Deal with the Devil

"Eighteen years, huh?"

She nodded but didn't say a word.

At first, Zadie felt a warm twinge of comfort seeing her old friend and comrade again. The two of them had survived countless dangers side by side, one saving the other's skin more than once. That kind of bond was rare in the East.

So yes, she valued who he was, and everything he'd done for her.

But that didn't mean she wanted anything to do with Beny's life anymore.

No, she wasn't a hypocrite. She understood why her friend had become a mercenary. She had walked the same path for the very same reasons. But that didn't mean she could keep being who she once was, not alongside Beny, not beside any of them.

She had a son now, after all.

And after going through all the horrors this world could throw at a person, the last thing she wanted was for her boy to go through the same and end up twisted like she once was.

That's why she'd kept her old life, and everyone in it, far from Tav. Far from her new life.

"I'll admit... When I saw your handwriting appear on that scrap of parchment, I nearly fell over. Never thought I'd hear from you again. The way you left us... well, let's just say I figured I'd never see you again."

Seated next to her at the bar, Beny offered her a soft smile.

"So, how's the whole motherhood thing going, Raven?"

When Zadie left that life behind, she never told her old crew the real reason. She vanished long before her belly could give her away, made up a cheap, stupid argument to cut ties, and disappeared.

But no, it wasn't surprising that Beny knew she had a kid. She knew that information would reach him eventually, one way or another. People like him needed to have ears everywhere, especially in the East. Information was power, power was coin, and coin was survival.

Knowing his ex-comrade had a child — especially one who'd vanished angry and knew too much — was a precious card to hold. In their world, love was one of the most valuable bargaining chips of all.

If Zadie ever turned on him, Beny would have a hell of a weapon in hand.

Not that she intended to betray him. But as they say in the East: never trust anyone in Velgaris.

In theory, she shouldn't have cared about Beny's breach of privacy. She'd probably have done the same in his shoes. Still... knowing her son might be on his radar pissed her off more than she liked to admit.

Trying hard to keep her voice steady, she replied:

"It's going well."

Beny took a sip of his beer and gave a smug little nod.

"And the kid? Heard he's studying at Sanctum Academy."

Zadie clenched her teeth. Her hand gripped her glass so tightly that small cracks formed in it. She glared at Beny, eyes blazing with a raw, feral fury that would've made even seasoned warriors step back.

He'd gone too far. He could dig all he wanted into her life. But her son's life — that was another matter entirely.

Beny flinched slightly, raising his hands in a nervous, apologetic gesture with an awkward smile on his face.

"Touched a nerve, huh?"

She cut him off, her voice sharp as a blade.

"Spare me your bullshit games, Beny. That's not why I'm here. I came to do business."

He exhaled.

"Fair enough."

Beny lowered his hands. His smile disappeared, replaced by a more serious expression.

"What've you got for me, Zadie?"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She had let her guard down. She couldn't afford to let his nonsense get to her, not now, not even with her son on the table. Anger would only cloud her judgment. And the gods knew how badly she needed it right now.

Once steady, she glanced around, making sure no one was within earshot. Only then did she begin to speak, reluctantly, telling him what had happened the night before.

Even though they had history, admitting to stealing from the most secure place on the continent was dangerous, to say the least. With just a couple of words, Beny could ruin her life. But then again, if he'd wanted to do that, he would have already.

Of course Zadie considered not telling him that the item she'd stolen was a Seed. There was always a chance that Beny, like so many others, would be tempted by the ridiculous amount of money it could fetch.

But it was a risk she chose to take. Not out of naivety. But because she believed that some part of him — buried deep down — still valued the hard times they had survived together enough not to betray her.

Telling him wasn't hard. Sure, Beny clearly already knew about the heist at the royal treasury. But there was no way he could know what she had taken, especially not without even stepping foot inside.

The moment she mentioned the Seed, his eyes widened, ever so slightly, barely noticeable. But Zadie saw it. A good dealer, a seasoned mercenary, Beny knew how to keep a straight face. That stupid grin he wore like a mask was part of it, just another way to hide what he truly was: dangerous, powerful, sharp.

But Zadie knew him too well. She could read even the tiniest changes in his expression.

"You have the Seed on you?"

She narrowed her eyes, insulted.

"You think I'm an idiot?"

He laughed.

"Of course. Stealing a Seed from the king's vault... I wouldn't even try that. The cavalry's probably turning the whole continent upside down for it. And if you think the folks on cleanup duty aren't gonna be investigated... you're even dumber than I thought."

She frowned.

"You know something, don't you?"

He shrugged.

"I know plenty of things. Like the fact that the Seed you took, based on the description I've heard, ain't ordinary. I also know the king's in a frenzy trying to find the bastards behind the break-in. And I know exactly who cracked that vault. His Majesty won't rest until he's got their heads."

He took another sip.

