Phony Potions

Chapter 42

            I knocked on the door several times. There was no response. I shifted from one foot to another. Even the short walk here had begun to chafe my feet. I was learning to appreciate Bernard's craftsmanship all the more.

I waited. I couldn't go running around town trying to find them. I had to stay focused. If I was going to leave here, than I had to have a plan-

"We're not doing charity work today."

Freckles opened the door. Then his face morphed. He jumped. I jumped in reaction.

"It's you! It's you!" He stretched an armored hand out and grabbed my upper arm. I yelped and pulled away. He couldn't kill me. He was an Avalon! But then again so had Winsor's mom been when she lost her powers. Freckles was stronger than me, and I stumbled into the luxurious Avalonry.

Its smooth marble floor cooled my worn and aching feet. The gentle sound of the fountain and the calming scents contrasted with the panic in my heart. No. Not here too. They were supposed to be good. "Sir Osoro! He's here! They haven't gotten him yet!"

An ornate curtain leading to the back flew open. A half-dressed Sir Osoro peeked his head out. His dark eyes swept me up and down. He strode across the room and Freckles let go of me. I rubbed the tender spot on my arms where his biting armor had gripped me.

"You were able to find him, Sir Fayd?" Sir Osoro asked, approval in his tone. Freckles reluctantly shook his head.

"No. I mean, he's here, but only because he knocked on the front door."

Sir Osoro scowled at me.

"You should have come here first thing. I had Sir Fayd and the others out searching for you all night!"

"I don't know how I'm going to stay awake for the dinner." Freckles stretched, yawning.

"I thought for sure that either the BROS or Agent Goldwynn would have gotten you by now." Sir Osoro sagged visibly, somehow not getting the roll of fat underneath his chin that everyone else did in the same pose.

"Agent Goldwynn?" I asked. "BROS?"

"Agent Goldwynn was asked to find you. They'd become interested in your outstanding arrest warrant for impersonating an Assistant, although that's usually far beneath the notice of an Arcana Enforcement officer. There's posters all over town that sprung up this morning," Osoro said, his eyes searching my face for signs of damage. "If it's anything like the other cases he's helped cover up, you would have never made it to the Majikast courts."

"He can't just kill me," I said. "I mean, unless they rule in favor of execution. Especially if I'm famous now." I had to get ahold of one of those posters, as a souvenir. Mallow would think it was hilarious if I- when I saved her.

"He can if he claims you were resisting arrest. I've seen him do it before, killed a man who was just standing there waiting for his bindings," Sir Fayd said. "And we should have reported Goldwynn that time too. But my Captain here decided Agent Goldwynn occasionally actually catches a criminal so we should leave him be."

Sir Osoro ignored him.

"And the BROS have been searching for you as well, though they don't have magic, so there would be more evidence if they had done away with you.... Where were you hiding? They've been tearing the city apart."

"I was visiting the Contractor," I said, overwhelmed. Before I forgot, what I came here to say came tumbling from my lips. "Did you know Divinis Wenrick kidnapped Mallow?"

Sir Osoro's expression fell. Guilt.

"You... did know," I remembered. Osoro had said it was ironic that I'd hurt Winsor. Because he knew Divinis Wenrick had Mallow. He knew. "How... long have you known?"