0:01

Who among us doesn't enjoy a good mystery? And

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especially when solving it means that I get to

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if it's just me against the clock, I

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0:13

So June's Journey is a game that is

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0:26

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0:29

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0:31

it's set in the Roaring 20s, so beyond

0:33

uncovering clues, you get to experience the glitz

0:35

and glamour of the time. June's Journey is

0:37

definitely not a game I play mindlessly, which

0:40

I love because I get genuinely invested, and

0:42

a lot of it is a race against

0:44

time, so there's a little fun added pressure

0:46

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0:48

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0:50

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0:55

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0:59

if you think you're up to solve

1:02

this case, download June's Journey for free

1:04

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1:08

needs your help, Detective. Empty

1:16

Set Entertainment presents Slay,

1:19

created by Scott Sigler

1:21

and Rob Otto, performed

1:23

by Scott Sigler. This

1:25

story is intended for mature audiences

1:27

only. Under discretion

1:30

is advised. Hello

1:33

Junkie, this episode is our first

1:35

on a brand new computer. We

1:37

are sun setting my beloved iMac

1:39

Pro 2017, a machine that

1:41

helped us make several audiobooks and hundreds and

1:44

hundreds of podcasts. With

1:46

all the live streaming we're doing, we're

1:48

maxing out the processor, we think anyway,

1:50

and had to finally bite the bullet

1:53

and get a replacement. That replacement is

1:55

an M2 Mac Mini. So far so

1:57

good, although since we wanted to install

2:00

everything from scratch and not port old

2:02

stuff over, it has been

2:04

a running challenge. You never know what

2:06

files or apps you're missing until you

2:08

run headlong into that dreaded pop-up window.

2:10

Am I right? There will surely be

2:12

more problems before we get it smoothed

2:14

out. If you want to watch those

2:16

weekly live streams, we read an episode

2:18

of S.L.A.Y. live every Wednesday at 6

2:20

p.m. Pacific, 9 p.m.

2:23

Eastern. You can watch

2:25

for free at youtube.com/Scott

2:28

Sigler, facebook.com/Scott Sigler, and

2:30

twitch.tv slash Scott Sigler. Hope

2:32

to see you there along with a whole

2:34

bunch of junkies and a delightful story time

2:36

hang. Let me get you caught up

2:38

on the story and then we're all gonna head to

2:40

Billy's old neighborhood. Previously

2:49

on S.L.A.Y. Shaken

2:52

by Kelley Estroman's brutal killing

2:54

of Thoko Chikande, a

2:56

despondent Lincoln set out in search of a

2:58

drink or two at Stuley's Bar and Grill.

3:01

Back in season one, Magda and

3:04

Billy set up an online t-shirt

3:06

store for a fictitious candy bar.

3:08

PJ fucks fuck tonne-o-nuts.

3:12

Sales have been trickling in. The

3:15

Old Stone Church's main income is the

3:17

money brought in from Link guarding Delilah

3:20

Droman, but it's not the only business.

3:23

The quest for bounties that pay in

3:25

treasure continues. And

3:27

now, episode 51 of S.L.A.Y. Rise

3:41

and shine, handsome. Each

3:44

word cut through his head like

3:46

a bullet made of unbearable noise and

3:48

intolerable pain. Had he

3:50

been captured? Where was he? Lincoln,

3:53

get up. You told me to get you

3:55

up. In bed. He

3:59

was in bed. Just not

4:01

his bed. He

4:03

opened one eye. The single overhead

4:06

bulb's light shot in like a laser,

4:08

burning his brain. He shut

4:10

that eye tight. Come on,

4:13

sleepyhead. A hand on his

4:15

shoulder. You made me premise.

4:19

That voice, oh for crying out

4:21

loud. Lincoln slowly turned

4:23

over, felt the smoothness of silk

4:26

sheets. Felt it everywhere.

4:29

Yep, he was naked. Eyelids

4:33

fighting his commands, he opened both eyes

4:35

to see Maylene sitting on the bed

4:37

in an orange silk robe, smiling at

4:39

him a cup of steaming coffee in

4:41

her hand. Oh,

4:43

yeah, and her leathery

4:46

black wings, slowly wavering, sending

4:48

cool air against his face.

