The sound of the door unlatching was accompanied by muttering and cursing. “No sign of him whatsoever.” Reginald announced as he stepped into the room. “Even the people I was going to check with…” he trailed off, looking at the group assembled in the living room of their room. Percival sat on one couch, a glass of dark red liquid in his hand, swirling it idly.

  “I found him.” Triss said with a weak smile. “You’re welcome.”

  “You didn’t find me. I found you.” Percival snapped.

  “Technically, I found her.” The old man with the cane said, pouring what had to be his fourth glass of wine from a bottle on the table. Percival still hadn’t introduced the man. They’d gone straight from the market to their rooms, only stopping to drop Naiela at her room, ignoring all of Triss’s attempts to start a conversation.

  “Master Portens. I was told you were out of town.” Reginald said to the old man. He turned his attention to Percival, but then paused and turned back to Triss. “How exactly did they find you? You were supposed to stay in your room.”

  “Well, about that.” Triss started, but Percival cut in before she could make a lame excuse.

  “She was out in the market with some council wizard.” Percival snapped. “That is, of course, beside the point. The question is what in the blazes are you all doing here? I believe I told you to mind the castle!” He looked around the room theatrically. “This doesn’t appear to be my castle. In fact, I would say this is an inn in Holintis. Would you care to explain why you disobeyed my orders and decided to follow me?”

  Reginald snorted a laugh. “If you’d brought your message book like I’d suggested, I wouldn’t have had to follow you.”

  “Oh, so this is my fault? Pray tell, what message was so important that you felt you should disobey me?”

  “The castle was attacked.” Triss cut in. Three sets of eyes suddenly turned to her, and she swallowed nervously before pressing on. “The day after you left. A giant wizard came looking for you. He nearly killed Reginald.” The words tumbled out of her.

  Percival glanced at Reginald, who nodded. Pervical’s demeanour shifted, suddenly becoming all business. “Who?” He asked. Reginald’s eyes flicked towards Triss, but Percival waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about her. She’s my apprentice, after all.”

  Reginald nodded slowly. “I can’t say for sure, but I believe it was Pratorin.” Something about the name tickled at Triss’s memory. She was sure she’d heard the name before, but she couldn’t place it.

  Percival nodded. “That’s what I expected. What did you tell him?”

  “He had a truth spell active. I told him you were somewhere near Holintis.” Reginald had a strained look on his face as he spoke, obviously distressed over what he had told the giant wizard - Pratorin.

  Percival nodded. “Good.”

  “It wasn’t - what?” Triss tried to jump to Reginald’s defence, when Percival’s response clicked. “Good?”

  “I expected he would stop by. Though I did think it would have taken him a little longer to show up. He’s obviously more motivated than I expected.”

  “Wait, you knew he would come?” Reginald asked, his mouth hanging open in shock.

  “Of course I knew!” Percival snapped. “What sort of fool do you take me for? I didn’t get to be this old in my line of work without knowing what threats are coming to my door. Why do you think I came up here to Holintis?”

  Reginald’s mouth snapped shut, and a bit of anger danced in his eyes. “I don’t know why you came here. You didn’t tell me anything.”

  A sly smile crossed Percival’s face. “And why do you think that is?” He asked. Then he suddenly put up a hand, stopping Reginald’s reply. “Actually, I’d like you to answer.” He turned and directed the statement to Triss.

  “Me?”

  “No, the idiot girl sitting behind you. OF COURSE YOU!” He thundered, the vein in his forehead throbbing. “The quality of apprentices these days.” He turned to Master Portens. “The council will rule for another millennia at this rate.”

  Portens broke into a loud, cackling laugh. “This is why I don’t take apprentices. I’m surprised you did. Though, I suppose with two girls that pretty I can understand.” He grinned at Triss, then winked.

  “Oh no, not two.” Percival declared. “I don’t take any responsibility for that council one.”

  “Really? Shame. Mind if I take her?” Portens asked in a half serious tone.

  Percival ignored the old wizard, turning his attention back to Triss. “Well, apprentice?”

  Triss thought for a minute. “If you thought that the giant wizard guy was coming…you didn’t want Reginald to tell him why you were here?”

  “Obviously. But why did I come here? Think, girl.”

  Triss played the situation over in her mind, highlighting some of the points that had been made. Percival knew that the giant wizard was coming. What was his name? Proton? No, that wasn’t right. She shook her head. That didn’t matter. If Percival knew this guy was coming, he was either running away, or… “It’s a trap. You came here to make a trap for the Proton guy.”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Percival shook his head. “How you manage to combine intelligence with stupidity in such a melded flow I will never understand. Yes, it’s a trap. But his name is Pratorin, not proton guy.”

  “Hey, at least I figured out why you came here.” Triss protested.

  “A trap?” Reginald asked. “What sort of trap. Why a trap?”

  “While I am quite powerful, Pratorin is more than a match for me alone. That’s why we have prepared several rituals at an abandoned temple. When he comes to take me, we’ll be able to kill him.” Percival said proudly. “He won’t be expecting it.”

  “Unless he figured it out too.” Triss pointed out.

  “Yes. Well. It doesn’t matter. He won’t be able to deal with all of us.” Percival spluttered, obviously flustered.

  “All?” Reginald asked. “Don’t you mean both?”

  “No, I mean all. Wesel is already at the temple, maintaining the rituals.”

  “For fucks sake!” Reginald snapped. “Thats why he wasn’t home. I visited his house and Porten’s today looking for you.”

