Cursed

I checked and verified what he’d said. Garrick’s finger was probably on the trigger right now. “You don’t think this is a bit excessive?”

“Consider it a compliment,” Garrick said amiably. “You’ve gotten away from me before.”

“Right,” I said. It hadn’t been by much, either. “You’re quite a marksman, by the way.”

“I keep my hand in,” Garrick said. “Didn’t know diviners could dodge like that.”

“The ones who can’t tend not to live very long.”

The men had settled down again, their weapons ready and aimed, listening to the conversation. “So since you aren’t having another try,” I said, “I’m guessing shooting me isn’t your primary goal.”

“Nope.”

“So you’re doing what?” I said. “Playing rear guard?”

“Something like that.”

“You know, there’s something I’m curious about,” I said. “When I first met you, you were doing a job for Talisid. Then you were working for Belthas. Then Belthas said you were working for Levistus. Now you’re working for Belthas again?”

Garrick waited with an expression of mild inquiry. “So?” I said when he didn’t answer.

“So?”

“Who do you actually work for?”

“Depends.”

“Depends on what?”

“Who’s paying.”

“You mean three different people were paying you to do three different things?”

“I’m freelance.”

“Wait a second,” I said. “You were working with Belthas at the start. So you must have been with Belthas at the factory for that fight with Deleo and Cinder over the barghest. Then Talisid paid you again to go back to the same factory to kill the same barghest?”

“Yep.”

“And you didn’t think to mention that it was already dead?”

“Client confidentiality.”

“No wonder you were so bloody relaxed,” I muttered. “So you work for whoever pays you?”

“Hey, fuck this guy,” the man who’d wanted to go after me said.

“Shut up, Mick,” Garrick said. “Yep.”

“Okay. I’ll pay you and your men twice what Belthas is paying you to switch sides.”

I thought I felt some of the men glance at each other. “Sorry,” Garrick said. “Under contract.”

“So what? Once you’re bought, you stay bought?”

“Yep.”

“An honest mercenary,” I said under my breath. “Great.” I raised my voice. “What about the rest of you?”

“Same answer,” Garrick said before the other men could speak. “Because they’re such loyal, trustworthy people. And because they wouldn’t live to spend the money if they said yes.”

This time I definitely wasn’t imagining the glances. Okay, so that wasn’t going to work.

I sat and thought for a minute. “So what’s the idea?” I said at last. “You’re just going to sit there and wait?”

“Yep.”

“You know there are other ways out, right?” I said. I was fairly sure there weren’t, but I was also fairly sure Garrick didn’t know one way or the other.

“Could be,” Garrick agreed.

“And you’re not going to stop me finding them?”

“Nope.”

“You know, for someone with a five-to-one advantage and all the weapons,” I said, “you’re very cautious.”

“We’re not coming after you, Verus,” Garrick said. “Don’t get me wrong, I could take you. But one thing I’ve learnt about you, you’re really good at running away. Five’s not enough to find you. But it’s enough to stop you getting out.”

“This way.”

“This way. But if you’d found another one, I don’t think you’d be here chatting.”

I was hoping he wouldn’t realise that. “So how long are you going to wait?”