by Eric Vall
I glanced at Braden, who sat across from me and stared blankly out the window. The lost look on his face and the sadness in his eyes nearly broke my heart to see, but I knew he was going to be okay.
I hoped he was going to be okay.
With a deep inhale, I closed my eyes and settled in for a little while.
It was going to be a long ride home, back to Varle.
Chapter 11
We arrived back in Varle in the evening after two days of travel by train, and I was delighted to learn that this time, there wouldn’t be a personal escort by the council. Admittedly, I’d pondered on whether or not we would be intercepted again. The last thing I wanted was to be arrested after everything we’d just been through.
I felt like there’d been no time to digest or let things sink in. Here we were with only one cipher left to find, books to translate, and events to recount, but even having spent time with Sleet in the Underground for as many days as we had, there never seemed to be a good time to talk about how our missions went, how Nia had been kidnapped by Phi and how I’d rescued her, or the destruction of Balvaan. The list went on and on, and as the days passed by, so did the opportunities to start piecing things together.
What I’d hoped for now that we were back in Varle was the chance to properly discuss our next course of action and review what we already knew, especially since I’d grabbed even more books from the library before it was burned to the ground.
I’d thumbed through them during the ride, but most of what was written in them was in the ancient text we were trying to decipher in the first place, and the book not written in said language didn’t actually seem to have any real consequence to our quest. It was a large book with not a lot of pages, and the inlaid title was almost too faded to read.
“The Tales of the Beast Prince,” Nia had read aloud as she turned the book over in her hands. “I don’t recognize the title at all.”
“May I?” Arwyn had asked as she leaned closer.
As soon as Nia handed her the book, her eyes started scanning and analysing, just as she always did. Arwyn was a sponge for information.
“It appears to be a children’s book,” she’d concluded, “but this isn’t one I’m familiar with.”
“I can read it to you before bed if you’d like,” I’d teased.
“My bedtime material is significantly more advanced than this, but thank you for the kind offer, Mr. Gryff,” Arwyn responded formally.
“Oh, of course, ma’am,” I’d answered just as cheekily as I bit back the urge to laugh. She was so cute when she was trying to be professional.
“I would like to study the material on my own, however,” she’d countered, “if that’s alright?”
I’d quirked an eyebrow and shrugged.
“Sure, it’s not like it’s my book or anything,” I’d replied
“Excellent.” Arwyn smirked and tucked the book onto her lap.
As I’d said, the other books weren’t translatable. So much for some light reading along the way.
We hopped off the train onto the platform, and my nostrils flared as I took in the scents of the city. Most people would have hated it, the smell of coal that constantly lingered, but I smelled more. I smelled the delicious foods that were sold on the street, the hops from the brews at the pubs, and incense and perfumes that attracted men and women alike. There was more to the industrial life than just the coal. You just had to be able to take everything in, not what was only on the surface.
I sighed happily. It felt good to be back here after so long.
“Took yer sweet time, didn’t ya?” a voice I knew all too well boomed over the rest of the hustle and bustle of the evening crowd.
My eyes eagerly scanned the platform until I spotted Maelor. His beard was near full grey now with little color left, and the bags that hung under his eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them, but there was no mistaking his full belly and even fuller grin.
I darted through people as they tried to get to their destinations and had completely forgotten about my traveling party. I crashed into Maelor like he was a squishy wall of bricks and hugged him so tightly he might have popped if I squeezed any harder.
“Hey now,” Maelor soothed with a quieter chuckle than his usual boisterous tone, “you really know how to make a man worry, son.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled into his shoulder.
It wasn’t a lie. Was I sorry for saving Nia, rescuing Braden and Varleth, taking down a bounty hunter and a double A grade monster?
No, not at all.
Was I sorry I made my father figure worry about me after I’d gone missing for two months?
Yeah, I was sorry about that.
