​​​​26 Concern for the Living

HE STOOD BEFORE the tent’s centre pole and its guest, thinking. Getting her out of the tent would be easy. Well, without magic perhaps a little awkward, but do-able nonetheless. As was getting her out of camp, if a little harder. But what then? For hours, Threadfin had thought of little else. He needed a fool-proof plan before trying anything.

Manic and Mania had made certain he’d meet Roper, as Astra had predicted he would. Had they known Roper would take Lorn captive too? Those two had to be the source of the ghouls, and the cure for ghoul-phage. Her facial wound had improved, so he assumed a cure existed. Phage led to insanity and lots of biting. Whatever the kobolds suffered from, that wasn’t it. What did the twisted twins gain from any of this? The Shathra Stone had to be their goal. He wondered why they hadn’t taken Lorn and tortured her.

The prisoner had lowered herself to sit, chin resting on her breast. Dark brown hair spilled about her pale face. Threadfin cocked his head as he watched her. He thought he might like the scar on her. It added a little roughness to her beauty, which fit. He shook his head, bewildered. What was it about this breather, which had him so confused? She doesn’t even like you, you idiot. You’re undead, a scaly lizard-looking thingy, remember? But it was no good. He felt drawn to her, and for some reason, it hurt.

He did want to retrieve the Stone, and to deal with the Fetch, but he cared what happened to this woman. A contradiction if one thought about it too much. He decided not to. Maybe it was her resilience, or her spit-in-the-face, knee-in-the-groin defiance, which attracted him. Provided it was neither his face or groin.

Eyeing her like a Valtari vulture would get him nowhere. He returned to the wooden chest and sat, feeling miserable.

She didn’t raise her head when she spoke, her voice a croak, ‘The new look suits you, undeader. Horns are a nice touch. Expensive?’

‘You’ve no idea,’ he muttered. ‘I want you to know, I don’t agree with this. I want to see you released, but he will not allow it unless you give him what he wants.’

‘He sent you in here to convince me.’ She sounded disappointed, which for some reason pained him.

‘Yes.’

‘What about you?’

‘I’m not sure I understand.’

‘Of course, you do.’ She uttered a soft humourless laugh. ‘I knew you’d come. Saw it in your face when you first learned of your connection to it. You’re the Key, remember?’

‘What you saw was shock, I’d imagine.’

She lifted her head, regarding him with sleepy eyes. ‘You are a viral mage as is your sister. You both ushered in a new Age.’

‘Don’t I know it,’ he muttered. ‘You think I care about any of that? Being a mage isn’t much fun, let me tell you.’

‘Protector of the world, maybe even of the Spectrum? Not bad for a thief from the gutters of Lame.’

‘One world at a time if you don’t mind.’

‘Must gnaw at you like a hungry ghoul. Believe me, I’ve seen those at work.’

‘Could be worse.’

‘You seem glum. I guess you’re learning about the price of power. You see, there’s always a price. Always too high. Those who want it bad enough are the ones who don’t care about the cost. Especially if they can arrange for others to pay it.’

The defiance Threadfin admired was also a pain in his withered backside. ‘You’ve hidden it, somewhere nice and safe I bet. Don’t say you’ve gone and lost it.’

‘I didn’t.’

‘Wait, you mean you didn’t say you lost it, or you didn’t lose it?’

She smiled in that sly manner he loved.

‘Fine,’ he sighed, trying to maintain patience, and not dwell on her lips. What is happening to me? ‘How safe is it? Anyone with the right knowledge could get hold of it. Believe me, there are enough candidates who fit wandering about. Lorn, there’s a queue starting to form.’

She gave a bitter laugh. ‘Why do you think I’ve gone to such extremes? For the fun of it? Do I look like I’m having a good time?’

‘You’re not getting rid of me until you tell me where you hid it.’ Not even then, not until I can get you somewhere safe. An uncomfortable thought occurred. Astra hadn’t said he would save Lorn, but search for her. She’d also said destroying the Fetch was the one task that mattered. No, I can save her. I’ll also destroy the Fetch, and if I’ve time, grab the Stone on the way. Overconfidence was necessary for a mage.

‘You know he captured me before. Your friend.’

‘He’s not my friend, not any longer.’

‘He didn’t have as many ghouls with him. I escaped, but two days later fell into the clutches of a Fallen One. An angelic bounty hunter. Can you believe it? I forget his name, something awkward. Arrogant bastard. I escaped him too, although barely. I know everyone wants it and you’re no different. Don’t think you are. Why should I tell you what I never told anyone else?’

