The Troubled Healer and Mage (1)
The next day, I rummaged through the safe and dug out the original contract with Isisde. It was sealed in multiple layers of a paper envelope soaked in special oil that was both fireproof and waterproof, just in case it got wet or burned. Isisde, that idiot, must've thought I'd tossed the contract from years ago.
I grabbed the contract and headed to Leana.
"Leana. Tell me something."
"You gonna garnish that elf mage's wages?"
"Yeah. How do I do it?"
"Not hard. It's a civil matter, so file a lawsuit at our city court. You got the contract, right?"
Leana took the contract from my hand and read it over as she spoke.
"This is solid enough to sue without extra proof or a statement from that elf mage. Then the trial happens, and you two duke it out in court."
"Duke it out?"
"Just a figure of speech. Unless the elf mage pulls some game-changing evidence out of nowhere, looks like you'll win this one."
"And if I do win?"
"You use the ruling to request enforcement from the court, and they garnish her wages by force."
"What if Isisde doesn't show up to trial?"
"That dumb?"
Leana laughed.
"She has to appear once it's scheduled. No-show means a summons, and if she ignores that, it's a default judgment—trial without her. That'd go against her for sure. No way she'd skip."
"Who knows. She's a mage, but not the sharpest."
"The one with the tattoo magic, right? Yeah, could be."
Leana sat at the reception desk with the contract.
"I'll handle this."
"You? How?"
"Just write up a power of attorney naming me your agent."
"Won't you be busy?"
"Way better than slogging through my current quests. Getting 130 gold plus interest? City mage means steady pay, and we've got her pinned so she can't flee the city. Time's on our side."
True enough. That's why I'd left Isisde intact. With Ornette confirming she was broke, killing her now wouldn't squeeze out a dime. Let emotions run hot and off her? Poof, there goes my fee. That's short-sighted thug shit. Better to keep her healthy, working as a city mage, earning cash. A live-in slave, basically.
"Alright. It's yours."
"Don't worry. I got this."
The border guard sent us one mountain griffin's head as payment for the pair. I took it to the same workshop that had taxidermied the water demon head before. Loading it onto a cart, a young woman greeted me instead of the old cart guy.
Her tough leather apron and thick gloves gripped bloodied tools, and the muscles bulging from her sleeveless top and arms were impressive. But her face was pure sunshine—red bob haircut, amber eyes, freckles radiating cheer.
"Hi! You're the demon hunter who dropped off that water demon head, right?"
"Uh, yeah. Who're you?"
"I'm the granddaughter. Jillian!"
She extended a gloved hand. I shook it and asked,
"What about the guy who was here before?"
"Grandpa got sick after the water demon job, so I'm running the shop now."
"Sorry to hear that."
"No worries. He was gonna hand it over soon anyway. Perfect timing."
Jillian flashed a bright smile and peeked behind me.
"That's the famous mountain griffin, huh?"
"Yeah. Can you do it?"
"Of course! I've handled bigger water demon heads. Trust me!"
She flexed her fist triumphantly.
"How much upfront?"
After inspecting the head, Jillian quoted a price.
"Thanks. Looking forward to it."
"Yep! About a month."
"A month...?"
"I'm not quite at grandpa's level yet!"
Nothing for it. Only two taxidermy shops in town, and the other won't touch demon or monster heads anymore.
"Take care."
I paid the deposit and left.
About a week later, Schlessi court accepted Leana's filing and set a trial date. Notice went to Isisde, but no reaction yet. Ornette still hadn't clarified her status. She came down for breakfast like always, polished it off quietly, then slipped upstairs for a nap till lunch. Down again for a Celestine-sized lunch, nap till dinner. After dinner, she'd help with light cleaning and chores on her own initiative, brush her teeth, and back to bed. Not a cat, but eat or sleep—that's her routine.
Conversations? Bare minimum. Only speaks if necessary, clams up otherwise. Anyone else, I'd snap from frustration, but Ornette's a mage—fragment of a high mage, reads minds. Silence means she's got reasons. Honestly, not uncomfortable without chatter.
But Celestine felt different. She was terrified of Ornette. Witnessed Orlean's magic in Elodi Village firsthand, plus Ornette calling her a liar out of nowhere. Add the silence and unreadable eyes? Nightmare fuel.
"A-ah, hi...."
Ornette glided down for breakfast, and Celestine stammered a greeting while scooting to my side. Maximizing distance. She eyed Ornette nonstop while eating, but cleared her plate.
Leana scooped half-boiled egg and bread onto Celestine's side plate and spoke up.
"Boss, time to clue Ornette in, don't you think?"
"Ah, yeah. Right."
I set down my fork and called her.
Ornette, smearing jam on bread across the table, looked up with sea-blue eyes.
"It's been a week. How's guild life? Any issues?"
"None. Good."
Short answer, then chomp on the bread.
"Clothes, washing, food, sleep—all fine?"
"Yeah."
"Glad to hear."
As I geared up for more, she beat me.
"Give me quests if you need."
"Huh?"
"You're gonna say share the load."
Leana and I exchanged glances. That was the plan, but not expecting her to say it first.
Mountain griffin kill spiked requests. Border guard hauled adult and young griffins on ox carts right through downtown. Massive griffins, especially that huge mountain one—intimidating as hell. Word spread it was our guild, plus Rezobuar Reservoir and Elodi Village bonuses. Quests pouring in, time to assign to our idling high-end talent, Ornette.
"Yeah. That's it. Guild's growing, so we'll need to..."
"No need. I was thinking I should earn my keep anyway."
"Ah, thanks."
Ornette silently munched her bread. Smooth sailing—relief.
"Boss...."
Celestine whispered in my ear from beside me.
"I'm never going out with her...."
After breakfast, Leana divvied up quests. Celestine yelped at hers.
"Eeeek?! Nooo!!"
"What."
"Quest with Ornette!!"
"She doesn't know the area yet. Guide her."
"Hiiiing.... Scary...."
"No choice. I got my stuff, Leana's buried protecting the guild. You're it."
Knowing it, Celestine slumped up, draped her cloak.
"Fiiiine.... Let's go, Ornette...."
Ornette wiped crumbs and jam, stood gracefully.
"Be careful."
After they left, I stepped out and saw Celestine trailing far behind. Ornette approached to ask something; Celestine panicked sideways, tripped on her own foot. Flailing at Ornette's outstretched hand—total airhead. Kinda cute.
Sun long set, no sign of them. Pacing outside, eyeing alleys, I called Leana.
"Their quests today weren't overnights, right?"
"Right. Minor ones. Why so late?"
"I'll check. Where?"
Got the location from Leana, about to head out—two shadows approached. One tall and bulky, one small and frail. Celestine and Ornette.
Up close, Celestine's purple cloak and clothes were wrecked. Soaked in sweat, wring her out for a bucketful. Ornette's dragged robe hem dirty, but decent by comparison.
What the hell had those two been up to?