“I’m just an old man, trying to still be useful.”
“But you’re not?”
“Have you ever had a pupil?”
“I’ve taught a few people here and there, but I’ve never been much of a mentor to anyone.”
“Well,” Gabriel said, “I wouldn’t recommend it. Students are very frustrating.”
“Undisciplined? Eager? Disobedient?”
“Yes, they are usually all those things,” Gabriel said, sighing, “But sometimes they’re also smarter than you, and you have nothing to offer them.”
“You always have something to offer anyone who is willing to take it,” Alderthorn said, “It’s just not always what you’re used to giving.”
“I’ve been so sure,” Gabriel said, but then stopped. “My entire life, I’ve known that magic wasn’t real. That my study of swordplay, and my teaching of it, was all someone needed to know. But now I see, there was a whole other world, one I’m not prepared for. And my best student... She’s better than me at everything. But I’ve left her completely underprepared...”
“You did the best you could,” Alderthorn said, “With what you had.”
“But now it seems that everyone would have been better off with someone more open-minded.”
Alderthorn rubbed his chin. He seemed the sort of man who wasn’t surprised by anything, but he was clearly digesting something new here.
“Then don’t try to understand it,” Alderthorn said, “I know I’m too old to learn any new tricks. Don’t try to understand what she’s doing, just try to understand her.”
“I’ve never really understood people,” Gabriel said, smirking. “I just always sort of assumed it was easier to be angry all the time. People bothered you less.”
Alderthorn smiled, “Indeed. But you can also be bothered less by living in the woods.”
“I’m going to have to go back,” Gabriel said, “And I’m going to have to face her. And I’m going to have to do something I never wanted to do.”
“Learn a new trick?”
“Apologize.”
A quiet moment passed between them, as Gabriel closed his eyes and yawned. It was idyllic, peaceful. There were birds chirping, and in the background, a creak was running. He felt easy.
“I wonder,” Gabriel said, “What she’s doing right now.”
Chapter 34: Over the Years
Vye faced off with Halmir once again. In his cell. His gag removed. Each answer she got only led to more questions, and she was running out of time.
“Why do you hate me?” she began.
“I hate all people of Rone.”
“Because of what happened five hundred years ago?”
“Because you don’t believe you are to blame. Because you are ignorant. Because you are evil.”
“Evil?! I’ve been living here, in the south, nowhere near you or your ancestors. You’re the one who came down here and killed the Royal family.”
“You couldn’t possibly understand.”
“Why, because I’m a woman?”
“What?”
“You don’t think we can understand? Women, I mean?”
“No, not that. You are an ignorant fool, that’s why.”
“Then teach me.”
“I wouldn’t want to waste my time.”
“You’re not doing anything else down here.”
“I wouldn’t want to waste your time.”
“I can learn. I can listen. Look, we’re going to put your little rebellion to shame. You’re already defeated. The only thing left is to help me understand why you did it, so we can fix it.”
“You can’t fix it.”
“We can try.”
“Just kill me and get it over with.”
“You will be killed,” Vye said, frustrated. “There’ll be a trial, and you’ll have an advocate, and your case will be heard. But when that day comes, I’m going to testify, and you’re going to be executed.”
“Will you also be the one to torture me?”
“No, we’re not going to torture you.”
“Why not?”
“Do you want to be tortured? We have no reason to torture you.”
“If you had come into my Country, and killed my Master, you can be sure we would torture you for as long as your body would hold out.”
“Well,” Vye said, “There was a time when that was true here, too. But we’ve changed. We’re different now.”
Halmir locked eyes with Lady Vye. His gaze was demanding. Enervating. Draining.
“What are you doing?” Vye asked, her voice trembling.
“I’m trying to see if you’re lying.”
“Are you using magic?”
“I don’t need to. When I look into someone’s eyes, I can tell.”
“And, what do you see now?”
“You’re telling the truth, or you’re the best liar I’ve ever met.”
“I’m not known for holding in my thoughts.”
“Why did you come down here?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Why--”
“We’re leaving in the morning,” Vye said. “You’re coming to Anuen, to stand trial for murdering the Prince.”
“But why did you come down here to tell me that?” Halmir said. “You could have gotten me in the morning.”
“I don’t know,” Vye said. “I just did.”
They stood, face to face, for another minute. Then, Vye turned on her heel and left. Halmir, for the very first time since his captivity, was afraid. But of what, he didn’t know.
---
What he was feeling was the fear of uncertainty. Not uncertainty of the future; There was no consequence for which he wasn’t prepared. He had expected torture, and it seemed he could look forward to death, no matter what. But what really scared him was that he wasn’t sure what he wanted to happen.
He knew the following:
Argos was not standing idly by. Argos knew that Prince Anthony had survived, and no doubt had plans to that end. And usually he would be hoping that Argos would succeed. But suddenly, he wasn’t sure.
