Chapter 13

We returned to the Wizard Corps office, and I wanted nothing so much as a good shower. The smell of the rotting whale had mostly left my nose, but mostly wasn’t nearly good enough. Sadly, they didn’t have the necessary facilities, and we couldn’t leave until Mr. Maki came back for us.

“I’m sorry,” said Kowalski for what must have been the hundredth time. He was slumped over one of the vacated desks, looking utterly dejected.

“You have nothing to apologize for, Rafal,” said Mariko, patting him gently on the back. “Buddy did exactly what we asked him to do.”

“It would be the one time he was useful,” I muttered. Not too loudly; Buddy had vanished from sight, but there was no way to know if he was listening in. “I hope that isn’t what every day is going to be like.”

Heida emerged from a closet with a small stack of papers and a laptop. “No, you three were just lucky.”

“Lucky is certainly a word you could use to describe that,” I said.

“I say it’s lucky because I didn’t want to catch a sword-whale,” said the blonde woman. “Get used to a lot of wild goose chases.”

“I suppose that’s why it’s only you and Henrik on this assignment,” I said.

“There used to be more of us,” she said. “A proper strike team, just in case the Horde came knocking, or we really did find something dangerous. The others got redeployed to Ireland after England fell.”

“Where is he, anyhow?” I asked. “I was expecting him and Mr. Maki to be around when we got back.”

“He probably invited Corpsman Maki on one of his foot patrols through the town. He and I are public relations more than real defense, and the locals like seeing us around. It makes them feel safer.”

“If Mr. Maki is along, I doubt they’ll be back anytime soon,” I said.

“Yes, Mr. Maki cannot go anywhere without drawing a crowd,” added Mariko.

Kowalski finally sat up, looking a tad more relaxed. “What are you doing, Heida?”

“Filling out an after-action report,” she said without looking up from the sheet in front of her.

I shook my head. “That nonsense qualified as action?”

“Kowalski threw up. That’s more action than I usually see.” She chuckled at her own joke.

So much for Kowalski’s good mood. “C-can we help you out?”

“It’s really a one-woman job,” she said, pointing to a door near the back of the office. “Do you know how to make coffee? I could use a cup.”

“On it!” said Kowalski, hopping to his feet and disappearing through a door at the back of the office space.

Heida chuckled as she watched him go. “Somebody’s eager to please.”

Mariko stood up and stretched out. “Soren, we should leave Heida to work in peace.” She nodded over to the kitchen door. I took the hint and followed her.

To my surprise, Kowalski had managed to fill up a coffee filter without making a mess. I suppose he’s not completely useless after all.

Mariko put a hand on Kowalski’s bicep, which elicited a blush from the boy. “Rafal, can you please give us some privacy once you are done?”

“Huh? Oh, s-sure,” he said, shuffling out as soon as he hit the ‘brew’ button.

Mariko closed the door behind Kowalski and turned to face me. Her stern expression made me feel like I was in trouble, though I couldn’t fathom what I had done.

“Soren, I… hold on a moment.” She retrieved a polished bone fabricata from her purse and offered it to me.

“A translator?” I took it, placing it inside my ear. “Whatever for? Your English is just fine.”

“Ja, kore o tameshimashou ka.” I realized I had forgotten to will magic through the device. Once I charged it, her words became English in my ear. “This is more comfortable for me,” she said, her lip movements and words falling out of sync with one another.

“If it makes you feel better,” I said. “Why are you so serious all of a sudden? I thought we were having fun.”

“Well…” She hesitated, crossing her arms under her chest and tapping her boot-clad foot against the wall. She looked away, and her jaw dropped. “My goodness, this kitchen is enormous!”

I hadn’t paid attention, since I had been concerned with the oncoming lecture. Everything was stainless steel, and there were enough ranges and ovens to cook for a platoon of orcs. “This place must have been a restaurant before the Wizard Corps took it over.”

“Typical,” said Mariko. “The Corps took over somebody’s business and turned it into a den of lies.”

It dawned on me that I might not be the one she was cross with. “I take it you don’t approve of Heida’s methods?”

“How could I? She’s conning these people and scaring them with monsters that don’t even exist!”

“It sounds to me like they’re scaring themselves without her help,” I replied.

She began pacing, and I could make out an extra tremor in her right hand as she grew agitated. “She encourages it, though! Tells them that she chased off the sword-whales that she never saw. It’s a scam, Soren, and now we’re part of it!”

I reached out and took her bad hand, holding it between both of mine. “Please calm down, my dear. You’re making yourself frantic. Have you had your nerve medicine?”

She let out a ragged sigh. “I almost wish you didn’t know sometimes. No, I haven’t since this morning.” Breaking free from my grip, she poured herself a cup from the pot Kowalski had brewed and downed one of the pills from her purse. “Thank you for the reminder.”

“No worries,” I said. “You shouldn’t let what Heida or this office does concern you. We’re not going to be here long, and the locals seem happy enough with the arrangement.”

“I don’t like taking advantage of people,” she said. “Should we tell Mr. Maki? Maybe the Headmaster?”

So much for Mariko not being a snitch. I considered the question for a moment. “Definitely not the Headmaster. It’s outside of his jurisdiction, and I imagine he’s quite busy putting his school back together.” No thanks to me. “Mr. Maki might be able to do something about it. However...” I leaned in and whispered into Mariko’s ear, steadying myself on the wall with one hand. “I’d wager he already knows.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I don’t think we’re here by accident. I’m a former demonkin and a former Holy Brother. Kowalski’s a danger to everyone around him. You’re a pacifist. If I were him and trying to find an assignment for the three of us, hunting fake monsters far away from the front lines would keep us all out of trouble.”

When I straightened back up, I noticed her face was bright red. I had been awfully close to her… It was nice to know I could have that effect on the ladies. “Then let’s promise to not take the easy way out. We’ll see what we can really do to help people. No taking shortcuts to put on a good show.”

“Hm,” I said, scratching my chin in contemplation. “I don’t think our hostess will care for that. She is our superior, after all.”

“When we have a choice, then,” she said. “Please? For me? I couldn’t look myself in the mirror otherwise.”

What’s in it for me? I didn’t need to ask, though. I could see that iron determination in her dark, brown eyes. She wasn’t going to let it drop, and I was better off agreeing in advance. “Very well, for you.”

Without a warning, Mariko threw her arms around me. “Thank you, Magpie.”

It was my turn for my face to redden, and I forced myself to suppress my randy thoughts. It was a challenge when she was so close with her charms pressed up against me. Was she oblivious, or was she trying to get my attention? After all, she’d never just come out and told Hiro that she was smitten with him for all those months. She seemed to want the man to make the first move on her.

No, impossible. She’s seen your worst, Malthus. Paul Wilson hurt her enough, and he’s a saint compared to you. You captured her and left her to die until you remembered she was in danger at the last minute. You’re lucky she’s stupidly forgiving, or else this whole work study would be damn awkward. Plus, she knows you ripped out Kiyo’s heart. She’s a naïve, sentimental fool, but that doesn’t mean she’s a complete idiot. If she has a lick of sense, she’ll stay the Hell away from you. Don’t flatter yourself; she’s simply a buxom young lady without much thought of personal space.

Still, it was a relief when she broke contact. I’d had more than enough stimulation for one day.