Slowly, he reached out, expecting to feel a hard coolness but instead, it felt like bubbles of honey floating in the water. His hand moved right through it, distorting its shape with a suddenness that startled him, making it burst apart and flow in the air as if in the current of a stream. He didn’t know how long he played with it, just staring at the strange, liquid forms it made in the air before Glowby moved into his field of vision, gently flickering at him and drawing his eye.
He focused slowly, eyes glazed and blinking as if waking from a dream but as he took his hand away, he could see the glimmer steel begin to fade. Drifting and dissolving into the air around him. As the last flickering beauty disappeared, he sighed and smiled at the beauty of it, wishing he could play his hands through it one more time. He also hoped it had worked and made the mass disappear from his world. He didn’t think he was out of trouble altogether, but not having it sit in the middle of the street any longer made him feel better. At least, as long as this wasn’t a dream. He was pretty sure it hadn’t been. Too much had been proven to him already that should have been impossible, but wasn’t.
This trip had shown him some things, but also raised far more questions. Deep in thought, he turned to follow Glowby as they made their way back towards the infirmary. With his head down, Aiden didn’t notice a tall, lanky form standing on top of one of the turrets on the city walls watching them as they passed. There was no telling how long the figure had been standing there but even after the two companions made their way back into the school grounds, the figure stood with its head hung in contemplation.
Chapter 10
Aiden spent the next few days drifting in and out of consciousness, woken only to drink more of that cooling medicine before sliding back into healing sleep. It was only on the third day that they allowed him to awaken naturally, and when he did so he felt not only dehydrated but raw, as if he’d been dragged through the city streets on his tongue. Joy.
Despite this, he was considered somewhat of a miracle by the staff, though as yet he had no idea himself. Normally in fire injuries where one is exposed to dense smoke for any length of time as Aiden’s had been, it was the lungs that were of primary concern. Very often these types of injuries resulted in death or severe disability. However, Aiden’s were almost normal with not even a lingering cough; a fact that led many of the staff to question the story they had heard about him charging into the house at all.
Professor Reivus had proven no help in solving this particular mystery, either. He had been questioned on numerous occasions but his reactions ranged from far too busy to answer silly questions to utter bafflement at what they were even talking about. To the casual witness, being put off by someone with such words would seem laughable. However, the dear old professor had so often been known to run through the commons of the school screaming about blue weevils in his hair or other such similar nonsense, that they were forced to give up their pursuit of the truth. Nurse Bandari was the last to surrender to the inevitable. It was only after having stood in his own classroom with him bare naked trying to lecture to empty desks that she gave up.
So it was that only a few hours after having awoken, Aiden found himself sitting up in bed as Headmaster Bing came into the infirmary and made a beeline for where he rested. The man was fairly tall with brown skin and thick, dark hair which wreathed his head in an ill-trimmed mop. His well-worn clothes and overcoat had at one time been of high quality but overall looked like he slept in them on a regular basis.
As he approached and asked for a chair from a passing nurse, Aiden contemplated him. He’d seen him many times about campus and the man always had a look on his face as if he’d lost family. The depressed aura never went away and the man refused to speak of it so it remained a cloying mystery that followed him around like a personal storm cloud. In addition to his eternal gloom, the man almost always carried an old, gnarled garcat with him that rounded out his eccentric look nicely
Despite all of this, he was well thought of by most of the students, orphans, and faculty of the school. A rigidly fair man, who despite whatever haunted him, was known to have a keen mind that could cut right to the heart of most idiocy like an ancient glimmer sword.
He didn’t look at Aiden until the chair arrived, preferring to stare out of the window behind his bed until he’d taken his seat. Even after coming to rest he collected his thoughts before turning to gaze towards him. Aiden watched him in return, trying to stay calm as he tried to anticipate what the visit was about. His mind began to race through all of the weirdness that had happened to him over the past few days, trying to think of why the man was here. There were many reasons he could think of, but which one? The fact that Glowby was hiding up near his shoulder wasn’t helping matters either.
Finally, Aiden cleared his throat, trying to banish his fear but not quite succeeding. “Um… Can… Can I help you, sir?” Even to his own ears, his voice trembled. Headmaster Bing tilted his head and let one side of his mouth rise slightly before answering.
“Well, I suppose I’ve scared you sufficiently, young Aiden. I must admit, it is one of my favorite pastimes and perks of my office. At least once a week, I try to make the effort to frighten a student.” He paused as he continued to caress his misshapen garcat. “However, I usually enjoy it far more when I understand why a particular student is nervous. But,” his hand moved from petting the cat to patting his leg briefly. “Fear not, Young Aiden, I really am here to say thank you, and to discuss some plans for the future, if you feel up to it.”
“Okay Sir, um…but…thank me? For what?”
There was a faint twinkle of warmth in his eyes as he answered. “Well, Aiden, I wanted to thank you for being stupendously insane enough to charge into a burning building and saving a young boy. And before you think I’m insulting you, I assure you, I think crazy is endearing. I also wanted to let you know who you saved if no one has told you yet?”
