Page 3 of Glass Hearts
“A price? My, what could I even offer?” Cue the doe eyes, increased batting of my lashes. I feel like in a different life I could have become an actress, touring all of Velora and the Isles witha theater company. Though I think opening a little bakery would be a much better use of my time. Baker by day, vigilante outlaw by night. I can see it now.
“Valak.” Carcel barks at the ogre. “How about you pour us another round and perhaps something a little stronger for our pussycat here? We are going to take good care of her.” Jones looks me up and down, licking his lips.Really not subtle there, idiot. “Now, what’s your name, girl?” He winks at me as I hold down my vomit. Nope. Love is definitely not on the cards with men like these around.
Valak, the male of few words, grunts and goes about pouring the drinks. “You gentlemen are just too kind. My name is Mia.” I gesture with my hand to my chest, cuing more batting eyelashes. Trying to act all demure while also trying to divert their eyes from the sleeping powder Bert adds into their freshly poured beers.
“Arabelly! We have acquired the keys, some coins, and even a strange foil balloon!”
“No, leave the ‘balloon’. It’s not what you think it is. Good work, boys, head to the coat closet and wait for me.”
“Mia, cheers to what I am sure will be a pleasant night for us all. Oh! Look over there! A proposal is about to happen!” I look over, knowing one lecher is putting a spelled relaxer into my drink.
Of course, nothing is there. “My bad, I must have just been seeing things.” Carcel snickers when I turn back.
I take a large gulp of my drink as they grin darkly.
Suckers. Lo had given me a vial to take on said occasions. It made your breath quite vile for hours, but at least it counteracted most poisons, including the date-relaxer drugs.
“Oh my, now wouldn’t that be grand? A girl like me has always wanted to find a husband to give my purity to.” I am not pure, but something about an innocent woman always hasthese vultures circling. They both downed their beers, expecting the sip I had taken to take effect. But as they get up out of their chairs to get closer to me, they both keel over in a satisfactory tumble. Jones hits his head on the bar as he falls. Oops, too bad.
“Thanks, Valak, I won’t be long. Your cut will be sent via Petra. As always, keep it discreet. Say hello to your lovely wife and little ones for me.” He smiles back at me as I take a gigantic step over Jones, though I suppose to others it may look like the ogre was baring his teeth in anger. The family man, though misunderstood, nods as I head off to rendezvous with Bert and Kip in the coat closet with the stolen keys.
“Good job, boys, grab onto my cloak; we’ve got some more plundering to do.”I mentally link to my petite partners in crime as I head up the creaky stairs of the inn.
It’s a rough place to want to sleep. Valak would rather put all the money he makes towards his family of eight, and for that, I can respect him. Though it wouldn’t hurt to patch up the holes on the walls or maybe steam clean the stained carpet along the hallway. I continue down the decrepit hall until I make it to their room, 61.
Their room smells of must and their ridiculously expensive cologne. The sheets are all rumpled, and empty food containers collecting bugs litter the table and floor. As I continue my look around the disgusting scene, my eyes catch on a gorgeous golden dagger glinting under the stacks of food cartons on the table. I add it to my knife belt. Selling it could yield quite a profit, as it is probably worth about four thousand gold coins, but a piece like this is priceless! I am not much of a fighter; I would rather run away. But a girl can never be too careful, and why not have something pretty to stab with if necessary?
My mouse friends and I continue to go around the room exploring possible hiding places for their money and priceless assets.
“Bert, please don’t eat their gross leftover food. I will feed you something better at home.”
“Sorry, Arabelly, all this excitement always makes me so ravenous.”
I chuckle under my breath as I continue to peruse the small, boorish space. Under one pillow, I find a large bag with silver and gold coins. I can’t help but whistle.
“Find something interesting, Arabelly?”
“I would say this may be 300-450 worth of coins. What could those assholes be doing with that?” I mutter as I feel the hefty weight of the pouch in my hands.
We continue and find other various goods such as jewelry, gems, and an invitation for a brothel near here that sells off its ‘damaged goods’ to the highest bidder. Judging by the gold coins, I realized they had planned to purchase a woman. My vitriol for the slimy brothers just makes me want to go back and ram my new pretty gold dagger into their beating hearts.
But I am not a killer; I have killed no one before. And truthfully, I really couldn’t deal with Villain Prison on the Obsidian Isle. I already have a jailer.
Before I head out of the room, I notice a familiar invitation for a ball sitting on the table under the now-empty takeout containers. Friggen Bert.
Originally, I had thought of having Lo use her magic to duplicate the invitations. Can’t have one of the Quadias having a hissy fit for a lost invitation. Bernice would immediately put the blame on me. Warranted, but definitely not looking for more lashings. This is a happy accident that was meant to be, if I say so myself. Grabbing the invitation and tucking it into my bag, I reach for two circular orbs. Leaving behind a glass orb woven with black shadows and a carved ‘S’ on its side, for the Morgan brothers to find once they awaken and return to their ransacked room. My calling card,The Shadow,was here. Fools.
Sneaking out onto the balcony, I melt into the shadows. Mentally confirming my familiars are still in tow. “Hang on, boys,” is the only warning I give as I take off sprinting towards the eternal fountain to meet Lo.
* * *
“Your wishing wench is herrrreee!” Lo sings-songs as she bumbles about with her oversize spellcase. The holes on her pants and bleeding kneecaps show me she has already met the cobbled roads on the way.
Lo is stunning; her long, golden, strawberry blonde hair is spun into multiple braids in a bun sitting on top of her head. Her hair ties to her magic, so the longer it is, the more power she can pull from it. Not that she soul-spells that often.
Her green eyes aglow with mischief over her freckles as she makes it to the fountain. “Now what can I spell for you, my prickly friend?”
“I need more untraceable black glass orbs for my calling card. I am down to my last two. Then, I have an exciting once-in-a-lifetime mission I want to do. But I will need your help with this one to pull it off.”
