Rexi and Talon

By Onyx Tao

© 2014

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22. Talon

You have tempted me ... successfully. Talon's mind kept replaying those words, even while Master Zackton kept speaking with the General with his deep amused-ironic tone that somehow seemed laden with innuendo, even if Talon wasn't sure what the innuendo was. You have tempted me ... successfully.

You have tempted me ... successfully.

Is that what Zackton had done to him?

Tempted him?

Successfully?

Was that why he was letting the huge creature carry him as Zackton followed the General upstairs?

Successfully. Whatever it was that Zackton had done to him ... Talon admitted it was successful. More than successful. Only ... what was it?

Zackton deposited him with a certain amount of care onto a small half-backed fainting couch as he continued his discussion with the General, and this time, Talon caught it as Master Zackton was speaking. "... can tell. As for me, I enjoy anything and everything to do with music ..."

Tell me everything.

It wasn't anything like the feeling that Talon had when Master Zackton had healed him, but it was different enough to catch his attention. The General seemed to be responding to it; telling Zackton more and more about his life, his career, his family - albeit in interesting ways; the General was a skilled conversationalist himself and Talon wondered if he realized how carefully Zackton was steering the conversation, and thought back on his own discussions with Master Zackton. Had ... had the half-orc done that to him? Would he have noticed?

Listening on, Talon thought maybe he wouldn't have. Couldn't have, as Master Zackton interjected stray comments here and there that the General would seem to pick up on a few sentences later, and by the time the General had finished telling Zackton all about his family problems, he'd emptied several glasses of the straw-colored bubbly wine to Zackton's two.

"It doesn't help that I saw my son cozying up to you, either," the General concluded. "But that's ... ah, that's not your fault."

"Well," said Zackton. "That first round of drinks - right after I was singing - were spiked with something."

"What? Poisoned?" The General looked alarmed, and then at the empty glasses.

"Not poisoned - drugged," Zackton said. "With something that, ah, encourages lust. No, those were clean, I assure you. You didn't have one of those, but I was just saying, if your son had one ..."

The General just groaned. "I'm glad you avoided it."

"I ... I'm afraid I was thirsty after singing ..."

The General shot Zackton a worried look. "But ..."

"I've been drugged before," Zackton said. "I realized what happened."

"Well, that ... doesn't quite excuse him, but still ..."

Zackton gave a short huff. "He seemed fine to me, just ... under the influence, as it were."

"What good does that do me?" the General asked. "I want grandchildren. But he's never going to get married."

"Isn't that his problem?"

The General's face tightened. "It's my family, and I'd like to see it continue."

Zackton nodded. "I see," and then he nodded, more to himself than to the General. "And what would you give for a solution?"

"What?" said the General.

"You heard me. I can fix that. You can have what you want," said Zackton. "I am allowed to, ah, tempt you with things you want, aren't I?"

"I ... very much doubt you can fix it."

Zackton gave a slow, toothy grin. "Pretend I can."

"I ..." and the General paused. "What would you want?" He swallowed, and looked at Talon carefully. "Am I right in assuming I'd have to sign something for this?"

"No," said Zackton bluntly. "I'm half-human, and fully mortal. Anything I offer I provide myself. Although I do act as proxy on occasion - actually I've done a lot of that lately - but I don't want your soul, or anything like that. But if you want your son married and your bloodline and family continued - I can do that."

"What would you want?"

Zackton sat back. "Depends. I can simply tell you how to do it, for ... your unqualified social support and, oh, a thousand sails." He smiled as the General looked surprised. "Believe me, that's incredibly cheap for my services."

"Somehow ..." the General said slowly, "I think you're ... telling me the truth."

"Alternately, I can involve myself more closely, and, ah, arrange things myself. Much more expensive, and ..." the half-orc looked thoughtful. "Frankly, you could do it yourself for a fraction of what I'd charge you. Probably not worth that. But, if you've got too much gold - I'll take it off your hands. Alternately, if you have ... something else of value to me."

"Something of value?"

"A music-box," Zackton said. "A gold music box set with six emeralds embossed with a ..."

"No!" snapped the General.

"Then money will do," Zackton said, his face dropping into that expressionless mode. "And your support."

"I'll think about it," the General said. "And ... I advise you to forget about ... music-boxes."

"Have you opened it lately?" asked Zackton. "I didn't know you had a key ..."

"I haven't opened it," said the General, getting up, and walking towards the door. "You don't know what you're talking about."

Zackton just smiled.

"Be grateful I'm not willing to inflict it on you."

"Consider this a chance to rid yourself of it, then," said Zackton.

"No," said the General from the door. "If you know so much, you know it can't be stolen."

"Found, given, or bought," said Zackton. "A wise precaution. Does your boy know about it?"

General Murdoth froze, his hand on the door, and then turned slowly. "Never mention it to me again."

"As you wish," said Zackton, with the barest, faintest smile from where he still sat across from Talon. "I would point out, General, it is not my fault such knowledge is loose. Do not blame the messenger. Consider the conversation a caution - a valuable caution, and one you received without the usual charge I require for such services."

"I thank you, then," the General said. "And I will thank you not to repeat it."

"You want my silence, too? As it stands, if someone inquired, it would cost them ... a great deal to learn what I know," Zackton said. "And nobody has asked. You need not thank me for my silence - you need merely pay me." The half-orc folded his hands together. "I doubt anyone will ask - or pay - what I would ask, though. You're probably safe there."

"How good of you."

"Honest," said Zackton. "I deal honestly. And ... my other offer stands."

"I will bear that in mind," the General said, walking out.

Zackton nodded to himself and then looked over at Talon. "That went better than I'd hoped, all things considered."