“So what do you want me to do?” says Bailee.
“You seem to have some pull around here – they've got you managing all this – I need you to help convince Garland.”
“You can probably just ask. Jacob, at least, he's a good listener.” The girl interlacing her fingers, but hiding her fingertips inside, knuckles out. “And, fortunately, he's in today and not her.”
“Yeah, I had a feeling. She isn't in on day one, either, is she?” Bailee confirming. “I actually think I'd have better luck with her, than him.”
“You're wrong.” Her knuckles going white. “She's not- Jacob's much nicer than her.”
“I, um, that's just my gut feeling.”
Bailee fastidiously dry washing her hands for a moment. “Okay,” she says, “let's say I can help you out with this, why would I want to? I like having you around to bounce stuff off. You've seen a lot and you know a lot. I ask you to go and do something, and you do it. When you do have a question, you aren't shy about asking.”
“I have been around.” Shrugging my shoulders. “And, looking around here, I know what you're trying to do. But, then again, everybody who's been around here for even five seconds knows what you're trying to do.”
“Yeah, and what's that?”
“You're trying to come up with something new. You want fame.”
The woman snorting. “I don't care about fame.”
“I thought you had some kind of rivalry with Melder.”
“With Professor Melder?” Bailee squinting. “There's no rivalry. He was my advisor before he came out here on this project, I was teaching some of his undergraduate classes, nearly all of them, while he was preparing to leave.”
“And you came out here a couple years after?”
“The project is important and he is, I mean his work, is impressive, and I'm not even talking about what he's achieved here. That goes without saying. This whole cultivation process we have for some of these plants, he's the one who initially come up with it. Granted, I've made some modifications, but he still deserves the credit. The only thing I've really beaten him on, and it's entirely a matter of taste, is, um...”
“Your tobacco blend.”
“Yeah, that, my blend.”
“I'm a fan.” Her faraway look hardening, ready to chew rocks. “Even if you don't like hearing it. Forget about rivalry, then, I can help you make more of a name for yourself and maybe impress him at the same time.”
A pause. “How?” Yup, got you.
“I know the underground better than anyone, there's all sorts of stuff down there that I guarantee even Melder hasn't seen. New ingredients for you to play around with.”
“Such as?”
“In the ruins there's this mushroom, hallucinogenic, makes you absolutely trip balls, but it tends to be fatal, and it's a pretty terrible way to die. You get this slight headache that just gets worse and worse.”
“That doesn't sound very useful.”
“There's a lichen. Makes you stronger – actually makes you stronger, you don't just feel like you're stronger – I mean, it also makes you think you're stronger than you are, but you do actually get stronger. Not fatal, but along with the delusions, terrible on the gut, it causes horrible cramps. Maybe you can do something with it. There's also a-”
“Okay, you've made your point.” Her eyes bouncing back and forth considering the possibilities. “Underground? I figured you'd want to go out and do what they're currently doing.”
“I'd have no complaints about hunting Worms, the experience should be good, at least.” But heading underground is necessary for reconnaissance. “What do you do with the Worm hides once the acid is drained out, anyway?”
“They sell 'em.”
“They don't do anything with them?”
“The teeth are useful for making weapons, but the hide doesn't compost well, and it's tough material to work with. It's extremely resistant to heat but when we heat it to extreme degrees it never actually softens, it just ignites. The furrier buys the hides for quite a bit. Why?”
“I may have an idea.” A million gold idea. Tough and resistant and rubbery. Perfect for tires.
“Care to share?”
“Nope. Once I'm done with my penance here and I get my own setup I may consider bringing you in. Contract basis. Nondisclosure.” Maybe poach you and as many of these people as possible. “That is, if you help me get some time out in the field.”
“Nondisclosure?” The woman chuckling. “How're you going to enforce that?”
“I'll make you wish you never crossed me.” Keeping my voice light and not putting any special emphasis, but staring at her. Looks like a bubble of hair dye came seeping out her brain given that change in expression. Self preservation instincts still intact. “But really, I'd only hold you to it for a few months after our contract ended. It's only one component of a larger whole.”
“What exactly are you planning?” With more than a touch of suspicion.
“I'm planning for life after this.” Casting my arms out wide to take in the whole warehouse. “I plan to leave here on good terms, and when I do I've got a legitimate enterprise that I'm going to pursue.” A nice, public face to draw attention away from any other activities. “And I really do want to help get you those specimens from down below. So let's help each other.”
“I'll,” the woman pausing to consider, “talk to Jacob, tonight. Are you in tomorrow?”
