Silver Mage (Book 2) (18 page)

Thad watched his son emptying his old pack and couldn’t help but smile. How many times had he done the same thing during his youth? Amassing a large collection of junk that had caught his eye only to forget about them.

Thad could see the worry on his son’s face and wished that he could comfort him, but the window only allowed Thad to see his son not talk to him. Reaching his hand out, Thad touched the smooth surface of the picture and ran his fingers across the image of his son. “It wasn’t your fault…If it was anyone’s it was mine for being careless.”

“Do you really think so?” Humanius asked.

“Yes I do,” Thad replied honestly. “I should have locked the door to the study when I was testing the swords. I knew they were dangerous and I didn’t take the appropriate precautions.”

“I see,” Humanius replied. “Enjoy what time you have left watching your son,” the god said his voice low and brooding.

“What does that mean?” Thad asked his voice raised in anger.

“I told you before that I cannot allow your son to continue to damage the fragile balance of the world,” Humanius replied. “Though I might not always understand why humans make the choices they do, I can usually predict how they will react to certain things.”

As the god spoke everything began to come into view. Thad had never found it odd that the one thing Bren wanted more than anything had suddenly been presented in front of him, and to make matters worse it was the Brotherhood that held it. Yet his son, not knowing the true dangers of the situation had decided to march himself right into the hands of the people that most wanted him dead. It was just as the god had predicted. His son would give himself over to the Brotherhood. “You are an evil bastard.”

“Evil,” Humanius said laughing. “Do you really think good and evil apply to this situation? Evil you say. I have seldom seen anyone who you could call inherently evil or good though they do exist. If I am evil for my deeds then I will take that mantle without worry. Letting your son live could endanger the whole of the world, and yet you call it evil to seek his life. I think you should point the finger at yourself. You would risk killing millions to save one life.”

“That one life is worth more than all the others combined,” Thad declared without hesitation.

“Worth even more than the life of your wife or daughter,” Humanius said Causing Thad to turn slightly pale. “Their lives are in danger the same as the others or did you forget about the other people in your family. Crusher, Killian, Monique, his life endangers them all.”

For the first time since coming to the abyss Thad found himself at a loss of what to think. He didn’t want to wish for the death of his son but he didn’t want to lose the others either. He didn’t know what the right answer was. After giving it a lot of thought Thad decided he didn’t care what the god said, he would still wish his son the best. If the abyss ripped open letting in horrors from another world into this one, they would deal with that when it came to pass.

CHAPTER XVIII

Monique and Jayden walked them to the gate early the next morning. Though strict for most of their visit, Monique let her softer side show as she hugged and kissed her son goodbye with tears streaming down her face. Jayden on the other hand who had encouraged his son was slightly cold telling him to grow up while showing any outward emotion.

Monique insisted they leave their previous wagon behind and take only the two that she had provided. Bren didn’t understand why she was so adamant they were almost identical with the exception of the small rose crest that was carved into the side of them. Not wanting to argue the point Bren conceded hoping that they wouldn’t feel the loss of the other wagon later on.

It took more than an hour to leave all signs of the city behind but once it was out of sight Bren could see a visible change in Jin’s behavior. He walked a little more upright and had a look of freedom about him that Bren envied.

“Wondering if you ever had that look on your face?” Cass asked slightly moving beside Bren.

“I don’t think I was ever that carefree about anything,” Bren replied shaking his head.

Do you really believe that? When you first left the palace I could would swear that you were ready to burst out in song like one of those traveling minstrels.

Bren ignored Thuraman though he did wonder what he looked like in the first few days that he had found his own measure of freedom. Though only a year past, it felt like it was a lifetime ago. It had been such a short lived time in his life. He had found it spent some time on an old farm, then made his way to the tower. That is where everything changed. Once in the tower he was faced with mounting challenges that led him to become a king of a small country and that was where he had lost his freedom. Even now away from Torin, he still had invisible chains binding him. If he truly wanted to be free he would have to find his father. Bren had long since learned that nothing was more binding than one’s own feeling of guilt.

Bren busied himself with studying the map as they walked. Rane was a large country. It would take three days just to reach the border if they walked in a straight line but roads were never that convenient, not to mention they needed to head north as well. The best path would put them in Toria in five days and at the port three days after that, but Bren doubted that things would go perfectly. It was more likely than not that they would have to stop in towns well before nightfall adding two to three more days to their journey.

“You haven’t said much since we left Torin,” Faye said tilting her head slightly to the side. “Something on your mind?”

