Tiger reached the edge of the jungle, where the scrublands that lay in the shade of the Southern Line ended and a barrier of tall verdant trees began. Up until now, he hadn’t encountered any resistance, but this place was made of deep shadows that even the giant could hide in, its air buzzed, whistled, and howled in a cacophony that was more than enough to hide the wraith’s soft footsteps, and it’s pungent mixture of rotting wood, flowers, and animal leavings worried Tiger that his nose would be useless here. His heart pounding, Tiger waited, listening, sniffing, watching, but he could find nothing. Cursing under his breath, he searched the edge of the jungle and finally found a set of deep footprints leading deeper in. This was going to be his only clue. He followed it into the jungle.
The armor.
Tiger stopped and glanced down at the golden armor. The thief had liked how showy it was, but its shine would draw too much attention. He’d have to leave it behind. After shirking the armor and hiding it under a pile of leaves, he adjusted the blue scarf around his neck and proceeded.
The northern edge of the Vanurian jungle was thick with trees, bushes, and a riot of greens, oranges, and blues that covered the visible signs of Liraya’s flight, but Tiger persisted, pushing aside leaves and sniffing broken branches to keep on the Vanurian mage’s trail. His concerns that the various smells of the jungle would render his nose completely unusable turned out to be unfounded as the scent of Liraya’s magic cut through even the most fragrant flower, the most malodorous of shit. Following the scent and the occasional visible signs of Liraya’s flight led Tiger to the edge of a clearing. Something thunked, and Tiger dove into a bush covered in orange flute shaped flowers. When the thunks continued unabated, he let out a breath and crept to the edge of the clearing, keeping his head low and his hand on his sword.
Here the trees had been cleared for several wir, and a massive contraption had been placed in the center. It was squat with a long arm tied between a bunch of strange black ropes, and all around it were the same pods that had rained on Walton two nights earlier. Dozens of Hounds milled around it like lost ants, most staring blankly into the trees and sky as if leaves and clouds were the most fascinating thing in the world. Tiger scanned the clearing, looking for Liraya but shrank back with his hands stifling a gasp. Another giant not alive lurked at the far edge of the clearing, its armor gleaming in the sun.
Not fair!
A crossbow twice Huan’s size lay across the giant’s lap. It was loaded with a bolt that could impale a half dozen men at once and keep going for the seventh. To take it down, Tiger would have to dodge the first shot, get in close, and stab it through the chinks in its armor. Fortunately, it wasn’t his prey. Tiger searched the ground nearby and picked up Liraya’s trail, which led to a footpath that had been cut into the undergrowth. After sliding around the clearing and staying out of sight of the new giant, he snuck up the path and found another much smaller clearing, and he ducked behind a tree, his teeth bared.
In the center of this clearing was a ragged mottled green tent covered in leaves and dirt, and standing to either side of its entrance were Amiam and Zeya. Both not alives stood stock still, feet wide, arms loose at their sides, eyes on a bound and gagged Lord Kalan who lay in front of an old campfire. Tiger licked his lips. If these two were here, then Liraya was alone. He could-
The witch stepped out of the tent with a small pink and white bird on her wrist. She rubbed its neck and it cooed.
Lord Kalan coughed and gained his enemies’ attention. Amiam’s hands curled into fists, and Zeya raised a knife.
Liraya stepped around them, drew her own knife, and pressed it against Lord Kalan’s throat. “Cast and you’re dead. Nod if you understand.”
Lord Kalan nodded.
Tiger’s lips curled. Weakling.
Liraya removed Lord Kalan’s gag. “I have a few questions to ask you.”
Kalan’s lips pursed, but he said nothing.
“First, who is that red-haired child who keeps anticipating me? The one who took my little Vengehna away?” She pulled a vial filled with blue liquid out of her pocket. “You are a well known combat mage, but these potions are new. Who is she?”
Lord Kalan chuckled. “She’s my niece.”
Liraya went rigid. “She’s Lord Gaius Gallus’s daughter?”
