Chapter 31

We discussed how we’d meet and where we’d do it. I passed him twenty Silver and told him I’d release his short sword and the other thingy he had later or when I was far enough from Mace (or him) for it not to matter. I was keeping the black knife for the time being as well as his ‘set’ the weird silver jug and plate. I didn’t say the term ‘hostage’, but I was ensuring that there was some carrot and a whole lot of stick. I was clear that he wasn’t to try to pull his weapons back even if he needed them for the rest of the day. I needed to convince ‘Sam’ (Mace) that Robert was dead, at least long enough to get away from the guy.

Robert was staying in the portal for another few hours, I guess I could have easily given him a different confiscated weapon for protection against anything that might be lurking, but I was pretty sure there was nothing left in here. I described approximately where the spiders dens were and where we’d found a stone, but he already knew where he was going to look. More importantly he knew when and where he had to meet me later. Apparently he’d been a driver quite a bit before becoming a Weapon.

I arrived in the Start Room and bought a couple healing potions after ‘divesting’ myself of some trash that was cluttering up my inventory. Spending the Silver like that was a pain, but it might serve to ‘muddy the waters’ of my inventory (and my intentions) if it turned out that Mace could see it too. He’d never been all that clear on the full capabilities of his Skill.

Not that I had either.

His face as I walked out of the portal into the park was unreadable, unlike the guy I’d left behind in the portal this was not a guy you’d wanna play poker against. Unfortunately I’d thrown in my ante earlier on when I thought this was just going to be an easy low-stakes game. I held some good cards, but when push came to shove would Mace fold, or would I have to bust him?

“They wanted to finish up so I told them I’d shoot the dice for you for the prizes that were found. We both lost out.” He opened with a bored tone. I didn’t care much about the magic goodies we found in there, and to be honest neither did he. “We each earned twelve Silver after the portal fees were paid. They tell me the only reason it was above five was that you showed them how to effectively search the spiders dens.” He finished, I stole the dozen Silver pieces from his Inventory knowing he could see it leaving.

“I found a Brass key...” I shrugged. It should have been included in the loot to be devised up if we were being honest.

“They each got one of the prizes so we would have had a shot if there’s been one more item to divvy up. Let sleeping dogs lie, or if it doesn’t sit well with your sense of morals then you can give it to me.” Mace had already turned and was walking away, certain that I’d follow. I had the briefest thought of stabbing him in the back right here but the moment passed. Too many witnesses. Instead I chucked the key at his back, Hard.

A twist of luck had me hitting him square in the back of the head with the big brass lump. Even with our healing rate, that was going to leave a mark for quite a while.

Mace turned with the first real emotion I’d seen in him in weeks. Barely controlled rage is an emotion, right?

“Fucking prick!” He spat. I calmly kept on walking, aiming to pass him on his right side. Again I had to control the impulse to try to kill him right here.

“It’s yours then, the key? I got the rest of Vittorini’s stuff.” I flashed his short sword and the sword breaker for him to inspect. “It’s only fair you get something out of that run. Maybe you can finally open that bloody Brass Safe you’ve been dragging around for as long as I’ve known you. Remember, collectors pay good money for the empty ones so don’t just throw it away” I brushed past him, basically daring him to do something while reminding him of all the good I could do for him if he kept me around.

Mace looked at the ground at what had hit him ‘cause there was a pause then I heard “Really?” I just kept walking to the car.

Off-balance, I just needed him off-balance.

“I don’t even want to know what’s in it. Can we get back to the hotel please?” I chirped over my shoulder. He’d caught me up by the time I made it to the car. Damn his long legs.