LILLIAD 34

CHAPTER 34

The sun was setting when Lilli and Ser Alcuin climbed down the stairs of the temple to rejoin their waiting companions.

Arelt looked up anxiously, fingers tangled in loops of string. Lilli eyed that and wondered. “How did it go?” Arelt asked. “It took a long time.”

In answer, Lilli held up her purse. It was visibly fuller.

Arelt slumped. It was obvious even at a glance that they had not received anywhere near the full payment offered for the original request. “For disposing of the skeleton?” He asked.

Lilli hummed, putting the purse back securely under her clothes. “More for providing a description of events that will hopefully allow the College of magic to identify and deal with the problem.”

“Undoubtedly useful,” Benk agreed. He seemed incredibly glum. “For them. I’m going to lose my dental. My kids are never getting their eyesight fixed. We will probably all be eaten alive and our corpses become nests that will feed a Black Plague of kytharys.”

“Cheer up,” said Lilli. Then she stopped. She couldn’t think of anything encouraging to say. She made a face. “Let’s go see Elathor.”

“To say our goodbyes?” Igni asked, sounding totally unaffected by the concept that their companion was scheduled for execution.

“Yes,” Lilli said, pleased that Igni understood social behaviors so well. “It’s important to get closure, and any information Elathor might have been withholding.” She felt her ears droop as she came dangerously close to contemplating Elathor’s death. “I… I do worry about how we can find the source and end this plague without them.”

“We could try reasoning with the authorities,” Ser Alcuin suggested. “If we explain why Elathor is so essential, perhaps call on my Lord to verify, perhaps Elathor could be released into our custody.”

There was a brief pause. “No,” Benk said. The lawman shook his head. “They’ll never listen to anything sensible. We’d be better off breaking Elathor out, and avoiding capture until we can secure a pardon.” He coughed, clearing his throat. “That plan is contingent on success. Of course, I think any plan we make must assume we succeed.”

“Yes,” Igni agreed. “You shall hardly need an itinerary if you fail. You will be very still and smell very badly. It is simple enough.” They lumbered ahead. “Come now, I wish to see the wizard.”

Lilli had expected that they would have to bribe the guard again to get in. She steeled herself as they approached the door, fingers tapping anxiously at her coin purse.

When they came into view, the guard stood up. Even from such a distance, the relief on his face was obvious.

“Oh no,” said Lilli. That didn’t seem good.

The guard began jogging toward them.

“I do not like this,” Lilli said. She glanced wildly at her companions. “What do you think Elathor did?”

“They bit someone,” Igni suggested.

“Robbed the guard,” Arelt stated, as if it was a fact and not a silly conjecture. Elathor probably hadn’t had a chance to rob the guard. Probably.

“You,” the guard said, stern. He almost sounded angry. Lilli had to push down the small, young part of her that wanted to shrink away. “You come in and take that lizard away.”

“...what?” Lilli said, lost. She was totally lost. She needed someone to hold her hand and take her through this conversation.

“Your wizard is refusing to leave. Get the fucker out of my prison,” the guard said, voice raised nearly to a shout by the end.

Lilli made eye contact with Ser Alcuin, and then with Benk. They looked as mystified as she felt. “Show us,” she said, not sure what else to do. “I’ll talk to him.”

“Please.” The guard stressed. He ran a hand through his hair. It stood straight up. “Talk some sense into them. I want to go home to my family.”

As they passed, Benk clapped a companionable hand to the poor distressed man’s shoulder. “I understand,” he said quietly. He squeezed. “We’ll sort it out, man.”

Igni made a low hum, tilting their stone head to examine the guard. “I will remain here,” they said slowly. “And comfort this person.”

They heard Elathor before the group saw them. The wizard was letting out occasional wails that felt more stubborn than pained. “No,” they groaned. “No, no, no! I will not, I can not.”

“But you must,” said a silky voice. It took a moment to place it as belonging to the terrifying mage woman who had originally arrested Elathor. She was perched on absolutely nothing, 5 feet above the ground. Her chin rested in her hands. She looked very pleased. “Hello, friends.”

“...Friends?” said Benk. He cleared his throat. “Well met.”

She hummed and used one hand to make a sweeping gesture at Elathor. “It’s been decided that the wizard Elathor ought to be released.”

“Nooo,” Elathor wailed.

“You don’t want to be here,” Lilli said, extremely annoyed. “Let’s go.”

Elathor opened one eye to peek at her. “If I go,” they hissed, “I will owe this despicable wretch A FAVOR.”

Lilli cast an anxious glance over at the extremely powerful sorceress. She did not seem at all insulted. “You’ll have to come to terms with that,” Lilli said firmly. She reached down and hauled Elathor up. At least, she tried. They went flat against the floor and she couldn’t dislodge them. “Be sensible! Everyone will die if you don’t come with us.”

Elathor inhaled deeply, but didn’t relent.

Their knight sighed. “Thank you for your generous intercedence, Lady,” they said. The sorcerous inclined her head in silent response. “We shall depart. Please call upon us if you ever have need.”

“I might just,” she said. She offered them a smile. “I hear you took the quest which has been available for weeks now. How did that go?”

Ser Alcuin cleared their throat and glanced at Lilli.

She blinked, but answered. “We encountered some type of puppeted corpse, but not the perpetrator.”

The mage tilted her head slowly, taking Lilli in. “Interesting,” was all that she said. “Goodbye.”

And then she was gone.

Lilli sighed.

Elathor dug their fingers into the flagstones.

Ser Alcuin bent and nodded at Benk and Arelt. “Come on, boys,” they said. They gestured to the guards to come and help carry their intransigent wizard out. “Lilli, would you get the door?”