by Jamie Murray
"Did you see the way she looked at Baloric?" Louisa asked openly.
Jameson certainly had; it was difficult to miss. He wondered if perhaps they had met during the year Baloric had been kept at the Angel's complex as a servant and had some kind of history. However they knew each other, it was clear William was not included on this past, because he appeared just as befuddled as the others.
He was quick to recover and asserted his authority to get the attention he required. "I'll take you to a room," he said.
The boy was different than how he was when they had met in the wastelands. In the Angel's territory, he was comfortable and at ease. It was obvious this was his domain as he commanded the winding pathways of the complex with expertise. Despite his confidence, he appeared just as childish, leading the group to a hallway with doorframes on each side.
"You may stay here," he said, gesturing towards a room that had no door.
Cyrus went through first, turning sideways to fit Baloric through the doorway. Jameson followed and was admittedly impressed with the room. He assumed the Angel lived lavishly, though he hadn't had much of an opportunity to explore during his short stay in a stone prison ten years ago. The room only had one bed, but it was enormously accommodating, and the shelves seemed to only be present in order to display wondrous jewels and statues.
Louisa was immediately attracted to the fabric of the curtains framing the gigantic window displaying a view of the vast green fields of the Angel's territories. Jameson looked past her to see a large stone pillar in the field which seemed out of place, though he knew it was the beacon which created the barrier surrounding the land. It had been an easy fix, apparently.
Cyrus lay Baloric down on the bed. Upon touching the delicate fabric made up perfectly on the surface, Baloric made a soft noise, almost of protest, but did not move.
"Who is he?" William asked suddenly, nodding his head at Baloric.
"Why do we owe you any information?" Johanna said as she consciously moved away from the young boy and towards the bed where Baloric lay.
"I was just curious," William said with a frown.
"Are you also going to just stand there and stare at us?" Johanna continued.
"Jo," Louisa said harshly, grabbing Johanna by the arm and pulling her back. Johanna let out a yell, but she promptly silenced herself when she saw the serious look on Louisa's face.
"What is it?" Johanna said somewhat passively.
"Don't act so rashly," Louisa said. "Between now and when Daigh wakes up, everything we do is crucial. Do you understand what I'm saying?
Louisa finally let her go and Johanna nodded, looking ashamed. As always, Jameson casually observed the interaction and felt only admiration for Louisa and how she had come to recognize the occasional importance of situations, something she was rarely able to do when they had first met ten years ago.
William only crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, looking bored.
"What are we supposed to do until she'll see us?" Luke said to Jameson quietly.
"I don't know," Jameson admitted. "We'll just have to wait it out."
Jameson was prepared to wait as long as he thought Baloric would be able to hold out, but he was not prepared to allow Baloric's condition to worsen. He looked over at the bed and at his friend lying helplessly, wondering what he would suggest in this situation. Above all that, he imagined Baloric would have an explanation for Luke concerning his destiny, and undoubtedly would know with the Rain Stone shattered.
Somehow, Jameson felt selfish for only being able to consider what Baloric would be able to bring to the table if he was well, as opposed to concerning himself over his simple basic condition. Johanna had longing in her eyes as she watched him breathe, as if hoping he would simply sit up and yawn while Louisa paced nervously, checking out the window on occasion. Cyrus looked absolutely exhausted in every sense of the word, but still distinctly alert as he stood by Baloric and kept a protective eye on Erestina who was staring at her hands, trying to will them to find something to do on their own. Luke wandered off, leaving Jameson standing in the middle of the room by himself, only considering possibilities.
"You."
A female voice came from the doorway, and Jameson looked up to see the young woman who had escorted them to the Angel's territory alongside William. She was pointing directly at Jameson and he did not hesitate to respond as if she was taking attendance.
"Joy Angel wants to see you," the young woman stated. Then she changed the direction of her point, directing her attention towards Cyrus. "You too."
"Me?" Cyrus questioned.
"That's what I said," the woman said, turning to leave. William threw an almost-glare at Jameson and then followed after the person Jameson assumed was his sister.
Jameson nodded at Cyrus who told Erestina to be careful while he was absent, then went out into the hallway.
"Can the others come as well?" Jameson asked the woman.
"Joy Angel asked specifically to see the two of you," William's sister answered.
"You should feel honored that she's allowing an audience on such short notice," William added.
"Wait here, William," his sister commanded.
Obediently, William stopped short and watched as they disappeared down the hallway. Jameson glanced over his shoulder, intending to look at William before they turned the corner, but his eyes met Cyrus's, and he found the younger man did not look thrilled about seeing the Angel.
"It's right through here," the woman narrated as she came to a set of double doors and pushed them both open simultaneously.
