Mana Mutation Menace (Journey to Chaos Book 3) by Brian Wilkerson Page A
Authors: Brian Wilkerson
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perfect Prince Charming who
would know exactly what to do at all times, could empathize with her troubles,
and whose trustworthiness was absolute.
"However, I didn't put on that choker until after I
heard about your mana mutation."
She shivered and Eric hugged her again. She smiled in
gratitude.
"You weren't born here, so you don't know what it
was like to hear that. My contact may as well have said you died . When
you came back after all those months, I was so happy to have my best friend
back."
She glared and pushed him down.
"Then you had to go and mutate! I was devastated! I
couldn't stop crying for hours! I had to cancel the day court!" She knelt
next to him and pounded on his chest. "I was just getting over the nine
days of silence too! And I don't see any candy or flowers! "
Eric grinned wryly, sat up, and drew her into a third hug.
She bristled and glared momentarily, then snuggled in.
"I'm sorry, Kas. I'll bring them next time."
"Bring the 'blessed with monstrosity' stuff
too!" she said into his neck. "I want my scientists to look it
over."
"I'll do that."
"Now that I think about it, it's your fault I
was humiliated. You almost dashed the world's hope for Medical Mana Mutation,
so you still owe me!"
She said all this while embracing him and resting her head
against his. Eric stroked her back as he did during their first reunion and she
melted further. He said, "Yes, I do."
Kasile yawned and leaned back. "I expect everything
to be ready in two days. Got it?"
"Got it."
"One more thing...take that with you." She
pointed at the choker lying on the ground.
"Huh? Why?"
Suddenly, she was shy again. "I'm...after you
leave...I'm afraid I'll put it back on."
Eric picked up the choker and plopped it in his pocket.
"Done."
Kasile looked up at him warmly. "Thanks, Eric. I
know I can always count on you."
Eric returned the affectionate gaze. "Whenever you
need someone to lean on, I'm here, but don’t ask me for political advice."
Her face turned harsh again. "I wouldn't ask you for political advice if you were Order himself.” She pointed at the door. “Now
get out of my sight before I arrest you for breaking and entering!"
Eric trickster-grinned. "I was never here."
He opened the window and vanished into the night. Kasile
waited until he was gone and checked for eavesdroppers with her divine flames
to make doubly sure. Then her hand went to her naked throat and the full impact
of her failure hit her. For the second time, she had been duped into trusting
someone and in doing so put her country at risk. She cried herself to sleep.
Now that Kasile was no longer in trouble, Eric walked out
of Royal Town with a light heart. He had time to indulge in all the petty mischief
he denied himself coming in. By the time he crossed the moat, he decided “Robin
Goodfellow” would be an appropriate pseudonym should he ever wish to use one.
On the streets of Roalt, he strolled over to Merchant Town
and into a late-night pawnshop. His fellows at the guild told him about this
place as a friendly tip to a junior. In a mercenary line of work, one might find
something of value and this was the sort of place to unload it. Thus far in his
career, he had few reasons to visit.
It was brightly lit; the only such place on the block.
There was a center island for merchandise and more set in glass cases against the
walls. He saw everything from jewelry to weapons to comics to antique lamps. An
orc bouncer and her fairy partner gave him a once over at the door and a rock
golem behind the counter muttered a prayer to Fiol.
"Good evening, Pilaocv. Did I pronounce it
right?"
The golem nodded. "What kind of business do you have
at this hour?"
Eric took Kasile's influence choker out of his pocket and
placed it on the counter. First, the golem held a device over it to scan for
mischief magic, and second, she placed her hand over it and stared into space.
"This is made from high quality silk, expert workmanship,
and the
would know exactly what to do at all times, could empathize with her troubles,
and whose trustworthiness was absolute.
"However, I didn't put on that choker until after I
heard about your mana mutation."
She shivered and Eric hugged her again. She smiled in
gratitude.
"You weren't born here, so you don't know what it
was like to hear that. My contact may as well have said you died . When
you came back after all those months, I was so happy to have my best friend
back."
She glared and pushed him down.
"Then you had to go and mutate! I was devastated! I
couldn't stop crying for hours! I had to cancel the day court!" She knelt
next to him and pounded on his chest. "I was just getting over the nine
days of silence too! And I don't see any candy or flowers! "
Eric grinned wryly, sat up, and drew her into a third hug.
She bristled and glared momentarily, then snuggled in.
"I'm sorry, Kas. I'll bring them next time."
"Bring the 'blessed with monstrosity' stuff
too!" she said into his neck. "I want my scientists to look it
over."
"I'll do that."
"Now that I think about it, it's your fault I
was humiliated. You almost dashed the world's hope for Medical Mana Mutation,
so you still owe me!"
She said all this while embracing him and resting her head
against his. Eric stroked her back as he did during their first reunion and she
melted further. He said, "Yes, I do."
Kasile yawned and leaned back. "I expect everything
to be ready in two days. Got it?"
"Got it."
"One more thing...take that with you." She
pointed at the choker lying on the ground.
"Huh? Why?"
Suddenly, she was shy again. "I'm...after you
leave...I'm afraid I'll put it back on."
Eric picked up the choker and plopped it in his pocket.
"Done."
Kasile looked up at him warmly. "Thanks, Eric. I
know I can always count on you."
Eric returned the affectionate gaze. "Whenever you
need someone to lean on, I'm here, but don’t ask me for political advice."
Her face turned harsh again. "I wouldn't ask you for political advice if you were Order himself.” She pointed at the door. “Now
get out of my sight before I arrest you for breaking and entering!"
Eric trickster-grinned. "I was never here."
He opened the window and vanished into the night. Kasile
waited until he was gone and checked for eavesdroppers with her divine flames
to make doubly sure. Then her hand went to her naked throat and the full impact
of her failure hit her. For the second time, she had been duped into trusting
someone and in doing so put her country at risk. She cried herself to sleep.
Now that Kasile was no longer in trouble, Eric walked out
of Royal Town with a light heart. He had time to indulge in all the petty mischief
he denied himself coming in. By the time he crossed the moat, he decided “Robin
Goodfellow” would be an appropriate pseudonym should he ever wish to use one.
On the streets of Roalt, he strolled over to Merchant Town
and into a late-night pawnshop. His fellows at the guild told him about this
place as a friendly tip to a junior. In a mercenary line of work, one might find
something of value and this was the sort of place to unload it. Thus far in his
career, he had few reasons to visit.
It was brightly lit; the only such place on the block.
There was a center island for merchandise and more set in glass cases against the
walls. He saw everything from jewelry to weapons to comics to antique lamps. An
orc bouncer and her fairy partner gave him a once over at the door and a rock
golem behind the counter muttered a prayer to Fiol.
"Good evening, Pilaocv. Did I pronounce it
right?"
The golem nodded. "What kind of business do you have
at this hour?"
Eric took Kasile's influence choker out of his pocket and
placed it on the counter. First, the golem held a device over it to scan for
mischief magic, and second, she placed her hand over it and stared into space.
"This is made from high quality silk, expert workmanship,
and the
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