25 Impossible Tales of Survivors, Flawed Heroes, and Annoyed Villains by Tyrean Martinson

Author:Tyrean Martinson [Tyrean Martinson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wings of Light Publishing
Published: 2023-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

HOTHOUSE

The cloying scent of flowers rose around him as Captain Wrath entered the Empress Cora’s hothouse. He let the door swing shut behind him, but missed the cool, evening air as the misty dampness soaked into his hair, causing it to curl and run ragged down the sides of his face. He grinned. Maybe bad hair would make him less palatable to the Empress’s tastes.

Carefully avoiding vines and hanging flowers, Captain Wrath walked towards the back of the glass-enclosed structure, noting that with the fogged up windows he could only see the vague shapes of people enjoying the party outside on the lawn. This worked for his advantage. If he couldn’t see out, then they couldn’t see in either. No one would know why he had entered the hothouse, if they had seen him enter.

Avoiding a particularly unkempt floral arrangement, Captain Wrath circled a huge fountain that spouted water from the mouths of dragons entwined in combat, which rained down on lily pads and fish. As he reached the other side, a small figure crawled out from under an ornamental metal table.

Dressed in dark clothes befitting a night raid, Tenzi stood upright to her full dwarfish height, and shook her finger at him. “It took you long enough.”

Captain Wrath pulled at his formal collar, resting his fingers near a lipstick stain. “The Empress had her claws in me, and I was pressed to get away.”

Tenzi grunted in an unladylike manner. “You’re too pretty for our kind of business.”

“You think so?” Captain teased her.

Tenzi shook her head. “You don’t have enough meat on your bones. My Rolf is the right kind of man: stout shoulders, strong hips, and . . .”

“Spare me the details, Tenzi.”

She laughed. “You asked, Captain. Now, let’s get to our business. Did you get the stones?”

“Of course.” He pulled out the heavy necklace and earrings from his pocket. Then, he pulled out a huge ruby pendant from his other pocket.

Tenxi took them both, admiring them. Then, she smiled widely. “Maybe you’re just the right kind of pretty for our job after all.”

Captain Wrath shrugged. “I would really rather be the one in the shadows.”

“You have the costume, the fake identity, and the smolder. You don’t get the shadows.”

“I know. But, now, did you get the rest?”

She nodded, her expression slightly grim. “They’re safe and sound. Don’t worry. Those catacombs weren’t meant to keep people out.”

“What about the ones in the guest rooms for the party tonight?”

“The Empress is that bold?” Telli had pocketed the jewels and had taken out two vials from her side pocket.

“She is, and I can’t leave them there.”

Tenzi held out the vials. “I thought you’d say that. Give the Empress the blue via, and disperse the green one in the punch bowl. Meet our team on the roof in twenty.”

He took the vials into his hands, carefully stashing them into a special holder at his waist. “That’s hardly enough time to get them all.”

“You’ll figure it out, and I might have someone coming to reinforce you.

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