Chapter 3 Mage’s Tower
Mage's Tower
“Abundanza,” Rhalyf muttered beside Finley as they both stepped into his quarters at the Eryas Palace.
That English word described the quarters accurately. The doors opened up onto a half-moon shaped platform where the two of them stood. Before them, three curved steps led down into a set of rooms overflowing with marble, gold leaf and engravings of battles, hunts and more on every wall.
Finley glimpsed a claw-footed bathtub–the feet were gold–through a doorway to his left.
To his right was another door that must lead to a dressing room.
In his opinion the island in the center of the dressing room where he supposed jewelry was to be kept looked more like a sarcophagus as it was a solid marble rectangle with fluted edges.
Oh, and there were gold accents, of course.
There were three arching doorways that led out onto a spacious balcony where large–again, marble–tables were set with a crystal and gold service.
He had to admit that the balcony’s view was incredible.
Tyrael was spread out before them like a blanket of stars.
He could see the lights turning on in the streets–twinkling–amidst the velvety dark stands of gracious trees.
But that lovely view was rather overcome by the interior.
Finley blinked. There wasn’t a wall space or bit of ceiling that wasn’t gilded, overwrought or overdone.
The only things that didn’t look quite so embellished were the purple bed with the sheer, red silk curtains and a simple writing desk with an almost delicate chair.
On top of that desk was a present wrapped in almost identical red and purple to the bed.
Rhalyf went over to the gift and plucked a card from under the red ribbon. He read it and let out a soft laugh. “Oh, Aquilan, you so do know my tastes.”
“Is this… your taste?” Finley asked carefully, gesturing to the rooms.
Rhalyf glanced around and shuddered. “No.”
“But then–”
“I believe this is Vesslan’s. Gods, that explains a lot,” Rhalyf muttered the last then continued,“Only the bed and desk set come from my rooms in the Lieran Plane. Evidently, on top of everything else he’s dealing with, Aquilan was able to smuggle these few things in for me so I wouldn’t have to sleep on whatever monstrosity Vesslan left behind.
I can only imagine the bed that Vesslan had in here originally.
I’m guessing it was some overly large gilded animal with a head under a wing or tail to make it seem like the sleeper was being cuddled. ”
Finley blinked again. “Ahhh, was this going to be Vesslan’s room?”
“Oh, not originally, I don’t believe. The rooms above these are Aquilan’s current rooms and Vesslan was going to take the far superior ones in the east side.
But it has been made clear to the good Emissary that he will have neither west nor east on the top floor.
So these were his third choice, but it looks as if Aquilan booted him from here as well,” Rhalyf hummed as he unwrapped the books and exclaimed with pleasure as he read some of the blurbs to himself.
“My, my, my, Aquilan does have such good taste in smut, too. I must read these.” But then he broke off as he caught Finley looking at him carefully.
He snapped the book shut. “But don’t worry, I won’t peruse them until I am alone. ”
Finley felt the press of the book and the blade against his own skin. “I wouldn’t mind if we both read quietly. Though did you say smut–”
“Oh, I bet you are eager to begin your reading! Non-smutty as it is! Anxious to get started on learning magic, I’m sure. I give you credit for not stealing a look in the bathroom while we were all waiting on Declan to recover,” Rhalyf chuckled.
Finley blushed. “Actually, I did. But it was too dark in there to read.”
The Night Elf tossed his head back and laughed. “Oh, Finley, you are precious! I love it!”
Finley blinked. No one had ever called him precious before. Determined. Scholarly. Weird. Yes, all of those. But precious? And not in an ironic way either.
“Well, I won’t keep you from your reading. Not for a moment more,” Rhalyf promised. “But, as I said, we must do so in more private and…” He cast a disdainful look around the room, “and more conducive surroundings to study. I really will have to alter this space.”
“I don’t think there’s enough paint in the world to fix this,” Finley admitted. “Maybe a chisel?”
Another laugh. Rhalyf had such a glorious laugh.
Will you truly be able to study with him about? The professor sounded as if he knew that the answer to that question was no.
Rhalyf is a talented mage! More than that, really. And he’s right that I can’t just read the book in any old place. I nearly made an error taking it to the Dawn, Finley pointed out, knowing he was somewhat justifying his desire to be with Rhalyf and read the book at the same time.
