Page 62 of A Skirl of Sorcery
‘Get out!’ Hollow screeched. ‘Get out of my office!’
Thane stretched out his arms languidly and linked his fingers behind his head. ‘Why don’t we wait for the MET?’
Hollow spluttered in response, confirming that he’d not contacted them. I pushed myself away from the wall. The young woman started when she saw me but her boss only gave me a cursory glance before he turned his attention back to Thane. ‘Who are you?’ he snarled. ‘What do you want?’
‘My name is Thane Barrow and this is my friend, Kit. We’re here to represent the interests of the Green Humbleton trows.’
Hollow’s face screwed up. ‘Who?’
This time I answered. ‘The community who live on your land, Mr Hollow,’ I said softly. ‘The people who’ve been there for generations and who you are trying to kick out by raising their rent to unaffordable levels.’
There was a moment’s silence while Hollow absorbed this information, then he visibly relaxed. ‘Oh,’ he said. ‘Them.’ He affected a nasty smirk. ‘Ground-dwelling neanderthals.’
I glared with enough force to make the woman flinch, but Hollow paid me no attention. ‘It’s my land,’ he said. ‘I can charge them whatever I like.’
‘You know you’re being unreasonable,’ Thane said. ‘Your goal is to force them out so you can sell their land at inflated prices.’
‘It’s nottheirland.’ Hollow paused for dramatic effect. ‘It’smyland. My family has been too good to those creatures for too long. It’s about time they realised what it means to live in the real world.’ He bared his teeth. ‘I have nothing against the trows per se. It’s only business.’
Thane didn’t miss a beat. ‘That’s exactly why we’re here.’ He waved a hand between the two of us. ‘This is only business.’
Tobias Hollow’s smile was broader now; Thane was talking a language he thought he understood. ‘You’re interested in purchasing Green Humbleton? I already have several interested parties so your offer will have to be a good one.’
My eyes narrowed. ‘The trows are still living there. How can you already have potential buyers?’
‘Because the trows will leave. They’re already several months behind their rent and I know they can’t afford what I’m demanding. They’ll be under orders to vacate by the end of the month.’
‘So you admit you’re deliberately trying to force them out?’
Annoyance flickered across his face. ‘As I said,’ he bit out, ‘it’s only business.’ He glanced at his assistant. ‘Why don’t you take this lady outside and fetch her a cup of tea or something?’ He looked at Thane. ‘Then the two of us can talk properly without interruption.Mano a mano.’
‘Oh,’ Thane murmured. ‘This is simplytoodelicious.’
I sent him a small smile and slid out my dagger, then I leapt forward in a blur of movement and pressed it to Hollow’s throat. ‘Perhaps we’ve not made ourselves clear. This isn’t a negotiation. We’re the ones in charge.’
Hollow’s eyes widened and he squeaked.
‘You’rein charge, Kit,’ Thane drawled.
I grinned and pressed the blade a fraction deeper until a bead of blood appeared. ‘If you insist, Thane,’ I said. ‘Now, Mr Hollow, I’m sure we can come to an agreement that suits all parties.’
Chapter
Twenty-Five
If I’d been under any illusion as to how seriously the trows took their problem with Tobias Hollow and how much trouble and angst that shit had caused, I wasn’t now. A mass of trows of all ages, sizes, genders and creeds were standing in front of Thane and me, every face anxious and expectant.
Even Tanavantia looked nervous; she was twisting her fingers together and occasionally reaching up to touch the heavy gold chain of office around her neck. The burden of responsibility lay heavily on her and I was genuinely pleased that I could ease it. The satisfaction I gained from helping people was even greater than that from stroking a sleek cat or executing a perfect kill. Of course, I mused, being able to kill effectively was a large part of what enabled me to help.
‘Nobody is perfect,’ I whispered under my breath.
Thane glanced at me. ‘Tiddles isn’t far off.’
‘I wasn’t referring to cats.’
The corners of his mouth tugged upwards.
Tanavantia cleared her throat. She was keen to get down to business. ‘You have news?’ she asked.
