Chapter 51:
The Boss
The door opens again. Vivian steps inside and indicates to follow. I enter, and the guards shut the way behind us. The wide, windowless stone hall sports a tall ceiling, with skylights to the stars being the only opening to the outside world. It’s designed for privacy, keeping what happens inside hidden from the rest of the town. Trevus may not know what’s going on.
A large semicircular table dominates the hall, with each seat occupied by a well-dressed man. A dozen armed guards stand at the wall, with javelins at their hips and their hands behind their backs. The midpoint of the table is raised, supporting a broad man with Ceramayan dark hair, black stubble and frightening brown eyes – the boss.
No one wears any kind of uniform, and the room is bare of crests. If it weren’t for their weapons, the guards would blend in with anyone at the tavern. This ‘boss’ has power, but it isn’t granted under law.
Vivian circles the perimeter of the table to reach him. I move to follow, but a guard grabs my arm and tugs me to the center of the circle, the focal point of every gaze in the room. The guard releases his hold, but he stands just a step behind me, staying in my blind spot.
Vivian whispers into the boss’s ear. I can’t make out the words, but I’m certain it’s about me. He nods, his gaze pointed in my direction.
My muscles grow tense. I test putting some weight on my injured leg. It’s uncomfortable, but I could run in an emergency.
They’re talking about me like I’m not here. I need to take control of the situation before it gets dangerous. I project my voice – “I’m looking for Lord Asarus.”
The dozen men at the table glance between the boss and each other, their eyes wide with surprise, but none say a word. That may have been a bit too forward.
The corner of the boss’s mouth tugs up. “Is that so,
little girl
.” His voice is gritty like grinding stones.
I’m not a child, and I don’t appreciate being demeaned, but I hold back my thoughts for the sake of getting the information that matters. “Vivian said you spoke to him. Have you seen him or not?”
“You should consider from whom you demand answers,” he says. Another guard steps behind me. Now there are two on either side, both ready to pounce.
I touch my julite necklace through my dress. I recognize the type of man casting his gaze down upon me from his elevated table. The boss is like the soldiers of Antiock, eager to caress his ego by forcing my submission.
Fighting him will not reveal Asarus. I’m not the lone prisoner desperate to prove her worth anymore. There’s a man in my life who cherishes me, who cares for me. I’ll play the boss’s game. I’ll bow and sacrifice a bit of dignity before strangers, because I know I’m loved by the man who actually matters. I know I have value.
“You’re right.” I clasp my hands together. “I’m so sorry, Sir. I have been traveling for days in search of Lord Asarus, sleeping in the wilderness and harassed by robbers. In my exhaustion, I’ve forgone etiquette. My name is Jade. How may I address you?”
“You’ll address me with reverence. Those who do not, suffer harsh consequences.”
“Of course, Sir. Forgive my offense.”
His lip tugs up again. I understand him.
“May I ask my question, Sir?”
“No. You will answer mine. Who are you? From where do you hail?”
“I’m a tailoring apprentice. I live in Zaybeth but was born in Mephia.” I share truth but keep the details vague. At least he’s willing to talk.
“Now, what’s so important that a little tailoring apprentice from Zaybeth would chase Lord Asarus through robber-infested land?” he asks.
That’s too entwined with my connection to share. He’s ready to turn my words against me, so I craft a careful lie – “His wife, Lady Norah, is concerned for his safety and wants him to return home. She paid me well to bring him back.”
The boss raises his thick black eyebrow. “She paid you well?” His gaze moves up and down my short figure.
“She
will
pay me well,” I correct myself.
He leans back in his chair. “You certainly are a brave little apprentice, traveling all the way to Tarsis and coming in here. So, what’s Lord Asarus doing so far from home?”
“I don’t know. I’m just here to fetch him.” Lady Norah’s words haven’t left my mind – Asarus is after
me
.
“Surely the Lady that hired you shared why her husband is massing militia,” he says.
“She didn’t. Do you know where he is?” I ask. Remembering his emphasis on respect, I tag on a “Sir.”
“Did the Lady also omit to mention where her husband was going?” There’s a hint of mocking in his tone, reminiscent of Lord Reger when he pretended to believe I was Ametha.
I stay quiet, worried my mouth may be walking me into a trap.
The boss leans in. “You have poor judgement, little apprentice. You have lied to my face three times since this conversation started. First, you omitted that you travel with a Versillian warrior, one who tailed you to my hall. Second, the Lady did not hire you to find her husband without telling you where he was going. Third, you are more than a little
apprentice
.”
Salts. He sees through me. I glance at my surroundings – two guards stand in arm’s reach at my back, and another dozen line the walls, with two more blocking the only door out. I could rip off my pendant, put the two closest guards to sleep, but then how will I deal with the rest of them?
“Once so eager to talk, but now so quiet,” the boss says.
They spotted Trevus following me, so he won’t be able to surprise them. The boss said I was more than a tailoring apprentice, but how could he know that? Is he bluffing, hoping I’ll reveal more?
“I’ll have my answers. The only uncertainty is how marred you’ll end up,” he says. “Why don’t you start with the warrior outside?”
Nothing I’ve said is demonstrably untrue. Maybe it’s just unbelievable that a small girl who sews would be hired for such a task.
“He’s Trevus, my partner, who likely followed out of concern for my safety. I didn’t hide him. He’d be here beside me, but I wasn’t allowed to bring him with to see you,” I say.