Lord Kalan smiled. “Worse, she’s the daughter of the Water Sage. Aren’t you lucky she survived?”
Liraya pressed her blade against Lord Kalan’s throat again. “I have the Guardian of the Wall. That’s a far greater prize.”
Lord Kalan shrugged. “In the short term, perhaps.”
Liraya snorted, then slid the vial back into her pocket. “What about the Wesen boy? How did you convince the Ri to allow a prince out of their clutches?”
Tiger bit back a gasp. Prince?
Lord Kalan winced. “He’s not royalty. I just bought him to do my chores and transcribe my notes. I have terrible handwriting- ah!”
Liraya’s knife drew blood. “No jokes. He has the Ri within him. I saw him cast a fireball. So, Guardian, where did you get a Ri royal?”
Lord Kalan stayed quiet.
Liraya relaxed a fraction. “You call him Dwayne. That’s not a Wesen name, so I’m guessing he chose it for himself, and if he didn’t know his true name when he was enslaved…” A grin wound its way onto her face. “Ah. Luckily, that doesn’t have anything to do with me. My mission is complete.” She stood up, sheathed her knife, and pulled a piece of paper out of the pile of scarves she wore for clothing. After rolling the paper up, she slid it into a tiny pouch on the bird’s leg and then tossed the bird into the sky.
When she didn’t ask any more questions, Tiger’s hand curled into claws. Wait what about me? I found you. Twice!
Lord Kalan watched the bird fly away. “That’s a slow form of communication. Don’t you have faster ways to send messages? Better yet, faster ways of traveling?”
Liraya pulled the vial out of her pocket, her lips curling. “You know too much.” She smashed the vial at Lord Kalan’s feet, and blue smoke wafted up from the remains. Lord Kalan tried to hold his breath, but Liraya kicked him in the stomach, forcing him to gasp with pain. Soon, he was slumped on the ground, unconscious.
Liraya snapped her fingers. “Zeya, diluurle eh ma buantu.”
While Zeya dragged Lord Kalan into the tent by his arms, Liraya faced in the direction of the other clearing, placed her hands together, and closed her eyes. “Fo Ri’u’ab’yui vuskerr i giesdruy.”
Green light pulsed from her palms, filling Tiger with a ravenous hunger. His focus wavered for a moment, and he took two steps back towards the large clearing before he could force himself to stop. What was that?
Low groans raised the hairs on the back of his neck. Spooked, Tiger scrambled up the nearest tree and got into the canopy just in time for a trio of Hounds to push through the undergrowth right where he’d been standing. Leaning forward, Tiger licked his lips and readied himself to attack..
Wait. Where is she?
Tiger glanced back at the clearing and cursed. The witch had slipped back into the tent, leaving Amiam and Zeya on guard. Worse, the giant was slipping on armor just like its counterpart in the other clearing. As Tiger watched, his stomach curling in on itself, the giant not alive finished donning its armor then crouched down in the undergrowth and covered itself with dirt and moss. When Zeya resumed her place next to the tent, Tiger scowled and adjusted his seat in the tree. He’d have to wait for an opportunity to attack.
New Book 1 Cover in the works!
I’m working with Strijk-design to come up with a new book cover for How To Make A Wand: Dragon Scale Required . I’ll have a final-ish version soon. I plan to have ebook and physical versions of all the current books available soon.
That means I’ll have to do yet another edit on all of them (-_-).
I’m also working on “pre-production” for Book 4, mostly building out the next location, which is definitely more complicated than Walton in Book 3. I’m hoping to get the outline done by the end of the year.
Chapter 16: Ri’iki’oora, gather heat
Still sodden and exhausted from climbing out of the moat, Dwayne had hoped that by the time he, Mei, and Saundra had arrived at the gate, he’d find Magdala standing triumphant with Liraya tied up and Lord Kalan safe, but instead the nQe mage was lying face down on the ground. He stopped, his heart caught in his throat. Lord Kalan was nowhere to be seen.