  Porten raised one white eyebrow, silently mouthing the word ‘fuck’. Percival shook his head. “I swear, this apprentice of mine is a bad influence on you.” Reginald’s eyes widened, and Triss could see a retort forming on his lips.

  “So when do you think this Pratorin guy will be coming?” Triss asked quickly, trying to head off another argument before it started.

  “Hmm? Oh, in a few days, I expect. He’ll wait for a high density storm before he tries to take me. The ritual he wants to perform will take an excessive amount of magical energy, so he won’t try until then. We expect a storm in two or three days time.”

  “Why? What sort of ritual is he planning to perform?” Triss asked.

  Percival waved the question away. “Not important. What is important is that we get to the temple. Portens and I were about to leave town when he spotted you in the market. We’ll have to head out soon if we want to make it in time.”

  “Oh, like first thing in the morning?” Triss asked hopefully.

  “I think not. Now that Reginald is finally here, we’ll be departing right away.”

  Triss cast a longing glance at the bedroom door. She hadn’t even been in there yet, but she just knew the bed would be as magnificent as the living room. “I could just stay here and wait for you, you know. I’d probably just get in the way.”

  “You most certainly will get in the way. But, as your master I cannot allow you to be left behind. Alone, in a strange city? Perish the thought.” Percival said.

  “I could stay in my room until you get back.” Triss offered. “I’d be safe in the room.” Reginald snorted, and Triss shot him a glare. He ignored it.

  “Like you were supposed to stay in your room earlier?” Percival asked.

  Triss sighed. She didn’t really want to stay, she supposed. Sure, she wanted a nice comfortable bed for the night, but she couldn’t let Reginald go off alone. Couldn’t let her friends be in danger without her. “Alright. Let’s get going I guess.” Another thought suddenly struck her. “Wait, what about Naiela?”

  “Who?” Percival asked.

  “The council wizard. The one you met half an hour ago? Who certainly told you her name?” Triss prompted, only a little sarcasm in her tone.

  Percival harrumphed. “What about her?”

  “Are we taking her with us?”

  “Why in the blazes would we do that?”

  Triss realized that she really didn’t have a good answer. “Because she came all this way with us?” She tried.

  “So?”

  “Uh, so…” Triss started.

  “We may be able to convert her.” Reginald offered.

  “Really?” Percival said, a note of curiosity in his voice. “Why do you think that? She seemed quite set against us when I was with her.”

  Reginald quickly explained some of their trip, highlighting the interaction with Yurnash and the failed mission at the monastery. “I think she’s beginning to see through the council’s lies. She’s hardening herself at this point, but I think that just means she’s close to breaking.”

  “Close to breaking?” Triss asked. “You act like we’re trying to turn her to the dark side.” Three sets of confused eyes suddenly focused on her. “Never mind. Ignore me.” She said, feeling slightly embarrassed for some reason. Two sets of eyes turned back, but Porten’s gaze lingered for another moment. Then he winked before turning back to Reginald.

  Percival scratched at his white beard, the sound like sandpaper against a leather chair. “Maybe. But we can’t risk it. We’ll be leaving her behind.” He turned to Triss. “And I’ll brook no arguments on this.” He stood, leaving his full wineglass on the coffee table. Porten leaned forward and snatched it, draining it in one long gulp. “We’ve lost enough time as it is. Gather your belongings. We’re leaving now.”

  Triss retrieved her bag, still packed, and made her way to the door where Percival waited impatiently. They headed down to the lobby, letting the creepy clerks know to bring Buttercup around for them. The two didn’t question their departure at all, simply sending a runner to fetch the horse and wishing them all safe travels.

  The world was dim when they stepped out into the street, the only light from the flickering lampposts burning all up and down the street. The smell of burning oil hung lightly in the air, blending with the scent of too many people and animals living too close together. A stable boy was already bringing Buttercup through the gate beside the inn. Triss thanked the young man before putting her bags onto Buttercup and clambering into the saddle. The young man held the reins until she was situated, then bowed slightly before heading back inside, never saying a word. “This place is all sorts of fucked up.” Triss muttered.

  They made their way down the quiet, nearly empty streets. A few people still walked around, mostly men, and mostly drunk. None approached their strange little party, which Triss found strange. When she commented on it, Porten chuckled darkly. “I live here, my dear. They know better.”

  They headed straight for the city gate, which turned out to be closed. Two guards stood on each side, looking bored and sleepy. Porten walked up to them, and they both suddenly snapped awake. “Good evening, Master Porten.” They said in imperfect unison. “Going out?” One asked.

  “If it’s not too much of a bother.” Porten said with a smile.

  “Not at all.” The first guard said.

  “Happy to help.” The other said.

  “I’ll get the door for you.” The first said.

  “I’ll help.” The other added. The two men nearly tripped over one another in their haste to open a large door set into the gate. Triss had to dismount in order to fit through the doorway, and she led Buttercup through to the other side. Porten was the last one through the doorway.

  “Will you be returning tonight?” One guard asked. “We can leave the door unlocked for you.”

  Porten shook his head. “Not tonight, lads. Go ahead and lock it up, and have a good evening.” He bowed slightly towards them, and they hastily repeated the gesture, inadvertently clonking their iron helmets together. They closed the door, and a second later Triss heard the distinctive clunk of the bar being placed back.

  Triss turned away from the gate, and looked out. The moon was half hidden behind clouds tonight, and the road was hard to see. “Best you lead the horse.” Percival said. “Wouldn’t want her to get hurt.” With that, he set off into the night.