“No! No. It’s not—no, that’s quite alright.” His brief outburst was disconcerting. “I figured you wouldn’t be able to tell me even if you did know.” Something had the healer out of sorts. “Do you… do you know about the salt mines?”
“I do.”
“Well, my understanding is they—that is, the King and the Council—are wanting to expand production.”
“They are, yes.” He was growing impatient. “What does this have to do with the dungeons?”
“It doesn’t. Well, not directly anyway. I overheard a conversation between two healers a few nights ago. They’ve been assigned to work on something down there. And they seem… different. Changed, maybe? Disturbed? Possessed?”
“Possessed?Nemsen.”
“I know. I know. I’m a healer. A supposed man of reason. It sounds crazy, and maybe it is.” He glanced around nervously, eyes rapidly shifting side to side. “Please, forget I said anything. If word got back to the King…”
Darkness crept over Slaide again. He wouldn’t admit he’d sensed something was going on for a while now. And he certainly wouldn’t admit he suspected he was intentionally being left out of certain meetings.
“It won’t. Not from me, anyway. If you think your colleagues seemedoff, and you suspect nothing natural to be the cause, I trust your judgment.” Slaide considered his next words. “In fact, I think we could both benefit from this situation.”
Nemsen arched a brow in interest.
“Until I learn more about her, I am interested in keeping this girl out of the Magistry’s slimy paws. You’re going to help me.You’re also going to gather as much information as you can from your colleagues. Quietly. Discreetly.”
His face reflected his thoughtful consideration as his lips pursed and brows dipped. He glanced at Hazel before continuing. “Can I ask you something, Master Elias?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “You being who and what you are—and I mean no offense—you aren’t going to just… kill her? It’s just, if she’s a witch?—”
“Something we’ve yet to see with our own eyes. To answer the question, yes. If the time comes, I will execute her. But if you’re worried about leaving me alone with her on that basis, you’ve nothing to fear. I’m not going to murder her in her sleep; you have my word.” There was no sign of insincerity on his face.
Nemsen nodded, seeming to accept the answer. “Fine, then. So, you think whatever they’re doing in the dungeons has to do with the Magistry?”
“I do.”
“You don’t like those mages much, do you?” Nemsen was nervously twisting a gold ring on his finger—a wedding ring. Slaide wondered if he had a wife and family who would miss him if anything happened.
“I do not.” It didn’t require further explanation.
Nemsen smiled and extended his hand in offering. Slaide grasped it, shaking his hand firmly. “I knew I liked you.”
Silence passed between them as they stood over Hazel, still fully sedated. As he looked down at her, realization smacked him between the eyes. She was the same foul-mouthed peasant woman who’d nearly gotten herself killed over someone else’s brat. And then had the balls to challenge him over it. And, if he was right about her, there was one other time, but… seeing her now, he couldn’t imagine they were truly the same person. And yet…What are you hiding?He noticed her companion, then,keeping one eye on them both from where it was curled up on her legs.
“Nemsen, what’s the deal with the cat?” Slaide inquired.
“I have not the slightest clue. He just appeared shortly after she was brought in and hasn’t really left her side since. He doesn’t bother anything, though, just seems to be keeping an eye on her.”
Interesting.
Nemsen sighed. “Master Elias, if it’s all the same to you, I was just finishing up for the night before all of this went down. I’ll need to lock everything up for the evening and bring the lighting down before I head to my quarters.”
Slaide eyed a chair in the corner. “If it’s all the same to you, I would prefer to stay. In case she wakes up.”Or in case those sleazy bastards decide to come back.
This would be the first test. How much did Nemsen really trust him?
“I—ah, alright then. I’ll just bring the braziers down a bit on my way out. Please feel free to browse the library if you get bored. Though, I’m not sure you’ll find the subject matter any more interesting than watching this one sleep. Either way.” He turned to leave, waving a dismissive hand. “Good night, Master Elias.”
“Nemsen.” The man paused, turning halfway. “Call me Slaide.”
The healer smiled halfway, then nodded graciously.
“Good night then, Slaide.”
With the healer gone, Slaide turned to the cat and arched a brow. “I trust you and I will not have problems?”
