2. Unwelcome #2
As the bar had slowly emptied out as the night progressed and tables had become available, they had pushed two of them together for everyone to sit down with the king.
But not Declan. He had remained working.
Serving drinks behind the bar or at neighboring tables.
Cleaning off the remnants of meals. Supervising Snow and Rain in the back room while they were doing dishes.
There were angry spats of fairy light coming from there, which meant that they were likely low key fighting again .
Declan turned his head towards them, but Finley wished he was looking over at the tables, that he heard what Rhalyf had just said. Because if he had…
But Declan can wield magic! It didn’t kill him! It didn’t do anything bad to him at all! Finley wanted to say, but to say it was to betray his best friend. So Rhalyf’s wrong. He’s absolutely wrong. But I can’t… can’t say anything. I’ll have to just prove it to him like everyone else.
Finley wasn’t sure why Rhalyf not believing humans capable of wielding magic bothered him almost as much as the Glass Scholar not doing so. Maybe it was because Rhalyf was so good at wielding it, but also so casual about it, too.
Like it was nothing. Just as he said.
“So unless the Aravae Empire remains here, protecting you, humanity will go extinct ,” Rhalyf said. “And, though I know it is not comfortable to talk about or acknowledge, we are all intelligent people here. But, more importantly, I think we are practical people.”
“Which means?” Finley asked.
“That our protection must be paid for.” Michael’s jaw was tight.
“Unless you stop the monsters from coming from the Under Dark in the first place,” Declan’s voice suddenly rose up to Finley’s left.
He turned his head. Declan was standing right beside him as if he had sensed Finley’s dismay. His best friend had been distracted by the fairies a moment earlier, but here he was. By Finley’s side. Ready to protect him.
Aquilan’s eyes immediately jumped to his best friend.
“It’s interesting you ask that, Declan,” Aquilan said with a broad smile that seemed to cross his face whenever Declan came around, let alone spoke.
“The truth is we’re not sure how the Leviathan came to Earth in the first place.
Our best guess is that certain magical wards were weakened and the Leviathan were able to break through. ”
“The Kindreth’s wards, right?” Finley leaned forward on the table on his elbows.
Aquilan nodded. “Set by Xelroth Vex himself.”
“The Night King,” Shonda breathed.
“You share your son’s interest in him, too?” Rhalyf lifted an eyebrow as he smiled and took a sip of wine.
“You should hear Finley’s tales of him. If even a quarter of them are true then he must have been the greatest Mage in existence,” she said.
“Oh, my, Shonda, you are going to be a breath of fresh air in the Council Chambers speaking such things!” Rhalyf trilled with laughter.
“Why? I know that the Kindreth are an enemy of the Aravae, but that does not mean we should not be truthful about their accomplishments,” Shonda answered.
“I quite agree, Shonda. And yes, Vex is special,” Aquilan answered.
“ Is ?” Finley stared at Aquilan without blinking. “So you think he’s still alive?”
“I have no reason to think otherwise,” Aquilan admitted, but then his eyes went unfocused and distant as he murmured, “I should know if he were gone.”
For a brief moment, Rhalyf looked startled and his eyes narrowed slightly at his king. But then Aquilan shook himself and focused upon them again.
“If the wards have been damaged or weakened then only Vex himself could fix them. If they are even fixable,” Aquilan admitted.
“But you’re the Sun King,” Declan stated as if that meant he should be able to do anything.
“In the Under Dark, there is no Sun,” Aquilan answered a little sadly. “But, more importantly, what Vex did by separating the Under Dark from the rest of the planes was an act of almost godlike power. I do not think it could be recreated.”
“So the Leviathan and other things can come here from the Under Dark? Nothing can stop them?” Declan asked.
A nod. “The need for the Aravae to remain and our magic to guard humanity… is eternal, I think.”
“Which means that the big Houses will have to be paid,” Shonda said softly and a look of utter sadness flitted across her face.
But then she firmed her expression. “That payment needs to be handled fairly and carefully , King Aquilan. As the representative of humanity on your Council, I must caution you that the Separatists’ ranks will swell and worse if it is not. ”
“And I look forward to your counsel on this, Shonda,” he said with a nod.
The evening had broken up soon after with everyone heading to bed. Finley doubted he was the only one who didn’t sleep well. Shonda and Michael had been quiet on the way back, but the weight of what was to come hung heavily upon them.
“Being intelligent and practical could lead us down a path that isn’t right ,” he’d heard Shonda say to Michael after they’d wished him and Declan goodnight.