“What? Don’t be silly, kid.” Maelor patted my head and rubbed my back. “Yer doin’ the Maker’s work out there. I couldn’t be more proud of ya.”
For the first time in a long while, I felt at ease. Maelor had always been a symbol of home to me, and home was supposed to represent a safe place.
I was safe here. Things were familiar here. I was home.
“I see you found our escort,” Arwyn said as she appeared behind me. She wore a smirk on her lips as she crossed her arms.
“Escort?” I mimicked. I guessed I hadn’t really thought about it. I was so wrapped up in Maelor being there in the first place, I never thought to question why he was actually there.
“That Headmaster o’ yers wanted me to pick ya up from the station,” Maelor explained. “Thought it might give you somethin’ to ease your mind or somethin’ like that.”
“Really?” I stepped back from him and narrowed my eyes. Sure, I was happy to see Maelor and all, but I also found it a little suspicious. Not Maelor, of course, though on a good day he could be pretty shady.
No, the fact that Sleet said he needed to soften me up before I saw the Headmaster sent up a few red flags.
“Do I got all of ya?” he asked Arwyn, who turned and did a quick headcount.
“Looks to be that way,” she replied.
“Well then, let’s get ya on a buggy to the Academy then,” Maelor said, and I fell into step beside him as we made our way through the evening crowd.
“So,” I started after a moment, “are you Sleet’s errand boy now?”
Maelor chuckled as we continued walking, and his belly bounced with each step beneath his overalls.
“Somethin’ like that,” he replied. “He needed someone a bit inconspicuous to pass messages through to you and yer friends, and it just became a full-time gig.”
“He is giving you some compensation, I hope,” Nia chimed in on the other side of Maelor.
“He’s given me plenty,” Maelor assured, “but the biggest payment is knowin’ that yer safe.”
“Aww, you’ll make me blush,” I drawled mockingly, but I was truly touched. “But seriously, Maelor, are things so bad he needs you to be his messenger?”
Maelor hesitated and scratched at his chin for a moment before he answered me.
“Well, things haven’t been great, if that’s what yer askin’,” he replied finally. “Sleet’s been pretty much kept under lock and key from the council since they started suspectin’ him of treason. Hardly ever see him off the school grounds, and even then, he keeps to himself.”
“That certainly doesn’t sound like Marangur,” Arwyn commented grimly. “The council must be putting a lot of pressure on him to make sure he’s staying within his means as Headmaster and not stepping on anyone’s toes.”
“Aye, that’s true,” Maelor agreed. “Things have been a little less crazy since the attack on Hartmire. The council is in disarray without Capricorn.”
“Have they found any other members of the council yet?” I asked. “The last we’d heard, a lot of them were still missing.”
“Can’t say I know too much on that one,” Maelor confessed as we exited the station. “My main concern was you lot being alright.”
“Thanks, Maelor. We’re doing okay, all things considered.” I smiled
a little and hailed a carriage as we stepped up to the street.
“I just wish I could be a bit more help to you than being an escort,” Maelor chuckled. “Well, that, and I kind of volunteered to pick you up so I could see ya with my own eyes.”
Maelor grinned as he ruffled my hair.
“Hey now, remember what I said about the blushing,” I laughed.
Two carriages pulled up then, and we split up to ride back to the Academy. Arwyn, Nia, Maelor, and I were in one carriage, and everyone else was in the second. After we piled in and settled, I broke the silence again.
“How have you been, Maelor?” I asked him seriously. Sure, he’d been running errands for Sleet and keeping Meriden company, but I knew him. He’d rather run himself into the ground than admit he wasn’t well.
“Oh, I’m the same as ever,” Maelor assured. “I still hate the Enclaves, I’m still bustin’ my ass for shit pay, and the only bonus is I get to be closer to you and Cyra.”
My ears perked up when I’d heard Cyra’s name. I hadn’t been able to talk with her since I’d left for my mission to Tietra over two months ago, and I flashed back to my last night in town, when we made love in the upstairs of the tavern Maelor liked to frequent.
