But he only came back with, “Yeah.” After that, silence.
And not even dreams to look forward to.
Chapter Fourteen
‡
There was a seductive innocence about her as she slept, her body lush with relaxation and the long dark hair shaping itself to the curve of her back, over her shoulders and arms. A siren, and she had lured him when no one else could claim that privilege.
Merc ripped his eyes from Amana, using every hard won ounce of self-control to turn from her and not keep staring at his dream woman made flesh. She was even more breathtaking in reality, her skin glowing with a luminescence dreams couldn’t touch, the brown of her eyes deeper and more inviting, even filled with the fear and worry she’d been experiencing throughout their journey.
The clock showed four plus hours since she began sleeping, a sleep he interrupted just before every REM cycle. She made sleepy noises of protest when he did, her mouth scrunching up and her body jerking away from the annoyance. And gods, he was an idiot, because even those small actions had something twisting in his gut, a something that should have died with her betrayal.
A couple more hours, and then he’d get her out of bed and lie down himself. She’d be rested then…as well rested as could be with being woken up so often. Then they’d head out after he got a few hours of sleep. He could live on a few hours, and between that and a few precautions, it should be safe enough for him with working around dreams and whatever she was, at least for the short-term.
The problem, this was going to last longer than the short-term.
He often found himself living on little or no sleep for periods of time, but even with his training there was no way he could stay awake through the end of this assignment.
He needed answers if he was going to survive this.
The secure connection on the computer went through. The Guild’s techmancer was near legendary in his abilities, but Merc knew quite a few back ways around electronic transmissions. As long as he kept it brief, he had no worries about the Guild.
The face that appeared on the tablet screen held an ageless quality, with mature features but firm, unlined skin. His head was as bald as it had always been, his almond-shaped eyes dark, filled with too many secrets and more knowledge than contained in a thousand libraries. He looked the same now as he did in Merc’s earliest memories of him – Merc’s earliest memories, period. “Shisen.”
“Merc,” the man replied, his voice as placid as a lake on a windless day. “There is much excitement over you. I have heard many interesting things.”
“I can imagine.” No doubt he heard everything that happened and knew what was going on, maybe even before Merc himself did. Between Shisen’s contacts and endless store of knowledge, he was a force to be reckoned with. “Tell me what I don’t know.”
The man showed no emotion, his usual neutral countenance in effect. Sometimes, in private musings, Merc questioned if the male had taken sides in the war, or if he stood pure center and waited to observe the end game. There were other beings Merc had the same thoughts over. With the Oracle, it was due to her love of chaos and causing beings to come against each other. With Cashric, everyone else might call him the god of law and justice, but all Merc saw was a righteous prick. There was no doubt in Merc’s mind that if Cashric felt the scales fell on the side of the necromancers, the god would stand back and allow their victory without comment. But with Shisen, it was due to the man’s devotion to learning and craft. All his master cared about was teaching beings to come into their power. What they did with that power, the man seemed not to take notice of. Shisen spoke. “Hadrien has disappeared.”
Merc’s hand was halfway to the tablet in a motion to throw it before he pulled back, tightened his muscles to the point of pain to get himself under control.
Gods damned Hadrien. Of course Hadrien disappeared. Of course he did, the cowardly little prick. As soon as news of the Guild’s little stunt reached him, he would have gone for cover.
Wait…wait…the small Asian woman, she was a magic user of some type, but he was so focused on Fallon he paid the mage only a moment’s attention, enough to immobilize her and move on. Was there enough time for her to discover anything? “What has the Guild put out?”
“They want you both. Regular price for you. Double price for your guest.” There was no question in his tone, but Merc knew the man well enough to know he wanted answers on what was happening. Double price meant there would be more eyes and put more variables in play. It meant the Guild was serious, and people who otherwise would stay well clear might get an inkling to try something.