Anyone can lose their way. Doesnt matter how fervently you believe, your faith can abandon you. Distractions will lead you away from the path, and send you on a detour you may never return from.
I had been weak. I had been tempted by nice, well-aning people. Trust. Friendship. Loyalty. All the warm-fuzzies had laid siege to my resolve and cracked it wide open. For a mont there, I actually started to believe I too could beco a normie.
Find a nice girl, settle down, live the dream. It was, of course, ridiculous. Ti to wake the fuck up.
Youll be on your own, so any problems, do your best. I gave Claire a thumbs up and left the room.
Dont be surprised when we co back with the spike, Claire called after .
Rember to have fun, I shouted back.
I had been up all night and needed so sleep. As soon as I got in my room, I closed the curtains, stripped off and got into bed. I fell asleep almost imdiately.
I dont know if I dreamt about dead n or flying horses. When I woke a few hours later, I had no recollection of dreaming at all, which was great. The less I interacted with my brain the better as far as I was concerned.
The others were downstairs in the dining roomI call it that because it had a table and chairs where we could eat stuff we bought elsewhere. Probably best that no food was cooked on the premises; the manager would have burned the place down.
Jenny looked bright and alert. I assu she got so sleep, but it still could only have been the sa amount as I got. How she managed to look completely refreshed and ready to go while I staggered around with one eye still stuck close, was a mystery.
As soon as I entered the room, Flossie got up from her seat and walked towards . I hadnt seen her since our little altercation, so I was curious as to how she would react to .
She walked right up to , hit in the chest with her forehead and put her arms around . I got a squeeze, so mumbled words I couldnt make out, and then she released and went back to her seat. I have no idea what that was about, but her and Dudley seed to be back on course, so I guess theyd worked things out.
Claire stood up. She was dressed ready for adventure. Weapons, supplies and a new hat (when did she have ti to go shopping?).
Shall we go? She spoke with a calm resolve that made think she had been preparing what to say to the whole ti I was asleep.
I thought I might eat sothing first.
You can eat on the way, said Claire. There are plenty of food stalls on the way to the Municipal Directory.
The others all got up. There was definitely an air of were gonna prove you wrong about them, which was fine by . Much preferable to an air of Colin save us which was the usual vibe they gave off.
They all filed past . Jenny was at the back. She saluted at as she marched behind the others. I didnt have much choice other than to fall in line.
We went to the Municipal Directory, pausing long enough for to buy a kind of burrito. I say kind of because burritos arent normally red and sewn shut with long green strands of grass that taste like liquorice.
Nobody said much as we arranged for to be able to access all their accounts in the event of their deaths. Everyone was very businesslike and no one gave a hard ti about what I was asking them to do, and what it implied about my opinion of them doing this side-quest.
Once that was out of the way, we headed off to the Sheaf.
Well, good luck, I said at the entrance.
Yeah, yeah, said Claire. See you later. She walked into the Sheaf.
Maurice grinned at as he followed Claire. Flossie gave another hug. Dudley also gave a hug. Is it possible to have sex so great it makes you go around hugging people? I wouldnt know, obviously.
Jenny paused before going in. What are you going to do while you wait for our triumphant return?
Im sure Ill find a way to amuse myself.
Did you say amuse or abuse?
Amuse, I enunciated clearly.
Okay. Well, be careful of chafing. She walked into the Sheaf without waiting for a reply. Not that I had anything to say; it was good advice.
I made my way back to the inn, feeling strangely light on my feet. Whatever problems they might face, there was nothing I could do about it. It wasnt like theyd entered a dungeon or haunted ruins. True, they might have to face off against a civil servant or two, but at least they dont try to eat people. Not often, anyway.
The first thing I did after returning to my room was amuse myself. Twice. Finally having no one around to bother or co barging in demanding my attention was a great luxury and I enjoyed being on my own for once.
Of course, I was often on my own. The others tended to pair up and do their own thing, but they were always around. Now they were gone. Maybe forever.
If they did co back, successful in their mission or not, the confidence they would gain would put one step closer to my ultimate goal, which was to slip away at so point and leave them to it.
If they didnt co back, well
The most likely outco was for them to turn up in a couple of hours, probably having got tied up in red tape or simply having had their questions answered in a way that didnt help them find the missing spike.
A couple of hours later, I started to think they must have at least located God. Maybe even got invited to dinner. Knowing my luck, they were having a great ti and would co back with an even more inappropriate understanding of how to deal with risky situations.
I spent the afternoon sitting around doing nothing much. I practised a little magic, creating balls of light that floated up to the ceiling and bobbed around up there like helium balloons. I found I had so sort of attachnt to them and could make them roll across the ceiling by pushing my hand forward slowly. I could also make them roll back, but that was a lot harder.
After it got dark, an odd sensation began to fester in my stomach. I felt uncomfortable. Nervous. I had known sothing would probably go wrong. I expected it to. What I hadnt expected was to worry so much.