Saundra pushed past him and rushed to Magdala’s side. “Milady!” Kneeling down, she placed two fingers under Magdala’s chin.
Dwayne dragged himself forward and fell to his knees.
“Is she alive?”
Both Dwayne and Saundra started and looked up at Mei, who stood over them, her face still. Dwayne tried to say something, but nothing came out.
Saundra kept her fingers on Magdala’s neck for a little longer, then let out a long breath. “Yes, by the cups, yes.”
Feeling rushed back into Dwayne’s fingers and his voice unlocked. “Where’s Lord Kalan?”
Mei glanced around, her shoulders still tense. “Huan?”
Saundra looked between the two of them, her eyes widening. “Does… does that mean?”
Magdala coughed, and Dwayne focused on her, watching her pull in a deep breath. Her eyes blinked open and caught on Dwayne’s, asking him a question. Dwayne’s jaw clenched and he shook his head.
Magdala groaned. “I failed. She took him.”
Mei sat down next to Magdala. “Huan?”
Magdala sat up and looked around. “I- I don’t know.”
His mouth dry, Dwayne stood up and searched the area. Two huge stone blocks lay in front of the Gate, definitely the results of Lord Kalan’s magic, and to his left, the gatehouse lay in ruins, pieces of it strewn all over the threshold. The looming Gate was closed, ensuring Liraya’s escape. Dwayne placed his hand on the stone portal and tried to imagine how much energy, how much magic, it would take to destroy it and pursue her.
Hoofbeats heralded the arrival of Sir Marcus, Nathan, and his squad, who had been cleansing the garrison of Hounds. Colonel Harvey was with them, her eyes surveying the damage.
She brought her horse up to Magdala and dismounted. “What are you doing here?”
Mei stepped between Magdala and Harvey, her hand on her axe, but the colonel didn’t waver.
After a couple of false starts, Magdala got to her feet and faced Colonel Harvey, her cheeks red. “I thought I could help, but I made it worse.” She told them about Liraya’s attack. When she was done, she turned to Mei. “I’m so sorry. I… I think Huan went through the Gate. He had the… he had it on and it…”
Mei didn’t look at Magdala, her hand tightening on her axe. “We have to go after them.”
Colonel Harvey’s eyes narrowed. “There is no ‘we’. Once we get that gate open, all three of you will stay in Walcrest.”
Dwayne gasped. “We have to-“
Colonel Harvey’s glare cut him off. “No, you don’t. Sir Marcus?”
The knight dismounted and saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Get this Gate open then pursue and retrieve Lord Kalan.”
Sir Marcus’s hand didn’t drop. “Ma’am, I suggest we dismiss the men to clean up this mess first.”
Dwayne blinked and queried Magdala with a look. She shrugged.
Colonel Harvey’s glare targeted the knight. “Why?”
Sir Marcus stayed at attention. “Because I’d like to discuss strategy and tactics, ma’am, and they are better off getting this place ready.”
“Fine. Rutters, lead the clean up, Magdala, Dwayne, Mei, off to-“
“I’d like to pick their brains, ma’am, before they go.” Sir Marcus maintained an honest, open expression.
Colonel Harvey watched him standing at attention then let out a slow breath. “Very well. Get it done, Rutters.”
Nathan saluted and directed the soldiers to dismount and follow him, leaving the horses with Sir Marcus.
As soon as the rank and file were out of earshot, Colonel Harvey rounded on Sir Marcus. “What by the cups was that?”
Sir Marcus finally let his hand drop. “Ma’am, may I speak freely?”
The colonel’s lips curled. “Fine.”
Sir Marcus gestured to Magdala. “We can’t get the Gate open without a Qe mage and without Mei, we can’t catch up. With these two and Corporal Taylor here, our chances to save Lord Kalan improve considerably.”
Magdala’s head came up. “But… I failed.”
Saundra patted Magdala on the back. “Not yet, milady. There’s still time to save your uncle.”
“And Huan.” Mei’s eyes were glistening as she turned to Magdala.