Aiden shook his head and Glowby popped out from behind his shoulder curiously. There had been no time to learn much once he’d awoken. “No, sir, I don’t know who it was. Does it matter?”
Headmaster Bing shrugged and held his hand up, tilting it back and forth before he answered. “To some yes, to others, the answer is still yes though in different ways and of course, I am certain to the young boy it matters very much. The young boy is, in fact, a sitting baron. Baron Crean Wilthorn, to be exact. His grandmother, Dame Wilthorn has contacted us letting us know she was… very impressed. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she were concocting some reward for you, young Aiden. Just be prepared to nod and smile no matter what it is. Sometimes the gifts of the wealthy can be both surprising and eccentric.”
Aiden’s eyes had widened as he heard the words. Glowby flickered excitedly next to him, reflecting his own reaction to the news. A sitting baron? He’d thought the child was some sort of scullery boy or something. He swallowed and nodded, feeling a little off balance.
“The Wilthorn family itself is quite wealthy, and old, having held much of the fishing rights in large parts of the Westrun Bay for generations. Very impressive coup, dear Aiden. Very impressive, indeed. How did you know where the boy was, by the way?”
Aiden shrugged, caught a little by surprise by the question. He had been digesting the fact of who the boy was, and what that may mean for his future. He wasn’t altogether happy about it as his mantra of don’t get involved with nobles kept getting thrown out the window. Or, he thought dismally, trashed and buried with drunken abandon may be more appropriate.
“Uh… I don’t know, Sir. I thought I heard someone screaming from inside and…just ran,” Aiden lied. “I didn’t have a clue who was calling for help. I’m just glad I got us both out alive. I don’t really expect a reward, sir.”
The eccentric man watched him, nodding and listening patiently while giving a small hmm at the end. “I see. Very interesting. Screaming you say? As for the reward, I don’t know what to expect either, but I do know, it’s probably safer to take it? Some
times the very powerful or wealthy get a bit irate if their gestures aren’t acknowledged. If you understand what I mean.” Patting Aiden’s his leg once again before leaning back in his chair, he started to caress the cat absently as he considered the words he’d just spoken. Glowby flitted forward, circling the cat in the same leisurely pace as the hand that was petting it.
For his part, Aiden just nodded, resigned. He did understand, unfortunately. It probably was safer. Well, he’d deal with it when it came. Just one more thing to deal with, he thought, as Headmaster Bing continued.
“Your friends, as well as dear Maris…um… Professor Onyxine, also spoke quite highly of your actions though I dear say the Engineer’s words were a bit more strained. It was good you’d been unconscious for a few days or she’d have been likely to kill you. Some of her descriptions about rewards she wished to shower on you were quite graphic. It gave me truly spectacular nightmares for several joy-filled evenings. It may be wise to avoid the good professor for a few days despite my recommendation to always accept rewards,” he winked, smiling his faded smile again, “I think in this case I don’t mind contradicting myself. Another perk of the office, of course. It’s quite a long list, actually. The perks.”
Aiden nodded in agreement. Professor Onyxine was a rather scary individual when she put her mind to it, or even when she didn’t. Most of the students were secretly terrified of her vitriolic temperament.
“Now, there is also the question of your kidnapping and miraculous return. The nursing staff said you just wandered into their care. The last anyone had seen of you, you were being whisked away by some dark individuals. Is there anything you can remember? Who were they? How many? Anything at all?”
Aiden’s brow furrowed as he thought furiously on what to say. Glowby swung up, poking the headmaster in his forehead as if to distract him, but of course, there was no reaction to his friend. He’d given his word not to tell anyone about Ashrak’s help and he had absolutely no idea why anyone would want to take him in the first place. Or did he? He had his suspicions, that the plate was somehow involved and someone had found out about it, but that was just guesswork. He had no proof, and he couldn’t talk about that anyway. Not unless he wanted to be killed.
“I… I don’t know, sir. I don’t remember being taken. It was only when I woke up on someone’s shoulders that I realized anything was wrong at all. I did get him to talk a little, though. He said someone was paying him. For me? He said he’d set the fire to lure out the students. He was angry that I’d charged into the building and told me it had almost cost him but I don’t know why they would want me, sir,” he finished lamely.
Headmaster Bing nodded, studying him closely. “So you said there was only one? That corresponds to what your friends have described. There were two that took you, but your friends Chari, Gavin and Markam all took off after them like the hounds of hell. It was very admirable of them by the way. I suspect it was a night of… several very admirable actions. Something that makes me hope for the future.” Headmaster Big smiled mysteriously, letting that sink in. Did he know about Ashrak? There was no way he could have. Glowby just circled the Headmaster furiously, flickering from dark to light in a variety of colors.
“Still, after they lost you, that is all we know before you miraculously walked into the infirmary,” he said, spreading his hand out and taking in the room they were in, “From what has been described, you were in no condition to defend yourself, not from trained killers. You said you spoke to the man, but did he just let you go? How did you get free?”
