Chapter 5
Nightfall descended on Adney’s realm, and Drexley was grateful to be alone with his thoughts.
Drexley had chosen the coward’s route and avoided Ducarius for the rest of the day.
Instead of learning anything about their uninvited guest, he’d ensured Adney had eaten, and the moment he could escape, Drexley had gone to his bedchamber.
But it wasn’t providing the peace he desperately needed.
The silence was overwhelming as Drexley sat heavily on his bed.
He had learned about mates, but he hadn’t found the topic interesting enough to study it intensely.
Adney was adamant that sentinels were undead and resurrected people were not granted the same gifts from Fate as necromancers.
Had Adney been wrong? Drexley hated to doubt Adney, but his senses had been far too overwhelmed to accept that Ducarius was wrong about their connection.
A knock on the door had a sigh escaping Drexley as he stood. His heart skipped a beat in what he had to admit was anticipation as he wondered if it was the mysterious Ducarius bothering him. Drexley moved swiftly, and he was disappointed to find Adney waiting in the hall.
“Adney, I thought you would be in bed now; your body needs rest,” Drexley chided as he immediately stepped aside to allow the ancient necromancer into the cozy room Adney had given him upon his arrival centuries ago.
“I will admit I am tired, but I was worried about you, Drexley. It has been a most momentous day,” Adney replied as he settled in one of the chairs sitting in front of the magic-fueled fire providing heat and light to the space.
Drexley sat opposite Adney and could not escape the truth. “Yes, I…well, my thoughts are scattered.”
“I wish it had occurred to me that the crumbling of my realm would allow others to arrive uninvited,” Adney muttered.
“Perhaps I could have prepared better. It is funny to find myself close to death after nearly three millennia. I have lived such a long life, and yet, I remain unready to leave you. But neither of us can escape my imminent demise.”
Immediately saddened by the reminder of the future Drexley did not want to face, he frowned. “The past five centuries have gone so quickly. Nothing will be the same without you, Adney.”
“No, it will not, and I need to do a better job of preparing you for what is coming. Although I will try, we both know my magic is weak. We may very well be stuck with this Ducarius until I pass to the other side of the veil.”
Drexley had yet to see Ducarius’s face, but he was irrationally pleased to know the stranger would not disappear by morning. What was wrong with him?
“Why do you think the Arch Lich would break the bonds between sentinels and necromancers?” Drexley asked. It was not the most pressing question on his mind, but he needed to work up to the idea that he had a mate.
Adney’s brow creased. “That is quite the mystery, is it not? Without the ability to question him, I cannot say. But think about this; each necromancer must provide for their family. We were given sentinels without our permission. Each of us has one, so even in a small household, there are an equal number of undead. Unlike you, other sentinels have the sole skill of murder, which does little to add wealth. My guess would be that it grew too much of a burden on necromancers. Think of how the population of necromancers must have swelled in the past five centuries. The Arch Lich was likely trying to ensure families were not pushed to bankruptcy with so many sentinels to feed and house.”
While Drexley was no expert on financial matters, he could understand Adney’s point. Drexley was lucky Adney had crafted a realm requiring no wealth. The only burden Drexley put on Adney was the extra magic needed to feed him.
“That seems reasonable,” Drexley conceded.
“I assume most necromancers have continued to house the sentinels previously attached to their souls. We are good people. I wonder what this Ducarius has done to force his necromancer to abandon him.”
For reasons Drexley could not explain, he had an immediate compulsion to defend Ducarius, but he set the strange urge aside.
He knew nothing about Ducarius, and the man had been adamant that sentinels and necromancers were no longer bound.
The fervor in his voice did not speak of a man with a strong bond like the one shared by Adney and Drexley.
“You make a fine point.”
“Have no worries, Drexley. Once I get some adequate rest, I will question Ducarius and get the answers we both seek.”
“More information about the strange man living in your castle would be welcome.”
“I know today must have been upsetting for you. We have been alone for centuries, and you are immediately told by a sentinel that you are his mate. Tell me your thoughts on the matter.”
“I cannot deny that my body reacted in unexpected ways. Had you not educated me so thoroughly, I would have understood none of it.”
“What would you not have understood?” Adney asked, his gray gaze focused intently on Drexley’s face.
Color rushed to his cheeks, but Drexley could not withhold the truth. “I experienced an erection.”
“I was afraid of that,” Adney muttered as he sank into his chair.
“It did not occur to me that Fate would pity sentinels and offer them mates. As you know, I never met mine. I do not think my life lost any value being on my own. Remember that. Yes, Fate offers a gift, but not every pretty box needs to be opened and embraced.”
Shocked that the same necromancer who had spent the last five centuries praising the goddess who had granted him magic would shun her, Drexley frowned. “You do not think I should honor Fate?”
“I do not speak directly against Fate, but I beg of you to proceed with caution. She has paired you with a sentinel. One who was abandoned by his necromancer for reasons we do not yet understand. He may be dangerous. Not once did he remove his cloak. I assume he is barbaric enough to carry weapons and train like the assassin he is. You are above such things. But we suddenly find you vulnerable. I realize I have thought little about your life after I am gone. We must work on ways to ensure your future does not undermine all the hard work you have put in these many centuries.”
Relieved that Adney was focused on planning ahead, Drexley nearly grinned despite his surreal day.
