The blizzard had lifted by the ti Alex and Claygon stepped outside into the cold night air.
But the storm had done its work.
Snow drifts rose high in the castles courtyard, laying thick on every roof and capping the inner wall in a rampart of white. They covered the signs of battle, hiding them, making it seemfor one irrational montthat it had been done on purpose to hide their sha. It was as if the world was concealing sothing ugly, washing it in white paint to hide that it ever was.
An image of Mrs. Lu hastily sweeping dirt under a bearskin rug before guests arrived ca back to him. It had always been a fond mory, especially when Mr. Lu brought it up to his wife, but Alex now found it disturbing, realising how much it had in common with the snow sweeping over the tragedy that had just befallen the castle.
How many more tis are sights like this going to be a part of my life? Alex thought, his boots crunching on heavy snow as Claygon ploughed along beside him.
His boot caught sothing hard buried in a drift and he stumbled, almost falling.
A crushed spear-fly corpse lay beneath the snow, probably one of many. Gingerly, he picked it up by its crumpled wings, looking at a nearby hillone of the few ford not by fallen snow, but by the hands of the Generasians.
Ravener-spawn were piled highhigh enough to tower over even the castle wallsand more were still being carted over, adding to the growing pile. Beside the grueso sight, wizards were gathering and cataloguing specins, preparing them for the scalpel and the autopsy table.
As Alex strode to the foot of the grisly pile and tossed away the spear-fly, he hoped that the bodies would provide so new insights into their anatomy, tactics, and maybe even clues to help defeat them permanently.
Its the least you could do. He spit on a dead bone-charger before he and Clagyon turned away. Alex wasnt the first to spit on the slain invaders bodies.
And he was sure he wouldnt be the last.
He trudged through snow drifts, contemplating the battle: the successes, the failures, and what they should do to prepare for the nextand there was no doubt thered be a next. I need that staff, he whispered, breath misting in the cold, rising toward the grey clouds. His eyes turned to a spot where a vasthole had been; it was now back filled by earth magic, and covered in a layer of fresh, white powder. It was the hole from which two monsterswhod almost cost him everythinghad climbed. That behemoth and hive-as-one ca out of that hole almost right on top of .
He touched his side, rubbing his skin, rembering the numbing cold of the hive-as-ones magic as it withered his strength. They ca at and I didnt have a quick enough response. My potions are good, but with the wind blowing so hard, they were mostly useless. I need another way to react faster: the potions arent enough.
His frown deepened the more he thought about the attack. I use a lot of protective spells, but I need stronger ones. Greater force armour is a must, and as soon as I get to fourth-tier spells, Ive got to learn an invisibility spell.
His fingers raked his short beard. Maybe so more illusion spells in general. Next sester Ill be learning more blood magicif I can build Corpse Puppet into my staff, Ill be able to pull that out in a fight. Better to turn dead enemies into fighters than be overwheld by live ones. Sa with Warp Flesh
He rembered beams of light firing from his invisible enemy, freezing people in place and holding them so it could sweep them with its petrifying ray.
He rembered the paralysed face of Watcher Shaw, frozen in a snarl of defiance before he turned to stone. Alex winced at the mory: he hadnt known the Watcher captain well, but he was a fierce leader and a great tactician whod seen them through so bad situations.
If it werent for him, Alex was sure that a lot more people would have died.
Rest in peace, he thought, looking at the spot where the Watcher had taken his last breath. I hate to admit it, but that paralysing ray was very effective. I need to find out if theres a spell that does the sa thing, sothing that I could use against really tough threatsespecially fast ones. I also need a way to make invisible things detectable.
He thought back to his team fighting invisible adversaries in the Gas of Roal. Back then, hed sort of cheated using the Mark and sending forceballs to where he thought enemies were.
Thenwhen the Mark prevented him from doing anything it considered combathe was still able to tell his team where their opponents were.
