Mister Garrik looked up at the ceiling, raising an eyebrow at the muffled sounds of a woman’s pleasure. “Mister Sterling, I appreciate your time, but I came here to do business, not be distracted by the sounds of blue theatre.”

Will cleared his throat. “Apologies, Mister Garrik.” Will’s quick mind pulled a lie out of thin air. He was talking before he’d really formulated his story. “I am hosting a friend who... used to work as a brothel girl. She upset the madam and was kicked out of her room. I gave her a place to stay, but she still has to earn a living.”

“These mid-reach islands really have no shame at all, do they?” Garrik chuckled. “Even the cartographer runs a whore house here.”

“It is a temporary thing. Unfortunately it overlaps with my preparations to leave. I’d prefer to keep our business separate from her business, but this is the necessity.” Will offered Garrik the map he had just finished while Garrik signed a piece of paper. They traded.

“Appreciated, Mister Sterling. Good luck in your endeavors,” he looked at the ceiling again, “and your new living arrangement.”

The bell on the door chimed to announce Mister Garrik’s departure and then closed with a thud. Will exhaled and looked toward the bookshelf that blocked the stairwell with a mixture of amusement and exasperation on his face. He poured himself a glass of water and finished half of it in one pull, then went to his office and started picking up women’s clothing.

His desk would never be the same again. Amid the smears and blots there were four separate, distinct black handprints set down in the throws of passion, and a long black stain that was unmistakably a very curvy woman’s back and butt. He shook his head. It hadn’t been much of a desk before. He’d pulled it out of a shipwreck, like most of the things he’d furnished his home with. It was a captain’s desk. As such it was fairly compact, but overbuilt. Will decided that the ink gave it some much needed character, even if that character was salacious. Oh well. He could cover it with a cloth or something if he ever needed to have anyone inside his office that wasn’t currently upstairs having rather noisy sex.

He went upstairs with an armload of clothing, gently opened the door, and walked in to see Bella climbing onto the bed and curling around Janie.

They were beautiful. He leaned in the doorway and just watched for a moment. Janie was flushed, her breath coming in slow bursts causing her breasts to rise, then fall abruptly. Her eyes were closed, a contented smile on her face. She hadn’t even heard the door open. Bella on the other hand, was completely aware of him. She rotated her upper body towards him, eyeing him with lascivious amusement. Her massive breasts rolled and flattened a bit as she turned onto her back. She seemed to be showing off her handiwork. Will nodded his silent approval. Bella tipped an imaginary hat.

“You two make working very difficult,” Will said.

Janie’s eyes popped open. She groaned her embarrassment and turned her face into Bella’s side, hiding.

“You have nothing to be ashamed of, luv.” Bella said, peting Janie’s arm. “Whatever they heard downstairs just made their day better.”

“I’m supposed to be working,” Janie said into Bella’s side.

“You’re on lunch,” Will said, coming into the room and dropping their clothes in a chair.

Janie pulled the blanket over her naked body. Will and Bella both laughed. “We’ve both been tongue deep inside you, luv,” Bella teased, “No sense in being shy now.”

Will squeezed in on the other side of the bed, laying down and trapping Janie between himself and Bella. Janie rolled over and wrapped her arms around Will, laying her head on the crook of his shoulder. “I shouldn’t be doing this,” she said quietly.

“That ship sailed last night,” Will chuckled. “Personally, I don’t regret anything.”

“Me either,” Janie said, still burrowed into Will’s muscular chest. “I ruined your desk though.”

“We ruined his desk,” Bella corrected.

“Wait until you see it,” Will grinned. Bella saw his expression, but Janie didn’t.

There was a loud knock from downstairs. Janie suddenly clenched Will’s shirt just before he started to get up. He stopped. “I’ll pay for it,” Janie said.

Will laughed again. “Janie, I wish you’d ruined it like that years ago.” Janie looked up in confusion. Will kissed her. Bella watched, feeling quite self satisfied.

