Book 2: Chapter 67 (Patreon)

As his spell worked its magic by bringing his racing thoughts under control, Orrin replayed Silas’s conversation in his mind. There was too much unknown. He needed help.

Orrin was sure that Daniel would want to talk with Silas before doing anything. The recent fight against Lord Sanerris of Odrana had confirmed in Orrin’s mind something he had been worried about for some time. Daniel was falling into the cliché of thinking he was all-powerful.

If this was one of the stories that Orrin had read in the past, Daniel would keep getting out of trouble with some deux ex machina bullshit or by using the power of friendship. Instead, the only reason Daniel hadn’t been toasted by Sanerris was Orrin and Madi had come looking for him and had the forethought to grab the most powerful person around first, namely Arandir.

“I guess Arandir sort of satisfies that trope,” Orrin muttered to himself. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. “Who’s the Arandir of Dey?”

Orrin ran through the powerful people of the city. He couldn’t go to the other lords of Dey, so they were out. Orrin barely knew them and they’d likely side with Silas. Amir wasn’t powerful. Hell, he wasn’t even level ten again.

Orrin considered Guildmaster Pritus for all of five seconds before discarding that idea. He trusted her about as far as he would trust Silas. He might be able to ask around and find the Dragoon team but he didn’t need someone to fight Silas. He needed information.

Tony.

Orrin threw the blanket off and slid his feet into his shoes. Why didn’t I think of Tony before? He knows the way Silas works. He’ll be able to help.

Slipping back into [Camouflage], Orrin made his way out of the house. He knocked on the front door lightly so the guard outside would open it. While the woman was looking for who had hit the door, he squeezed by her and was off.

Orrin was learning. He didn’t [Teleport] to Tony’s house. The last time he had tried that had resulted in less-than-pleasant results. Instead, he made his way down the street. Few people were on the streets and the stars twinkled brightly in the sky as he approached Tony’s townhome.

“About time,” Tony was standing at the door, rubbing his eyes. “You’ve been screaming your thoughts so loud that you woke me up. Come in. Tea?”

Orrin ran up the stairs and followed Tony into the back kitchen area. He paced in a quick two-step back and forth as Tony put a kettle on.

“Sit down, boy,” Tony’s voice echoed in Orrin’s ears. “You’re too worked up.”

He guided Orrin into the spare chair and sat across the table. “I’m only catching every other word but if you are in trouble, let me know now. I can see about getting you out of the city but—”

Orrin cut off Tony, “I overhead Silas talking about offing someone who knows too much. I’m worried he’s going to try and kill me… or maybe Daniel… but probably not Daniel, that would be stupid, right?”

Tony waited for Orrin to stop talking before he answered. “Killing either of you would be the dumbest thing he could do right now. I’ve caught wind of the little demon king problem. The upper crust is doing a good job of keeping it contained but those who know still talk sometimes. The fact that there is a [Hero] in town is the only thing that is keeping half the richer folks from running for the hills. You might be surprised to know that quite of few of the people in the know also think highly of you and the little Catanzano girl. Sof wants to buy you dinner at some point, by the way. I told him I would let you know… if you ever stopped in to say hi.”

Orrin narrowed his eyes. “Are you seriously inviting me to dinner right now? Silas wants someone dead and it very well could be me.”

Tony sighed in Orrin’s mind. Something that he still hated. It was weird seeing Tony’s passive face with a closed mouth but hearing the full weight of a bored dad sigh in your head. “What exactly did you overhear?

Orrin stumbled trying to recall the words. “He said that he might have to kill someone who knows too much. He can’t risk the entire city over a rash decision.”

Tony sucked his cheek and chewed, the hollow depression on one side making him look even older than he was. “Have you done anything rash lately?”

Orrin rubbed his face with both hands. “When am I not doing something rash? I negotiated… well more like acted like a middleman… I helped Dey and the elves figure out a way to fight the Demon Lord together. I might have unlocked a few of my Administrator skills and helped a friend become a [Healer]. I overheard Silas talking while making my way into his pantry to steal all his best food. Take your pick.”

Tony leaned back in his chair and let out a laugh. Without his tongue, the bark of laughter sounded more course and animalistic but Orrin warmed at the sound still. Tony laughing meant he was being an idiot about all this, right?”

“You just happened to negotiate a deal that I’m sure Silas is taking credit for by the way and you also made someone into a [Healer]? A healing class that the Hospital spends more gold than you can imagine trying to figure out? Do you know about their amulets? Did you use one somehow?”

Orrin waved the question off, “I can change a person’s class. That’s not the point. I want you to help me figure out if Silas is coming after me.”

Tony’s smile stayed on his face but it seemed plastered on instead of real. “Not the point? You can just change a person’s class and you think the lord of Dey is coming after you? Boy, the entire world will be after you if that comes out. Who else knows about your power?”

“Daniel, Madi, Amir… the guy who I made into a [Healer], and Arandir,” Orrin counted off. “Arandir is the—”

“I know bloody well who the leader of the elves is, you imbecile.” Tony stood up and got his kettle. His hands shook as he poured two cups.

“I don’t want any tea, thanks.”

“I know but you’ll drink it anyway,” Tony demanded as he slapped the cup down on the table. “It’ll calm you down. Now start again, from the beginning.”

Orrin felt bad as he started filling in Tony on the events of the last few weeks. He’d been unconsciously avoiding him. After Orrin had told Tony about being an Administrator, the man had changed. He was still a curmudgeon but Orrin saw the slight looks of fear when they talked about his powers. It was hard for Tony to reconcile his own knowledge of Administrators with the kid who had puked all over his house multiple times.