4:52

Lincoln sat up, pulled purple silk sheets

4:54

tight around his waist. Oh,

4:57

now you're modest? Maylene

4:59

laughed. You weren't modest last night,

5:01

major sexy time. Blazing

5:04

hell, did his head hurt? That's

5:08

a dumb nickname, Lincoln said. Why

5:10

on earth would you call me that? Because

5:13

you told me to call you that. I

5:15

did? You did, Maylene

5:17

said. It started out

5:19

with Sargent sexy time, then after our

5:22

second round you wanted a promotion, so

5:24

it was Captain Sexy Time. After

5:26

the third round, I decided you

5:28

deserved a promotion to Major. Then

5:31

you demanded I address you as

5:33

Major Sexy Time Sir. Lincoln

5:37

shook his head and immediately regretted

5:39

it. I would

5:41

never do anything like that. She

5:44

gently grabbed his wrist, pulled it toward her,

5:47

pushed the coffee mug into his hand. I

5:50

assure you, you did, Maylene said. If

5:53

I forgot the sir part, you spanked me.

5:57

Lincoln covered his face with his free hand.

6:00

Oh, for fuck's sake. And

6:02

when I got it right, I spanked you.

6:05

You're a fun date. And damn, that

6:07

new scar still looks so sexy. Now

6:10

that you slept, wanna tell me where you got it?"

6:14

He needed to get the hell out of there. Staying

6:17

the night? What had he been

6:19

thinking? No, I

6:21

don't want to tell you about it, Lincoln said. The

6:25

thought of Teddy Two Fingers, cutting him,

6:27

made his anger flare, which made his

6:29

hangover throb more. Well,

6:31

knowing your rep, Maylene said, I'd

6:34

hate to see the other guy. The

6:36

smell of coffee hit him all at once. He

6:38

took a sip. Mana from heaven.

6:42

Thanks for the java, he said. What

6:44

time is it? Eight fifteen. The

6:47

apartment's one window was blocked by

6:49

heavy velvet curtains. Through the crack

6:52

between them, Lincoln could see the faint

6:54

glimmer of street light. Eight

6:56

fifteen. PM? What

6:58

time do we go to sleep? About

7:01

five thirty. Oh, sorry, Maylene

7:03

pursed her lips and saluted dramatically.

7:05

We were lights out at

7:07

approximately seventeen thirty hours, major sexy

7:09

time. Sir! It

7:12

didn't help his head that those

7:14

pursed lips look sexy as hell,

7:16

especially when just the thought of

7:19

jostly, bouncy, thrusty sex made

7:21

him want to vomit. Seventeen

7:23

thirty, he said. Judging

7:26

from the sex-nome gangbang going on inside my

7:28

skull, we drank all night, now it's already

7:30

dark out. What am I missing?

7:33

I mean, besides a few million brain cells.

7:36

We drank all day, Captain, my

7:39

captain. I had the morning shift. She

7:42

put her hand on her sternum, affected

7:44

a commercial announcer's voice. Stuley's

7:47

bar. We never close. She

7:50

reached out, squeezed her thigh beneath the

7:52

silk sheet. You knocked

7:54

him back like nobody's business. I

7:56

bet you that you couldn't do five shots of

7:59

Jagger without taking the Brett. You. One.

8:02

He vaguely remembered the five shots in

8:05

a row. Blackout.

8:07

Drunk day drinking. With.

8:09

Boning. And spanking thrown

8:11

in. If. This

8:14

was victory. He never wanted to

8:16

win anything ever again. He

8:19

got a solid ninety minutes of sleep.

8:22

Everything a growing boy needed, right? Why?

8:26

Exactly. Did. I tell you to

8:28

wait me at eight pm. Because

8:31

you told me to make sure you are up and time to

8:33

go see your old man. Ah,

8:36

Yes, He. Remembered saying

8:38

that. His. Talk with Delilah

8:40

Said reminded him and been too long

8:42

since he had seen Jacoby. One

8:46

some breakfast mailing asked. I

8:48

can make you an egg sammy to go while you

8:50

shower. You. Smell like you're

8:52

sweating licorice. Just

8:55

how much Jaeger had he drank? Sure,

8:58

He said. Hey. How.

9:01

Exactly did I get to your place? We.