Will pulled away and stood up. Janie rolled back toward Bella and put her head on the larger woman's shoulder. “I’ll clean up your office as soon as I’m dressed,” Janie said, still trying to offer something to make up for the guilt she felt.

“There’s no rush. You can do it after lunch,” Will said. There was another knock at the door. Will stuck his head out the window. “On my way down,” he called.

He came around the bed and hooked his hand behind Bella’s neck, lifting her up. She squeaked in surprise and then made a contented noise as Will kissed her. Janie watched, shocked at first, then simply impressed. Bella’s back was arched, thrusting her prodigious breasts upward, her head was tilted back with her long curly hair trailing behind her. Will was bent at the waist, holding her up with one hand. They were joined at the lips. They looked like the art on the covers of the trashy penny dreadfuls sold in the market. Somehow, in real life it didn’t seem trashy. It was… art. Warm sunlight streamed in from the window above the bed bathing Bella’s skin in a dusky gold hue. Will was partially in silhouette from the way the shadows fell. They were beautiful.

The kiss broke and Will shook his head, excited and frustrated. Bella pouted adorably. “Wish you could stay.” Her voice was low and throaty, full of promise. Janie snickered.

Will stood up. “Duty calls,” he muttered sarcastically.  

“Make him go away. Tell him you’re closed,” Bella suggested. “I want to show Janie what two tongues feels like…” Janie looked scandalized. Will laughed.

“You’ll have to conjure a spare then. This client is important,” Will said with a shake of his head.

Bella’s knees drifted apart. Will’s brow’s knitted like he was concentrating. Janie wasn’t sure who’s side she was on.

“Evil temptress,” Will breathed.

“Good temptress,” Bella corrected, her fingers slowly trailing down her stomach and between her legs.

In spite of the fact that she’d just had the most intense sexual experience of her life, and was laying naked pressed up against the gorgeous woman who’d given that experience to her, and the fact that her boss was only a few feet away watching them both, Janie was still shocked at Bella’s behavior. Like it wasn’t really happening. Like she was a spectator rather than a participant. Bella traced her fingers along her glistening sex and let her eyes make promises to Will. It was the most brazen, lustful thing Janie had ever seen in her life, and she loved it. She squeezed her thighs together as the wet heat began spreading again. She was still so sensitive, only that small pressure and stimulus was enough to send a small aftershock through her. She trembled and curled her toes, turning her face into Bella’s side. A small, hungry noise escaped her, muffled into the side of one of Bella’s breasts.

Will swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. His eyes went back and forth between them. Bella grinned as he adjusted the uncomfortable bulge in his breeches. Janie peeked up from behind Bella’s breast looking at Will, amused at his obvious frustration, trying to hide her smile. The moment hung in the air.

Another knock came from downstairs.

“Fuck,” Janie muttered angrily.  

Downstairs, an impatient merchant heard the sounds of explosive laughter coming from somewhere above him in the old lighthouse.

_______________

“Thanks for the assist,” Bella said. She was sitting cross legged on the bed. Janie was still stretched out.

“With what?” Janie asked.

“Teasing Will,” Bella grinned.

“I didn’t do anything,” Janie shook her head. “That was all you.”

“Sure you did,” Bella nudged. “The coy, embarrassed thing really works for you.”

“I really was embarrassed!” Janie said, turing a little red again. “I don’t know how you weren’t!”

“The best performances are real,” Bella teased. “I particularly liked the part where you had a little orgasm right in front of him, but tried to hide it. That was much more effective than what I was doing.”

“I didn’t mean to! It just happened!” Janie was stricken.

“I thought he was going to jump on us right there,” Bella laughed.

“I wish he had,” Janie said, then covered her mouth with her hand.

“Me too,” Bella ran her hand down Janie’s leg. “Maybe next time.”

“Next time?!” Janie’s chest knotted up. “This time was bad enough.”

