Free Breaking Ties by Vaughn R. Demont Page A

it’s clear the elder Phouk presents no threat to me.
    â€œOkay, what the hell was that all about?” I say to no one in particular. I mean, I don’t mind a trickster telling me he’s not going to trick me, especially the kind of trickster that’s bound to never tell a lie, and, hey, it’s always nice to know you’ve got backup when you need it. Allies seem to be in short supply, but I will admit that I’m rather curious what changed his mind. He came in far too full of swagger to just tell me that he’s not going to trick me, and I doubt it has anything to do with him owing me a story.
    Why would it matter if I was visiting my grandparents on that day so long ago? What? If I’d just found my way there from some other property, would he have told me to prepare myself for all the Fae bullshit he could throw at me?
    I’m also wondering how he found me, and I know that his last name is familiar for some reason, but it’s not from before I became a sorcerer. I just can’t quite put my finger on it. He’s a trickster, so maybe Spencer knows…
    Oh. Right. That’s the guy Spencer was screwing.
    Coda finds her way over in a nonchalant fashion and leans against the desk. “What was that about?”
    I return my attention to my notebooks. “So you can tell the council all about it? I’m not stupid, okay? You’re not here to protect me, you’re here to keep an eye on me and see if I do anything juicy you can report to the Razor.”
    â€œ Ra’saar .” She grits her teeth. “How’d you know?”
    â€œI read a lot of fantasy novels. You guys aren’t presented well there. In the ones where you’re more than slavering beasts who nap on a pile of stock options, you’re all conniving and manipulative. I figure the stereotype has to come from somewhere.”
    I get a tooth-filled grin at that. “Your race did create ours with your most cherished values at the forefront.”
    â€œGreat, another mythic with a grudge against her creators. You guys weren’t supposed to be anything more than protectors, designed to be wanted by any sorcerer, and look at you all. You evolved, found new ways to spend your time, make money, annoy people…”
    â€œWhy don’t you…?”
    I chuckle. “Oh, I annoy plenty of people, I’m sure.”
    â€œObviously.” She folds her arms. “But I meant to ask why you don’t want a protector?”
    I don’t look at her for this. “To need a protector implies that you’re in some way helpless.” I turn to the next page of my notes. “I’m through being helpless. If I need a dragon to protect me, I’ll turn into one.” I shoo her off. “You can go back to your post if you want. Or go get yourself some lunch. There’s a decent burger place a little ways off, but don’t order the large fries, you’ll regret it.”
    She doesn’t move. “You need to take this seriously. Tricksters may only be an irritation, but they tend to interfere at the worst of times. I would not trust what he—”
    I don’t look up from my notes. “He’s Fae. He can’t lie. Still, I’m well aware there are plenty of ways around ‘we’ll never darken your doorstep’. First, he said his clan, he said nothing about himself. Next, they’d never darken my doorstep, so getting to me through my family and friends is fair game. Also, he could quite literally mean darkening my doorstep instead of the original intent of the saying.” I glance at her. “My mother would tell me stories about the Fae and all their myriad rules before I went to sleep. I’m amazed I didn’t have nightmares throughout my childhood.” I shrug. “Well, maybe I did, I don’t remember much of my childhood.”
    Coda silently nods. “I would take precautions though, my liege.”
    I have