“How is she?” I asked as I tried to conceal my sudden excitement.
“Cyra? Oh, she’s just fine,” Maelor laughed. “Did as she said she would and got herself enrolled in classes at the Academy this year. Followin’ in your footsteps.”
I grinned. I was incredibly happy she’d come around to the idea of being taught to use her magic properly. She was an extremely talented summoner, and I knew she could go places with the right kind of training.
“Just another reason for you to stay in Varle, then,” I commented.
“Well, I ain’t too thrilled about it,” Maelor grumbled. “I still hate the Enclave life, but things are changin’, Gryff, you know that. And though I ain’t gettin’ any younger, I can at least help you youngins out where I can.”
I smiled and leaned my elbows on my knees.
“You’ve grown sentimental, old man,” I teased good-naturedly.
“Yeah,” Maelor agreed with a laugh, “and you’ve grown up to be a fine man.”
I tried to hide the bit of flush that rose in my cheeks, but I knew it was futile. I pointedly avoided looking at Arwyn and Nia, too. They were almost definitely grinning like mad at having been able to witness such a soft moment between Maelor and me. I wasn’t embarrassed or anything, or maybe I was. I wasn’t quite sure.
The rest of the trip to the Academy was spent catching Maelor up on all that had happened while I was gone, from being stuck in the Shadowscape for two months and rescuing Nia, to the fall of Hartmire and escaping the bounty hunters.
Maelor hung on every word I said as though he was living vicariously through me. I supposed in a way he was, but I didn’t mind. I felt like I was telling my father about all the places I’d been and the things I had done, and he was being the supportive father who was invested in everything I did.
We pulled up to the gates just outside the Academy check-in and unloaded ourselves from the carriages. I shouldn’t have been surprised to see Petyr waiting at the gate for us, but I’d hoped he would have at least waited until morning to fetch us. I wanted a hot meal and a bath somewhere familiar.
Hell, I wanted to sleep in my own bed.
“Good evening, Lady Hamner, Lady Kenefick,” he greeted the women, but he paid zero mind to the boys as he looked over us. “You’ll all follow me to the Headmaster’s office immediately.”
“Oh, we will?” I smirked. I couldn’t resist a jab at the man any time I saw him. It was too easy.
“Whether you do or not is up to you,” Petyr sneered, “though it would make your life easier if you just followed me.”
Ah, there was that loveable, insatiable charm.
I turned to Maelor then, who remained by the carriage.
“Aren’t you coming?” I questioned.
“Ah, not this time, Gryff,” Maelor boomed. “Got another errand to run.”
Another errand? That sounded a bit ominous, but this was Maelor we were talking about. The most ominous he ever got anymore was when he became lost in his stories from back in the day, like he had just told them for the first time, when in reality, I could probably tell them better than him at this point.
“If you say so.” I shrugged with a short laugh. “I’ll see you around then.”
“If you’re done with the sentimental shenanigans,” Petyr sighed impatiently, “we’d best be on our way.”
I rolled my eyes as hard as I could and fell into step between Nia and Braden.
“Glad to see you alive,” I said to the short little man as we followed him diligently. The last time I’d seen him was when Hartmire burned around us.
At first Petyr was silent. He was never much for small talk, at least not with me, but he didn’t seem to have anything to say about anyone, which was rather strange for him. We walked a few more steps before he responded.
“You as well, Mr. Gryff,” he mumbled quietly.
I was so floored that I barely resisted the urge to shake him and ask where the real Petyr was. The Petyr I knew wouldn’t have given a rat’s ass about me. Were things so bad now that even Petyr was nicer? I wasn’t sure I wanted to come back to a place bad enough to humble out Petyr, and I suddenly missed my Sassy Sleet Servant.
I shot Varleth a look, since he had traveled alongside Petyr with me before, and he shrugged, clearly as bewildered as I was. I decided to leave Petyr be for now and take the compliment for what it was. I would not poke fun at him for a change.