“Oh, I thought you liked it.” Bella knew what Janie really meant, but she still made a show of being concerned. It seemed like what Janie needed.

“I loved it. I still can’t believe it happened. It seems like something that happened to someone else.” The knot in Janie’s chest started fluttering.

“It really happened. Only a few minutes ago. And it can happen again if you want. With or without Will.” Bella let her hand linger on Janie’s thigh.

“I think I would like that,” Janie smiled.

“Oh good.” Bella ran her hand up Janie’s thigh to her hip, enjoying the feel of her warm soft skin.

“I don’t know about adding Will though. The idea is interesting, but I don’t even know how that would work. I don’t know if I like the idea of taking turns,” Janie said.

Bella snorted and shook her head. “You’re just lacking imagination. Trust me.” She rolled her eyes. “Taking turns,” she scoffed.

“My mother would be horrified at me,” Janie said, the competing waves of excitement and shame and anxiety leaving her feeling bewildered.

“My mother would be extremely proud of you,” Bella assured her. “And so am I.”

“Well I suppose that explains some things about you,” Janie said, then looked shocked at what she had said. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean-”

Bella was laughing. “Don’t apologize for being right. My mother could give a Succubus lessons.”

Janie couldn’t help but laugh. There was something about Bella that was so freeing. She felt like she could say anything, admit anything. She had spent her whole life holding everything in, and now, with Bella, that was gone. Images of an older version of Bella entwined with some demoness flitted through her head. “If she’s anything like you, that sounds like it would be fun to watch.”

“Oh, she’s impressive to see in action,” Bella admitted.

Janie’s eyes felt like they were going to pop out of her head. “You’ve- With your mother?!”

Bella’s hands went up, waving back and forth. “Oh no! Not with her. No. But I have seen her.” Bella lay down next to Janie so their heads were right next to each other, looking into her big blue eyes. “I’m a witch. I specialize in sex magic. I know my people have a reputation for all the women being witches, but it isn’t really like that. There’s not very many N’madi witches anymore, and we tend to learn from family. So yes, I’ve seen my mother have sex. Only in the context of learning spellbinding, and it’s not like I was right next to her, and I was never the only other person there. All the apprentices sit in on the lessons.”

“So you all just gather around and… watch? How old were you?” Janie was fascinated and uncomfortable.

“No one younger than sixteen years is allowed into those kinds of lessons,” Bella said, trying to assure Janie. She wasn’t sure if it was working.

“Still though, you watched. Your own mother. That’s… wrong!” Janie said. It was the only thing Bella had said so far that Janie just couldn’t reconcile.

“Everyone has sex, Janie. Well, almost everyone. It’s a completely natural thing. Animals do it in front of everyone. Do they care who’s watching?” Bella tried to explain.

“We aren’t animals,” Janie said firmly.

“We are,” Bella insisted. “We’re just animals with delusions of grandeur and unnecessary rules to help us justify our actions.”

Janie shook her head. “We have divine purpose. Humans are special among all creation.”

“Why?” Bella asked.

“Because that is what the Gods tell us. We are their chosen vessels,” Janie smiled, hoping Bella would understand.

Bella sighed. “I wish that were true, but I just can’t see it. There is just too much evil in the world, and most of it is our own fault. If the hands of the gods are in that, then they are very cruel gods. People are monsters to each other.”

“That’s not all people are!” Janie insisted, “There’s so much good in us!”

“Just enough to let us pretend, and to find solace in each other until the next atrocity,” Bella said. She didn’t sound spiteful. Just resigned.

“Why do you say that?” Janie asked. Then she realized. Bella was N’madi.

