Looming Shadow: Journey to Chaos book 2 (14 page)

“I missed you too,
Kas.” She smacked him upside the head. “Hey! What was that for!?”

She put her hands on
her hips and scowled. “You missed my coronation! The biggest day of my life and
my best friend didn't show up!” Her golden eyes filled with tears. “My dad was
killed, my boyfriend betrayed me, and you...” She wiped them on her extremely
expensive gloves. “How do you think that made me feel!?”

Eric took her in his
arms again and apologized. She alternated between hugging and hitting him while
crying in his chest. Sometime later, she withdrew again. By now, her face was a
mess and Eric bit his lip.

“Oh, go ahead! You're
the only one I'd allow to, so you might as well.”

Eric did, and with
relish. While he did, she pulled out a napkin to clear the smeared make-up. When
she was finished and he caught his breath, the two friends sat next to each
other on a couch and caught up while snacking.

Kasile was eager to
hear what he did while he was away and to hear more about the strange world in
which he lived. In particular, she was curious what living in a dry world was
like for a mage. This, she said, would be crucial in a hypothetical debate
concerning mana mutation. She was thrilled that he had more than his own
subjective opinion.

Eric introduced his experiment,
Preserving Mana in Desperate Circumstances
. It was a record of his daily
mana levels based on meditations every morning, compared to a second chart of
the mana he found in his waste. A third chart estimated how much mana he
regained by consuming said waste. Kasile said she would give it to the royal
publisher. She also said it would help counter an argument in the coming Mana
Mutation Summit.

“What about you? What's
it like being queen?”

Kasile instinctively
held her head high. “It is a great and heavy responsibility, but I will uphold
it proudly for the sake of the nation.”

“Kas,” Eric pointed to
himself, “it's me.”

Kasile giggled. “Oops,
sorry…It's harder than I thought it would be. I knew ruling would be a juggling
act, but I didn't truly understand what that meant. I only have so many
resources and because of Selen, I have few senior officials left to make good
use of them. Then there's the flatterers I inherited along with my crown.
They're so fake I feel like clubbing them.”

“But you don't.”

“Of course not. Too
many witnesses and sometimes they're funny. The backseat monarchs are worse.
People that supported my ideals when I was a princess are now trying to steer
me away from following them now that I am queen. They act like I don't know they're
doing it! It's demeaning!” She gave Eric a smile. “I'm glad you're back.
There's no one else I can talk with like this.”

She trusted no one but
him. Revealing her insecurity was the cement of their friendship. Fresh off a
coup and her father's funeral, she had to run a nation surrounded by sycophants
and leeches; that could make anyone paranoid.
She
would only get worse
and her best friend was a world away.

Are those
shadows...that tension...Because I was gone?

“What about Culmus?”

Kasile sighed. “He's a
wonderful listener, but I'm supposed to be looking for a consort and, as a
mercenary, he doesn't qualify. If I spend too much time with him, rumors will
spread.”

“What about Siron? He
used
to be your boyfriend and he's a landed duke...What happened?”

Kasile blushed, for
once looking like a mundane girl with boy problems.

“We were never really
officially
dating...looking for the best match and all...but everyone knew about it. We
were childhood friends and he was so dashing. Then the Stratos Tragedy drove
Culmus here... He was so pitiful...I thought they could be friends…it....didn't
work out like I wanted...”

Eric's grin would make
a trickster proud. “In other words, Her Royal Majestic Stoicism wanted a knight
harem.”

Kasile blushed so hot
she ignited a nearby flowerpot. “It wasn't like that! Really!”

Eric nodded
indulgently. “Uh-huh.”

“An-nywayy, he's a boy
with a traitorous father. He has to redeem his family name before we can even
be friends again.”

“Then what's he doing
here
now
?”

Kasile grinned and Eric
smiled. He knew that look. It was the “I'm breaking the rules and no one can
doing anything about it” look. “I told my court that Siron would 'prove his
devotion by waiting on me as a servant.' He will remain here until I can assure
him that he has my forgiveness.”

Eric raised an eyebrow.
“Does he?”