But thatd be too dangerous in a true battle, he thought. The invisible monster was fast. Really fast and if I was doing sothing the Mark didnt like and it interfered, Id be stone dust right now. No, I need to think of sothing else. So way to mark invisible enemies. If I dont, sothings going to get one day. I cant just keep relying on Claygons power.
Alex looked at his golem: the giant, silent guardian. Always there. Always quiet. Always reliable.
That was sothing the young wizard had started to take for granted, and one day it was going to cost them both dearly.
Youre always protecting , he said. ButI havent been doing enough to protect you.
Pain marked his eyes as they ran across the white marble of his golems form when he recalled the cracks that had cut into him.
Thats twice now that youve been hurt badly: once by the war-spear and now by the sonic scream from that Ravener-spawn, he said. You know, it's only because your body was claynot stonethat you didnt shatter. That one difference in your composition saved you. But after you evolvedI dunno what made you immune to that scream, but whatever it was, Im thanking the Traveller for it. Maybe you absorbed so of that things magic. Its sothing we really gotta explore together.
They were nearing the aeld tree, passing by expedition mbers on clean up duty: defenders loading the last of the enemy bodies, earth mages searching for Ravener-spawn holes, and other wizards casting spells that renewed shattered stone.
He exhaled, his eyes stinging.
Claygon could have shattered, just like those stones. He rubbed his eyes, and turned away from what could have been, feeling grateful that it hadnt happened.
Ahead, the aeld trees leaves fluttered in the wintery landscape.
Alex cocked his head, examining it from base to crown.
Its light brought warmth and comfort andsatisfaction?
He raised an eyebrow.
Areare you feeling proud of yourself? Alex laughed. Im kinda getting a little bit of satisfaction coming off of you.
That self-satisfaction seed to heighten at his words, he could imagine the little tree puffing up its chest, if it had one.
Yeah, thats definitely what Im getting from you, he said, touching its bark. His hand rubbed the tree trunk, drinking in the magical saplings warmth. And, you know what? I think you should be proud of yourself.
He gestured around the courtyard.
Dont think I didnt notice you helping us out. I know the courtyard was slippery and all, but those bone-chargers were falling over like drunks after a night in the Bears Bowl Tavern. Or like Khalik and Thundar after exams. He chuckled. You bring fortune to those who take care of you, right? Well, we definitely had so fortune today. Between Gwyllain noticing what was going on and bringing the HeroesI gotta ask what thats aboutand that invisible thing falling overyeah, we definitely had luck and good fortune on our side.
Alex pat the tree trunk. Im grateful for that and Im going to try and get the best fae and wizard-made fertiliser that I can and drench your roots in it until youre taller than the keep.
There was a happy little pulse from the tree which felt like a tickle to Alexs soul. He, like the tree, was filled with a contented warmth.
Alright, youll take care of and Ill take care of you. But for right nowthanks. Thanks for what youve done. Were all really lucky
A voice cut him off, one that was calling out from behind him. Alexander!
He turned, finding the small form of Gwyllain ploughing, leaping and tunnelling his way through the drifts. Despite the cold and lack of warm clothing in the cold night air, the asrai showed no sign of shuddering as he made his way to the wizard.
Youre taking care of the aeld very well. His large eyes fell on the tree. I could tell how it feels from halfway back to the keep.
Yeah, I hope its happy, Alex said. It feels strange, in a way. Everyone else is either grieving, thinking or strategizing.
Aye, thats what theyre doing up there alright, Gwyllain nodded to a window in the keep. And its aaaall a little too big for . Too much excitent, I think. I asked to be excused becauseI think Ive had enough excitent for one day.
Yeah, Im surprised to see you, Alex laughed. I thought you said youd be avoiding until I was a hundred or sothing? Or maybe even older.
Well, it felt bad to be just letting you and yours get eaten by Ravener-spawn, he said. Just didnt feel right to .
Alex watched him closely.
He looked away as he spokehe was hiding sothing.
The Thaish wizard nodded his head. Well, I appreciate what youve doneeven if that ant putting yourself in danger. Do you want sothing from ?
