The Heavenly Host

“Again, just Tom. I’m no lord of anything or anyone.” Tom shook his head. “So is this some sort of weird trap or is your master simply insane?”

Estrebrius shook violently and fell down on his knees. “I swear it is no trap, My Lord. He is a good, honest accursed master, as they go. He is also nowhere near skilled enough to trap someone of your power. He just wants to make a deal with you. I have no idea what it is, or why. I really do think he may have taken leave of his senses, but this is what he’s commanded me.”

Tom shook his head and looked to Boggy. “What do you think?”

Boggy scratched his chin. “Well, I’ve known Estrebrius for several centuries; he’s certainly honest and reliable.” Talarius made a choking noise; Tom gave him a quick glare. “He’s spoken quite highly of this accursed master on numerous occasions. Honestly, I’ve tried to dissuade Estrebrius on his master’s apparent decency, but he’s stuck by it for several years now.”

“How long have you had this accursed master?” Tom asked Estrebrius.

“Only about six years, sir. I was his first bound demon out of conjury school.”

“So he’s not super-experienced? Compared with say, the Council of Wizardry?”

Estrebrius shook his head. “Not at all. He’s a very competent wizard, but he’s not involved in politics. He’s not famous or renowned; he’s just out to make a living in the city.”

“Thoughts?” Tom looked around at his companions. It might have been nice to have Antefalken around, but the bard was still in the Courts. Tom glanced at Tizzy, who was apparently picking his nose and examining the results; no help there. Reggie shrugged; of course he wouldn’t know anything.

“What else do we have to do?” Rupert asked when Tom looked at him.

Tom shrugged. That was a very compelling point. He turned to Estrebrius. “When is your master next summoning you?”

“He said he’d summon me the next morning, which would be in maybe another twelve Astlanian hours or so.”

Tom nodded. “That will work. Reggie is going to want to sleep for most of that time. I am thinking that in the event your master pulls any funny business, we want everyone at full strength. I’m not sure I want to take any more chances on Astlanians not doing stupid stuff.”

Chapter 87

^{DOF +1}

^{Evening 15-18-440}

Hilda collapsed in the overstuffed chair in the suite she had rented at the Havestan Gardens Inn. The rates were completely ridiculous, but she needed someplace decent to stay in the event anyone came calling. Technically, according to her story, she lived in the city; however, she was not about to go house shopping at this point. Not to mention furnishing, staff and all the rest. For one thing, it would be way over budget and hard to justify. So she had settled on a story of her home being repaired and updated while she was at the wedding and the contractors had not finished on time, so she had been forced to rent rooms at this inn.

Since she was supposed to be an animage and healer, perhaps she was adding an improved hospital ward to her house, better medical facilities. That sounded better than simply redecorating or personal improvements. That sort of story seemed just too self-centered to fit with her assumed persona. It was also against her real nature. While she undeniably enjoyed the small comforts of life, and afterlife, she really was not hung up on frilly or fancy trappings. Quality was important, but so was pragmatic value, utility and durability.

Yes, perhaps this suite might seem a bit much, with a bedroom for her, a small bedroom for Danyel, a parlor and a private bath with running hot water. However, she could claim need of the parlor for seeing patients; similarly for the bath; and clearly, Danyel would need his own room for propriety’s sake. The fact that the Inn’s tavern was rumored to have the best wine cellar in the city? Well, that was simply a nice coincidence. And that being rumored and not proven, she would add it to her list of things to investigate.

She had paid for a week in advance with an option to renew. She was not sure how long she needed, but better safe than sorry. A week seemed reasonable, in particular due to the fact that she would need to go back to the quartermaster to get more coins for a second week. They had stopped by a jewelry shop and she had bought a small sapphire pendant that she felt suitable for enchantment. Between that rather expensive purchase and the room at the inn, her coin purse was left feeling hungry.

One did not need coins in Tierhallon; everyone used credit rings linked to their bank account. It had been a bit odd to discover that one needed a bank account in the afterlife, but that was how one was rewarded. No one really had “living expenses,” of course, since no one was technically living, but she did get a small token payment for her services on behalf of Tiernon, and with that she could acquire the luxuries she needed to make after life more comfortable.