they gamble with.”
That took a minute to sink in because my mind, morals, and every shred of decency I had didn’t want to believe any living being would. . .
Disbelieving words eventually made it out. “They gamble with the kidnapped souls of children.”
“Among others.”
“The bastard’s stealing children’s souls to use as chips?” My voice rose; I let it.
“The chips used in the game itself will be the same as are used in any other casino. The souls will be cashed in prior to the game, and the player will be issued chips in accordance with the value of the souls they brought with them.”
My rage continued to build. “Let me guess, magically gifted children are worth more.”
“They are second in value only to full mages.”
“So this mage and his demon buddy are gathering souls to take on vacation with him to play cards with the boys.”
“I believe that he is already in his vacation destination.”
I blinked. “The game’s here ? In Mermeia? How do—”
“I was awake this morning for a reason. Late last night, I received a warning that a certain individual had arrived in the city.” He paused. “He has been well-known in the past for organizing and running this particular game.”
“So more children are going to go missing.”
“I don’t believe so. I think your soul thief is merely a local who requested to join the game at the last minute. The game master arrives when the game is imminent. He arrived late yesterday afternoon. You said that eight children have been taken?”
“That’s right.”
“The minimal number of souls a player must bring to the table is five.”
“The bastard picked up a few extra.”
“From what you have told me, I can deduce ‘the bastard’s’ name—Sethis Mortsani.”
“Son of a bitch!”
“And he acquires yet another name,” Nathrach noted mildly. “I do not know the legitimacy of his birth or the moral character of his mother, but considering the child’s cries you heard last night, combined with stealing his wife’s jewelry but not selling the large stones, Lord Mortsani is looking for a larger payout than he can get at any casino in this or any other city.”
“Mortsani’s so far in debt, he’d have to be turned loose in the goblin royal treasury to pay everyone back.” I nodded in realization. “He needed a game with higher stakes. He had the ring last night.” I froze. “Are you saying he has those kids’ souls locked in the stolen gems?”
“That is precisely what I’m saying. It’s my understanding that any jewel larger than five carats will suffice. There are dark mages in Mermeia capable of the spell necessary to enable a jewel to hold a soul. The organization running the game wants the souls, but a valuable container is a desirable bonus.”
“Who’s this organization?”
There was another pause, though it was shorter this time. Nathrach realized that he’d told me too much to stop now.
“The Khrynsani. You’ve heard of them?”
“Oh yeah.”
The Brotherhood of the Khrynsani was a not-so-behind-the-scenes instigator of every act of goblin aggression toward elves since. . . well, since a monk somewhere started writing that stuff down. They were an ancient goblin secret society and military order, with even more outdated beliefs. Goblins were meant to rule, and anyone who didn’t agree was meant to be enslaved or killed. Unfortunately, those who had an opposing opinion included every other race. Even more unfortunate was that the Khrynsani had what no group of megalomaniacal nutcases should have: power, money, and influence. Some of the most powerful families of the goblin aristocracy were secret Khrynsani members.
“So in addition to starting wars,” I said, “they collect souls.”
“As currency.”
“To buy what from who?”
“Knowledge and favors—from archdemons.”
I froze. The Khrynsani were going to give those children to archdemons? Oh, hell, no.
My reaction wasn’t lost on
That took a minute to sink in because my mind, morals, and every shred of decency I had didn’t want to believe any living being would. . .
Disbelieving words eventually made it out. “They gamble with the kidnapped souls of children.”
“Among others.”
“The bastard’s stealing children’s souls to use as chips?” My voice rose; I let it.
“The chips used in the game itself will be the same as are used in any other casino. The souls will be cashed in prior to the game, and the player will be issued chips in accordance with the value of the souls they brought with them.”
My rage continued to build. “Let me guess, magically gifted children are worth more.”
“They are second in value only to full mages.”
“So this mage and his demon buddy are gathering souls to take on vacation with him to play cards with the boys.”
“I believe that he is already in his vacation destination.”
I blinked. “The game’s here ? In Mermeia? How do—”
“I was awake this morning for a reason. Late last night, I received a warning that a certain individual had arrived in the city.” He paused. “He has been well-known in the past for organizing and running this particular game.”
“So more children are going to go missing.”
“I don’t believe so. I think your soul thief is merely a local who requested to join the game at the last minute. The game master arrives when the game is imminent. He arrived late yesterday afternoon. You said that eight children have been taken?”
“That’s right.”
“The minimal number of souls a player must bring to the table is five.”
“The bastard picked up a few extra.”
“From what you have told me, I can deduce ‘the bastard’s’ name—Sethis Mortsani.”
“Son of a bitch!”
“And he acquires yet another name,” Nathrach noted mildly. “I do not know the legitimacy of his birth or the moral character of his mother, but considering the child’s cries you heard last night, combined with stealing his wife’s jewelry but not selling the large stones, Lord Mortsani is looking for a larger payout than he can get at any casino in this or any other city.”
“Mortsani’s so far in debt, he’d have to be turned loose in the goblin royal treasury to pay everyone back.” I nodded in realization. “He needed a game with higher stakes. He had the ring last night.” I froze. “Are you saying he has those kids’ souls locked in the stolen gems?”
“That is precisely what I’m saying. It’s my understanding that any jewel larger than five carats will suffice. There are dark mages in Mermeia capable of the spell necessary to enable a jewel to hold a soul. The organization running the game wants the souls, but a valuable container is a desirable bonus.”
“Who’s this organization?”
There was another pause, though it was shorter this time. Nathrach realized that he’d told me too much to stop now.
“The Khrynsani. You’ve heard of them?”
“Oh yeah.”
The Brotherhood of the Khrynsani was a not-so-behind-the-scenes instigator of every act of goblin aggression toward elves since. . . well, since a monk somewhere started writing that stuff down. They were an ancient goblin secret society and military order, with even more outdated beliefs. Goblins were meant to rule, and anyone who didn’t agree was meant to be enslaved or killed. Unfortunately, those who had an opposing opinion included every other race. Even more unfortunate was that the Khrynsani had what no group of megalomaniacal nutcases should have: power, money, and influence. Some of the most powerful families of the goblin aristocracy were secret Khrynsani members.
“So in addition to starting wars,” I said, “they collect souls.”
“As currency.”
“To buy what from who?”
“Knowledge and favors—from archdemons.”
I froze. The Khrynsani were going to give those children to archdemons? Oh, hell, no.
My reaction wasn’t lost on
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