Dwayne drew back from the display of solidarity, discomfited. Over the past few days, it was clear that Magdala had grown close with Saundra and Mei. Keeping his voice even, he said, “You should go and finish this.” Magdala’s eyes met his, but he looked away. “It’s our best chance.”
“This is not a good idea,” said Colonel Harvey.
“If we fail, then it won’t matter,” said Sir Marcus. “We’ll have a war on our hands.”
The colonel rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Those things are still running around the city. I can only spare what you see here.”
Sir Marcus nodded. “That’s fine. Rutters should stay.” He raised his hand to forestall Colonel Harvey’s question. “He should be here coordinating clean up.”
“Fine.” Colonel Harvey pointed at the Gate with her thumb. “Now open it.”
Magdala nodded and walked towards the Gate.
Confused, Dwayne followed. “What are you going to do?”
“Open the Gate.” Magdala lowered her voice. “Can you help? This isn’t my speciality.”
Dwayne grimaced. “Unfortunately, no. We weren’t able to find anything that lifted rocks.”
Magdala smiled. “Well, at least you can clean out a stable.”
“That’s nothing compared to making something powerful enough to destroy that.” Dwayne waved at the remains of the gatehouse. When Magdala’s face fell, his heart tightened. “Sorry, I-“
“It’s fine. Let’s just get this done. Stay here.”
When Dwayne stopped in his tracks, Magdala turned to him, her eyebrows drawn together. “No, I meant…” Her hands tried to form words, “I meant stay here at the garrison. We may need backup.”
Dwayne gave her a sideways grin. “Is that an order? Because I’m pretty sure that I’m the same rank as you.”
Magdala grinned. “And don’t forget that.” The grin disappeared. “I know that you don’t think you’re one of us because you used to be a slave and because you’re Wesen. But I think you being one of us will make us better.” She looked away, her ears red.
Dwayne’s face grew hot, and he coughed. “Well then, my lady, I’ll send backup when I can. Good luck.”
“Thank you.”
Magdala left him standing a couple wir from the gate.
Sir Marcus led twelve riders and eleven horses up to her. “You know how to ride?”
Magdala snorted. “You’ve seen my family crest, right?”
Sir Marcus chuckled. “Just making sure.”
Magdala placed her hand on the Gate. “Go through as soon as it’s open. I won’t be able to hold it long.”
“Dwayne, are you coming?” Mei was riding behind Saundra.
Taking a deep breath, Dwayne managed a smile. “No, I’m staying here. I’ll send help when I can.”
Mei’s eyes slid away.
Dwayne patted her knee. “You’ll find him.”
Mei allowed herself a small smile. “I have to.”
“Qeuiyit!“
The Gate shuddered and rose. When it was high enough, Magdala walked through it, keeping her hand on it, and waved the others through. Sir Marcus whistled, and he led the mounted soldiers through the Gate. After everyone was through, Magdala pulled her hand from the Gate, and it dropped with a bone shaking thud.
“I suggest you return to Walcrest.” Colonel Harvey had gotten back on her horse. “You-“
A blast of wind and dust cut off her words and forced Dwayne to cover his eyes. When the wind had finally died down, he uncovered his eyes and blinked. A young woman dressed in sky blue leather had joined them. Jumping back from her, Dwayne slid his hand into his pocket and grabbed a vial. “Who are-“
Colonel Harvey cut him off. “Where are Koenig and Jaeger?”
The young woman saluted. “Lord Gallus wanted his message to arrive quickly. Where is Lord Kalan? I have orders to give him this information as well.”
Colonel Harvey’s hands tightened on her reins. “He’s been captured.”
Dwayne stepped forward. “I’m his heir. I can hear it in his stead.”
The messenger rolled her eyes. “I do not have time for jokes.”
“Nor do we, Lieutenant,” said Colonel Harvey. “What is your message?”
The messenger straightened up. “Lord and Lady Gallus will be arriving in a couple of hours.”
Both Dwayne and Colonel Harvey froze.
