{"id":110,"date":"2017-10-31T18:29:27","date_gmt":"2017-10-31T18:29:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/?p=110"},"modified":"2017-10-31T18:29:27","modified_gmt":"2017-10-31T18:29:27","slug":"twenty-six-the-price","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/10\/31\/twenty-six-the-price\/","title":{"rendered":"Twenty-Six: The Price"},"content":{"rendered":"

Raizel shared a look with the Raven. \u00a0He looked at her, then at the two attendant, at the woman, and back at her. <\/span><\/p>\n

She cleared her throat. \u201cYour husband is a sword?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy husband is <\/span>The Blessed Sword<\/span><\/i>. \u00a0It was given to him by the gods. \u00a0To become the sword so that he not die! \u00a0That\u2019s what they said. \u00a0But I want him to be <\/span>alive<\/span><\/i> again, not just a sword. \u00a0I want him to be up and talking and bringing in money and doing all those things he is supposed to do! \u00a0And he\u2019s not here anymore, and I <\/span>do not like it<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Both attendants flinched backwards. \u00a0Raizel took a step forward instead. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid the gods are playing a trick on you.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She was expecting the slap and caught the woman\u2019s hand. \u00a0She seemed like the sort that liked to slap people, after all. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe gods told me to talk to you!\u201d \u00a0She yanked her hand away; Raizel let her. \u201cHow dare you suggest that I am being foolish!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say that, ma\u2019am. \u00a0You might have, though.\u201d \u00a0This time, she ducked. \u00a0\u201cLook, I am getting a reputation, I guess, but I\u2019m not really the sort of person who can bring anything back to life. \u00a0I\u2019m just a mountain girl who\u2019s trying to pay her taxes!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe gods said you could do it!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see\u201d \u00a0The Diamond Raven stepped forward. \u00a0The woman stared, as if surprised he could speak. \u00a0\u201cAt first, you said <\/span>I asked the High Priestess of Arlke what should be done, <\/span><\/i>not <\/span>what would bring my husband back, <\/span><\/i>right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but that was obvious\u2026!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then,\u201d he continued, you were simply looking for Raizel here. \u00a0There was no <\/span>Raizel will bring your husband back<\/span><\/i>. There was no <\/span>Raizel will solve your problems for you<\/span><\/i>. \u00a0And, to be honest, from what I know of the lady Raizel here, I cannot imagine that she would solve your problems for you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you were nicer,\u201d Raizel said, feeling both unkind and justified, \u201cI might have been able to use some of the favors owed me to find out something for you. \u00a0But you have offered me nothing but demands and give me nothing but rudeness. \u00a0My mother and my grandmothers would be ashamed of me if I gave you anything for that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The woman seemed to only hear the <\/span>find something out for you part<\/span><\/i>. \u00a0\u201cYou could? \u00a0I\u2019ll give you anything! \u00a0You just have to name the price and I will give it to you, anything for my husband back as he was.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not offering-\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Diamond Raven cut her off. \u201cYou have to listen better, ma\u2019am. \u00a0Nobody is offering <\/span>your husband back as he was<\/span><\/i>. \u00a0Nobody knows how that can be done, at least not anyone here. \u00a0But it is possible that the Lady Raizel here could find something out for you – if you had been kind to her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was kind! \u00a0Wasn\u2019t I, Tamsen? \u00a0Wasn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The left-handed attendant, so addressed, nodded mechanically. \u201cYes, madam, of course.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, if you need someone to tell you that you were kind-\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, pshaw. \u00a0If you have information, you should give it to me, you know. \u00a0And if you don\u2019t, I don\u2019t know why the gods would have sent me to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes the gods have a sense of humor.\u201d \u00a0She was beginning to think that they were pulling a prank on her more than on the woman. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m sorry, you haven\u2019t offered me anything I want and you don\u2019t have anything I need.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll give you anything! \u00a0Anything!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour slaves,\u201d the Diamond Raven spoke up abruptly. \u201cNot just these two, all of them. \u00a0For all of the information Raizel can get from calling in one favor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d \u00a0Raizel stared at him. \u201cWhat am I going to do with slaves?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you\u2019re going to have them be <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> belonging to her anymore. \u00a0I don\u2019t know. \u00a0Demand train tickets for them, too, and bring them with us to the capital? \u00a0Let them go? \u00a0Have a retinue worthy of this reputation you\u2019ve got following you around?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d never get anywhere!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTake them all! \u00a0All of them and, yes, train tickets for all of them I can buy more. \u00a0You, you, go home and get all of the rest of them and come back here-\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTrain station.\u201d \u00a0It looked as if she were being railroaded into this. