by Andrew Rowe
He sounded calm, collected.
That was more terrifying than if he’d flown into a rage. If I’d simply made him angry, he’d probably stop at just hitting me.
But if he was thinking critically, he could do something more harmful.
I took a step to block his view of Patrick, who still looked too startled to know how to handle the situation.
I began to charge transference mana in my right hand. Transference countered enhancement, which was what Magnus used for his armor spell. If I hit him hard enough—
I’d spent too much time thinking. Something hit my back, knocking me toward Magnus. Then Magnus slammed another fist into me, reinforced with enhancement mana.
I hit the floor hard.
When I was pushing myself to my feet, I noticed my father had drawn a cane from his belt. “You’ll stay down if you know what’s best for you.”
I let the mana in my right hand dissipate. I couldn’t punch him from this distance. I pushed myself into a sitting position.
Magnus pointed toward Patrick with his cane. “Step forward, Patrick.”
Patrick trembled for just a moment, then nodded, more to himself than Magnus. His voice was weak, but he managed a plea. “Please...just don’t hurt Corin any more, sir.”
“What are you to my son?”
Patrick answered immediately. “I’m his retainer, sir.”
“Good. At least you were listening. I trust you’re aware of what being a retainer entails?”
I started to stand up. “Father, this isn’t—”
“Quiet,” Magnus hissed.
“I protect him, sir.” He looked at the cane, then raised his eyes to meet my father’s directly.
Magnus turned his head to me. “I don’t relish doing this, Son. But you need to learn proper respect and to remember your place. And it would seem that disciplining you directly is no longer sufficient.”
Magnus raised his cane.
“That will be quite enough, Father.” Sera’s voice was still rough from the damage to her throat, but easy enough to understand.
I hadn’t noticed when she’d stepped into the room.
From the way his head swung and his expression, I don’t think Magnus had noticed her, either.
“Sera.” Father lowered his cane. “This matter does not concern you.”
Sera stepped closer, glancing down to me, then back to Magnus. “I’d respectfully disagree, Father. I’m certain my dear brother meant no offense, and we are guests here. Perhaps it would be best not to make a poor impression on our hosts?”
Magnus waved a hand dismissively. “Please, Sera. If I told Edrigan Theas that I needed to discipline my child and his retainer, he’d gladly hand me his own cane.”
“Perhaps outside, but not on the carpet.”
There weren’t actually any bloodstains on the carpet that I can see, but Sera had managed something important — she’d gotten him to look.
And after that moment of doubt, Magnus slipped his cane back onto his belt. “Perhaps you have a point. It has been some time since I’ve visited, and I would not wish to make a poor impression.” He glanced down toward me, his eyes full of disdain. “I trust you’ve learned your lesson?”
I nodded slowly. “Of course, Father.”
“Good.” He glanced to Sera, then back to me. “I will be going to speak to Edrigan. I trust that by the time I’m finished, you two will be ready to return home.”
Sera cut in before I could. “We will, of course, return as soon as possible. But both Corin and I have injuries from Mizuchi’s attack that require further treatment. And I’m certain you know that Sheridan Theas is one of the most skilled healers available. We would be unwise to turn aside their hospitality.”
Magnus waved a hand. “Very well, you may remain as long as you need further treatment. But I expect no further delays.”
“Of course, Father.” Sera smiled sweetly.
Magnus turned to Patrick, looking him up and down. “You may continue to serve my son.”
With that, he walked out of the room, heading to another wing of the house.
I breathed a sigh of relief, letting just a bit of the tension out of my shoulders.
Sera and Patrick scrambled to help me to my feet.
“...Thanks,” I managed.
“Come on,” Sera said. “Let’s go get you cleaned up.”
***
Sera and I found a private room to talk after that. Patrick was graceful enough to give us a few minutes to ourselves.
“Corin, that was...”
“Routine,” I replied.
She drew in a sharp breath. “I saw scars. Every once in a while, when you rolled up your sleeves, or your shirt got pulled down a little—”
I looked away. “Stop. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“How long, Corin?”
I tightened my fists. “...A long time. It got worse when Mother left. Much worse.”
“...Why would anyone do that to their child?”
I shook my head. “He called it training. Sometimes, it was a part of training... or at least that’s what he used to disguise it.” I shook my head. “Other times...he was just so angry. So angry that Mother left. That Tristan was gone.”
She put a hand on my arm. I pulled away.
“I’m so sorry, Corin. I didn’t know.”
I nodded. “I know.” I took a breath. “I wish you never had to find out.”
Sera looked away. “When he first told me that he was my father...” She raised a hand to wipe her eyes. “I was so happy.”
The tears came more clearly after that.
“I was happy.”
***
We took a little while longer to go back to the room where I had been staying and find me a change of clothes.
Sera got some water to help me wash the blood off my face.
It was nothing new to me.
Routine, as I’d said.
Except that I’d fought back this time.
