Monster's Mercy

by William D. Arand

  “Might want to get those,” Rene said.

  “Certainly, after I get my pants.” Irini held her hand out.

  “Ah, pity. I thought I could get you to bend over without them,” Rene said with a grin, holding the pants out to the now very red-faced and angry cat-girl.

  ***

  Rene hadn’t spent much time in his new home. The one his father had purchased for him on his behalf. The staff had also been paid for and retained for Rene.

  Maids, butlers, gardeners, and kitchen staff.

  Walking into the main study with Irini, Rene found it to be rather well decorated.

  He gestured to a seat nearby, then waited for Irini to seat herself.

  Dressed in dark leathers, dark fabrics, and a dark cloak, she looked like something out of a bad television show.

  Gideon had been non-plussed to allow her into the home. Especially so late at night.

  Thankfully, no one had seen them enter. Gideon had been brilliant enough to have gone through the entire staff of the manse as well, and checked them from top to bottom for security concerns.

  So much so, that he felt confident it would cause no problems to ask one of the maids to deliver a tea and snack service in the small hours of the morning to what was clearly a ne'er-do-well.

  Irini sat herself down, giving her cloak a flap so it rested behind her, rather than under her.

  Taking his own seat, Rene gave her a smile.

  “Information for information then?” he asked.

  Irini hadn’t said much on their way back. She was clearly angry and frustrated. He imagined being caught and named had done her temperament no good at all.

  “That’d be fine,” she grumped. “You first. You know my name.”

  Rene had been thinking on that the entire way back. He hadn’t really come up with a plausible way to explain it, other than to claim something other-worldly.

  “Minor magic,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders. “So minor, that it’s more akin to Elven heritage magic. It’s also how I could follow you.

  “Now, how’d you know my name?”

  “I didn’t,” Irini said, grinning at him. Giving him a view of sharp, and clearly non-human, teeth.

  More fangs than an Elf even.

  So far she seems like she’s an Alis.

  “I looked into who the Mask could be. In looking into the Mask, I found the Black Hood had taken the coin for those involved with the Mask’s takeover,” Irini explained.

  The door on the far side of the room opened.

  A young woman with a cart and a tea set walked in.

  She was perhaps little better than sixteen, with large brown eyes, brown hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, and wearing a maid uniform.

  “May I serve?” she asked, smiling at Rene.

  He caught the undertone of her offer immediately.

  I’ll need to nip that one in the bud later.

  “Please, yes,” Rene said, smiling in return at the maid. She was cute and reminded him of his little sister otherwise. “Two sugars please, no cream or milk. And I didn’t catch your name?”

  “Oh! I’m Mira,” said the young girl, moving the cart that held the tea service over to where Rene and Irini were sitting.

  Mira rapidly filled a plate with a few different small sandwiches and cookies, then filled Rene’s teacup.

  When she turned to Irini, Mira got an almost blank look in return.

  “Just tea,” grumbled Irini.

  Mira nodded with a smile and immediately poured a cup of tea for Irini.

  “Is there anything else I can do for you?” Mira asked, looking to Rene.

  “No, thank you,” Rene said, smiling at her once again.

  Ducking her head, Mira went, leaving the cart behind with its snacks and the tea service.

  “You were saying?” Rene asked, as the door shut. He picked up a sandwich and took a bite.

  “Oh, ah… yes. The Mask didn’t seem like the type to let anyone take credit for his kills,” Irini said, holding her teacup in both hands. “From there, I looked into the Black Hood. Following that back, I found mention of a young man showing up with a bounty. An unknown young man.

  “I got his description and started comparing it to new arrivals that matched some of the clues and details I’d heard about the Mask.

  “Then matched it to you. There was no proof, of course. No way to ever prove it. Especially since… well… there’d be no reason for you to run a criminal enterprise.”

  Rene nodded.

  That all made sense.

  I’ll need to kill those who told her about the bounty I turned in.