9:04

Walked up two flights of stairs after my

9:06

shift ended. Mailing said. I had

9:08

to help. You bet you were

9:10

hammered. I mean. How

9:13

did I get to stories? L

9:15

A final mailing said. Who. Cab.

9:18

You. Are already fairly lit when you walked in.

9:21

He. Were waving your flask around saying

9:23

elves and stolen your booze. Dammit.

9:28

He remembered that to. What?

9:30

Was the point being blackout drunk if

9:33

you forgot the good stuff. In.

9:35

Only remembered the embarrassing stuff.

9:38

And over Or a cab. He.

9:40

Have to use the same to go to Sunset house to

9:42

see his phone number. And then. Oh.

9:45

Blazing Hell's. You have

9:47

to take a cab back to the old

9:49

stone church. He'd have to

9:51

make up some lie about where he'd been

9:53

or Magda would chirp at him mercilessly. Mailing

9:57

split off the bed. Her wings

9:59

stretching. languidly. Wings

10:01

or no wings, her thick black hair

10:04

and the curves made Lincoln wish he could

10:06

remember the night before. The

10:09

kitchenette was all of five feet from the bed.

10:12

Tiny apartment, almost too small

10:14

for the bed, a couch, and a

10:16

side table. A

10:18

tiny apartment above a bar

10:20

where he'd hooked up with the bartender.

10:23

Proud moment, Lincoln. Proud

10:26

moment. Maitline

10:28

opened a narrow cabinet, pulled out a frying

10:30

pan. She set it on

10:32

the counter. The metallic noise

10:34

sounded like a cannon had just gone

10:36

off. Police had

10:39

been asking about you, she said, opening

10:41

a small fridge. She says

10:43

she owes you one. She

10:45

sure as hell did. Lincoln

10:47

had saved her life. But

10:50

could she repay that debt by ignoring the

10:52

payments needed to keep Sam safe on the

10:54

shelf? Of course not. Like

10:58

most gangsters, Kalista fancied herself

11:00

a business person. People

11:03

in business did not let

11:05

debts go. Last

11:08

time I saw the place was all beat to

11:10

hell, Lincoln said. Maitline

11:12

put butter in the pan, set the pan

11:15

on a single hot plate burner. She

11:17

fixed it all up. Place looks amazing.

11:20

You should come check it out sometime with me. Not

11:24

anytime soon. That was for sure. I'm

11:28

gonna take that shower, he said. A

11:31

shower, this coffee, the

11:33

egg Sammy, which Lincoln hoped he

11:35

could keep down, then

11:37

off to see Jacubi. Dragon

11:47

at his heels, Billy walked into the kitchen. A

11:50

new table. Four new

11:52

chairs. For Jamma clad Magda sitting in

11:54

one. A laptop on the table in

11:56

front of her. A half eaten panini

11:58

next to it. And

12:01

a coffee mug. He could

12:03

smell the vodka and fizzle from the door. Hey,

12:06

Lil B, Magda said. You feeling

12:09

any better? Yeah, a

12:11

bit. I slept like ten hours. That

12:13

new laptop? Magda

12:16

nodded. Last one got

12:18

trashed when your dog went postal in

12:20

the nave. That was old as

12:22

hell, anyway. Billy

12:25

realized he hadn't been on a computer in

12:27

weeks. Before

12:30

Joe got him tied up with Dante Ogunov,

12:32

Billy had lived on the old PC in

12:34

his room at Grandma's. Games,

12:36

social media, movie groups, science

12:39

blogs, just tiny little him

12:41

perched in front of that tiny little

12:43

screen. Since

12:46

the nurple, though, since he'd been

12:48

exposed to the under skin, other

12:50

things occupied his thoughts. He

12:53

was learning magic, for fuck's sake. Hell,

12:56

in a way, he was made

12:58

of magic. I

13:01

haven't looked at a computer since I got here, he said.

13:04

Man, that is weird. It's

13:06

not like I forgot that computers exist. It's

13:09

just...just... The

13:11

thought of them hasn't crossed your mind. Yeah,

13:14

he said. That reminds me. I

13:17

gotta get a new cell phone. Just

13:19

ask Ariella for one. The way

13:21

Link goes through burners, I doubt she'll mind getting

13:23

you a decent one. Billy

13:26

sat in the chair to Magda's right. Seems

13:29

like Ariella's spending money faster than we can make

13:31

it. He winced. I

13:34

mean, faster than Link can make it.

