WebMage by Kelly McCullough Page A

else."
    "The other Fates only agreed to one attempt on your life. You should be safe enough."
    "Do you honestly believe Atropos is going to let me go after I killed Moric?"
    "I don't like it," said Cerice, biting her lip. "If this isn't done right, it could cause you problems for the rest of your life."
    "If Atropos finds me before I can defend myself, there won't be a rest of my life."
    She glared at me and looked like she wanted to argue.
    "Please," I said. Her shoulders dropped.
    "Oh, all right. I'll do it, but I'm not going to take responsibility if you end up with a permanent limp."
    "Thank you."

Chapter Five
    After five straight days of bed rest I was starting to crack. Few things in life are as frustrating as being told you have to lie still and take it easy when you're feeling better. I can't say I felt good, more like I'd been run over by a small car. But that was so much better than I'd felt when I arrived, it seemed I should have been out running marathons. Instead, I was spending my time staring at the ceiling of Ahllan's guest room.
    That was another thing I wasn't any too happy about. If I had to be in a hospital, I'd prefer it were an expensive private one with all the amenities, including attractive young women in white uniforms who will wipe my brow when I buzz for them. But instead of electric lights and adjustable beds, I had an oil lamp and a battered futon. Worse, when I needed something, I rang a bell that summoned a sweet but esthetically challenged troll matron to my bedside. Ahllan wasn't about to let me get up either. Cerice had subverted her somehow, and nothing I did or said by way of bribery or cajoling had any effect on my treatment. That only left threats, and you simply don't threaten trolls, vegetarian or not.
    My encounter with the cousins and its aftermath had suggested a couple of spells to me. So I'd spent some time jacked in and coding. But once that was finished, there wasn't much to do besides computer games, and there's only so much video poker you can play. This is particularly true if your laptop makes snide remarks when you lose a hand. I suspected him of cheating, but had no way to prove it.
    Such was my state of mind when a column of blue light appeared beside my bed. This time Cerice had skipped the armor. She wore a pale red blouse, a deeper red skirt, and a braided gold belt. Her hair fell in loose waves to her waist. Shara stood beside her in goblin form.
    I ignored them. Cerice was the one who'd put me in Ahllan's care, and, besides, I had a card game to finish, one I was winning for a change. Suddenly my game was replaced by an error message.
    The application Hold Em has unexpectedly quit. Please save and close all applications and return your computer to its webgoblin shape.
    A high evil chuckle sounded in my ear. Shara had climbed up next to my pillow. I resisted an urge to stick my tongue out at her. She'd probably have bitten it. Webgoblins have a low and petty sense of humor.
    "I've never seen an error message quite like that one," Cerice said, leaning over me. Cross as I was, I couldn't resist the opportunity to draw in a lungful of her lilac perfume. "I suspect your sidekick has one-upped his boss."
    "Well," I replied, "he can suffer for it then. I'm going to leave him in laptop shape and see how he likes that."
    "My, aren't we snippy this morning?" asked Cerice, plopping herself down on the bed. "Maybe I shouldn't spring you from this joint."
    My pointed ears perked forward at that. The chance to escape from my convalescent prison sounded like a ticket to the Elysian fields. I sighed and typed the command to change Melchior back into his goblin shape. He and Shara headed off to do goblin things, and Cerice smiled at me and rang the bell. Ahllan appeared at once and, after Cerice gave the word, allowed me to pull on a loose green tunic and shorts.
    Then the troll carried me out into the sunshine, setting me down on a nearby hill as gently as a mother dog putting her