“Lord Markus?” Mathis’ tentative voice comes as I move for the first time since sinking into my healing trance. Mathis must have taken that as a sign that I’ll be able to hear him.

  “What is it?” I ask, my voice catching in my throat. I cough and take a swing of water from the canteen I pull out of my Inventory. That’s better.

  “Lord Layton and his captain would appreciate a moment to speak with you, if possible,” he requests politely.

  I glance over at where the men are stationed. They’ve shifted closer to the ruins but are still keeping a polite distance from my group. I find myself grateful for that – though I’m now confident that Lord Layton means them no harm, I can’t speak for the rest of his retinue. And my Bonded are on edge from their recent traumatic experiences.

  “Is it urgent?”

  Mathis hesitates.

  “I…do not believe so. But I can inquire, if you wish.”

  “Please do,” I ask. “And if it isn’t, I’ll be with him once I’ve healed all my companions.” They’ve suffered enough as it is – most of them for days. I might not be able to heal all the effects of starvation immediately, but I can do something. The guard bows slightly, mutters an acknowledgment, and then turns to deliver my message.

  I turn my attention back to Loran. He’s looking significantly better than he was when I started. All his wounds have been sealed and now only a faint discolouration under the skin shows where they used to be. Most notably, his right hand is now fully healed – I was very careful with that one. He’s a lot cleaner too – I used my control over water to wash and dry him before doing the same to the rest of my companions.

  Those who joined me for the fight were dirty – covered in blood and dust, mostly – but I was shocked by just how filthy the kidnapped ones had been. The water came away dark brown and stinking – if Dexil hadn’t already killed himself, I’d have done it instead.

  Now all I need Loran to do is to wake up so I can be sure he’s all-but fully healed. I stand up and move onto the next most urgent case – Artemis.

  By the time I’m finished dealing with the immediate wounds, the sun has noticeably moved in the sky. Neglect has left marks that I might be able to do something about, but that will take a lot more time. Still, everyone is alive and no one is in pain right now. I push myself to my feet – I suppose I should spare a moment to see what Layton wanted to speak about. Clearly it wasn’t too urgent.

  As I walk over to the lord, a ball of sentient flames takes advantage of my lack of preoccupation to come and dance around my head. Aingeal is ecstatic to have Happy back, but there’s a hint of remorse from him too.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask, concerned. He sends me a flicker of the image I sent him – the one of The Shadow. And then another wave of regret. “You’re sorry you didn’t find them?” Aingeal flickers agreement at me. “I wasn’t asking you to in the first place – I only told you about them because of the risk they posed to you. If anything, it’s good that you didn’t find them.” Though it would be great to know where they went.

  Hopefully they don’t feel like trying to assassinate me in the night in revenge – because with the skills they showed, they might actually succeed. If I’m lucky, they’ve decided to leave the city entirely, giving up this whole kidnapping business as a bad job. From what my companions have told me they overheard, The Shadow wasn’t too keen on what Dexil was doing anyway.

  “Thanks for your help anyway,” I tell him, pulling myself out of my thoughts and sending appreciation down the link between us. He dances joyfully for a moment, and then zooms back to the group to dance around Happy again. The Pathwalker’s spikes flicker with blue even though I can still see the tired lines in her body – I don’t think they’ve been sleeping any better than I have since the kidnapping.

  Layton seems to have been waylaid by several opulently-dressed men and a single woman. As I approach, the voices become clear and audible.

  “But Lord Layton! We had no idea of their presence! And now my house – our houses are in ruins!” exclaims one of the most vibrantly-coloured, waving his arms wildly. My eyes almost water at his combination of hatched patterns in blue and yellow on his short overrobe and stripes in red and orange on his trousers. The other men around him nod firmly, dark looks on their faces.

  “Ker Sunan, you exaggerate,” Layton answers him patiently, though I see his fingers twitch. “There is some structural damage, yes, but I have already asked for the city earth mage to attend to fix it.”

  “And what of the emotional trauma?” Ker Sunan demands soulfully, changing tack. “My wife, my children…they tremble at the thought of returning under our own roof for fear of it crashing down upon our heads!”

  “That’s right,” a man dressed in patterns of green, blue, and orange affirms angrily. “My helven has curled up whimpering with his paws over his head! And my mila refuses to climb down from the tree in our garden!”

  “Doesn’t your mila get stuck up there every other tenday?” I hear one of the other men whisper to that one.

  “This is twice in the same tenday!” the second eyesore of a man hisses back harshly. “Clearly it’s due to this traumatic experience!” I see the sole woman of the group roll her eyes and take a slight step to the side as if to indicate that she isn’t associated with these fools.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “The fears of your family – or your pets – I can do nothing about, except assure them that the earth mage will ensure that the roof is no more likely to fall down now than it was before,” Layton answers with only the faintest creases at the corners of his eyes to indicate that he’s probably suffering from a headache.

  “We may have to visit a mind-healer for the affliction that now grips them,” the man moans – drama-queen. “The gold it will cost us to overcome this so they will not be permanently scarred and unable to make their own way in life….” He lifts his hand to his brow as if on the brink of fainting.

  Yeah, I know what’s going on here.

  I step forwards.

