The Defender: Elderwood

  ***

  Allan was eating breakfast when Merrick finally awoke. He’d placed the man next to Callum, who was already bound and gagged. Callum had woken up while Allan was cooking his morning meal. Allan was surprised, and somewhat amused, that Callum hadn’t tried to touch Merrick, even though the older man was within his reach.

  “Good morning,” Allan said to Merrick.

  “Who are you? Where am I?” Merrick looked around, then saw Callum. “Callum?”

  “Callum told me all he could,” Allan said. “If you tell me all you can, I might let you have something to eat.”

  “What do you want from me?”

  “I want to know how you find your boys. I want to know if any of your customers know you sell stolen goods. I want to know how many girls you’ve deflowered, and what happened to them.”

  Merrick eyes darted around for a moment. He moved his body so he sat a bit straighter. “Take me to Captain Thomas, and I’ll answer all your questions before him.”

  Allan was suspicious of the request as soon as he heard it. The time on the streets with his sister gave taught him that no one ever wanted to go to one of the guards, much less one of the three Captains of the Guard. The only reason someone went to them was if they knew the guard.

  Why should Merrick know this Captain Thomas?

  Allan put down his plate. He reached out his right arm. He knew there were spells that allowed a mage to put pressure on another person from a short distance away. Damien had listed the spells in one of his books. Before telling how to cast them, Damien had written a warning. “Such spells must be cast carefully,” he cautioned, “because without the proper control, such spells can do damage to the subject.”

  Perhaps just seeing that I can cast this spell will be enough. Perhaps all that I need is a demonstration of what I can do.

  Allan cast the spell so that Merrick would feel hands on his throat. The instant that Merrick felt them, he gasped audibly. “Magic!” he whispered.

  “Yes, magic,” Allan replied. He let go of the spell. “Now, tell me, why should I take you to this Captain Thomas?”

  Merrick began to shudder. “No, no reason.”

  Allan reached out again. “Shall I increase the pressure on your throat this time?”

  “No!”

  “Talk!”

  “Captain Thomas protects me!”

  “Protects you?”

  “Yes! If one of my boys gets caught, I tell him. He arranges to get them off with a small fine. I pay him for his help.”

  “What else does he do for you?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Does he help anyone else?”

  “Simon, the weapon-smith on the Street of Iron.”

  “Why does he help Simon? Does he have a band of boys like you do?”

  “Yes.”

  “What about the other Captains of the Guard?”

  “Captain Mitchell is old and doesn’t care much what happens. I don’t know about Captain William. He was promoted to Captain a month ago.”

  “Fine, then. Let me finish my breakfast, and we’ll talk some more.” Allan smiled grimly to Merrick. “Keep telling the truth, and I won’t use anymore magic on you.”

  Merrick nodded. “Good. Good.”

  FIVE