Page 35 of I Ran Away to Evil #3

How Much You Are Willing to Pay

Julian

“So let me get this straight.” Julian slipped on his vest and slowly did up each button. “You have been working with the Blackfog spies for over thirty years?”

“Yes.” Greyson sat on a chair, hands in his lap and eyes unwavering.

John was standing to the side, holding Julian’s outfit for the wedding. He’d sent the rogue to fetch it as soon as it was obvious that Julian would be running late. This was the final interview he had to do after an entire morning of gaining very little information from the regular caravan hires.

He’d saved the best for last.

The three of them were in a room in the dungeons.

It was an hour before the ceremony, and he was supposed to be checking in at Julia’s dressing room any second now.

After last night, any fears his sister had of going through with the wedding were gone.

She’d had a good conversation with Chloe, and Julian had pretended not to notice his sister returning to her rooms only an hour before sunrise.

He finished doing up his buttons before confronting his prisoner. “And your loyalty made you break the law?”

“No,” Greyson replied.

“No?” Julian was at least expecting an excuse.

He raised a hand, and John helped him slip into the dark-purple coat.

It hung down to his thigh and was embroidered with decorative diamonds around the hem and cuffs and neckline.

He was wearing a white undertunic and white pants with silver and purple embroidery that matched the coat.

“The guild mistress is not someone I can refuse.” Greyson leaned back in his chair. “I’d rather take the mines or pay a fee than go against that woman.”

“What can you tell me about her?”

“That depends.” Greyson kept a neutral face, eyeing Julian.

“On what?”

Greyson held out a hand and rubbed his thumb and index together. “How much you’re willing to pay.”

“My lord, I could just—” John’s face was impassive as he casually dropped a threat, but Julian shook his head.

“They’re information dealers.” He waved away his friend’s concern and asked Greyson, “How much?”

Greyson held up two fingers and his thumb.

“Three hundred gold?” Julian summoned a pouch and started dropping gold coins from his storage ring into the opening.

“Thirty platinum ,” Greyson countered. “And that’s a discount because I’m currently … upset with our leader at the moment.”

Julian didn’t react as he added a quarter of the budget for the Northern Fortress to the pouch before tossing it at the shark. “You know that I’m going to levy enough fines on your company for what you did to my sister that this money is going to be useless, yes?”

Greyson caught the bag and hefted it once before setting it on the floor beside his chair. He had no access to his rings while bound with the enchanted manacles. When the spy straightened, he was smiling, and the silver crest of the [Deal-Breaker] debuff shone on his forehead.

“Guild Mistress Alice Smith, five feet tall, a hundred and forty pounds, blue-eyed, blonde-haired celestial. As gorgeous as she is intelligent, and a complete psychopath. She contacted me a week ago, but she’s been on a warpath for months.

My buddy in Peldeep let me know that she was the real deal after she caused a stir at the Apple Blossom Festival. ”

Julian raised an eyebrow when he realized that was all he was going to get out of the man. Greyson held up one finger, and Julian sighed.

A second pouch dropped down beside the first.

Greyson continued. “She infiltrated seven spies into the Emerald Palace and used them to try and perma-kill Their Royal Highness of Peldeep. The attempt was thwarted. The spies were all caught, but not before a section of the palace burned down. The guild mistress abandoned them and escaped alone using her portal abilities.”

Julian frowned. “What made you break the law for someone like that?”

The man stiffened. There was a strange tension in his body as he countered Julian’s question with his own.

“We are an information guild … Have you ever faced someone who knew your every secret? Your darkest fear?” His eyes were reliving whatever horror the celestial had put him through.

Greyson managed a chuckle and added, “Whose Charisma warped your will and made you question your entire life as she manipulated you into turning against yourself? I won’t tell you what I’m most afraid of for any gold—but I will tell you that Alice is just as terrifying. ”

That was all the time he had. Julian nodded. “Thank you for your time. John, lock our helpful informant up separately from the others.”

Greyson hesitated. “At least tell me where you’re sending my people?”

“I’m not sending them anywhere.” Julian smiled darkly. “If you leave now, you’ll be safe from whatever Guild Mistress Alice unleashes on my family’s home . You should stick around to see how it ends.”

“Wait.” Greyson jumped to his feet, his jaw set. “Just my crew. They know nothing of importance.”

“They knew about my sister.” That meant they knew enough to be tried.

Greyson hesitated, “I’ll tell you something to help you in exchange for their safety—”

“Done.” Julian didn’t think twice. “ I swear to Justice that I will send your men for menial labor in a reputable reform mine for no more than one year’s time. ”

Divine mana played over Julian’s senses as the god heard his vow and accepted it.

And in return, Greyson let them know exactly how Alice was able to accomplish all of her deeds. All it took was one specific perk.