Aiden shook his head. “I… no he didn’t set me free, sir. Some townspeople came along and saw me tied up and managed to drive him off before he could pick me back up. I don’t know who they were, but I’m thankful for them.”
He hated lying to the man. Not just because he didn’t like lying in particular, but the headmaster just watched him as if he knew he was spinning a tale. Still, it was clear the man wasn’t interested in pushing too hard and just nodded instead.
“Very well, young Aiden, we’ll just put it down to luck then? Either way, there are many that are quite happy you returned to us, including me. In fact, your friends have created quite a headache for the infirmary staff with their attempts to remain by your beside.”
Aiden just nodded, thankful that the headmaster wasn’t going to push for more answers. He hoped his story made sense but he wasn’t altogether sure under the discerning gaze. The man cleared his throat, shifting his body back and changing the subject.
“There is one other thing that I’d like to discuss with you, Aiden. Something I have been told you are quite concerned with.” The dark man smiled as if sharing a joke. “Not that I blame you one little bit. Oya Dihya has…let me know… that you will be one of her students.” It was telling how the headmaster had said that. Naiadens were not known for asking nicely or asking at all. Aiden could feel his own face hardening at the mention of the tall Amazon and Glowby quickly disappeared under the bed.
The headmaster raised the hand, trying to calm him. “Now, now, Aiden, I know that look from many other students who are just about to say something they would soon regret, so please, hear me out. Calm down, and take a deep breath.”
It had been a stressful few days and his nerves were still thrumming from all that had happened, but he tried to do as the man asked. Also, just the thought of Oya Dihya made the left side of his head ache. “Okay, sir, but…why me? Why does she want to beat me? I’m no warrior.”
As Aiden spoke, the headmaster’s eyes widened and he actually laughed. It was an extremely rare sound to hear from the headmaster, but there it was. When he settled down, he covered his mouth for a moment and tried to erase his smile before continuing, though his eyes still twinkled with amusement.
“Did you actually say…why me?” He chuckled once more and then took a breath before giving Aiden a fond look. “That is a phrase that is most often uttered before greatness, disaster, or more commonly both, dear Aiden. There is only one way to find out, and that is to keep moving forward.”
Aiden frowned, disturbed that what he’d just heard was disturbingly similar to what Ashrak had told him in the baths. It also wasn’t what he’d wanted to hear. He didn’t want to just keep moving forward through Oya Dihya’s fiendish training. Not even a little. Glowby bobbed up as if to agree with him before retreating back under his bed.
“But think on this Aiden. You’ve charged into a fire and saved a sitting baron, been kidnapped and freed, and found yourself facing off against a Naiaden all within a few short days. Ask yourself if perhaps her training may not prove beneficial? Perhaps it is even destiny? Naiadens are some of the most formidable warriors on the planet, and having one take an interest is no small feat. She will not just beat you like a meat puppet; she’ll train you and despite the many bruises you will have, I think in the end you will find value from what she has to show you.”
“But Sir, I… I…” He stopped, that wasn’t a bad point. What if he’d been able to defend himself from the kidnapper? Still, he wasn’t quite yet ready to just accept this. It had hurt!
Headmaster Bing just nodded, then leaned forward whispering conspiratorially. “I see. Well, let me make it easier on you, Aiden. I am assigning you to her class. You can either go as a student, or you can go as an orphan assigned the duty of being a training dummy. Which way would make you feel better?”
Aiden pouted and frowned at the headmaster. Dammit. He knew the headmaster had him. Either act like a man or act like a spoiled child.
“Fine…I’ll go as… as a student. Sir.”
The headmaster smiled, happy that Aiden had chosen the better course. “Good. I will tell her you’ll most likely be joining her class towards the end of the week. The staff here says you should be good for light work, at least.” The headmaster stood, still petting his mangled garcat. “Now, before your friends explode, I should leave you to them. They’ve been anxious to speak to you.”
Aiden could see several
faces peeking in through the door before bursting in once Headmaster Bing waved at them.
“Take care of yourself, young Aiden. I suspect things have just started getting lively for you. And please, if you remember anything further about the kidnapping, let me know as soon as possible. I do not like…mysteries where my people are concerned.”
The man nodded to Aiden’s friends as they moved past him. Chari and Jessop bounded towards him, stopping and babbling at once as they asked him how he felt. Glowby shot up and circled them all, happily flashing and weaving in and out of the excited group. Sometimes even through them. Gavin, with Markam in tow, followed a bit more sedately. Though Markam had on his usual stoic look, Gavin appeared pleased that Aiden was sitting up and attentive.
It was hard to concentrate through Chari’s warm hugs even as Jessop was sobbing and laughing in happiness, clutching Aiden’s arm tightly. Jessop’s voice came out sounding odd, caused by a large bandage taped to his nose with cotton sticking out of his nostrils. Both of his eyes were also black-and-blue, which got Aiden’s attention. Aiden greeted everyone, smiling up at them before turning to his friend.
The Glimmer Steel Saga, Boxed Set, Books 1 - 4 Page 12
