PT. 17
Marianne looked around the dank throne room, wrinkling her nose at the smell. "I'm assuming this place hasn't been aired in a while?" she asked facetiously.
"My master will be with us shortly," the Swordsman replied brusquely, brushing past her to light a torch.
"Take your time," she replied, wandering around the room aimlessly, ending up in front of a large, stone chair. "I'm in no hurry." There was dried blood on the steps leading up to the seat along with an assortment of well-gnawed bones. She eyed the chair with interest, making mental notes of the runes etched on its sides. A battered old sword was leaned against the chair, its tattered sheath thrown carelessly beside it.
The Swordsman stepped behind her and followed her gaze up to the chair. "Others have stood before this throne," he whispered coldly in her ear. "Most of them started out as confident as you. There was little left of their souls when he was finished with them. It will be the same with you."
"You have such confidence in me," she replied dryly. "Maybe I'll surprise you."
"Little would surprise me," a voice hissed from the shadows. The Jinn shuffled out of a doorway and past the duo to his chair, leaving a trail of slime in his wake. "But you have succeeded in interesting me, woman. You have a gift I have not seen in this forsaken little pesthole in a while. Such a gift could be useful indeed. Imagine the havoc that could be achieved if an assassin could be sent against my "brethren", an assassin who could not be stopped by magic. The others have grown complacent in their age, dependent on their magic to do even the simplest tasks for them. They would be easy prey for such a unique hunter. Yes, this gift would be valuable indeed if it were mated with the right combination of strength and cunning."
"Is that an offer, old beast?" she asked with a laugh. "Or are we just beginning the negotiations?"
"Would you be willing to barter your talent to me, witch? Name your price!"
Marianne arched one eyebrow at the Jinn then smiled coldly. "You're too eager old beast. What would you be willing to offer me for this "gift" and all that comes with it?"
The Jinn settled back into his throne, an evil smile on its ugly face. "I offer you gold, jewels, and wealth beyond your imagination."
She shrugged, turning her back on the demon. "Now you're boring me. If I wanted wealth all I'd have to do is take it from the first Avarice Demon I ran across. What else do you offer?"
"Land and slaves to work this property. This too I offer for your services."
She shrugged, unconcerned. "I'm a wanderer by nature. Land is useless to me and slaves are only a hindrance." She stood in front of the tall, silent figure of the Swordsman, staring pensively up at his impassive face. "Try again, demon. Surely you have something of more interest to offer me."
The Jinn chuckled cruelly, pulling the shadows closer around his seated form. "Would you have a pet, witch? A toy to amuse you? Something to serve your every desire at any time, day or night?"
"Have someone in mind?" she asked.
"Me." The Swordsman breathed the word, his voice tight with anger. "The Jinn offers me."
She shrugged again, unconcerned. "He's already tried that tact when he sent you to seduce me at the Inn. An interesting tactic though a tad predictable." She reached out one gloved hand and gently ran her fingers over his cheek. "Under other circumstances, I might have been interested," she mused. "You're a pretty thing and I have a weakness for blue eyes. But I'm selective these days as to who shares my bed."
"Why should I negotiate at all with you wench?" The Jinn's voice was hard with anger. "I could have you chained like him and broken to my will."
"You're not paying attention," she sighed. "The collar is magic. I am not affected by magic. Therefore, any spell of binding you tried to perform on me would be ineffective." She took one step closer to the still figure before her, clasping her hands in front of her. She held the Swordsman's glance with her own, keeping his eyes on her while she slowly slid her glove off her right hand. "Besides, I didn't come to sell my services to you. I came to return an object and be amused for a while. So far I've not been amused. So unless you have something of interest for me…"
"I could have you chained in the dungeon till you starve" the Jinn snarled, infuriated by her lack of interest.
"You could certainly try," she agreed with a smile, walking around the Swordsman with careful steps. "But I've yet to find a dungeon in this land I couldn't break out of – especially if it's guarded by magic." She walked slowly to the end of the hall and stood by the doorway, her fingers tapping an impatient rhythm on her crossed arms. "You were doing so much better when you were negotiating. Now you've bored me and I hate to be bored."
"Name your price!" the demon spat the words out, its red eyes blazing. "But beware harridan that you do not try my patience too far."
Marianne smiled to herself then turned back to her companions, her face impassive. "Well, you can start by inviting me to dinner." She gestured absently towards the Swordsman with her ungloved hand. "And you can lend him to me after dinner. I have a feeling it's going to be colder tonight than it was last night and I could use a good bed-warmer."
The Swordsman's face revealed none of the emotions that had been resurrected during the conversation. "As my Master commands," he said coldly, nodding to the Jinn.
"Yes, by all means – let us dine together tonight" the Jinn agreed, his demeanor suddenly cheerful. "I'm sure we can find all manner of amusements to occupy us after we feast."
Marianne smiled coldly, though she shuddered inwardly at the thought of what would amuse a Jinn. "I'm sure it will be an entertaining night for us all."
Gideon stared in astonishment at the fiery bird that seemed to hover between his ship and the jump gate. "A Phoenix? Give me a break. There is no such thing as a Phoenix. Mr. Matheson, what do the ships sensors tell us about that thing out there."
"Sensors are reading nothing Captain." Matheson replied, making a few adjustments on the panel in front of him. "We're not ever reading a jumpgate."
"Then where is this image coming from?" Gideon asked, not really expecting an answer.
"My brother just wanted to make sure you found your way to the proper spot" an amused voice replied from the door. All on the bridge turned to see a figure in a dark cloak walk from the adjoining conference room, followed closely by two other figures. The first form pushed back the cloak's hood to reveal the woman in the portrait – Marianne, the Dark Lady. "Hello Captain Gideon. Welcome to the entrance to my world."