Vedrix agreed in the morning that Lindell and Hector could go with him, Wallace, Eireen, and Nevyn to search for Bazza. Eireen and Nevyn were more worried about getting the seed back than the possibility of someone calling on the witch hunters. The knights would also be out looking for him. Cory stayed behind at the office to guard the embers. Lindell could tell he was nervous, but Vedrix wouldn’t have left him there if he didn’t think Cory could protect the embers.
It was gloomy out. Lindell smelled rain in the air, but it wasn’t falling yet. Late in the day, when the sun was setting, the dark clouds had gone without bringing rain. Lindell and Hector met up with Eireen and Nevyn somewhere in the alleyways of the upper district. Lindell was exhausted, but they hadn’t found Bazza. They headed for the market crescent without a word, Wallace and Vedrix joining them on the way. The market had cleared out for the day. The sun had just about finished setting.
Lindell saw right away that the door to the office of Phoenix was open a crack. Wallace walked faster, reaching the office first. As soon as he opened the door, bright red magic flared, throwing him back. Hector helped Wallace to his feet. The inside of the office was dark, but something moved in the darkness. That magic had been corrupt. It had to have been Cory’s. Nevyn took a step closer to the doorway, but Wallace stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
“Cory, it’s just us,” Eireen said.
“He may have lost control of his magic,” Wallace said. “Corrupt magic isn’t like other magic. It can…” He hesitated. “It can take over.” He released his corruption, his skin and eyes turning dark purple, and his fingers becoming long and narrow. He pushed the door open the rest of the way.
Red magic flung itself at Wallace again, so strong Lindell could see it without even trying to see magic. The magic stopped right in front of Wallace, hitting a wall of red magic. The magic faded out into nothing in the air in front of him. Cory stood not far from the door. His corruption was released, but something wasn’t right. His eyes were much darker purple than they should be, and his expression was blank. His side was bleeding, but it was hard to tell how bad the wound was from there.
Vedrix walked past Lindell, moving between Wallace and Cory. Vedrix took a step closer to Cory, the magic around him flaring amber. He grabbed Cory’s shoulders. Cory tried to pull away, but he couldn’t. He stopped struggling suddenly, his eyes a more normal shade of purple. He pulled back his corruption, frowning hard. As soon as Vedrix let go, Cory sat on the floor where he’d been standing, pressing a hand to his side.
Vedrix knelt beside him. “What happened?” he asked gently.
“Bazza came,” Cory said, his voice shaking. His eyes were purple again when he looked at Vedrix, but not as dark as before. “He took me by surprise and took the embers.” He frowned hard, glancing at the back room. “He dropped something. It was small and made of glass, and it broke.”
“It might have been the vial for the seed…” Wallace said quietly.
The rest of them entered the office warily, but Cory seemed to be staying himself. Vedrix tended to Cory’s wound alone. It looked like a dagger wound. Lindell thought of the dagger Bazza had taken from the mantle before trying to kill him. Was that what he’d used? Lindell, Hector, Eireen, and Nevyn followed Wallace into the back room. Wallace gathered small fragments of glass off the floor and held them out to Nevyn.
“There are markings on the glass,” Wallace said. “I don’t see any magic on it.”
Nevyn stared at the fragments, then took them carefully. “I recognize the markings. This is the vial.”
Nevyn arranged the pieces in the shape of the vial. When he was done, the cracked glass was held together with the pale violet threads of Nevyn’s magic, but it wasn’t fixed. The vial was about the size of the palm of his hand. Lindell had let himself see magic, but the only magic in the vial he saw was Nevyn’s holding it together. He had figured out he could see certain magic without willing himself to see it, but only if it was powerful, like Cory’s corrupt magic.
“Can you restore it fully?” Lindell asked.
Nevyn frowned hard, still staring at the vial. “Iterna could do it, since she created it, but she is too far away.” He looked at Eireen. “Perhaps together.”
The two of them stared at the vial intently for a long while. The magic in the air around the vial clung close to the glass, glowing mossy green and pale violet. Suddenly the magic seeped into the cracks. When the magic left, the vial was whole. The etchings in the glass were alight with magic. Eireen swayed a little where she stood. Nevyn was sweating.
“And the stopper?” Wallace asked.
“Any cork will do,” Nevyn said. “Bazza had to have removed the magic from the vial to break it so easily. It would take strong magic to do that.”
“He has strong magic,” Lindell said. “He threw me around with water easily.”
“We had best not underestimate him,” Nevyn said. “Stopping that tree won’t be the end of his plans.” He frowned hard. “As a water witch, he can free the embers. It won’t be easy, but if he could destroy the vial, he can free the embers.”
Wallace left to tell Kath that Bazza had the box and the right magic to open it. Vedrix and Cory came into the back room, Cory looking much better than he had. He rummaged in the cupboard before joining them at the table with a small cork, which fit the vial.