13:38

Magda sat up straighter. She

13:40

looked nervous, unsure of herself. I'm

13:43

making low money too. She

13:46

turned the computer toward him. We

13:48

just sold our 100th fuck ton

13:50

of nuts t-shirt. And

13:52

he looked at the sales page of the site he'd set up for

13:54

her. Sure enough, 100 units.

13:58

The readout changed. 101 units.

14:03

Nice, Billy said. Way to go,

14:05

mags. She

14:07

shrugged. Couple of grand. It ain't

14:09

all that much. Consider what Link

14:11

makes for Garden Delilah. No,

14:14

it wasn't all that much, comparatively, but

14:17

that wasn't what she needed to hear right now.

14:20

Yeah, but you made it, Billy

14:22

said. Not Link, not

14:24

Ariella. The

14:27

slow smile crept across her face, making

14:29

her three scars crinkle. We

14:32

did, she said. You

14:34

and I set this up. She

14:37

was right about that. Magda

14:39

had bristled that her agoraphobia kept her

14:41

from going out with Link, kept her,

14:43

at least in her own noggin,

14:46

from getting any job. Billy

14:49

had helped her brainstorm PJ Fucks'

14:51

Chocolatier brand, set up the

14:53

shirt storefronts, and taught her how to sell them

14:55

online without her having to actually touch a single

14:57

bit of merchandise. I

15:00

helped set it up, but this is all you, Billy said.

15:03

This could just be the beginning. You might sell

15:05

more. We'd come up with another shirt. This

15:07

is awesome, mags. Did you tell Link? Magda's

15:11

smile faded. She pulled

15:13

the computer back in front of her again. Nope,

15:16

she said. He didn't come

15:18

home after his bodyguarding shift at Drellman's. Didn't

15:22

come home? Could he still be at

15:24

the mansion, still working? You got

15:26

him on that ear cuff thing? He

15:29

turns it off when he's there, Magda said. His

15:32

thing is creepy if someone's in his

15:34

head watching a twelve-year-old. He's

15:36

got to agree with him on that. He's

15:38

not answering his cell. Ariel tried

15:41

him on her sphere, no answer. Maybe

15:44

he's working, maybe not. She

15:47

seemed annoyed, but calm. Should

15:50

I go out and look for him? Magda

15:53

started typing. Not

15:55

much point in it, she said. Sometimes

15:58

he wants to be alone and just goes... radio

16:00

silent. Sometimes he crawls

16:02

into a bottle and passes out

16:04

somewhere. But

16:06

that's dangerous, Elise said. He's

16:09

got enemies, right? Someone could take him out. Reach

16:12

another choir, Lil B, Magda said. You

16:15

ain't ready to go out alone. Let's

16:18

not panic until he's been gone

16:20

48 hours. You want to

16:22

help? Help me come up with

16:24

another funny t-shirt so I can keep

16:26

building my empire. Howdy!

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realm. No

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bike meant no hardbox. No

19:43

hardbox meant nowhere to stash his armor

19:45

and cloak. Nowhere to

19:47

stash it meant Lincoln had to burn mesh

19:50

to disguise both. A

19:52

middle-aged couple was walking out of sunset houses

19:55

he was walking in. They

19:57

saw no armor, no cloak, no haze

19:59

of sun. Admiral used to man and

20:01

boots. black jeans, a grain black flannel

20:03

and a black knit cap pull down

20:06

almost to his eyebrows. Behind.

20:08

The reception is counter. More. Neely

20:11

saw Lincoln and smiled. Well

20:14

hello Mr. Franks Lloyd said. It's

20:16

been a little while since you last visit. It.

20:19

Had been a lotta while Ashley. Yeah.

20:23

Things. Have been busy Lincoln said. More.

20:26

Jb single slow nod. He

20:29

probably heard that excuse a lot from people

20:31

who barely knew him, yet still felt like

20:34

he might be judging them for their lack

20:36

of devotion to their elderly loved one. How's

20:39

he doing? We can ask they need anything.

