Free Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride

qualified.”
    Aengus came up to us and wiped the bar with a rag. “Whining, though more acceptable from youth, is no less unbecoming.”
    I frowned at him. “I wasn’t trying to whine.”
    “Then you were accomplishing it quite well without even making an attempt.” He left to pull a beer for somebody else.
    Sometimes I hate it when people are right. “Sorry,” I said.
    Brannoc shrugged. “The person you were describing—more power, more knowledge—could be Douglas.”
    I grimaced.
    “I know,” Brannoc said, “but it makes my point. I encourage you to continue to learn and push yourself, but knowledge and power don’t make you good at this, not on their own.”
    I had a hard time picturing myself as the best suited for anything at all. What did I know about being a member of the Council? The last job I had involved a spatula and a name tag. “Then what does?”
    “Caring about the people asking you for help, trying to do your best by them, and putting them before your own wants and needs. That is the kind of person who should be on the Council.”
    I glowered at him. “Now you’re just trying to make me feel better.”
    Brannoc laughed and clapped me on the back. For a brief second, he reminded me of Sean. “If I was just trying to make you feel better, I’d have encouraged you to run while you still could.”
    “Great,” I said, “now I feel worse.”

8
    SLOW RIDE
    James avoided looking at Douglas while unpacking the supplies he’d brought. The cabin he was in, though cleaned by a service on a fairly regular basis, had very little actually in it and so had to be stocked with all manner of things that Douglas would need.
    “Usually you discuss changing tactics before you implement new plans,” Douglas said idly, seemingly unconcerned. Something about the way James was handling things was different, and it was niggling at him. Douglas abhorred niggling. A niggle meant he had missed something small, which meant it was easily overlooked and hard to correct. Details can make or break any plan, regardless of size. So he kept picking at the niggle, hoping to find where it led.
    “You left it to my discretion.” James’s gaze never wavered from the cabinet as he organized salt, chalk, and any other thing that needed to be handy. “I understand that you’re anxious to get things moving at a quicker pace, but please remember that you do prize me for my ability to anticipate your wishes.” James threw an icy gaze at the third member of their party—just a quick flicker—before returning to his chore. “It’s an ability I have proved time and time again to be an asset your other assistants lack . Need I remind you of Michael?”
    “You’re right. It’s just that I can’t remember the last time you disobeyed an order,” Douglas said as he watched James shift the items yet again. “I think that cabinet is as orderly as it’s going to get.”
    “You can always kill her later.” When Douglas didn’t immediately nod his head in approval, James shrugged, his face set in a distinct pout.
    “What is the saying? If you keep making that face, it might freeze that way?” James’s sulking always amused Douglas.
    “Fine, you didn’t like how I carried out your errand. But it certainly didn’t warrant your bringing in a replacement.” He waved his hand at their company, currently slouched next to Douglas.
    Douglas patted the head of his new underling sitting at the table. Not his best work, but reliable, and that went a long way. “Oh, come now. We both know he won’t replace you, and you’re being silly to even look at it like that. Remember, right now you technically belong to Sam, and so your ability to answer my beck and call is a bit hampered. After I resurface and claim what is rightfully mine, then of course there will be no need. But until then…” Douglas didn’t expect James to clap or cheer or anything ridiculous like that, but he had expected a small smile, perhaps, or some hint