Chapter 5 Something Lost And Gained
SOMETHING LOST AND GAINED
Elgar watched as Caemorn and Balthazar minutely examined the opening in the floor where something had been kept. Something so powerful or necessary that Legion and Roan had risked being caught for.
“Perhaps if you let me look into your mind I can find parts of Roan’s memories,” Balthazar suggested. “He clearly knows what was hidden here. Maybe I can see that. I know you’re not fond of such an invasion–”
“It’s not an invasion if it is you doing it. Not exactly in any case. It is just…” Caemorn flattened his lips. “I do not want to expose you to him again.”
Elgar loved that his Grandsire was so solicitous of Balthazar. This was not something that he would have ever believed of Kaly and Eyros before, but it was the truth now. Balthazar didn’t brush off Caemorn’s concerns either. He nibbled at his lower lip.
“I admit that I am not exactly eager to experience Roan’s memories either, but I’m certain that there is something in your mind that will tell us what this is. He might have sliced and diced himself to pieces, but some of those pieces had to know,” Balthazar said.
“Not necessarily if he never reassembled himself. But, perhaps, whatever he secreted here he did so before completely severing himself.” Caemorn frowned as he ran his hands over the empty space as if by touch alone he could determine what had been there.
“I could do it,” Elgar offered. “So that Master does not have to. I am nearly his equal in skill with such things. If my Grandsire would allow such contact.”
“Elgar,” Balthazar’s voice was full of affection, “that isn’t necessary. I don’t want you exposed to him either.”
“I am strong, Master,” Elgar said even as his hands slid over the skull he always carried. He was looking at Balthazar squarely. Well, almost. He looked up and down and up again.
His Master was worried about him. He knew that Balthazar blamed himself for Elgar’s brittleness when it came to people.
But while it was difficult for him to handle interactions with real people, memories were different.
In the realm of the mind, he was supreme.
Memories could not hurt one. They were past. It was the present and future that were vexatious to him.
“I know you are strong, Elgar, but you don’t need…” Here Balthazar frowned and flattened his lips. “You don’t need to be exposed to any more cruelty. I know how deeply you care for me. I believe being exposed to Roan’s memories would be hugely upsetting to you.”
“Will it not be more upsetting for both you and Grandsire?” Elgar asked softly.
“Oh, well, that’s not quite… I mean… okay, yes! It will be upsetting for anyone. But I refuse to put you in harm’s way so that I can try and outrun my past again,” Balthazar explained.
“Master is not doing it for bad reasons,” Elgar insisted.
“Does it matter?” Caemorn asked softly. “Ignoring the past has brought us here and put everyone in danger.”
“You deserve happiness,” Elgar answered. “If not dwelling in the past allows that, then so be it.”
The two Vampires looked up at him, surprised at his words.
“Elgar, we don’t deserve to live down what we did in the War,” Balthazar said.
“Pretending it didn’t happen has allowed our enemies to gather strength,” Caemorn added.
“I know what you both did in the War. I was there for most of it. And even after I went into the earth, I listened to the minds of those who did not,” Elgar reminded them. “So I know and I wish you happiness.”
Balthazar blanched. Even Caemorn looked a little queasy.
“I thought you just went to sleep!” Balthazar bleated. “Now you tell me that you–you were awake buried alive?”
“Yes,” Elgar answered simply.
Balthazar buried his face in his hands for a moment. “Good god, you are most certainly not delving into Caemorn’s mind. I need to protect you from yourself especially!”
“I am strong, Master,” Elgar repeated. He stared down at the skull though.
“Indeed you are,” Caemorn agreed. “But now it is time for us to be.”
Tarn and Farun let out soft whines and hunkered down on either side of Caemorn. They leaned their big furry bodies against his as if to comfort him. He absently scratched them between their ears, which flickered happily.
“I am fine,” Caemorn assured them both, but the werewolves seemed unconvinced and snuffled his Grandsire’s neck with their snouts.
“Are any of us truly fine?” Balthazar sighed and shook his head.
He’d lowered his hands and let them fall into his lap.
“This is a disaster. There have been some injuries. No deaths, thankfully. It was all caught on camera. Already, those blasted reporters are trying to smuggle what they’ve recorded out of the Ever Dark.
Of course, none of that is going to work.
But I am going to have my hands full of eliminating memories and creating new ones they’ll believe. ”
“Why we ever allowed reporters into the school is beyond me,” Caemorn groused.
“Because we had to. We’re trying to pretend this is the Disneyland of Vampires. A fun, cool, spooky experience, but totally safe,” Balthazar’s voice was full of smarm. He pinched the top of his nose. “I don’t know if that was my best idea.”