20:43

He's. Always asking for whiskey. He's.

20:45

Not getting any for me, I assure you. Which.

20:48

Meant he might be getting it from someone

20:50

else. Lincoln. Sniffed.

20:53

Moir who's telling the truth. Here

20:56

brother and sister were here few days ago. Why?

20:58

said. Your. Father seem quite happy for

21:00

a little while. Jacoby.

21:04

Was always happy to see Sofia and

21:06

Lucas. Blink and. Not.

21:08

So much. We. Can only

21:10

pay the bills here, right? Lloyd

21:14

glance left. When right as

21:16

a double checking, no one was around. We.

21:19

Really can't have you wedding birds in

21:21

here. Mr. Franks. It's. A

21:23

health code violation. So.

21:26

Much for doing away with letting shepherd and last

21:28

time. We. Can leaned

21:30

over the desk put on his best glower.

21:34

There. Was no bird he

21:36

said. Get. Me: Lord's.

21:39

Eyes widened. Know

21:41

bird right? Maybe. Housekeeping

21:43

play those blacks others in the room. Probably.

21:48

Lincoln. Stood straight. And

21:51

would what I'm paying you. If there was a bird,

21:53

I expect you to look the other way. Got

21:55

it? More

21:57

nodded. Faster is time. Lincoln

22:00

headed for his father's room. Boxed

22:04

prelude and C minor softly drifted through

22:06

the closed door. Lincoln

22:08

pushed it open, shut the door behind him.

22:12

Jacoby was in his twin bed. On

22:14

his back, blankets pulled up neatly to

22:16

his chest, his thin silver hair on the

22:19

pillow behind his head. He

22:21

looked older than Lincoln had ever seen. He

22:24

looked frail. Time

22:27

is the one monster that

22:29

no one can slay. Lincoln

22:33

thought of leaving, just letting Jacoby

22:35

sleep. But no,

22:38

Jacoby needed to know he was there.

22:41

And besides, Shitbird wanted to

22:43

see him. Lincoln

22:45

opened the room's single window. The

22:48

big crow shot in, backflapped hard,

22:51

Lincoln saw a couple of pin feathers drift away, and

22:53

landed on Jacoby's chest. The

22:56

greatest, Shitbird said. The greatest. Jacoby's

23:00

eyes fluttered open. He

23:03

smiled wide. Vyachna,

23:06

my old friend, he said. Oh,

23:09

how I have missed you. The

23:11

greatest, the bird said. Lincoln

23:14

stepped to the bed, took his father's

23:16

hand, and pressed a few oyster crackers into it.

23:20

Jacoby looked at him with confused eyes. I

23:23

figured you'd rip me off, he said. I

23:26

don't see you for weeks and all you

23:28

bring me are some goddamn crackers. Therefore,

23:31

um, they're for fiancé pops.

23:35

Shitbird's jet black beak moved within a centimeter

23:38

of Jacoby's hand. Gimme, gimme,

23:40

gimme, the crow said. Gimme fuckin'

23:42

crackers. Gimme, gimme. Jacoby

23:46

made a fist, hiding the crackers

23:48

away. That's no way

23:50

for a familiar to talk, he said. Say

23:53

please. Shitbird

23:56

sat up straight, head cocked at

23:58

an angle. Please, crackers,

24:00

please, please, please." Eyes

24:03

sparkling, Jacobi opened his hand. As

24:06

Shitbird ate the crackers, he scratched at the

24:09

bird's wing. I

24:11

thought you'd like to see him, Lincoln said. The

24:14

sparkle left the old man's eyes. That's

24:17

something at least, he said. You

24:20

know your brother and sister come to see me more than

24:22

you do. They still

24:24

love their father. Lincoln

24:27

said the same thing

24:30

every time. I

24:32

love you, Pops, he said. I get

24:34

here when I can. Jacobi's

24:37

nose wrinkled in a big sniff. I

24:40

can smell the lie, he said. Well,

24:44

you lead your life, nothing I can do

24:46

about it. It's my fault you turned

24:48

out this way. Lincoln

24:51

didn't know if that was the dementia speaking

24:53

or if his father was really just a

24:55

total asshole. Your

24:58

brother, unlike you and your

25:00

sister, is taking up the family cause,

25:02

Jacobi said. At least

25:04

someone knows the real threat. The

25:08

real threat? Oh,

25:10

for fuck's sake. Dad,

25:13

you're not spinning him up on that Moors Mundy crap

25:15

again, are you? Death of

25:17

worlds, death of worlds, Shitbird said.