I would have warned you against that, the professor said tartly.
Yes, well, Rhalyf is offering some kind of refuge. And that is necessary. Better than anything I have currently, Finley said. If the Dawn is out, my bedroom at home would be the only other place… but that would be dangerous and inappropriate. Death magic in the house? I don’t think so.
But he’s a strange sort of person, isn’t he though? Not quite Aravae and not quite Kindreth. Not how they’ve become anyways, his professor muttered.
Finley frowned. I’m not quite like other people either.
Of course you aren’t, Finley! And I didn’t mean to suggest that–
I like Rhalyf. I want to be with him… as a friend, Finley quickly added.
I see. A sigh. Well, the thing about… friends is that they are distracting.
Not distractions. Reasons.
Reasons?
Reasons why I’m doing this! To keep them safe! All the sacrifices will be worth it to keep Rhalyf and Declan and Gemma safe. All of them, Finley pointed out.
Rhalyf and Declan hardly need help in that department, the professor pointed out dryly. In fact, some would say that people need to be protected from them.
Well, those people would be wrong! Also, they’re stronger when they fight together. If I add my magic in, they’ll be even stronger, Finley told the professor sternly.
Maybe the professor couldn’t quite understand his need for friendship.
When Finley had met him, the professor’s friends and family had all died or moved away and he really did seem a recluse.
Finley was the only person he ever saw. But, at least, it had seemed to Finley at the time that the professor treasured their friendship.
Yet here he seemed to discount friends altogether.
Rhalyf was tapping his chin and looking at their surroundings with a further critical eye as he said, “You’re quite right that it needs some of these engravings smoothed away and gilt removed and…
well, I’ll have to shape it.” He moved his hands through the air to create a triangle.
The triangle remained limned in a red light.
“Magically. Change the whole thing so that it reflects my tastes.”
Finley thought of what Vex had told him about Illithor. “You can grow buildings too? Shape spaces like that?”
Rhalyf looked a little proud and shy as he ducked his head for a moment. “Yes, I can. I’m the only one other than Vex who can accomplish this. Not that I let anyone know, of course.”
“You didn’t let them know? But why? That’s a great gift!” Finley cried.
“Yes, it is a great gift. But for it to be known would be a great hindrance to me as well.” Rhalyf’s lips twisted as if he tasted something sour.
“Why?”
“One of the very many reasons that people follow Vex, especially as we go deeper and deeper into the Under Dark is his ability to create cities. You can’t imagine that we start from scratch every time we go down to a lower level, do you?
” Rhalyf flashed a smile. “Quarrying stone? Laying cement? Carving temples? All that while being attacked on all sides by creatures?”
“Well, you could be living in tents. A nomadic existence,” Finley pointed out.
Rhalyf lifted an eyebrow. “Me? In a tent? Well, I did spend the last five years in them as we fought the Leviathan.” He gave another shudder. “But I am meant for palaces!” He spread his arms to his sides as if to encompass such a palace. “Just not this one. Not how it is. Definitely must shape it.”
“So if other Kindreth knew that you could build cities like Vex they would… want you to lead them?” Finley asked.
“Gods, no! I mean, some would want to take my blood believing that they could absorb the power themselves.” Rhalyf rubbed his hands over his arms as if feeling that blood taking at the very moment. “And perhaps others would think it was a… a sign.”
“That you’re a leader?” Finley again pressed.
Rhalyf’s automatic dismissal of the idea had seemed almost like a defensive response. The Night Elf sighed and raked a hand through his hair as he finally answered, “Some very misguided people might think that.”
“And so Vex might think you’re a threat and–”
“Kill me in ever entertaining ways? Yes, Finley, exactly. Which is why I don’t spread it around that I can do this,” Rhalyf said.
Finley blinked slowly. “But you told me.”
“I did.” Rhalyf met his eyes steadily. “Because you have proven to be trustworthy in a way that, in all honesty, no one else has ever been in my estimation.”
Finley considered this. “That’s a very great statement. A high compliment.”
“It is. And you’ve earned it.”
“I feel… I feel the same with you. You don’t judge,” Finley said awkwardly.
“Oh, I judge! I just don’t do anything about it,” Rhalyf laughed, but there was a self-inflicting wound in those words.