Because, he thought with a wince, at least I care what happens to you. She was right about one thing. Like the others, he did want it. He needed it, or how could he protect his world, never mind the Spectrum? ‘Roper wants his life back and to save the kobolds. We can help him.’ Do I believe that? Will he hand the Stone over to me when this is over?

‘You don’t have a clue,’ she said lowering her head, sounding hurt.

‘Enlighten me.’

‘You know he’ll use those ghouls to try and get his information. They have other talents.’

‘Lorn, I don’t think—’

‘Hah, but you see it won’t work. I’ve taken precautions. A hundred ghouls can’t give him what he wants. They’ll turn my brains to mush trying though.’ She turned her head a fraction, and looked him in the eyes. ‘I don’t know where it is. It’s one of my precautions. Not bad, eh?’ She burst out laughing.

Threadfin didn’t get the joke. ‘Well then,’ he said slowly, ‘we have a serious problem.’

‘I accepted my fate. It’s you who has the problem, Fin. I’m sorry.’

Roper wasn’t going to like this. Worse, it was unlikely the man would believe it. Not before his ghouls left her a lifeless lump. ‘Fine, forget about the Stone. I’m getting you out of here.’

She laughed harder. Well, at least someone was enjoying herself.

‡

NO NIGHT OR DAWN IN this broken world. Nothing but an eternal reddish twilight, visible through the thin fabric of the tent. As Lorn slept, Threadfin remained at her side. A kobold had provided him with a pallet, but otherwise, no one came near. No one offered her food or water either.

His thoughts turned to the others. They hadn’t made contact with him, but his Darken would be ready. They’d know he was in the camp, or well, he hoped they did. He’d thought about searching them out, but Roper wasn’t stupid. He’d find them when it was time.

His talent was no use for escape. Asher’s suggestion echoed in his mind, but Threadfin was dubious. Maybe Roper had the man set him up, for kicks, or to see if he could be trusted. No, it didn’t make sense. Why bother? None of it got Roper the Stone. Which meant Asher, whoever he was, was trying to help him.

Lorn moaned, but didn’t budge. He had listened to her breathing for hours. He never required much sleep and so he watched her in the gloom, the camp quiet. A guard stuck his head at times, but otherwise they were alone.

She groaned, this time moving her head. Threadfin left his pallet, and padded closer. She spoke in a whisper before he reached her. ‘Trouble sleeping?’

‘Wanted to see if you’re okay.’

‘Hah,’ she croaked, throat sounding dry. ‘The dead concerned about the living. Oh, save your breath. I know you’re only half dead. Why are you bothering with me? You know I don’t have it. Why don’t you go? Ah, because you can’t. Sorry, can’t help you.’

‘You don’t fool me.’ He lowered into a crouch before her. ‘This act you persist with. I saw through it to the woman beneath first day we met. Okay, the second day. There’s a kind person within, and I want to know her better.’ His voice became a whisper. ‘I want to save her.’

‘From her captor or from herself? You might be too late either way.’

His viralic sight revealed bright shades of grey in the gloom, her face clear. His power was reduced, true, but clearly not gone, which got him thinking.

After a moment’s silence, she shook her head. ‘All that’s left in me is anger, pain, and fear. I’m struggling to keep it together.’ She paused. ‘Fin?’

‘Yeah?’

‘Thank you. For coming, I mean. It’s nice, knowing somebody cares. You might be the only one, and I want you to know it matters to me.’

‘They pronounced me a mage, but I still don’t know what I’m doing.’ He paused, and saw the pain in her eyes. I can’t do anything right, can I?

‘I’m so sorry,’ she whispered, ‘for all of this.’

‘Lorn, let me help you. At least let me try. If you’re right, what’s there to lose?’

‘You don’t get it. I’ve ripped all the goodness out of me, cast it aside, as I was supposed to. What you see is a shell, which will shrivel and die.’

‘I don’t believe you.’

‘Doesn’t matter.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You’ve stepped into the middle of a war. You cannot prevent my death, but there is no need for you to be destroyed too.’

He didn’t like what he heard and changed the subject. Not listening to something he didn’t like was another mage rule he’d write up. ‘Manic and Mania. Who are they?’

She sighed. ‘They are shraeds, servants of Tartaros. At least, they were once. Honestly, I’m not certain what they are now.’

There rose shouts from outside, distant but loud enough to cause him to turn and glance towards the entrance.

‘The Grim’s Torments have come for me,’ she whispered. ‘This has nothing to do with the Shathra Stone. It’s personal.’

‘The Grim,’ he laughed, ‘but, he’s just a ...’ He turned back to face her, but the look in her eyes ... Oh, I see.

The shouts outside turned into shrieks.