Brotherhood Saga 03: Death (41 page)

“Then how do people become mages?”

“There’s a variety of theories. Some are born too close to heightened sources of magical energy, mothers are exposed to magic and therefore their children innately develop the Gift. We believe our source of magic is derived from our contact with the creatures you have possibly come to know as the Godly Ones.”

“What are they, zir?”

“Monoliths of creation, power, barbarianism. They hold the greatest sources of power we have ever seen within their very hands and use it to bend the wills of those who are weaker than them—which is, essentially, everything they come into contact with.”

“That does
n’t explain what they look like.”

“Many ideas, many theories. The art has been long lost in the attacks that were led on us when we crossed the Crystal Sea, though to be quite frank, Odin, I would rather not know what they look like if they were so willing to enslave
our people.”

Not sure what to say, but agreeing with the prospect entirely, Odin gingerly reached out and extended his finger toward one of the warding rings.

The end of his digit touched its brass.

A bright, white light burst forward and would have knocked him backward and onto the floor had he not reached down to grip
his chair’s armrest. “Ouch,” he said.

“I am sorry. I should have warned you.”

“How can you touch them? How can
any
mage touch them?”

“I can touch them because these are blood-bound to me,” Jarden said. “I slit my palm and allowed these constructs to sha
re my essence.”

“Is that how—“

No. Don’t.

“Pardon?” Jarden asked.

“I was going to ask a stupid question,” Odin admitted, “but I’ve decided against it.”

“
Are you sure you would not like to ask?”

“Yes sir. I
’m sure.”

“Very well then.” Jarden stood. “For your assignment, I would like you to take one of these rings and experiment with them—preferably the water one.”

“Why that one, zir?”

“Because there are many things you can do with just one drop of water, Odin. Let your imagination run wild. I
’m sure you can come up with something.”

After reaching forward and accepting the ring, Odin encircled it within his palm, then looked down at the insignia emblazoned upon
its surface.

They said all life had come from water.

Could he possibly make life of his own?

“You’re back,” Virgin said, cracking the door open just enough to reveal his face.

“Yeah,” Odin frowned. “Why?”

“I didn’t expect you until tonight.”

“Jarden dismissed me early.”

“What’s that you have there on your finger?”

“A ring,” he said, lifting his hand to show his companion the fruit of his results.

Virgin opened the door, let him inside, then took Odin’s hand and lifted it high enough to where he could easily look upon its surface with his leaf-green eyes. Lips pursed, brow furrowed in what appeared to be awe more than confusion, he reached up to steady his other hand alongside Odin’s, then tilted his head up to offer a smile that could have easily turn lead into gold. “It’s quite the treat,” he agreed.

“I
’m not sure if I get to keep it,” Odin shrugged. “I was just told to practice with it.”

“It
’s a water ring. Am I right?”

“You
’re right.”

“What are you supposed to practice with it?”

“Jarden said I could use my imagination.”

“That should be fun.”

“I guess,” he said, kicking the door shut behind him and examining Virgin’s form—from his uncombed hair, to his open jerkin and his lack of a belt. “Why aren’t you presentable yet?”

“I had a late morning.”

“I see,” Odin smiled. “Have you even eaten anything?”

“Not yet. Why? Have you?”

“No.”

“Would you be interested in going down and getting something to eat with me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I don
’t know. I just thought I’d ask.”

“Don
’t start thinking that I’m not willing to do things with you.”

“I
’m more than aware you will regardless,” Virgin smiled, crouching down to pick up his belt.

“What
’s that supposed to mean?” Odin laughed.

“Tongue in cheek.”

The Halfling bulged the side of his mouth out in response.

A short laugh later, Virgin s
ecured the belt at his waist, slid his dagger into its sheath, then crossed the room and began to lead them toward the stairwell.

“Do you have any ideas on what it is you’re planning to do for your ‘assignment?’” Virgin asked, raising his eyes from Odin’s face only momentarily when a waiter came forward bearing their midafternoon meal. “Thank you, sir.”

“I
’m not exactly sure,” Odin said, giving the Elf a nod of his own as he turned and made his way back to the bar. “I’ve got a few ideas, but I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to execute them.”

“Do tell.”

“I was going to try and dye the water a different kind of color, but since I have no idea how to do that, that’s likely out of the question. I also thought about freezing an orb of moisture as much as I could until it either cracked or couldn’t be chilled any further.”

“That would be interesting.”

“The only problem is that those ideas are too… well, simple, if you want to know the truth.”

“Who said experimentation couldn
’t be simple?”

“I was never one for doing things the easy way,” Odin said, sliding a piece of sliced tomato into his mouth before leaning back and spreading his arms out along the booth.

“You have any other ideas?”

“Well… one, but I
’m not sure whether or not I should do it.”

“Why not?”

“Because it involves binding water into a living form.”

“Ah,” Virgin said. “An elemental.”

“Have you heard of them before?” Odin frowned.

“You
’re not likely to find an Elf who has never heard of such a creature.”

“The only problem I
’m having with the idea is the fact that the ring might not have enough power to make anything worthwhile.”

“You could always make it small.”

