The Amazon's Pledge Ch. 03

She shrugged. "On Nol Krovos, experienced moshalim—sorcerers—will often call upon the Aether to reveal glimpses of the future."

"Unfortunately, that's well beyond my abilities," I said, squinting at the postings. "And finding a teacher was never in the cards."

"Perhaps you should return to the island with me someday," Kaseya said. "My people are not fond of outsiders, but as my Maskari they would be compelled to allow you entry. Our moshalim could teach you a great deal."

"I bet they could," I murmured. I wasn't thinking about the sorcerers, of course. If the women there were even half as beautiful as Kaseya...

"Fornication with another moshalim's bond-mate is punishable by death," she said. "Unless her Maskari permits it."

"Yeah, I didn't mean..." I trailed off and closed my eyes. I really needed to learn to control my thoughts better. "Let's just focus on picking out a job, okay?"

Kaseya shrugged and glanced back at the board. "What about these? They all mention bandits on the North Road. Kidnappings, theft..."

I glanced at the different postings and nodded. "The fact there's more than one probably means they're not all a hoax. The pay isn't great, but maybe we'll get lucky and be able to collect on more than one."

"It is also a chance to attain considerable honor," she said. "Earn enough and perhaps the people of the city will begin to respect all moshalim."

I snorted, assuming it was a joke...but then I saw her face and belatedly remembered just how naïve she was. "Unfortunately, things don't work that way here."

Kaseya turned. "You think I am foolish."

"No, I think you're..." I trailed off and licked my lips. "I think Nol Krovos sounds like a nice place with good people, but the culture here is very different."

Her eyes flicked about the nearby market. "I shall trust in your wisdom, Jorem."

I grunted and plucked one of the postings from the board. In all my years scraping by in Vorsalos, I had never once imagined that I would be trying to eke out a living as a mercenary. I was a sorcerer—I had the power of the gods at my fingertips!

But you don't have Valuri or her coin. And you never will again, since you abandoned her to the Inquisitrix.

Kaseya frowned at me. "Is something wrong?"

"No," I lied, the long-buried guilt rising in my stomach once again. I had managed to go almost a whole day without thinking of Valuri by name, but now there it was, burning a hole in my conscience. Even the company of a beautiful woman could only help me ignore what I'd done for so long.

"Something is upsetting you," she said, touching my shoulder. "If you tell me, I can—"

"There's nothing you can do," I told her. I forced a smile and gestured towards the city wall with my chin. "Come on, let's get moving."