Page 95 of The Toymaker
***
A man from the license office came that afternoon. They’d gotten word that Trig had been arrested, and from what was known, he’d broken important rules. The man spoke with Kit who confirmed it was true. He was careful to say Riju hadn’t known of the facts of the contract because he was afraid they might kick him out too.
What if they didn’t care he’d been in an abusive relationship and used to obeying what Trig said? On his own, he’d never do what Trig had. They might not see it that way since the College was strict on certain things.
The man said they could remain there for a week after the license ran out. If they had trouble finding a new place to live, the office was usually all right with letting people have a few extra days. Nobody was hoping to get their building.
Riju could pick a new license to buy for a certain amount of time if he wanted to stay. Trig’s personal bank account would remain as his. Any money the shop made would go to Riju since the business would be his. If he decided to leave, he couldtake the stock with him to do as he wished. Trig was forever banned from The Edge and had lost the business and anything pertaining to it.
The man held up a sheet of vellum as he stood at the counter with Riju, and Kit noticed a few spaces in the lines of writing. “I can come back tomorrow if you haven’t decided anything. Trig was only arrested yesterday.”
“I’ll buy the six-month license. I can pay you now too.”
While Riju went to get the money, the man filled in the blank spots. Riju had to sign where the man pointed.
Once the man left, they headed for the bank in the city.
Kit had never had enough money to require a bank. They had a strict rule of only allowing more than one person in if they weren’t together, and Riju said Kit could come with him. A guard watched while a man spoke to them through a small, barred window, and the door that led to his area was made of iron.
Riju took Trig off of the savings account and added Kit.
***
They had to wait a week for their case at the lord’s and meet in his office. Trig was brought under guard. Kit was a bit nervous he’d have to see Perry since he was a scribe for the lord. Fortunately, he wasn’t there, and if the lord wanted anything written and saved for later use, he could have his scribe do it later.
The lord was older than Trig, although he didn’t have much grey in his hair, and he had a set of leathery wings that he kept folded close to his back as he sat behind his desk.
Riju didn’t look like he felt very safe despite the two guards in the room. A couple more who worked at the Castle waited in the hall. Kit planted himself between Trig and Riju, and their chairs had plenty of space.
Lord Levin said he wished to keep things private from other petitioners since it involved the cock cage he’d wished to fund if Trig’s worked.
“I’m not finishing it, and I don’t care to,” said Kit.
“Me neither,” added Riju. “It was Trig’s goal, not mine. If you wish, m'lord, you can buy it and the spell.”
Lord Levin frowned. “I was planning to fund Trig, but that’s not happening. I would fund you, Riju. You helped to create it. You too, Kit.”
“I already took it off.”
“You took it off?”
Riju nodded. “If you want to buy the spell, you could do the cage yourself or find someone to do it. We’re done with it.”
The Earl furrowed his brow, and Kit remembered Trig saying how the lord’s wife sometimes kept him in chastity. He must have been looking forward to a new toy to try out. So much for that idea.”
“I’ll worry about it later. I looked over the case-”
“M’lord, could I have a few minutes alone with them before we get into anything serious?” asked Trig.
“Absolutely not,” said Lord Levin.
“I just want to talk to them. Your guards could wait in the hall, and it’d be perfectly sa-”
“No,” said Riju. “You’ll just try to trick me and make me say I lied before, and when I refuse, you’ll get mad. You’ll do the same to Kit. You’ll probably bitch and say we wasted months of work too. We don't want to hear it.”
“I simply want to talk.”
“No.” Kit could barely believe he had the audacity to ask. “You had years to talk and make things right.”