He and Declan had stared after them. It was only after they’d disappeared that he asked his best friend, “Did you hear what Rhalyf said about Illumine ? About how if a human were to wield a single spell they could die? He’s an idiot, of course. Doesn’t know what he’s talking about, because you–”
“He’s not an idiot,” Declan interrupted softly.
“Well, maybe not about everything, but about humans and magic he is! You’re proof that he’s wrong!” Finley nodded fiercely.
Declan regarded him for long silent moments before he said, “You’ve always said that you would be happy just studying magic. But you really want to wield it.”
“I… of course!” Finley let out a soft huff of laughter and took off his glasses. “Who wouldn’t want to wield magic?”
“But if you could only study it, would you still pursue going to the Academy?”
Finley polished his glasses on his robes. “Yes, of course. Knowledge is worthwhile even if it isn’t practical. It has great value.”
There was a long moment of silence and then Declan said, “Get some sleep, Finley. The big battle is tomorrow. You need to be prepared.”
“Yes… oh! I forgot that I promised Gemma I would go with her to Hope tomorrow in…” he checked his watch, “a few hours . Oh, god!”
“I would go for you–”
“No! You cannot go in the Sun again!” Finley quickly said. “Besides, I still need to get a few things for tomorrow night’s game. I’ll just have to take a nap later.”
And that’s why he was up, breathing in caffeine and truly hoping he wouldn’t fall asleep on the walk to Hope.
“Are you ready to go?” Gemma’s very bright voice asked behind him.
Finley jerked and nearly spilled hot tea on his hand. “Ah! Gemma!”
“You were starting to snooze. Serves you right for going out and having fun without me last night,” she giggled.
“ You were at Sandy’s last night. Having a sleepover,” he pointed out. “So I think you were having a very good time all on your own.”
She beamed at the memory of the sleepover. “Yeah, it was pretty cool, but not as cool as having drinks with the Sun King.”
He lifted an eyebrow. Everyone but him was still in bed. “How did you hear about that?”
“How? Ah, the internet might be dead, but the grapevine is still very much alive. Everyone was talking about it in Sandy’s house this morning,” she said. “Tyrael is abuzz that the glorious King Aquilan spent most of his evening with a bunch of humans.”
“And a dwarf and an orc. Can’t forget Snaglak and Helgrom.”
“True. But what the group did not include was me .” She pointed to her chest. “You met the king without me!”
“It wasn’t exactly planned,” he said as he blew on the tea.
“Yeah, but–”
“I’m sure it’ll happen again. He’s good friends with Helgrom,” Finley said.
“I suppose.” Gemma pursed her lips and swung her body right then left. She had on a cute blue and white polka dot dress with strappy sandals.
“You’re dressed up.” Finley lifted an eyebrow. “Anyone special in Hope you’re going to see?”
She rolled her eyes. Not embarrassed nor taking his bait. “You’re wearing a three-piece suit.”
“I always wear a suit.”
“Because?”
“Because I feel naked without it.” He shrugged.
“Well, you look snazzy, too. We’ll make quite the pair.” She looped an arm through his.
He grinned down at her. “Let’s–”
There was a soft chime. Both of them gazed into the hallway that led to the front door.
“Looks like we’ve got a visitor!” Gemma grinned. “I wonder who it is.”
Finley had no idea. Gemma yanked him after her–once again he nearly spilled his tea–as she went down the hallway to the front door and threw it open. Who he saw standing there was the last person on Earth he would have expected.
“Good morning!” Rhalyf greeted them and actually bowed .
It was more of a sweeping forward and back motion that had his long, dark hair resettling more beautifully over his shoulders. His silver eyes sparkled. His dark olive-toned skin gleamed. He showed absolutely no signs of having drunk copious amounts of wine all night and having little sleep.
“Oh, hello! Who–who are you?” Gemma was staring at Rhalyf with undisguised delight. She smoothed one hand over the front of her dress. She clearly found him as handsome as everyone seemed to.
Everyone but me! I see through him. Though I have no idea why he’s here.
“Lord Rhalyf Neres, my lady! And who do I have the honor of addressing?” Rhalyf asked, those eyes twinkling.
“I’m–”
“Gemma.” Finley stepped in between her and Rhalyf.
“Ah! One of the three survivors!” Rhalyf looked quite interested.
“Yes, how do you know that? And how do you know Finley?” she asked, moving around him to look at Rhalyf.
“It is in my nature to know things, but I am also King Aquilan’s best friend,” he said with a conspiratorial wink.