Jameson recognized the room immediately. He had only been in the room twice and both occasions had been very brief. The first was when he was brought before the Angel for her to decide whether or not to "keep" him and Walden, and the second was when they were searching for the stones she had stolen from them with Baloric's help. Jameson spotted a pile of books in the corner of the room and realized that was where he stood when he had first read the Prophecy.
We have the stones, so let's get out of here.
The voice sounded as clear as if Walden was standing right next to him. Jameson shivered as he recalled the memory of Walden rifling through boxes and drawers. In fact, he felt almost he could see Walden continuing to search and rummage among the shelves behind Joy Angel as he raised his eyes to finally see her.
Jameson was not surprised that she hadn't changed in ten years. In fact, most of her throne room was almost exactly the same, with the exception of one major factor; there was a second throne next to her. The Angel sat in her own seat, and Roth, her aged warrior, was seated in the other. He was no longer dressed in armor and clothes to fight comfortably in, and was now just as lavish as she, though he now looked older and much more tired. Jameson almost laughed to himself when he thought about something Walden might have said: I guess he was promoted. Good for him.
"Is something funny?" the woman said sharply.
"No," Jameson said, regaining his composure very quickly.
The Angel's headdress was less elaborate than the one other time Jameson had seen her but, aside from that, she appeared to be wearing the same amount of clothing in a general same style. She had an elegant season to her; not young and fresh, but certainly not old and tired. Whatever she was, she had not changed in so many years, but Jameson found he could better appreciate her beauty as an adult than he had been able to as a child.
Slowly, she rose to her feet and extended one hand. "Leave us, Raven."
"Yes, Joy Angel," the young woman said, bowing her head and practically running towards the door. Jameson watched her go and wondered why he wasn't surprised to hear her name was Raven even though he was pretty sure he didn't know her.
With Raven gone, Jameson looked back at Joy Angel who was stepping down the pathway very slowly. Cyrus nudged Jameson slightly and then got down onto one knee to bow. At first, Jameson didn't think he would follow suit, but then he reevaluated when he realized just how impor
tant this interaction was going to be. After all, she might still be sore that they had escaped.
"This is more like it," she said once she reached them and stood over both of their bowed heads. "Rise."
Jameson did as he was instructed and got back to his feet. Roth was still sitting in the back of the room on his throne, merely watching.
"I knew you would come back," the Angel said, reaching her hand out towards Cyrus. At first, he moved his head to the side to avoid allowing her touch, but she persisted and only reached a little further. He resolved to allow her, so she stroked his jaw-line and then cupped his cheek. "You've grown up. What a big boy now. Do you remember this boy, Roth?"
She still had her hand on Cyrus's face as she turned and looked back at Roth.
"I remember the boy," Roth agreed.
The Angel raised her second hand and put it on the other side of Cyrus's face, a look of true admiration in her eyes. "How adorable…" she cooed.
Cyrus apparently had too much at that point because he shook his head and took a step backwards. "With respect, Joy Angel," he said. "I prefer not to be touched."
The Angel's hands were still raised as if she was holding Cyrus's face. His normal resolve to remain unshaken was apparently broken simply by the Angel's touch. Slowly, she began to lower them and removed her eyes from him entirely, finally giving some attention to Jameson.
"And you," she said. "This is how you should have looked when I met you that day ten years ago."
"We need your help," Jameson said before the Angel could start spouting apparent cryptic randomness.
"Again?" she said, letting out a breathy sigh as she turned her backs to them and swept her way to the throne. She sat down and folded her hands, sitting up straight and elegantly. "Again, Mr. Jameson?"
"What do you mean by again?" Jameson said. "You were anything but helpful when we last met."
"Oh?" said the Angel, looking almost amused.
When she did not elaborate further, Jameson found himself frustrated with whatever game she was attempting to play. Almost as if she sensed Jameson's growing hostility, she deliberately turned her head to face Roth and reached out a hand for him to take. He took it, but did not look at her.
"My love," she said to him. "Do you remember that day ten years ago?"
"I remember that day," Roth replied.
The Angel looked back at Jameson again and said, "Do you remember that day ten years ago?"
"Of course I remember," Jameson said.
"Do you remember the odd coincidence that I would place you in the same quarters of the young Baloric? Do you remember the odd coincidence that the door to your cell would be carelessly left unlocked? Do you remember how, oddly and coincidentally enough, there were no guards on duty that night?" She rose to her feet again and, in a voice which was barely audible, she asked, "Do you remember the ease of your escape?"
