by Mary Swift
Charles shook his head. “I’m not following him. He’s nothing.” He looked at Bryn and smirked. “I suppose they would stick together, two unwanted children.”
Killian felt the rage well up inside of him. He had defended them to Lucy. He thought he had found his place in the world. When he was taking the energy from Leah he had come to understand that it could be tapped and used when he needed it, and he needed it now.
“You will follow me.” He took a deep breath and let every ounce of energy, anger, and frustration pour out of his body. The walls around them began to shake. Suddenly the roof of the underground hall blew apart. A light rain began to fall on them from the gray sky above. For the first time he saw fear in the Founders’ eyes. “We’re doing things my way from now on. Have I made myself clear?”
Chapter 80
Rowan and Kip found a pub in Rudder and had dinner. Kip was convinced that he could find a way back into the Darkhill hall. Rowan didn’t think they had a chance. “If there was a way don’t you think someone would have found it?” he asked Kip.
“What would you rather do?”
“Look for the man you shot. I have to heal him.”
“He tried to kill you. Can’t you, just this once, let someone go without healing them?”
“No I can’t. Why would he want to hurt me?”
“Because he’s crazy.”
“Maybe, but I think we should find him anyway.”
Kip raised his hand in the direction of the bar. “Killian needs our help.”
“What if he’s the one who threw us out?”
A shapely bar maid brought Kip another pint of beer, he smiled at her. Kip waited until she had walked away to speak. “Why would he get rid of us? They beat him up; he needs me to protect him.”
“He doesn’t need us.”
“Then why did he bring us with him? I’m the muscle and you’re the-”
“The what?”
Kip shrugged. “I don’t know. The brains I guess.”
Rowan couldn’t help but laugh. “The brains? I haven’t been to school since I was thirteen.”
“Yeah but you’re smart, you always know what to do.”
“I usually just make a guess.”
Kip guzzled his beer. “Is the barmaid looking at me?”
Rowan couldn’t see her. “No.”
“We should find somewhere to sleep tonight, we can figure everything else out in the morning. Do you have any money?”
“Just enough to pay for this. But that doesn’t mean you are going off with some woman.”
“I’ll find someone for you.”
“I don’t need you picking out girls for me.”
“Someone has to.” Kip grinned and finished his beer. “Are you blushing Rowan?”
Rowan sighed. Kip’s other senses were indeed developing. “That man could be dead by morning. We should go look for him.”
Kip shook his head. “It must dark out by now. That doesn’t make much of a difference to me but it’s going to be a problem for you. Let’s find that big house that we stayed in when we were here last time and go to sleep.”
“I guess I can’t save everyone.”
Kip nudged him. “She’s looking at me, isn’t she?”
The barmaid was standing across the room twirling a strand of hair in her fingers.
Rowan stood up. “Let’s go.”
They found the house that the townspeople had allowed them to stay in when Lucy and Arden got married. The front door was unlocked. They went upstairs and each found a bedroom. Rowan collapsed on the bed. It only took him a few minutes to fall asleep.
When he woke up it was still dark out. He went down the hall and used the toilet. On his way back to bed he looked out the window. The moon was high in the sky. The village was bathed in silver light. Rowan was about to return to his bedroom when something caught his attention. A man was leaning on the bronze statue in the town square, he was the one who had tried to kill Rowan earlier that day.
Rowan started to go downstairs when he realized he wasn’t wearing anything. He went into his bedroom and grabbed a blanket from his bed. He wrapped it around himself and hurried downstairs and out the front door. It only took a few seconds to get to the statue.
“I’m a healer. I’m going to help you.” he announced.
The front of the man’s shirt was covered in blood. He stumbled forward and fell to his knees. The man leaned back on his heels. “I knew you would come to the village. I would have checked every house if I could have.” Rowan tried to put his hands on the man’s shoulder. With his one good arm he pushed him away. “Don’t touch me.”
“Why do you want to kill me?”
The man slumped against the base of the statue. “I’ve been waiting for you to come, I’ve been to Darkhill every day looking for you. They told me you had red and brown hair. If it wasn’t for that other one, the blind one, I could have put an end to you.”
Rowan knelt next to him. “Why do you want to hurt me?”
“If it wasn’t for you all the enchanters would be dead.”
There was something in the man’s expression that looked familiar to Rowan. “Why do you want them dead?”
“Because the people that were supposed to care about me left me behind in Firesea and I was made a slave. Do you know what’s it like to be a mortal slave to enchanters?”
“I was a slave once.” Rowan realized that he probably had it pretty easy.
“I used to be really happy. I used to think that people were good. I used to believe in things. Now I don’t believe in anything.”
Rowan didn’t know what to say.
“When I first went to Firesea they hooked me up to machines, my body powered them. I was aware of everything that was happening but I couldn’t speak or move. Then I got rescued by my sister and her husband and I thought things were over. Then they left Firesea. They promised to come back but they never did. War broke out and I was sold.”
“But you obviously got free.”
