Chapter 2238

"Why is that funny? I assume the king or Sylvanwere making inquiries out here about Eric."

"The king and Sylvan? No, they have neverasked about him."

Grace growled."What?"

"They have never asked about him out here.Should they have?"

"Yes, he died not far from here. Daniel foundhis corpse."

Mark looked surprised."Oh, dear, I didn't know. I'm sorry."

Jennifer stirred."He speaks the truth."

"Thank you, Jennifer," murmured Grace.

Mark looked startled at Jennifer."I had forgotten about paladins and their ability to sense truth. But the reason I said it was funny was that Quinten Cuirass himself came through here shortly after Eric was last here. He asked

my staff about him. They told him of course. We were honoured Quinten came through here. He was discrete though."

Grace chuckled and sat back."There you have it."

Mark looked confused."Have what? What am I missing?"

Jason answered while Grace chugged the last of her wine and reached for the bottle. "You likely haven't heard the latest news from Whitehaven. Quinten is no longer a paladin. If he ever was one. He was a tool of Loki the Trickster. All this time. He had a glamour on him. He was a bad, bad man in the end."

Mark looked beyond shocked."Quinten Cuirass? A tool of Loki? Are you shitting me?"

Everyone shook their heads. Jennifer answered. "No,I'm afraid not. And he is free, somewherein the Realm. Be careful next time you see him. He is not to be trusted."

"Especially now that we have more or lessconfirmed he killed Eric," said Grace. She

looked at Mark."You should ask yourself why the king or Sylvan haven't bothered to tell you about Quinten."

Mark looked up at her and then, after a moment, nodded once, slowly.

Brian shook his head."We still don't know Quinten was involved in his death, but we'll ask him next time we see him. We know Quinten was working for the king and the king was looking for the egg. He might have simply had Eric followed."

Grace snorted."Too much coincidence and I hate coincidence. It always leads to more coincidence and then everything goes to shit."

Mark stood and refilled drinks and sat back down.

"Sylvan told me one interesting thing," he said,and he looked at Daniel and the girls."He said a circle was formed with a bound spell caster and that it was blessed by Syn and Glenda."He looked right at Daniel."Is this true? I can only assume he was talking about you, Amy, Jasmine, and Amber."

Daniel looked at Grace first and when she nodded, he looked back at Mark."It's true."

Mark nodded his head slowly."Normally I would be freaking the fuck out and running as fast as I can, but you're a good man, Daniel. I don't sense anything evil from you all. In fact,I quite like you, Daniel, and your ladies. And here we have a paladin and cleric of Syn sitting right beside you. Either they're guards escorting you to your execution, or they trust you and are willing companions. I'll go with the latter."

"Good choice," chuckled Daniel."We are the firstgood circle of witches with a bound spell caster."

"And you aren't really pissed off knowing you'rebound?"

"No."

"Can you please elaborate?"

Daniel smiled."Amy and Jasmine were already in love with me before I was bound. Amber happened a little later, but it was the same result." Daniel looked at Amber and met her fake glare. He sent a little love down the bond,

and she looked away blushing.

Mark saw that and looked around at the others. "I see. And how does that matter, not that I'mminimising it."

Jennifer answered."It formed a special circle. Syn saw to it that it occurred. If the spell caster is already loved and is loved in return, the bond is willing one. Strengthened even. It takes special witches to make that happen. Witches that haven't been corrupted by power. Amy, Jasmine, and Amber were hedge witches. Excited by the little power they held but innocent. Daniel was someone they could all love because of his nature. They clicked. Syn was pleased when it happened. Their final bonding resulted in a very impressive orgy. It lasted throughout the night and into the morning."

"Orgy? Really?"

Bitty grinned."Oh yes. It was wonderful."

Mark focused on Bitty."And you, you don't seem like any of the gnomes I have ever met. You seem... free?"

"Daniel released all the gnomes from slavery.He broke the curse."

