“It’s ...a complex discipline.There are practicalapplications, if you follow the Diet’s mandate, but stealing soul energy fromthe dead, corrupting the very essence of a person?Thatis acapital crime.My father had orders to kill the sorceress if her presence therewas confirmed.”Isaac looked away.“He never returned.Something trapped himdown in the tomb of the colossus.The only reason we know he’s not dead was adivination of his soul energy, using advanced machines.”
“Soul magic’s just a thing you can do, is it?”
“It’s highly experimental.Look, I have spent my lifetraining with my uncle—my father’s brother—in order to rescue him from thattomb.Ever since I was able to speak, that has been my purpose.That is why I’mwalking across this wasteland of a desert, risking death by wyrms and pirates.I want to save my father from whatever evil thing is holding him down there.”
Zaria blinked.She almost spoke, then seemed to think betterof it.For a small span of time, she sat on her haunches, watching himcarefully.
Isaac shrugged through his restraints.“Was that a goodenough reason for you?”
“As far as they go, sure.”She was looking at himdifferently now.“Still haven’t answered my question about the treasure.”
“I doubt it’s quite as big as you’ve heard, but ...yes.It’s real.”
She leaned in.“It’s real?Truly?”
“The Diet of Nine thinks it is.”
“Free to claim, then?”
“I suppose so.I doubt anyone else is coming.”
Zaria sat back on her toes.She ran her fingers through thesand, letting the sediment drip across her claws, before glancing around thewreckage.There were bodies of pirates, shattered planks, smoldering cinders.The hot desert wind whistled gently through it all.
“Tell you what, Isaac,” she said.“Since you’ve done meseveral favors already, I’ll do some for you.”
Isaac glanced at the dead lioness again.“Do you considerkilling your friends a favor?”
The lips of her snout curled.“They weren’t my mates.Factis, an hour ago, I was expecting them to give me a painful death.Now, I’m freeas the wind, they’re all dead, and I’ve got an opportunity to be richer thanthe feline queen herself.You could say I’m feeling pretty chipper aboutthings.”
“I just thought you were always like this.”
“Here’s the deal,” she said.“I’ll aid you in rescuing yourfather.Maybe I’ll vanquish some ancient evils along the way, if it catches myfancy.After that, you and I are going to split that treasure.It might be yourfather grants me some titles and land, too, but we can discuss that later.”
Isaac had several responses ready at once.Most of them wereimpolite, so he said: “Did none of that talk of ancient necromancers scare youaway?”
“Why should it?I’ve got this strapping young mage ready toact as my squire boy.Clearly, he knows what for.He’s got naught but his cockin his hands, and he’s ready to march into blackness like a brave little lad.”She patted the haft of the poleaxe hanging on her back.“I’d dare say he’salmost a damsel in need of a knight.”
Something snapped in him.
“First,” Isaac said, “I amnota squireboy.I am a journeyman of magical transmutation, trained by a nation-renownedexpert in necromancy and elemental magic.I have been certified by the Diet ofNine as proficient in the banishment of undead life, the destruction of hexes,and the counteraction of necrotic spells.I have been fully prepared to arrestor slay a sorceress powerful enough to rival armies.”
Zaria grinned.“You rattle off them titles to all thelasses, Isaac?”
“Secondly, I willnothave my missionsullied by some greedy pirate looking for treasure!You will only get in myway!I will not put my father’s life at risk for some uneducated beastwoman whothinks she can do my job by swinging some steel on a stick!”
The hyena stared at him for a moment, slowly nodding herhead, before rising to her feet.“Fine, then.Have fun with the buzzards.”
Isaac hesitated.“W-what?”
“Maybe they’ll gorge themselves on the easier meat, lyingaround here.”She gestured at the corpses.“Might give you some time to loose yourself.”
“Hey, no!”He struggled against the rope.“Let me free!”
“Why should I?”she said.“Clearly, you’re as fearsome asthey come.You can handle a few birds.”
“I—well—”
“Oh, can you not cast them spells while tied like that?”Shepretended to hum in thought.“That’s a shame.Rather puts you at my mercy,doesn’t it?”