Still, its never easy when you go cold turkey. If I wanted to rid myself of this addiction to playing hero Id have to suffer a bit. Eventually, the craving would stop and I could go back to being a surly, antisocial git, the way I was ant to be.
They could be dead or injured or in so kind of desperate situation. The important thing was to wait here and resist the urge to care.
It must have been well past midnight when there was a knock on my door. I was lying on my bed wide awake and imdiately jumped to my feet. Then I stood there. I didnt want to make it look like I was eager to see them or anything.
I walked over to the door and opened it.
Greetings, visitor from another world, said Biadet. I bring news.
I slamd the door shut in her face. Shit. I dithered for a few seconds. Maybe if I didnt open the door shed go away?
So people might take that as a sign you werent pleased to see them.
I turned around to find Biadet sitting cross-legged on my bed. She was wearing a black dress with her shoes sticking out from under a frilly skirt. She pointed up at the ceiling.
Can you teach how to make them?
Above her, half-a-dozen balls of light jostled against each other in the breeze from the window.
Can you teach the trick to moving around like that? I asked.
It isnt a trick, youre just very easy to distract.
That hardly explained how she was able to teleport into my room through a closed door.
I suppose this is to do with the rest of my group.
I suppose it is, said Biadet. She lay down on the bed. So, this is where the magic happens. She turned her head towards and pointed at the ceiling again. Im referring to that magic.
I know which magic you were referring to. What happened to them, Biadet?
She sat up again. They displeased God and are sitting in a cell waiting for their punishnt.
How did they displease him?
I dont know the full story, but apparently they tried to steal an item from the Guild Treasury. Not the brightest bunch, are they? You must be pleased to be rid of them.
Would they really do sothing so stupid? Well, yes, but still, hard to believe theyd do it when I wasnt around to get them out of trouble.
Yes, I said. Its good to be free. What kind of punishnt will they get?
Biadet interlaced her fingers and rested her chin on them. Hmmmm. Hard to say. God doesnt take kindly to pilfering. I would imagine death is likely. Although, perhaps torture first. Publicly, maybe. Would serve as an excellent warning to others. Perhaps you plan to save them?
It was pretty obvious she had co to tempt into mounting a rescue attempt. Fuck that.
Did Gullen send you here, Biadet? See what Im capable of?
I think he has a pretty good idea what youre capable of. The way you got yourself out of that pickle the other day was very impressive. Did you see what I did there? Pickle. Its a play on words.
Yes, I get it. Damn, it seed my attempt to sneak one past the Lord Administrator had failed.
I dont know how you summoned Mama Ivy, but it was a very gutsy move.
I didnt like the way she called it gutsy. Should I be afraid of Mama Ivy?
Im afraid of Mama Ivy, you should be terrified. A little smile appeared at the edges of her lips.
Do you think Gullen could have a word with this God person? Ask for a little leniency on the grounds of sheer stupidity?
Not really his departnt. Very little to do with road planning or maintenance. Yeah, like that was his departnt. And God really doesnt listen to anyone. He is a law unto himself in this city.
Dont you think its a bit weird he calls himself God? Bit egotistical.
I dont see why. Thats his na. Godfrey.
Oh. I see. God for short. Maybe he wasnt so crazy loon. Maybe he could be reasoned with. Wait, what was I even thinking? Can he really tell when soones lying?
Oh, yes, said Biadet. Everyone has to tell the truth in Gods presence. Well, except for one person.
It took a mont to figure out what she ant. Everyone except God himself?
Biadet nodded.
So he might be making up the whole thing about them stealing sothing?
Perhaps, said Biadet. But why would he do that? Simply to attract your attention? Whos being egotistical now?
I hadnt actually made that claim, but now that shed ntioned it, I could see it as a way to get involved. Even if it was, it didnt an I would bite.
I dont suppose hell let them go with a slap on the wrist.
Unlikely. The last person to try and steal sothing from God She shook her head. Put off barbecue for a week. Anyway, I thought youd want to know. She got off the bed and walked over to the window. She stopped, turned and pointed at the door. Look out!
I spun around but there was nothing there. When I turned back, Biadet was gone. Im pretty sure I heard a distant voice say, So easy but when I went to the window there was no sign of her.
My options were clear.
Do nothing and leave them to their fate.
Co up with a plan and risk everything to save them.
It was no choice at all, really. I lay on my bed and said my goodbyes to them. They werent a bad lot, really. Clueless and idiotic, certainly, but I could have ended up with a much worse group. But all friendships have to end eventually. It was ti to move on and face life the way I was used toalone.
Once I accepted this as the only way forward, I felt a lot better. The uncomfortable situation in my stomach resolved itself and the tension in my shoulders went away. It wasnt an easy choice, but compared to haring off on a suicide mission I was definitely happy with my decision.
So, how I found myself standing outside the Sheaf a few hours later, I have no idea.
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