  “You get the contract for me specifically, or is it just open-ended?” Rene asked.

  “It’s just open. I didn’t pick it up from anyone,” Irini said. “Now, information back my way. Could you really have followed me all the way back?”

  “Mmhmm. You weren’t going to escape from me,” Rene said with a grin.

  “And… are you… trained… to fight?” asked Irini. Her words had slowed during the middle, as if she wasn’t sure how to phrase the question.

  “Well enough that I could have beaten you to death without a weapon,” Rene said. He was considering murdering her out of hand anyway.

  She simply knew too much.

  “I sincerely doubt that,” Irini said, her brows drawing down.

  “Doubt it or not, I don’t think you’d stand a chance,” Rene said confidently. Since his change, he’d found that he was rapidly nearing what he used to be in his old life. Closing in very quickly on what used to be his peak.

  Without half as much training.

  All of that was much easier to attain now that he remembered everything he’d ever learned.

  “Which… means you’re going to kill me,” Irini said, then took a deep sip from her tea.

  “I’m considering it,” Rene admitted.

  “Figured,” Irini grumbled. “The moment you said my name, I knew this one was coming to a bad end. And before you ask, I scented you. I knew where you were, and had been, because I could smell you.”

  “Ahhh, and here I thought the cute nose and ears were just for looks,” Rene said, leaning back in his seat.

  He was enjoying himself considerably.

  “So… do we fight to the death or… what?” Irini asked, looking rather unsure.

  “Mmm. Not tonight. I’m rather tired, to be honest,” Rene said. “Even though I’m drinking this lovely tea, I’m almost positive I’ll simply pass out as soon as I hit my bed. Been up for a bit.”

  “I noticed,” Irini murmured. “The poor patroller didn’t even know you were there.”

  Grinning, Rene felt himself somewhat impressed. He hadn’t noticed the assassin back then.

  Maybe I can use her.

  “Rather than me killing you, how about I buy you?” Rene asked. “I’m sure I can pay you far more to keep me alive, or help keep me alive, than you could earn taking lives.”

  “I sincerely doubt that,” said Irini with a soft laugh. “I make a hundred gold a kill now. Admittedly, I have to be picky about targets, but I can easily make several thousand gold in a year.”

  Rene thought on that. Three thousand gold didn’t seem too high of a price to have an assassin on retainer.

  And she’s not exactly unskilled. I’m sure I could easily make use of her skills such that four thousand would seem almost paltry.

  Even just using the money I’ve made on my own, I could employ her for ten years or so without ever touching a coin from the guild, my father, or the bounties.

  “Okay,” Rene said. “Four thousand a year, payable every month, one month in advance.”

  Irini stared at him without moving or twitching. Even her ears, which often had been moving around constantly, were still.

  “I… that is… okay,” Irini said, sinking into the back of her seat after setting her teacup down. As nonchalant as it looked, it made Rene suspicious. “I suppose the alternative is that you’l
l track me down and try to kill me later.”

  “I wouldn’t try, dear, I’d succeed,” Rene said with a feral grin. “I had several opportunities before we came here. Did you not realize I was staring at you for a short while as you lay there with your crossbow?

  “Let alone the fact that I could have sunk a blade into your side rather than grabbing onto you like a love-struck boy when I jumped for you.

  “And that doesn’t even take into account that I could have just thrown anything at your back as you ran away from me.

  “No, Irini, you live because I let you live.”

  Irini’s eyes slowly narrowed, her pupils becoming slits as she stared at him.

  “Don’t try. I’ll take something from you, if you do. Maybe a finger, maybe your life,” Rene promised, setting his teacup down.

  Apparently, that wasn’t the right thing to say or do.

  Diving forward over the small distance between them, Irini came at him. In her hand was a dagger she’d pulled from her waist at some point. Leading with it, she tried to catch him in the chest.