“Lady Gallus is coming?” asked Colonel Harvey.
“In a couple of hours?” asked Dwayne at the same time.
The colonel glared at Dwayne. “You knew that the Water Sage was on her way?”
Dwayne’s fist tightened. “Yes, I did. I assumed you knew too. You acted like you did during our meetings.”
The colonel’s jaw flexed for a moment, but she turned to the messenger. “Is that all?”
“No, ma’am. Lord Gallus requests a report on the current situation. I’ll carry it back to him.”
Colonel Harvey’s hand came up to her forehead, but she quickly covered her mouth and coughed. “Report this to him: Lord Bartholomew Kalan has been abducted by the enemy. I have dispatched a small squad led by Sir Marcus Houghton of Pollum and young Lady Gallus across the Southern Line to retrieve him.”
The messenger’s eyebrows lifted at the report, but all she said was “Yes, ma’am!”, and then she saluted, spoke a word, and rocketed into the sky on a gust of wind.
When the messenger was gone, Colonel Harvey closed her eyes and muttered something under her breath.
Dwayne coughed. “What do you plan to do with the Vanurians?”
Colonel Harvey jutted out her chin. “They’ll be returned to their homes and placed under house arrest.”
Dwayne’s blood chilled. They’d be within arm’s reach of the same people who had hurled fruit, insults, and threats at them hours before. The fear on the Vanurians’ faces was burned into his mind, the same fear he’d seen on a ship not so long ago. “No, take them to Walcrest instead.”
The colonel gaped at him. “Excuse me, are you suggesting letting damn heretics into one of Soura’s most holy sites?”
“I’m not suggesting it.” Dwayne drew himself up and Na’cch vibrated in its harness on his back. “I want to help resolve this situation in a way that doesn’t result in hundreds dead, and I want to face Lord Gallus knowing that I did all I could. If you don’t help me, I’ll do it myself.”
Colonel Harvey leaned down from her horse. “Lord Gallus would not approve. Neither would Lord Kalan.”
Dwayne stood his ground. “When Magdala gets him back, then he can override me, but if I understand what it means to be an heir, then I am responsible for Walcrest, not you and not Lord Gallus.” He resisted the urge to check what the hell Na’cch was doing.
Colonel Harvey held her glare on Dwayne, and then the outrage leaked from her eyes. “You are going to have interesting days ahead of you.” She straightened up in her saddle. “I’ll comply with your… request because Walcrest has its own walls and its own guards, and if the Vanurians want to riot, they’ll have to fight their way through my garrison. I won’t have to guard the entirety of the Jungle that way.”
Dwayne nodded, hearing Harvey’s careful rephrasing. “Glad we’re in agreement.”
“Good.” Colonel Harvey pulled her horse around and galloped back into the garrison.
When she was out of sight, Dwayne pulled Na’cch out of its harness, and when it’s ice cold cover bit at his fingers, he dropped it. The tome hit the ground and whispered a single word. “Ri’iki’oora.“
Next: Chapter 17: Fopecikuiut, Pursue
Chapter 15: Qekutunutem, rock slide
The next morning Magdala laid out why the Vanurian deportation should be delayed to her lord uncle, who listened while eating breakfast. When she finished, he swallowed and said, “I agree with Colonel Harvey.”
Magdala’s mouth fell open. “What?”
Lord Kalan’s trembling fork cut into a sausage. “All of this has been a distraction from your studies. When your mother sent you to me, she expected you to be studying magic, not fighting foreign insurgents. As I have now recovered from the poisoning, your contribution to the defense of the gate would be… minimal.”
Magdala’s hands clenched her blue skirt. “Dwayne, do you agree?”
On the other side of the table, the Wesen mage stared at his full plate, searching for an answer. “I’ve seen your study plan.” His eyes refused to meet Magdala’s. “If you want to get through even a tenth of that before your mother-“
“One more day won’t help.” Magdala rose to her feet, her hand on her aching stomach. “And if you die, Lord Uncle, then why would any of it matter?”
