((Chapter heading is a line from the song The Game by Deine Lakaien.))
Chapter 11
Substitute the Moon
'Ooh, pretty!' Irina shouted out of nowhere, pointing at his crystal. 'What is that?' Her voice was high with joy, her expression unguarded rather than her usual poised look. He wondered if he should ignore it and her for the moment. He was less than sober, they all were, and while he thought he could trust them, you could never know. But … well.
'This is a means to communicate. With the Inquisitor, as it were.' He tilted his head. 'Watch.' He activated the crystal. 'Fenris!'
It took a moment before there was an answer. 'Dorian. Is something wrong?' It was earlier than he normally contacted the other man.
'No, no, I'm good. We had some success. We could point out no less than five collaborators to the Magisterium. They can contemplate their stupidity in shackles now. With any luck, I can see you soon. Or soon-ish.'
'About time. You've been gone for a year. While I love hearing your voice, I miss seeing you. Having you here. And it isn't really getting easier.' Irina chuckled in the background. It was a fond chuckle, but Dorian wished she'd cut it out. 'You're with someone?'
'Yes. A few of us have decided to celebrate what we've achieved.'
'And when were you going to tell me you're not alone?'
Dorian made a face. 'Irina asked what the crystal was. I decided to demonstrate. It's such a beautiful bit of magic, you see. And I've finally found a way to reproduce it, I think.'
'Good for you, Dorian.'
'Hey, Dorian, I could help you with that,' Arenius said. 'I can even think of a way to pay me … in kind, so to speak. With your very special talents, you know.'
Dorian burst into laughter at the way the man delivered his request. He only realised his mistake when the crystal went dead. 'Oh, damn. Arenius, that didn't go down well.' He smiled. 'Don't look so shocked, he'll come round. Fine, I'll help you if you help me. What was it you wanted again? It sounded shifty.'
'Only a little. I want information from the body of a guard. I want to know who killed him.'
'How long's he been dead?'
'A day.'
'Might work. Irina, teach your son manners.'
'This fellow is not my son. I do not have a son. I have an idiotic protégé who happens to be in my will.' She shook her head. 'You do realise how that sounded to the poor soul, don't you, Arenius?'
'What? Why?'
Dorian narrowed his eyes. 'Fenris thinks you were coming on to me. And that I liked it.'
'Come on to you? Eurgh. But I do have a thing for your overseer.'
'Milena could be your mother.'
'Hardly.'
'Fine. Still, I don't …'
'Dorian, a word,' Irina said and pulled him a few steps away. 'Listen. You've been gone from your partner for a long time already. If he doesn't come round, go and get him here. The release papers are ready, and I wouldn't trust an envoy. Go south, tell your man he's officially free, and bring him here. We both know that the Inquisition is being dissolved.'
'And what then? I can hardly marry him. They'll stop taking me seriously altogether.'
'Then what is your plan?'
'Go south again eventually, and come here for the big meetings.'
'You'll lose your hold on the rest of the Magisterium, Dorian. You need to be here, you and your silver tongue. And he can come here, since he's free. And … no-one's batting an eye at Kata and me being a couple. They think I'm less of a threat for it because I won't have a horde of children that I can raise to be like me.'
'You have an Arenius.'
'Yes. And you could have a Milena you won't shut up about. Put her in your will, tell no-one but the people you really absolutely trust with that information. That you won't reproduce doesn't have to mean you don't have a legacy. I for one have a couple of legacies. You just need to start collecting.'
Dorian looked to Arenius who was pointedly pretending not to hear. 'Milena … I don't know.'
'Look. She's been a great help, and without her, we wouldn't be having this conversation. She's on your side. Think about it, Dorian. You could have Fenris with you. Yes, they'll laugh behind your back as they do behind mine. But in the end, that empowers me. They don't see me as a threat. You know how to play the Game. It's time you started doing it.'
