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Chapter 35
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2024-10-29 19:42:56- "I get it. I get it!" Nobody does snarky like an eleven year-old street rat. Especially the female variety. But just for a moment there, I think that Denya understood how worried I was. "Alright." she conceded. "I'll spread the word." - "Thank you." I passed her some money. If she and her brother stayed off the streets, they wouldn't have any income. Then I went to meet Teeshay. This was going to take careful handling. Since I had last seen her, yesterday, she had sent me into an ambush, which I had avoided by using my telekinesis spell. Had I been stupid enough to knock on the door, blunderbuss-boy would have blown my head off. Then, that very evening, the same killers had interrupted my tryst with Aressine. Thank goodness she'd been there; I wouldn't have been able to handle all four attackers. I had to guess at how much of that Teeshay knew. Well, how much Syrava knew. Not for the first time, I wondered why she disliked me so intensely.
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Jayden's Luck Chapter 36
- "What do we do now?"- "You keep silent, and stop interrupting me. Then I will dispel the wards." Taliesine didn't even bother to look my way, but Kima was grinning.The glow on the door vanished. The wizard stepped back, and waved a hand at me. A quick check confirmed that there were no mundane traps. I had my lock picking tools ready, but I barely needed them. It was child's play to open the door.I entered first, and led the way, followed by Taliesine, with Kima acting as rearguard. We had decided not to use a candle or lantern, because the light might show through a window, when no one was supposed to be home.I wasn't the only one with low-light vision. Taliesine had it, too - courtesy of a spell. Kima simply told me not to worry about her.Once inside, the wizard insisted on casting her detection spell again.- "Clear."There was no need to go near the kitchen, as far as I was concerned. Jerian's ro
Jayden's Luck Chapter 37
Easier said than done: we were still awake hours later, no closer to knowing what to do about Syrava. That was one reason why I changed the subject.- "Taliesine?"- "Yes?"- "Have you ever had an apprentice?"- "Once. It was an error on both our parts, which ended badly."- Have you ever considered taking another? Or possibly tutoring someone?"Taliesine raised a single eyebrow. "Who, Ken? You obviously have a specific person in mind. I have no interest in training one of your paramours, no matter how much financial inducement you offer."- "Paramours? No - she's only 11."- "Eww, Ken!" said Kima.- "No. No! She's not my girlfriend. Her name is Denya. She's a street kid. Part-time thief. She works for me, sometimes - she's the best tracker I've got. Bright, quick-witted, observant ..."- "Why her?" asked Taliesine.- "I worry about her. I want to help her .
Jayden's Luck Chapter 38
The raven-haired wizard confirmed Kima's story: Syrava had no use for men.Yet I had heard her, in Jerian's house, saying 'That's not ... it's not just sex, for me'.- "She's not with Jerian." I said. "He may think she is, but she's in love with a woman."- "Teeshay?" said Kima, with a frown.- "Cremyne." I said. "Jerian's wife."I contacted both Inavar and Ledomir; they had to be told what I'd learned. I wasn't sure how they'd take it, but I insisted that we had to meet at the Narimac, so that Sylvia could block any scrying or listening spell. Syrava might know where I was, but she wouldn't be able to see me, or listen in. Inavar came the very next day. - "Ledomir will see you the day after tomorrow." he said. "It wouldn't do for us to be seen in the same place too often. Now - why did we have to meet here?" I explained about Syrava. The Wolf just grunted. So I backed
Jayden's Luck Chapter 39
- "We've met." said the dark-skinned, dark-eyed asshole that I'd encountered at the Eagle - when he claimed that I was sitting at his table. He'd shaved his head for the occasion. His voice was just as cold, just as expressionless as the first time I'd heard it. "I remember Master Ken." he said. "I remember him very well." Had we been meeting outdoors, I would've been reaching for my pistols. They wouldn't dare to try anything at a party, in a crowd - would they? Pirate Lord Rymogo extricated me from what might have become an awkward situation. She threw an arm around my shoulder, and shouted in my ear. - "Ken! I was looking for you!" Then she pretended to catch sight of Jerian's party. "Jerian." she said, coolly. - "Rymogo." he answered, equally cool. "You know my wife, Cremyne." Then he had to introduce the rest of his party. They were - understandably - much more polite to old Rymogo than they'd been
Jayden's Luck Chapter 37
Easier said than done: we were still awake hours later, no closer to knowing what to do about Syrava. That was one reason why I changed the subject.- "Taliesine?"- "Yes?"- "Have you ever had an apprentice?"- "Once. It was an error on both our parts, which ended badly."- Have you ever considered taking another? Or possibly tutoring someone?"Taliesine raised a single eyebrow. "Who, Ken? You obviously have a specific person in mind. I have no interest in training one of your paramours, no matter how much financial inducement you offer."- "Paramours? No - she's only 11."- "Eww, Ken!" said Kima.- "No. No! She's not my girlfriend. Her name is Denya. She's a street kid. Part-time thief. She works for me, sometimes - she's the best tracker I've got. Bright, quick-witted, observant ..."- "Why her?" asked Taliesine.- "I worry about her. I want to help her ... grow into something more than a thief."
