I really didn’t know if I was creating justifications that would eventually break down or not. But a couple of days of wondering was all I could take. I managed to put it out of my mind, and, to be frank, it hasn’t bothered me since.
I don’t know, maybe someday it will, and if so I’ll deal with it then.
I don’t know how long I stood there, perhaps an hour, before Morrolan and Aliera came up behind me. Then the three of us watched the waves break for a few minutes. Behind us, the way we’d come, were the Paths of the Dead and the Halls of Judgment. To our right, beyond the Cycle, was a dark forest, through which lay the way out, for some of us.
After a time Aliera said, “I won’t leave without Morrolan.”
Morrolan said, “You are a fool.”
“And you’re another for coming here when you knew you couldn’t get out alive.”
“I can think of another fool, Loiosh.”
“Another two, boss.”
“That’s as may be,” said Morrolan. “But there is no need to make the venture useless.”
“Yes there is. I choose to do so.”
“It is absurd to kill yourself merely because—”
“It is what I will do. No one, no one will sacrifice his life for me. I won’t have it. We both leave, or we both remain.”
There was a cool breeze on the right side of my face. That way was home. I shook my head. Morrolan should have known better than to expect rationality from a Dragaeran, much less a Dragonlord. But then, he was one himself.
Aliera said, “Go back, Vlad. I thank you for your help, but your task is finished.”
Yes, Morrolan was a Dragonlord and a Dragaeran. He was also pompous and abrasive as hell. So why did I feel such a resistance to just leaving him? But what else could I do? There was no way to leave with him, and I, at least, saw no value in pointless gestures.
Morrolan and Aliera were looking at me. I looked away.
“Leave, Vlad,” said Morrolan. I didn’t move.
“You heard him, boss. Let’s get out of here.”
I stood there yet another minute. I wanted to be home, but the notion of just saying good-bye to Morrolan and walking away, well, I don’t know. It didn’t feel right.
I’ve spent many fruitless minutes since then wondering what would have happened if the breeze hadn’t shifted just then, bringing with it the tang of salt and the smell of seaweed.
Dead bodies and seaweed. I chuckled. Yeah, this was a place where that phrase was appropriate. Where had I first heard it? Oh, yeah, the bar. Ferenk’s. Drinking with Kiera.
Kiera. Right. That. It just might do it. If there was only a way ...
Witchcraft?
I looked at Morrolan and Aliera.
“It’s crazy, boss.”
“I know. But still—”
“We don’t even know if we’re on the same world as—”
“Maybe it doesn’t matter.”
“What if it does?”
“Boss, do you have any idea how much that will take out of you?”
“They’ll have to carry me back.”
“If it doesn’t work, they won’t be able to.”
“I know.”
Loiosh shut up, as he realized I wasn’t really listening to him. I dug in my pack and found my last kelsch leaf.
Aliera said, “What is it, Vlad?”
“An idea for getting Morrolan out of here. Will you two be willing to carry me if I can’t walk on my own?”
Morrolan said, “What is it?”
“Witchcraft,” I said.
“How—”
“I’m going to have to invent a spell. I’m not certain it can be done.”
“I am a witch. Can I help?”
I hesitated, then shook my head. “I have one more kelsch leaf left. I’m going to chew on it myself in order to get the energy to do the spell. If you help, who will carry us both out?”
“Oh. What is the spell intended to do?”
I licked my lips, realizing that I didn’t want to tell him.
“Why not, boss?”
“He’ll just say it can’t be done.”
“Well, can it?”
“We’ll find out.”
“Why?”
“I’ve always wanted to test myself as a witch. Here’s my big chance.”
“Boss, I’m serious. If you put that much into it and it doesn’t work it will—”
“Kill me. I know. Shut up.”
“And with the amount of energy you’ll have to pour into it you won’t be able to stay awake. And—”
“Drop it, Loiosh.”
To Morrolan I said, “Never mind. Wait here. I’m going to find a place to set this up. I’ll probably be near the Cycle, so stay away from there; I don’t want anyone around to distract me. When I’m done, if it works, I’ll find you.”
“What if it doesn’t work?”
“Then you’ll find me.”
Bribing Treffa had cost quite a bit, as had the soundproofing spells and the escape, since I dealt directly with a sorceress who worked for the Left Hand, rather than going through Feet. Why? I don’t know. I mean, after hiring me, he wouldn’t turn around and shine me after I did the job. If word of that got around, no one would work for him again. But on the other hand, this killing was Morganti. If he had the chance to cleanly dispose of me by having a teleport go wrong, he probably wouldn’t take it, but why tempt him?
In any case, by the time all was said and done, I’d spent a great deal, but I still had a great deal left. I decided not to live it up this time, because I didn’t want to call attention to myself. I didn’t want to leave town for the same reason. This killing made quite a splash, and that made me nervous, but I got over it.
So far as I know, no one ever found out I’d done it. But once again, there were those who seemed to know. One of them was Welok the Blade, who was about as nasty as they come. I started working directly for him a few weeks later, doing collecting and trouble-shooting and keeping an eye on his people. I carefully set aside the money I’d earned, determined to invest it in something that would keep earning for me. Maybe even something legitimate.
About a month after I started working for Welok, I was visiting my grandfather in South Adrilankha, and I met a human girl named Ibronka, who had the longest, straightest, blackest hair I’d ever seen, and eyes you could get lost in. I still hadn’t made my investment.
Oh, well.
After going this far, I couldn’t back out. The three of us were going to leave together or not at all, and now there was a chance of success. If I’d wanted to pray just then, I would have prayed to my grandfather, not to Verra, because his guidance would have been more useful.
I didn’t think he’d ever tried inventing a spell, though. Dammit, if sorcery worked around here, Morrolan could have simply caused the thing to appear from my flat. But then, if sorcery worked we could have just teleported out of here. No point in thinking about that.
I selected a spot facing the Cycle. Why? I’m not sure. It seemed appropriate, and the apropos is a vital thing to a practicing witch.
I started chewing on the leaf while I meditated, relaxing, preparing myself. When it had done as much for me as it was capable of, I spit it out.
I took my pack off and opened it, then sat down. I wondered if the gods would stop me, then decided that if they were looking at me, they would have done something as soon as I began laying out the implements of the spell. It was amusing to be out of their sight, yet right in their backyard, so to speak.
I studied the Cycle and tried to collect my courage.
Waiting would just make things more difficult.
I took a deep breath and began the spell.
I have a vague memory of a little girl shaking my shoulder, saying, “Don’t fall asleep. You’ll die if you fall asleep. Stay awake.”
When I opened my eyes there was no one there, so it may have been a dream. On the other hand, to dream one must be sleeping, and if I was sleeping ...