LOREN
Loren knew that Remi, despite everything the other man had said and done since the summoner’s return, really didn’t have any reason to trust the Launceleyn. He wouldn’t in the alchemist’s shoes. And the librarian was hardly the one to fault someone for wanting to keep secrets. If the information had been strictly necessary and not simply for Loren’s own self-interest, he would’ve pressed, but not pissing off Remi was more important than satisfying the curiosity that was slowly reawakening in the librarian. ”Alright then.” Seemed the discussion of the alchemist’s magic was over.”Well, that’s a very important distinction.” So Remi had actually been way closer to dying from Loren’s idiocy than the alchemist had indicated earlier. The summoner had to swallow down the lump that caused in his throat. ”After all that healing I’m not sure I could summon a kitten. But I could try, if you really wanted a kitten.” Hey, the other man turned into a lion, so for all the summoner knew that would actually be appealing.
As the alchemist teased Loren about how weak and sad the prone man was, he just gazed up with a completely deadpan expression. ”Rawr.” Then the imagery got to be too much for him, and even he, dour as he is, cracked a grin at it. However, it once again faded at Remi’s seeming unease with the specifics of summoning; unfortunately, there wasn’t anything Loren could possibly do to make that better, and besides, it would be cruel to use real feeling animals in the way the summoner used his creatures.
Then the conversation swung into very fraught territory indeed. Of course the librarian assumed Remi had talked to Ronin about Loren’s return: there was probably no avoiding it. But he couldn’t possibly imagine what the two men had discussed, nor did he imagine the conversation went well for the librarian. Best to play it safe. ”I was friends with Ronin.” Was, not is, since the summoner was fully aware that the king wanted nothing to do with Launceleyn beyond what was absolutely necessary. ”It was.” Bar brawls, and drunken sex, and tree monsters, and pretty much everything in between, but that had been before the summoner left and ruined it all. Now Ronin was just a man Loren served and the Launceleyn was just a tool in the king’s arsenal. As it should be.
”I am happy to give you the title of faster.” Indeed, Remi could have both meanings of that particular phrase; Loren was under no illusions that, given the two men’s respective states, the alchemist could attack more swiftly. No comment on the other competition. ”Again, unless a kitten will deter you we’ll have to hold off on answering that particular question. No more pouncing for you today.” At least, Loren very much hoped not; he was in no state to stop Remi if the other man got it into his head that now would be the perfect time to strike.
”Hey, this is just the second day. There are many more ground rules to come. But if you can’t handle them, feel free to walk away now.” That was probably more true than Loren cared to admit, but if the alchemist did actually walk away, it would hurt now than when the other man did it later because, as the Launceleyn had repeatedly stressed, he could not keep friends for one reason or another.
The discussion about the battle and the biting sounded rough, and Loren made a sympathetic noise. However, he still wasn’t sure that the amulet made sense. ”I thought my healing magic could counteract the blood loss, but obviously there’s only one way to test that. But let me get this straight. The amulet stores one spell that is cast upon it from any source? That’s the only limitation? Anyone can use the amulet after that?” That did sound quite useful. However, the alchemist had ignored the summoner’s single most important question. ”Again, though, I have to ask whether this is the best use of your creation magic. Surely others need it more than I do just to avoid being bitten.” Loren was proud that his voice only wavered a little bit on the last word.
A beggar's book
outworths
a noble's blood