Jayden's Luck Chapter 36
- "What do we do now?"- "You keep silent, and stop interrupting me. Then I will dispel the wards." Taliesine didn't even bother to look my way, but Kima was grinning.The glow on the door vanished. The wizard stepped back, and waved a hand at me. A quick check confirmed that there were no mundane traps. I had my lock picking tools ready, but I barely needed them. It was child's play to open the door.I entered first, and led the way, followed by Taliesine, with Kima acting as rearguard. We had decided not to use a candle or lantern, because the light might show through a window, when no one was supposed to be home.I wasn't the only one with low-light vision. Taliesine had it, too - courtesy of a spell. Kima simply told me not to worry about her.Once inside, the wizard insisted on casting her detection spell again.- "Clear."There was no need to go near the kitchen, as far as I was concerned. Jerian's room, or study was a better go
Jayden's Luck Chapter 38
The raven-haired wizard confirmed Kima's story: Syrava had no use for men.Yet I had heard her, in Jerian's house, saying 'That's not ... it's not just sex, for me'.- "She's not with Jerian." I said. "He may think she is, but she's in love with a woman."- "Teeshay?" said Kima, with a frown.- "Cremyne." I said. "Jerian's wife." I contacted both Inavar and Ledomir; they had to be told what I'd learned. I wasn't sure how they'd take it, but I insisted that we had to meet at the Narimac, so that Sylvia could block any scrying or listening spell. Syrava might know where I was, but she wouldn't be able to see me, or listen in. Inavar came the very next day. - "Ledomir will see you the day after tomorrow." he said. "It wouldn't do for us to be seen in the same place too often. Now - why did we have to meet here?" I explained about Syrava. The Wolf just grunted. So I backed up, and told him everything
Jayden's Luck Chapter 39
- "We've met." said the dark-skinned, dark-eyed asshole that I'd encountered at the Eagle - when he claimed that I was sitting at his table. He'd shaved his head for the occasion. His voice was just as cold, just as expressionless as the first time I'd heard it. "I remember Master Ken." he said. "I remember him very well." Had we been meeting outdoors, I would've been reaching for my pistols. They wouldn't dare to try anything at a party, in a crowd - would they? Pirate Lord Rymogo extricated me from what might have become an awkward situation. She threw an arm around my shoulder, and shouted in my ear. - "Ken! I was looking for you!" Then she pretended to catch sight of Jerian's party. "Jerian." she said, coolly. - "Rymogo." he answered, equally cool. "You know my wife, Cremyne." Then he had to introduce the rest of his party. They were - understandably - much more polite to old Rymogo than they'd been to me. She gree
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Jayden's Luck Chapter 46
- "Well, there is a way to prevent it from happening again." she said. "Ken could buy you the house next door." It wasn't as crazy as it sounded. Sylvia wasn't simply floating an idea that had just occurred to her. - "We have more than enough money." she told me. - "What about the research for your spell?" I whispered. - "We can easily to buy another house. Or several houses. In fact, it would be a wise investment, against the day when the Narimac is no longer here." - "Really?" - "You could sell them, at some time in the future, if you needed money. Or you could rent them to lodgers, and provide yourself with a regular income." - "How do you know so much, when you've never set foot outside this place?" It wasn't a real question; no answer was required. I was just amazed by my partner - again. Pamna and Fhaernala weren't sure that they wanted to be housemates, but the idea of a l
Jayden's Luck Chapter 45
I was stunned. Sylvia couldn't leave the Narimac. It had never occurred to me that her magic could. Or was it the fact that it was Taliesine's spell, first? Taliesine turned to Aressine. "I am sorry if I caused you undue worry. It was not my intention to harm either of you." "You may have said certain things, in my presence, when you believed that I was dead. I was not expecting to eavesdrop, or to hear sentiments which probably would not have been expressed if you knew that I was alive." - "You don't have to apologize to us. Well, to me, anyway. Sorry." I said, to Aressine. - "I understand why you didn't tell us, Taliesine." she said. "But I was frightened. I really thought you were dead." - "That decision was taken in haste. I may not have made the best choice ... for all concerned." - "She didn't think that I could keep the secret." said Kima. She still looked half furious, and only half relieved. "She was pr
Jayden's Luck Chapter 45
No such luck. Cremyne was a crazy bitch - but she'd make all of us suffer if I pushed her too far. - "If ... if I tell you what the problems are ... you'll give them a quick death?" I whispered. - "Absolutely." said Cremyne. Another lie. She was already angry. Boutan and Naomi, Kima ... and Aressine were going to endure torment before they died - all because of Cremyne. I'd been wrong again. All these weeks, I'd been wondering why Syrava hated me so much, and how she could turn, so viciously, on her former friends. But the fey wizard was only part of the picture. Cremyne was just as bad - or even worse. Plan C, then. Three pathetic little spells, and a slim blade in my boot. That's when I saw the shadow on the stairs. Aressine might have noticed it. Boutan and Naomi probably couldn't see, from where they were. Nor could Samadar, who was still standing next to them. Kima, of course, was facing t
