They were tired and worn. Laina’s earth elemental was out of the picture, and with a gesture, Ethelgren caught the fire elemental in an odd cage made of flames. He was walking toward them with an evil gleam in his eye.
He’s going to kill us, Laina, Will informed her.
He’s male, she replied, and he’s already shown his weakness. He thinks with his dick. I can handle this.
What does that mean? asked Will, feeling uncertain.
Just watch and try to figure something out. I don’t know how long I can distract him.
The mad wizard stomped toward them, and as he got close his hand lifted, palm facing them. Darla started to move sideways, to circle around, but his hand moved, then changed orientation. He pushed down, and the assassin was flattened against the cobblestones. Laina didn’t move, but her breathing increased as her chest heaved.
Are you starved for air? asked Will.
Shut up and figure something out! she yelled at him internally. Her eyes widened as she watched Ethelgren approach, and then her knees began to fail. Slowly, she sank to the ground, her skirt mounding up around her gracefully. Her chin dipped, but her eyes looked upward at her oppressor, giving the impression of complete defeat. At some point, her dress had slipped off one shoulder, causing a scandalous shift in her décolletage.
When did that happen? Will wondered. Did she do that on purpose somehow?
Focus! she chided him.
Linus Ethelgren sneered down at her, then reached out and seized her hair painfully, jerking her head back. “I should kill you for this,” he threatened, but his eyes kept slipping away, distracted by other regions of Laina’s anatomy.
Will felt a sharp pain as the bastard grabbed their hair, but he was shocked when his sister lightly bit her lower lip, then followed by quickly licking her lips. Her eyes never left Ethelgren’s and they smoldered.
I’m going to be sick, thought Will.
Think! This isn’t easy for me either!
“That’s an interesting look on you, girl, but I’m too old to be fooled,” Ethelgren informed her. “This is your brother’s body after all.”
“But you aren’t my brother,” she replied, her voice shifting to a slightly different register. “And no man has ever forced me to submit before.”
“Then you have never faced true power, amateur,” replied Ethelgren, but there was a look of nervousness on his face.
Will understood the man then. Despite Linus Ethelgren’s bluff and bluster, the man was deeply insecure, and being faced with Laina’s sudden reversal, he was unbalanced. He knew it was likely a ruse, but he was torn between his desire to believe, his sense of worthlessness, and the natural taboo that most men felt when it came to violence against women.
It didn’t hurt that Laina was especially comely, and her eyes were burning with desire.
The wizard hesitated, then spoke. “I cannot kill a woman such as you, for I have rarely faced such a determined—and lovely—foe.” He released her hair. “But I cannot trust you either.”
“You will release me?” Laina responded, sounding almost disappointed. Then she hopefully added, “Or would you rather punish me?”
“Enough, temptress! I have more work to do. I know your feminine cunning.” He started to walk away. “Cross me again and I will show you no mercy.”
Will realized then that they might live, but something else occurred to him. The Ring of Vile and Unspeakable Knowledge was still on his hand, or rather, on Ethelgren’s hand. If the wizard ever activated the limnthal, he would soon discover the ring’s secret.
And Arrogan had no idea that it was no longer Will at the helm. His knowledge might well fall into Ethelgren’s grasp as well. At the very least Will needed to find a way to warn him. “Wait!” he said suddenly, taking control of their voice.
Ethelgren paused, “What?”
“You have his limnthal.”
“He had a limnthal?” asked Ethelgren, his tone changing to one of interest. “He was further along in his training than I realized.”
“There are a number of important family heirlooms stored within it,” said Will. “I beg you to return them.”
You’re terrible at this, observed Laina. You sound like you’re bartering for turnips at the market.
Well excuse me for not knowing how to sound alluring! Will bit back.
“Whatever is in there is mine now,” said Linus Ethelgren, with a tone of finality.
“Some items were purely sentimental,” he added. “I don’t want anything of value. Plus, you have no idea what was stored in there. I could help.”
“I could just empty the entire thing. Or better still, with a little time I’ll sift the details from his memory,” said Ethelgren.
“Sir, please show some mercy.”
The mad wizard paused. “What is it you want exactly?”
“He kept a journal within. It was a gift from his grandfather. In the back there was a handwritten note from his wife.”
“A spellbook?”
“Just odd spells,” explained Will. “It was his grandfather’s first spell journal. Nothing you would covet, but of great value to the family.”
“Hmm. I’ll be the judge of that,” said Ethelgren, his eyes glinting greedily. “If I see nothing of value, you may have it. Describe the journal to me; it will help me find the memory so I can summon it.”
Will described the journal carefully, and after a moment the mad wizard nodded. Raising one hand, he activated the limnthal. Now’s my chance to warn him, thought Will. “Sir, since you’ve taken control of Will’s body, is there a chance you’ll let me have some of the potions or other minor possessions he kept stored within the limnthal?” Hopefully Arrogan was paying attention.
Who? asked Laina, but before she could reply, Ethelgren stiffened. His eyes rolled back into his head, and he started to fall.
Catch him! urged Will, since Laina had already taken control of their body.
She leapt forward and rammed her elbow into Ethelgren’s jaw, then stomped on his belly when he struck the ground.
That’s my body, you remember! Will shouted mentally. He’s already unconscious.
Just making sure, said Laina dryly. Her statement seemed prescient as Ethelgren’s eyes popped open and the man started to move. She sent a kick at his head.
The wizard slipped away slightly, caught her ankle in one hand, and then surged to his knees, throwing her off balance. Laina toppled backwards.
At the same time Darla had apparently been freed from the spell holding her, for she charged forward. The Arkeshi stopped suddenly when a source-link caught her at the last second, and the wizard paralyzed her body.