“Eireen and I will get the seed back in, then we will take it to Iterna,” Nevyn said. “Perhaps it can someday push back the desert. Bazza may be expecting this and may try to prevent the resealing of the seed.”
“We will go with you,” Vedrix said.
While Vedrix and Nevyn talked about a plan, Eireen led Lindell back into the front room of the office. The front door was closed and locked now.
“I promise I will see you again,” Eireen said.
He didn’t want her to go, but he wouldn’t ask her not to. He knew how important Iterna and the forest were to her. Lindell and Eireen kissed for a long moment, but not long enough before it was time to go.
Lindell, Hector, Vedrix, and Cory went with Eireen and Nevyn. Wallace met up with them on the way, before they reached what had been the museum. The tree towered over the city, impossibly tall and wide. Its roots had already come up through the cobblestones in places. At least it didn’t appear to be growing fast, unless the roots were reaching under the city, out of sight until they would come up and destroy Shale.
Bazza stood in front of the tree. He turned to face them, holding the box that contained Rimlek’s Embers. He had a hand on the lid, likely preparing to open it with his magic.
“Bazza,” Lindell said.
Bazza smiled unpleasantly. It in no way resembled the way he had smiled before. Was this his real one? “Even without the embers, the tree will destroy Shale. With the embers, I can wipe out the rest of Oenum and finally avenge my country.”
Lindell thought fast, reaching for his magic. Bazza’s clothes caught fire. He cried out, dropping the box and stumbling back, swatting at his clothes. The flames wouldn’t be hot, wouldn’t give them much time. Lindell grabbed the box and ran away from the tree, but away from the others as well. He ran into the alleyways, taking so many turns he lost track of where he was, but he could hear Bazza running after him.
Lindell had to stop to catch his breath. He ducked into a side alleyway, trying to quiet his frantic breathing. He was hidden in the shadows, but how long could he hide there? Bazza came into the main alleyway, his steps slowing. He searched between the buildings, drawing closer to where Lindell was hiding. For a moment, Lindell wasn’t sure he could make another sizable illusion with how tired he was, but keeping the embers away from Bazza depended on it.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
He closed his eyes, focusing on what he needed. The sound of running footsteps and hard breathing came from around the corner at the far end of the alleyway. Bazza ran toward the sound, passing by Lindell’s hiding place without a glance. Lindell stayed where he was, dreading Bazza would realize it was an illusion and come back, but the next person to come down the alleyway was Vedrix.
Lindell stepped out of the alleyway quickly and handed the box to the God of Magic. It wasn’t the least bit damaged, even though Bazza had dropped it. Vedrix stared at the far end of the alleyway. He and Lindell stood in silence, but Lindell heard nothing. If Bazza had come back, he would have seen Vedrix. He wouldn’t dare attack the God of Magic, even to get to the embers, would he?
“The knights will find him,” Vedrix said, but he was frowning hard. “I will have to take the embers far from Shale, where they will be safe.”
Lindell looked back, but no tree towered over the roofs. The seed must have been sealed back into the vial, which meant Eireen would be on her way out of Shale with Nevyn. He went back to the office of Phoenix with Vedrix. Wallace, Cory, and Hector were already there. Vedrix left Shale with the embers that night, not saying where he was going. Wallace and Cory went to tell Kath that Bazza was on the loose somewhere in Shale.
Lindell didn’t think Bazza would leave Shale. Unless he had seen Vedrix leave with the embers, Bazza would likely think the embers were still in the city. Or maybe he had other plans, for if the tree and the embers failed. Lindell tried not to think about it, but it haunted him through the night and all through the next day, along with the continued guilt that he had believed Bazza was his friend for so long, that he had been so thoroughly fooled by him even when those around him had tried to tell him Bazza was up to something.
Over the next few days, Phoenix dealt with the dangerous artifacts from the museum. Hector would help them sell the rest. Four days after what had happened at the tree, Eireen returned to Shale. Iterna had sent her back, saying Eireen could be her eyes and ears wherever she went until Iterna had urgent need of her. Her return made things better, but it didn’t change the fact that Lindell didn’t want to stay in Shale. Two days after Eireen returned, Bazza still hadn’t been found. Maybe he had left Shale after all, but Lindell doubted Bazza would give up on plotting the entire country’s demise.
That night, Lindell sat before the fire in the parlor of his house. Eireen was going to meet him there after talking to Wallace about something at the office of Phoenix. Eireen had been staying with Lindell at the house again. Maybe that night would be a good time to talk about what they would do next. After so many days with no sign of Bazza, Lindell could finally think about what might come next. He didn’t hear the door open, and he didn’t hear footsteps, but suddenly there was a dagger at his throat.
“Tell me where the embers are,” Bazza said from behind the chair.
Lindell stiffened. Had he already been in the house? Or had he gotten in that silently?
“Vedrix left Shale with them,” Lindell said, fighting to stay calm. “He was going to hide them, to take them somewhere they will be safe.”
Bazza was silent for a long moment, then he sighed. “I truly have failed.”