The man glared at him. “Only because my owners died from the sickness. Luckily someone found me after that, someone who cared about me. We had a common mission in life. He gave me a knife. I took it to Darkhill and cut the Founder’s hearts in two. That’s when I accidently woke up your father.”
“My father? How do you know him?”
“You really don’t know who I am? I bet they never even told you about me. I’m your uncle.”
“You’re Tom aren’t you?” Rowan asked.
“You mean they actually mentioned my name?”
“My mother thinks you’re dead.”
“I wish I was.”
“Why didn’t you come and find us when you got free? My parents would have helped you.”
Tom shook his head. “You don’t get it. They left me there. They didn’t give a shit about me.”
“The war came; there was nothing anyone could do. They were all separated. My mother was pregnant with me at the time and-”
“So I have you to blame.”
“No, I mean maybe you should but-” Rowan stopped. He didn’t know what he was saying. He was talking about a time before he was born. “I don’t know what happened, but my mother loves her family. Now that we know you’re alive we can help you.”
“I don’t want to be part of your big happy family. I want the enchanters to pay for what they did to me and you are getting in the way of that. You have to die. Dante got things started and I’m going to finish you off.”
“Do you know that Dante is dead?”
The look on Tom’s face made it clear that he didn’t know.
“It’s over Tom. The enchanters are coming back. My father has revived the Founders. Things are at the end.”
“So this was all for nothing?”
“No. Things needed to change and now they will.” Rowan reached out his hand. “You must be in a lot of pain.”
“I’m still considered a slave; they could take me back.” He opened the collar
of his shirt. Rowan could see the slave band around his neck.
“They won’t come for you. My mother is the Master Enchanter of Firesea. She can protect you.”
Tom snorted. “Protect me. It’s too late for that.” He grimaced in pain.
Rowan wasn’t going to wait any longer. He reached out his hand and touched Tom’s shoulder. The healing began immediately.
“I said no!” Tom shouted. But he was too weak to fight. Rowan focused. Tom’s eyes became wide. “Make it stop!”
That outburst woke up some of the villagers. A few of them wandered out of their homes. They stood in their pajamas watching the two men. They knew Rowan and what he was. He sensed Tom’s shoulder was healed. He wrapped the blanket tighter around himself. If it fell down he would die of embarrassment.
“I didn’t want you to do that.” Tom told him.
“It’s my duty.”
“I’m still going to kill you.”
“You won’t kill me.” Rowan said.
Tom shook his head. “I was like you once. I was optimistic and full of hope. Now thanks to you I’ve seen how my actions have affected the world. I haven’t done anything worthwhile.”
“You can spare my life.” Rowan told him. “If you decide not to kill me then you’ll do some good.”
“Are you for real?”
“Why don’t you come back to the house with me and get some rest? I’m sure you’re tired and in the morning we’ll get something to eat.”
A woman stepped forward. “We’ll take care of him. I have a room we can put him in. When the Founders are better they can judge him.”
“No. He’s my family, he should come with me.”
Another man came out of the darkness. “He’ll cut your throat in the night.”
“He won’t. Are you coming Uncle Tom?” Rowan asked.
“You are either the dumbest kid ever or you’re suicidal.”
Rowan didn’t answer him. He started walking back towards the house. Tom followed him. Several of the villagers came with them. “It’s all right.” Rowan told them. “Go back to bed. I’m sorry to have disturbed you.”
“But-”
“Go back to bed.” He and Tom went inside. Rowan locked the front door. In the darkness of the hallway he heard Tom breathing heavily.
“You think because you healed me and showed me my sins that I’m going to spare you. You and your spell are the reason Firesea still exists.” Tom lunged forward and put his hands on Rowan’s neck. He squeezed until Rowan felt his breath begin to leave him. He tried pushing Tom away, but the anger and hatred that had built up in him over the years was nearly unstoppable.
“Take your hands off him or I’ll slice you up like a loaf of mortal bread.” Kip said coldly. His knife glinted in the sliver of moonlight coming through the window.
Tom let go of Rowan. “Who are you?”
“I’m the muscle.” Kip answered. “And I’m blind so things can get pretty messy when I use a knife.”
“I just want someone to pay for what happened to me.”
“It’s not going to be my brother.” Kip said.
“Then go ahead and kill me.” Tom said. “I don’t care anymore. Just get it over with.”
Rowan held his breath. It was just the sort of invitation that Kip had spent his whole life waiting for.
“No. I don’t think so.” Kip said. “If I do anything Rowan will heal you. Then I’ll hurt you again and he’ll heal you. It could go on all night.”
“So what are you going to do? Turn me in to the Founders?” Tom asked.
“I’m going to listen to you.” Kip told him.
“What?”
Rowan smiled in the dark.
“I think you need to tell someone what happened to you. That’s what I do when I’m angry, and I’m angry all of the time. I tell Rowan about it and I feel better, and I don’t have to kill someone that day.”
“You’re as crazy as he is.”
