Gathering Storm (The Salvation of Tempestria Book 2) by Gary Stringer (howl and other poems .txt) 📕

“I don’t know, but she was right about him being weak and vulnerable if I attacked here and now.”

Cat was stunned. “Your client told you that? When?”

“A couple of weeks ago, now.”

“But it only happened a few minutes ago!”

“Exactly,” Mandalee concurred. “So, if my client was right about that, maybe she was right about the rest.”

Cat shook her head. She hadn’t been convinced by Daelen’s claim about a Time traveller before, and while evidence was starting to mount up, now, Cat continued to be sceptical. She certainly wasn’t ready to surrender her free will or Daelen’s life to some vague prophecy that may or may not be from the future.

“Who is this client of yours?” Cat wanted to know. “And don’t give me any crap about confidentiality.”

For the first time, Mandalee seemed to waver in her certainty. “Actually, confidentiality is kind of moot…I don’t really remember much about her.”

“How can you not remember?” Cat was incredulous.

“I don’t know,” Mandalee admitted. “It’s all kind of vague. All I know is that it feels…right that I kill him.”

Catriona latched onto that. “You mean, like a post-hypnotic suggestion?”

“Yes, now you mention it,” the assassin agreed in surprise. “That’s a brilliant description. How in the world did you come up with it?”

“I’ve…” Cat hesitated. She couldn’t talk about Dreya. “…heard of similar things before. The point is, do you really think that’s a good enough basis for killing Daelen? When you go after a wizard, do you kill him just because of some vague feeling, because somebody points a finger, or do you do your research?”

“I…do my research,” Mandalee answered.

She hated to admit it, but her old friend made a good point. All of a sudden, this action didn’t feel as right as it had before.

“Maybe your client is from the future, maybe not, I don’t know. What makes you so sure she’s telling the truth? OK, she was right about today – that doesn’t mean she’s right about tomorrow. Suppose someone told you it’s going to rain today, and it does, are you going to automatically believe everything they say from then on?”

Mandalee gave a wry smile. “As I recall, you can use your magic to make it rain anytime you want.”

“Precisely,” the druidess agreed. “If your client really is from the future, who knows what powers they might have to influence what happened today?”

Mandalee groaned. “Why are things always so complicated with you around, Cat?”

“The world’s a complicated place,” she replied with a shrug. “I just embrace that. Right now, there’s more going on than you realise. Tell me, have you heard any reports of wizards and clerics going missing? Or an increase in missing persons, generally?”

Mandalee confirmed that she had. She had assumed there had been an increase in demon activity.

“You’re right, but not in the way you mean. Kullos is building an army of mortals and demons.”

“He’s what? Seriously?”

Catriona nodded. “Daelen and I, we have a plan – sort of – and I’m going with him.”

“What?” Mandalee snorted. “You’re going to save the world, now?”

Cat shook her head and chuckled, gently. “Nothing so grand. I’m just going to do what I always do: gather information, gain knowledge, find out how it all fits together and act on what I learn. My almost killing Daelen wasn’t part of the plan, so I’m not going to let you finish the job.”

“But what if you’re wrong? There may be no other chance to stop him, like I was told.”

“Wait – is that what your client said? Her exact words? ‘Stop him’?”

“Yes, that was it, I remember now. She said, ‘He’s going to destroy the world. You must stop him.’ What’s your point?”

“That’s for you to work out. Sorry, Mandalee, but I can’t discuss it any longer.” She mounted up behind Daelen and took the reins. “The bottom line is, Daelen and I are going now. I won’t fight you, Mandalee. Never. But for the moment, Daelen is under my protection, so to kill him, you’ll have to kill me, too. I don’t believe you’ll do that.”

Without another word, Cat nudged the horse into a trot out of Justaria’s garden, which now looked somewhat worse for wear, and out into the street.

As Mandalee watched them ride away, a familiar feline figure emerged from the shadows.

‘How long have you been there?’ Mandalee asked.

‘Long enough,’ Shyleen replied.

‘What do you think she meant?’

‘That sometimes you are meant to kill and sometimes you are not.’

‘But I’m an assassin and a demon hunter,’ Mandalee protested.

‘That is not all you are,’ the leopard countered.

Mandalee shook her head, emphatically.

‘I left all the other parts behind a long time ago.’

‘You left them near here when I got hurt,’ Shyleen pointed out, philosophically, ‘so you are in the perfect place to pick them up again.’

*****

When Daelen StormTiger came around, he found himself lying on a bed in one corner of what appeared to be an inn. It was quite the hive of activity.

Catriona Redfletching was standing over him, protectively, with her back to him, staff in one hand, while her other hand hovered near her belt from which all of her spell components hung. She was watching the crowd intently, ready to strike at the first wrong move. Pyrah was reared up on a barstool, hissing and showing her deadly fangs. The plants in the tavern had grown considerably, too, creating a natural barrier. Several blackened, smouldering marks suggested that the druidess had made her power and intent quite clear, and judging by the faces of those around, Daelen could tell they were convinced.

“Look, I’m really quite easy to get along with,” Cat was saying, “but my friend needs undisturbed rest, and I do not know who I can trust. Therefore, I will not risk any of you coming near while he is vulnerable, or trying to leave, so word gets out to an assassin. I apologise for the inconvenience and the disruption to your day, but please just stay calm, enjoy your drinks, your games and your