Lingering Fate (Silver Ones Curse Book 1)

by B. W. Catt

  The man sighed. He took a sip of the beer. “You can call me Raqee and nothing more than that.”

  Woldiniar smiled. “You got it Raqee! First one to twenty pints wins!”

  Raqee choked on his drink. “Twenty? I do not plan to die in this slum of a pub. You might not care but I have more things to do in this world.”

  “As do I, but I at least I can hold my beer unlike ye!”

  Woldiniar chugged his third glass as Raqee was still working on his first.

  “Another round for my friend and I!”

  The bartender sat down another pint in front of Raqee and Woldiniar. Raqee had three full pints in front of him.

  “You are behind Raqee. You should at least be done with two by now!”

  Raqee scoffed at him. Farrah played with her empty glass and glared at Woldiniar. “Could you get me another Woldy dearest? She leaned up against him.”

  “Of course me dear.” He patted her on the head. “Bartender another for my concubine!”

  Farrah jumped at his words. Her glare was worse than death. Woldiniar’s eyes widened in fear of her gaze. Raqee laughed.

  “So you are not ashamed to announce you are one of wealth I see.”

  “Wealth? No, no wealth. I just have many ladies. I guess they fall for my magic.” Woldiniar ran his fingers through Farrah’s hair before pulling her hair to his nose to smell.

  “The ladies always run to me and never leave. It's why I am here currently. One of my young ones has lost something and I wish to keep her happy so I am traveling in an attempt to find what some bandits stole.”

  Raqee chugged the remainder of his first pint. “I see. Stolen goods. It must have a lot of value for it to be stolen. So you must have some form of money then.”

  “No, she came to me with it. I could never afford something so extravagant.”

  Raqee rubbed his hand over his chin. “Something with so much value. You must really like your concubines in order to go searching for it then.”

  Woldiniar nodded and chugged his sixth pint. Slamming it onto the bar he yelled out. “Another round me dear drink maker!!”

  The bartender glared at Woldiniar before making two more pints. He sat one in front of both of the men. Raqee now had four before him. Raqee glared at Woldiniar for yet another pint being placed in front of him.

  “So, what do you plan to do about finding it?”

  “I heard there were some men here in this town whom held the power to get goods for peoples like me. So here I am. I look to get information. I can handle thieves on my owns.”

  “I see. I may be able to help you with that. I know someone who holds that type of information. Come sit closer Wold.”

  Woldiniar stumbled trying to move a few seats closer to Raqee. Farrah looked at the two of them, debating on whether she should move over as well.

  “You can stay there’s my ho! Us men need to talk without your nose near.” Woldiniar shouted to her.

  She jumped up in anger. “That’s it! I am done with your shenanigans!”

  “Ha, it sounds like your concubines have no respect for you. Even though you seem to really like them.” Raqee spoke condescending to Woldiniar.

  “She is a new one. This was supposed to be her debut but it seems I need to put her back into her place!”

  Woldiniar drunkenly charged over to her and grabbed her arm. He yanked her into his arms. Tightening his grip around her he whispered. “Forgive me.”

  He kissed her before pushing her against the wall and kissing her again with more passion. Farrah squirmed before giving in.

  He released her. “Sit back down where ye belong!” His voice was hoarse and stern.

  She nodded. Placing her fingers on her lips she looked up at him; embarrassed. He wrapped an arm around her and walked with her back to the bar.

  Whispering again. “Thank you.”

  Farrah smiled. “I am sorry for stepping out of bounds master. I promise I won't do it again, forgive me.”

  “If you truly are sorry then kiss me on your own will scamp.”

  Stunned by his words she took a deep breath and nodded. She reached up to his face and leaned in for another kiss. Woldiniar accepted her kiss and then sat back down next to Raqee.

  “Shall we get back to our talks?”

  “Yes, we shall. But before we do, I must say you have a very interesting way of getting your concubines to listen. I am used to more force. But you, you use their desire of lust to win them back. I am impressed with your ways, it is less barbaric than I am used to.”

