Lament of the Slave

Chapter 50: Geas

The guardswoman looked at me with fury in her eyes.

"Vik, move aside," she barked at the bruiser.

He took two steps back, giving her space. I gulped, remembering the square, and her attempt to hit met me in the back of the head with her staff. My dodge back there was probably the main reason for her anger now.

I wasn't sorry I avoided it. But I was afraid she, as an assault mage, had no gentle solution in her magical repertoire to stun me but a blow to the head with a staff.

As she stood above me, she froze and looked at the door. Like her, the bruiser took up a fighting stance. For a second, I thought it was because of me, that I might have unknowingly let go of my bestial presence in self-defense. It would not be the first time.

When I heard the footsteps of another person, my heart jumped with the hope that it was Captain Rayden and the real guards coming to my rescue. To my great disappointment, it was not her who showed up at the door but a man unknown to me.

At first glance, not a guard, just an ordinary guy with no distinctive features. Dark stubble on his cheek, short hair, dressed in dark grey pants, gray shirt, and black ankle-length coat that he had slung over his shoulders.

As he entered, he grabbed the edge of the fedora hat and bowed his head slightly.

"Gentlemen," he greeted, then looked at the guardswoman and me. "Ladies."

[Master Mage: lvl ??]

Not waiting for an invitation, he entered deeper into the room while avoiding me and the mess I left on the floor. Then he sat down in front of the slave trader's table in a comfortable-looking leather chair that appeared behind him out of nowhere. His presence confused me so much that all I could think about was that his magical storage must have been considerably larger than mine.

Nevertheless, he was powerful, no weaker than the bruiser or guardswoman, and certainly did not lack confidence.

No wonder, two more of the same caliber entered the room shortly after and stood behind him.

[Shadow Thief: lvl ??]

A short man with smoke dripping from his coat.

[Swordstress: lvl ??]

A robust woman with her hand on the hilt of her sword. Both of them kept their eyes on the people in the room.

"Shadowbreaker Company. Mister Ward, what brings you here?" Rutledge asked, trying to sound polite. But his nervousness was evident in his trembling voice.

"Do you have to ask?" wondered the master mage. "I'm here because of your marvelous performance in the square."

The slave trader frowned and wiped his sweaty forehead. Unlike the guardswoman and bruiser, who were still ready to fight, he seemed on the verge of fainting.

"I haven't had so much fun in a long time," mage laughed and clapped.

His words made me wonder if he was the reason for the strange feeling on the back of my neck that I felt back there or on the street in front of this store.

"Honestly, I'm shocked by the size of your balls, Arlo. You thought I wouldn't notice? Especially if you tried to kidnap her in broad daylight in the middle of Labyrinth Square? I'm even more shocked that you're still here." Ward said, gesturing to the room. "You should have been outside the city gates a long time ago."

"I..." said the slave trader in an attempt to defend himself, but Ward stopped him with a gesture of his hand.

"You tried to act faster than the others, to get the job before they did. I applaud you for that. But you screwed up badly, and now I'm here, forced to fix your mess. You must be aware, too, that by this time, they will know about this lady at every gate, and Rayden is no doubt on your trail," he said, pointing at me. His calm voice worried me a lot, given the situation they were in.