Chapter 17. Of Lust and Lucre

endaran lay upon his back between Lemony and Uriel, his eyes heavy with exhaustion and the sleeping draught that had laced their wine during the evening meal. The elementalist and the infuriating monk had already succumbed to it, although he fancied Lemony would have slept in any event.  He was angry at her for leading them into this trap for if Uriel had not insisted on going back to look for Lemony they might have escaped.

He had managed to pour most of the sleeping draught on the ground, but it did not matter.  The part of his mind that he needed for focusing and directing his energies was now fast asleep.  It did not help matters that he was already exhausted thanks to the intrusions of the ghost.  Predictably she appeared at his feet, hovering over him mournfully.  He stared blearily up at her, too tired to be angry or frightened.

“If I were not attached to you, I’d leave right now,” the woman howled at him, “How could you do a thing like this?”

“The usual reasons,” he demurred, “Lust and lucre, although probably not in that order.”

“Whatever lies in store for you at the hands of Kiku is richly deserved.  I am furious that you have dragged Uriel and Lemony into this.”

“I’m not,” he replied, “If she had not foisted you off on me, I’d have parted company at Yak’s Bend.  And since the curse caused me to upset Albrict, he might not have tipped off Kiku’s men.  So this is Uriel’s fault.”

“She’s not the one who ran away from her obligations.”

“As I recall, I stole first, then ran away,” he corrected her, so accustomed now to uttering the blunt truth it no longer caused him alarm.  It was only when he tried to conceal things that his mouth ran out of control.  He raised his bound hands to scratch the stubble that darkened his jaw.  Pendaran was not looking forward to seeing Kiku again, especially now that he was cursed.  Hate was too mild a term to describe his feelings for her.  There had never been love between them, but her jewelry had been phenomenal.  He still had a portion of the proceeds stashed in a chest buried near Quarrel Falls.  Upon reflection it now seemed extremely foolish for him to have chosen an assassin for his mark, especially one with as many connections as Kiku.  She had been a cruel and uninspired lover, but when it came to causing pain and death, she was truly a maestro. 

“You have never asked me my name,” the ghost said sulkily.

Pendaran yawned and rolled over onto his side, his hands brushing Uriel’s shoulder.  She moaned in her sleep and twitched away from him.  His body hungered for the press of her warm flesh against him but he only sighed and lay there.

“It’s Luitha.  I already know it.  That stupid lemon woman told me.  And if you could read my thoughts you’d also know I don’t give a damn about you, so leave me alone.”

“With any luck you’ll die soon,” Luitha hissed coldly, “Then I can go back to Uriel.”

“Lucky her.  That’s probably the only reason she is ‘helping’ me.  But I don’t suppose she’ll last too much longer because, as I recall, Kiku is a very jealous woman.”

“I hate you,” Luitha moaned, “You’re a pathetic, selfish, miserable little man and you have hurt a lot of people with your carelessness.  No wonder you’re alone in the world.”

“Go away,” he snapped, stung.

 “Very well, if you want to be alone, that is your choice.  I have learned to deal with it over the centuries, but I doubt you would fare as well in my place.  Goodbye.”

Pendaran glared at her as she faded away.  Thank the gods, some peace and quiet at last.