November 29, 2006
Home stretch
Nearly there.... 47054 today!
Jaspa counted out the four hundred dinars for him, in large heavy piles of the 10 dinar coins Kalishk had given her, as Maritus carefully boxed up the books. It was going to be a heavy load on the way back to the library, but she had an idea for handling that.
Oddly, her sense of danger had not yet disappated. Maritus looked harmless now that the negotiations were over, and Jaspa could not help wondering if perhaps she was wrong.
I do not think you are wrong, m'lady, Myertek told her. I have seen our hunches be right too many times to doubt them. Perhaps it is something else?
Perhaps.
Jaspa hefted the box in her arms as Maritus took the money. "My thanks, sir. I think my master will be pleased with these."
"I hope so. Thank you for your business, young lady."
Jaspa bowed to him, and turned to walk out the door. He came up behind her and opened the door for her. Jaspa's mind was ringing with danger, so she did the only thing she could: she cast a strong shield around herself. She muttered " past me, past me, all harm must slide past me," under her breath and felt the shield click into place. Then she walked through the door. As she did so, a huge wooden baton came whistling down and was deflected by the shield.
Jaspa!
I am fine. Now- she set the box down and drew her common knife in one motion, and sliced at the shadowy figure next to the door. As her eyes adjusted to the relative darkness of the hallway, she found that she had opened up a not insignificant wound on the chest of the inn's host. He had fallen over in surprise and was holding his hands to his chest, which was leaking blood.
"Now, Host, is this the kind of reception you give to people who come visiting your guests?" She scrutinized his expression and the way he glanced at Maritus, and drew her sorcerous blade in her left hand as she spun around to look at the bookseller. "Or are you in on it, and simply planning to get your books back and the rest of my money?"
"I assure you..." Maritus held up his hands in protest.
"You nothing. Pick up the box." Jaspa stepped aside, kicking the host for good measure, as Maritus came forward. He knew she had the drop on him.
"Now, you are going to carry it out to the road for me, and then have your carriage take me home."
"I-"
"Yes?" She shifted her blade and began powering it up. It was not easy doing it with her left hand, but she knew how, and a small sphere of flames began to form around the blade.
"Nothing, m'lady. I shall be honored to offer you my carriage for your use after this hooligan attempted to harm you."
Posted by Ealasaid at November 29, 2006 05:39 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://65.181.180.173/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1974