The (sort of) Dark Mage (Waldo Rabbit) (45 page)

“Such a shame your potential was wasted, you might have actually been formidable one day.”

“I still might.”

“No you won’t.” Lucius said with certainty. Being within the circle had negated the detection spell, so he could no longer sense exactly where Waldo was. His grandson was so close, but out of reach. “It was a clever trick. Your attacks were never meant as anything but a distraction. You deliberately led me to this exact spot.”

“I have a lot of experience dealing with undead grandfather. Whether you are a lich or a zombie all undead can be trapped and held within the proper ward.”

Dead flesh slapped together as Lucius applauded. “Yes, it was well done, but it will not work a second time.”

“I am satisfied that it worked once.”

“Enjoy your victory, savor it, not many people have faced me and survived. Just know this will not hold me long.”

“It will be long enough for me and Alice to get far away from here.”

“Ah, so the succubus’s name is Alice. I will be sure to introduce myself to her properly before I rip her to pieces. Tell me my boy, would you prefer me to kill her first or second? I can let you watch if you like.”

“Don’t threaten Alice.” Waldo’s voice was harsh.

“Your succubus is doomed now just as much as you are. You’ve stopped me, but this is only a delay, nothing more. I will hunt you down boy, no matter how long it takes, no matter if you run to the ends of the earth, I will never stop chasing you and your pet until I have ended you both.”

“Good to know.”

Lucius then heard the sound of Waldo walking away.

The archlich began to chortle, then hoarse laughter poured from him. He had not laughed like this since turning.

“This will be so much FUN!” Lucius howled and he tossed his head back and laughed and laughed and laughed.

Chapter
32

A Temporary Escape

As soon as Waldo had gone a safe distance he summoned Alice.

“
Concalo
.”

Instantly she appeared before him, lying on the grass at his feet.

It took her a couple seconds to realize what had happened. When she did she climbed up to her feet. “Darling! You’re all right!”

She grabbed him and gave him a shuddering hug. Alice put her face against his neck, after a moment he realized she was crying.

Waldo slid his own arms around her and gently stroked her back.

“It’s all right Alice, everything is all right now.”

Though they needed to get going the two of them stayed that way for a while, holding and comforting each other.

XXX

They spent the entire night traveling.

In spite of her wounds Alice carried him through the air, eager to put as much distance between themselves and Waldo’s grandfather as possible.

She did the best she could, but it was physically impossible to fly very far while holding onto Waldo. The extra weight was a strain; she could not fly much above tree top level and was as graceful and maneuverable as a boulder. They could cover about half a mile before she was forced to land and rest for a bit.

Each time they were back on the ground Waldo would ask her if she was all right. He would use some of his magic while rubbing her wings and shoulders. Unlike what he’d done healing her wound these were minor magics. His hands were gentle as he touched her. She would feel warmth soak into her body and a little of the exhaustion would vanish.

“Are you all right?” He would ask her over and over again as he soothed her aches.

And each time she would smile for him and tell him she was.

“Was that really your grandfather?”

“Yes.” Waldo answered and continued to heal her.

“Why did he want to kill you?”

“Because it was fun, and to a lich nothing is sweeter than the taste of your own family’s blood.”

Alice looked away.

She didn’t really understand, but it wasn’t important. When it had mattered most he had risked his own life to save hers. Even if he didn’t say the words she now knew he truly loved her.

“Thank you for saving me. I owe you my life.”

Alice felt his hands tremble ever so slightly. Through their bond she felt a momentary surge of guilt and confusion.

“You don’t owe me anything, you’ve already saved mine. I suppose we are even.”

“I guess that’s true, but I am still grateful. A husband and wife should take care of each other. I feel blessed.”

“Blessed?”

Alice nodded. “We protected each other, and now you don’t have to feel in any sort of debt. You don’t need to feel guilty about what happened tonight.” She turned her face back to him smiling tenderly. “I am just happy to know how much you care about me.”

Through the bond she felt another sharp pang of guilt. His eyes avoided hers.

“Do you feel strong enough to fly some more? Or would you like more rest?”

She was as eager as he was to get further away. “I can go.”

She wrapped her arms firmly around his chest so that his back pressed to her front. She spread her huge leathery wings and stretched them as far as they would go. With a grunt she flapped as hard as she could and the two of them staggered into the air. Alone she would have ascended easily and then simply glided along as she pleased. Carrying Waldo she was forced to continuously keep her wings pumping in order to keep them in the air. Before long she was sweating and her shoulders were aching.