What he was really worried about was his part in it all. Not how others would judge him, he never cared much about that. He wondered how he would judge himself. He had learned, his entire life, about the cruelty of the people of Rone. What if he had learned wrong? What if Lady Vye, in her innocent simplicity, was right?
Halmir shook it off. Nonsense. Argos is a wise man. He’s an older, more experienced man. He would not have done any of this if the punishment weren’t deserved. He would never arrange for the death of thousands of people without just cause.
And suddenly, the number hit him. Thousands of people. Not just the King, or the Prince, or a few soldiers here and there. Argos had arranged for the death of thousands of people. He had arranged to wipe out the people of Rone. Except for whatever people he could turn to slaves, he meant to eradicate the entire population.
Thousands…
Hundreds of thousands…
And then something else hit him. It was the same thing that hit him every night. He was a soldier, and a pupil of Argos. He had long ago surrendered to the will of the Turin-Sen. The magical oath he had made allowed for his mentor to do something that very few others could: Argos could tap into his mind.
Halmir was thankful that Argos couldn’t read his thoughts or intentions. That would require him to be much closer in proximity, and try a much harder spell. But Argos could draw up memories. It was something that Halmir had given up so willingly. And since his captivity, Argos had come, every night, to Halmir’s mind. He had come every night, and stolen Halmir’s memories. Not in the sense that Halmir lost the memories, but in the sense that Argos had them now, too.
And in Halmir’s mind, that was more dangerous than anything. Because Lady Vye had insisted on telling Halmir so often what was happening. And for the first time since his captivity, Halmir wondered if he wanted Argos to know the truth. If Argos knew Vye’s plans for him,
he would definitely plan an attack on the road, while they were vulnerable.
If Halmir had not been magically incapacitated, he could have resisted the memory-read. If he had some special equipment, he could have even blocked it entirely. If he had wanted to, he could even have read Argos’ mind back, although Argos, as his Master, had the option to give only those thoughts he wanted to share. Still, he would have found out something.
But he couldn’t. Argos was reading his memories. Halmir could feel each moment of the past day move through him. It was too late now. Argos knew what they were planning, and for the first time, he was afraid. For the first time, he didn’t know who he wanted to win.
Chapter 35: The Lair of the Beast
“What’s that?” Michael asked.
“It’s the second most dangerous thing you will find here,” said the man who stood beside him.
“Why is it here?”
“Because it has to be somewhere. Might as well be here as anywhere.”
Michael assessed the creature before him. If asked later to describe it, he would only be able to say that it was a frightening thing. It was a monster of some type. It was the thing of childhood’s nightmares. But how many legs and how many arms it had, what color its hair was, and how sharp its teeth were was a thing of mystery. Only the fact that it was there was important enough to be real.
“How do I get by it?”
“You’ll have to slay it.”
“It is a terrible beast. I am just a man.”
“You are more than just a man. You are a friend to some, a leader of others. You are the husband of one in particular.”
“But all of these things are parts of me. When you add them together, you just end up with me. I am not fit to engage such a monstrosity.”
“Let me tell you a secret,” the vague man said, getting vaguely closer and speaking in hushed tones, “There are many things of evil out in the great world. And there are many things older and wiser than you. But you are more than a man. Remember that. You have it in you to do great things. You are young by the measure of mountains, but you have been invested with a power that could crumble those mountains. You can defeat this thing. You can defeat anyone or anything in your path, with the right tools.”
“I need a sword.”
“She has one for you.”
Michael turned to see Sarah. Despite the thrashing and growling of the Beast, Sarah seemed calm, and she smiled. Michael felt more helpless against her smile than any number of claws or fangs.
Sarah held across her palms a sword in a bejeweled scabbard. Michael took the weapon and unsheathed it. It was the most beautiful weapon he had ever seen.
“I’ll see you soon,” he said to Sarah. He then approached the Beast.
Of the tall tales of great battles, and the epic poems of glorious fights between two creatures, none would do justice to the sheer intensity of the battle that took place between Michael and the Beast. For while the outside world only aged a few minutes, in Michael’s world, he battled the Beast for a full five years of his mind. It was at this time that he came closest to death since his initial injuries. For despite Alderthorn’s expert skills, and the love of those that loved him, there was always the cold and the dark. And against these, he had only his own will to sustain him.
Finally, Michael destroyed the creature utterly, though he could remember no specific move of his sword that did the trick. Finally, the darkness subsided a little, and again, the path was clear to him.
“Wonderful,” the man said. Michael turned to see that Sarah was gone, and only the man was there. His sword was likewise gone. “That’s it now. We’re almost home. Only one more thing to take care of.”
Michael turned back to the road, and weary though he was, and though his beard had grown twelve inches, he trudged on.
Chapter 36: The End of the Lesson
“Did you wait up for me?” Gabriel asked as he entered his chambers.
“Not much of a chance I was going to sleep,” Vye said, sitting on a chair by the stairs, in the path of the chill draft. The sun would be up in a few hours, but Vye had given up on the idea of sleeping hours ago. Too many things running through her mind.