Maker, what was happening? The world was turning upside down, and just when I thought I had started to figure it all out.
My suspicions that something was off were further confirmed when Petyr willingly let us take the lift as opposed to climbing that spiralled torture device Sleet called a staircase. As we piled in, I couldn’t help but feel like we were walking into our doom. The closer we got to the office, the more I felt as though the Academy we were coming back to wasn’t the same Academy we had left.
When the doors opened into the spacious office, I was faced with the realization of how right I was. My stomach flipped in a nauseating way, and my heart dropped.
“Mr. Gryff and company.” Miriam Sharpay stood at the head of Sleet’s desk, and Sleet paced before the window. “How good of you to join us.”
Everything suddenly made sense. Sleet having sent Maelor to gather what information he could from us, Petyr being strangely kind. It was because things in Varle, and more specifically the Academy, were no longer under his control. Sure, the council always got the last say in everything that happened in the world and lives of mages, but the Academy had always seemed untouchable since I’d become a student here.
Now, I saw how different that was starting to become.
“Ms. Sharpay,” I greeted kindly, “I see you survived the attack on the Hartmire Enclave.”
“Yes, so it does seem,” she replied, and I wanted to smack the pursed lips right off her pretentious face.
“To what do we owe the pleasure?” Arwyn asked in a falsely sweet tone.
“I’d hardly call it a pleasure at all, Ms. Hamner,” Miriam snipped as we all filed out of the lift. “In fact, I’d say it’s more of a chore at this point to stand before all of you.”
“Then why are you here?” I asked. “Come to arrest us again?”
Miriam’s thin lips curled into a devious smirk, one that set me more on edge than I already was. Then she folded her hands in front of her, her posture perfectly straight, and stalked toward us.
“If only,” she sighed, “but I’m afraid that isn’t the case this time.”
From my right, I heard a quiet snarl, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Varleth’s fist curl and uncurl as he tried to contain himself. It was no secret amongst us that he wasn’t the biggest fan of Miriam Sharpay, though at the rate she was going, she
might have made that kind of enemy out of the rest of us, too.
“Then why are you here?” I questioned with a frown.
Mirmiam met my eyes, and her smirk widened. “I have brought to you a proposition,” she stated.
“A proposition?” I repeated, then looked to Sleet. He’d been oddly silent thus far, and as the Headmaster, I felt as though he owed us an explanation as to what was going on here.
I was instantly distracted from that thought, however, as the lift dinged again. The group of us parted as the doors opened, and Gawain, Layla, and Almasy walked out.
“Oh, the gang’s all here.” I smirked as Layla came to stand beside me.
“Our ship from Hartmire just got in,” Almasy informed us.
“Maelor was waiting for us at the gate and brought us here,” Layla explained.
Ah, so that was his errand.
“What is this all about?” Gawain cut in, and he looked different somehow, older. There was a shadow to his eyes that had not been there before.
Sleet cleared his throat and stepped away from the window to stand behind his desk. He looked powerful there, despite Miriam trying to force her rank in our faces by standing so close I could taste her perfume.
“Ms. Sharpay has decided she will let you all walk free of all charges,” he explained.
“What’s the catch?” Almasy scoffed and crossed his arms. His rebellious demeanor made me wonder if he’d always had a problem with authority or just didn’t like the council.
“You’re very to the point Mister … ” Miriam trailed off as she looked Almasy up and down.
“Wow,” Almasy laughed dryly. “You’re so high on the totem pole you can’t be bothered to remember the names of the people you’ve arrested.”
“Keith, not now,” Arwyn hissed at him.
I’d almost forgotten Keith was his first name because we all referred to him by his last name, but now that I looked at him, he did look like a Keith.
Almasy growled, though, and fidgeted uncomfortably. He clearly had a lot of pent up rage, and he was on the edge of it spilling over.