“Because I’ve lived it,” Bella said. “My mother lost her entire family when she was a child during the Witch Purges. The Magistrate Inquisitors put her in a Truthtelling when she was only nine years old, and I still don’t know how she managed to avoid being burned alive. She never talks about it. What I do know is that the N’madi who survived had to band together, form new families, and run. Many of us got on boats. That’s what my family did. We abandoned our entire way of life, left the caravans behind, and took to the seas to get away from the Magistrate, and now, only a generation later, they’ve followed us out here. My entire life I’ve been afraid. I get leered at and spit at in equal measure. I’ve lost more than one person to holier-than-thou zealots who can’t accept that the Purges are over. Some people, even way out here, think I should be burned just for being a N’madi witch. It doesn’t matter that the Magistrates themselves say that I’m a good person. It doesn’t matter that I’ve never hurt anyone. It doesn’t matter that I’m one of two people on the whole island who can make Hex bags and Fertility charms. I give every woman here the power to choose whether or not they bear children, and some of those women still think I should die because of who I am. I came out here to get away from all that, and for years I mostly did. Now, with Fort Deliverance complete, all the things I was running from are starting to come back.”

“The Purges are over. They were wrong, and the Magistrate has tried to make amends,” Janie said. The words felt like ash on her lips as she spoke them.

“How do you make amends for countless people killed? We don’t even know how many of us died. Or how many of us are left. In my mother’s caravan, it was three. Out of fifty four.”

Janie had learned of the Purges in school, but she’d been educated by the Magistrate. The instructors called it a dark chapter in their history, and convinced her that the Magistrate was different now, that they had made peace with the N’madi people. She had never really thought about the scope of it before. She felt sick.

“I am Magistrate. How can you not hate me?” Janie asked.

“You are? Will said you’d left them.” Bella asked. She didn’t seem upset. Janie didn’t understand how.

“Well, yeah. I did. They think I am still one of them though. I still live at the Fort, but I’m… I don’t think of myself as one of them anymore.” It felt good to admit that.

“I thought as much. I can’t very well hate you for the past you are trying to leave behind, can I? That wouldn't’ be right.” Bella smiled warmly.

“My grandfather is an Inquisitor,” Janie admitted. Something flickered behind Bella’s eyes. Anyone else would have missed it, but Janie didn’t. That was fear. Bella had it under control quickly, but Janie saw it.

“What do you think of him?” Bella asked. Her tone was careful not to betray the turmoil in her mind, but her eyes were still tight. That was enough to let Janie know this question, and how she answered it, was important. Janie decided to just be as honest as possible.

“He’s a monster. He makes my skin crawl every time I’m around him,” Janie said fiercely. “He’s the reason I decided to leave the Magistrate.”

“Sounds like a good choice to me,” Bella said. Again, she held in how she felt, but Janie knew. The relief that flooded through Bella was practically palpable.

“Still, it’s part of who I am. I don’t know how you can overlook that,” Janie said. “I don’t think I could.”

“Forgiveness is an important part of my culture.” Bella said. “We even have a special holiday about settling grudges and forgiving slights. It’s important to us to let go of blame and hate. We’d have wiped ourselves out a long time ago without that.”

“How so?” Janie asked. All she knew of the N’madi were the stereotypes, and their mentions in the annals of the Witch Purges. Neither were particularly positive accounts. She was starting to realize just how much she didn’t know.

“My people do a lot of… bad things. Mostly to each other, but the stereotypes about thefts and kidnappings, well, they have a kernel of truth to them. They’re over-inflated by racism and ignorance, of course. There’s cultural reasons for all of it, but I don’t know if I buy them as justifications anymore. At this point it’s all mostly just tradition, and excuses to not feel guilty about awful behavior. Because of that, we have to put a lot of importance on making amends and forgiving each other. Without that, the blood feuds would never end. There are a few families who still keep to the old ways, and they’re almost gone because they keep killing each other over ancient slights, or getting in brutal fights with other cultures.”

“That’s what started the Purges,” Janie said. She’d read something about that, but the details about the people committing the massacres being a violent cultural offshoot of the N’madi were glossed over in her history texts.

“Yes,” Bella said sadly.

“So it wasn’t even your people’s fault.” Janie’s heart was breaking.

