The Bastard Sorceress by Verna McKinnon

Author:Verna McKinnon [McKinnon, Verna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TANSTAAFL Press
Published: 2022-09-21T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

"Are you sure Crimm returns today?" I asked, following Braden and Kalem at a swift pace.

"His secretary, Frederick, confirmed it last night when I spoke to him," Kalem replied. "Crimm needs to answer for his unexplained absence in a time of crisis."

"Crimm dotes on Runecroft," I said. "Surely he'd want to know what happened to him." I looked around. "Is it just me, or are the halls unusually empty of people for peak afternoon times?"

"It is strange," Braden commented. "It's usually crowded this time of day."

"People are nervous, I think," Kalem said. "Too many strange things have been happening. I want to interview Frederick too. He's been giving excuses about Crimm's whereabouts for days."

"Has anyone reported Crimm missing, or are we just suspicious?" Braden asked.

Kalem frowned and stepped up his speed. "Suspicious. According to Frederick, he's not missing. However, Crimm didn't retreat to his country house. I checked. Nor has anyone seen him at the palace in days."

"I wonder, who first noticed Runecroft was even missing?" I asked. "How did Baruti Tabor even know?"

Kalem shook his head. "This concerned me too. When I asked Baruti how he learned Runecroft was missing, he admitted Frederick told him, not Crimm."

"But who told Frederick?" I asked.

"Baruti didn't know," Kalem confirmed. "Frederick's supposed to be waiting with Crimm in his office now. I want answers."

"I just wish I could have witnessed the meeting with Baruti," Braden commented. "I never heard a thing even though I stood guard outside Alexander's office. Neither did Sabine."

"Veda was mad too but banished us both before things got interesting," I said.

Kalem laughed. "Well, Rory did threaten Baruti with dragon fire," he said. "You couldn't hear anything because I cast a silent spell protecting the room. Standard procedure for such meetings."

"Can a pukis breathe fire?" Braden asked.

I shook my head. "No, but Rory can dream." I thought about home, and how I often used to want a wall of silence. I decided that I might have to learn that enchantment if I went home again. If I could ever cast a spell properly.

Braden looked at me, concerned. "Are you sure returning to Crimm's office won't upset you? I mean, considering the last time you were there."

"Don't worry, I'll be just fine. It doesn't upset me now. I despise Runecroft, but he cannot hurt me anymore, or my mother. I saw what a coward he is. I promise not to singe the wallpaper again," I said, moving faster to keep up. "What about Baruti Tabor? What's his fate?"

"This might anger you," Kalem warned.

"Go ahead," I said. "It cannot get any worse."

Kalem paused, turned around, and gently took me by the shoulders. "The official story is you were abducted yesterday by some religious cult. Baruti Tabor's explanation is all the interest in how a baseborn rose to mageborn. You became a target for some fanatical baseborn group who think mageborns have too much power. They abducted you yesterday here at the palace, but you managed to escape unharmed."

My inner troll is boiling.

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