A Roll of the Die - 1. Inception
Copyright© 2026 by Michael Loucks
Day 6
"What?!" Karla gasped in surprise when Miri revealed what she and Matthias had experienced and the plans that were in place. "Explain!"
Miri took a deep breath, let it out, and explained about the Real World, the geis, and their dual missions, which dovetailed.
"Impossible!" Milos declared. "I have known you both for over ten years. You are Miri and Matthias, not thralls from another plane."
"I know it's hard to believe, but it's true," Matthias asserted.
"It makes no sense!" Milos objected. "Why will things not simply return to how they were? If you are of another plane, Matthias and Miri are of this plane. When ... what names did you say?"
"Matthew and Miriam."
"When Matthew and Miriam return, Matthias and Miri should simply continue to exist."
"I have no idea why that's not true," Matthew said. "But both Tranos and Kranos say it's so, and it all fits, including how we arrived."
"On your plane, you and your friends pretended to be us?" Karla asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Miriam replied. "I know everything about you, Tristan, and Milos. Ask me anything."
The three peppered her with questions about their lives, including things they had never revealed to Miri.
"Unbelievable," Tristan observed twenty minutes later.
"And yet, I believe them," Karla interjected. "But I don't feel like a puppet."
"Nor do I," Tristan added.
"It would explain quite a few things about you!" Karla declared. "It would absolutely explain why you appear to have no self-control!"
"She has a point," Milos said with a grin. "So what do we do?"
"Will your honor allow us to betray Isaac and his family?" Miriam asked.
"My honor cannot be the cause of the deaths of Matthew in his plane and Matthias in ours; nor the subjugation of Miri and Miriam's perpetual sleep in her plane."
"And if I choose to leave?" Matthew asked.
"Then I will mourn my friend Matthias in this plane, and cheer Matthew's life in his plane."
"I have one condition," Karla said. "Tristan has to be faithful to Lisette until our missions are complete."
"Didn't you just say I'm not in control?" he asked with a grin.
"Get control and plough only one field!"
"I agree with Karla," Milos said. "Tristan, you have to stay in control."
"Fine," Tristan sighed.
"You were extolling Lisette's skills," Karla declared, "so, it's not as if it's punishment."
"How do we begin?" Milos asked.
"With Kranos," Matthew said. "He's the biggest threat, and eliminating him solves multiple problems."
"You'll stay until we complete our mission?" Karla asked.
"I can't leave before Lilia is with child, so, yes," Matthew replied.
As Matthew saw it, he had about six weeks before his plans for Harvard were impacted, but there was no guarantee what his parents would do with him in a coma. It was entirely possible they would withdraw him from Harvard, at least for the school year.
"We need a plan, a backup plan, and an emergency plan," Milos stated firmly.
"Matthias and I need some time to talk," Miri said. "Let's pay the ransom, free Isaac, and send him on his way home to Southham."
"I'll take care of that," Karla offered. "Milos, can we speak first?"
"Yes."
The two of them went to their shared room.
"Brandon is going to be a problem," Karla said. "Tristan suggested killing him, but now that we're putative allies, I'm not sure that's wise. We certainly couldn't collect the bounty from the King if we killed Brandon. If the Mayor found out, he'd consider it a betrayal."
"From what Miri said, we're not to divulge our mission, so we need to maintain the fiction that you wish to join the Razor Claws. I strongly suspect the Lord Mayor has a backup plan, as well as a plan to eliminate the Razor Claws once he's in power."
"That makes sense," Karla said. "So what do I do?"
"Complete the mission, whatever it takes."
"But our pledge!" she protested.
Milos gently raised his hand to Karla's cheek and caressed it. His voice, when it came, was rougher than she had ever heard from him.
"Our pledge is not worth more than a friend's life or a friend's freedom. I release you, Karla of Langford. For now, you are a free woman."
Karla's throat tightened. "We swore before your uncle's hearth. I meant every word."
"So did I," he said. "That is why this hurts."
She drew a breath and forced the formula out. "I release you, Milos of Dal Valley. You are a free man."
"With limits," he said.
