Scars, Chapter 50

A new chapter of Scars! Sneak peek below, full chapter at the link!

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Though it didn’t let a hint of emotion show on its stolen face, inwardly the imposter was seething with fury, conjuring all manner of curses for the damn knife-ear healer. It had seen him with its own eyes, touched his pale, clammy skin, but any thoughts of remedying that situation were tempered by the knowledge that it had been within arm’s reach of the man’s soldiers and under the auspices of that meddling Mercy.

The task it had been engaged for had been easy enough. Infiltrate the court, get close to Talloic’s sickly monarch and, where possible, give him an occasional nudge in his decisions. Once he’d fallen sick, things had changed. The imposter’s contacts had decided to act on this opportunity; Leothan’s continued existence was now superfluous to requirements. Lucky for them, the king was so ill that the imposter hadn’t had to do anything but keep some of the more troublesome pieces off the field. A little magebane for Unhart, a few distractions here and there for others, a word in the ear of other pawns to make sure rumours spread, sending Holeish and his gold-coated guards off in different directions.

It wouldn’t have to had to do anything but sit back and watch as nature took its course, but now that damned pointed-ear bitch was here and she was ruining everything! The imposter had already had to change its plans with this mission, but such things happened. You couldn’t control every variable all the time, but it was getting annoyed at how quickly it was having to adapt. It enjoyed a bit of complexity, but only on its terms. Having play pieces move on their own often ending up with finding them underfoot.

The king couldn’t be allowed to recover. That much was obvious, but the same limitations were in play now that had been when the mercenaries first arrived: it couldn’t just waltz into his quarters and put a pillow over his face, or plunge a knife into his chest. If that were possible, it would have done so this very morning, but if it wasn’t dead before it completed the act, then it would be seconds after.

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