“No.” Bella shook her head. Again, she had herself under firm control, but Janie see the deep well of sadness behind Bella’s wistful smile.

“I’m so sorry,” Janie said. She didn’t know what else to say.

“You didn’t do it,” Bella said, “And you aren’t making excuses. That’s pretty rare in my experience.”

Janie smiled, “With people like you around, it will get less rare.”

Bella grinned. “Who’d have ever thought a N’madi witch and a Magistrate Acolyte would be lovers?”

“I think I’d get excommunicated, and it was worth it.” Janie sighed, rolling onto her back, reveling in the amazement of how amazing sex with Bella had been. “If I ever meet your mother, I’m going to thank her.” The full context of what she’d just said dawned on her and her face scrunched up in embarrassment.

Bella laughed like a banshee, also flopping down on the bed. “Oh no,” she finally said, “I didn’t learn that from mother. She was never interested in other women. I grew up in a circus. I learned that from the contortionists.”

Janie looked at Bella like she’d grown a second head. A moment later they were both laughing uncontrollably.

Downstairs, for the second time, a stuffy, overdressed man stared at Will’s ceiling.

Will sighed.

_______________

The small bell on the door rang again. Bella peeked around the corner to make sure the room was clear of customers, then she swished out from behind the bookcase, followed by Janie. They were both fully dressed again, though Janie was missing her stockings. Luckily her skirt was long enough that it was nearly impossible to notice. Bella’s ink stained petticoat was hidden beneath the other layers.

Bella hopped up on the edge of the table and crossed her legs. Will looked at her with a mix of patience and amusement on his face. “You’re a menace,” he said.

“I know,” she grinned.

“What was all that cackling?” Will asked

“It’s called fun. You should try it sometime,” Bella snarked.

Will rolled his eyes. “You’re worse than that shrieking monkey of yours. Where is the little monster anyway?” He asked, realizing he hadn’t seen the monkey at all. He was instantly suspicious. He patted himself down, making sure all his belongings were in place.

Bella pointed up. “Up there. Asleep in the shade next to the old lamp… thing. I gave him a bag of dates right before I got there and he ran up there to gorge himself.”

“Oh my,” Janie’s voice came from the office door.

“I see you’ve found the table,” Will said over his shoulder. Bella hopped off and trotted across the room to look over Janie’s shoulder. She snorted, stifling a laugh.

“Oh, there is no mistaking what that is, is there?” Bella snickered.

“Well, it’s a little abstract…” Janie said, walking in and looking at the ink stain from different angles.

Bella followed her in and tapped the ink with a finger. “Completely dry. No hope of turning it into something else.”

“I suppose we could add more ink?” Janie said, tapping her finger against her lips in thought.

“Or sand it, or give it a dark stain,” Bella said.

“Don’t you dare,” Will said, leaning in the doorway. “I love it.”

“I guess our shame will live in infamy, on display for all to see,” Janie said. She felt like she should be embarrassed, but she wasn’t.

“Our shame? You’re the one who spilled the ink,” Bella said, bumping Janie with her hip.

“It is rather artistic,” Janie said. “Like the kiss earlier.”

“What?” Will asked, confused.

“Oh, I suppose you two didn’t see it. When you kissed Bella earlier, right before you left. It was beautiful. Like a painting.”

“All her, I’m sure,” Will said.

“Our Janie seems to be developing a taste for erotic art,” Bella teased. Janie looked scandalized.

“I’ll get her some more,” Will grinned.

“We’ll make her some,” Bella grinned. The pair of them were like circling sharks.

“That’s enough,” Janie said sternly. Her mask of stern professionalism was back in place. Only the twinkle in her eye and the twitch at the corner of her mouth gave away her amusement. She gestured to the mess the rest of the room was in. “Let’s get this place cleaned up.”

There was a knock from the other room. “Have fun,” Will said. He shut the door behind him.