  Woldiniar smirked “If we become friends then I can show you my ways one day. Then you may have as many as I!”

  Raqee glared at his glass. He mumbled just loud enough for Woldiniar to hear “I refuse to live such a life. I dream of living an honest man's life with nothing to do with the likes of these people.”

  They both regained composure of themselves.

  “The trade people you speak of sit behind me in the far corner surrounded by all of those women. I sit here daily and listen in on their conversations in order to sell their deals to nearby bandits who look to rob from them. Not like those bandits make away with anything. They try to steal back for smaller villages. Many hate these men, myself included. That’s why I do this. One day..”

  Raqee’s words dribbled off.

  “One day what Raqee?” Woldiniar asked questioningly.

  “It's nothing Wold. Just a child’s dream. Nothing important. But you should wait until they leave to get information from them. What I do know is they are leaving in two days to transport goods to the coast to be shipped out. Your concubines’ goods could be there or they could have already left with yesterday's transport.”

  Woldiniar listened to his words and thought about his best course of action.

  We can't afford a night in this town. We should leave just in case her bracelet already left. And if it hasn’t then we can ambush them before they arrive at the next town.

  “Let me make you a deal. If you agree to work with me then I can offer you a job outside of this place. It will be a lot of hard work but you will be free from the snitch life. What do you say Raqee?”

  Raqee looked at his glass and rubbed his hands along the side. He looked to Woldiniar with a straight face. “How do I know I can trust your words?”

  “You can’t but if you stay here then I can promise you will die fast Raqee. And that would go against everything you want to do.” Woldiniar looked to the bartender. “Another round barback!”

  The bartender set down their twelfth glass. Raqee was still working on his fifth.

  “I will take you up on that offer then... I have nothing left to lose. Following my current path just gives me a warm nights sleep and nothing more.”

  Woldiniar smiled. “Good, now get out. Meet me in the port of Olaris. Keep an eye on their shipments and which boats need to be monitored. Here” Woldiniar handed him a bag of silver. “This should help you get there and keep well until my arrival. Now go now. This place will be gone when I leave.”

  “Gone you say?”

  “Do not question.”

  Woldiniar looked to Farrah who was sitting a few seats away working on her fourth glass of fairies’ tears. “Farrah, head to the inn and wait for me inside. Get some food while you’re waiting. Your new job requires you to be sober.”

  He tossed her a silver coin. “My new job? What would that be?”

  “You will know in time. Now I need both of you to go. I grow tired of waiting. I have sat here long enough.”

  They both nodded and left the pub together.

  Good. Now I can have fun!

  Ten

  Woldiniar chugged back his pint and then reached for the ones Raqee left. He chugged all of those as well. He slammed his fist against his chest and let out a long burp.

  “THAT HIT THE SPOT!”

  Woldiniar stood up and smiled at the bartender. “Not bad kid! Your service could use some work but you have promise. Now here, take this
and leave this place!”

  He tossed a bag of silver. The bartender opened the bag and nodded. He left as instructed; seeing the bloodlust in Woldiniar’s eyes.

  Woldiniar walked over to the men in the corner.

  “Which little prostitute would like to come home with me instead?! I promise I can offer more fun than these shallow little bugs could ever offer!”

  The men stood up in rage.

  “Go away you old drunk!” shouted the man at the back of the table. His eyes a dark blue, long brown hair, his skin pale. Draped in robes of blue and gold.

  “You must be talking about yourself! I am not old!”

  The man clenched his fists. He walked around the table and right up to Woldiniar. Woldiniar smiled. His eyes glistened in delight.

  “Ah I see you choose death then after all old one!”

  The man went to swing his fist at Woldiniar. Woldiniar caught the man’s fist in his hand. He squeezed it, causing a loud cracking sound. The man fell to his knees while his fist remained in Woldiniar’s grasp.

  “You swing like a child! My female student is much stronger than you! Those robes fooled me, they truly made me believe you had massive muscles. Oh well. I guess this will be boring.” Woldiniar shrugged.

