across from his desk. “I’m the one responsible for writing contracts.”
“A pleasure, Minser,” Mira said, sitting and crossing her legs. She folded her hands tightly and kept her body neutral. She had no intention of betraying how desperate she was for their protection. The Sworn Blades were the best mercenaries in the city, but they were also the most expensive. With their aid, she would be able to resume running her business without the fear of more of her people turning up dead. The only complication was that she didn’t quite have the funds to pay their exorbitant rates.
Her operation wasn’t turning a profit yet and the orders were few and far in-between. Elias was kept in the dark about this plan of hers, and so she would have to pay with her remaining funds, which were low.
“So, the secretary said you were inquiring about a security contract?” Minser asked as he adjusted a few papers on his desk.
“Yes, sir,” Mira replied. “I run a small business and have recently lost a few employees to some nameless killers.”
Minser nodded at that and began to dig through his desk’s drawers. “Ah yes, there are far too many predators in this city, looking to prey upon those who do all the work.” He pulled out several books and began to open them, flipping through different pages in the search for something. “What type of business are you running?”
“I would prefer that you would keep this off the record,” Mira said. “Discretion is of the utmost importance to us.”
Minser paused from his searching and glanced up at her, peering at her over his small spectacles. “Excuse me?”
“I was under the impression that your guild sometimes took uh, unofficial jobs. I would prefer this to be an oral agreement, if possible.”
Minser shook his head. “Ma’am, I’m not sure where you got that idea. The Sworn Blades are a legally incorporated organization. We’re audited by the city all the same and we’re legally obligated to work as law enforcement, should we come across any unsavory activity. If you’re up to something shady, we’re certainly not the group for you.”
Mira crossed her arms. “Oh please, I cannot tell you the amount of times I’ve had your men in my hospital, bleeding to death and begging me not to answer any questions should the city watch show up.”
Minser cleared his throat nervously and began to close his books. “Sorry, ma’am, but I can’t help you.”
“Then I want to talk to someone who can. Please send for a Mr. Thannik. He should be able to vouch for me.”
Minser laughed at that. “You want to talk to Thannik?”
“Yes, I treated him not two years ago and he said if I ever needed help, to give him a call. He’ll be able to tell you that I can be trusted.”
Minser took a sharp breath. “Lady Mira, if I go call Thannik and he comes in here, he will be quite angry at you for wasting his time. I would prefer that you leave this building unscathed.”
“I’m not leaving until you at least check with him,” Mira said. She leaned back in her chair and defiantly kicked her feet up on the table. “I’ll just wait here.”
Minser shrugged. “Fine. I’ll play along. But I’m warning you, he is prone to anger.”
With that, Minser left, leaving the door wide open. Another guard quickly walked into the room and stood at the side, motionless. Mira took her feet off the desk and smoothed her frock. Thannik must be high ranking to get that kind of disagreement from Minser. Perhaps he was a lieutenant. Having a lieutenant vouch for her would be most fortuitous.
After half an hour of waiting, Minser and Thannik entered, dismissing the guard. Thannik was a tall, burly man, who now sported a thick, red beard. “Lady Mira?” Thannik asked once she turned to face him.
“Mr. Thannik!” Mira said, standing and bowing to him. “It’s good to see you again.”
“I can’t believe it, I had thought Minser was mistaken,” Thannik said, grabbing the woman and hugging her tightly. Mira hugged him back, smirking devilishly at a flabbergasted Minser.
“You seriously know her?” Minser asked. Thannik released Mira and walked over to the desk, sitting on the corner of it.
“Of course! She tended to me when I took that pike to the chest. Remember? The house healer said it would be impossible to remove the pike without tearing out all my organs. This miracle worker was able to remove it while keeping the rest of my innards in place!” Thannik said. “I owe you quite a bit. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I just need you to confirm to Mr. Minser here that I can be trusted. He seems to think that I might be up to something.”
“Can’t fault a man for doin
g his job,” Thannik said. “I’ll handle this from here, go get some lunch, Minser.”
“Sure thing, boss,” Misner said, quickly leaving the room. He shut the door, leaving the two alone.
“Boss?” Mira repeated.
“Yes, ma’am. I run this guild,” Thannik said. “Of course, I don’t share details like that when going to hospitals. That extra pressure usually doesn’t help the physician attending me.”
Mira laughed a little at that. This day had taken a delightful turn.
“So, what can we do for you? You need a contract?” Thannik asked. Mira nodded and took a seat on the small red sofa sitting against the wall.
“Yes, but I require discretion.”
“Minser said as much. May I ask why?”
“I suppose I can trust you with this information,” Mira said. “Provided you won’t share it with anyone.”
“On my honor as a Sworn Blade, our conversation will remain between the two of us,” Thannik replied. He stood and began to rummage through Minser’s desk. “Does he have any booze in here?” he wondered aloud.
Mira continued. “Well, I’m currently working with a supplier who is selling us, well, less than legal artifacts.”
“Those crystals?” Thannik asked as he opened a final drawer. A frown came over his face. “No alcohol. What a scrub.” He sank into Minser’s chair and propped his feet up, knocking a few papers onto the floor. “So, you’re moving these crystals and you want us to protect your people?”
“Yes.”
Thannik shrugged at that. “Ma’am, I do apologize but I don’t know if we’re the kind of people you want. I can point you to a few other, sketchier guilds who take on this kind of work.”
“I don’t want sketchy, I want men and women I can trust,” Mira replied. “I’ve already lost two of my allies, and I don’t want to see anyone else killed.”
“I see. Look, our official policy with this Cimirite is that no one in the Sworn Blades is allowed to be in possession of any crystals. My officers look the other way when it comes to healing spells, but otherwise, we operate according to the laws.”