She didn’t complain though, and took them as far as she could before feeling exhausted.

They did this about two dozen times. They decided to stop only as dawn approached and with it the possibility of being spotted. They landed in a patch of woods not far from the road. Alice was completely spent. She reverted back to her human form and was quickly asleep.

Waldo was not as exhausted as she was, but he was tired. With all the spells he’s used he was almost tapped out of mana. For a mage using mana had a similar effect to performing any physical labor. It used up your energy, and wore you out. It could be recovered naturally through sleep.

It had been a very long time since Waldo had felt as drained as he did now. He had poured all that he could into healing Alice and fighting his grandfather. It would take at least a couple nights of rest to fully recover, but sleep would have to wait a little bit longer.

“There is no rest for the wicked.” He muttered to himself as he popped out a knife.

Alice had curled up in a patch of grass and was fully asleep. Waldo got down on his knees and stabbed his knife into the earth. Grunting with the effort, he hacked and cut and tore at the grass. Both hands on his knife ha dug out a line. He silently muttered and cursed at just how hard it was.

His forearms ached he was sweating. “I was never made for physical labor.”

He glanced at Alice and thought about waking her to have her deal with this. Seeing her peaceful face he decided to just let her sleep.

As he struggled with his task he wondered at everything that had happened and at his feelings.

He had actually put himself into danger for her. He hadn’t planned to, it had just sort of happened. When he’d heard her cry in pain and seen her wound, all he’d thought about was how to save her. He had made himself a target just to keep his grandfather away from Alice.

“
Then why are you trying to save her? There is never any reason why a master should put his own life in danger for the familiar’s sake
.”

His grandfather’s words had been mocking, but truthful. What he did made no sense, but he was glad he’d done it.

He completed cutting a circle around where Alice was resting. He paused for a moment and rubbed his hands. Tearing out grass with a simple knife had been harder than he’d expected. He didn’t allow himself more than a short respite before he got down on his hands and knees and began tearing out patches of grass inside the circle.

When he had set out from Castle Corpselover he’d thought of all the problems he would face. Capturing monsters, defeating a knight, and dealing with all the hazards of the road. Some how though he had never thought about being attacked by his grandfather. That had definitely been stupid on his part. Grandfather had killed and eaten the hearts of two of his siblings, it only made sense it would want to do the same to him.

That he had even survived the initial encounter was something of a miracle. His wand had worked better than he’d ever dreamt it could. Even with that all of his spells had proved useless. Waldo had only managed to trap his grandfather because he’d been underestimated. That would not happen a second time.

He tore up grass and tossed it aside. In the dirt he scratched out runes and magical symbols. When he was done he had created a Circle of Secrets. It would defeat all but the most powerful scrying magic. From this point on staying hidden would be a priority. It could not prevent his grandfather from tracking them down eventually, but it would at least make it much harder.

When all that was finally done he lay down beside Alice.

He looked closely at her sleeping face. He stared at her shut eyes and her lips. He would never deny that she was beautiful or that he cared for her. He wondered at these strange feelings. They couldn’t possibly be normal for a master and servant. He’d seen how servants were treated and dealt with them. He’d had favorites, but his feelings for Alice simply didn’t match.

He thought of his feelings for his mother and, to a lesser degree, for his sister Gwendolyn. Those seemed similar to how he felt about Alice. He couldn’t accept they were the same though. He loved his mother and his sister; he couldn’t possibly be in love with Alice. That was impossible. Love was a terrible weakness and no Dark Mage would be fool enough to fall in love with his servant.

Be affectionate with them? Certainly.

Be intimate? Surely.

Truly love them? No. Never.

With one hand he gently brushed aside a lock of hair that had slipped over her face. A thumb ever so softly caressed her warm cheek. Just being able to look at her and know she was safe gave him a sense of comfort.

As he shut his eyes and drifted into sleep he thought again how what he felt could not possibly be love.

Chapter 33

Something For Alice

They slept for several hours.

Alice was the first to stir awake. She opened her eyes to find her husband resting up against her. After everything they had been through, it was comforting just to see him alive and well.

She gently rolled over onto his back, and was lying half on top of him. Alice placed a kiss on his lips.

His eyes opened immediately. His confusion and awkward stare only made him that much cuter. “You don’t mind do you darling? I’m starving.”