Crown Of The Mad King: The Farshore Chronicles, Book 3 by Justin Fike

Author:Justin Fike [Fike, Justin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

I only lost my way twice as I retraced my steps to the mythic quarter. At least that gave me more time to think things through on the way back.

My meeting with the Ghazi had gone even better than I’d hoped, at least in the short term. I’d started the day with little more than desperation and bad dreams. Now I had a plan, resources, and contacts. Part of me wondered how good of an idea it had really been to set a ruthless criminal organization on the path to cornering the market for magical artifacts, but the idea had been growing in the back of my mind all throughout the long journey to the Shattered City, and it was just about the only thing of value I had left to bargain with. I had more immediate problems to deal with anyway, like evading the watch long enough to gather my friends and slip out of the city before Tyrial caught up with us.

The guards at the gate didn’t give me any trouble. I guess passing them once before in Tarim’s company had been enough to place me in the “we never saw you” camp. It was a short walk from there to the Ale and Pickle.

I made it back before the lunch crowd really filled in, so the common room was empty aside from a few customers who’d come in early to claim a good seat. I walked inside and waved as I caught sight of Anja behind the bar. She welcomed me with a smile of genuine delight and more than a little relief as she wiped her hands clean on her apron and came around to greet me.

“Little Charity, you are not dead!”

I’d expected a handshake or a pat on the shoulder, but got a rib-cracking hug instead.

“Not yet, anyways,” I said, my voice muffled by the folds of her apron, “but I will be if you keep squeezing like that.”

“Ach, sorry, sorry, I just am pleased to see you breathing. The thought of you coming to hurt for us was making my stomach druzachnik.”

“You didn’t need to worry. I can take care of myself.”

In truth, I was touched that she had, but I managed to keep a lid on it fairly well.

“Besides, it was worth the risk. You won’t need to worry about the Ghazi anymore.”

“Truly?”

“Truly.”

She started to go for another hug, but I managed to dodge out of the way just in time. She grinned, and held out a hand instead, which I shook with relief.

“I have the bags you asked for. It felt like good luck to pack them for you to come back for, and it was! But why three? I not think you can even carry one of them, so small you are.”

“I’ll manage somehow, but the other two are for my friends.”

“Ach, Anja so excited to see you she forget, you have a friend here already!” She pointed towards a table behind me.

“Wow, the Ghazi really don’t waste time when they—”

I turned around to see Cael rise from the table and move to block the door.

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