"Well, well, a daring thief," the tall mage chuckles. "Isn't that wonderful luck?"
I don't dispute that. I would if I could, but I can't say a word, or even make a noise. In fact I can't even breath, a fact that I wish I had not thought of. I think I don't need to, but just realizing I am not breathing is making my lungs hurt.
The mage advances to me and removes his spellbook from my grip. I wonder how he manages to when I am holding it so hard and can't move to let go, a rather odd subject to worry about when my near future may involved rape, torture, and/or death... Or maybe it is a much better subject to worry about than my future...
"Now I have a little business proposition for you." the wizard announces [Wasn't he several inches taller a moment ago?], "... It's even honest work... by some definitions anyway. I'll explain it to you in a moment. Don't say no before I finish the explanation." He seems to think his joke very funny. Not an opinion I share of course, but if laughing at it will get me out of here... "Now I need a few things... Don't go away until I come back." OK, maybe there are jokes I can't laugh at even if my life depends on it...
He leaves for long enough for me to do some serious worrying, worry that contains a bit of hope of course. His talk suggests I will see the morning light, something I was not sure of a moment ago. But if I have to do some favor for him? All sorts of ways that can turn out badly for me. And he may well be offering to pay me by not killing me. Not that I am going to turn an offer like that down, but...
But now he is back, his hands full of a mess of objects which he lays down with a clatter. "To start with, I have this little gift for you, which I am sure you will love. In fact I am sure you won't be parted from it." He somehow is placing a ring on my finger despite my fingers being clenched. No way to know what that ring does, but I'm betting I can't take it off, and that he can find me any time he wants to, which means that taking whatever suicide job he is about to suggest, and then just running away, is likely suicidal too.
I watch the window I came in thru close itself and lock. I can only barely see it, but the door locks itself too. The mage [who seems about 50 pounds heavier] takes a seat behind a desk [which you don't think was there a moment ago] "Please make yourself comfortable, my lady.", pointing to a chair [that definitely was not there a second ago.]
Suddenly I can move again, and somehow do not fall over, or even have trouble maintaining my balance. There being no useful alternative, I sit down as suggested. I find myself looking at the mage [who now has a beard.] "So what do you want me to do?" I ask as I pull at the ring, and confirm it is not easily removed at least.
"Directness has its virtues," the wizard smiles in a way I can't determine the meaning of, and am not sure I want to, "...but I prefer to have us learn more about each other first. After all, we may be working together for a long time... Life long perhaps in your case." If he has many more jokes like this, your life definitely is going to seem long at least. "...Or maybe longer..." That is not the most encouraging statement I have ever heard.
"So would you like to learn more about me? Or would you prefer to tell me about yourself?"
Neither choice sounds appealing, but what else? Maybe...   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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