- Thank you. Don't. - Martha coughed and stared at the man warily, "And what can I do to avoid that fate?
- I don't know. I don't want a magical massacre here, so you're safe for now. But once my people find out what happened, your fate will be sealed. And if we don't come to an agreement now, I will change my decision not to have a magical duel in the fort.
- Why didn't you tell Baron Savoyardi or the Duke that I was behind some of the robberies? - The magess decided to come at it from the other side and probe the ground, ignoring the threat of her imminent death for the time being.
- What's the point? I have little interest in the affairs of either the Baron or the Duke, and if they are unable to keep track of their lands, I can't help them. I prefer to watch events unfold from the sidelines.
- And that's why you helped the Baron put down the rebellion?
- Baron Savoyardi suits me well as a ruler and I don't want to change him. And I won't let anyone else do it. To rob him is not the same as to kill him, - Alexander told Martha all the details of his decisions, intending to solve the problem with the magess today and not to drag out the process indefinitely.
- I see.
- And if you understand, then let's return to the subject of the conversation. What's your offer?
- Take me on as an apprentice. - the girl was completely serious.
- I have enough students... - before Martha's proposal, Alexander was only going to maximize her for various favors, such as letters of recommendation to merchants and magicians, and thoroughly intimidate her into cooperating with him in the future, but now there was a new opportunity and it had to be grabbed.
- Will your order suffer so much if another mage joins its ranks? I have every chance of becoming an archmage!
The last statement could be disputed, although most of the locals seriously thought so. But Alexander was sure that the girl had absolutely no chance of becoming an archmage. Archimage is not only power and the ability to create high-level spells, but also a certain mindset or better to say thinking. There are no stupid archmages.
There are no fussy archmages. There are no flighty archmages. The list of such "don'ts" went on and on, but most importantly, Martha Tap possessed several of them at once. And as he had tasted the blood of two archmages at once, Alexander knew that unless the girl changed her approach to life, she would never reach the highest level. Of course, he was not going to tell her that, nor was he going to question her prospects. So he only smiled at the girl's words.
- Among my people there is no one who tried to kill me or harm me.
- But...
- My proposal is this. You swear a blood oath to me. From now on, you'll get approval for your scams from me. Or you'd better stop doing them altogether! In return, I promise you that in ten years, we'll talk about joining our order.
- And for those ten years, I'll serve you as your faithful slave and no guarantees?
- That is correct.
- And what did I do to deserve such a fate? - tears came to the girl's eyes.
- You tried to kill me! - The wet marks on her cheeks caused Alexander nothing but irritation, though of course the magess was counting on pity.
- Or maybe...
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