  He hadn’t expected it, but he’d been ready for this just in case.

  Attacking Irini’s wrist, Rene knocked her hand to one side. The dagger slammed into the seat backing.

  Rene smashed his elbow into the back of Irini’s head.

  Groaning, the cat-girl assassin went limp in his lap.

  “Now, you’ve gone and done it. You ruined the chair,” Rene said. Taking Irini by the shoulders and head, he pushed at her till she was on her knees. “Alright then. I did tell you I’d take something. I have to follow through with the threat or you won’t respect me later.”

  Mumbling incoherently, Irini knelt there, her eyes rolling around in her head. He took the dagger from the chair and held it in his left hand.

  “Uh huh,” Rene said. “I think you could do with a notch in your ear. You’ll need your fingers if you’re working for me.”

  Delightful. Let’s start with the left. Make it small, just in case she misbehaves. We’ll have to add more.

  Pulling on Irini, Rene dragged her over to the coffee table nearby.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled. “Sorry.”

  “Yeah, that’s nice,” Rene said, pushing her head down on the coffee table.

  Irini struggled against him, though completely ineffectually.

  Moving the knife from his left hand to his right, he judged her ear critically.

  “Hey, inside or outside notch. I think outside, personally,” Rene said.

  “No. Sorry, sorry,” slurred Irini.

  “Outside, it is. Hold still now, I don’t want to botch this,” Rene murmured, leaning in close to Irini’s head.

  Irini groaned and her eyes couldn’t seem to focus on him as he put the knife tip to her ear.

  Moving quickly, he slipped the knife a quarter inch through her ear at a slight angle. He eased it over a few millimeters only and then brought it back down again.

  In less than a second, he’d notched her ear.

  Which was now bleeding rather freely all over his table.

  Clicking his tongue, Rene pulled a kerchief out of his inventory and immediately wiped down the table. Then he pressed it to Irini’s ear.

  Irini still seemed rather out of it, but she was also making a soft whining noise now.

  “There we are, your first notch,” Rene said, patting Irini’s cheek. “Let’s hope I don’t have to give you too many more. For now, I’ll just put you up in a guest room to sleep this off. I’ll see you in the morning, alright?”

  We’ll wait till the bleeding stops, then drop her off personally in her room..

  What an interesting day.

  To say the least and we caught a beast!

  ***

  Looking up from his breakfast, Rene found Irini walking through the doorway. She looked angry.

  Very angry.

  Though the notch in her ear was quite visible and looked to be healing well already.

  “Good morning,” Rene said, looking back down to the book he was reading. “Scones and tea? Or would you prefer something a bit more substantial?”

  “You-notched-my-ear,” growled Irini.

  “Sure did. You didn’t listen to me. I had to provide a proper punishment, of course. Looks good,” Rene said. Then he went back to his book, picking up where he’d left off. “Also, do mind your words. We’re relatively safe here—my staff is apparently trustworthy—but there’s no reason to go looking for trouble.”

  Lifting the scone up, he took a bite.

  “I… I can’t… you…” Irini stuttered.

  Taking his eyes from the book again, Rene waited.

  Irini stared back at him and then slowly deflated, her shoulders slumping.

  “Thank you for not killing me,” she murmured.

  “A dead tool serves no one,” Rene offered, setting his scone down and taking another drink of his tea. “I expect you to live here in the home with me. Do transfer your belongings over. I’ll have your pay ready for you by the time you get back. Is today enough time to close out your affairs otherwise?”

  “Yes,” mumbled Irini. “A day will be fine.”

  “Perfect,” Rene said and sighed, putting his teacup back down. “I’ll need to get going soon. Not nearly enough sleep, but I do need to go work on my affairs.”

  We should have gone and taught the children. We didn’t teach them yesterday either.

  Tomorrow, I promise. We’ll teach them tomorrow.

  Grumbling, the Monster fell silent once again.

