A Dead God's Tear (The Netherwalker Trilogy) (52 page)

Marcius was amazed at her resourcefulness. “
Thank you.”

She shrugged. “
It was nothing. Though I will admit you are heavier than you appear.”

He chuckled, but then grew serious. “
So now what? I'm guessing the Elders will want to know where we were?”

Selene waved off the question. “
There is nothing to worry about. I filled them in a long time ago. You were under for a while. We were worried.”

“
We?”

“
Aye, the Academy people arrived a seven day ago to pick you up. We were worried that you wouldn't come to. They are staying here on the chance that you might awake, but we were prepared to transport you if need be.” Her voice grew quiet, “I was worried too.”

His heart beat faster at the comment, “
Selene, I. . . ”

“
Regardless,” she said quickly, cutting him off, “There is something we need to discuss: the gem and amulet.” Marcius stopped fidgeting because the elf’s face was tight with emotion. “I. . . I. . . I lied to the Council. About what we found there.”

Marcius could not believe that. “
Why would you do such a thing?”

“
Because I could not know what they would do. I couldn't risk it. So I lied and told them that you wandered out into the Myst by accident and that all we found was the sword. I said nothing of the gem, the amulet, nor what you did to get us out after I fell. And I know you did something, something you're not supposed to be able to do without a familiar. Just like when I met you on the beach, just like you did in the cell. You are an anomaly, and I should have told everything. . . but I couldn't.”

She refused to meet his eyes, “
I'm grateful,” he said slowly, processing her words, “But why, Selene? Why go through it all, just to protect me?”

The elf didn't respond right away, so Marcius stayed quiet, giving her the time she needed. “
Because,” she said slowly, “I've gotten to know you. You're not just some faceless human. I mean, my spirit beast died for you, and I should be mad. . . but I'm not. It hurts, but I can't bring myself to remain mad at you. It is frustrating, but true.”

A slight smile grew on his lips. “
Why, Selene I do think that makes us friends.”

She pointedly ignored his comment. “
The pouch on the dresser has the amulet and stone. They are yours. Earned in combat, kept in peace. I do hope you will use them wisely.”

Marcius
’s thoughts settled on Velynere. There were answers that had to be found. “I might have an idea what I wish to do with them.”

“
I am sure,” she said with a roll of her eyes, “Anyway, there are people here that have been waiting patiently since you first started stirring.”

He raised an eyebrow in surprise, opening his mouth to respond when he felt it hit him. A presence, one he missed terrib
ly, reuniting with his mind, a puzzle piece to match his own. It melded with him, caressing his thoughts, and his heart fluttered with joy even as his face broke into a wide smile that threatened to split his face.

Faerill!

Marc, I missed you so much!

The
door opened and Jared and Alicia walked in, along with a wizened balding man that Marcius didn't recognize. But it was the tiny creature that appeared on his chest that stole his attention, the wyvrr dropping his invisibility as it ran around on the bed happily.

His hand sought out the creature, relishing in the soft golden scales under his fingertips. The wyvrr crooned its pleasure, arching its back like a cat to press harder against his hand.

The entirety of their memories came flooding forth, mixing together. Marcius was inundated with information, of what the familiar had been doing in their time apart.

You've been busy.

As have you, Marc. There are many questions that need to be answered.

He couldn't agree more. How had he done magic without Faerill? Wh
y was everyone so interested in him?

I don't know, Faerill, but I suspect we'll find the answers at the Academy. Are you looking forward to going?

Aye, very much so. It will strengthen our bond and our prowess. We will grow into something to be recognized and admired.

He looked up at Jared, who was beaming, and Alicia, who was trying not to smile and failing horribly. It was Jared who finally said something, “
I can't say how glad I am to see you safe and sound, Marc. You really had us worried.”

“
I'm sorry to have worried you both. I'm really not sure what happened on the boat.”

Jared waved it off. “
That's alright; we can figure it out later. I hear you've been busy here. Been going off on adventures without me? Some friend you are.”

“
I will leave the rest of you to catch up,” Selene interjected, drawing the attention of the whole room. If Marcius didn't know better, he could have sworn a brief flash of jealousy had flickered across the stoic woman's face.

When she had left, Jared turned back to Marcius, givin
g him a lewd wink. “Quite the looker, isn't she? You really have been busy!”

Marcius choked. “
It's not like that! Anyway, you'd probably be more interested in her. The elves can do things with swords that you can only dream of.”

Jared rubbed his chin. “
Is that so? Going to have to get them to show me sometime. You see, they've been housing us at some guest house. Not too bad, but very much under lock and key. Haven't had much of a chance to look around. Have you seen this place? It's amazing. It was the right decision to go with you! Who would have thought that we'd be in an elven capitol!”

Marcius took it all in. It was a pleasure to just hear his best friend's voice. From the familiar way he spoke, to the light of wonder in his eye. Marcius hadn't realized
how much he truly missed the blonde swordsman.

“
What about Simon?” he asked, for the outgoing not-bard was distinctly not present.

“
Hah! Him!” Jared grinned, “He threw a fit when told that he didn't have the authority to come along. Alicia here managed to get me in under the excuse of being her personal assistant! Hah, me, an assistant. Anyway, I'm sure he'll want to hear all about whatever it is that you've been up to. He was insistent on that.”

