He nodded, smiling. “Well that’s just swell! Give the king my thanks!” He waggled a finger at Laina. “Let’s go m’dear!” With that he resumed marching down the street as though he hadn’t a care in the world.
As they walked, Laina glanced over at him. “You seem very different.”
“I’ve recently come into a great deal of power,” Will said, lifting the enchanted rod and twirling it between his fingers in an elegant gesture. “You know what they say about power?”
“It corrupts.”
He grinned. “No! That it’s fantastic! Honestly, you wouldn’t believe the amount of confidence I have right now. That and some truly unbelievable urges!” His eyes traveled downward briefly as he gave her a lewd appraisal.
She visibly restrained herself, making an effort not to gag at the thought.
He gave her a direct look. “You wouldn’t understand. I feel like a sixteen-year-old right now, full of vim and vigor. I can hardly bear it!” For a moment, he focused on her eyes and Laina saw a strange flash of turyn swirl in front of his face for a moment. “I can tell you’re in love with me, by the way,” said Will confidently.
Her eyes flew wide and her nostrils flared with rage. “I am no such thing!” Her elementals responded to her anger, manifesting in the air beside her, one a burning figure, the other a rocky presence of stone.
Will glanced at them. “Neat.” Then he seemed to dismiss them as his attention returned to her. “You know it’s the truth. I can read your emotions. Admit it, you want me as much as I want you.” He stepped closer, and a force-dome appeared around them, leaving both the elementals and Darla standing helplessly a few feet away. Shocked into disbelief, Laina gasped as his hand slid around her waist and his face drew close. He was about to kiss her.
With a shriek of fury and disgust, she pushed him back. Seeming confused, Will let go without a fight. “You’re married!” challenged Laina, scrabbling to collect her wits.
He seemed surprised. “Oh! I forgot! Where is she then? I’ve got an itch you wouldn’t believe!”
Furious, Laina gaped at him. “That’s my best friend you’re talking about!”
Will held up a hand. “Just a moment.” Once again, his eyes seemed to lose focus as he looked away to one side. “Oh, damn! A whole year, eh? No wonder I’m feeling so pent up.”
“That’s no excuse for your behavior! Take down this shield.”
He merely smiled. “Not to worry, you’re safe with me. I wouldn’t touch a woman who didn’t want me to.”
“You just did!”
“Does Selene know you’re in love with me?” he asked suddenly. “That you think about me secretly at night?”
Her hand flashed through the air, catching the side of his head and rocking his face to one side. “You disgust me!”
Will straightened up, rubbing his cheek. “Nice arm you’ve got there, but clearly you’re lying. I mean, yes, you do have an ungodly amount of rage in you, but right there behind it I can see the love. Why deny it?” He leaned forward. “Just one kiss. See if you like it.”
“I’m your sister!” she snapped. “Have you no shame?”
Will blinked, then leaned away. “Oh.” He stared into the air for a moment, then looked back at her. “Oh! Oh, I’m sorry! No wonder! Oh, that’s embarrassing. I didn’t expect that. Love can be so confusing. Generally, with two young people of the opposite sex, it indicates some romantic inclinations as well, it just never occurred to me. Siblings! Well, that settles that, doesn’t it?” he said genially. Then he winked and asked, “Or does it?”
She slapped him again.
He rubbed at the other cheek. “I guess it does. That’s too bad. I guess it’s to be expected, growing up together and all, that sort of thing is very taboo.” He glanced at Darla. “Your bodyguard looks very healthy, in a strong sort of way. Do you suppose she—”
Laina swung at him once more, this time with her fist, but he caught her wrist. “That’s enough of that. I’ll accept the other blows because you had good cause, but now I’m just asking an honest question.”
Her face was a thundercloud of anger, but Laina’s thoughts were clear. “Who are you?”
“I’m your dear brother, William,” he said smugly.
She shook her head. “No, you’re not.”
“What tipped you off?”
