When The Throne Bleeds

22. The Sorcerer Merchant

The sea rolled all around him, the dark water boiled and turned in front of his eyes. He stood on no ship but the water itself and yet he could not feel the waves swallow him. A battle raged there, a battle between the seas and the skies where the sky thrust its lightning to split the sea and shook it's thunder like a battle cry.

The sea lurched beneath, raising the highest waves to wound the sky. It started swirling in on itself, creating a giant hurricane whose core reached miles deep, and above it, mirroring it's motion, the clouds swirled, lightning crackling through them.

And amidst the undying destruction, Remi heard the wail. The sorrowful wail.

But this time it seemed much closer, Remi looked down and saw that he was floating above the eye of the largest hurricane, unaffected by the absolute devastation around him.

And from the depths of that hurricane, he saw the sphere of white light again, and behind it a darker figure.

It came towards him at tremendous speed, bathing him in it's presence...

"Oh fuck!" Remi jerked awake, panting heavily.
He turned his head to see the prostitute Diana lying next to him, looking at him with a bored expression. He took in his surroundings, a room with scarlet curtains and red walls and a delirious scent in the air, suddenly remembering why he was there.

"Um...sorry, love." He pecked her quickly on the lips before jumping off the bed. He dashed out of the room, grabbing his thirty gold coins off a table on the way.

The dream seemed a million years away from him.

Back at his dorm, Remi was tightening the strings on his mandolin when Gasim approached him, crossing his arms. Remi shook his head at him, grinning.

"You really disappointed that girl, Remi." He said, trying to attempt a firm tone.

"Yes, I saw how heartbroken she was. By all means," Remi grinned wide, gesturing towards the door, "liberate her from her displeasure."

Gasim broke out laughing. "I cannot believe you fell asleep! Did you not see her breasts? What kind of man are you to sleep off when that beauty was with you?!"

Remi's lips curved up in a smile. "The kind of man who prefers his songs and sleep better than any tits of a random whore."

Gasim sighed exaggeratedly. "You are beyond my understanding, bard. To sleep, just sleep, in a brothel. Completely baffles me."

"You should've known. You were the one who dragged me there when I was barely awake." Remi finally put his instrument aside, looking up at Gasim, a smirk on his face.

Gasim eyed him knowingly. "It's Shae, isn't it?"

Remi widened his eyes. "No, of course not."

Gasim grinned smugly, sitting down beside him. He threw an arm around Remi's shoulders.

"Look bard, women are like..." He thought hard, "...fish, yes. Some are really hard to catch, always slip out of your hands. Shae is one of them. Now look, you and her have-"

"Woah woah woah! I don't want lady advice from you." Remi wriggled out his grasp, backing away.

Gasim groaned. "You'll die a virgin, bard."

"I'm not a virgin!"

Gasim threw a disbelieving look at Remi.

"Ah! Forget all this." He said, changing the topic. "Vazaar says there shall be a big celebration in a few hours, when the sun sets completely. That Magister Opal is hosting a short festivity to honor Vazaar and we're all to come as well."