That was dangerous.
But I had no regrets.
***
I spent a little while longer just sitting with Sera. Trying to talk about other things, to get my mind off of what had happened.
It didn’t work.
I went and found Patrick.
“Thank you.”
He blinked at me. “For what?”
“For being there. For trying to step in.” I shook my head.
“I should have done more.” He looked away.
“No, you were perfect.” I sighed. “If you would have fought him, he would have killed you.”
“You really think so?”
I nodded. “He’s a professional duelist. I managed to surprise him, but I never really had a chance. He could have killed us both if he had wanted to.”
“In the middle of Elora’s house?”
I shrugged. “It would have been messy, but he probably could have gotten away with it. Don’t know.” I shook my head. “Either way, it’s better that you didn’t fight him. Still...thanks.”
“I’m your retainer, Corin. If I can’t do something like that, what good am I?”
I laughed. “You’re absurd, Patrick. You’re a great friend to me, even without throwing yourself in harm’s way. But the fact that you did...well, it matters.” I took a breath. “I’m not good at this kind of talk. Can we go do something else?”
“Sure. I think Cecily has been trying to find a chance to talk to you in private.”
Well, that was awkward in a different way, but at least it was the kind of awfulness that just had to do with political secrets and maneuvering. Nothing I wasn’t used to at this point.
“Okay. I’ll go talk to her.”
***
I found Cecily still in the dining area, then asked her to come with me to talk to me privately. We went back to the bedroom I’d been assigned. Sera had left by then, rejoining the others.
“You’re really going to go to the spire? That’s your plan?
”
I nodded. “You know more than you’ve told me.”
“Obviously. You know more than you’ve been saying, too.”
That was true. “Let me fill you in on a few things.”
I spent a solid hour catching her up. Her eyes widened when I explained what had happened with Professor Orden, and again when I told her about my fight with Jin.
She was an engaged audience.
Better that than her being engaged to me, at least.
“Your turn.”
She blinked. “I...wow. You really fought Professor Orden? And a Child of the Tyrant?”
“Yeah. Neither experience was fun. I need to know, though — what’s your place in all this?”
She reached into a bag at her side and retrieved a book.
I didn’t even need to see the words to recognize it. The colors and dimensions were identical. “You’re kidding.”
“I found it during my Judgment. The Voice of the Tower started guiding me, giving me some directions,” she explained. “Then he told me he was Tristan Cadence, and that he was trapped inside the spire. I told Yunika. She already knew.”
There were multiple important bits of information there.
Especially the word “trapped”.
I had to know more about that. “Did he explain what he meant when he said he was trapped?”
She shook her head. “He implied there were things he couldn’t say. Maybe he has a mark like the one that Elora does?”
That wouldn’t be surprising. If Elora’s mark was real, then maybe all the members of their faction had one?
If so, it would mean that even finding Tristan might not get me the answers I wanted. But if it didn’t, getting inside the spire still gave me several other options. Especially with the team I was planning to bring with me.
“Okay. How did Yunika know about it?”
“She’s been climbing for the last couple years. Apparently, at one point, she was separated from her group...and Tristan appeared. He saved her from a monster. Like a hero.”
That was very interesting. It was the first thing I’d heard that implied that Tristan could physically appear in person in the sections of the tower that climbers explored.
I’d been assuming he was probably in the lower levels of the tower somewhere, in that administrative section that Researcher had alluded to.
It was possible that was still the case, though, and that he was simply able to move — or project illusions that looked like him, rather than just illusions that looked like a hovering cloak.
“And he, what, recruited her?”
Cecily shook her head. “No. He just warned her to stay away from the spire for a while, and to get her family out of the city before the end of the year. This was just a couple months ago. We’ve been preparing to leave, but Mom and Dad have been stubborn. They won’t believe Yunika, and she wouldn’t leave without them.”
That made sense, but it also raised the question of why Tristan didn’t recruit Yunika to whatever organization he was a part of.
Was he trying to keep her out of harm’s way?
Or did she simply lack the skills he needed to be useful tool?
I wasn’t sure I could believe what Cecily was telling me. She seemed genuine enough, but I’d been fooled before.
I also couldn’t guarantee that what Yunika had told Cecily was true. Maybe Yunika was working with Tristan, and simply wouldn’t tell her.
But for the moment, at least, Yunika sounded like a dead-end. I’d follow up with her directly for more information if I failed to find Tristan, but at the moment, Tristan and Elora were much more likely sources of information to pursue.
“Okay.” I nodded. “Do you want to come with us into the spire?”
Cecily gave me an awkward laugh. “Uh, I’m flattered, but I’m not really...” She shook her head. “I fought Mizuchi because I had to. But I don’t like fighting, Corin. I never have. And the spire? It’s terrifying in there. I don’t know how you can be so casual about going inside like this.”
“I prepare.” I tapped my head. “Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. And it’s still never enough. Not really. But if Tristan is in there? That’s where I need to be.”