  “Kers – and Kera,” I nod briefly at the woman. “How terrible for you to be so scarred by the recent events. I am known to be a healer of some skill – perhaps I can aid your family?”

  Ker Sunan recovers surprisingly quickly and eyes me with calculation.

  “And who might you be, Ker…”

  “Lord, actually. Lord Markus of Titanbend,” I answer cheerfully, pretending not to see the way the whole group recoils. Two of the men actually take a step back.

  “L-Lord Markus?” repeats Ker Sunan, darting a look at Layton who just confirms it with a solemn nod. At least, it would be solemn if I hadn’t seen the quirk of his lips.

  “Of Titanbend?” hisses the one whose mila has got stuck up a tree.

  “That’s right,” I agree with a sunny smile. “So, where are my new patients?” I rub my hands together as if eager at the prospect. “Oh, I can probably convince your mila to climb down too – or perhaps one of my Bonded can,” I offer, nodding towards where my companions are gathered. More than half of them are watching in interest, following the conversation through the link between us.

  The man takes one look at my companions – predators every one of them – and looks like he might actually faint.

  “Ah, no, no, my lord,” the man hurries to assure me. “I-I’m sure she’ll come down by herself…eventually. No need to…to put yourself out!”

  “As you wish,” I reply, presenting a clear expression of disappointment. I turn back to Ker Sunan. “I guess I’d better start with your wife and children, then. Call them over and I’ll start, ah, healing them.”

  The man goes white – a difficult task considering the natural dusky shade of his skin.

  “On second thoughts…I’m sure it’s not so bad after all,” he babbles. “But thank you, my lord, for your consideration.” He dips a bow, then, after a moment, dips another one – deeper this time. Then he backs away hurriedly, looking like he fears I might pounce on him from behind if he turns around. The rest of the men with him look at each other and then quickly copy his example. Within moments, the woman is the only left nearby.

  “Do you have any traumatised family members in need of healing? Or milas to coax down from trees, Kera…?” I ask her. She bows deeply.

  “Kera Lithon, and no, my lord, though I’m grateful for your concern.” She straightens and turns a little to make Layton her focus. “I simply wished to inform Lord Layton that my guards captured three rogues who leaped over our fence. A fourth managed to escape, alas.”

  “Thank you for your aid, Kera Lithon,” Layton offers her, sounding genuine now. “If you could see them brought to join the rest of the prisoners here, I would appreciate it.” He gestures at the group of tied-up men not far away from where we’re standing. I recognise them as the ones we defeated without killing – evidently my guards have been busy. The fire mage, water mage, and Classer I rescued from the basement are in a separate group to the side – Laeman is standing over them with a naked blade, prepared for any trouble.

  “Of course,” Kera Lithon answers immediately. She eyes the group and then gives a contemptuous sniff.

  “That such…brigands could be found in our neighbourhood! It’s a scandal! No wonder the majority of their goods were delivered under the cover of darkness. I shall inform all of my contacts to keep an eye out for such operators.”

  “That would be appreciated,” Layton agrees, “especially if they would share any concerns with the local lawmen.” Then he sends a look at the still-retreating men. “Assuming it’s not milas stuck up trees,” he comments wryly.

  The woman levels another sniff at the men in question.

  “Fools,” is her only contribution. Then she gives Layton a bow, perfect to the nth degree for a commoner to a lord. “I see you have much work to be getting on with, Lord Layton. I look forward to receiving the earth mage in due time.” She dips another bow to me, this one deeper than the one offered to Layton – again, picture perfect for the gulf between our social statuses.

  She waits until Layton gives a gesture of dismissal, and then turns to stride back to her house, her head held high.

  “I like her,” I comment once she’s out of earshot. “The others, not so much.”

  Layton grimaces, finally giving in and lifting a hand to his temple to massage it.

  “Merchants are frequently tiresome, but since the wealth of the city largely lies in their hands, I cannot be too high-handed.”

  I hum in response.

  “You wished to speak with me?” I ask, changing the subject abruptly.

  “Indeed. Lord Markus–”

  “I thought we were past titles at this point?” I interrupt with a raised eyebrow.

  Layton smiles a little.

  “Markus, then. I wished to update you on the situation and to ask you a couple of questions.”

  “Fire away,” I tell him. He gives me a slight look of confusion. “I mean, go ahead.”

  “Very well. The cordon of the city guard have caught a number of men fleeing the area – these have been turned over directly to the lawmen.” He gestures towards where a number of armoured figures are keeping bystanders from getting too close. “They will undergo interrogation and then sentencing. Two actually managed to lead the guards to a safehouse, enabling even more arrests to be made.” Layton gives a small, satisfied smile. “While I am aware that the kidnapping of your Bonded has been a nightmare for you, I cannot help but be grateful that the…heat of your attack has driven a number of rous out of hiding. The city will be better off for it.”

  With the successful rescue and the relief that, injured and hurt as they may be, none of them have died in the ordeal, I feel a little magnanimous.

  “I’m glad that such an awful situation managed to do some good then.” I cast a glance at the tied-up prisoners lying to the side. They’re sweating in the sun and several are lying rather still. My brow furrows as two emotions struggle within me – the sense that they deserve anything they get fights with the more moral sense that even prisoners shouldn’t just be left in the bright sunlight with no water. “What’s happening with them?”

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