"With limits," she agreed.
Neither of them smiled. His thumb lingered at her cheekbone until she nodded once, as if they had sealed something harder than words.
"Go deliver the silver and the journal," Milos instructed.
Karla kissed him once — hard, fierce, a promise — before stepping back. Having revoked their pledges, the space between them felt wider than the Ful River. She longed for the day when that gap closed, but it was not today.
🎲🎲🎲
Matthew and Miriam went to their room to talk.
"There was one other thing the Lord Mayor offered," she said quietly.
"What?" Matthew asked.
"To marry his son and eventually become Queen."
"You should," Matthew said firmly.
"Is that Matthias or Matthew speaking?"
"Both, I think. If I go home and you do not, you will have power, riches, and a happy life. If we both go home, we're still virgins and can find a way to be together."
"And if we both stay?" Miriam asked.
Matthew shook his head, "You appear to be in your natural element here. My element is the classroom, then the courtroom."
"You can practice law here," Miriam said. "There are, in fact, no rules — anyone can act as an advocate. I know of a magister at the college who could teach you their procedures."
"But we'll be married to other people," Matthew protested.
"We don't know what the future holds," Miriam countered. "With the wealth we've been promised, we'd have many options. At least think about it. For me."
Matthew nodded, "For you, I will."
They left their room and ran into Karla coming out of the room she shared with Milos.
"Given the circumstances, you and I should share a room," Karla said to Miri. "And Matthias and Milos should share a room. There is one with two beds available."
"A wise idea," Matthias agreed.
"Give us a minute," Miri said to Karla.
"I'm off to pay the ransom," she announced, and quickly walked away.
"I think she's right, too," Miriam said. "But before we do that, I want to make love, because it might be our only chance."
"But my promise..." Matthew protested.
"Was made by Matthias, not Matthew, just as mine was made as Miri, not Miriam. Matthias and Miri will keep their word; Matthew and Miriam will express their love."
"What about the Lord Mayor?"
"Neither of us will tell, and despite the silly myths that are believed in Nystria, there is no way to prove a girl is a virgin."
"They expect you to bleed."
"A bit of boiled pig's blood in my 'furrow' will solve that, and squeezing my muscles will give the impression of a maidenhead giving way."
Matthew laughed, "And how do you know that?"
"A suggestion in a high fantasy novel I read when I was ten."
"I have one condition," Matthew said. "You give real consideration to going home with me."
Miriam nodded, "I will."
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart and hope to die."
Matthew took Miriam's hand and led her to the room they shared.
🎲🎲🎲
Karla quickly made her way to the town square and waited in front of the smithy. After about twenty minutes, Brandon appeared, and she followed him to the secret door. He let them in, and as expected, Pavel was waiting for her.
"Do you have it?" he asked.
Karla dropped the heavy bag of silver on the desk in front of Pavel.
"Three hundred," she said. "I counted it twice."
"Good! And the journal?"
"With my friend Milos. Brandon can retrieve it after I return safely."
"You don't trust me?" Pavel asked.
"I'm simply being cautious. Trust is earned amongst friends. No deception — send Brandon to retrieve it at the Soaring Falcon just before dusk."
"What happened with the stew?"
"I have no idea," Karla replied, "which is why I'm being cautious. When will Isaac be released?"
"Marcus will bring him to the Soaring Falcon when Brandon comes to claim the journal. Once Brandon has the journal, Marcus will release the merchant."
"And then?"
Pavel laughed, "If I don't give Brandon a night to plough you, my wife might need to ransom me! Just try not to laugh!"
Brandon escorted Karla to the secret door.
"You share a room?" he asked.
"With my friend Miri," Karla replied.
"Tell Samuel to prepare the Master's chamber with flowers, wine, and cakes. We'll need to replenish after our exertion."
"I am soaked in anticipation, and I have silphium to prevent any unintended consequences."
"And why would a maiden have such?" Brandon asked.
"The serving girl gave it to me the night we all fell asleep," Karla replied.
"Lisette is a smart girl, and old enough to be ploughed."
"Would you rather have her? Or me?"
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.