He gestures with his hand to explain further. His eyes are hard. My fate may be already decided in his mind, and he’s only continuing the conversation for his own entertainment. He has no intention of answering my question about Asarus, but he’s eager to correct my lies. It makes him feel clever, powerful and in control. I can use that to my advantage.
“You’re right,” I say. “Lady Norah didn’t hire me. Lord Asarus is headed to raze and plunder Troas on the Mephia border, and I want to stop him.”
“Seize her,” the boss growls. Iron grips wrap around my biceps and press down on my shoulders. A foot is shoved to the back of my legs, bringing my knees to the cold stone surface. A third pair of hands grab my hair, making me yelp as my head is forced back, craning my neck to face the boss. “Your next lie will send a javelin down your throat,” the boss says. A fourth guard raises his weapon, the point just inches from my lips.
My eyes snap to the sharp iron tip. I try retreat, but the grip on my hair keeps my head in place. My arms would be shaking if not held so tight.
“Your fourth lie – Asarus is not headed to Troas,” the boss says, “but instead to a settlement south of Ephesus.”
I close my eyes for a moment to steady my nerves. South of Ephesus – I’ve heard that phrase before, back when King Tytius was describing the village I was taken from. Asarus is heading to my childhood home – the place where he abducted me ten years ago.
“Your fifth lie – Asarus doesn’t intend to raze it, but instead to find a young woman. Short, green eyes, brown hair, as he described her,” the boss says. “So, when a man spends heaps of gold to find a woman, and is then pursued by a woman of the same description, is it not likely they are the same person?”
My breathing is heavy, and my eyes are on the javelin just inches from my face. Trevus isn’t coming to save me. He’s probably already apprehended. Tilting my shoulders and bending my arm, I clutch the julite through my dress, separating it from my skin so it’s no longer hindering my connection.
“There is one more detail Asarus mentioned before he left – the woman he searches for has magic.”
“Please, release me.” My voice is unsteady.
“Are you,
little apprentice
, the mage he searches for?”
My heart is banging against my chest. Admitting I’m the Seventh Sorceress will lead to my execution at Tytius’s hand. I slowly shake my head.
“That was your last lie,” the boss says. The javelin approaches my lips.
I jerk my arm forward, reaching out and making contact with the man’s fingers on the weapon’s shaft. Our connection forms, and his body goes limp. He hits the ground, sound asleep.
I touch the man holding my left arm and then my right, setting them both down in seconds.
The fourth guard yanks my hair back, pulling me off my feet. My burning scalp draws out a scream. I grab his hands too, and he collapses.
“She does have magic!” a man shouts.
I scramble to stand, stepping over the sleeping men and rushing towards the door. My bruised leg protests from the sudden movement with a sharp pain. I stop. The men guarding the door have their javelins drawn, their long, sharp ends keeping me at a distance.
I twist around, but the rest of the guards have circled me, their weapons ready. The advantage offered by surprise is gone. I’m trapped, threatened from all angles.
There’s a hard thump on my head. My sense of balance is lost. I’m on my hands and knees. Someone hit me, hard.
“The Seventh mage wandering into my hands – how fortunate,” the boss says. His voice is so loud.
I try cover my ears, but my hands don’t move. The world is spinning like it does after turning in a circle for too long. Why am I on the ground? What happened?
Author’s Note:
Sorry that these chapters were later than scheduled. I’ve had an unusual amount of overtime work recently.
Jade got the answer she was looking for, but at a cost. Any guesses on what’s going to happen to her?
lmao she had to have seen it coming
Damn, look what she’s done 😖😖…If I were Jade and with a man like Trevus,why would I wonder about my sad past and forfeit a lovely bountiful future😮💨…I would want to live free and happy and in the arms of the most attractive man🥹🥹…Jade needs to let go of her dead weight past😞
I’ve been so busy so I’m letting all these chapters pile up so I can have a reading session this weekend😋
I just hope they keep her and Trevus together
@rileysing I’m still curious if he did though lol
It seems my spacial reasoning skills have failed me.
Thank you for the clarification lol
I hope she kills them all lol maybe not
I think he is another mage like her or probably hunter
You good dude, we know you will get it out when you can.
Besides it was definitely worth it.
She’ll be taken to the king…
I suppose it is!
Did he use some kind of magic on her..?
He’s awake already?
Yup, although maybe Asarus never explained to them
He likely wasn’t expecting her to be looking for him and following in his footsteps lol
He’s assuming she’s dangerous
It’s kinda funny tbh how this is working out lol
He know where the guy is going… dun dun dun!
So he doesn’t know Trevus is connected to royalty
Omg so tense!
He’s not dumb, her story is suspicious
He’s likely aware of the wanted posters, I would be surprised if he wasn’t
Omg he knows she’s the seventh doesn’t he!
yeah!
It’s harlarious they are essentially hunting each other lol
You got a bit of a God complex aye
Got to play the game to win the prize
As a fellow shorty (5’1) I feel personally offended by that…
I totally don’t look like the girl on the wanted posters you could get a massive amount of coin for handing in to Versillian lol
@rileysing true, true
A lawful alignment doesn’t necessarily mean someone is “good
Is this some kind of militia group?
He also can’t get in to save her if needed
Awesome, amazing, spectacular!
Indeed it is!
You know, you should have instructed that they wear gloves
She really isn’t the best at this lol
welp, she is always a suspicious girly
There ya go girly, play the game
for non suspicious reasons, like he knocked me down and injured me and I want compensation!” lmao
girl just enters a crime den