The dagger had slid down, barely touching Lindell’s throat anymore. He moved, twisting the dagger out of Bazza’s hand and getting to his feet. Bazza cried out, dropping the dagger. Lindell grabbed it, but a blast of water threw him against the wall by the hearth. Lindell still had the dagger. Bazza was breathing hard, staring at him with wide eyes, like a cornered animal. He lunged at Lindell suddenly.
Lindell grabbed Bazza by the shoulders, pressing him up against the wall with the blade to his throat. His hand shook.
Bazza grinned. “You can’t do it.” He didn’t struggle, just staring at Lindell.
“Is it true?” Lindell asked, not knowing what to do. “You said your grandfather wanted to open a museum. Was everything you told me a lie?” His voice shook just as much as the hand that held the dagger.
“It was a lie,” Bazza said calmly. “My grandfather led the rebellion and wanted to rule Ivra. He would have, if he hadn’t died during the rebellion. It was all a lie, except that I thought of you as a friend.”
Lindell wasn’t sure he could believe it now. Did it even matter anymore?
“I wanted to make it right again,” Bazza said. “I wanted to do one last thing for you. I’ve seen that the only way to spare you from your magic, from what it’s done to you, is to kill you.”
“This was my choice,” Lindell said, his voice steadier.
“So you’ve said,” Bazza said with a sigh. “The magic has changed more than your body if you can accept this.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “What are you going to do? You can’t kill me, and you can’t keep me here forever.”
This time Lindell heard the door open, heard the floorboards creak. He risked only a glance, to see it was Eireen coming into the room. Bazza twisted out of Lindell’s grasp, but Eireen was fast. She grabbed him, shoving him against the wall, this time face first. She pulled his hands behind him tightly, holding them there. Bazza struggled, but couldn’t get free of her. She had said Priests of Iterna were strong, but Lindell hadn’t seen it in action until now.
“What are you?” Bazza said quietly.
Eireen didn’t answer, pulling him away from the wall, still keeping his arms twisted behind him. “I think it’s time for you to pay the knights a visit. They’ve been looking for you. Wouldn’t want to keep them waiting any longer.” She led him toward the door, as if he were a child, not a full grown man who was taller and bigger than her.
Lindell stared numbly at them for a moment, then he followed. There were knights at the barracks, even this late. Kath was giving them a speech, a pep talk about finding Bazza and protecting Oenum. She blinked when Eireen led Bazza into the barracks, then her eyes narrowed.
“So you were still in Shale,” Kath said. She nodded to the knights.
Several knights rushed in, taking Bazza away from Eireen and leading him toward the door at the back of the room that led to the dungeon.
“Ivra sent word that they’ve been looking for you for a long time,” Kath said. “There’s a noose waiting for you there.”
Bazza struggled suddenly against the knights, but there were too many of them. He looked back, and Lindell saw utter horror in Bazza’s eyes. For a moment, Lindell’s heart clenched, before he remembered all that had happened. Bazza would have killed him, would have killed Hector, would have destroyed all of Oenum if he could have. The knights led Bazza down the stairs and into the dungeon, disappearing from sight.
Lindell stared at the closed door, not hearing what Kath was saying to the knights remaining in the room and to Eireen. It was like he was frozen until Eireen’s hand grasped his, bringing him back to the moment. She leaned in close, standing on her toes to whisper in his ear.
“It’s over,” she said. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”
-- --
The next day, Wallace and Lindell sat alone in the back room of the office of Phoenix. Wallace set a bag on the table between them with a surprising thud.
“This is the coin from the artifacts Hector sold,” Wallace said. “They’re finally all gone. The dangerous ones have been destroyed and the rest have been sold.” He frowned a little, staring at Lindell. “Bazza will be escorted to Ivra.”
Lindell took a deep breath. It was over, finally over, but he didn’t feel at ease. Not yet.
“What are you going to do now?” Wallace asked gently.
Lindell stared at the bag of coin, but had already been thinking about this the night before. He and Eireen had talked about it that morning, but they hadn’t thought they had enough coin to do it. Now they did.
“Eireen and I are going to Arkose,” Lindell said. “We’re going to open an office of Phoenix there.”
Wallace blinked, looking surprised for the first time Lindell had seen. He smiled. “I don’t think the two of you will be going alone.”
Over the next few days, Lindell and Hector sold their houses in Shale. Hector wanted to be away from Shale as well and decided Arkose was as good a place as any. Irwin was still in the dungeon, but the court hadn’t decided what to do with him yet, and he had yet to have a trial. Things had mostly calmed down with the nobles, not that they approved of Lindell or Eireen in the least, but Lindell and Eireen couldn’t care less what the nobles thought of them.
Lindell, Cory, and Eireen would run the new office of Phoenix in Arkose together. It was early in the morning when the four of them left for the harbor town. The sky was clear and blue. Lindell was relieved to leave Shale behind, excited to see what adventures awaited in Arkose, and glad he wasn’t going alone.
