“I don’t know,” I said truthfully, locking eyes with him. “I think so, but I know there’s damage my spells can’t fix. I’m hoping a specialized healer will be able to do all of that, and more. All I can say is I’ll try; I’ll not fill you with false promises.”
“But you’ll try?” he said fiercely. “You’ll do your best for her, and any of our families that we bring?” Others stepped forward, staring at me intently, even as a woman spoke up.
“And what about our friends? Mikas, ‘e fell from a ship in dock, an’ his leg don’t work no more, can’t get work. We all clubbed together to feed ‘im, but you’ll heal ‘im? Fer’ real?” she asked me intently. Others were starting to speak up, and I held my hands up to stop them all as Oracle took flight, landing on the top of the cage and beginning to examine the people.
“Listen to me; I won’t let any of my people be hurt if I can fix it. If it’s magic or potions you need, I’ll damn well do all I can, okay?"
"I can’t guarantee how quickly we’ll get your family free, but I will do my best to make sure it’s soon. The rules of citizenship are simple, aren’t they Oren?” I said, looking to him.
“Aye, Lord! Number one rule is do no be a dick!” he called to the crowd. “We’re all family, all o’ us now as citizens o’ the Great Tower. Just like ye might no like yer brother, but yer wouldna see ‘im hurt, ye all swear to look out fer one another! Those that do be ready to swear the Oath, I’ll ask ye to take a step forward. Those that do no, take a step back!”
The majority of the two cages separated out; the four men that were obviously planning on robbing me and escaping stayed at the back, as did two others, including one of the men in coveralls. I ignored the assholes, as I’d already written them off as a waste of space, but the other two, I regarded questioningly. The man in coveralls shook his head and spoke up first.
“I’m sorry, Lord, but my family is loyal to the city. My father is a guardsman, and I’d end up at war with him if I helped you. I can’t swear.”
“I understand that and can respect it. Hopefully, there’ll be a way to take care of the issue without it coming to battles between us and them, but…”
“Yer, ‘cos you’ll get dead!” One of the four assholes muttered, just loud enough to hear. Silence fell, growing deeper as I just smiled at the man who’d spoken and saw him blanch.
“Another pack and poor weapon?” I heard Seneschal ask in my mind, and I smiled wider.
“No, I didn’t promise them anything. I just said I’d set them free…”
“Thanks for that vote of confidence.” I said to the man, and turned to the last person in the cage, raising an eyebrow questioningly.
“I can’t swear neither. My family be in the city. I can’t leave them to a ‘maybe.’ If I had them free, I’d join you. I’ve no love for the city, but I can’t risk them; I need to go home. Sorry.”
I nodded and smiled at him regretfully.
“That’s okay, I understand. I’ll not be able to get you to the city, you understand, but I’ll make sure I drop you both within a few days’ walk of it, and I’ll give you supplies to make it the rest of the way on foot, good enough?” The relief on both men’s faces was clear, and Oren stepped forward at my nod to unlock the cages. Once the majority of the people had filed out, one of the four assholes tried to leave, and Bob stepped in, one claw-tipped hand gripping him by the throat and stopping the exodus.
“Ah, ah!” I said, smiling at him and shaking my head, as though reprimanding a naughty toddler. “You didn’t want to swear the Oath, and I don’t trust you, so you get to stay right there with your friends.” Bob shoved him back, hard. He tripped over the bars on the floor and fell into his friends, who glared at me, but they didn’t say anything until I spoke to the other two that had refused fealty. “You’ve been honest with me, and as long as you promise you’ll do no harm, and stay in the areas I ask, you can come out.”
They both hurried forward, glad to be free of the cage, but the other four immediately started to swear and argue that they should be allowed out as well.
“Iff’n yer let us out, yer lordship, maybe we’ll come to a deal. Just give us some time, eh? We got families back in the city, same as them, that’s all…” said the smallest one, lopsided grin and rotten teeth showing in what he clearly thought was a winning way.
“And maybe you’ll try and rob me blind and murder my people. Fuck no.” I said, and as his face went red with anger and he started to swear at me, Bob moved in. My skeletal minion ducked down so his face was level with his opponent’s and hissed, his mouth wide, fangs and teeth grazing the skin as the men jumped backward in fear.
“Oh, and I don’t recommend pissing Bob off…” I said to them as I turned away. “He’ll eat your fucking face next time.”
Oren led the group down to the parade ground from the ship, telling the other two to stand to one side before calling out to Barrett. They held a quick muttered conversation, and then Barrett was racing away and summoning people.
As we waited, more and more people appeared, until at last Seneschal spoke up in my mind.
“This is almost all of them, Jax, there are two more