  The other men jumped to help. Woldiniar laughed.

  “OH? You believe you are stronger than your master? Do you not see him at my mercy?”

  He whistled causing the men to fly into the wall. They collapsed to the floor bleeding. The women began screaming.

  “We cannot have such creatures scream like banshees now can we?" He smiled. He waved his free hand making their voices disappear. “Much better!”

  Woldiniar looked back at the man in his grasps, his eyes wide, tears streamed down his face.

  “I know of the deeds you have done. A bracelet from my student has been taken. I do not appreciate such things happening to those I care about. Since you took part in that I will let you tell me where her bracelet is now.”

  “I will never tell someone like you anything!”

  Woldiniar sighed. “Why must you all say the same thing? Cannot any of you be more original? It would make my life more intriguing.”

  Woldiniar pressed his fingers together in his free hand. The man let out a loud scream as his legs were crushed. He released his grip on the man's hand. He fell over to the side, unable to stand.

  “Now, I can undo your suffering if you just tell me where my student's bracelet is right now.”

  “It’s headed to Olaris.” The man spoke between screaming and gasping in pain.

  “I already know that silly.” Woldiniar crouched down before the man. “I need to know which shipment. Is it the one leaving tomorrow?”

  “No, it's already gone.” He screamed in pain. “There I told you now fix me!”

  “Ha! You thought I was going to fix you!? I said I can undo your suffering but I didn’t say how. If that was to undo your physical pain or if it was to undo your suffering as a nasty bug!”

  The man’s eyes shook, “You’re a demon!”

  “Well that is just rude. I am a warlock who has outlived the demons humans have brought into existence. Be gone scum.”

  Woldiniar waved his hand, the man's bones began to crunch all at once. His screams were quickly replaced by sounds of gasping and gurgling. His robes now drenched in blood.

  “Now that your body is nothing but gelatin. I guess I should end you. Do you know what happens to gelatin when it gets hot?” Woldiniar smiled. "It melts! Don’t you just love science?!”

  Woldiniar walked out of the bar.

  “HELP! This pub is on fire!!” Woldiniar shouted while stumbling through the streets. “There is demons attacking the pub! HELP!”

  People walked quickly past him. Some laughing and pointing at him.

  He let out a small whistle, quiet enough none could hear it. The pub exploded into a rising inferno before quickly crashing down. The sudden explosion caused the ground to tremble, a few people on the street fell to their knees. Everyone started screaming and running away.

  “I TOLD YE! THE DEMONS ATTACKED! THEY EVEN TOOK ME PINT FROM ME! PLEASE HEPS DEM!” Woldiniar continued screaming drunkenly.

  Three guards ran in his direction. Woldiniar drunkenly grabbed one of them.

  “Help me dare persona! The demons attacked and caught me beer on fires!”

  The guard pushed Woldiniar back causing him to fall to the ground.

  “How dare you grab me!” shouted the guard.

  “But me beer! I need to get me beer back from the demons!”

  Woldiniar wobbly stood up and walked towards the pub.

  “GIVE ME BACK ME PINTS YA DEMONS!”

  The guard yanked Woldiniar back. “How about I take you home. Where do you live?”

  “LIVE?! I am dead without me pints now!” Woldiniar began sobbing.

  The guard looked confused as he stared at the other two guards.

  “Where do you live?” he asked again.

  “With me student at the inns me in the towns!”

  “Oh, ok, at the inn. We will take you there.” The guard nodded to the other two. One of the two approached and held Woldiniar up from the other side. They carefully escorted him to the inn.

  Eleven

  Sebial opened the inn's door but stopped when she heard a familiar voice. She looked around and spotted Master Woldiniar being escorted by three guards.

  “SEBIAL! MY DEAREST DARLING SEBIAL! PLEASE TELL THESE METAL OBJECTS I AM NOT DRUNK!”

  Sebial released the door and ran her hand through her hair and tugged slightly when she got to the ends. Taking a deep breath in, she walked towards him.