“When you wanted to find someone to cook for you. Idiot that he is, the real Will is an excellent cook. Who are you?”
He released her hand and offered his in a handshake. She declined to accept it. “Linus. Linus Ethelgren at your service.” He winked, then added, “I’m here to save the world!”
Chapter 42
Bereft of his senses, Will circled the infinite emptiness of his prison. He’d experienced the same thing often enough that he didn’t panic immediately this time, which might not have been for the best, for he couldn’t seem to escape. If I could just get out of my body, maybe I could see what was happening!
Every time before, he had either been dying or in a state of panic. Except the time that Janice had helped him, but he’d still felt a small amount of fear then. This time he was completely calm. But was fear really the catalyst? He tried to make himself afraid, but failed utterly.
He still couldn’t quite understand what had happened. There had been someone else, but the other had been nothing more than a disembodied voice, or perhaps a spirit trapped within the relic. In some sense, it was similar to Arrogan, except it wasn’t tied to the limnthal. How had it had the power, the strength of will, to trap him inside his own body?
Will pondered that for a while, but got nowhere, so he decided to change tactics. He focused on Tiny, imagining his friend as vividly as he could. He felt something for a while, but then it faded. Arrogan had told him that there had to be a bond, but that shouldn’t be a problem. Tiny was his closest friend. Why won’t it work?
He considered Laina for a moment but discarded her as a prospect immediately. She despised him. The only bond they shared was mutual distaste, and he didn’t feel like swimming through such negativity just to escape.
Darla! She was nearby and she would meet up with her ward soon enough. Then he could see what was going on with his body.
He tried that avenue for ten or fifteen minutes, but there was nothing. He simply didn’t know enough about the former assassin to even begin to find some sort of link between them. He considered trying Janice, but there wasn’t much point. She was locked away for the night and wouldn’t be able to see him anyway. Even if she could see him, she would only put herself in danger if she tried to leave before dawn.
In the end, there was only one option—Laina. Clearing his mind, he tried to envision her as he had seen her just a short while ago. Her face was blurry at first, until he started adding his emotions to the mix. She irritated him to no end, but deep down he was worried about her. The image grew crisp and began to gain solidity.
I’m worried about her, he told himself, but there was something more. Completely alone, he was still embarrassed by the thought. I’m not just worried, I care about her. She’s my sister, and in some strange sense, I love her.
With an almost audible ‘pop,’ the world sprang into existence, and he found himself in the middle of the street, not far from Wurthaven. Laina and the imposter were inside a force-dome, while Darla pounded helplessly on the exterior. Two very irritated elementals also stood by, though they didn’t waste their time attacking the dome.
He tried focusing on Laina, to draw him closer, but he was rebuffed when his point of perspective came up against the force effect. Unlike everything else, it felt completely solid. Remembering how Arrogan had once had him create a force-dome before they had a conversation, he could see just how effective the spell was now.
He would simply have to wait.
But he nearly lost his mind when he watched himself slip an arm around Laina’s waist and draw her in for a—Oh hell, no! He was relieved when he saw her push him back and he cheered when
she delivered the first slap.
The second slap was even better. I just hope she doesn’t permanently maim my body, he thought. It would be awful if I get my body back and had to live with some terrible scar because of this fool’s bizarre behavior.
Will wished he could hear what they were saying, but the force-dome kept him from hearing any of the conversation. He was glad when it appeared that the imposter was apologizing, but the continued lewd gazes gave him an uneasy feeling. If she hated me before, this is going to take things to a whole new level.
Oh well, it couldn’t get much worse, could it? He watched as the imposter tried to shake her hand and was rebuffed. Then the force-dome came down. He quickly reoriented his point of view so that he was staring over the imposter’s shoulder. Will didn’t know if the spirit that had invaded him could see astral bodies or not, but it was better not to take the chance.
Laina’s eyes never glanced at him, so he soon gave up on being seen by her. The elementals were now fading back into their private storage spaces, so they were no help, not that they had shown any sign of being aware of him anyway. He looked at Darla and felt a sudden thrill.
