CHAPTER 41
Cornelius’ alchemical workbench was neatly organised, as befitted a professional. Longinus and Cornelius had carefully entered the room together, still holding their weapons. At a call from Cornelius, two burly men appeared, and they now guarded the door.
“I’m surprised an alchemist like you would associate with a woman like Mizria,” Longinus said to buy himself some time. His eyes roamed over the alchemical bench, picking out the compounds he recognised. He needed time to work out a strategy.
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” snapped Cornelius. “She’s a great woman. You don’t know her, you don’t know what she’s been through to get here.”
“Oh, I know her well enough,” said Longinus nonchalantly. “We’ve had sartorial disagreements by proxy, and that tells me all I need to
