“Don’t tell me you took on the job without any prior knowledge?” Cossack looked shocked but continued to explain.
“Now, this doesn’t go for all witches, but they’re usually a combative bunch. If someone encroaches into their territory, they’ll attack and try to eliminate them. They’ll fight back vigorously to completely eradicate their enemy.
“But this witch is different. She’ll try to scare people off if they come into her territory, but she doesn’t usually hurt them. Even after being the target of countless witch hunts in the past, she never tried to seek revenge. That’s how she got the name—”
“The Silent Witch,” Zig finished.
“They say she resided more to the east in the past. Even though she’s apparently one of the most powerful witches out there, she won’t attack unless the other party initiates, so they didn’t consider her to be very dangerous. Ever since the current lord took the throne, it was forbidden to go after her. However…”
Cossack’s voice took on a slightly darker tone.
“His idiot son took it on himself to score some points with his daddy. His folly was successful, but the witch’s body was never found. The father should be on the receiving end of some punitive action from the upper echelons by now.”
Even if he brought it on himself by not keeping his son in check, Zig couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for the lord.
Being dealt a punishment from the bigwigs after one of your sons went and got himself killed seems like rubbing salt in the wound.
“Getting back on track,” the informant said, “what I want to know is how the hell you managed to come out alive after getting mixed up in all that.”
“You said it yourself,” Zig said. “No one survived except the mercenaries that ran away.”
Cossack snorted as he downed his drink. “Horseshit! Even if you were up against a witch, you expect me to believe you wouldn’t have the balls to stay and fight?” He was most likely drunk, but his keen senses as an informant didn’t seem to dull. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”
Zig’s deadpan expression didn’t waver, making it impossible to glean any more information from him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Cossack shifted his gaze to Siasha. When she noticed him staring, she looked up from her post-meal tea and smiled at him, head slightly to the side. It didn’t seem like she was hiding anything either, despite being under his scrutinizing stare. That she was unperturbed was in itself suspicious, and he gave her an even closer look. Even if she was a normal person with nothing to hide, his shrewd appraisal should elicit some sort of reaction. A sheltered little girl wouldn’t have the mettle to keep her composure.
Siasha returned Cossack’s gaze as she continued to smile at him. It almost felt like those eyes staring back at him were penetrating his very soul. It was incredibly disturbing, and he felt chills running through his body as his danger senses went haywire. The informant experienced many perilous situations in his life, and this felt just like those times…
…No, the danger he was sensing was greater than anything he’d ever encountered before.
From what he could tell from her mannerisms, she seemed like she was swift on her feet, but this girl was an amateur, right? She didn’t look like she particularly had any combat experience.
Am I getting spooked by a mere wench?
He remembered the words he said earlier—the witch’s body had never been found.
“No. It couldn’t be—”
He was cut off by a splashing sound. The wooden cup he was holding was now sporting a hole, with booze leaking out. At the bottom was a silver coin—someone had thrown it with enough force to turn it into a projectile. If the coin had hit him anywhere else…the resulting wound could have been fatal.
Zig slowly looked up, his tone casual. “Let’s just keep it at that, shall we?” He reclined into his chair, showing that he was unarmed. “Depending on what happens, I may have to kill you.”
At those words, everything clicked into place. Despite not feeling even a hint of malice from the mercenary until that moment, Cossack’s blood ran cold.
“Have you lost your mind?” His voice was raspy.
Zig smiled. “How many times have you questioned my sanity by now?”
“Probably every time you’ve decided to do something overly reckless, but this is different.”
“My answer hasn’t changed. I’ll do anything, as long as I get paid.”
“Apparently!” Cossack spat out as he slumped back in his seat with a loud thud. He tried to pour himself another drink before realizing it was impossible due to the hole in his cup. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he settled for drinking straight from the bottle. By the time he finished downing the whole thing, the previous tension was gone from his face.
“About my fee, it’ll be two million orth. All inclusive.”
“Are you sure about that?” Zig pressed.
“It’s your damn life! Do with it what you please.”
It was the same line he used every time he questioned Zig’s sanity.
Zig smiled and gave a little bow. “Thanks, I’m in your debt. And since that’s already the case, would it be too much trouble to ask you to keep spreading the rumor that I’m dead?”
“Oh, sure, sure. Consider it included in my commission.”
“Much appreciated.”
“You owe me one.”
“I know.” Zig placed the bag of gold coins on the table and stood up. “Always a pleasure doing business with you. Later.”
Siasha bowed in gratitude before getting up to follow the mercenary.
“Just one more thing,” Cossack interjected. “…Did you win?”
Zig paused, his hand wrapped around the doorknob.
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
He didn’t look back as he left the room.