Finally, Dwayne’s eyes rose, meeting Magdala’s. “I agree.”
Those two words melted Magdala’s frustration and her stomach pains faded.
Her lord uncle cut in. “Both of you are to deal with your assigned duties. While I’m impressed with what you’ve done so far, you-“
“The enemy is up to something.” Magdala faced her lord uncle. “Where are they placing you? On the bridge?”
Lord Kalan’s eyes narrowed. “Listen, you-“
“He’ll be in front of the Gate.” Dwayne pulled a letter out from under the table and slid it over to Magdala.
“Where did you get that?” asked Lord Kalan.
Dwayne started to eat. “Colonel Harvey sent it last night, and all of your correspondence still comes through me.”
“Now that is above your-“
“So a squad will be placed in front of the Gate along with Lord Kalan’s ‘foreign male bodyguard’,” said Magdala, putting the letter down on the table. “Huan, maybe? Meanwhile Saundra and Mei will conduct inspections on the drawbridge under the personal command of Colonel Harvey, and she requests Dwayne’s help in order to expedite the process.”
Lord Kalan put his silverware down. “The answer is no.”
Dwayne swallowed his food. “She’s betting that I know what to look for.”
Magdala raised an eyebrow. “Do you?”
Dwayne nodded, his hand tightening on his fork.
Magdala reread the letter. “How are the Vanurians getting to the gate?”
“This is not your concern!”
Dwayne ignored his master. “For some reason, Elder Giordano is providing carts, wagons, and drivers. I got a note about that last night. It mentioned something about a ‘good received.'”
Lord Kalan stood up. “You will not be on that drawbridge, Dwayne, and you, Magdala, will be here studying!”
They watched Lord Kalan as he struggled to stay upright, Dwayne’s face creased with the same worry twisting in Magdala’s stomach.
Letting out a breath, Dwayne turned to Magdala. “What about Sir Marcus?”
“He’ll be on the drawbridge.” Magdala put the letter down. “I think this plan will work, Lord Uncle. It’s daytime, and throwing those things over the wall won’t work if we’re expecting it. I just want to help.”
Lord Kalan eased himself back into his seat, covering his winces with his hand. “I’ve ordered my guards to escort you to your room and lock you in.”
Heat flushed through Magdala. “That’s an insult.”
“It’s necessary.” Her lord uncle leaned in. “I cannot afford for anything to happen to the daughter of Iona and Gaius Gallus. Not at this time. Not ever.” He stood up, bracing himself against the back of a chair. “I’m heading down to the gate.”
Dwayne got to his feet. “I’m coming too.”
Lord Kalan shook his head, but Dwayne drew himself up straight and said, “It’s my duty to help the garrision. You want me to take over for you right?”
Lord Kalan’s hand came to his mouth. “Yes, I… Very well. Let’s go.”
“Go ahead, sir. I’ll catch up. I just want to give Magdala some… tips on studying before we go.”
Lord Kalan raised an eyebrow. “Ah, really? Well, do not take long.”
When the door closed behind her lord uncle, Magdala snorted. “Again, I know how to study.”
Dwayne smiled. “I know.” His smile disappeared. “I think you’re Walton’s best chance of survival.”
Magdala’s head jerked back. “Sorry?”
“We’ve been lucky. Lucky that Galkin knew the antidote for nish root poisoning, lucky that you were in the garrison when the enemy attacked, lucky that Huan was able to flush her out of her hiding place, but it’s hard to imagine that someone as smart as the enemy wouldn’t be able to take advantage of this deportation.” Dwayne walked around the table and leaned in close, the scent of wood smoke filling Magdala’s nose. “I left the study unlocked,” he whispered in her ear. “There are texts there that you can use. Don’t take them out of there. The Li-… just… don’t try.” He stood up straight and headed for the door.
Magdala shook off her shock. “Wait! What are you-“
Dwayne opened the door. “Galkin?”
The steward materialized in front of Dwayne. “Ready, my lord?”
