The Clearing (Medieval Tale Book 2) by Lina J. Potter

Author:Lina J. Potter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Litworld ltd.
Published: 2018-06-04T22:00:00+00:00

Helke watched the mayor intently. Should he speak or not?

I’ll feel him out first.

“Honorable Torius, here is your share of the profits for the past five days.”

The baron smiled and put his hand on the bag. It clinked pleasingly. “Doesn’t feel like much.”

“People still aren’t sure about what we’re selling,” Helke replied, repeating the countess’ words. “Once they are convinced of the quality, sales will go better. For now, we are working with an eye to the future. I expect we will earn ten or even twenty times more once these things are in fashion.”

The baron smiled sweetly. He loved his profits tenderly, sincerely. Helke decided to risk it.

“Sir, I have heard some strange rumors lately.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“Someone is planning to burn down my workshop and kill me.”

“Who is it? I’ll have him arrested and interrogated.”

The mayor was entirely indifferent to Helke’s fate. Whether alive or dead, an Eveer was an Eveer. His profits, however – that was another matter entirely.

Helke said nothing.

“So who is it?”

“People say that the countess had an unpleasant run-in with a group of young men,” the jeweler hinted quietly.

It took Baron Avermal several seconds for Helke’s words to sink in. When they did, he turned beet red and leaped to his feet. If Helke had said another word at that moment, Torius would have wrung his neck. But the jeweler said nothing. He just sat there. The mayor realized to his horror that the man wasn’t lying. He was telling the absolute truth.

Torius Avermal stared at the jeweler. Helke refused to look away.

“Who told you that?”

“Forgive me, Honorable Torius.” He gave a deep bow. Torius realized that the jeweler would not give up his source. He was angry enough to howl, but he restrained himself. He would not have been mayor if he allowed himself to show his anger at every turn. Upon a moment’s reflection, he saw that Helke was doing the right thing. The jeweler could have left town already, but instead he was risking the mayor’s anger in order to warn him. After all, if Darius burned down the workshop, his father would have to sentence him to burn at the stake. Years and years ago, King Hendrich the Third had ruled that arsonists should be put to death by fire. If a man burned down someone’s house, he was to be tied to a stake and burned on the ashes of that same house. Hendrich’s law had been issued in response to a particularly bad instance of arson that took out half of the palace (and several city blocks). Arson was something that could not be excused.

“I will handle this matter.”

“I am grateful to you, sir.” Helke bowed.

Torius reflected that this was a stroke of luck. If Darius had gone through with it… He knew his son was incapable of properly planning a crime, much less of pulling it off. The thought was laughable. He would have a serious talk with his son that evening. In the meantime, Helke would have to leave.

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