II
“And why, pray tell, is the only student to ever voluntarily leave after being
accepted for mastery, at my desk?” the smile on Strider Taliones’s face was equal parts
amusement and curiosity.
Jerric sat in a broad, sandstone room filled with bookcases burdened with tomes.
In the center of the room, behind which sat Taliones, was a great mahogany desk,
covered with etched papers and the strange tomes written in raised characters every
Strider used. Jerric looked at the familiar face of his old friend, with the new addition of
the traditional black sash about Taliones’s useless eyes, and felt a longing he had
nearly forgotten: friendship.
“I was… well, in truth, my home was broken into three nights ago with the intent
to end my life.” He paused.
“As your friend, I’m pleased that you’re unharmed, but you know the School
doesn’t care about your well-being…”
“The problem—and reason I’m here— is not that they wished to kill me, Taliones.
It’s that they planned to gain information from me after they killed me.”
Taliones’ head jerked upward and, had he been capable, he would have stared
hard at Jerric. “Are you absolutely certain?”
Jerric inhaled deeply before continuing. “Without doubt. What’s more, I was not
to be their first, and these two were of the Gifted, certainly, but no more than a year
from their training.”
“How…” Taliones shook his head, “No, you would be the one to know. You know
I must speak to Peleandros?”
Jerric waved vaguely, but stopped when he remembered his friend couldn’t see
it. “Of course, and I’m sure she’ll take it to the Council and Jetharic will see it ignored or
dismissed. Taliones, what I want to know is why they came after me. I haven’t been
involved since… and they were searching for”— the rasp of steel behind him interrupted
Jerric.
“You,” the owner of the steel hissed, “And I thought the doorman a liar. It turns
out one can never quite underestimate your stupidity.”
“Ah Nareen,” Jerric turned in his seat, not bothering to rise, “And here I thought
the School kept all the failed experiments in the basement.”
“I swore I’d kill you next I saw you, worm, now face your death!” the alarming bulk
of a well-trained swordsman started forward, then halted suddenly. Nareen struggled
against an unseen force.
“Now Nareen, the grownups are talking, be good and wait in the hall. If you don’t
make any more fuss, you can have a cookie at dinner!” Jerric remained motionless and
milky-eyed as Nareen flew effortlessly backward and the granite door slammed-to once
he passed it. Nareen could be heard hammering away at it and calling for the guard.
“You know Nareen is the Captain of the Guard now, don’t you?” Taliones couldn’t
hide all of the amusement from his voice.
Jerric rubbed his eyes tiredly, “Really? I’d have thought someone that could
combat a simple wall would have gotten the job, but what do I know?”
Taliones chuckled, “Well, as I recall, the School was a little short of options after
half the master class left or lost the Gift. And since we couldn’t get the mighty Jerric
Aetherbound, we made do with what we had on hand.”
“And a feral hound it was then.” Jerric laughed grimly.
Taliones shrugged, giving up the argument. “We should see Peleandros. I’m sure
that’s where Nareen will head.” Without waiting for a reply, Taliones rose and strode to
the door. Swinging it easily aside, he stepped away as two guards barreled in. As he
ran his hands along the exterior edge of the door he spoke. “Well, you didn’t damage
my Sealing sigils, and lucky for you. Come along Jerric.”
The guards, who had drawn their swords on Jerric, stammered. “The captain— “
Taliones adopted a voice Jerric knew well from his days as a student. “And I, a
Strider of the Aether, suggest you let him, a man who flung your captain as though he
were a doll, pass.”
Jerric kept his grin carefully masked until they were safely down the hallway.
“How did you know my door would seal?” Taliones muttered to him.
“Oh please Tal,” Jerric laughed, “if it opens to your space it always has some
sigils on it. Honestly, I was hoping for your old set, the ones that burned off eyebrows
and made you lose control of your entire lower body.” Jerric continued laughing as
Taliones ducked his head and mumbled something about “only once” and “accident”.
III
Peleandros’s office was nearly identical to Taliones’s, save for a greater number
of tomes and papers strewn about. She, also, had foregone the pretense of hosting
colleagues and occupied the sole chair, situated behind her desk. As the two men
approached, they could hear Nareen’s basso tones. Taliones hesitated at the door, just
long enough for Jerric to push through.
“I demand his eyes. The worm insulted and assaulted me! He is a menace to this
School.” The captain’s words reverberated through the room.
“It is not my fault that the brain fails to match the muscle, Nareen. Though,
honestly, I have seen a first year combat a wall better than you did.” Jerric stood calmly,
arms crossed, a few steps in from the doorway.
It was the slow turn that got him. Watching the armed demi-giant turn with
exaggerated composure. Jerric couldn’t help himself. The laughter filled the room and
for just a moment, it looked like Nareen might leap at him. Instead, in a low growl, he
spoke. “Your time has passed. Your crimes will come due and, when they do, no
amount of talent will keep you from me.” Nareen turned back to Peleandros, intoned the
words of formal farewell, and strode from the chamber.
“Well… he’s gotten… calmer.” Jerric said, a little surprised.
“Responsibility will do that to a person. Not that you would know.” Peleandros’s
voice fell like a morning rain: cold but familiar. Even with the black sash tied around her
eyes, Jerric saw the star pupil he had once known. She had been the most talented
Gifted he had ever taught, and a font of strength when most he needed it.
“If you’ll recall, dearest little Pele, the last time I held responsibility more changed
than just demeanor.” Jerric shifted his feet.
Peleandros sighed. “You’re right, of course. My apologies Jerric. Why are you
here? And Strider Taliones, if you wouldn’t mind not skulking near my door, that would
be grand.”
Jerric, ignoring the lack of nicety he had hoped her old nickname would bring,
laughed. “You always were better at navigating the Aether. Still haven’t won our bet
though.” He smiled to himself, thinking of years passed.
Peleandros sighed again, deeper this time. “Jerric, it has been nearly a decade
since last you were here. I am pleased to know that my teacher is still alive, and more
pleased still to know that your talent has not waned, even if your knack for being
aggravating has remained as strong. But neither of us has time to reminisce, least of all
me. Why are you here?” her tone was akin to a granite wall.
Jerric shifted his weight slightly, not precisely uncomfortable, but ill at ease at the
tone his once student was using. Still, she was not entirely incorrect, even if he was
begrudging in admitting it. He retold his tale, much the same as he had when he had
related it to Taliones, adding as he finished “I need access to The Tower. I need to see
the tomes. Something is happening, perhaps moving within the Aether itself, and if
they’re after me it is nothing good.”
For the space of several heartbeats not a sound could be heard within the office.
Finally, Peleandros spoke. “Are you certain, absolutely certain, that these men were
after Jerric Aetherbound, Graced and Marked, and that they were going to restore you
after your death? Absolutely certain?” there was something Jerric couldn’t quite place,
something deeper than the fear he had anticipated.
He took a breath, composed himself internally as well as externally, and spoke.
“Yeah. There’s no doubt.”
Peleandros sighed heavily and made several marks upon a small slip of paper.
She handed the slip to Jerric before motioning him to leave. As he reached the door she
added, “And Jerric… it is good to have you near.” Not another word as he shut the door
on his former friend and his former student.