Chapter 8
“Love marks the heart but takes its price from your soul.”
Lady of the Locks - Book of Psalms
Adeskoutside Duke Lear’s office door served as a barrier to block unwelcome intruders. Behind the desk sat a pinch-faced woman with auburn hair and a posture rulers would envy. Oss walked up to her with the loose-limbed gait he used when approaching a possible street fight. I couldn’t deny the similarities.
“We need to speak to His Grace.”
“Do you have an appointment?” Her tone indicated she thought the Tower would spontaneously catch fire before such an event occurred.
“No, but I’m Octavius Stalk. I’m sure he’ll see me.”
Her expression didn’t change, but a flash of recognition lit her eyes.
“He’s not in.” Her clipped words were just the right side of painful politeness. The kind you gave people you didn’t like and hoped would expire before you had to speak to them again.
“If you could just ask him, I’m sure he’d see us.” Oss’s tone went from friendly to hard in the space of one sentence.
She cleared her throat and relented a fraction. “He really isn’t in. He’s working from home this afternoon. I’m only here to answer questions and make appointments. Would you like to set one up? He’s free tomorrow afternoon.”
“No, we’ll catch him at home. Thank you for your time.” Oss gave an awkward bow that was more graceful than I had expected before grabbing my arm and pulling me after him.
“I would’ve come voluntarily, you know; you don’t have to drag me.”
“I wasn’t sure you would be willing to go to Lear’s on your own.”
I freed my arm. “Not normally but this is an exception. What’s the plan? Do you want to go directly through the tunnels?”
“Shh.” No one knows I can do that without keys.”
“Well, are we?” I used a quieter voice and cast a look around. No one was watching us.
“No. We need to visit Lear at get his permission. I will never be taken as Magic’s king if I must sneak in whenever I wish to go between cities. Besides, I’ve heard they’ve added worse things than gear moles in the deeper tunnels to keep intruders out.”
I didn’t bring up the fact that Oss still hadn’t fully committed to the idea of being king. No sense bringing logic into our weird battle with the magistrate.
“Have you ever been to Lear’s place before?”
“Once.” I had been so overwhelmed by the experience I hadn’t gone back. “You don’t really need me for this trip. I can meet you back home in an hour or so?”
“Hah! Nice try.” Oss grabbed my shoulder. “You’re coming with me.”
“But why?” I will deny it to my last day that I had become a whiner. “You don’t need me.”
“You have to face him sometime. Better to get it out of the way.”
“I’m certain I can easily avoid him for the rest of my life.” I don’t like to brag, but I’m pretty good at holing up in my workshop and not coming out. It’s a skill.
“Better to let him know you aren’t at home pining and avoiding him. We’ll go there, get a note from him, and be on our way.”
“I’m all right with avoiding. I’m a champion avoider. It’s actually my middle name.”
Oss smirked. “Now you can be a champion confronter, and you don’t have a middle name.”
I groaned. There was no way Oss would change his mind. He was inconvenient like that. “Fine, but I’m not talking to him.”
“That’s the spirit. Stick to your idiotic morals.”