Jameson stared at her and thought back to that day. It had been unusual that the Angel would place them in a special room with Baloric and, as they contemplated escape, they had discovered that their door had, in fact, been left unlocked. He did recall noticing the distinct lack of guards as they ran through the complex that night and went right into the Angel's throne room unopposed. It was only after they recovered the five stones were they finally contested and even that attempt had been rather half hearted.
Slowly, he connected the events of that night and then looked up at the Angel who was still standing and waiting for him to speak.
"You let us escape, then," he reasoned.
"Of course," the Angel answered.
"And you purposely left the five stones out in the open," Jameson continued.
"Of course," the Angel repeated.
"And…" Jameson paused slightly, and she raised both her eyebrows in anticipation for whatever he would say next. "You knew Baloric was the Powers."
"Very good," the Angel said with a nod.
"So then you must have also known we would come back one day asking for help. And we're here. If you've known all this so far, then you also have to know what we need your help with."
The Angel sighed heavily, letting out a deep breath as she did so, sounding utterly bored with Jameson's choice of the direction of conversation. "If you would be so kind to explain it to me. I do enjoy the sound of your voice."
Even though Jameson did not like the idea of wasting anymore time, he was about to launch into an explanation, but the Angel raised her hand to stop him.
"Not you," she said harshly.
Jameson turned around to see Cyrus was still standing there, though he had almost forgotten about him.
"Please," she said, gesturing her hand at him.
Cyrus flinched in an angry sort of way, but Jameson tried to urge him along with his eyes since Baloric didn't have much time to waste. So, reluctantly, Cyrus cleared his throat and took a step forward, beginning the explanation, attempting to be as brief as possible. He described the abduction at Miner Town while they had been away at the Forest, and then the subsequent diversion given by Devin at Market City. The Angel listened intently, a hint of a smile across her lips, and seemed especially interested when he told of Jameson and Luke returning to the altar under the city where they encountered Devin in person.
"Since we recovered Baloric, he has been wholly unresponsive," Cyrus said in a wrapping up tone. "He doesn't have much time. We don't even know what's wrong with him."
"His spirit has been disconnected from his body," the Angel said in a very matter-of-fact tone. "Devin was attempting to extract the Mystics from him, but the ritual was incomplete without the presence of the Fighter and the Rescuer. As a result, it has left your friend in a state much like being alive, yet utterly empty. If he remains as he is for too long, then it will be impossible to reunite him."
"We need any help you can give us," Jameson said.
"I cannot help him," the Angel stated.
"What?" Jameson and Cyrus demanded almost simultaneously.
"However, I do know how you can help him," the Angel continued. "But, as it happens, you also know."
"We know?" Jameson repeated.
"Is it that thing you talked about three years ago?" Cyrus asked. "That rarity in the maze to the south?"
"You remember," the Angel said, now fully smiling.
"You told me that Baloric looks dead, and the way to save him is with the rarity in the maze," Cyrus said. "Tell us the way. We'll go straight away."
"William knows the way," said the Angel passively. "I'm sure if you ask him nicely, he will be willing to help."
"So that's it," Jameson said. "That's how we save Baloric, is it?"
"The only way I know how," the Angel replied.
"Come on, Cyrus," Jameson said, grabbing Cyrus by the arm. Cyrus nodded and sidestepped out of the room, keeping his eyes focused on the Angel until the door closed behind them.
Raven was not standing in the hallway, but Jameson didn't care about finding out just who she was when the solution to saving Baloric was so close. He hurried down the hallway, checking behind him to see if Cyrus was still following, and finally threw himself into the room where the others were waiting.
35. A Thieving Snake?
Chapter 35
Even after asking nicely, William did not want to oblige to the request of another escort, but when he returned from confirming this charge with the Angel, he unwillingly instructed them to get ready.
Louisa decided she would stay in the complex with Baloric and Erestina. She stated that someone had to remain behind in order to protect them, since it was unsafe and time consuming to all go as a group. Jameson pointed out that he never wanted to split up with anyone again, but Louisa scolded him that he was being overly protective.
Luke and Cyrus said there was no question that they would be going to the maze, especially after William warned them that there were Forces inside. At the mention of potential danger, Johanna stood up and declared that she wanted to go along, hastily explaining that
it wasn't about the danger, but more so about proving herself. She was certain she would be able to show them and, by extension, show Jameson, that she could defend herself and others. Jameson looked to Louisa, hoping she would intervene, but Louisa didn't appear to mind and simply wished them good luck.
William took them to the stables, but Jameson was hardly a few steps away from the complex when he heard someone softly calling his name. When he turned around, he saw Erestina standing on one of the pathways, embarrassedly waving her hand to him to indicate she wanted him to return for a moment. Jameson glanced back at Cyrus who had stopped short, almost if perhaps he wanted Erestina to call out to him as well, but she did not.