“Thanks.” Kip said. “He’s the brains of the operation. Smartest kid you’ll ever meet. I don’t say this about many people but I love Rowan and I’d die for him. Do you know why? Because he treats me like a human being. You’re right. I am crazy. I’m so mad at the world I feel like I’m going to burst. I sit around polishing my knives and cleaning my mortal gun just hoping I can get to use them some day. Rowan doesn’t judge me for that. He never has. He just lets me be angry.
“When lost my sight I heard everyone whispering behind my back about how I couldn’t do anything and how they should take my weapons away and how someone would have to be with me all of the time. They didn’t think I could take a shit without someone being there. The only one who never said anything was Rowan, because he knew I was still the same.
“Now it’s my turn to listen. You and I are going to sit down and you’re going to tell me all about what it was like to be a slave to the enchanters. You can say anything you want, tell me every single detail. And after you’re done if you still feel like you have to kill Rowan then you know that I will defend him with every ounce of my strength and I’ll make whatever happened to you in Firesea seem like a day at the beach. And now you know that I would crave a moment like that. So what do you say Tom? You talk to me or you can let my anger take charge and see what happens.”
Chapter 81
Being the Master Enchanter of Firesea the second time around was a bore for Nora. With her ambition drained and the circle barely alive there was little to do but sit on her throne and stare at the council hall walls. Ivan Cramer came by daily to give her a list of things he thought she should be doing.
“You need to appoint a council. A circle is nothing without a council and Firesea has been without one for far too long.” he told her.
“And who do you suggest I appoint?”
The old man hesitated. “It is typical to appoint a member from each ruling family.”
Nora had no idea who the ruling families were and she wasn’t interested in finding out.
Ivan cleared his throat. “It is not uncommon for the eldest member of the circle to have a place on the council.”
“Is that you?”
“Yes Master.”
“I’ll have to think about it.”
“I shouldn’t think too long. There is much business to be attended to. There is the matter of slaves, there’s a mortal village a few miles away. We could capture them and-”
“We’re not having slaves in Firesea anymore. I told you that yesterday.”
He shook his head. “It’s unheard of. The enchanters won’t stand for it.”
“There is no reason to keep slaves here.”
“Mortals are very useful.”
“And you wonder why the mortals fear you.” Nora told him. “If they can be enslaved they’ll never accept you.”
“We don’t need acceptance from the mortals, they are of no significance.”
Nora stood up. “I’m a mortal, my sons are half mortal. Your precious Dante that you all adored was a half mortal. Don’t tell me we are of no significance.”
Ivan held up his hand. “I stand corrected. Forgive me.”
Nora doubted he meant it. “As I told you yesterday I don’t plan on being the Master Enchanter forever. I’m just here until things are settled with the Founders. Then I plan to turn the robe over to the heir.”
“Generally a Master Enchanter stays in the robe until death.”
“Once my husband has taken control of the Founders I’ll leave here to be with him.”
Ivan chuckled. “Killian cannot take control of the Founders. He is not their equal.”
“They made him one of them.”
He shook his head. “Young people are so naïve. The Founders take people that can do things for them. They aren’t interested in making equals of themselves. It’s what they tell people to get them to do what they want. I don’t know how many enchanters and mortals I’ve heard say that they were one of the Founders. It simply isn’t true. The three of them will dest
roy Killian if he tries to rebel. If this is your plan Master Enchanter then you are in for a disappointment. I doubt you’ll ever see your husband again.”
Nora didn’t say anything. Maybe she was naïve. She longed for the old life she and Killian had in New Wildbush. They had no money but they were happy.
“I can see this is difficult for you.” Ivan said. “The Founders are both our creators and our enemy. It’s something I learned long ago.”
“But Killian is strong. You felt what happened when he wore the robe. It upset the energy in the circle.”
Ivan nodded. “Yes, that’s true. It’s been at least two hundred years since I’ve known an enchanter like him. But to lead the Founders he would have to have more than just talent. He would have to be determined in a way that no Cramer ever could be.”
“Are you saying that he’s weak?”
“He was trembling at the very notion of giving a speech at the robing.”
“Just because he’s shy doesn’t mean he’s weak.”
“The Cramers are dreamers. We’re not fighters, we never have been. We know our place in the world.”
“Killian has never known his place in the world. If they push him he will fight back.”
Ivan shrugged. “We shall see. I know it’s hard to accept faults in the ones we love.”
Nora drummed her fingers on the arm of the throne. She was considering whether or not to dismiss him when Gareth came in, for once he was not smoking a cigarette. “Master Enchanter, we’ve had the first reports back from the other circles.”
Nora had sent out a team of rangers to visit the some of the other circles and see if there was anyone left.
“And what did you find on that fool’s errand?” Ivan grumbled.
Gareth ignored him. “Bittersea has seven survivors. Ambersea twelve. Wildbush is completely empty. Greenhill has seventeen enchanters and nine mortals. Fernbush is totally destroyed, there’s no one left.”
Ivan stepped forward. “This is our chance Master Enchanter. I’m betting we outnumber all of the circles. It’s our chance to overtake them.”
“We’re not taking anyone over.”
“Why not? It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for. You should draft every able bodied enchanter into the army and make them fight. We can finally be the one and only circle.”