Gemma’s hands lifted up to her mouth. “You’re the Sun King’s best friend ?”
“I am!”
“Allegedly,” Finley muttered.
Rhalyf narrowed his eyes at him. “He will confirm it.”
“Well, I guess not even he can be perfect,” Finley sniffed. “What are you doing here?”
“Finley, don’t be mean!”
“I’m not. I’m just… being… ah…”
“Suspicious.” Rhalyf pursed his lips, but then he brightened. “Which is rather wise for the most part. But I’m actually here to see Declan though I doubt he’s up and about.”
“But you’re here now even though you claim to know he would be sleeping,” Finley pointed out and crossed his arms over his chest. He hissed as he again spilled tea on his hand. “So why are you really here? Want to see my journals again? Want to tell me I’ll never wield magic or–”
“You told Finley he wouldn’t ever wield magic?” Gemma sounded outraged.
“I… well… I’m merely imparting information. Not dashing dreams–”
Gemma stepped in front of him, arms crossed over her chest and chin thrust out as she proclaimed. “Finley will wield magic! You’ll see!”
Rhalyf blinked. “Well… well, you do seem quite certain about that.”
“Finley is the smartest, best scholar out there!” she continued.
“I actually don’t think that is much of an exaggeration. Surprisingly,” Rhalyf nodded. That had Gemma and him blinking. “But as fascinating as both of you are, I am here to see Declan. I need to leave something for him.”
“Well, he’s sleeping so you can leave it with me. I’ll give it to him.” Finley extended a hand.
Rhalyf smiled, but did not produce anything. “I’m afraid not. This is for Declan’s eyes only! Or his hands. Is his room this way? I think it is!”
Somehow, Rhalyf had slipped between him, Gemma and the doorjamb.
He was walking briskly down the hallway towards the wing where his and Declan’s rooms were.
Their house was a loved single-story structure with large, gracious rooms done in that cool white stone that characterized most Aravae architecture.
“Hey! You can’t just barge in!” Finley cried as he raced after the surprisingly swiftly moving elf.
“Declan locks his door so you won’t get in!” Gemma called as she clattered after them both.
“Locks? Oh, my dear, those are no nevermind to me!” Rhalyf waved his right hand through the air gaily.
“But the sunlight! He can’t–”
Rhalyf abruptly stopped and swung around to face them. “Worry not, Finley. I will not let any sunlight touch him. Now, the two of you need to move a little back to give Declan and I some privacy.”
“He’s my best friend–”
“He’s my brother–”
“And yet I bet you all have secrets from one another, yes?” Rhalyf met both their eyes one at a time. Both of them went silent. “Right. Now back.”
He made a shooing motion. That was when Finley realized that they were actually in front of Declan’s door.
Rhalyf had gone directly to it with no difficulty.
He and Gemma shuffled back a few steps. But not that far.
Rhalyf knocked. There was a muffled response.
Rhalyf said something that Finley couldn’t quite catch.
Something that sounded like Adiva ? What was that?
But it must have meant something to Declan, because the door cracked open.
It was pitch black inside. Rhalyf reached in and gave something to Declan.
There were a few more whispered words and then the door firmly shut again.
With a sigh, Rhalyf turned to face them.
His expression was interesting. A mixture of pleased and dismayed.
“Well, that’s accomplished!” Rhalyf dusted his hands together. He seemed to look at them both more carefully. “So! Do you have anything here to eat?”
“What? You want breakfast, too?” Finley asked. “Shouldn’t you be going to the palace? Or at least going back to the Dawn to be with Aquilan?”
Rhalyf pursed his lips. “Vesslan found us. Aquilan thought it was best that he face his elder brother’s wrath alone.”
“Well, we are going out. So you’re going to have to cadge food off of someone else,” Finley told him.
But Rhalyf was not at all discouraged. “Oh! Where?”
“Hope!” Gemma said, seemingly having come under the Aravae’s sway again. “The Separatist town.”
“Really? Well, that sounds fascinating! Do they have food there? Maybe Twinkies?” Rhalyf asked.
“Twinkies? You know what Twinkies are?” Gemma looked amazed.
“Indeed, I do! I’ve sampled quite a few of them over my time here. And I wouldn’t mind a few more,” Rhalyf said.
“Then you have to come with us!” Gemma offered.
“Gemma!” Finley sounded strangled.
“Well, if he wants Twinkies he can’t be all bad,” she said. “And, besides, the more time he spends with you, the more he’ll understand why you are going to be the first human Mage!”
Rhalyf grinned at him. “So that’s settled!”