"You need to get rid of that thing, obviously. The longer you hold on to it, the greater the danger. And I know that's exactly why you called me. But, Zadie..."

Beny looked at her, a hint of sorrow in his eyes.

"I don't know if I can help you."

Her eyes widened.

"What?!"

He sighed.

"Things have... gotten complicated. We lost someone recently."

Zadie's brows rose, but before she could respond, Beny held up a hand.

"I know you don't want to be involved with us anymore. So I won't say who."

He stared down at his drink, eyes distant.

"But it hit us hard. Hit me hard. He was special — one of the best. Our crew's been hanging by a thread since he died."

He shook his head, brushing off the apparent melancholy.

Honestly, Zadie didn't know if she believed his grief. Faking emotion was one of his best-developed skills. But she chose to respect it anyway. Even if he was putting on a show, part of her knew he had to feel something deep down. She did, at least.

Losing anyone from the life she once lived, people who shaped her youth... was a bitter pill to swallow. Just thinking about it made her shrink inward. She didn't even want to guess who it was.

Sure, Beny could've been lying. But pulling a death out of thin air to dodge a deal? That didn't seem like him.

"Besides, after the robbery, the king's spies are definitely watching every transaction in the city, especially out East. Selling something that used to be locked away in the royal vault? It's going to be damn near impossible."

She sighed.

"I'm sorry for your loss. Truly."

She took another sip of her whiskey.

"But I didn't come here for a list of problems. I need a solution, Beny. And I know you're someone who can give me one."

He stared at her for a long time, saying nothing, studying her, as if weighing how serious she was, how far he'd be willing to go for her.

"Why should I help you?"

She'd expected the question, even though she'd been praying it wouldn't come. But there it was. And she couldn't blame Beny for asking. Even if they were old acquaintances, the risk he'd be taking was too great to offer anything for free.

Zadie wished there was no price. But she knew there was only one thing Beny would take in return, especially now that one of their old comrades had passed. Not a cut of the profit. Something heavier. Something she didn't want to give, but life had given her no choice.

She swallowed hard.

"I'll owe you."

Beny kept staring, analyzing her. Then he looked back to his drink, tapping a finger against the bar counter in thought.

"If we sell it in another country... far from Veldania... maybe…"

He fell silent. Then, after a beat, he sighed.

"Ah, fuck it."

Suddenly, Beny flashed a bright, determined smile and extended his hand.

"Deal."

Zadie froze. Looking at his hand, knowing what it meant... she hesitated. This was it. The line she had put off crossing since yesterday. But there was no avoiding it now.

This would truly, fully drag her back into the person she'd sworn never to become again.

It was necessary. But that didn't make it easy.

Thinking of her son, she imagined how exhausting it would be to keep this from him, to build new lies. What would he think if he ever found out his mother had made a deal with a mercenary, for his sake, even?

She winced, haunted by her own thoughts. But even with her instincts screaming to run, even with her son's shadow looming over her...

Zadie took Beny's hand, firm.

There. It was done.

"Great. Feels good to be working with you again, Zadie."

She let go, sighing.

"Can't say the feeling's mutual."

A moment later, Beny pulled a pouch from inside his cloak and dropped it on the bar. The satisfying jingle of coins rang out.

"Advance payment. I know you're tight on cash, so I came prepared. Once we sell your goods, you can pay me back."

It was a decent amount. Opening the worn leather pouch, Zadie saw maybe a thousand gold dracs. Just enough to cover Tav's alchemy materials, and a bit more. It wasn't everything she needed, but it was something.

Truth be told, she felt a twinge of hesitation taking the money, even knowing she'd repay it. It felt like taking a favor from the devil himself.

Nothing in this life came for free. And Beny's "favor" was a hook, of course. A tie that wouldn't be severed until this was all over.

Still, she glanced around and slipped the pouch into her pocket. Taking it wouldn't change much, and the gods knew she needed the gold.

After a long silence, Beny raised a brow.

"No 'thank you'?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"We both know this wasn't out of kindness."

He laughed.

That was when Zadie suddenly felt a soft warmth rise in her left pocket. It touched her skin with a gentle, pleasant heat. Her eyes widened, and she quickly pulled out a parchment. As she'd suspected, it was the source off that steady, faint heat — like all communicator parchments did when they received a message.

But this wasn't just any parchment. It was the one the Academy had given her, to be contacted in case of emergencies.

Moments later, elegant black letters began to appear.

Zadie started reading, nervous. It was the first time Sanctum had ever contacted her this way.

Halfway through, she didn't even wait for the rest of the message.

She stood up and rushed out the door, stumbling before leaving.

She hadn't paid her bill. She hadn't even discussed the details with Beny — where the seed would be handed off, how much it would sell for. But all of that could wait.

Something had happened at Sanctum.

And whatever it was... her son needed her.