“Yeah, but then I risk not being able to dispel it once it’s summoned.”

“Whatever you do,” Virgin said, reaching across the table to set a hand over Odin
’s, “I’m sure you’ll do great.”

“Thanks, Virgin. You
’re my biggest fan.”

“I try to be.”

A smile cursing his lips in the most beautiful ways, the older Halfling returned his hand to his side and continued to eat with his head bowed and the corners of his mouth tugged into a grin. It seemed, for all intents and purposes, that Virgin was truly happy about the banter, if only because it allowed them nothing dour and depressing to talk about.

You
’re a brave man,
Odin thought, tempted to reach out and tip Virgin’s chin up to look into his eyes.
It’s not easy being around me.

Virgin could have simply left after he had dropped him off in Lesliana. Free to his own devices, his life and, ultimately, his future, there had been nothing to hold him back from turning his back and leaving this awfully-beautiful city. As cruel as that seemed a
nd as horrible as it sounded, this man—this rogue, of all people—shared no ties to him other than an emotional confliction that had happened over the course of one single, lonely night. Why he’d stayed was beyond Odin’s comprehension, but if past and previous night’s discussion led him to believe anything, it was that Virgin did have a soft spot for him, no matter how large or small as it was, and it was that spot that had and was keeping him around.

To think that this beautiful creature was staying only for him was enough to nearly force Odin to tears.

You’ve been here this whole time.

Through thick and thin, blood and gore, violence and destruction and life and near-death, Virgin had stood proud at his side, even going so far as to declare him his partner. That alone was enough to feel proud and honored within his presence.

“You all right?” Virgin asked.

Odin blinked, allowing his vision to clear before he turned his attention on his companion and offered a smile. “I
’m fine.”

“Were you thinking about something?”

“Would you take me to the lake?”

“The lake?”

“The one within Lesliana’s walls.”

“I
’ll take you.”

“Good. I think I just got an idea.”

The two of them stood at the end of the long, sloping dirt path that led to the water
’s edge. Hair ablaze in the wind that skirted along the edge of the lowland country and eyes alight in wonder, Odin stepped toward the seemingly-green water and crouched down to trail his fingers over its surface. Ripples—first small, then large—echoed from his touch and ran either their brief or marathon distance until they faded into obscurity.

“It
’s beautiful,” Odin said, turning his attention up at the surrounding crater, which seemed to have been carved into the earth like a spoon in a tub of paste.

“It
’s been here since the dawn of our time on this continent,” Virgin said, falling to one knee beside Odin to mimic his notice. “You won’t find many places like this that will harbor life.”

“Why not?”

“They say the rocks from the sky kill all chances of existence.”

The vast tapestry of vines and greenery crawled along the crater
’s fine walls and showered the mind with a beautiful viscera of color. The seldom shrub, trees, and even a few bands of red and white flowers paraded along the outer edges for as far as the eye could see, creating the impression that this place, harboring as much superstition as it may see fit, gave birth to beauty in the most simplistic ways. He saw no bugs, no animals, no creatures who walked upon the water, nor did he see any Elves wandering close to the pond’s edge on this fine, late-fall day. That alone filled him with a sense of awe that made him believe more than well that he really could do what it was he wanted to without anyone thinking or saying a thing.

Pushing himself to his full height, Odin extended
the hand the ring was on.

Virgin stood.

Odin closed his eyes.

He pictured within the blank canvas of his mind a horse made entirely of water.

Come to me,
he thought,
and give me your heart.

A whisper of words so faint and inaudible began to echo from the water
’s shore and wash over the entirety of his being. The clouds shifting, the light fading, the clouds pressing forward as though drawn into a net and pressed to move from their original position—a tone so somber and out of his world began to fill Odin’s consciousness that once, when he opened his eyes and saw a rippling pool begin to bubble up from the surface of the lake, he thought he had created something so monstrous that he almost released his hold on the spell to send the creature back to the source from which it came. However, as the rippling series of rings began to lengthen and touch the far edges of the lake, the feeling of shivering spiders along his body began to dissipate and left him in a state of illusion that he thought could not exist for anything else from the world.

From the water
’s edge—beneath the ring of ripples that so vicariously began no more than three or four meters away—came a head in the shape of an equine but constructed in the foundation of water. Slowly, with grace that should have seemed impossible for a creature that surely could not be real, it began to walk forward and revealed its body to the two Halflings standing upon the shore, casting its mane to and fro and shaking teardrops of water from its obviously-liquidized body. At his side, Virgin remained silent, his mouth open in awe and his eyes staring at the algae-green creature, while in his place at the water’s edge Odin allowed his heart one tremble of emotion as the elemental came forward and revealed itself in all its glory.

“My God,” Virgin breathed. “You actually did it.”

To think that he had truly accomplished such a feat was a cause Odin found almost unimaginable to process. Directly before him, head bowed and glossy eyes set ahead, stood a creature he had so very easily made out of an earthly essence without so much as a second thought. He felt on his body no burdens or misconceptions, no trials or errors and fears or tears, as upon his left hand lay a ring that seemed to vibrate against his skin and glow at the front of his face.

Unable to believe his eyes or what he had just done, Odin reached forward.