Gwyllain flinched slightly.
Just slightly.
No! Of course not, dont want anything now, he said.
Now, Alex thought. Hell probably co looking for a favour later. Best to watch my words with him.
Well, even if you dont want anything now, you should at least stay for the evening. Get sothing to eat. Ill give you so wine. You deserve it for what you did for us.
Aye, Ill take you up on that. The asrai smiled. Only had human wine a couple of tis. And it was old.
Sotis its better when its old, Alex pointed out.
Not the stuff I got my hands on, it tasted like bog water, he grimaced. But, wine will have to wait. First, Ive got to go down and tell the blue caps whats happened. No doubt, theyre still hopping mad at all the churning and smashing that went on. So, Id better let them know it wasnt you mortals fault.
Wed all appreciate that, Alex said. Wouldnt want them to be upset with us.
Oh, but before I go Gwyllain looked around, his eyes scanning the moonlit snow, making sure no one was near. Then he waved to Alex. Lean down here.
The tall young man frowned, crouching in the snowdrift. What is it? he asked quietly.
Beware the fellow that brought .
What felloOh you an the Gu
Shhhh! Gwyllain hissed. Dont say the na. So faeve got a bad habit ofputting lures in their nas. Makin em all sticky-like and letting them know when their nas been spoken. Not sure if hes one, but I wouldnt put it past him.
Alex recalled the predatory aura coming from the stocky fae. He glanced up at the keep. Okaywont say his na unless I have to.
Hes got many, Gwyllain whispered. And hes a nasty one. Dark rumours about him. And they say he doesnt play too gently with mortals.
What kind of rumours?
Best not to speak of it much more, the asrai whispered. I gave my warning and now Id best be off. Ill see you when its ti to eat.
With that, the asrai bobbed his head in a short bow, took a step into the snow and vanished.
Alex looked at where the little fae had just stood. By the Traveller, Ive got to learn to disappear like that.
Rising to his full height and sighing, he considered the asrais warning. Enemiespotential dangersthey just keep multiplying. And, Baelinll be taking into a demonic abyss soon. Ive got enough things to think about. Ill just tell Baelin what Gwyllain said and be done with it.
He exhaled, his breath drifted away like fog.
The road ahead would be rougher.
His first sester of second year had ended with darkness, blood and chaos.
but also with so good.
He looked at the evolved Claygon standing beside the aeld tree, head facing the sapling. The sight brought a smile to Alexs face. His golem and the young tree seed to like each other: he could feel curiosity emanating from the sapling along with a welcoming warmth.
Alex chuckled. You must be thinking that Claygon looks different. Well, hes still the sahes just gone through a couple of upgrades. Thats the thing, youll find a lot of things around you change, just like the castle over there. He gestured to the keep and stone walls. The lands changed but in many ways, it stayed the sa. Hmmmyou know what, maybe Ill leave you two to chat for a while. Or whatever you do to communicate.
He looked at his golem. Ill be back to pick you up in a bit, my friend. Just enjoy your ti.
Putting thoughts of dark tis from his mind, Alexander Roth began his trek back to the keep. The road ahead might be a dark one, but he would be ready for it, no matter what dangers it held, be they demons, Ravener-spawn, or fae.
He had his spells.
He had his friends.
And, he even had the Mark.
With hope, that would be
Father.
Alex nearly jumped a foot in the air, letting out a scream that sounded like it should have co from Selina. He looked around for the source of the voice. Was that Gwyllain pulling a prank?
It sounded like it had co from right on top of
Overherefather.
Alexander Roth froze dead in his tracks.
The voice had not co from on top of him.
It had co from inside his head, and behind him.
Slowly, he turned, his eyes falling on Claygon.
His golem was looking straight at him.
And in his mind, he could hear the nervous, tentative voice tinged with all of its trepidation.
All of its longing.
And he knewwithout a doubtwhose voice it was.
Hellofather, Claygon gently whispered in his mind.
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