_______________

“No, Mister Sterling. I am here to see Miss Castilian,” the stern woman at the door said. She was wearing a red Magistrate uniform with gold trim and an impressive sunburst-style compass medallion. She looked him up and down slowly, with a strange clam intensity to her gaze. It was paradoxical, but Will couldn't think of a better way to describe it. It wasn’t threatening, but he didn’t like it.

“Ah, sure, Madame-” Will said.

“Prelate,” the woman corrected.

Will blinked. This short, stout, silver haired woman was the head of Fort Deliverance. The highest ranking Magistrate official on the island. “Of course. Prelate. Come right in. You and Janie can use my…” The image of Will’s new improved desk entered his mind. “...I mean… I am with a client right now. I need to find you some space. Come in. You’ll need to give me a moment.”

She walked into Will’s front room and immediately locked eyes with Big John Sonder, a burly whaling boat captain who was sitting at the table. The captain seemed confused, and a little worried. She stared at Big John for a few moments while Will walked into his office, saying nothing. After she’d satisfied whatever she was looking for by looking at the captain, she began looking at the floor. Her eyes slowly tracing the perimeter of the room until she had come full circle. Then she looked at the ceiling. Big John looked up too, but didn’t see anything but wood and stone.

Inside the office, Janie was sorting through the paperwork they’d scattered earlier, trying to put them all back in the proper order.

“The Prelate is here,” Will said from the doorway. “In my lighthouse.”

Janie nodded, “Thomas said that might happen.”

“Who’s Thomas?” Will asked.

“The Guardsman from last night who collected Timmonds’ thugs. You might have missed that part of the conversation.” Janie put a spreadsheet down on top of another spreadsheet.

“Yeah, I think I really did miss the part where the Grand Prelate of Fort Deliverance was going to show up here,” Will said.

“She isn’t a Grand Prelate. Just a Prelate,” Janie corrected him.

“Oh, is that all? Just a Prelate. Oh good. It’s not like she has five hundred soldiers, a ten ship armada, and can see into a person’s soul or anything,” Will snarked.

“It’s only a hundred and eighty soldiers. The Fort is still waiting on troops,” Janie said, putting another piece of paper on a different pile.

“So should I just send her in then?” He looked at the desk. The impression of Bella’s back and butt were mostly covered, but two of  the handprints were plain to see. “I guess this is pretty much obscured.”

“What?” Janie said, looking at where Will was gesturing. She looked at the table. Her eyes slowly went wide and Will swore he could see her heart beating in her neck. “Oh no.”

“You think she’ll be able to figure it out even with all the paperwork?” Will asked.

“Of course!” Janie said, starting to stand up, then stopped. She felt like she had nowhere to go. “No. Wait. You really don’t understand. She’s a Prelate. She sees… everything. That’s what she does! She can see… patterns. If she sees any drop of that ink, she’ll know what it is! She’ll see how it got there! Even just seeing the table might be enough for her to… know.”

Janie looked up at the ceiling. Bella was asleep in Will’s bed. The Prelate was fairly congenial, even maternal, as far as Prelates went, but the Magistrate had a tense relationship with witches. Even registered ones like Bella. No matter how relatively kind the Prelate was, she would absolutely never approve of what Janie and Bella had done in this room. Janie felt like she was slowly being tied in a knot.

Will felt similarly, but for different reasons. “Alright… so she can’t come in here. What if I move Big John in here, and you meet with the Prelate out there?”

Janie nodded. “That should be fine. Just don’t mess up my stacks.”

Will nodded and turned around. “Captain Sonder, we’re going to have to move this into my office. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

“No problem, Will,” Big John said picking up his hat and walking into the office just as Janie was walking out. “Who the hell’s that? She makes mah skin crawl,” Big John asked just before the door closed. Janie winced, just a little.

The Prelate ignored what she had heard. “Hello, Acolyte Castilian. I understand you had quite an eventful evening last night.” Her tone was surprisingly maternal.

“Yes, Prelate. Thank you for coming,” Janie said. She walked forward, took the older woman’s offered hand, and bent to kiss the sigil on the large ring she wore. “Can I get you some water?” she asked.