“You’re not breaking any laws by protecting my shops and escorting my people,” Mira said. “Even if you are well aware of the contents.”
Thannik shook his head at that. “According to the Guild charter, we are legally required to aid the law.”
“When deputized by the Captain of the Watch,” Mira said. She reached into her pocket and dug out a few papers. “I had a lawyer look over the documents. Without deputization, your guild has no power of police.”
Thannik leaned over and grabbed the papers. He studied them for a minute. “Interesting. Still, even if we can legally protect you, the reputation cost would be immense should we be caught.”
“I can understand those concerns,” Mira said. “Which is why I want you to work without your regalia. This is strictly under the table work. Done by people that I can trust to protect me, no matter what.”
Thannik snickered a little. “Just what are you up to? A nice hospital worker suddenly selling illegal hardware on the streets?”
Mira smiled at him. “My vows have taken me down a rather strange road. If the Hospital of Saint Jarick is to thrive in these tough times, we need magic.”
Thannik nodded at that. “Indeed. Quite the noble cause. Still, I can’t help but wonder how rich you’re all getting off of this business.”
“It’s not about the money, at least for me,” she said. “But there are cruel men and women out there who only see the money in our coffers. They want what we have, and it falls to me to ensure that our property and our lives are safeguarded.”
“Well said,” Thannik replied. He looked hard at her for a moment, tilting his head slightly. Mira met his gaze and held it. She wasn’t afraid of his scrutiny, rather, she welcomed it. The Sworn Blades were not common thugs, but valiant fighters who often fought for greater causes. If he was a good judge of character, he would agree to the decision.
After a tense period of silence, Thannik finally broke his gaze. “Fine, fine. If you are so desperate for my services, I shall allow my people to guard you. But they will not touch, nor interact, nor have anything to do with the sale of these artifacts. Protection only. Understood? And only in self-defense. Can’t have you sending my men out to shake down other groups.”
“Of course, only for our protection,” Mira said.
“How many warriors do you want?” Thannik asked.
“Twenty swords guarding my stores and my people, forty to muster,” Mira said. “In case of emergencies.”
Thannik took a piece of paper and began to scribble down a few numbers. “Give me a minute, normally Minser handles this stuff…okay. For that, you’d be looking at a monthly fee of 5,000 gold pieces. And since you’re asking for this to be off the books, we’re looking for a year’s services upfront, non-refundable.”
Mira ran the numbers in her head. She dug into her pocket and produced an emerald, the last bit of money she had in this world. “Sir, this gem is worth 30,000 gold. You can bring it to the jeweler and have it appraised. That is the most I’m willing to pay.”
Thannik laughed at that. “So not only do you want our services off the record, you’re only willing to pay half of what we’re asking for. Why should I ever make a deal like this?”
Mira shrugged. “Maybe because you have pity on a poor woman who’s just trying to make her way in this world. Or maybe because you’ll get ten percent kicked back to you from what we make.”
Thannik’s laughter ceased. He leaned forward. “Excuse me?”
“If anyone is to care about an operation, they need to have a personal stake in it. I’m willing to cut you in for a share of my profits, as long as you accept this deal as I’ve offered.”
Thannik was silent for a few minutes. Whether he was running the numbers or contemplating calling for the city watch, Mira was unsure. Either way, she wasn’t worried. Memories of the time she had pulled a pike from a screaming man came rushing back to her as she waited. The fear in his eyes, the promises of a pile of gold should she help him survive. It had been just a normal day to her, but to him, it had been a miracle that he survived.
“I can’t accept a kickback. It’s immoral,” he replied. “I won’t take a personal piece of your money. The fee is non-negotiable. But I would be willing to accept the emerald as the first half of the payment.”
“Why not take the money for yourself?” she asked.
“I’m not a criminal,” Thannik said. “Neither are my men. I’m not going to question where your money comes from, but I sure as hell won’t be taking a copper for myself. As far as I’m concerned, we’re just protecting the nice woman who helped me out at the hospital once.”
Mira let out a sigh of relief. This was the sign of a man who was truly honorable. She smiled at him and stretched out her hand. “Of course.”
Thannik returned the smile and shook her hand vigorously. “Very well, 20 swords and 40 to muster in case of emergencies. Now let’s go find some alcohol to seal the deal.”
Chapter 35:
Erice knew that she was betraying her master, but what choice did she have? Cimir’s intentions were that of a madman, someone consumed with thoughts of only revenge and not of consequences. He had taught her much in the way of magic, but nothing in the ways of morality. Her own moral compass was strong enough to know the difference from self-defense and murder. There was no excuse for creating a ritual meant to kill an entire organization, no matter how wicked they were.
And so, she found herself sitting in Markov’s cramped living quarters, waiting for him to finish preparing their tea. Her reports on the operation had been few and the details had been scant, primarily because she found her loyalties to lie with her master. But now, after having been witness to a madman working day and night to find some way to mass execute a group of hapless individuals, her loyalties quickly shifted back to where they belonged. At least she learned how to use magic o
ut of the deal.
Of course, Cimir could simply revoke the spellcasting abilities from her if he chose to do so. According to his explanation, it would take years of acclimation before her own body would be able to start producing magic on its own. But Erice was not power-hungry. The Sun called for her to live up to her highest ideal, and that ideal was true justice. There was nothing just about murder of this caliber. Only those responsible for the direct murder of the two healers from the Red Triangle should face their demise at the hands of Cimir. No one else deserved to be killed.
“I see from your expression that there are dire things happening,” Markov said as he turned away from the small kitchen. He was carrying a blue ceramic tea pot and two similarly colored cups.
“Afraid so,” Erice replied. “Things are growing out of hand.”
Theft, Murder, and Crystals Page 33