“Nah, out. Day four I'm back.”
“Alright, I'll see if I can get him to agree to let you go out with them on four. Maybe starting next cycle.”
Four? Not a good day to go with Haven. Omen isn't in on four, and he'd actually watch my back. Today would be better, but those girls, that Druid, Olivia, and the Ranger, and the other two, are all in today as a group.
“How about five?”
“Five?” says Bailee. “Nope, I need you here on five. I'll explain my need to Jacob, I'll let him know our scheduling, and he'll probably agree to let you join them on four. If anything turns out to be valuable he'll know you were the source.”
“I guess that works. I'm done transplanting this row, is there anything else you need here?”
“I need – no, nevermind, I'll deal with that myself – could you see if they need any help with packing or deliveries?”
“Yes, ma'am.” Giving her a halfassed salute.
Not a perfect success, but another success added onto an already successful day. The first success, the runes in my shoes, painstakingly molded, the Runic Circle of heretofore questionable benefit, at long last producing measurable results. Every five minutes a point of mana regenerated, twelve per hour: solid, concrete and measurable. But, more than that, the true benefit is the knowledge – the absolute surety – that the odds of everything are just slightly more tilted in my favor. That's beyond priceless. It's also a huge relief to know the time preparing all those shoes hadn't been wasted. There'd been a lot of shoes.
Heading to the exit of the warehouse and almost running into a couple, a man and a woman, holding hands. The woman, the girl, opening her mouth, but nothing coming out. Instead closing it and looking guilty. Her reaction nearly breaking my heart. The man stepping forward, shielding her some, but not saying anything.
“Hugh, you're looking well.”
“Mac,” says Magpie, still unable to meet my eyes, “I'm really sorry.”
Not completely unexpected after the visit from Daniel and Blindside a couple days ago. The only question is what kind of leverage they're employing against her. Concern about me, about all the attention on me, about the possible repercussions when associating with me. Veiled threats covered by false concern.
“You're not going to be leaving Ishtar, I take it.”
“She isn't.” Anderson offers, unsolicited.
Sparing him a glance, then looking back at her. “Why?”
“Because we actually care about her.”
My teeth clamping shut. Not even dignifying that comment with a glance.
“Mac, I,” chewing her lip, shifting from one foot to the other, “I can't leave right now. I'm sorry.” The girl leaning in and quietly saying a short phrase, apparently for my ears only, at the moment, managing smash all my carefully prepared arguments to smithereens. “I love him.”
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Trying to come up with a new response. Taking an extra deep breath.
“Magpie, come here.” Reaching out my arms to request a hug, but the girl hesitating. Standing with my arms out for an eternity, all the members of Haven in the vicinity watching our exchange. “Magpie, don't make me look like a complete jackass in front of everyone. C'mere.”
The girl finally pulling her hand away from Anderson and giving me a hug.
Keeping my voice low. “This is all you, right?” Magpie nodding. “They're not, ah, you know?” Shaking her head. “Do I need to start, well, you know?”
“No, you don't.”
“How about him?”
“No! I really do love him, I really think I do.”
Letting out my breath. “That's a relief.” Releasing my hug. “Hugh, can I get a couple minutes to discuss things with you? Outside of here.”
The three of us leaving the warehouse, away from the terrestrial prying eyes. Taking a long walk past the shops run by Haven.
“Hugh, I've always liked you, well, basically since right after you gave me some shit that first day we met. I don't know what stories you've heard about me, but you can probably believe them. Probably even the worst of them.”
“I've heard a few,” he says.
“I'm not going to make any excuses for what I've done. If I could go back and make different choices, I'd probably end up making the same exact choices in the same exact ways. I don't care what kind of a monster you've built me up in your mind to be, but I want to make one thing clear. I think of Mag-” Stopping mid sentence. “Grace. I consider Grace to be family, I think of her as my sister. So don't you dare insinuate that I don't fucking care about her or her well being. Don't you fucking dare.” My volume rising at the end. Using a finger to clear something away from my eye rather than jabbing into his. “So, Magpie, I want you to know that I support your decision to stay at Ishtar for the reason you said. Hugh, it's pretty much one of the few reasons I'd have accepted as legitimate. If she said something else I'd figure she was being held prisoner, or something, because she's stuck with me way longer than I probably deserve. She even stuck with me all the way through what happened at Wyrmsblood.”
“That dying part sucked, Mac.”
“Yeah, it was pretty shit. You have, what, a few deaths under your belt?”