“That would be fine, thank you,” the Prelate said, moving to sit in the chair Big John had vacated.

Janie poured a glass from the pitcher on the shelf near the table and set it in front of the Prelate. When she turned, she saw the Prelate was fixated on the bullet score in the desk. She turned and looked at the exact place Quincy had fired the gun from.

“I’m sorry to inconvenience you like this, I just couldn’t get away from the office any time soon,” Janie said as she sat down. Her heart slowly knotted in her chest. An image of Bella splayed out on the table, on this table, welled unbidden into her mind. Nowhere was safe. The whole lighthouse bore the stain of carnality now. She maintained her composure, hoping that somehow the Prelate would not notice. No, that was probably too much to hope for. It was only Will and Bella that had been on this table. Not her. She hadn’t done anything. Hadn’t done anything here, her mind reminded her, rebelling against her attempts at composure.

“Are you alright, Acolyte?” the Prelate asked.

“Yes, I’m…” Janie remembered who she was talking to. “No, Prelate. I’m not. Last night was awful, and I did not get much sleep. Today has been very busy and very… confusing. I’m really not doing well at all.”

“Well, your fortitude is commendable,” the Prelate said, “and I appreciate your candor. From all reports you handled yourself admirably.”

“Thank you Prelate,” Janie said, smoothing her skirts and putting her hands in her lap.

“If you wish to speak with one of the Confessors about your experience, I’m sure either of them could help you,” the Prelate suggested. Janie had only spoken with the Prelate a few times before. She was always kind and maternal. Strong in a quiet sort of way. Janie wanted to like her, but there was just something about the way she looked at you, about the way she looked at everything, that was incredibly unnerving. She simply saw too much.

“I think I will, Prelate. It will have to wait until the end of the week, though. I will be alright until then,” Janie said with a small smile.

“So, tell me about your Circle here,” the Prelate said, gesturing in a circle to the ceiling. “I assume all this is approved in the archive?”

“Of course, Prelate. Will is cursed,” Janie began.

“I had heard of that. This is the first time I’ve met the man. He seems well enough, but there is a powerful magic bound to his soul. I’ve never seen it’s like before,” the Prelate said.

“Nor has anyone else he’s talked to. As far as he can tell it cannot be broken. It seems to upset probability in strange ways that are often quite dangerous. He’s escaped death so far, but many people who have been near him haven’t. I believe the death toll so far is nineteen, though I can’t be sure that all of those were related to the curse. Personally, I believe they are, at least indirectly.”

“So you set up the Circle to ward against this curse,” the Prelate nodded, following Janie’s train of thought.

“Yes, Prelate. That’s why Will hired me. He wanted to make sure the curse would not affect his clients,” Janie said.

“A wise precaution. So what about the other wards? And the Telling?” the Prelate asked.

“The Wards are mostly to make sure Will isn’t being swindled or enchanted. The Telling was… an afterthought. I told him I knew how to make a Telling circle, and he said he’d pay to have it added. I thought if anyone did try to swindle him, it would be a good way to find out why. I thought that it might also be useful for the Magistrate to have access to a Telling circle inside the town, for emergencies.”

“Useful indeed. Even more useful if we had known about it,” the Prelate said, a stern look on her face.

Janie’s brow’s rose. “I registered everything! It’s all in the archive! I thought I did everything right,” Janie said, clearly worried and upset.

The Prelate’s piercing eyes looked at Janie for a moment, and then she closed her eyes, thinking, or perhaps seeing something beyond normal vision. When they opened she sighed. “Bureaucracy. You did everything correctly. The archivists did not have the same creative foresight as you. They simply filed the information away after it was approved, and never spoke of it to anyone who might be able to use the information.” Janie let out a sigh of relief.

“Tell me about the charm that broke your Telling,” the Prelate asked. “That is a serious concern.”