“I'm mad; make no
mistake about that. However, if not for his father's scheme…” Kasile locked
eyes with Eric. “I wouldn't have
this
.”

Fear ravaged Eric's
mind and hatred filled his soul. Together, they became a fire that burned all
of his thoughts. He stared catatonically at the young queen until she blinked.
He shuddered and wiped sweat from his brow.

“Evil Eye...Do you want
my congratulations or condolences?”

“Both will do.”

Eric spun out of his
chair and drew himself up with a hammy flourish. “Then allow me, Your Fiery
Majesty, to offer my
most heartfelt
congratulations on your
dreadful
misfortune.” He finished with a pompous bow that led into a somersault and landed
back on his feet with another flourish.

Kasile giggled. “Beware
Poe's Law, my friend. If not for the somersault, I'd think that was real.” Her
smile faded. “I wish we could continue, but if I delay too much longer, my
court will become suspicious. Your mission is with the Royal Archivist; he
needs the Selen Betrayal from your perspective to complete his records. “

“You mean talk about
how useless I was and that my only contribution was to negate the result of my
own stupidity.”

“That event was pivotal
not only in my ascension, but important to world history as well. The people
need to know that Dengel was involved.”

“No, they don’t.” 

Eric snapped his
fingers and wrapped himself in a Dark Veil. A second later, he realized he’d
unwittingly mimicked one of Tasio’s favorite gestures. Despite this, he walked
invisibly to the door.

“Please, Eric, do it
for me.”

Her voice, so soft and
pleading, held him tighter than shackles. He decloaked and said, “Alright, Kas,
but only because it's you asking.”

Mentally, he winced.
There was another unintentional mimicry of The Trickster.

“Thanks.” She pulled
out her smart scry and sent a message to the Royal Archivist. “Afterward, you
can explain your connection to Dakol.”

“I don’t understand it
either. I just have better than average affinity for darkness spells. It’s
nothing special, right?”

Kasile wrinkled her
nose. “Oh, Ancestor, no ...The last time someone had ‘better affinity than
average for darkness spells,’ there was a localized eclipse. Ataidar was blanketed
in darkness for a month; riots
everywhere.
The Trickster thought it was
hilarious
.”

“That's it! I'm going
to the library and spending another nine days there!”

Eric pushed the door
open and slipped on the greased hallway floor. He yelped and fell flat on his back.
A petite and feminine giggle reached his ears. It wasn't Kasile, but a slender
and golden-haired maid kneeling two feet away. She looked away from him and
busied herself polishing the floor. All his anger vanished at the sight of his
friend and a different feeling took its place.

“Annala...is...are
you...”

“You prefer maiden me
over the posh princess?” Annala asked. She turned to face him and Eric's anger
returned. “Eric, I'm flattered,” Tasio said with Annala's voice.

Red with anger and
embarrassment, Eric shouted gibberish and threw mana bolts at The Trickster. He
had his giggle fit and disappeared.

“The rumors were true!”
an elderly human man said in awe. He was standing in a doorway at the near end
of the hallway.

“You
are
the
Trickster's Choice! I thought he was leading me into a trap when he promised
something ground-breaking, but –” He walked through, his leg tripped a wire,
and an egg fell on his head. His hands clenched as the yoke slid down his
forehead and off his chin. He ignored both it and the peal of laughter that
followed. Instead, he extended his hand to Eric.

“Mr. Watley, I
presume?”

Eric accepted it. “Yes,
you must be the Royal Archivist.”

The gentleman shook his
hand once and let go. “Yes, Henry Pupil Senior at Her Majesty's service. She
requires your insight for the national records.” He looked over Eric's
shoulder. “Where is she, by the way? She said she was with you.”

The room was empty.
I
suppose she didn't want anyone to see her without make-up.
With a straight
face, he told the gentleman that Her Majesty was tending to a “messy” issue
involving the royal painters and needed to fix it immediately.

Henry nodded his
understanding. “We have much to discuss.” He led Eric back through the room he
came in from and continued, “I've wanted to meet a Trickster's Choice for eons.
Their lives are never dull and immortals can always use excitement.”

Eric stopped. The man
looked old, but he didn’t look nearly old enough to talk about “eons.” He
looked like he should be someone’s grandfather, not the founder of the family
line.

