Page 74 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
“It wasn’t that hard.” She waved away my concern, walking back to Jimothy’s desk and reclaiming the seat.
“You can be assured that moving forward, we won’t assassinate any of your civilians.”
I didn’t let the barb get under my skin, but I knew what she was implying.
“Our kingdom is technically leaving the merchants’ kidnapping ordeal in the hands of the Servalt authorities, but …” I paused for effect, drawing to my full height and stature imposingly, hackles raised, “should we feel that the matter did not end with the marquess, then Nilheim will act accordingly. And if I recall what happened the last time our necromancer visited Servalt … Well, nobody wants a repeat performance.”
Ever since Chloe had met and fallen in love with Julia during an entertainingly epic trip to Servalt last winter, Servalt had asked Nilheim to consider sending other representatives on official business. For the foreseeable future, or at least until they rebuilt the Grand Collegium.
“I don’t see how that has anything to do withme.” Guild Master Eva smiled innocently. “I’m an assassin, not a merchant. And I have it on the best authority that Servalt merchants deal primarily with mercenaries.”
“We both know that one of your men was contracted to Marquess Chadwick and the slave traders.”
Guild Master Eva opened her mouth to retort, “Meow.”
We both looked down in time to watch a grimalcat press up against Eva’s legs and purr softly.
“Slake!” The elf swooped down and picked up the creature in both arms. She rubbed her face against his fur until the grimalcat made protest and gently swatted at her cheek.
“Eva.” Slake stretched upward and deftly climbed onto the elf’s shoulders, wrapping around her neck so that only his tail hung down in the front. It curledgently against the fluffy armor Eva was wearing. “Have you finished your discussion with the commander general?”
“Almost …” The elf drew out the words, suspicion in her tone. “Why?”
Slake flicked his wings a bit to straighten himself on her shoulder. “There was a chance you might kill Rufus, so I’m here to say that just won’t do.”
“I appreciate that,” I said. “It is nice to see you again so soon, Slake.”
“Of course it is.”
“I hadn’t planned on attacking the commander general.” Eva reached out and scratched under Slake’s chin. “He’s here on official business with the guild. But I’m curious; whyshouldn’tI?”
He rubbed his face on Eva’s cheek. “The Dark Enchanted Forest doesn’t have useless hereditary laws. And killing Rufus will only annoy the Dark Lord.”
“It’s true. The only reason I’m even visiting is because of your impressive raid.”
When Eva looked at me like she didn’t believe that was the only reason, I stressed, “We never had to deal with Gloria directly, since she understood that our people in power are targetable—but our citizens arenot.”
“Gloria,” Eva spat out vehemently, emotion thick in her voice, “was past her prime. She was so easy to overthrow that I’m surprised she lasted that long.”
“Eva, darling, you’ve outlived your enemies.” Slake swished his tail. “You don’t need to make new ones. Now tell me where you got the molten ash vane.”
The guild master frowned, casting me a side-glance. “I don’t have to answer that here.”
“Of course you don’t.” Slake stood, balanced, and then hopped to the floor. He walked a few paces toward the door, where he sat and turned to face us. “But you will. And you are going to tell Commander General Rufus, or I’ll be mostdisappointedin you.” The grimalcat’s eyes glowed slightly green. “I won’t sit around waiting for months until everyone gathers the clues to some grand scheme by your benefactor. I was your benefactor first, and you will do me the courtesy of telling the nice beastman here what you know before I get back so that he can go and arrest the duke and be done with it. This entire exercise isannoying.”
Slake rose on all fours and stretched. “And stop pretending like you’re involved more than you are; you’re digging yourself into a hole. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
He walked out. I turned to the guild master, who was furious but definitely considering.
No one really wanted to deny a grimalcat.
“Fine,” she spat out. “I owed Duke Lector three favors. I approved assassins to North Sumbria, and I participated in that gods-awful mess that was an assault on your queen. Duke Wyldon was the last. If anyone else is using molten ash vane in Servalt, it didn’t originatehere.”
I raised an eyebrow, wondering if Slake wanted to join me in my trip to visit the Peldeep Assassin Assembly next.
“The way to bypass your borders was figured out by Guild Master Derek Stannard, so ask him.” She said. “If you have questions about molten ash vane, you’ll have to take it up with Duke Lector. He supplied all of the materials for his quests, and we purely accepted the hit.”
I tried to speak, but she cut me off. “I’m not finished. Before anything else, everyone should know that I have no ideawhois making it. The poisoner is anonymous and supplies poisons tobothassassin guilds. We get a drop-off every month or so, and starting last year, molten ash vane was added in.”
