Ten o?clock at night was far too early to leave for work. Skyler had wanted to bask the evening away with Jewell in the Inn, snuggling on the couch, whispering back and forth, having some cocktails . . . but Tommy had spoken. By ten o?clock, they were rumbling down moonlit dirt roads in the big black Hummer, deep into RhyDin?s backcountry.
The Little Goblin Brewery was a small, family owned business operating on a farm several miles outside of the city. The Figure had offered a meager price to buy their business, but they had refused on grounds that his offer was entirely too small and the business had been family owned for many generations.
Nobody refused Tommy Hill Figure.
The property consisted of a few small corn and wheat fields, a barn, a warehouse where the brewery operated, and a small home. Tommy killed the headlights and purred the Hummer to a stop in front of the house.
Tommy?s orders were clear and concise. ?Gasher: torch the warehouse, the barn, the fields. Skyler: keep eye on the house. Watch Gash?s back in case old Clyde decides to come out and be a hero.? The Figure leaned back in his seat, lit a cigar and waited.
Skyler and Gasher stepped out of the truck and approached the property. The sorcerer wasted no time. As he moved along next to Skyler in the darkness, the cavern of his mouth began to glow with flames. Small tendrils of fire seeped out from beneath his fingernails as his eyes pulsed orange. He advanced on the warehouse and extended his arms. Plumes of fire issued from his open palms and barraged the building.
Skyler shrank away from the heat and focused on the home, drawing his samurai sword. He lurked in the shadows behind the sorcerer, watching to see if anyone would come out to interfere.
In a few short minutes, the warehouse was engulfed, wood popping, flames licking from the ground to the roof. Inside, glass burst in repetitive cracks, like random gunfire. Then, suddenly, the flames found a reservoir of alcohol. A massive explosion lit up the night. The roof shattered into a million pieces and erupted skyward, sprinkling down moments later in flaming shards.
Just as Tommy had predicted, Clyde, the family?s patriarch came bursting from the house, wearing only a pair of long johns. He ran at Gasher, shrieking.
Too bad he didn?t see Skyler. The boy dashed toward him perpendicularly, unseen in the shadows until the last moment. His blade reflected the firelight as he swung the steel in a graceful arc and hamstrung the farmer in mid stride. The man forgot about Gasher as he spilled to the ground, screaming, clutching the back of his leg. Skyler loomed over him, brandishing his sword. He planted a boot on his chest and gave him a menacing snarl.
The rest of the family had crowded onto the front porch. They stared at the conflagration in fear and outrage, but remained where they stood. Perhaps it was the heat of the flames they kept them at bay. Or perhaps it was the deadly curve of Skyler?s samurai sword. The weapon seemed to float in the shadows, glowing orange from the fire?s reflected light as Clyde?s agonized screams rang out just beneath it.
Gasher torched the barn and the fields without further distraction. He was exhausted when it was done, so Skyler had to help him back to the Hummer. The sorcerer eased into the back seat wearily, grinning. Despite that fact that he was tired, Skyler knew he felt good. It was only when Gasher got to use his skills that he truly felt appreciated and useful.
Skyler climbed into the front seat after sheathing his sword. ?All done, boss.?
Tommy started the Hummer expressionlessly. Skyler thought he would to drive away, but he simply stared with eerie calmness at the family gathered on the porch. Suddenly he gunned the engine and steered the vehicle for them ? a woman, a boy and two young girls. They scattered just in time, throwing themselves aside as the Hummer crashed through the front door of the house. The Figure listened to the cries of dismay from the wife and the screams of fear from the children before finally reversing and driving away.
***
Later that night, after Tommy dropped him off at the Inn, Skyler had gone inside to look for Jewell. She had already left, it seemed. A sigh of disappointment escaped him. He considered paying her a late night visit. He envisioned himself creeping into her room after the children were in bed, catching her just on the verge of sleep, expressing his feelings for her with determined actions, then holding her for the rest of the night. But it was no good. As romantic as it sounded to him, he knew the woman had been attacked too many times. She would probably mistake him for an assailant and use her magic to fry him.
So Skyler returned to his own white room at the Hotel Ritz, kicked off his boots and climbed into bed. There, waiting for him, was Jewell.
Well . . . almost.