“You're immortal too?”

Henry stopped. “Yes,
why do you ask?”

“My guild's archivist is
also immortal. Do you guys spend so much time recording history you become part
of it?”

Henry shrugged.
“Something like that...”

Then he launched into a
lecture about a random time period in a random place and continued talking like
this for the rest of the walk.
Apparently, immortals don't need to
breathe...
He stopped at one of the many doors in the middle of the castle –
the “clerk zone” – and opened the door.

Inside was a replica of the Dragon's Lair
Archives: bookshelves to the ceiling on every wall and the requirements of life
(food, water, toilet, etc.) isolated to one corner. This one, however, was less
“endless hallway” and more “endless tower.” The circle of books spiraled so
high he couldn't see the top.
It must be that tall one I saw...I thought it
was a second dungeon
.

Here the age of the castle could be felt
more than anywhere else. The masonry was old and the stones were cracked in
places. Only torches and a high window provided light. A quill and a dish of
ink sat on the desk next to an oil lamp. No matter where Eric looked, he
couldn't see any sign of the modern age in this man's office.

“Surprised? This room has not changed since
Dengel stood in it.” His mouth quirked up. “In fact, he stood where you are
standing now.”

Eric scowled. “Is that another 'you are
Dengel' shot?”

“You are young, you are a student of magic,
you live in the shadow of previous mages, and you have The Trickster's
attention...Yes, I'd say you are very much like Dengel.”

Eric's scowl softened as curiosity took
over. “Dengel was the Trickster's Choice too?”

Henry picked up a book and examined it.
“Traditionally, everyone with Low Mana Inhibition is said to have The
Trickster's favor.”

“Low Mana Inhibition...” Eric fidgeted as
he tried to remember. “Oh yeah! That's when a soul is unable to regulate the
mana it draws from the Eleven Mana Gates.”

Henry smiled mysteriously. “Your nine-day
library stay continues to prove useful.”

Eric’s eyes showed shock. “You know about
that!?”

Henry looked over his glasses at the boy.
“You are an Otherworlder. Those are also candidates for Trickster's Choice and
the last time we had one of those, it tried to take over the world.” He handed
Eric the book. “I believe Commander Radic told you that on your first day
here.”

The book was titled “
Otherworlder Log
Number 349: Eric Watley
.” It began with Redstreak's description of him in
the Rose Forest, through his time at the public school, and then his employment
in the Dragon's Lair and his activities in Kyraa. The only thing that wasn’t
recoded was his trial underneath the Altar of Rebirth.

“This is creepy.”

“We call it being careful. Not only are you
favored by The Trickster, but Dakol as well.”

“You’re the third person that’s said that
and I don’t believe it.”

Henry took the book from him, skipped to the
end, and read,
“10:00 AM to 7:00 AM Shaliday 17 Firos 2000 AA:  a living shadow
appeared in Mr. Watley's cell and cast tendrils into him. The energy signature
matched that of Dakol, Avatar of the Grand Elemental Sentience Darkness. Upon
writing this sentence, a second shadow appeared at this observer's side and
held a finger to its mouth. The command was obeyed with a nod and the second
shadow disappeared.”

He closed book with a thud.

“Hard to argue with that.”

“Quite.” Henry gestured to the chair before
his desk. “Shall we begin?” 

The trial beneath the
Altar of Rebirth remained a mystery. He didn't want this guy to know
everything
he'd done. Then he realized that Dengel's actions in Kyraa were also
unknown. The thought galled him and so he paid special attention to his victory
over the undead mage.

He emphasized his skill
and treachery, and how it prevailed over Dengel's arrogance, then went into
detail about how pitiful Dengel was in his last moments. Henry recorded all
this and gave him a crystal panel to transcribe his memory of the duel. Eric
put his hand on it, said the activation phrase, and the panel lit up.
Information from his mind traveled through his hand and into the panel as mana
signals, which created the image of the mental meeting room and its statues.
Simply the sight of the dead mage made him scowl. After watching the events
depicted, Henry said, “Thank you, Mr. Watley. This is just the kind of story we
needed.”