  “Any questions?” Rene asked, stuffing the remains of the scone into his mouth. Then he immediately downed it with the remnants of his tea.

  “Am I allowed to quit?” Irini inquired, looking off and to one side.

  “Course you are. Though only after this year is up. Then you can quit,” Rene said, setting his teacup down. “Though I think you’ll want to remain working for me after that year. Nothing quite like having a steady paycheck and not having to kill as often.”

  Rene spoke from experience. He’d often wished he could have been on retainer more often. The few times he had been, he liked it.

  It was the Monster who’d prevented that from lasting longer than it had.

  Standing up, Rene pushed in his chair and dropped his napkin onto the plate.

  “See you later tonight,” he said, smiling at Irini.

  “See you,” murmured Irini.

  Chapter 23

  Two knights dispatched by Gideon accompanied Rene into the city when he left the manse.

  Both men wore full chain mail, breastplates, helms, and leg plates. If he had to guess at the reasoning, he imagined it was the best way to remain mobile, but get the most protection to vital areas.

  Not that dissimilar from a vest and a helmet. Everything can be worked on in the field to a degree.

  Turning onto the walkway and through the gates that led to the main building of the University of Felicie, Rene couldn’t help but compare it to the University of Laetus.

  The size seemed comparable, but where Laetus was historic, grand, and well-maintained, Felicie seemed considerably newer.

  Or more accurately, it was likely it had been recently remodeled.

  Passing by a number of students who were Rene’s physical age, or slightly older, he felt like he was blending in for once.

  He reached the doors and pulled them open. All around him, students were turning off onto the many paths that led to other buildings. As quickly as he felt surrounded, Rene was once again alone save for his two bodyguards as he walked into the main building.

  It was an expansive room filled with bookcases, desks, and people working diligently at whatever tasks they had. There was also a bank of chairs along one wall, which seemed to be a waiting station.

  “Can I help you?” asked a man sitting behind a desk near the front door. He looked to be in his mid-fifties, with light brown hair and blue eyes.

  “I believe so, yes,” Rene said with a
smile. “I’m supposed to come present myself for an interview for admission to this establishment.

  “I see,” the man said, then fell silent.

  “My name’s Rene Anatolis,” Rene said, trying again. “I believe my father would have sent over a communication ahead of me.”

  The man looked mildly surprised by that, and then his face hardened.

  He knows me and doesn’t like me? But I don’t know him.

  Someone father denied a loan to, perhaps?

  Or doesn’t like money lenders?

  “Certainly,” said the man. “Go ahead and take a seat. Your men may wait outside. I’ll forward a note over to the master of student affairs.”

  Nodding, and giving a small hand gesture to the two knights, Rene sat down in a chair by the far wall, in plain view of the man and the desk. Watching the man, Rene folded his hands in his lap.

  The two knights exited the room and took up positions directly outside the door.

  The man who’d greeted Rene and told him to wait, went back to his work as if nothing had happened at all.

  Uh.

  I suppose he just needs to finish what he’s working on then.

  Checking a sigh, Rene realized that perhaps he’d grown too used to how many doors his last name had opened for him in Laetus.

  Clearing his throat after a minute had ticked by, Rene got the man’s attention.

  “Will you be sending that note?” he asked when the man met his eyes.

  Blinking hard at that, the man seemed taken aback.

  “Oh, yes. Of course,” said the man. He picked up his quill and rapidly scrawled something on a paper, then stood up.

  The man walked away, apparently to go deliver the note.

  Doddering old fool. Someone should retire him.

  Pulling out The Elemental Way, Rene began to read quietly as he waited.

  Minutes passed and time oozed along.

  The man came back, saying nothing, and got right back to work with whatever it was he was doing. As if nothing had changed at all.

  After perhaps ten minutes, Rene closed his book and stared at the man.

  Unabashedly, unblinkingly.

  It didn’t take long for the man to look up, having apparently felt Rene’s gaze.