25:19

Hellfire and brimstone, death of worlds.

25:24

He smiled at his former familiar. See,

25:27

son, even Theotian knows it's real.

25:30

And no, I'm not spinning Lucas up. Lucas

25:33

said the Clostis of Cundo talked to

25:35

him about Moors Mundy, wants him to

25:37

dedicate his life to finding the Unweaver.

25:42

Jacobi didn't mention Juanita. Had

25:45

Sophia and Lucas told Jacobi about her

25:47

terminal condition? Probably

25:50

not. Hopefully not. Maria

25:53

had been Jacobi's sociast for two

25:55

decades. He was probably tighter

25:58

than her than he was with his own children. Just

26:00

as Lincoln with tighter with Magda

26:03

been anyone else in existence. Brother,

26:05

sister, and father included.

26:09

His brother. Little Lucas.

26:13

Was. That British deuce nozzle basal

26:15

dragging Lucas into that prophecy

26:17

crap. Lincoln

26:20

felt so damn tired. All

26:23

his life you Colby had been obsessed

26:25

with the Moors moody prophecy. Obsessed

26:27

with finding Be On Weaver. The

26:30

maids who would supposedly sunday destroy

26:32

first the bastion, then release Boudreau

26:35

grew more race. Which

26:37

would. In turn, Destroy

26:39

all existence. The.

26:42

On weaver, Lincoln said. And.

26:44

Lucas buys into at. Sofia. Must

26:46

love that! You

26:48

Colby snorted. See

26:51

never believe. I always knew

26:53

that neither did Lincoln. But

26:55

you believe Lucas? You. Can

26:57

find the on weaver and bring

26:59

glory to the family name. Feel.

27:03

Man's eyes were half witted. He.

27:05

Was slipping away again. He.

27:08

Thought Lincoln. Was. Lucas. It

27:11

was just so damn sad. On

27:14

Lincoln Pops. You

27:17

can be blink slowly. His. Mouth

27:19

hanging open. He. Looked

27:21

at the big black crows sitting on his chest.

27:24

You get have birds in here to probe

27:26

said. It's a health code

27:29

violations. Lincoln.

27:31

Gently lifted Shepherd and walk to the

27:33

window. The greatest

27:35

should bird said. And in

27:38

those words, Lincoln heard that the

27:40

crow was sad to. The

27:42

greatest. To. Back to

27:45

the church when can said. I'll see you

27:47

soon. He. Lightly

27:49

toss the ground side when close the

27:51

window. We. Didn't. Turn

27:54

back to his father. You

27:56

call be was asleep. His hand

27:58

at is just. Once. small black

28:00

feather clutched between his fingers.

28:04

I love you, Dad, Lincoln said. He

28:07

left the room, quietly shutting the door

28:10

behind him. Man,

28:21

that sweatsuit is dope, Billy said. Ooma

28:24

knows how to use that sword. Maggie

28:27

and Billy were on the couch in the nave, feet

28:29

up on a new coffee table, watching

28:31

Kill Bill Volume 1 on

28:33

the brand new projection screen. It

28:36

was bigger than the last one, and,

28:38

another bonus, it wasn't spattered with the

28:40

blood of the Roland Outlaws. And

28:43

she got such a tight ass, Magda said.

28:46

Would you believe my ass used to look like that? The

28:50

question made the poor boy instantly uncomfortable.

28:53

I...I don't really know.

28:56

I mean... Magda

28:58

laughed. The sound surprised Billy almost

29:01

as much as it surprised her. Magda

29:04

tapped the spacebar in the new laptop, pausing

29:06

the movie. Relax, Lil B.

29:09

I'm not going to send you to HR,

29:11

Magda said. It's okay to have

29:13

opinions about people's asses. But

29:16

speaking of Ooma, and her tight ass,

29:19

I could teach you how to use a sword. Billy

29:23

perked up just as dragons' ears rose.

