Page 14 of Sanctuary

The magic flared.

Couldn’t even let him finish a bowl of stew in peace. Roman rose and took his staff from where it rested against the wall. Klyuv opened its beak and shrieked.

“Brace yourself,” Roman told Finn. “I think we’re about to get attacked with some goodness and light.”

* * *

The knot of magic spun, churning, just on the edge of Roman’s senses. The source of it was hidden behind the trees. The mercenaries were keeping it well outside of his reach. If he shut his eyes and let his mind take over, the knot of magic blazed, bright white, like an angry star.

Whoever that was, they were idling way too high. Whipping that much magic through one’s body was bad for you. It cut down on your lifespan.

Roman tapped the floor with his staff. “Vasya. I need you.”

Deep within the cold ground, a presence stirred, drowsy and unwilling.

“I know, I know.”

He should’ve been asleep, digesting the rabid bear he’d eaten two days ago, but sometimes things couldn’t be helped.

Vasya shuddered and started forward, toward the dirt plugging up the entrance to his lair’s underground tunnel.

The leader of the mercenaries walked into the open. Behind him, a pair of armed men walked a blindfolded man between them. He was of average height, with a mane of long, wavy dark hair pulled back from his face into a half ponytail.

“Who is that?” Finn asked.

“A priest of some sort.”

“Why is he blindfolded?”

“That’s a good question.”

The small group halted just outside the property line.

“So whose priest is he?” Finn asked.

“We won’t know until he invokes.”

“What’s that?”

“Invoking is when you beg your god to cover that really big check your fool mouth just wrote.”

“Can you invoke?”

“My god is having family issues right now. Not a good time.”

Finn squinted at the priest. “What happens if the god doesn’t answer?”

“You’re fucked.”

“Mr. Roman!” The mercenary leader called out.

And they had learned his name. Dabrowski must’ve let it slip. If they had done a background check, they would’ve called him by his last name, Tihomirov.

Roman looked at Finn. “Stay here. Don’t come out.”

The kid nodded.

Roman walked out onto the porch.