“I did not ever see it,” Janie said. “I only heard the sound. It was loud. Like breaking wood.”

“Where did it happen?” the Prelate asked.

Janie got up and moved to the spot where she’d been grabbed with the knife to her throat. Then she stepped to where she’d moved to after the Telling had taken hold. She looked at where Timmonds had been and pointed to the spot on the ground. “There.”

The Prelate stood and walked to that place, looking at empty air. She looked up at the ceiling, then back down to where Timmonds had stood. She closed her eyes for a few moments and Janie felt something like a gathering pressure, like the morning before a storm when the air feels heavy. The Prelate opened her eyes.

Each of her eyes now had two pupils, and two irises, which were suddenly gold and intertwined creating a shape similar to a sideways number eight.

Janie was quite unnerved. The Prelate said nothing. She simply scanned the area again and nodded. “Strong witchcraft. Blood magic. The witch who did it has hidden herself from my sight, but I can see the residual aura of her power. That may be enough to track her.” The Prelate closed her eyes and the pressure in the air was gone.

“The witch’s magic did some damage to your Circle. You’ll want to repair it before you use it again,” the Prelate said, giving Janie a small smile. Her eyes were back to normal. “You can bill the Fort for the materials on my authority.”

“Thank you, Prelate.” Janie said, a bit at a loss.

“Alexandra?” Bella’s voice came from the stairwell. “Is that you?” Janie whirled around at the sound of her voice, anxiety welling up within her. Bella was a witch. And N’madi. And now Janie’s lover also. The Prelate was a Magistrate Cleric. And a Master Diviner. So many things could go wrong with the two of then in the same room. How does Bella know the Prelate’s name? Janie thought, verging on panic.

“Bella,” the Prelate replied. She did not sound surprised. “I thought I recognized your aura here.”

Bella rounded the bookcase and clasped hands with the Prelate of Fort Deliverance. “I was taking a nap upstairs,” the dark haired beauty explained. “How is your goddaughter?”

Prelate Alexandra smiled. “Doing very well. Back home and nearly ready to burst. I cannot thank you enough for your help.”

“It was my pleasure,” Bella smiled. “What brings you here?”

“Acolyte Castilian had an encounter with a very rare and dangerous charm. I came to speak with her about it,” Prelate Alexandra said. “We were nearly finished.”

“Sounds like I have good timing,” Bella smiled. “I was just about to go out to get something to eat before I have to go to work. Would you like to join me?

Janie felt like she was dreaming.

Prelate Alexandra looked like she was just about to say no, but then she sighed and gave Bella a small smile. “That sounds wonderful. This is the first time I’ve left the Fort in more than three months. It seems like there is always a new thing that needs my attention. Some time in the sun would do me well.”

“Excellent,” Bella said. She turned to Janie and gave her a quick hug. Janie stiffly returned it, her mind still reeling. Bella kissed her on the cheek a then collected her satchel. “Janie, love, can you tell Will I said thank you for the use of his bed. I’ll see you both tomorrow. Oh, and remind him that he has something for you!”

Janie nodded slowly and finally found her voice. “Alright… ah… yes, Miss... Bella.”

“Thank you for your testimony, Acolyte,” Prelate Alexandra said with a small incline of her head.

“Of… of course, Prelate,” Janie said.

“Please write up a formal account tonight with an Archivist. Ask them to deliver it to me personally to review and annotate before they file it,” Prelate Alexandra said.

“Yes, Prelate,” Janie said with a small bow of her own.

Bella opened the door and the Prelate followed her out.

“How have you been since we last spoke?” Alexandra asked.

“Wonderful!” Bella exclaimed. “I have a familiar now. I’ll introduce you to him.”

“Oh, that’s most impressive-”

The door shut. Janie stood for a long few moments . The silence felt oppressive. Two worlds that she’d been trying to keep utterly separate had just collided, and somehow, miraculously, she hadn’t been crushed between them. She crossed to the sideboard and shakily poured herself a drink.