Daniel shook his head. What was happening? Why would Bitty reveal that so easily? He turned on his magic sight and focused. Magic threads streamed out of Mark and touched everyone in the room. Startled, he pushed the vision to his circle and wasn't surprised when Grace and Bitty sat up alarmed. They were sharing more and more with the witches'circle for some reason.

Before he could blink, Mark was pressed into the couch with a dagger held by Grace at his throat. His beer had flown and dripped from his face.

"What magics have you done on us?"

Mark's eyes bulged out of his head."It is nothing!A parlour trick!Nothing more!"

"Explain or you'll watch your blood fountainacross the room," growled Grace.

"It is a simple cantrip!I can make people speakthe truth!It was why I was placed here by the

KBI!I'm sorry!"

Jennifer touched Grace's shoulder."He speaks truth."

Grace didn't relent."I have never heard of a cantrip such as this held by humans. It is certainly not a simple cantrip as you say. Where did you learn this?"

"Sylvan!He taught me!It was difficult to learn,Iwas one of the few who could master it!But now it is so simple to use. I meant no harm!I am under orders from the King to question all adventurers who come through here. Sylvan was particularly interested in you lot."Mark had his hands up and positioned his head and neck as far away from Grace as he could. Her dagger pressed harder."How did you know I was using it? Sylvan assured me no one would ever know!"

Grace pulled back her blade and Mark lifted a hand to his throat and checked it for blood. "Doesn't matter how we knew. We know now.Gods be damned!This is not good. What is the KBI doing?"She looked hard at Mark."What did you report to Sylvan about Eric?"

"Only what I just told you. I don't knowanything more. I'm the eyes and ears out here. Nothing more."

Jennifer nodded."More truth."

Grace sheathed her blade and sat back down. "Listen here, Mark Meadows,I do not trustSylvan Castigon, and neither should you. Be careful what you report back and as for us, you will merely report we passed through, at e a meal, and left the next day. I need your oath on this."

Mark gulped."An oath? That may be difficult,I am already under oath to the KBI to report everything I see and hear."

"And you will. This oath is to say only what istruth. We came through, you spoke to us, we left in the morning. That is all. That shouldn't interfere with your other oath."

"Unless I am pressed for more details. You putmy soul in jeopardy."

"Yes, well, you used a cantrip on us to revealtruths we did not wish to speak of. I couldn't

care less what you worry about. What Bitty just revealed is for no one's ears."

"There is no other way?"

"No. Unless you wish to meet your maker on theother side of the veil? I am Night fae; I can arrange it if you like."

Mark still hesitated.

Jennifer sat beside him and took one of his hands, wet from his beer."There is something bad happening in the Realm. You are caught up in it at this very moment. Syn asks me to ask you to take the oath Grace wants. What we do out here is imperative to the security of the Realm. That is your true oath, is it not? To protect the Realm against threats?"

Mark nodded and then looked at Grace."Fine. I'll speak your oath."

Grace gave him the oath, and he repeated it and then winced when he felt it descend on his soul.

"Thank you. I think our conversation is over,don't you?"

Mark nodded and looked up at them all. He looked ashamed."I'm sorry, but it was my duty."

Grace nodded."We understand. Believe me, we understand. What's done is done. Good night, Mark Meadows. Thank you for the wonderful meal. It was delightful."

"My pleasure," he replied."Let me see you out."

They stood outside the restaurant, ignoring the stares from the patrons inside looking out the windows at them. They started to walk to the inn when a man stepped forward from between the restaurant and the shop next door.

"Excuse me?" said the man, and Grace wheeledtoward him, her dagger drawn.

"Aie!" cried out the man and held up his handsand stepped back.

Daniel moved forward and pushed down Grace's arm."It's okay. I think I know this man. Kevin Kelly, right? Merchant?"

"Y-yes," stammered the man, looking only atGrace's blade.

"I remember you, what do you want?" askedDaniel.

"I saw you come into town. I wanted to speak toyou. Privately, if I may?"

"What about?"

"I would rather speak in private..."

"Tell me what it is about first, then I'll decide if Iwish to speak to you alone."

"It's about your parents. About what happenedto them."