"Yep. I know. Near shittin' meself at the thought, actually." Murray laughed, a short huff like a dog's bark, bitter as an olive pip on his tongue. "It's not just the food in these digs that's got me dropping my dacks!"
Murray sat down. These chains were heavy after a while, and strong as he was it just wasn't comfortable hunching over to keep them all loose. Not much to look at except his feet...but then again, he wasn't a wordsmith. He didn't have the sweet talking thing down. Maybe it was better if he didn't have to look at anyone right now. Least of all Bernard.
"Those mages you chase. Like me, I 'spose, but the ones who get away. Where do they go?"
It's a right struggle getting this lot out. Every time he opened his trap, the words kept getting faster and faster, tumbling over each other in a rush.
"They don't just stop doing magic, they don't just forget. They can't. Every time they send something off this way hoping to catch Geisler without his guard, asleep, in the bath...every time they try, I've known. I've stopped it, or tried. I've asked for the guard to be increased. I've moved his schedule for the day, so he's not where the magic will hit. I've put shields up. Weak ones, cos that's all I can do, but enough to fill the cracks. Enough to keep the worst of it out. I've been doing it for years."
Deep breath. Okay. That was the hard bit over and done. He could feel Weiss watching him. This bit, this bit she had to understand...
"It was worth it, but. I'd follow that man up a dragon's arse if he told me to go. Selling my soul to keep him safe...that's just the next step up. Leastaways for me it doesn't hurt. A banged-up old soul like mine, it's even a fair trade."
He looked up. Smiled.
"'S nice, telling the truth for once."