The Heart of Alchemy by James Wisher (e book reading free TXT) 📕

roof and dragon-style gargoyles giving it an imposing look. The hundreds of guards Otto counted patrolling the battlements didn’t hurt either. A twenty-foot-high wall, patrolled by yet more guards, surrounded the grounds. None of them seemed to have magical abilities, so sneaking in wouldn’t be a problem.

After a two-hour rest in the Golmol worshippers’ tavern, Otto and Jet had emerged into bright, almost blinding noon sunlight. When Otto’s eyes had adjusted, it was clear nothing had happened during his time underground. That made sense. Marius’s power would be strongest after dark. Naturally he would want to wait until night to make his move.

Otto and Jet snuck around toward the northern wall of the compound wrapped in an invisibility spell. No one paid them the least attention. Patrols of soldiers guarded every approach. Even ministers dressed in fine robes were questioned as they neared the solitary gate.

“They take security seriously,” Otto said. “But I’ve seen no lords.”

“They’ll be inside as well as in the Citadel of Alchemy.” She pointed out a smaller but still large three-story fortress surrounded by a faint haze of smoke.

When Otto looked closer the powerful currents of ether became clear. Many people in that building were working magic. Good, if they were busy with important projects, they would be less likely to notice when Otto entered.

Trees towered over the northern side of the wall. Ether swirled around the branches, marking them as no ordinary growth. No guards patrolled this side of the wall either. Clearly the powers that be had no fear of trespassers from this direction. So much the better for Otto.

Satisfied with what he’d seen, Otto tagged the alley where they stood with a single thread. “Okay, let’s head back. If Lady White was going to respond, she should have done so by now.”

“You’re not going in?” Jet asked.

“Not until tonight. I need a proper rest to recover my full strength. Anything less is asking for failure. Plus, I need to know where things stand with Marius. I can’t focus on what’s ahead of me unless I know what’s behind me.”

Jet chewed her lip but finally nodded. “I have to face the consequences some time. If I go back with you, maybe he won’t kill me on the spot.”

As they turned back toward the slums Otto asked, “If you knew the consequences, why risk sending the message?”

“When the government raided my warehouse, I knew my days as a merchant were over. If I lose the cult as well, I’ll end up a beggar on the street. Better death at Marius’s hand than that. Since I did my best to serve him in life, hopefully Astaroth will be generous in the afterlife.”

Otto wanted to laugh, but held his tongue. He seriously doubted a demon lord took intentions into account. Only results mattered, just like in the world of the living.

The pair made it back to their safe house without issue. The streets were busy but calm. Either word of the raid hadn’t reached the people yet or they thought little of it. Otto didn’t know enough about the empire to guess which.

Jet opened the door and they found Marius pacing while five rugged, armed men watched without meeting the undead cultist’s angry gaze. This was the first time Otto had seen Marius on edge. Perhaps he’d gotten a message from his mistress.

The moment Otto closed the door Marius rounded on them. “Where have you two been? As if I didn’t know.”

“I went to scout the palace grounds,” Otto said. “What little I saw of the Forbidden Garden impressed me.”

Marius ignored him and focused on Jet. “You betrayed me.”

She shook her head. “We’re all on the same side. I feared you were making a mistake that would destroy all that we had built. And yes, I said we. You’re in charge, but you couldn’t have accomplished all you have without me. When I saw the danger of all that going up in flames, I acted to protect it.”

Otto admired her courage even if he considered it slightly foolish. “Tell him about the other cultists.”

That drew Marius’s attention. “What other cultists?”

“On our way to the aerie,” Jet said. “We ran into some of Golmol’s worshipers. They won’t be a problem now, but who knows how many of the other cults have cells in the empire? This bunch were lying in wait. They claimed for some time. How long has it been since you sent a message to Lady White?”

Marius took two strides and backhanded Jet so hard her legs buckled. “Don’t you dare try and turn this back on me. I tell Lady White everything I decide she needs to know.”

“Did you get a reply to our message?” Otto asked. He wasn’t sure why he tried to deflect some of the attention away from Jet, but her courage deserved some sort of acknowledgement.

Marius’s hand shot out and grabbed Otto around the throat. “This is none of your concern, outsider. Keep your mouth shut and you might live long enough to die in your precious garden.”

A fist made of twenty threads slammed into Marius’s chest and sent him flying across the room to crash into the far wall with enough force to make a spiderweb of cracks. Otto rubbed his throat, but a barrier of ether had prevented any damage.

He drew his mithril sword and stalked over to the undead. “I don’t know who you think you’re dealing with, but I’m not one of your lackeys to be bullied into submission.”

Otto slapped the flat of his blade against the fleshy side of Marius’s face. The skin hissed and crackled, forcing Marius to pull away.

“Lay your hands on me again and I’ll send you to meet your master.” Otto stabbed the wall an inch from Marius’s head. “Do we understand each other?”

“Perfectly.” There was such hate in Marius’s voice that Otto almost killed him on the spot. Only a desire to stay on good terms with Lady White stayed his hand.

The floor creaked behind him.

Otto spun to see the five