“In a moment.” Dwayne cleared his throat. “Has Lord Kalan given you any specific instructions regarding Lady Gallus?”
The steward’s eyes flickered to Magdala. “No, he has not.”
“Then I will. Assist her to the best of your abilities.”
Galkin bowed. “Of course, my lord.”
Magdala’s heart raced. What was Dwayne doing?
Dwayne lowered his voice. “Lord Kalan has ordered the guards to keep Lady Gallus here.”
Galkin gave a slight nod. “That will not be a problem.”
“Good. And thank you.” Dwayne disappeared down the corridor.
Magdala stood and stretched. “Well, I guess I’m going to the study.”
The steward didn’t respond.
“Galkin?”
The steward turned to her, a smile already on his face. “May I suggest a change of clothes first, my lady?”
Magdala glanced down at her pale blue blouse and floor length navy skirt. If Dwayne was implying what she thought he was, then this outfit wouldn’t do. “Of course. My room first. Then the study.”
Chapter 14: Xa-ching-ya-che-un, Frog’s tongue
After dropping a full stein of piss yellow beer in front of Huan, the bartender walked away without a word, his shoulders high and his eyes narrowed. Like his patrons, the bartender didn’t approve of Huan’s presence in his bar, but Huan just rolled up his sleeves and let the room see that he was ready for a fight. That would work until the alcohol did its work, and Huan planned to be gone before then. Without further pause, He downed the beer in one gulp. That turned out to be a good decision since if he’d sipped the beer, he would have spat it out, the bartender would have thrown him out, and Tiger would have ripped out the man’s throat.
Disaster averted, he placed a count on the bar. “Three more.”
The bartender glanced at the coin. “That’s only enough for two,” he said, reaching for the money. A soft growl stopped him.
Painting on a stiff smile, Huan shoved Tiger back into his corner and said, “Three. I know your prices, and I ain’t haggling.”
The bartender raised his chin. “Three and then you’re gone, foreigner.” He refilled Huan’s stein, plonked down two more, and walked to the other end of the bar to other, better patrons.
Huan drank his second beer slowly, dragging out the miserable experience long enough to resemble the predicament he was in. Since arriving in Walton, he’d had his passport stolen, nearly been gutted by the thing that had taken it, and then had the passport returned to him while the opportunity of a lifetime vanished into smoke. He glared into the bottom of the stein.
If only Mei hadn’t been there. A future as Lord Kalan’s babysitter was galling, and his sister had… No, not now. He downed the second beer and started on the third.
If he didn’t need Lord Kalan’s sponsorship, he could have just traveled around Soura, doing what he pleased, where he pleased. Instead of going to that damned dead city in the middle of nowhere, he would have stayed in Anders for a time, made a little money, and then moved on to Soura’s capital city with its rich merchants and dumb nobles to make even more money. The ShengXiao guard wouldn’t have caught up to him, and he wouldn’t have a sword hanging over him, waiting to drop. He’d be free.
By now, Huan’s tongue was numb to the flavor of the beer making it easy for him to finish it in one swig.
What about Mei? Of course, his sister would be better off too. She’d still be hunting outside of Anders and hanging out with the rough and tumble folk who made a living that way. They’d be better friends than Magdala and Dwayne, who would never understand Huan or Mei. Huan pulled the fourth beer towards him, chuckling. Yes, she’d betrayed him, but she was his sister, and he wouldn’t leave family behind.
Still, it wasn’t my fault that Liraya got away.
With one shot, Mei had forced the witch to retreat before Liraya had over-committed to the fight. As long as Huan and Tiger had been fighting the giant, Liraya had a choice of either retreating and letting all her work go to waste or committing and possibly getting it all. But Mei’s rifle changed all that.
Huan downed his last beer. What now?
He could return to the garrison and receive his punishment for disobeying orders, or he could find Liraya and force her to give him that damn title. With that in hand, he could saunter over to the other side of the Southern Line and live like a king. The choice was obvious. Pushing away the empty steins, Huan slid off his stool and left the bar.
Admaeus Speaks 