The necromancer grew weaker each day, and without him, Drexley wasn’t sure what would become of him.
But with Adney’s keen intelligence focused on a plan, Drexley hoped his anxiety about the coming eternity without a necromancer would lessen.
“Thank you, I welcome your aid.”
“You should have asked for it sooner, Drexley. You will be left alone and with nothing. All my wealth was given to my housekeeper when we left. Without a coin to your name, it is imperative you immediately find the Arch Lich. I suspect he is the only person who can help you.”
“I wonder if the Arch Lich has had any contact with Alaric.”
The deep grooves of Adney’s frown formed as they did each time Alaric’s name cropped up, and the necromancer’s gray gaze darkened.
“The Arch Lich must be livid to have some sentinel marching around and demanding people respect a title he gave himself. All sentinels answer to the Arch Lich. Your people are inferior to necromancers, and you require our guidance. You are lucky that we have such a wonderful leader. He has already proven himself to be kind to sentinels by allowing himself to be guarded by them. I suspect the Arch Lich has been nothing but gracious to your people. I hope something can be done to convince this Alaric to respect his place. You must think of what I have said whenever this Ducarius person mentions Alaric.”
“I should like to know if the sentinels often leave the compound,” Drexley pondered aloud. “How often does the Arch Lich find himself in the company of Alaric, and how does he handle the situation?”
“I suspect with nothing but grace. I shall ask Ducarius about the compound. Clearly, he may leave. Did breaking the bonds between necromancers and sentinels give your people the freedom to come and go as they please? If so, I suspect the Arch Lich immediately regretted the decision to sever the connection when he was faced with this Alaric and his assumed title.”
“Now that I know I will not have another necromancer to serve, I hope I will have some freedom. I have grown used to being far from the compound and should not like to find myself stuck there again.”
“Of course not. You must be in a panic. If you are there, they will force daggers upon you and insist you engage in the primitive practice of swinging your weapons about. Have no fear; I will question Ducarius and discover how things are handled. With some luck, you can travel as you wish. There are many wonders in the world. I nearly suggested you journey to the many libraries created by the wizards, but you must do that with caution. Arch Wizard Egidius is no friend to necromancers and our resurrected beings.”
“Maybe the Arch Lich has funded libraries I can visit.”
Adney smiled. “As a young man, the Arch Lich was fond of wooing men and enjoying drink, but he has no doubt grown into a refined gentleman who has funded many wonders for you to behold. After all, he is the leader of the Council.”
“Do you think it is proper for me to request an audience with him? He is a busy man with many duties, and I am nothing but a humble sentinel.”
“A true leader makes time for the penniless and weak of mind. My lack of foresight is responsible for the first in your case, and the second is not something you can escape as a resurrected being. But have no fear. If he cannot spare a moment to personally discuss your concerns with you, he has a group of dedicated elders who will ensure you do not flounder.”
“Thank you for easing my fear.”
“Do not worry about it; I have always seen to your care, and my death will not stop that,” Adney said.
“We will take our meals with Ducarius. However, I must have a chance to question him first, as I lack the magic to send my household into an uproar. I urge you to proceed with caution whenever dealing with our guest. He is not to be trusted.”
Some deep part of himself Drexley did not understand was disquieted by Adney’s dismissal of Ducarius, but the necromancer had his best interests at heart.
Even if Fate had put Ducarius in Drexley’s path, he knew nothing about the sentinel.
And Drexley could not forget that when he arrived at Adney’s small realm, he had been nothing more than a barbaric dagger-toting assassin.
It was Adney’s tutelage and insistence on bettering Drexley that had changed his life.
Evidence thus far did not suggest Ducarius had the same advantages.
Drexley could not deny his curiosity about the stranger, but he had not met another soul in five centuries.
Of course he was excited at the prospect of learning something about the world he and Adney had left behind.
And what Drexley would have to face in his own uncertain future.
Thankfully, Adney was now focused on aiding Drexley in preparing for his inevitable and all-too-soon demise. That was a relief.
Unfortunately, that was the only thing Drexley could use to calm himself after such a tumultuous day. With a grateful smile, Drexley helped Adney out of his chair and walked him to the door of his modest room, perfectly tailored to a respectful sentinel like himself.
“Sleep untroubled tonight, Drexley. We will face this latest wrinkle in our lives together. Fate may have opted to surprise you, but I will ensure you do not falter.”
“You have my gratitude.”
Adney shuffled out, and Drexley hoped the elderly man hadn’t overtired himself. As Drexley shut the door once the necromancer was out of sight, he wondered if he could escape into dreams anytime soon. Despite the chat with Adney, Drexley’s emotions were tangled.
And Drexley was incapable of lying to himself.
Meeting Ducarius had been overwhelming and intriguing.
Adney hadn’t directly refuted that Fate had paired him with the mysterious sentinel.
Yet the necromancer had rightfully warned him to move with caution.
So, why did Drexley want to rush out of his room and find Ducarius?
Annoyed with himself and his treacherous, weak sentinel mind, Drexley readied himself for bed and picked up the thick tome he was currently reading.
If there was anything that could distract him from the maelstrom of his thoughts, it was a brilliantly written book full of information meant to broaden his mind.
Too bad all he wanted to think about was Ducarius.