29:26

They both looked at Magda. How

29:29

insufferably cute. The

29:31

two were starting to resemble each other,

29:34

at least in mannerisms. Really?

29:36

Billy said. You could? Sure.

29:40

Legs better at it though. Seems better at all

29:42

that hand to hand shit. But

29:44

don't pick a sword just because they're in every

29:46

damn movie and every damn book. There's

29:49

lots of kick ass weapons out there. You

29:51

need to find something that suits you, that

29:54

calls to you. Billy

29:57

nodded slowly, thinking. He

30:00

hadn't picked a weapon specialty yet. He

30:02

needed to, soon, so he could get trained

30:04

up. If a battle

30:07

went long enough, even the most powerful mages

30:09

in the world eventually burned through their mesh.

30:12

Billy needed to know how to fight and

30:14

how to kill. That

30:17

reminds me, Magda said. You

30:19

know how to use guns. Billy

30:21

looked back to the screen, at

30:23

the freeze frame of Uma Thurman in

30:25

her black striped yellow sweatshirt. Yeah,

30:28

you point the little and pull the trigger, right? Haha,

30:32

Magda said. Now that

30:34

will get you reported to HR. I

30:36

take it you don't know shit about guns, right? Billy

30:40

nodded. We'll get started

30:42

on that, too, Magda said. She

30:45

was about to start the movie, when she heard the

30:47

distant sound of the men's room door opening. Dragon

30:50

took off like a shot, ripping through the

30:53

nave's doggy door at top speed. Link's

30:56

home, Magda said. I figured,

30:58

Billy said. Let's wait for him

31:00

to keep watching. To

31:03

be honest, Magda was surprised Billy

31:05

hadn't also shot off the couch and run

31:07

to see Link. Sure,

31:10

Link had tried to kill Billy, but now

31:12

the kid had an obvious case of hero

31:14

worship for Link. Sometimes,

31:16

anyways. Other times,

31:19

Billy grew moody and introspective, because,

31:22

probably, Link had killed his

31:24

friend, Joe. Billy

31:27

was complicated. Hell,

31:30

everyone in the Old Stone Church

31:32

was complicated. Dragon

31:34

ripped through the doggy door and started

31:37

running claw-scrabbling circles around the couch. Link

31:40

came in a moment later, still in his

31:42

armor and cloak. Where

31:44

the hell have you been, Magda asked. Ariel

31:47

is about to shut her skirt waiting for you.

31:51

Link walked to the couch. Dragged to

31:53

the couch was more like it. He looked

31:56

whipped. He sat

31:58

down heavily between them. "'Sup,

32:01

Link,' Billie said. You okay?" Dragon

32:06

sprang onto the back of the couch

32:08

and started machine gun licking Link's ears,

32:10

first one side, then the other, her

32:12

little body vibrating with intensity. Lincoln

32:16

didn't move. He hated

32:18

it when Dragon licked him. "'Tep

32:20

top,' he said. Never better."

32:25

Magda wanted to yell at him for the radio silence,

32:28

but she couldn't muster the outrage. Her

32:30

partner was hurting, hurting bad.

32:34

"'I sold a fuck to the T-shirts,' she said.

32:37

His eyes snapped toward her. "'Really?

32:40

Making that bank, son!' His

32:43

glum visage broke. Not by much,

32:46

but it did break. "'That's

32:48

great, Mags,' he said. Way to go.' It

32:52

wasn't all that much money, but Billie was right. She

32:55

had brought it in, and that felt great.

32:59

A quick quack of high heels filtered to

33:01

the door before Ariella came in like a

33:03

storm clad in a skirt and a blouse.

33:05

"'There you are,' she said. "'Where

33:08

the fuck have you been, Stu-Nod? I was

33:10

worried you got yourself killed, and we were

33:12

out of business.' Lincoln

33:15

didn't turn around to look at her, simply

33:17

raised one gauntlet at hand and

33:19

extended his middle finger. Real

33:22

mature. Ariella

33:25

came around the couch, the open binder held

33:27

in both hands. "'Will

33:29

you Cretans get your goddamn feet

33:31

off the goddamn furniture?' "'Cretans?