“I’ve heard the Prince is leaving for Anuen in the morning,” Gabriel said.
“Yes,” Vye said. “I’m going with him.”
“I suspect I will be left behind,” Gabriel said.
“How’s Michael?” Vye said.
“He’ll wake up sometime tomorrow,” Gabriel said.
“That’s amazing,” Vye said.
Gabriel collapsed into a seat at his workstation. He was at the end of his physical endurance for a waking day.
“It is amazing,” Gabriel said. “But only slightly more amazing than your recovery.”
“I just took a nasty beating,” Vye said.
“Julia, your ribs were broken,” Gabriel said.
“Master, I don’t want to discuss it.”
“No, listen,” Gabriel said. “Listen. Something extraordinary is going on. And you’re at the center of it, whether you want to be or not. And I can’t help you with it. And even if Tallatos himself traveled all the way here from Khiransi, he would not be able to help you with it. You’re going to need to figure it out. On your own. I think it’s time you and I moved on. I am no longer your Master, Lady Vye.”
It was the first time he had used her title in private. He was speaking to her as a peer, an equal. This was a new chapter for them. Vye did not know what came over her. Probably sleep depravation. She stood, walked over to Gabriel, she kissed him on the cheek. Then, she left the room.
Chapter 37: The Edge of the World
“It’s the end of the road,” Michael said.
“Indeed,” said the man.
Michael approached the cliff that waited before him. It was a very sudden, very shear drop. He did not see the ground below him, however. Instead, when he peered over the cliff, he saw a bright, glimmering light.
“What now?” Michael asked.
“You jump.”
“But I will die.”
“You don’t believe that, really, do you? Have you learned nothing?”
“But then where will I end up?”
“You said it yourself: You thought you should be somewhere.”
“In Hartstone Castle.”
“Yes.”
“But how will this get me there?”
“The method of your departure couldn’t be less important. What matters is it is time for you to go home.”
“I’m not going to remember this place, am I?”
“No, I don’t think so. But you will remember many other things.”
“Things like Sarah.”
“Let me see if I can’t help you a little here. You’ve come far enough, I think.”
The man waved his rather obscure hand. Michael stumbled from the mental images he saw. He felt the weight of a lifetime pass over him then vanish.
“That was someone’s life!” Michael said.
“Every second of it, remembered for an instant.”
“Whose life?”
“Yours.”
“I have to get back there.”
“Then you must jump.”
“A leap of faith, is it?”
“If it helps for you to think of it that way. But this cliff is meaningless to you. Remember, you are more than a man. You are a man of greatness. This cliff cannot destroy you. Great deeds await your doing them. This world has nothing left to offer you.”
Michael nodded in perfect agreement. His dream was starting to fade out. He turned to the cliff.
And jumped.
Chapter 38: Doctor’s Orders
Michael’s ears started working for the first time in more than a week. He heard birds chirping, a creek running. He vaguely remembered having a conversation with someone, but he couldn’t remember with whom. And in the wake of the real sounds of birds and wind and water, the voice of his dreams seemed false by comparison.
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Then he heard another voice:
“Good morning, stinky,” Flopson said.
“You call everybody that,” Michael said, very groggily. His eyes were debating about whether or not it was worth opening at all. They settled on a squint.
“Everybody is stinky,” Flopson said.
“Yes,” Michael said, “But I’m a Count. Give me some authority, if you please.”
“Good morning, Your Stinkyness,” Flopson said, bowing.
“Why aren’t you juggling?”
“Nobody was watching.”
“Where are we?”
“Middle of nowhere.”
“Are we safe?”
“Well,” Flopson said, peeking out of Michael’s shack, “There are a whole bunch of guards outside.”
“Are they mine?”
“I hope so.”
Alderthorn wandered into the room.
“Ah, I see your friend has recovered,” Alderthorn said.
“No, Flopson is still insane,” Michael said. “How long have I been out?”
“It has been about nine days since you suffered your wounds,” Alderthorn said. “You’re lucky your funny little friend thought to bring you here. Your people would have probably have tried to bandage you up.”
“Well, we’ve had a good track record with bandages,” Michael said. “Listen, I don’t remember much of what happened before. I thought I was going to be married.”
“You were married,” Alderthorn said. “Her Grace, your wife, was here two nights ago.”
“What happened?” Michael said.
“You got into a sword fight,” Flopson said, “And boy did you get your ass--”
“I think I’m going to need to hear it from someone else. Where’s Landos?”
“He went back to the castle.”
“I need to get back,” Michael said, trying to sit up.
“I will not allow it,” Alderthorn said.
“I hate to put it this way,” Michael said, fighting the stiffness in his limbs, “But I’m the Count. You want to order a Count around?”
“I have worked very hard, all my life, to not order anyone around,” Alderthorn said, “But for the sake of your own health, I will not let you go for another day.”
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