Chapter 6 #3
“Really? Who told you that?” Vex chuckled and was heading down the long graceful avenue towards a central garden that rose up in the center of the city.
Finley stared at his back. It was covered in delicate, beautiful tattoos. Some of them glittered. He raced to catch up with Vex again.
“Are you saying that there is a way that humans can wield magic? Like the Aravae? Like the Kindreth?” Finley asked.
There were so many questions he should be asking Vex right then and there. Far less selfish ones. Like why did Vex abandon Declan here? Why was Vex back? Did he intend the Aravae harm? Did he intend Rhalyf harm? But he couldn’t help himself. The allure of magic was too much.
“Like the Aravae? Like the Kindreth? No,” Vex answered lightly.
Finley’s heart tumbled into his feet. “So then humans can’t wield magic–”
“Of course, they can. Just not like immortal beings. You try to use life to power your magic and you will snuff out like a candle,” Vex snapped his fingers as if to demonstrate just how quick it would be.
“Yes, that’s what Rhalyf said. So if not life then–”
“Tcha! It looks like the garden enchantment has been lagging. Look at those plants hanging down from the buildings! They are quite overgrown!” Vex tutted.
This statement drew Finley’s attention to the dark blue stone buildings that framed either side of the avenue they walked on.
They were a bit like skyscrapers: tall and sheer, flying upwards for tens of stories.
But unlike human skyscrapers, there were winding staircases and gracious patios that were open to the air crawling up the outside of the buildings.
He imagined that people would throng these spaces, talking, laughing and showing off for those below and their neighbors.
The plants that were vexing the Night King were flowing down the sides of the buildings like waterfalls.
He highly doubted that the Night King was truly upset about this.
The plants were pretty and appeared to not be doing any harm.
So he’d mentioned them as a ruse to steer the conversation to something new.
He’s not going to tell me about how humans can use magic. Not yet. He’s told me something huge. I should appreciate that. And be patient, Finley cautioned himself.
“You asked me earlier how I liked your nephew,” Finley said carefully.
“Yes, and you do.”
“I… surprisingly, do.”
“Surprisingly? Oh, he will be hurt by that!” Vex chuckled.
“Perhaps. But his ego–as you are well aware of–hardly needs inflating and I don’t see how my regard truly matters,” Finley waved off the idea of it even as he felt the press of Rhalyf’s lips against his forehead just before the elf had gone off into combat.
“Ow! I hurt for him now!” Vex grinned. He had very white teeth. His eye teeth were more pointed than a human’s, than other elves, too.
More like a vampire’s in a way. It doesn’t detract from his looks. He’s rather harder edged than any of the elves I’ve seen with that half-shaved head and barely any clothes.
“For what it’s worth…” Here, Finley licked his lips, “I don’t believe he was in the coup against you.”
Vex’s silence at his blanket assertion made him wonder if he’d made a mistake saying that. He risked glancing over at the Night King. Vex’s expression was unreadable.
Finley hurried on, “You probably think I’m presumptuous–at best–saying something like that to you. Between the two of us–hell, between you and everyone–you’d know a person’s motivations better. And I’ve only known Rhalyf for a short time. But–”
“You believe what you say about him,” Vex stated.
“I do.” Finley nodded. “I’m not saying he doesn’t lie.
” He winced here. “He does that a lot, but not to get ahead. Not exactly.” He did lie to the Sun King.
He didn’t exactly go for low hanging fruit when he choose who to befriend, but Finley was certain that it was because Rhalyf enjoyed the finer things in life.
And what better person to get those for him than the Sun King?
“He likes to be pampered and thought handsome and clever. And witty. And sexy. And… Well, you get the idea! But I don’t think he wants to rule anything.
He just wants to enjoy himself. Ruling would be too much work. He’d actually have to do something.”
Vex suddenly laughed. It was a joyous sound and it appeared genuine. His red eyes glowed like the coals in a fire. “I do believe you’re right! My nephew would rather have the credit for a thing than to actually do it. And ruling is hard work.”
Thinking perhaps that he had discredited Rhalyf a little too much, Finley added, “And he’s incredibly loyal to his friends. He’s… kind. Which probably for a Kindreth would be considered a weakness.”
His eyes flickered to Vex. The Night King bobbed his head whether in agreement or not was unclear.
They had reached a graceful bridge that arched over a span of water.
On the other side was that park with winding paths and some kind of monument on the top of it.
Or not a monument, but a white stone building.
Too small to be a house. It appeared that Vex was leading them there. Finley wondered what it was.
“He’s terrified you’re here to kill him. I’d like to be able to tell him that you’re not,” Finley said.
“Oh, but what would be the fun in that?” Vex asked with a raised eyebrow.
Finley could have said there was no “fun” for Rhalyf in thinking he was in his uncle’s cross-hairs, but he had a feeling that wasn’t something Vex worried about.
“But you appear to be the loyal one. Pleading his case to me though you’ve just met. Believing in his kindness,” Vex said.
Finley considered his answer to this. He focused on the plants that Vex had been complaining of before.
These appeared quite tame. The trees–black bark with silver leaves–kept well clear of the gracious crushed stone paths.
Crimson flowers bobbed in an unseen breeze sending billowing clouds of glowing pollen amongst the trunks, but staying clear of where they walked.
Finally, Finley decided the cold, hard truth was the best way to respond.
“He’s the first elf who ever treated me like I… I mattered. Like I had something to offer. Something worth listening to,” Finley admitted and was biting his lower lip. Would Vex think that stupid? More weakness? More patheticness?
But then the Night King was cupping his cheek and raising his head so that they were eye to eye. “Like you, Finley, I lived for a long time with no magic. Others moved ahead of me with ease. I was considered nothing. And I was made to feel it.”
“But that’s crazy! You’re the most powerful Mage to ever live!” Finley cried out.
Vex smiled. “Indeed and I loved every moment of rubbing into their faces just how wrong they were. Rising above them all. Ruling them all. Killing… many of them.”
Finley’s lips parted at the way Vex’s voice had dropped into an arctic register as he’d said the last bit.
“Elves are immortal, Finley, so they draw their power from life. Their own life. The life around them.” He gestured broadly to the thriving plantlife.
“But humans… Now humans are mortal. Death is closer to them than life. Life is but a flicker. Death is nearly eternal for them. And it is in death that you will find your power.”
The one hand that Vex had been gesturing with–elegant and tattooed, even on the palm–swung towards the white stone building on the top of the hill they were climbing.
And Finley knew what it was then.
It was a tomb.