The doll she had given him was perfect. It looked just like her, and it was just as soft and cuddly and pretty as the Empress herself. He wrapped his arms around it just like a teddy bear and kissed its cheek with loving affection. Skyler burrowed down into his blankets and melted into the white fluffy mattress, holding his Jewell Ravenlock plushie against him. He drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face.
The Little Goblin Brewery was a small, family owned business operating on a farm several miles outside of the city. The Figure had offered a meager price to buy their business, but they had refused on grounds that his offer was entirely too small and the business had been family owned for many generations.
Nobody refused Tommy Hill Figure.
The property consisted of a few small corn and wheat fields, a barn, a warehouse where the brewery operated, and a small home. Tommy killed the headlights and purred the Hummer to a stop in front of the house.
Tommy?s orders were clear and concise. ?Gasher: torch the warehouse, the barn, the fields. Skyler: keep eye on the house. Watch Gash?s back in case old Clyde decides to come out and be a hero.? The Figure leaned back in his seat, lit a cigar and waited.
Skyler and Gasher stepped out of the truck and approached the property. The sorcerer wasted no time. As he moved along next to Skyler in the darkness, the cavern of his mouth began to glow with flames. Small tendrils of fire seeped out from beneath his fingernails as his eyes pulsed orange. He advanced on the warehouse and extended his arms. Plumes of fire issued from his open palms and barraged the building.
Skyler shrank away from the heat and focused on the home, drawing his samurai sword. He lurked in the shadows behind the sorcerer, watching to see if anyone would come out to interfere.
In a few short minutes, the warehouse was engulfed, wood popping, flames licking from the ground to the roof. Inside, glass burst in repetitive cracks, like random gunfire. Then, suddenly, the flames found a reservoir of alcohol. A massive explosion lit up the night. The roof shattered into a million pieces and erupted skyward, sprinkling down moments later in flaming shards.
Just as Tommy had predicted, Clyde, the family?s patriarch came bursting from the house, wearing only a pair of long johns. He ran at Gasher, shrieking.
Too bad he didn?t see Skyler. The boy dashed toward him perpendicularly, unseen in the shadows until the last moment. His blade reflected the firelight as he swung the steel in a graceful arc and hamstrung the farmer in mid stride. The man forgot about Gasher as he spilled to the ground, screaming, clutching the back of his leg. Skyler loomed over him, brandishing his sword. He planted a boot on his chest and gave him a menacing snarl.
The rest of the family had crowded onto the front porch. They stared at the conflagration in fear and outrage, but remained where they stood. Perhaps it was the heat of the flames they kept them at bay. Or perhaps it was the deadly curve of Skyler?s samurai sword. The weapon seemed to float in the shadows, glowing orange from the fire?s reflected light as Clyde?s agonized screams rang out just beneath it.
Gasher torched the barn and the fields without further distraction. He was exhausted when it was done, so Skyler had to help him back to the Hummer. The sorcerer eased into the back seat wearily, grinning. Despite that fact that he was tired, Skyler knew he felt good. It was only when Gasher got to use his skills that he truly felt appreciated and useful.
Skyler climbed into the front seat after sheathing his sword. ?All done, boss.?
Tommy started the Hummer expressionlessly. Skyler thought he would to drive away, but he simply stared with eerie calmness at the family gathered on the porch. Suddenly he gunned the engine and steered the vehicle for them ? a woman, a boy and two young girls. They scattered just in time, throwing themselves aside as the Hummer crashed through the front door of the house. The Figure listened to the cries of dismay from the wife and the screams of fear from the children before finally reversing and driving away.
***
Later that night, after Tommy dropped him off at the Inn, Skyler had gone inside to look for Jewell. She had already left, it seemed. A sigh of disappointment escaped him. He considered paying her a late night visit. He envisioned himself creeping into her room after the children were in bed, catching her just on the verge of sleep, expressing his feelings for her with determined actions, then holding her for the rest of the night. But it was no good. As romantic as it sounded to him, he knew the woman had been attacked too many times. She would probably mistake him for an assailant and use her magic to fry him.
So Skyler returned to his own white room at the Hotel Ritz, kicked off his boots and climbed into bed. There, waiting for him, was Jewell.
Well . . . almost.
The doll she had given him was perfect. It looked just like her, and it was just as soft and cuddly and pretty as the Empress herself. He wrapped his arms around it just like a teddy bear and kissed its cheek with loving affection. Skyler burrowed down into his blankets and melted into the white fluffy mattress, holding his Jewell Ravenlock plushie against him. He drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face.