Death Dealers

The Road

Agatha stepped back into her study in Frisa. Traveling took a lot out of her. Each time she had to relive a part of the future. The Archmage dropped into a chair. She’d need to rejuvenate soon, but first, she had to process what she had learned this day. The Vault was back in the world!

No one knew exactly what the vault was, but it had been gone as long as the empire had existed, and since the dawn of the empire it had been hunted. It was a source of power that she was sure, and Gareth held it. She needed to understand what that meant. She held out her hand and a jeweled cube floated to her. This cube held all the knowledge she had collected on the vault throughout her life, including the people closest to finding it.

She rang a bell and her attendant came in. The woman was slight and was easily overlooked, but she was a powerful magi and held other abilities that were less known and less understood. “I need you to contact the emperor, the time is near. The vault is opened.”

***

The stablehand had two horses ready for him when he entered the stable. Gareth took time to inspect the small gelding. It was good flesh, but not fine. The horse would do well on the road. He turned to his new companion.

He wasn’t happy with this arrangement, but the Archmagi had given him a boon in not pressing for the trove. He understood that he was now in a game and out of his depths. He wasn’t sure if he knew enough of the archmagi’s plans to be more than an irritation.

He checked the straps on the saddle before checking out his own mount and swinging into his saddle. He glanced over his shoulder at the sorceress and nudged his horse into a trot.

At midday, he passed her trail rations, but he led his horse instead of stopping entirely. It was custom for him to ride, walk, then ride. On the walks, it was to the side of the road and his horse was allowed to graze while walking. The woman was keeping pace. He had to give her that. It was nearing dusk when she spoke for the first time. “Are we going to be silent all the way to the northern border?” She asked.

“I don’t know. Look, I don’t blame you for trying to kill me, but I work alone. Extra baggage complicates things.” He led his horse further off the road. “We’ll camp here. I do need to assess your skills.”

“Okay, I want a bath.”

He sighed and rolled his eyes. “I don’t have time or the desire to draw you a bath.”

Mari chuckled. “A spare bucket would do, ser. You could use a bath also. I can summon the water and I have unscented soaps. It won’t be as luxurious as a bath, but it will feel good. I’ll also wash your clothes.”

***

The bath did feel good, despite it being nothing more than a soapy and wet sponge. He had made dinner, simple trail food, but it had been hot and filling and the tea that went with it was refreshing. He helped Mari with her back and she washed his back then she slid into a clean shift and went to the clothing.

It seemed odd that yesterday they had tried to kill each other. He still didn’t know what to think of the woman and he was sure she didn’t know how to deal with him. “Thank you, I don’t expect you to be my servant.”

She turned to him, her slave mark visible under the thin shift, that did nothing to hide what was beneath. He averted his eyes a little, adjusting them to meet her eyes. “I’m a slave, I am meant to serve.”

He patted the furs laid on the ground and she reached for the hem of her shift. “No, not that, just talk.” He said softly.

She nodded. “You must have a good woman. We can tell. A jealous wife will drive men to us, as will a woman that is too free. You Imperials are freer than most societies, but even you have rules. When a man notices me but doesn’t take me, it means another woman holds more than his bed.” She said as she walked over and sat beside him. For a moment she looked around the tent. “Do all Death Dealers have such a tent?”

He glanced around. The tent would have slept a squad, It and the furs had been an imperial gift, It had come with a bag that was spelled to hold it, the writing table, and even the changing screen. “I saved the Emperor’s life. He saw fit to give me accommodation above my station.”

“You’re that Death Dealer.” She sank down beside him. “Why am I alive?”

He shrugged. He didn’t know the answer. He had done more than not kill her, he had saved her life. That was something he hadn’t done before. Saving the Emperor had been different. He had killed a man plotting against the emperor, he hadn’t actively prevented the dagger from hitting the man. “I don’t know. I was under a spell, something about how it affected me, wanted you alive.”

“Can you train me to be more...I know it is against the ordinances, but then you keeping me with you violates three of them?”

“You want to kill?”

“No, I want to live and one day have a child as a free woman. Service to the Empire can give me that.”

Gareth was quiet for a long time. He lay back on the furs, his eyes looking at the thick canvas of the roof. “What you ask will have a personal cost. I’ll make you my knife, and hone you, but it will have a toll on your soul.”

“I’m not sure I have a soul anymore.” She muttered.