Mobius by Garon Whited

Author:Garon Whited [Whited, Garon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-31T04:00:00+00:00

Since the sunset was almost on me, I waited it out in the tower rather than try for the shower booth. This isn’t so bad in a high-magic world, but I do prefer the ongoing rinse.

Once it was over, I went downstairs and looked Renata over again. I didn’t see anything with vampire eyes my spells didn’t already tell me. She’s healthy, beautiful, and slightly pregnant. What else should I expect? If she were possessed, I would notice, especially since I was looking for it.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Nothing, apparently. You’re perfectly fine. I can’t find a thing wrong with you.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

“And no doubt you’ll hear it again from men who are interested in your appearance. I say you have no defects requiring magical healing.”

“Oh,” she gulped. My voice might have been a bit frosty. “That’s good, isn’t it, sir?”

“Yes, it is.”

“When can I leave the tower?”

“When I’m satisfied the House of Sarcana is no longer treating you as a prize to be captured.”

“You are.”

I checked myself before my snappy answer escaped. Vigilance. On it.

“Yes,” I agreed, gently. “I apologize for that. I feel they’ve forced it on me—on us, rather. You’re free to leave the tower whenever you like, but I’ll ask you to have at least two other warriors with you at all times. I’ll also ask you to quarter here, in the tower, at night. At least until I settle things with the House of Sarcana.”

“And when will that be?” she asked, sounding a bit more optimistic.

“When it is.”

“I don’t like being a prisoner.”

“Think of yourself as the bait in a trap. If a mercenary company comes to take you, we want to know where they’re headed—in this case, the tower. We can contain and capture them more easily here,” I pointed out. She nodded, more curious than worried.

“Do I get to be armed bait?”

“Aren’t you—no, I see you don’t have a weapon. That’s an oversight. I apologize. You should be armed at all times.”

“Thank you.” She relaxed visibly and even smiled a little. “I was starting to feel like a prisoner.”

“I apologize again. I may have overreacted to the kidnapping.”

“I accept your apologies, sir.”

“Get some sleep. I’ll inform Leisel of the situation.”

“Yes, sir.”

I went downstairs and did so. Leisel nodded.

“You know Naskarl won’t be satisfied.”

“But will he shut up and stay out of it?”

“Doubtful. There is a lot of money involved and the priests will take a hefty chunk of it.”

“So, it’ll have to be more expensive than the priests?”

“That… would be a lot of warriors.”

“Or property,” I countered. “What does House Sarcana own?”

“I’m not sure. I never worked for them. Why?”

“Well, if all their businesses, houses, livestock, and other goods burn to ash overnight, they don’t have much to worry about when it comes to the temple offerings. They can worry more about feeding themselves than screwing around with us. And they’ll have a hard time paying warriors to run their errands, now won’t they?”

“It would almost be kinder to kill them.”

“Suppose I simply assassinate Naskarl and see if the next in line is more sensible?”

“That’s murder.

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