“Nothing really,” Bren replied halfheartedly. “Just thinking about the trip.”

“Then you need to stop thinking and enjoy it while you can,” Faye said pulling his arm. “Look around, we are on a large mountain surrounded by open plains. Winter has recently ended so grass and flowers are just now starting to pop out of the ground. The trees are still bare, with only a hint of leaves budding on them.” 

“What’s your point?” Bren asked slightly confused. “I have seen the same thing every year.”

“Idiot,” Faye said sticking her tongue out playfully. “You have never seen it from here before. Don’t simply let everything pass by, enjoy every moment that you can. My mother always said, you can’t enjoy the present if you’re looking at the past, or worrying about the future.”

I don’t like her but this time I think she might have a point. Speaking from someone who has to spend most of his time listening to your unspoken words
, you need to lighten up a bit, you’re even making me depressed.

It was one thing to hear advice from Faye or from Thuraman but to have them both agree on one point was…Amazing. Bren didn’t know what it meant but if they were agreeing then there must be more than a shred of truth in their words. “Ok I give,” Bren said raising his hands in feigned defeat. “What would you have me do to enjoy the trip?”

“First off why don’t you spend time with us at the fire at night instead of running off with your husband,” Faye said with a slight giggle.

“I was also wondering about what you and Cass do on your nightly excursions,” Phena added in dark and teasing tone.

“On no, they have found us out,” Cass said in a mock female voice. “My Lord we no longer have to hide our love,” Cass added as he jumped toward Bren a kissing him on the cheek.

“Uggg,” Bren said as he pushed Cass away. Bren turned a bright red as he tried to find words to explain away Cass’s odd behavior when he noticed that everyone was laughing.

“You need to remove that stick from your hind end,” Cass said patting Bren on the back. “You’re always so stiff you ruin the mood for everyone else.”

“I am not stiff,” Bren denied obstinately.

“You are so stiff that you make Phena here seem as flexible as a cloth,” Cass said smiling. “A very soft one at that,” the warrior added running a finger down Phena’s arm.

“While I will not say that you are stiff
, I do think that the atmosphere around you tends to be a bit too stressed,” Phena said as she grabbed Cass’s finger and bending it back so far that the warrior was forced to his knees. “Then again at least you don’t act like some hero from an overdone romance story.”

“I am just showing my affection,” Cass pleaded.

“Is that so,” Phena said bending the finger back further. “The Vathari believe that mating should be done with people that offer the strongest offspring, and I will admit with your skills you would most likely sire excellent children.”

“Then there shouldn’t be a problem,” Cass said with a weak smile.

“The problem is I am only half-Vathari,” Phena said before letting go of his finger and stomping away.

“I think you might have just stuck your foot in the wrong fire my friend,” Bren said offering Cass his hand. Cass took Bren’s hand and pulled himself to his feet then gave Bren a sly wink before running off after Phena.

“Poor fool,” Bren said laughing to himself.

“I don’t think he’s a fool,” Faye said sullenly. “He likes Phena and is going straight after her, and I don’t think she hates it either. Have you seen the way she looks at him when she doesn’t think anyone is paying attention?”

“If she doesn’t mind it then why does she protest anytime he gets too close?” Bren asked puzzled.

“I think you are the fool Bren,” Faye said giving him a stern glair. “Women like to be chased…It lets us know that we are wanted.”

“Seems like a waste of time to me,” Bren said as he watched his friend try and talk to Phena who was blatantly ignoring him.

“You just don’t understand women,” Faye said before stomping off.

“What did I say?” Bren asked the other guards who turned away from him laughing.

The steep road down the mountain stretched on in front of them for most of the day adding a sense of tension. Though it rarely happened it was not unheard for rock slides to occur. Once they entered the lower paths of the mountain all talking ceased as if they were afraid that their words would cause the mountain to crumble around them.

Though the sun was already hanging low in the sky, they did not stop to look for a suitable camping site. No one complained about the waning light as none of them wished to camp on the mountain.

By the time they were well clear of the mountain they were traveling only by moonlight. Thankfully there were few clouds in the sky and the moon shone brightly overhead. It didn’t take long to find a nice camping spot in a large clearing.

From the looks of it they were not the only ones to brave traveling at night to reach the bottom of the mountain as more than a dozen other caravans were in the large clearing. Most of them were pulled into a large circle with only a few sitting outside the others. Bren didn’t know if that meant they all belonged to the same house or if it was a common occurrence with Rane merchants.