Jayden's Luck Chapter 44
- "Denya, you met her. She had the personality of a horned lizard. What was to like?" - "You hated her, then?" - "No, dummy. I respected her. Taliesine couldn't have cared less whether I liked her or hated her guts. Most of the people I've met who didn't care were assholes. But you have to admire someone - who isn't a complete asshole - who genuinely doesn't give a shit what people think of them." - "That's definitely not you." said Denya. "You try too hard to make everybody like you. And I'm not a dummy." - "Yeah, you are." I said, prodding her with my dagger. "When I called you a dummy, you got upset, and you totally missed me drawing my dagger and transferring it to my left hand." - "FUCK!" Denya was seriously ticked off. Not at me - at herself. I went to find Mehdawi. That night was the rarest of occurrences: a quiet time at the Gale. He only needed me to cast one spell. After that, he open
Jayden's Luck Chapter 43
Syrava's spell was broken as she fled. I lurched forward, off-balance. There was no sign of Samadar now, either. He had crawled away, and then melted into the shadows. The gargoyles dropped the dead crossbow-woman to the ground. Thaak stood for a moment, admiring his handiwork. Aacah loomed up beside me. - "Help." I got out. "Help me carry Aressine. Careful -" Aacah bent over, and scooped my girlfriend up in her arms. Aressine screamed as the shattered bones in her hip ground together. Then she passed out. The two gargoyles helped me carry my injured companions to the Narimac. We created quite a stir when we entered through the front doors. Sylvia was there. Thank all the Gods - my partner took charge of us. The gargoyles took us upstairs, where Sylvia had a look at Taliesine. Then she switched her attention to Aressine. Neither woman was making any noise. - "Crossbow bolts.
Jayden's Luck Chapter 42
- "You don't want to hear me trying, sweetheart." - "Please? Just a little bit?" - "Don't ask. You'll regret it. Take my word for it." She wouldn't stop. She continued to plead with me, to harp, to badger, to cajole ... but I knew how to make her quit. I sang four verses of a well-known sailor's shanty. What will you do with a drunken sailor? What will you do with a drunken sailor? What will you do with a drunken sailor, Earl-eye in the mornin' Aressine took it like a warrior. Her eyes watered, a little, but she didn't run away. - "I see." she said. "You were right." There's a first time for everything. *** Aressine and I were entwined, in the spoon position, with my erection buried inside her. We weren't thrashing about, though - it was our third lovemaking session of the day, after all. We were in no hurry. - "HA!!" I heard, from halfway across the
Jayden's Luck Chapter 41
"I didn't want to put you in danger." I said. "I think you already are, though. I'm sorry about that." She took my hand in both of hers. - "What's the alternative, Ken? To live at the Narimac, and never go outside? Or to cut yourself off from everyone you know, so that no one but you is in danger?" She was remarkably perceptive; I'd been thinking along those very lines, only a few nights ago. It sounded sillier when she said it that way. "Your friends would rather support you, and help. You can't expect us to let you face your adversaries alone." We sat in silence for a moment. Then I remembered something she'd said earlier. - "You said that you'd been thinking, too." - "Yes." I didn't press her. I did reach over, with my free hand, to stroke her fingertips. Other than that, I just waited. Aressine was not an impetuous person; more often than not, she was very deliberate, taking her
Jayden's Luck Chapter 40
- "Better." I said. "Who is your employer?" - "Jerian, the Younger." Technically, I suppose, that was true. I decided to let it pass, for the moment, and let Teeshay think that she'd gotten away with one. - "Have you slept with him?" She hesitated for a moment. "Yes." That gave me a sudden inspiration. "Who else have you slept with, in the past month?" Her jaw dropped. "Are you serious?" - "Very. Who else?" - "You, for one." Then, reluctantly, Teeshay proceeded to name nine more men. Three were independent pirate captains; three were members of Inavar's crews. The last trio were one of Ledomir's captains, his first mate, and a man whose name meant nothing to us. Teeshay glanced at Sylvia, quickly, as she finished her list. - "All true." said the Jasmi. "But she left out two men, and two women." Teeshay could only stare at my partner, her mouth open. - "That counts
Jayden's Luck Chapter 39
- "We've met." said the dark-skinned, dark-eyed asshole that I'd encountered at the Eagle - when he claimed that I was sitting at his table. He'd shaved his head for the occasion. His voice was just as cold, just as expressionless as the first time I'd heard it. "I remember Master Ken." he said. "I remember him very well." Had we been meeting outdoors, I would've been reaching for my pistols. They wouldn't dare to try anything at a party, in a crowd - would they? Pirate Lord Rymogo extricated me from what might have become an awkward situation. She threw an arm around my shoulder, and shouted in my ear. - "Ken! I was looking for you!" Then she pretended to catch sight of Jerian's party. "Jerian." she said, coolly. - "Rymogo." he answered, equally cool. "You know my wife, Cremyne." Then he had to introduce the rest of his party. They were - understandably - much more polite to old Rymogo than they'd been to me. She gree
