Chapter 135

Chapter 135<~> Chapter 135

I covered my eyes and took a breath. "You're kidding."

The bull-man laughed. "I couldn't make up a joke that ridiculous, truly."

The book that summoned me here, the one I found in the backpack of the dead man I found outside, was labeled a fake. I didn't really know how to feel about that. The last time I looked at the book I still couldn't read it, I wasn't sure what language it was written in and that was one of the requirements that made [Sightspeak] work. Since it hasn't been relevant for a while the book slipped my mind. I didn't have much reason to further examine it and showing it to anyone seemed like a bad idea.

"You know where the book is don't you?" The man asked.

I shifted my weight. I knew I couldn't answer that but not saying anything was as good as admitting it. I tried to quickly come up with another question to change the subject but it was too late.

"You do! Great! Let me out of here and I can finish up this little 'divine quest' of mine."

I crossed my arms again. "Why should I let you out? I don't see how your divine quest changes anything for me. I don't have any reason to trust you past the fact that we both 'follow' Sorsette."

He scratched his beard. "I suppose that's true. But aren't you curious about the book? I'm a librarian at The Great Library of Sorsette, I could tell you a bit more about it. Or if that's not enough, I could help you with whatever else you're looking for. Even if I don't have the knowledge myself, I would know where to find more information and point you in the right direction. It would be like getting the favor of an information broker."

I looked at the ceiling in thought. I don't have any reason to trust him but it's pretty clear to me now that he isn't affiliated with the cult of Amphores. I couldn't in good conscience just leave him locked up here. I didn't really want to give him the book but I also still didn't know anything about it. After everything that has happened, I've basically ignored my goal of finding out more about what happened to me, how I got here. This is the first solid lead I've found on that front...

I sighed and looked back down at him. "If I let you out of here are you going to attack any of us? My party or the guards?"

He shrugged in response. "Will you agree to give me the book?"

"Will you tell me about the book, its contents, and what it means if I give it to you?" I asked.

"I wouldn't mind telling you everything I can about it if you let me out of here and give me the book in the end." The [Zone of truth] pulsed an affirmative.

I scratched the base of my horn. "If I let you out and promise to give you the book after a conversation about its contents, will you attack me or any of my guards?"

He smiled. "There, now you're learning. You have to be more direct with your questions, leave less wiggle room in them. No, I will not harm anyone unless I'm being attacked if you promise to give me the book in the end."

I sighed again. "Fine. I promise to give you the book after a conversation about it."

I released the magic and walked over to the wall where the key was left. I picked it up from the floor and slid the metal key into the door's lock. The door mechanism was heavy and for a moment I was worried the key was going to snap but with a groan of protest the door kerklunked open. The man didn't hesitate in the slightest to quickly step over the mummified corpses and into the open hallway.

I looked him up and down again, noting how little he was wearing. "Why are you mostly naked anyway?"

I sighed. "He's on a divine quest from Sorsette, likely set on a path that intersects with mine. The two of us have further business later but he isn't any threat to the city and wasn't here to cause any trouble." I glanced back at him for a moment. "Apparently the quest led him to sneak into the castle but I confirmed in the [Zone of truth] that he wasn't going to steal anything, just find the object of his quest which is something I'm in possession of. It's kind of my problem from the look of it."

The guard captain looked uncomfortable. "Well while him being here would ordinarily be trespassing, under the circumstances I think I'll let it pass. We're here on a demon subjugation mission and I have too many other problems than dealing with this kind of thing. Keep this guy out of trouble, if I come across him again I'll hold you responsible for vouching for him."

I rubbed my face in annoyance, I hope I can trust this guy. "Thank you Jasper. I'll keep an eye on him." I glanced at Theo's muscular chest again. "Uh, there wouldn't happen to be clothes around he could wear, is there?"

Jasper raised an eyebrow for a moment before sighing. "I'll ask around. For now, just head back up to the courtyard with him. I'll see if I can find something before we finish up here."

I nodded before leading the bull-man back to my group. Hey everyone, "This is Theo, a librarian at the library in the capital—"

"I work in The Great Library of Sorsette, not just 'some library' in the capital," he said. The rebuke sounded a bit more offended than I would have expected.

"Er, right. Anyway, this is Bella, Morrigan, Torien, Mimi, and Silva," I said pointing to each of them.

Theo turned to me with a raised eyebrow. "Two pantherians and a crime slave? When we were talking earlier it didn't sound like you participated in slavery."

I was about to bite back at him when Torien quickly interjected, "Sir, Lilith treats us as friends and party members, not as slaves. I can understand it may look bad but Lilith stepped in to help us, not to take advantage of our status."

Theo pursed his lips and looked at me, when I didn't respond he focused back on Torien. "Very well, if a servant slave like yourself feels comfortable enough to interject on her behalf then I'll leave things at that for now."

Silva snorted. "I find it weird too bull-kin."

He cracked a grin in response. "Certainly you can't be that tyrannical a master if you let your slaves be this cheeky. How'd you earn that collar rabbit-kin?"

Silva glanced at the nearby guards and stepped closer. "I was the one who killed that bastard Samlin," she said quietly.

The tall bull-kin's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Truly? I'm surprised you weren't executed on the spot. How'd you manage to dodge the axe? There couldn't have been a shortage of people wanting you on the block."

Silva's expression flattened out. "Baron Morrister pulled me off it to protect his daughter. I got her out of the city alive when all this shit happened and Lilith picked me up before she sold me off to someone else out of fear. I haven't known her for too long but Lilith seems like the trustworthy sort."

Theo studied me up and down again. "It seems I jumped to some unfortunate conclusions Lilith. I apologize."

I shook my head. "It can't be helped. I'm aware of how it looks but I didn't have much of a choice. I wasn't aware of the significance being a pantharian held when I promised to free them from slavery."

He nodded. "Not the first time I've heard a tale like that unfortunately."