“Most of the merchants in the ring belong to smaller families,” Jin said almost as if he could sense Bren’s unspoken question. “They group together to talk, and learn more about the different trade routes. Most the time the larger families keep to themselves treating many of the smaller ones as if they were worthless. Mother never does, but even among the merchants there is a social class. Mother belonged to a small family only a handful of years ago. If it hadn’t been for your father and King Killian then she would be treated the same as a peasant. Mother has been trying to change it but the larger families who hold most of the power in Rane seem to enjoy the current system.”

As soon as they came near the camping area an older man came out to meet them. “Ho there,” The man yelled smiling brightly. “Care to join us this evening. It’s already a bit late and the wife made plenty to feed everyone. Nothing fancy mind you just a large mutton stew.”

“It would be our pleasure,” Bren replied bowing slightly.

“What family does our writ say we belong to?” Jin asked in a hushed whisper. “Someone will ask and it’s better if everyone knows the answer or we might draw the wrong kind of attention.

Bren quickly pulled the bundled parchments that Monique had given him from a small pocket in his pack and opened it. Not only was the paper thick and well made it had been richly decorated in scroll work in fine gold and silver ink. At the top of the page was the king’s crest and right below it was the crest of the merchant guild. “Oh mother went all out,” Jin said looking over Bren’s shoulder. “This is
not a simple writ. Normally only the merchants in the king’s favor can get his crest stamped to their writ of trade. It carries a lot of weight even among foreign nobility. “Let’s seen…Ahh, I thought mother would use the Rose Trading Family. Guess she didn’t want to cause any trouble with our other merchants in case you started a war or something. Humm… Torin Trading Company. Why in the nine heels did she do that?” Jin asked suddenly in a surprised voice.

“What?” Bren asked startled.

“Mother didn’t just give you a writ with a made up family she created one for you. Knowing her she even paid your first years dues with the guild.”

“Is there a problem with that?” Bren asked confused.

“Yes and no,” Jin answered. “It means you officially have your own trading family. The real problem is that my name is on the paper too as an equal partner.”

“And that’s a problem?” Bren asked.

“I don’t know if it is or not. I had thought that once mother relented I would simply join the Rose Trading Family as an official merchant but instead I won’t be able to do that. Merchants who own a company own it for life and it is considered a grave sin to disband it to join a larger family. There have been more than a few merchants that have went homeless and finally starved in an attempt to keep their family afloat.” After a few moments Jin started laughing. “I should have known mother would find a way to make me suffer for disobeying her, but I won’t give in that easily. I will make this the largest trading family in Rane and take her spot on the council…By force if I have to.”

“I will let everyone else know what family we belong to,” Jin said with a determined look on his face as he moved from one person to the next whispering something in their ear. Bren noticed each person nod slightly before Jin moved on to the next person.

The other merchants moved their wagons to let them inside the circle. Bren didn’t know what to expect he had always envisioned merchants to be stuffy and businesslike but instead he found a large number of smiling and laughing people around a huge bonfire.

Bren and the others took their place around the fire and were quickly handed a bowl of steaming stew. Just as the older man had said it wasn’t fancy and only consisted of a little meat and a lot of vegetables, but it had a nice flavor and easily filled one’s stomach.

“Does your stomach hurt?” A young girl no more than eight years old asked. She appeared in front of Bren so quickly that he nearly fell off the log he was sitting on. “You’re making a funny face, so I was thinking your stomach might hurt. Mine hurts sometimes when I eat too much but momma gives me some medicine. It’s a bit bitter but your stomach won’t hurt anymore. Want me to get you some?”

“I’m fine,” Bren replied trying to smile. “I was just thinking.”

“You’re cute, wanna get married” The young girl asked as she moved her face in so close to his Bren could see the pours on her face.

“Sara
, don’t bother the poor man,” A young lady said grabbing the girl by the back of her shirt and lifting her slightly off the ground. “Sorry about that she has more energy than she knows what to do with.”

“No problem,” Bren said patting the small girl on the head lightly. “It has been a long time since I have seen a child run around so freely. It is heartwarming.”

“I know what you mean, parents tend to try and force children to grow up too fast nowadays,” the lady said setting the girl down. “Sara go make sure the horses have been fed and brushed.”

“Ok momma,” the girl said before taking a few steps then suddenly she turned back and gave Bren a stern look. “No kissing on momma otherwise I will tell papa on you.”

“Sara, horses, now,” the lady said pointing toward the other side of the camp. The exchange between the two made Bren laugh. Turning back to where he sat Bren noticed that the woman’s face was a deep red. “I swear that child never thinks before she speaks.”