Her gaze was firmly locked on him. Will imagined himself waving, and he saw the bodyguard lift one brow in unspoken acknowledgment. She can see me!
An orange glow appeared in the distance above the buildings to the south. The light was steady, but there were variations in its brightness. It flickered. “I think there’s a fire,” said Laina, pointing.
Linus Ethelgren glanced in the direction she pointed. “It seems likely. We should head in that direction. Stay close to me or I cannot guarantee your safety.”
Laina caught his arm. “What about my brother?” Will heard her say it clearly, and it sent a shockwave through his spirit. She knows! How?
The reincarnation of Linus Ethelgren gave her a sad smile. “I’m afraid he’s gone. This body could only hold one of us.”
Liar! Will wanted to scream. I’m still here!
Laina Nerrow froze. “He’s still in there, though, right?”
Linus patted her shoulder in what was probably meant to be a comforting gesture but which merely served to convey how completely unsympathetic he was. “He was briefly, when I first spoke to him through the rod.” He lifted the rod to emphasize his point. “But when I explained the choice he had to make, he elected to take the hero’s path.”
“Hero’s path?”
“Only one of us could exist, and since your city is overrun with creatures of the night it was obvious to him that I was sorely needed. He sacrificed his life to allow me to take his place.”
His half-sister’s face was flushed and blotchy, with red patches on her cheeks, neck, and ears, as she shook her head in negation of the words she was hearing. “No. No, that’s not true. You’re a pervert and a liar. He wouldn’t do that.”
“I’m sorry, Laina,” said the imposter. “But you know him better than I do. Think about it. Think about the things he’s done in the past. Are you so certain he wouldn’t make such a choice, when the safety of his friends and family were at risk? Wouldn’t he want to save his sister?” He paused a moment, gazing into the distance. “Sisters? Yes, sisters. Wouldn’t he want to save you both?”
Laina’s shoulders were moving roughly, as though she was fighting to breathe, and Will could barely see the whites of her eyes any longer, for the lids were puffy and what was visible was red. Ugly tears leaked from the corners to stain her cheeks. She blinked and continued to shake her head. “No. We hate each other.”
The imposter lifted his arm and pretended to wipe away a tear with his sleeve. “I already told you I can see emotions, Laina. I know that to be false. Perhaps you have been fooling yourself, but while he was probably more conflicted, he was honest about his emotions. Hasn’t he already shown himself to be willing to sacrifice himself for you and your family?”
A woman stumbled out of a nearby building, blood running from claw marks on her cheek and neck. A fiend leapt through the window of the same building to land on the lane in front of her, while a second one exited the same door she had used. Linus looked over his shoulder, then gestured with one hand. Three brilliant beams of white light intersected each of them. The vampires promptly began to burn, disintegrating into dust over a period of several seconds.
The woman merely died, a cauterized hole having burned through the center of her chest.
“You killed her,” accused Laina, snapping back to reality.
“She was already infected,” Linus replied.
“You could have saved her with a blood-cleanse potion.”
He shook his head sadly. “It’s good you know about that. Will must have been diligent in his studies, but I don’t have any at hand, and if I did I wouldn’t waste it on that poor waif. How many people are in this city? If there are hundreds of vampires running loose then there will be thousands infected and tomorrow will be even worse. It will all have to be purged.”
Laina backed away. “You’re a monster.”
“Stay close, Laina. It isn’t safe out here alone.” Then he snickered and added, “Unless you’re me, of course.” More screams sounded nearby, and Linus turned to face the new threat. Seeing a swirling mass of soldiers and vampires fighting at the next street corner, he started toward it. “Don’t lose sight of me,” he yelled, but Linus never looked back. Lifting one hand, he made another gesture, and a long white coat appeared, flowing over his body and shining as though it was made of pure light. His steps quickened as he saw his favorite enemy in the distance.
