Galen Vesa

Well, according to what I felt through the ring, she had cracked ribs and possibly a concussion. I guess? I’m not a doctor and I don’t know how to interpret what the ring showed me. Either way, I bobbed my head in agreement and walked out of there with sobbing Li in my arms.

And people stared. Just few hours ago we were drinking wine together and now the girl looks as is if a cart drove over her. Well, I had the ring gently working on her, but something told me I shouldn’t fix everything at least until Tala can take a good look at her.

“This way.”

Tala intercepted me along the way and opened the door for me. If she kept her remarks to herself more often, I may start to like her.

“What happened?”

Li hid her face and sobbed into my pillows so I answered for her.

“Zee happened. ”

Somehow it felt as if the rest was self-explanatory.

“Put her on the table.”

I did so and stepped away to watch what she might do. I had never seen a person use recovery magic. I've been put back together by spirits on numerous occasions, but I've never seen what it looked like when people did the magic. Being unconscious might had something to do with it.

“Here hon, drink it. It'll help with pain.”

I watched her drip a brown potion into the maid's swollen mouth and made sure the girl swallowed it. Whatever that was, Li fell asleep almost instantly.

“How is she?”

Altina rushed into the room, her fur all puffed up, her hastily put on gown somehow managed to hold onto her body though that may change any second.

“Alive. Might been worse… it must end. I cannot do it anymore! You gave me your word, yet nothing changed!”

“Tala please, there are reasons…”

“I don’t give a dam about your reasons! What if she finally kills someone?! What then?!”

People screaming at each other. Okay, time to go.

“Perhaps I should leave…”

“No. Stay and listen. Both of you listen. Zee always been a slob, but she is not a killer. She is but a victim.”

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“Victim my ass! I’ve been patching up her mistakes for the five weeks, enough is enough! Either she leaves or I do!”

“I cannot allow either. Tala, please, they have her little sister.”

I had felt silence before but this one cut so deep that neither of us spoke for a long while. Deep in thought, Tala spread her arms over Li and I saw golden light spread from her palms and enter the maid. It worked alike what my ring did but at the same time the source of this power… it made my skin crawl, so similar it felt to what my lantern did.

“For how long? Last five weeks?”

“No. Since winter came. They snatched her during the festival.”

“She never told anyone she had a sister…”

“Whom would she tell? None of you were ever too friendly with her but that aside, she came to me. She came in tears, begging. And I failed her. Whoever holds her sister hostage, has ben crossed by me or my guild or perhaps just wants us out of this city. I know not. They ordered her to sabotage the guild from within. Find any way possible to implicate us in any possible mishap.”

“I did whatever I could, I sent my most trusted…”

Her voice broke her ears sagging.

“Lord Shamu be my witness I did what I could, I spared no expense and yet I filed. Five weeks ago, they sent first warning. Her little sister’s hand. Then the next week her foot, then her eye, then her tongue…”

“They promised her that by the spring festival she will receive a special gift. Her sister’s heart.”

“Dear gods, that’s…”

“Less than a moon.”

Altina put her sad eyes upon me.

“In the remaining two weeks, she will do everything she can to fulfil their demands. She no longer trusts me; I had wasted my chance and she does not speak to me. I believe she may try to antagonize you…”

Get the angry elf to blow up everyone. Not an amazingly effective plan.

“Is that what you meant by saying I may cost you another girl?”

“Karin, I beg of you, whatever she does, do not kill her. Please.”

I nudge my head in agreement and left the room. I needed air. I needed to breath. I needed to clench the rage boiling within me. I had seen it done before. Children used as hostage against their parents…

My fists sunk deep into the wall. The memories flooded my mind. At least this once I did not regret what I did. Those… things did not deserve to be called animals, let alone people.

“Are you well master? You are spewing an awful lot of killing intent. People might get a wrong idea.”

Cora appeared beside me, her face genuinely troubled.

“No.”

I did not wish to name what I felt.

“Come,”

She hooked her arm with mine and with a smiling face waved at approaching guards then dragged me away.

“Hot tea and some rum will calm you. Come.”

So I sat at the common table sipping tea spiced with rum although at some point it became a rum spiced with tea. Regardless it had little to no effect. What I felt ate at my mind and for the first time Logic did not protest.

“Wait here master, I will get some more cookies. Li left some for you in the kitchen.”

So I did whatever I could to wait. Wait without thinking of what my memories showed me. Alas fate had a better idea.

“Zee! Wait! I will…”

The woman froze when she saw me. Hate so strong as if I were the source of her suffering, twisted her face into a mask of anger. She broke away from her guards and run to me. Run to grab the heavy crystal decanter full of rum and smash it against my forehead.

I later heard a story told by one of the guards. Apparently, he needed new pants after he saw my eyes however, at that moment, I felt extremely calm.

So calm that my next move shocked the terrified wolf that run after her fractious charge.

I got up, glass and rum raining off my head, and I hugged Zee as I whispered into her ear.

“I am sorry. I will get her back.”