Other Worldly Ways (Anthology 1) by Connie Suttle

Author:Connie Suttle [Suttle, Connie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Connie Suttle
Published: 2013-11-24T00:00:00+00:00

BODYGUARD

In my books, I've given several references to the fact that Glinda worked as Erland Morphis' bodyguard before she met Jayd and took her place as Kifirin's Queen. I started this short story before I began publishing, but didn't finish it. A few people expressed interest in how Erland and Glinda met, so I finished the story for this anthology. As you'll see, Erland wasn't always the accomplished diplomat. That skill developed over time.

Campiaa

Tiny cubes of broken glass crunched under Lord Erland Morphis' chaugis-skin shoes as he surveyed the damage done to the front windows of his casino. This was the third time in two weeks, and weeks on the gambling planet of Campiaa were eight days long.

He'd owned the Sea Spray Casino for exactly one month; thirty-two of Campiaa's days, and ever since he'd refused to pay Divil San Gerxon's exorbitant demands in protection money on the tenth day, this sort of thing had happened regularly. Erland's chief of security stood in the now-empty slot machine section of the casino, talking to three of his night guards.

"No injuries," Baxter Indis stated before Erland could voice the question. "The shield held, thank the gods."

"It will get worse," Erland muttered, mostly to himself.

Baxter nodded anyway. He was aware that his employer was also receiving death threats. Baxter was one of perhaps two people employed by Erland who knew his true race and nature. Erland Morphis was a Karathian Warlock with power of his own, but his moral aversion to employing spells to kill held him back in matters such as this.

Many of his kind dabbled in the darker spells and had no qualms over killing anyone who stood in their way. Those were mostly kept on the homeworld of Karathia—it wouldn't do to give the universes at large the idea that Karathians as a whole were something to be feared and hunted. They were a nearly immortal race, but they could be killed if someone were skilled and determined enough.

"I've placed an advertisement in the appropriate locations," Baxter added. Erland grimaced. He'd never had a personal bodyguard before, and the fact that he needed one now annoyed him intensely. He did have to sleep, however, and even his shielding spells could be compromised with the proper power, provided someone laid out enough credits to have it done.

Others of his kind would gladly perform the necessary spells for the right amount. They were like most other races—prone to disloyalty if the paycheck were large enough. Divil San Gerxon owned most of the casinos under one guise or another, and the amount of his demands was quite steep—nearly a third of the take, before expenses.

"Wonderful," Erland muttered to Baxter. "I will make myself available for interviews. Did the local constabulary even bother to come?"

"Not since there were no injuries or deaths," Baxter snorted. "They informed me that it was likely some drunken gambler."

Erland growled and his dark eyes became darker. Baxter knew to get as far away as possible if Erland's eyes ever went black.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.