Laina watched him go but made no move to follow. Darla moved closer, giving her a brief hug, but then she stepped away. The Arkeshi needed to keep her hands free given the possible threats around them. “We should go, Laina. It isn’t safe here,” advised her bodyguard.
“He’s dead, Darla, dead. And I never said a single kind word to him,” muttered Laina listlessly.
The Arkeshi glanced at Will once more, then shook her head. “No, Laina, he isn’t dead. He’s still alive. He’s here with us now.”
Laina’s face grew angry. “Save the platitudes, Darla. I’m in no mood for fairytales.”
“Right there,” said Darla, pointing. “He isn’t dead, he’s projecting himself.”
His half-sister wiped her face absently, causing some of her hair to stick to her cheeks and generally making herself look even worse. “You aren’t making sense.”
Her bodyguard sighed. “Some people, usually warlocks and sorcerers, but occasionally normal people too, learn to project their spirits outside of their bodies. I was trained to spot such things. William is here now, listening to us.”
“Why haven’t I heard about this before?” asked Laina.
“Because your people are stupid,” snapped Darla. “And also, those who learn the secret usually keep it to themselves.”
Laina didn’t seem convinced. “You’re just making things up now.”
The former assassin didn’t take that well. “Have I ever lied to you before?” she demanded.
“No…”
“Then do not accuse me of it now. He’s here! If you wish, you can try and talk to him.”
That got Laina’s full attention. “How?”
“Touch him. If your hearts are in sync then your spirits can touch,” said the Arkeshi.
Laina’s nose wrinkled again. “You do it.”
Exasperated, Darla moved closer to Will, then moved her hand back and forth through the area he occupied. He felt nothing. “I cannot,” said Darla. “His bond is not with me.”
“That’s just revolting. There’s no bond between us.”
“You just admitted he is your brother,” Darla pointed out. Will found himself nodding in agreement, Yeah. The Arkeshi continued, “He could not be here otherwise. He has anchored himself to you.”
“Now you’re giving me the creeps,” said Laina.
Darla sighed. “Fine. Let’s return to the school. William’s friend is there. We should at l
east wake him and tell him what has happened.”
“Wait, what about—all that?” Laina waved her hand mysteriously at the air near where Will was located.
The Arkeshi shrugged. “If you do not care then we can ignore him. Eventually his spirit will wither and die or return to its body. He’s no longer our concern.”
Laina didn’t move. Rubbing her face with her hands, she stared in Will’s general direction. “Where is he?” she asked.
“A little to your left and three feet forward,” said Darla.
His half-sister moved according to her bodyguard’s instructions. “I just reach out? Oh!” She jumped back as her hand touched the space where Will was. He wasn’t sure what she had felt, but he had experienced an electric tingle that ran through his phantom body. “That was him, wasn’t it?” asked Laina.
“Yes. Try not to flinch away next time,” advised her friend.
Laina nodded, then moved closer, holding her arms out. Will focused his attention on her, moving himself forward, and then they collided, sending shivers through his astral form and causing his sister to shudder, but she didn’t retreat. It was then that he realized how cold he was.
The astral space he inhabited was home to a deathly chill, and now that he had touched Laina, he could feel the living warmth that radiated from her skin. It was vitality, sustenance. It maintained her soul, nurtured her spirit. Without it, any spirit being would eventually starve and wither.
“Can you hear me?” she asked.
Yes, he replied, trying to project his thoughts through their superficial contact.
Laina frowned, then glanced back at Darla. “I felt something. I think he’s trying to talk, but it’s just a buzz.”
The Arkeshi shrugged. “This is the limit of my knowledge. I have never interacted with a spirit form.”
Laina stared through him again, failing to focus her eyes on the place where he stood. “Try to get closer,” she suggested.
We’re already skin-to-skin, thought Will. We can’t get any closer. He pressed forward, feeling a springy resistance as the boundary of her flesh rejected him.
Scholar of Magic Page 42