As Orrin recounted purchasing [Assign Class] and his reasoning for doing so, Tony laughed again.

“What’s so funny?”

“You had no guarantee that your plan would work and went for it anyway,” Tony chuckled. “You’ve either got the biggest balls or the best luck of anyone I’ve ever met. Maybe both.”

Orrin warmed at that. He still felt silly for all the worrying he’d done but everything worked out in the end. Amir was happy with his class.

“Everything you’ve told me makes me think that old Sly-lus isn’t after you.” Tony took a sip of his tea and grimaced. He added a dollop of honey in his tea and stirred it with his finger. “He’s an asshole but he wouldn’t discuss killing you while you were in the same house. That also knocks Daniel out of the equation, unless he was out?”

Orrin shook his head.

“You’re missing something,” Tony announced. “You didn’t hear everything or you’re recalling it wrong.”

“I was a little worried I might get caught sneaking around,” Orrin said, defending himself. “In case you forgot, that house is crawling with guards. I’d like to see you do better.”

Tony’s smile darkened into something ferocious. “Don’t resist.”

“What?” Orrin started to say when he felt fingers on the back of his neck. He slapped the back of his own head but nothing was there. Yet, the sensation continued.

“Tony?”

“I’m going to take a look. Just focus on the room you were in.”

“I was in the hall,” Orrin rubbed the hair on the top of his head. “Tony, this is really uncomfortable.”

“I’m being as gentle as I can. Retrieving an exact memory is delicate. Don’t think of too many things, I might scramble your brain.’

“What?”

“I’m kidding. It’s perfectly safe. Just shut up.”

Orrin shivered as goosebumps raced down his spine. He tried to concentrate on Silas’s office and what he overheard. Intrusive thoughts about what other secrets Tony could overhear kept creeping in.

“I don’t care how you cheated on a test in third grade… what’s a third grade?” Tony paused. “Never mind. I’ve got it.”

Tony was silent and still for a few seconds. As his eyes refocused on Orrin, he shook his head. “You are safe. The words he used… sanctioned… one boy gone mad… It’s not you.”

“We can’t be sure, though.” Orrin fought back. “Maybe we could go for a walk and you take a peek under the hood?”

Tony’s visage froze. “Are you asking me to spy into the mind of the lord of Dey?”

Orrin rushed to pull the words back into his mouth. “I don’t mean like that! You get passing thoughts, right? Maybe if I walk in Silas’ room when you’re outside, you could tell me if you get any murdery feelings or thoughts directed at me.”

“I’m having murdery thoughts about you right now.” Tony’s hands clasped tightly around his mug. “If I have not made it clear in the past, let me do so for you now. I do not mind-rape people’s thoughts except in cases of extreme danger or if ordered by the leaders of Dey. Asking me to do so, even in jest, is not something a friend would ever do. I stay in my house, not because I’m a misanthrope, but to minimize my contact with the public. Do you understand?”

Orrin dropped his eyes to the table. “I’m sorry, Tony. I shouldn’t have… I’m sorry.”

The heavy air in the kitchen sat still for a minute before Tony let out an exhausted breath. “My class and position do not allow me to act without consequence, Orrin. What I can do is give advice. You have Silas’s daughter’s ear. Use it. Don’t try and plan the perfect situation or set them up. Tell your friend what you heard and discuss it with her. You overheard something in the middle of the night and overthought it. I’m nearly certain he is not discussing you, although if I were in his shoes, I’d have killed you long ago.”

Orrin snapped his head up to see the smirk on Tony’s face. “He did try once.”

Tony’s smirk turned into a sad smile. “No, he did not. He rolls the dice with people’s lives, but Silas Catanzano does not kill people without much thought and even more reason. Trust me on that.”

Orrin almost asked more but kept his mouth shut. He’d pieced together enough about Tony to know the mind mage and Silas had worked together in the past. He also knew Tony had lost someone named Reed. He hadn’t asked anyone about it because he didn’t want to overstep. Did Silas kill this Reed guy? Tony didn’t want him to but thinks Silas had his reasons? Who was he?

“I guess I’ll ask Madi,” Orrin finally said, looking down at his full cup of tea. “I told you I didn’t want any tea.”

Tony winked and pulled the cup to himself. “More for me then.”

Orrin crept back into the Catanzano manor in the early morning hours. The staff was making their way in as well, so he had an easier time slipping into the shadows with them. Daniel was still asleep when Orrin crawled into bed.

“Wake up, sleepyhead,” Daniel shouted, pushing the mattress down so Orrin rolled over. “We’ve got so much to do today.”

“Fuck off,” Orrin groaned. He couldn’t have closed his eyes for more than a few minutes. He peeked at the window and saw the sun was fully out. Alright, more than a few minutes.

“I was going to grab Madi and see if she wanted to go to your little coffee shop place,” Daniel said, strapping his clothes and armor on. They rarely went out without being fully ready for a fight at the drop of a hat. No scouts had returned yet so timeframes were iffy, but the [Hero] and his team weren’t taking any chances. “I hear they have really good pastries and I woke up with a sweet tooth.”

“I’ll go with you,” Orrin muttered, trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes. “I have something to talk with the two of you about.”

“Oh?”

Orrin threw his pillow at Daniel. [Side Steps] activated and his friend blurred to the side. “Damn it.”

“Sweet! That put me over the edge. I’m at level four now. Thanks!” Daniel was lost in thought staring at his status screen when another pillow hit him in the face. “Come on, dude.”