33:35

Not a word you heard every day.' Magda

33:38

was impressed enough that she took her feet off

33:40

the table without giving the woman any shit about

33:42

it. Billie, of course,

33:45

yanked his feet clear before she'd even finished

33:47

her sentence. "'Ariela,

33:50

I'm tired,' Lincoln said. "'I

33:52

haven't had that much sleep.' "'Tough

33:55

shit,' Ariella said. "'A

33:57

new bounty just came in. I need you on

33:59

it right now.'" Now. Slowly,

34:02

intentionally, Lincoln first put

34:04

one armored boot on the table, then

34:07

crossed the other over it. Magna

34:10

watched Ariella's face turn an angry shade

34:12

of red. I

34:15

need sleep, Lincoln

34:17

said. The bounty will have to wait,

34:20

and don't I have another bodyguarding shift coming up

34:22

soon? Ariella

34:25

dropped the binder in his lap. Ariella

34:28

is your next shift, she said. You

34:30

bodyguard while Billy gets another training session.

34:33

Before that, though, she bent, tapped

34:36

a red fingernail on the open binder page.

34:39

You need to go find the troglodyte

34:41

in Tolingwood. Tolingwood?

34:44

Billy leaned over to look at the binder. The

34:46

menciest T-wood? That's my old neighborhood. Correct,

34:50

Ariella said. Go with

34:52

Lincoln if you want, but Lincoln is going.

34:56

Ariella looked at the sketch in the binder. That

34:59

was a trog, alright? She hadn't

35:01

seen one in years. Rhetilian,

35:03

stocky, and packed with muscle,

35:05

holding a stone axe. That

35:08

signature dorsal fin that ran from the

35:10

middle of the extended nose between the

35:12

heavy eye ridges to the back of

35:14

the head, like a mohawk

35:16

made of spines and thin flesh. Lizard-looking,

35:19

motherfucker, Billy said. I

35:21

never saw him in the neighborhood. I'm pretty sure I'd

35:24

remember it. Link,

35:26

I need you to go now, Ariella

35:28

said, before someone else gets to him.

35:31

He owes someone a lot of money. Bring

35:33

back the money or his head in a box. But

35:36

most important of all, she

35:38

tapped the page again, the tip of

35:41

her nail pressing down on a medallion

35:43

hanging from a thin necklace around the

35:45

scaly neck. Get

35:47

me that. Her

35:50

intensity cut through Link's indifference. He

35:53

put one foot on the floor, then the other.

35:56

He looked at the sketch. Looks

35:59

like a tough bastard. word, Link said. What's

36:01

the medallion do? Ariella

36:04

stood straight. Her fingertips traced

36:07

thick chunks on her turquoise necklace.

36:10

I can't tell you, she said. Magda

36:14

looked up at her. Can't or

36:16

won't? Is this like the ear

36:18

cup? This is something you don't want to

36:20

tell Link about in case it won't work. Ariella's

36:24

cheeks puffed out as she let out a short huff

36:27

of air. She nodded.

36:31

Link looked at her, then at the

36:33

sketch. There's no

36:35

location, he said. Just Tallingwood.

36:40

Ariella threw up her hands in exasperation.

36:43

Then find him, she said. Take Billy

36:45

if you have to, but find him

36:47

now. Linken

36:50

glanced at Magda, as if asking

36:52

what she thought. The

36:54

ear cuff was a game changer. Ariella

36:57

had proven herself with that bobble.

37:00

If she was this focused on the medallion, it

37:03

must be something good. Magda

37:07

nodded. Linken

37:09

snapped the binder shut. Good

37:11

enough for me, he said. Billy,

37:14

you want to come with? Got any idea how

37:16

we might find this guy? Billy

37:19

grinned. For the first

37:21

time Magda could recall, the young

37:23

man looked confident. I

37:27

know someone we could ask, he said. I'm

37:29

in. You

37:38

have been listening to Sway. Created

37:41

by Scott Sigler and Rob Ono.

37:44

Produced by Scott Sigler. Copyright

37:47

2024. Empty set entertainment. For

37:52

more info on Scott Sigler,

37:54

his novels, short stories and

37:56

podcasts, visit scottsigler.com. Theme

38:00

music is the song, They're Watching

38:02

Me, by the band Super Weapon.

38:13

You've probably heard the name Mary Queen of Scots,

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