Elements of Deceit

Moonlight Deals

Viola

The moon was waning, only a quarter of it glowing in the dark sky amongst the scattering of stars that stretched across the horizon. In the dark, listening to the babbling of the creek rolling by, with only pasture land and gentle hills around her, it seemed as if the sky was everywhere. Viola tilted her face upwards, feeling the silver light of the moon wash over her. Bitter tears leaked out of the corner of her eyes, at the unfairness of the world.

Even if she did not want to help Jerami, she would still be without a home or a job at the edge of the world. She had still used her power to heal him, leaving her body aching and weaker than she had been that morning. Though the power to heal would be more than she would use in an average year, it still reminded her that if she continued, it would only get worse.

People paid for magic, different prices for different jobs, and if Viola was lucky, she would be able to pick up a couple good ones to help support Jerami's ranch and family until they could get back into the planting season. Then, it would be about making enough money to carry her over until she could either continue working for him or find another job where she could recover from the price that magic exacted on her body.

If she were unlucky, she would waste her power in the next few hours and have to peddle her powers independently, with far more risk of persecution or subterfuge. Not that the person she was going to contact was a saint themselves, but there was an honour among thieves, or witches.

With a shake of her head, Viola stepped up to the stream and began the low chant, shifting the small amount of power through herself to reach out to her contact. The reflection of the moon in the water shimmered, then turned gold. Sounds around her ceased and finally the water stopped flowing all together. Once the image of the moon was unmoving, a dark form was beside her in the reflection.

Darkness wrapped around the other woman, creaking a cloak and cowl that shifted. It was the common disguise of all witches, though Viola did not bother to summon her own dark armour yet. It was another drain on her power that she would like to conserve, and the woman she had called knew exactly who she was.

"Finally gave in?" The voice was a sensual rasp, and the cowl shifted to show the lower portion of a woman's pale face, red lips, and bright white teeth.

Viola shook her head, biting back her retort. Even if she did not agree with Magnian's choices, she would always be respectful to a woman who had mentored her. And more importantly, to the witch who could act as a go between for good pay outs. "I need a job or two, to make good money."

"Of course you do." Magnian purred, grinning brighter.

There had been a time when Viola's use of magic had made the other woman sad and bittersweet. Now, it seemed, that Magnian had lost that last bit of care within her, as would happen if Viola remained using the stuff too consistently for too long.

"What do I need to do." Viola frowned down at the woman's reflection, before glancing to the sliver of gold light in the water.

Judging by how far along the moon was in the sky for Magnian, the other witch was several hundred miles to the east of her, closer to civilization and the royal cities. Viola wondered why her brain seized onto that thought, though she remained silent, waiting for the woman to demand some sort of grovelling.

"It just so happens that there is a job no one wants. Well, no one capable, anyway. Great pay, ten percent up front, though no guarantee of return. In fact, I don't think you're supposed to return from this one." Magnian chuckled and reached out toward her, her hand slipping through the surface of the water and holding out a rolled up scroll.

Viola paused, frowning at the scroll. She knew from experience that if she took it, the job would be hers. Her fingers twitched eagerly before she caught herself. Sometimes people could slip up and get roped into work just by making that minor mistake. "What's the job."

Magnian's laughter echoed in the surrounding silence, before the woman's red lips, in a wicked smile, returned out of the darkness that shadowed her features. "Protect a band of adventurers on a very desperate mission, as they ride to the end of the world. Raiders will try to stop you, and they have power and training similar or superior to yours. The very... essence of this world, the bitter taste in our power, it will try to stop you. But the payout is a king's ransom."

"A literal king's ransom?" Viola stared at the scroll, which dripped water, although the paper appeared dry.

A king's ransom, if used literally, could buy a duchy. The amount up front would run Jare's farm for two years on its own, even after purchasing a herd of premium stock. Which meant that the job, like Magnian said, was going to be near impossible.

"Money gets paid in trust, if I don't make it back." Viola intoned stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"The contract is fulfilled when you get to the end, not when you return." Magnian inclined her head, chuckling.

"If they ask for more from me, I can demand more." Viola let out a slow breath, offering a shrug. "And only if the job isn't morally reprehensible."

There was a pause, Magnian's reflection shimmering on the water. Then the woman let out a sigh, shoulders seeming to slump. "The intent of the job is undertaken with a pure heart. The utmost good to many people will result in its success. But those that... well... You are not expected to succeed."

Viola wanted to ask more, frowning as she heard a weight of regret and pain in Magnian's voice with that last statement. But her eyes focused on the moon in the water, which was dipping out of sight.

She was running out of time.

"Goddess, forgive me. I do this with a pure heart." Viola murmured as she reached out and grabbed the scroll.

Her fingers brushed Magnian's for a brief moment, then she was left staring at the moving water of the stream and the reflection of her moon in the sky. It wasn't until the light of her own moon, the silver one, left the sky that she could break free of the spell and turn her back to the water.

Letting out a shuddering breath as the weight of yet more magic use settled in her body, Viola wandered to a fallen log, sitting down on it to unroll and read the scroll.