“And I can’t convince you to wait a few months? Get those allies that your masked friend talked about?”
I shook my head. “Bringing Keras’ friends in on this would just introduce more people that I couldn’t necessarily trust. As much as I like Keras, I don’t know his true motives, or even what he is. I can trust that his primary goal right now seems to be to get in Katashi’s good graces, though, and that means he’s going to keep protecting me. With others, I can’t say the same. And I’m also just not willing to wait that long.”
Cecily sighed. “You’re still so stubborn.”
I nodded. “I know. Some things never change.”
She looked me straight in the eyes and said. “Yeah... You’re right. Some things never change.”
I’m pretty dense when it comes to things like that, but I’m pretty sure there was some sort of romantic implication in there.
So, I did the natural thing, said, “Okay, good talk. Bye for now,” and fled the room.
Chapter XXII – Unlikely Companions
It was only minutes after fleeing from Cecily that I remembered she’d been in my room, and that there was stuff I needed in there.
Awkward.
Either way, I had other preparations to do before going to the spire.
“Say, Keras. You don’t happen to have, hrm, infinite money?”
Keras chuckled. “No, Corin. And most of my money and equipment isn’t even in the country. I do have some money in an international bank, but it’s not a lot. Why?”
“If we’re serious about climbing the spire, we’re going to need equipment. I have more than last time, but we’re not going to have someone with us who can teleport. I’d rather we have a few ways of immediately escaping the spire if things go badly.”
He made a contemplative expression. “I can probably afford a couple little things. Let me hit the bank.”
I wasn’t sure what “little” meant, but I also didn’t want to impose further on Derek or Elora. I owed them enough as it was, and when you owed powerful people things, they eventually came to collect.
I was glad they’d funded the communication necklaces, but asking for more money wasn’t something I was comfortable with.
Keras returned a few hours later. “Okay. Let’s go shopping.”
I grinned. “I know just the place.”
An hour or so later, I paid my first visit in several weeks to the Climber’s Court.
They always had the strangest customers.
That day, the weirdest was a student who looked to be about my age — maybe even younger — that was being followed around by a half-dozen golems of various materials.
Instead of a traditional necklace, he wore what looked like a cube with runes etched all over it. I didn’t recognize a single one of the runes.
He mumbled something to himself, complaining about someone named “Zach”, and then left the building.
On another day, I might have asked him about that cube. Or the golems.
His relationship with that “Zach” was less interesting.
But I was busy, so I ignored him and headed inside.
“Corin! My favorite customer.”
I rolled my eyes at Lars. “Hey, Lars. I’ve brought a friend to intro—”
“...Lars? Lars Mantrake?” Keras’ voice was full of disbelief.
Lars took one look at Keras and made a belly-deep laugh. “Keras Selyrian. I never thought I’d see you in a civilized place like this.”
“Believe me, it’s not by choice.” Keras stepped forward and gave Lars a hug.
Huh.
“You two...know each other?”
Lars turned to me. “Might have gone on an adventure or two together, back in the day.”
Keras nodded. “He used to serve as
quartermaster for an expedition in the Unclaimed Lands. I traveled with them from time to time.”
“Well, well.” Lars took a step back, waving at the shop. “If you’re here, I have to charge twice as much.”
Keras laughed. “I would expect nothing less.”
***
I spent a while catching up with Lars while Keras looked around the shop.
Business had been slow with the spire closed, but he still got some from students and other regular customers.
I didn’t tell him about much. Just generalities. Nothing particularly personal.
There was a part of me that wanted to tell him, though.
Maybe in a different place, at a different time.
I almost considered inviting him to come with us to the spire. He was a former climber himself, after all.
But I’d seen how he looked after Mizuchi’s attack.
Sad. Shaken.
Not afraid. No, there was something else there.
I’d noticed that Lars told a lot of stories about his old days in the spire, but not about why they’d ended.
I didn’t mention Mizuchi attacking the ball.
I let him spend some time catching up with Keras, too, while I searched the shop.
I listened in to a polite degree.
“Do you remember that time in the tomb, with that undead sorcerer?” Lars asked.
“You think I could forget that? We must have held that doorway for two hours. You kept pouring healing potions on me whenever I got injured. I never got the stains out of that shirt.”
Lars laughed. “That sounds about right. Can’t believe how many potions we wasted that day.”
“We? I’m not the one who tried to drown a wight in them.”
“Now, that’s not fair. We all thought healing magic would hurt them.”
I smiled.
It was good to hear them sharing stories.
It was a little surprising to hear that any of Lars’ stories were actually true, but I decided to chalk that up to him being selective while a friend was around.
I lingered a little longer than I needed to in the store, picking out what I wanted long before we actually left.
“Oh! And there was that time with the hydra...”
I smiled. For the first time in days, something felt right.
***
With Patrick, Marissa, Keras, and me, we had a group of four.