“That was my fourth.”
“I don't know if either one of you are going to believe me, but I'm near one fifty. Some really spectacular ones and a bunch of stupid bullshit. It's really manageable for me now, but if you're having nightmares smoking some of Melder's stuff really helps. Not a lot, a little goes a long way.
“Doing that.”
“And how are you doing now?”
“A lot better. Hugh's really been helping.”
“That's good. I'm going to need you back with me as soon as you're up for it. I've got a plan in the works-”
“If you really cared about her,” Anderson interrupting, “you wouldn't put her in those kinds of situations.”
Several unhelpful comments and some insults coming to mind. Selecting the most appropriate, but fortunately beaten to the punch before getting to unleash it.
“Hugh,” says Magpie, “I knew what I was getting into, and I think I know what I'm getting into. About a year ago, all my shit fell apart. I wandered around with Bee for a bit, we joined up with you guys and then Bee, well, and then I ended up by myself - and I didn't really know what to do with myself until I got assigned to that trip. That whole trip sort of turned everything around for me. I finally started getting to know you and I met her. She needs my help and I want to help her.”
“That's actually what you want to do?” he says.
“Yes, I do. And I want to be with you, too.”
“Grace, you are,” the two back to holding hands, their fingers interlacing, “extremely greedy.”
“I know I am. I still want it.”
“If that's what you want I'll- maybe we can talk Liz into letting her rejoin in a few months. Lucy, um, what do you even want me to call you?”
“Lucy. That's who I am. Hugh, you may not believe me, but I'm not very good at pretending to be something I'm not. I wasn't pretending to be someone else on the trip. That was all me.”
“In hindsight I can believe it. There were a couple incidents from what I recall.”
“Right. I don't got it in me to fake who I am, maybe in small bursts but it never lasts. I appreciate your offer to help me rejoin Ishtar, but I have larger ambitions than that. When the time comes, I'd like you to join me.”
“Join you?”
Hesitating for only a moment. If she trusts him then he deserves the truth. “I'm planning on going through the process of officially creating a House, but I'm obviously going to need help doing it.”
“That requires... you know where one is?”
“Yes. It's a big wide world and I've seen a whole lot. And I want you for it. You know what you're doing out in the field and I wasn't lying when I said I always liked you. And because she trusts you, you've earned my trust. The expedition is a bit down the road - I'm still coordinating on my end and getting all my ducks in a row - but that's a big part of what I've got planned.”
“And you've got a location in mind? It's going to be expensive.”
“It'll be much cheaper than you think. Magpie, it's a work in progress, but we're going to be getting our stuff back.”
“How? Our master said-”
“He gave up on it, so it's up for grabs as far as I'm concerned. He doesn't actually know everything, it turns out, although that illusion was sort of shattered given what happened in the first place.” Looking back and forth between them. “So, that's my situation. Magpie, really good to see you, and I hope to see you soon, as soon as you're up for it. Hugh, when the time comes, I'll present you with a formal offer that I think you'll be glad to take. I also really appreciate you helping Magpie sneak out of the House the other day.” The man not giving me the most pleased look. “I mean, in spite of what happened. She was great to have in my corner. Oh, Grace, sorry.”
“If you want to call her Magpie, call her Magpie. She told me how she got it. Why doesn't she call you by, um, your name.”
“Because that name only exists to spread fear among my enemies.” His face falling some. “Given my situation these past few months that name has undoubtedly been the biggest blessing in disguise. It undoubtedly kept people guessing while I was still weak. But even though I've most certainly earned that name, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't call me by it. Situations are going to arise where I'll add to it, of course, but that's only when it needs to happen.” His face falling a bit more. “Hopefully not too often. Don't take everything so seriously, Hugh.” Giving him a hug to help smooth out that wrinkle, and then giving Magpie one, to boot. “Pass this information on to, you know, everybody. I'm sort of stuck here at the moment.”
Turning back in the direction of Haven's warehouse, and leaving the two of them behind.
“And for the Augur watching that conversation, whichever one of you is in today, I meant for you to hear all that. This is an offer of alliance. Tell them that when it happens they'll own my votes for however long. I have no political ambitions myself, I just have one minor point of interest I'd like to see addressed. Tell them I'm moving according to their schedule and I appreciate that I owe them quite a bit, and I understand that one good turn deserves another. Tell her... tell her that I find her jewelry,” garish and overly done, “quite tasteful. Especially one of her rings, it's exquisitely designed, the ruby one on her right hand. And one other fucking thing. Tell them that if they're thinking about backstabbing me it's not going to work. It should be more than obvious, by now, but if they try, if they think some stupid plan will get it done, if they think shipping me halfway around the world will keep me from their throats, if they think there's a prison or some deserted island or some lonely strip of sand somewhere out there where they think they can stick me for good, tell them I'll come back just to prove them wrong. And when I do I'll teach them not to underestimate me. I'll flay that fact into their skin, and into their bones underneath. Tell them I trust their judgment enough that I think we can work together.”