  One of the guards stepped in front of her. “Miss, is this raggedy human really with you?”

  “I AM NOT RAGGEDAHTEY! I just need clean clothes!” Woldiniar stated while trying to smell his cape.

  “Unfortunately, he is with me. He is my master.” Sebial responded to the guard while ignoring Woldiniar’s ramblings.

  “The guard gently grabbed Sebial’s upper arm. “May we speak away from him miss?”

  The guard released her arm. Sebial nodded and followed the guard to where they were still in eyesight of Woldiniar.

  “SEBIAL, DON’T WEAVE ME! The demons will take ye next!” Woldiniar shouted in despair. Sebial ignored him.

  “If you want to be free of him Miss, I can take him away. Our village does not support slavery.”

  Sebial laughed. “I am sorry guard but when I say master, I mean teacher. I am not his slave and never will be.”

  He stepped back. “Forgive me then miss. Would you like our help in getting him home? He claims it’s this inn. Is that true?”

  “That would be lovely. You can just leave him in the tavern down stairs. Now if you excuse me, I have other things I must attend to."

  Sebial turned away from them to hurry into the inn. She didn’t want Woldiniar to interrupt her while giving the dresses to the girls. Sebial hurried up the stairs and unlocked the room to find the three girls jumping on the beds laughing hysterically while still in their filthy garments. They stopped to smile at Sebial.

  “Careful girls, I do not wish for you to get injured. Here are the dresses I promised. I hope they fit well since I didn’t know your sizes. But first wash up.”

  The youngest one tugged on Sebial’s dress. Sebial looked down to the smiling little girl.

  “My name... my name is Faelyn. I am seven winters old. I think I come from a seafaring town. I remember seeing lots of boats.” Faelyn spoke in a soft whisper.

  “Thank you for the dress. I was never given a dress this pretty before.”

  “You’re welcome Faelyn. I am happy you like it!” Sebial responded.

  The other two girls approached them.

  “Thank you for all of this. I am Rali. I come from Nersna, it’s a small mountain village to the north.”

  Rali said to Sebial in a stern tone. “I am fourteen summers; we count the summers instead of win
ter. Our winters stay for most of the year.”

  “I am Laolini. I am twelve winters old. I am from the far south. I do not remember the name of my village anymore. It has been many winters since I was taken.”

  Laolini paused in anger. “But thanks to you Sebial I might be able to find someone who can help me get home!”

  “I am glad I was able to help all of you. I truly am. But I must leave today. I have urgent work I need to attend to.”

  I can’t tell them the urgent work is my drunk master sitting downstairs.

  Sebial sighed. Faelyn began crying into the skirt of Sebial’s dress. Sebial rubbed her head.

  “It will be okay. I will give you the name of a friend I have here in town. She will help you all stay in touch with me in the future. Her name is Shalerie and she runs a dress shop here. I would like for you all to take this as well.” She handed a small bag of silver to Rali, the oldest of the three.

  “It will help you all get home or start over here.”

  Sebial hugged the three girls and left the room. She stopped on her way out of the inn to grab a loaf of bread to eat on her journey. As she stepped out of the inn, she saw Woldiniar leaning on the wall crying. The guards standing next to him making sure he doesn’t fall over.

  “Sebial, how could you leae me!? I too weak to even whistle.” He went to whistle but ended up spitting instead.

  “I am sorry young miss, he wouldn’t let us bring him inside.” The younger guard spoke.

  “Thank you for your help guards, just drop him here then. He needs to sober up so we can leave town tonight. Do you know where we can obtain horses?” Sebial asked.

  “There is a stable to the south of town that should be able to help you.”

  “Thank you!”

  The guards nodded and walked towards the center of town. Sebial looked at Woldiniar who has lying on the ground pouting like a child.

  “For a warlock, you sure are weak!”

  “Tae that back Sebial! You know I... I am not weak! I am the strongest der is!” Woldiniar responded.

  “Listen master, I know you are not weak. Except for right now that is!” Sebial bent down to help him up. Struggling from his weight, she let him go.