“
Will you stop bending his ear? I'm more interested in figuring out what happened while we were separated, and why it happened. He can hear about everything that lech has been up to after we hear what happened,” Alicia cut in testily.  There was a slight cough behind her. “Ah, and this is a teacher from the Academy, Marcius,” she added, seemingly startled at her lack of manners.

The man wore simple robes, complete with a long white beard. A storybook perfect wizard. “
Marcius Realure,” he introduced himself as they shook hands. The man's grip was firm and competent.

“
Dentaige Keafir,” the wizard responded. “I'm the head of this little journey to Selenthia. I've been meaning to come for a while now, to put in a formal request, so you were a convenient excuse.” He gave an off-kilter grin. “I teach magical theory and you'll probably hate me, but until then, I am pleased to make your acquaintance and ease you into the stringent life of the Academy.”

“
Good, I want to learn all that I can.”

The old man laughed, stroking his peppered beard, “
Well, you'll certainly get that, until you're sick of it! Though, you'll be on probation for a while, being a rogue wizard. Basic stuff, really. Restricted to where you can go, what you can look up, among a few other things.”

“
Rogue wizard?” He had never considered himself as such, but that had been what the Selenthian council called him too.

“
Merely a formality, I assure you. We have to keep pretenses up. Your cooperation and your Master's standing with the Academy are well known. Do not worry.”

You are no rogue. We were training by Anta
igne, one of the greatest wizards on Faelon. Hardly a rogue, in my opinion,
Faerill interjected a haughty lilt to his words.

When did you get so talkative?

I have matured since last we were together, Marc. I have not yet reached my full growth.

Marcius rem
embered Antaigne's teachings, of how his familiar would continue to alter itself, becoming more of an individual, more of an intelligent being within his own mind. Part of him was frightened at the aspect, but mostly he took comfort in it.

There was a cert
ain measure of contentment that comes from having a sympathetic soul to share your life with, someone with whom you can be yourself, where all social pretenses didn't matter.

By the Gods he had missed Faerill.

Alicia clicked her tongue, clearly irritated, and Marcius realized the older wizard had been talking the entire time. “Instructor Dentaige, I'd like to find out what happened on that boat.”

The older man shrugged, obviously used to dealing with the female Mage's abrasive personality. He sat on the edg
e of Marcius's bed and indicated for the woman to take over.

And so Marcius relayed his story, of what he remembered, and Alicia's face was grim by the end of it. “
So what you're saying is that you have no idea what got you out of bed and into the water? Sounds like magic to me, and not any low magic either. Enchantments aren't easy to do.”

“
Alicia,” Jared said, interjecting himself, “The important thing is that he's okay.”

“
No, it isn't. Because we don't know who did this to him, Jared,” she said, throwing her hands up in exasperation. She began pacing. “No, we have to find who did this, because we can't be sure if or when they will attack again. Next time you might not be so lucky, Marc.”

Marcius felt warmth in his chest, a stirring in the depths. He was
surrounded by friends and he had his familiar back. He grinned at Alicia. “It's nice to see you too.”

She blinked and then turned bright red, “
Sorry,” she stammered, “I'm not implying that I'm not happy to see you're safe, but. . . ”

That's not exactly fa
ir,
Faerril said, sounding put off,
she was very worried about you. It is bad when Jared is the voice of reason, but it was so.

“
It's alright,” Marcius said, trying to contain his laugh. “I understand.” And he did, truly. He knew enough about the Mage Lady to understand it was just her way of showing concern.

His familiar seemed to be mollified by the admission, giving the mental equivalent of a huff before curling up tighter. “
So, what did you guys do while I was away?” he asked, though Faerill had already shown him everything, he felt that he should allow his friends to tell him directly.

Jared ran a single hand through his blonde hair, letting loose a long breath. “
Marc, it was hectic when we lost you, not going to lie. Your familiar was going crazy and we weren't much better. Eventually, and it was Alicia that came up with it, we decided to just head to Aralene, to the Academy. She figured that since your familiar was alive, that meant you were, too. And if you weren't hurt, you'd eventually wind up there.”

The blonde man shrugged. “
In the end, she was right. We were there when the elven messenger came with the news that you had been captured. Just in time too. Your familiar was getting pretty weak. I wasn't aware that it needed portions of your blood. If it wasn't for that vial that the messenger had on him, I don't want to think what would have happened.”

Jared was kind to me, as was Alicia. You have good friends. Without them, I wouldn't be here now.

Marcius nodded, not even wanting to try and process what would happen to him if he lost the familiar that mattered so much. He rubbed the small patch of rough scales under Faerill’s chin absently.

“
Anyway, Marc,” Jared continued, “How are you feeling? Well enough to travel? We've been here too long as is. They were expecting us back over a seven day ago.”

Marcius looked around, surrounded by his friends, his familiar on his chest, and found that besides being a little tired, he felt pretty good. “
I think so. When do you want to leave?”

“
As soon as possible,” Alicia chimed in. “We initially gated to the outskirts of the Selenthia forest to get here, since the majority of it is warded against magical intrusion, and whatever isn't is warped by the influx of nether. We won't be porting back, though. We can't risk you, so we'll have to take the long way. I'd like to get started as soon as you're able to.”

I missed you.
Faerill said, crooning lightly, sending a wave of contentment to Marcius.
We must become better, so this never happens again. You are important to me and together we are one. There is nothing we can't accomplish.

Marcius agreed and looked up at Alicia, fire burning in his veins, “
I'd like to leave as soon as possible, but there is one stop I must make.”