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c-come back to the train station. \u00a0Bring enough money to handle your train fares to the capitol. \u00a0And enough fifteen forn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The attendants, looking rather lost, bustled off with muttered \u201cyes, mistresses.\u201d The woman stared at Raizel expectantly. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt the train station.\u201d The Diamond Raven was being surprisingly firm. \u00a0\u201cThere, when the slaves are in her custody, then Lady Raizel will seek for the answers you are looking for. \u00a0Remember, we can perhaps find an answer – there is no guarantee that it will be one that you want.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just want him back! \u00a0I just want – I just want to know\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She looked suddenly much smaller and sadder. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll find out what I can,\u201d Raizel assured her. \u00a0\u201cLet\u2019s get to the train station while we wait.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Raizel shared a look with the Raven. \u00a0He looked at her, then at the two attendant, at the woman, and back at her. She cleared her throat. \u201cYour husband is a sword?\u201d \u201cMy husband is The Blessed Sword. \u00a0It was given to him by the gods. \u00a0To become the sword so that he not die!… Continue reading Twenty-Six: The Price<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Side Quest Chapter Twenty-Six: The Price\r\n\u2694\ufe0f\r\nHer husband is a \u2026 what\u2026?\r\n\u2694\ufe0f\r\n#freefiction \r\n#fantasy","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Tn4Q-1M","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":117,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2018\/01\/05\/twenty-seven-the-train\/","url_meta":{"origin":110,"position":0},"title":"Twenty-Seven: The Train","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"January 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cAm I really here?\u201d Raizel muttered to the Diamond Raven. \u00a0It felt unlikely. \u00a0She had been trying for this for what seemed like months, even if it had only been days, and here they were, on the platform, buying two tickets for the train. \u00a0 That she had the Diamond\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":107,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/10\/27\/twenty-five-the-ruminant-of-roelkia\/","url_meta":{"origin":110,"position":1},"title":"Twenty-Five: The Ruminant of Roelkia","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"October 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cYou\u2019re amassing quite a reputation,\u201d the Diamond Raven commented, as they made their way out of the Judge\u2019s office. \u00a0\u201cWe should hurry if we\u2019re going to catch the train today. \u00a0I know you\u2019re on a deadline here.\u201d \u201cI don\u2019t understand it.\u201d \u00a0Raizel shook her head. \u00a0\u201cIt has to be you,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":56,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/07\/23\/ten-the-perils-of-ones-past\/","url_meta":{"origin":110,"position":2},"title":"Ten: The Perils of One\u2019s Past","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"July 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"She should have thought of it before she agreed, she supposed. \u00a0She might be stepping into some long-held family feud \u2014 their mountain had several of those \u2014 or maybe into the sort of thing where the city wanted to move someone whose home had stood in the same place\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":95,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/10\/11\/twenty-two-lost-and-found\/","url_meta":{"origin":110,"position":3},"title":"Twenty-Two: Lost and Found","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"October 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cWhy her?\u201d The Diamond Raven shifted so he was standing almost between Raizel and the Left Hand. \u00a0\u201cWhy this stranger on the street?\u201d \u201cBecause she\u2019s not a stranger, is she? \u00a0She\u2019s the one that everyone\u2019s been muttering about. \u00a0She\u2019s got you, which is interesting in and of itself. \u00a0She\u2019s made\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 3 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 3 comments","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/10\/11\/twenty-two-lost-and-found\/#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/10\/04\/twenty-psst\/","url_meta":{"origin":110,"position":4},"title":"Twenty-One: Psst","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"October 4, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cI don\u2019t think she really wants the kitten gone,\u201d the Diamond Raven commented, when they were out the gate and on another road. \u00a0\u201cAnd I don\u2019t blame her.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s pretty cute, isn\u2019t it?\u201d \u00a0She looked down at it, and it looked up at her and mewled. \u00a0\u201cI bet it\u2019s terrified.\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 2 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 2 comments","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/10\/04\/twenty-psst\/#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":49,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/07\/14\/seven-moving-on\/","url_meta":{"origin":110,"position":5},"title":"Seven: Moving On","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"July 14, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The black-and-blue light danced upwards like a geyser and then seemed to be sucked downwards, towards the books. \u200b\u201dNo!\u201d Trinner Traln shouted. \u00a0Raizel glanced at him just in time to see him jerk away from Esterzon Gorenz and dart towards the idol. The blue-black light seemed to suck him in.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":111,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110\/revisions\/111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}