flicker of humour in the jet black of his eyes.
‘What can I say?’ she grimaced
apologetically. ‘It seemed like a good idea at the time?’
Fabian laughed softly and shook
his head, ‘I am not angry with you Mistral, or with your brothers either, not
really. I know how hard it can be to prevent you from getting what you
want.’
‘I don’t know.’ Mistral
murmured, gazing up at him from under her lashes. ‘You seem quite
resilient to what I really want.’
‘However,’ Fabian continued
firmly, ‘I think we both know that my efforts to keep you safe have failed
rather magnificently. So we shall try our new agreement.’
Mistral sighed, knowing the
moment had gone, ‘Tell me about the Contract.’
‘I will. But first I want
to give you something.’ Fabian slid his hand into the top pocket of his
jerkin and bought out a leather pouch. He dropped it onto the bed beside
Mistral, the metallic clink telling her it was full of coins.
‘What’s that for?’ Mistral
asked with a frown.
‘Your payment for the cyclops
Contract, which was a success by the way. Your brothers finally managed
to subdue it with poison, despite having first pumped it full of
invincibility-inducing manticore poison. They finally slew it with
swords, rescued you and extracted the eye for the bonus payment. Grendel
carried you back and Brutus managed Cirrus. None of them could get near
Prospero however. He followed you back and has been asleep outside the
Infirmary doors since you were carried in there. He’s been growling at
everyone who dared to enter. Serenity was not impressed.’
‘Oh.’ Mistral said
quietly. Picking up the pouch of money she bounced it in her hand,
feeling the weight. ‘How much is in there?’
‘It’s a good payment.’
Fabian confirmed shortly.
‘Take it.’ she held it up to
him. ‘Give it to Leo. Tell him to take it off my debt to the Ri.’
Fabian frowned and shook his
head, ‘It’s yours Mistral. You earned it. Go to Toothe and Nayle
and buy those damned butterfly knives you covet so much!’
‘I covet my freedom more,’ she
said softly, still holding the pouch out. ‘I have everything I want right
here in this room.’
Fabian gazed at her, his hard
black gaze slowly melting to the soft velvet she loved so much.
‘And so do I,’ he finally
murmured, wrapping his hand around hers and taking the pouch of money.
‘Now that’s sorted can I please
hear about this Contract?’
‘You may, with pleasure. I,
or rather we, are Contracted to travel west to the port of Holdridge and meet a
delegation of Mages from France and escort them to the Council.
‘Eximius has issued this Contract
himself. He specifically requested that I and the twins be in the
greeting party and attend the meeting that they are here for. I suggested
to Leo that this would provide the perfect opportunity for you to see the
Council and See the Council, if you perceive my meaning.’
‘I do.’ Mistral sighed
heavily. She had really been hoping for something to kill, not an aura to
read.
‘He feels that it would be
beneficial for you to gain some inside knowledge of the Council before Eximius
becomes aware of your particular gift. Because once he does Mistral, he
will be demanding your services at almost every damned meeting he has, I can
assure you of that.’
‘I can’t wait.’ Mistral
replied heavily. ‘But please tell me there is the outside chance of some
kind of bloodshed.’
‘There is every chance. It
is fairly standard practise for Ri warriors to be used to escort foreign
officials when they arrive on the Isle. They often bring with them a
hidden agenda, usually involving killing Eximius. You would be surprised
how many desire his position.’
‘You’re right, I would.’
‘So, wear your armour and bring
all of your weapons. We may end up having to fight our way out if the
meeting doesn’t go
‘What can I say?’ she grimaced
apologetically. ‘It seemed like a good idea at the time?’
Fabian laughed softly and shook
his head, ‘I am not angry with you Mistral, or with your brothers either, not
really. I know how hard it can be to prevent you from getting what you
want.’
‘I don’t know.’ Mistral
murmured, gazing up at him from under her lashes. ‘You seem quite
resilient to what I really want.’
‘However,’ Fabian continued
firmly, ‘I think we both know that my efforts to keep you safe have failed
rather magnificently. So we shall try our new agreement.’
Mistral sighed, knowing the
moment had gone, ‘Tell me about the Contract.’
‘I will. But first I want
to give you something.’ Fabian slid his hand into the top pocket of his
jerkin and bought out a leather pouch. He dropped it onto the bed beside
Mistral, the metallic clink telling her it was full of coins.
‘What’s that for?’ Mistral
asked with a frown.
‘Your payment for the cyclops
Contract, which was a success by the way. Your brothers finally managed
to subdue it with poison, despite having first pumped it full of
invincibility-inducing manticore poison. They finally slew it with
swords, rescued you and extracted the eye for the bonus payment. Grendel
carried you back and Brutus managed Cirrus. None of them could get near
Prospero however. He followed you back and has been asleep outside the
Infirmary doors since you were carried in there. He’s been growling at
everyone who dared to enter. Serenity was not impressed.’
‘Oh.’ Mistral said
quietly. Picking up the pouch of money she bounced it in her hand,
feeling the weight. ‘How much is in there?’
‘It’s a good payment.’
Fabian confirmed shortly.
‘Take it.’ she held it up to
him. ‘Give it to Leo. Tell him to take it off my debt to the Ri.’
Fabian frowned and shook his
head, ‘It’s yours Mistral. You earned it. Go to Toothe and Nayle
and buy those damned butterfly knives you covet so much!’
‘I covet my freedom more,’ she
said softly, still holding the pouch out. ‘I have everything I want right
here in this room.’
Fabian gazed at her, his hard
black gaze slowly melting to the soft velvet she loved so much.
‘And so do I,’ he finally
murmured, wrapping his hand around hers and taking the pouch of money.
‘Now that’s sorted can I please
hear about this Contract?’
‘You may, with pleasure. I,
or rather we, are Contracted to travel west to the port of Holdridge and meet a
delegation of Mages from France and escort them to the Council.
‘Eximius has issued this Contract
himself. He specifically requested that I and the twins be in the
greeting party and attend the meeting that they are here for. I suggested
to Leo that this would provide the perfect opportunity for you to see the
Council and See the Council, if you perceive my meaning.’
‘I do.’ Mistral sighed
heavily. She had really been hoping for something to kill, not an aura to
read.
‘He feels that it would be
beneficial for you to gain some inside knowledge of the Council before Eximius
becomes aware of your particular gift. Because once he does Mistral, he
will be demanding your services at almost every damned meeting he has, I can
assure you of that.’
‘I can’t wait.’ Mistral
replied heavily. ‘But please tell me there is the outside chance of some
kind of bloodshed.’
‘There is every chance. It
is fairly standard practise for Ri warriors to be used to escort foreign
officials when they arrive on the Isle. They often bring with them a
hidden agenda, usually involving killing Eximius. You would be surprised
how many desire his position.’
‘You’re right, I would.’
‘So, wear your armour and bring
all of your weapons. We may end up having to fight our way out if the
meeting doesn’t go
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