Ascended

I wasn’t surprised we ended up at the mayor's house.

I’d been following behind them and there was something about the unconscious man’s face that looked familiar. Coupling that with how much authority he’d bragged about his father having and I was guessing that it was either the Mayor or the guard captain. Since we’d broken into the guard captain’s house, I’d leaned more towards the mayor. Though the big man was older than I was, so he probably had a place of his own.

Hugh ran out into the yard with the mayor behind him.

“Theo!” The mayor looked around the big man with anger in his eyes until he saw who was behind them.

The mayor’s face went from anger to fear in the time it took him to blink.

“So he’s your son…” I shook my head. “I should have known.”

“Master Bokor, I am so sorry for any slight my son might have caused you.” The balding man swallowed. “I ask that you accept my apology on his behalf...” He glanced at the unconscious brat. “Due to his state.”

“Master Bokor?” Fyga giggled.

I squeezed her arm. I thought about giving him my name, but if the Bokor came through, it might be better if they only knew us as Bokor and not our identities. At least until Master James was able to get the whole thing sorted.

“Your son is lucky that I had my fill of violence defending Gher, or else his disrespect would have earned him the other end of my sword.” I pulled the short woman in front of me. “He was harassing…” I tried to think about what to call her.

With her goggles, Fyga could pass as either a Human or a Bokor. But since we didn’t have a sword for her, it would be difficult to get them to believe she was actually a Bokor. It wouldn’t matter that she could use magic and that might actually clue them in that she was a Touched instead of a Bokor. The problem with introducing her as a Human would be trying to explain why I was keeping her with us without casting her as a criminal. There was also the problem of Fyga being a woman. I only knew of two women on the Island, and I’d seen most of the Bokor that lived there at one point during my life. Women rarely survived the transition to becoming a Bokor, yet I was already traveling with one and a second that was pretending to be one. I doubted most Humans even knew that female Bokor were a thing as rare as they were.

“Master Val’s apprentice.” Fyga pulled against my grip as she gave a very exaggerated bow.

I could feel Eveth’s eyes roll behind me.

As far as lies went it would sort of work, though I had my doubts about Val wanting to continue to work with the assassin.

“You might want to let your town know that we will be here for a few days.” I pulled Fyga back. “I wouldn’t want anyone else to think that they can attack one of our apprentices and live.” I hated myself for it, but I leaned into the image that Val had crafted last night. “We won’t be so forgiving next time.”

“I’ll be sure to have the announcement made at once!” The old man’s head bobbed. “I’m so thankful that you showed mercy…”

“No need to ramble.” Something told me that he was going to keep talking until I silenced him and I didn’t want to have to stand in front of his house and listen to him lie over and over again. I started to leave, but remembered a question that I had and the Mayor was the best person to ask.

“About the ghost island.” I watched Hugh carry Theo inside with the burly man right behind them. “Is it really haunted? Is that why you haven’t moved the city over there?”

“That…” The mayor swallowed. “We could never find any evidence that it’s haunted, but every time a mayor has tried to build over there, the construction team has vanished or the buildings have burned down.” He glanced over the three of us. “I think it’s far more likely that there is a group that is sabotaging any efforts in order to keep us here over there being a ghost. Bokor have looked into it in the past and they never found anything.” He winced as he looked at Eveth. “But if you want to check it out again, I can arrange for a boat to take you.”

“We’ll talk to Master Val and let you know what she decides.” I turned Fyga towards the gate. We had a lot to tell our older companion.