Taking some calming breaths to recover from my monologue and then arriving back at work.
“Sorry, I went on break. The tick is in about seven minutes, is there anything you specifically want me to focus on?”
“That's fine,” says Bailee, “and yes, actually. This one is more of a personal favor.” Heading with her off to the side and watching her rustle around in her bag. Pulling out a crystalline amulet.
“That? Yeah, sure, it shouldn't be too bad. Hey, are you okay, what's up?”
Bailee had gone wide eyed, her attention over my shoulder. Hearing some commotion from some of the other members of the House and turning to look, and seeing probably the last person who should be showing up given what had happened. A girl, looking the same as she had last cycle, the same blood red cloak and little green demon perched on her shoulder. A clearly undead creature following a couple paces behind holding a pile of stuff and a pack in its arms. Something like that wandering around town is definitely frowned upon. Wait, she looks exactly the same, is that the same cloak? That pack that thing's carrying also looks familiar.
“Julie, you're okay, and you have... did you get our stuff back?”
“Lucy,” the girl saying with an intensity befitting her outfit, then visibly calming herself down and taking a few steps closer. “Or do you want me to call you Macarthy.” Getting shifty eyed. “Or Black Hand.”
“Lucy, please, or Mac.” Getting shifty eyed myself and leaning in. “That other name is only for the people I've marked for death.” Her eyes twinkling. Sticking my hand out in an attempt to get her to shake it. Good. Good girl. “Hey, listen, I don't know what you've heard, but I'm still the same person I've always been since we've met. I wasn't putting on any kind of act, so please don't treat me any different.”
The stars falling from her eyes and mellowing out some in the aquamarine of her iris. “Sorry,” she says. “It's just the whole thing is so fascinating, both on a practical basis and theory-wise. And you're actually some famous assassin, mass murderer, something along those lines. I mean, everything sort of makes sense.”
“Well, yeah, but, like, what are you going to do? How'd you get our stuff back?”
“You haven't heard?” Shaking my head. “Well, James was pissed.” Unable to stop my look of horror. “Not at you, and not at first. I managed to crawl my way back by about two o'clock and he sees me in that temple robe and he instantly knows what happened. So then he sits me down and starts giving me this lecture about how dangerous things can be here, and that he's proud of me for going out with you, but that I should take what happened as a lesson, and I'm just sort of letting him talk because I'm still feeling like junk. He meant well, but he was definitely condescending. So then he finishes up and finally gets around to asking me what actually happened, and I don't think I've ever seen anyone flip flop so fast. After apologizing probably a thousand times he puts me to bed and then he spent the rest of the day going around whipping up support. We went to Solstice the next morning and that guy, uh, my master got on board. He was really fired up and gave this speech saying that what happened to me had been an attack on all of us. Solstice leadership tried talking them down for all of about two seconds, but they weren't having it. Apparently there's some code they all go by. We all go by. And Parnell violated it.”
“What'd you do to Parnell?” Oh boy, that is an evil looking grin.
“It's been a couple years since they last did it. Parnell probably figured with the guild gone he had nothing to worry about. He was so very wrong. We had a busy day five and now everyone knows we're still here. So, anyway, we got an apology from Wyrmsblood and - tah dah! - I got our gear back. You about ready to get going?”
“She's got a few more hours.” Bailee managing to say, but staying very still, trying not to make any sudden moves in the presence of a predator.
“Oh, Julie, this is Bailee. She's my boss at the moment.”
Harper sticking out her hand and Bailee cautiously accepting. “I suppose you're going to ask about my blend?” The woman offering in a conciliatory manner.
“What's that?” Harper effortlessly deadpanning.
“Nothing of any note, I suppose.” Bailee blinking rapidly.
Swooping in on the opportunity. “Hey, you wanted to get some research started, right? I'm not heading underground today, but I can get you some materials. Let me charge this up real quick,” carelessly tossing her amulet in the air, “and then, if you could, get me some of those acid proof jars. A couple of the smaller ones.”