Page 20 - Mad Shadows II

“One moment, gentlemen.” I walked up to Seroon and
rammed my fist into his belly. If the guards hadn’t been holding
him, he would have dropped to his knees. “Now we’re even.”

Mogg clapped me on the shoulder. “Well played!” He
turned his head and nodded to his soldiers, who dragged Seroon
from the stable.

“Thank you,” I said to Mogg. “I owe you one.”
“Nonsense.” He looked me over as if sizing me up for a
new set of clothes. “You know, I can always use a good man
like you. The pay is pretty good, too.”
“What sort of work would I be doing?”
“You’d be my bodyguard.” He toyed with the silver chain
around his neck again.
That was the second invitation to work that day. Valuta’s
offer was the more attractive.
“That’s most generous of you, my lord. But with all due
respect, I prefer the freedom of working on my own, whenever
I want or have need.”
“I understand and envy you your independence. My
responsibilities are more often a burden than duty.” He smiled,
but his eyes didn’t. “Well, if you change your mind, come to
Castle Mogg and ask for me.”
I was making friends as well as enemies that day. “I doubt I
will, but thank you.”
Mogg clicked his heels again, bowed and exited the livery.
“He’s a right good man,” said the stable master.
“If you say so.”
I paid him what I owed, plus a little bit extra, then saddled
Rora and rode out.

Valuta lived but a half hour’s ride from Widow’s Fell, near
the northern edge of Blacktoad Forest. South of the forest lay
the old, burned-out ghost town of Glacken, and farther south
and then east of that, the swamps and marshlands of Baloo Fen.
She dwelled in a small, two-story cottage sitting huddled and

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