“No, but as you said: we had to,” Caemorn admitted. “In order for us to be accepted, we must give the illusion of transparency, control and safety to humanity. Otherwise, we would be locked in a war with them already.”
“Grayson has had some interesting interactions with the students, Hue and Eiji, of course. They are more accepting of the violence and danger than he’d thought they’d be,” Balthazar said with a hopeful note. “Of course, he’s already snapped up Eiji for himself.”
“Are you surprised? Eiji is a general in his own right. His clan is powerful. Luckily, he has covered his tracks and the news reports have been few and far between about who he really is,” Caemorn said. “But you helped with that.”
“I did.” Balthazar beamed. He then turned that beam towards Elgar. “Elgar helped the most.”
Elgar blushed and held the skull more tightly against his chest. “Master is kind to say. Whispering to humans is quite easy. Especially reporters. They are always listening.”
“Yes, they most certainly are.” Balthazar ran a hand through his hair. “Speaking of listening, I’m keeping an ear on Ryder’s–I mean Weryn’s–discussion with Grayson. It’s going about as well as one would expect.”
“Meaning it’s going badly,” Caemorn stated bluntly as he glared down at the empty hole in the floor.
“Oh, yes, but Weryn is avoiding memories too. Or I should say that Weryn does not want to believe a bunch of things because if he does, he fears he will be called to account,” Balthazar explained as he clearly rifled through the other Immortal’s mind.
“Grayson is none too happy. But at least it’s making him consider whether ignoring his life as Grayson is the best idea. Ah, and he’s leaving. He thinks–”
“He remembers Legion’s favorite places. He goes to Forsworn,” Elgar said and looked at the skull.
“Back to his own Ever Dark city?” Balthazar’s eyebrows rose as he confirmed it. He stood up, dusting off his knees. “Well, he cannot go alone.”
“No, he cannot, Master.” Elgar thrust the skull towards Balthazar.
“Ah, Elgar, what do you want me to do with your–I mean, my–skull?” Balthazar stared at it distastefully.
“You must keep it safe, Master. I cannot risk it getting damaged when I travel with Weryn to Forsworn,” Elgar said and waggled the skull at him.
“You–you wish to go with Weryn without the skull?” Balthazar finally took it carefully, though it appeared more to do with his dislike of it and not respect for his formal remains.
“Yes, Master. I will need both hands. Legion is dangerous,” Elgar said.
“Ah, yes and–”
“I trusted him, Master. He betrayed my trust. Without my assistance, he could not have discovered Kaly’s secret and joined them,” Elgar explained. “You will take care of the skull, Master.”
“I–ah… well, you know–”
“He will,” Caemorn stated. “I have a box for it.”
Balthazar’s head snapped towards him. “You have a box for it?”
“We keep many skulls here. I have a favorite one I will give to Elgar,” Caemorn said.
“Only you would have a favorite skull box.” Balthazar frowned at Caemorn as if he truly suspected him of other strange tastes. But then he was whipping towards Elgar as Elgar had contacted Sana. “But I haven’t agreed to you going, Elgar! Did we not just discuss how I am intent on protecting you?”
“We did, Master,” Elgar said.
“And you’re still going?” Balthazar looked flummoxed.
“Yes, Master,” Elgar answered. “Be careful with your skull.”
Balthazar reached up to touch his current one, but then, realizing what he had done, quickly lowered it. “I will take good care of my–my skull. But, Elgar, I am more worried about you! I–”
“I am strong, Master.”
Sana appeared. She was one of the most powerful Wyvern who had returned to serve Fiona. She had a long braid of red hair, while the sides of her head were shaved. There was a scar bisecting her left eyebrow that was lifted in a question. “Elgar, what can I do for you?”
“We must meet up with Ryder and go with him to Forsworn. We seek Legion and Roan,” Elgar explained.
“Do you know where Ryder is?” she asked.
“Yes.” He showed her by putting the image in her mind.
“Got it!” She flashed a brilliant smile. “Ready to go?”
“No,” Balthazar sighed. “But he’s going. Regardless of my intent to keep him safe.”
Elgar reached out and touched his Master’s arm for the briefest of moments. “You are a good Master. I will be safe. I will keep you safe.” Then he turned to Sana. “I am ready.”
He held himself very still when she touched him. Such a touch was necessary for her to teleport them. The last thing he saw of Balthazar and Caemorn was Balthazar looking mournfully at him while Caemorn put a comforting hand on his Master’s shoulder.