Mark of the Fool

Chapter 508: A Loved One's Responsibilities

What? Are you out of your damned mind? Theresa demanded. Youre not leaving me behind!

Alex winced, looking up from his spell-guide for Planar Doorway. He swallowed, feeling the full power of Theresas death stalker face.

You cant budge on this one, Alex. He thought. You cant.

He met her gaze head on.

The two of them were alone in their apartment in the insula after Alexs alchemy class and Theresas shift at the beastarium. Claygon and Brutus were on their way to the junior school to surprise Selina, which left Alex alone with Theresa to tell her about his plans for Cretalikon.

A day had passed since Baelins talk with him about Kaz-Mowang, and that conversation had brought him to one firm conclusion, one that involved Theresa, one he knew she would fight him on.

Hed tried to break the news to her gently, but directly.

There were certain things he could have done in an attempt to soften things if he wanted to. He could have made her a favourite dish, or offered her a relaxing foot massage while she sipped some fresh pine needle tea. But, what awaited him was hard and dangerous.

She deserved to get the hard truth of it.

I wish I didnt have to bring anyone at all that I love with me, but I dont have a choice, I have to bring Claygon. Alex said. We talked about this: what Im doing is gonna becrazy dangerous. Im going down deep into the hells, Baelin wont be there as a safety net because his focus has to be on Ezaliel.

Alex Her nostrils flared as her frown deepened. Thatthat doesnt make any sense. Thats more reason for me to come with you: weve been protecting each other since before the Cave of the Traveller, and now you want to go down into the hells without me? How would you feel if I said I was going to do something so deadly by myself? And I dont mean my hunts, I mean, literally going down into a place like the hells with mostly strangers.

I know you wont like this but, yeah, Claygons going to be waiting in reserve at a portal, since he cant be right beside me. Alex said. Baelin and I talked about the best way to do things: a war-golem wouldnt have worked with the plan we came up with, but he can be part of the plan if Baelin transports him to a different part of the domain with a couple of summoned monsters that hell be conjuring. Theyll be killing any wild demons that are waiting anywhere near thatportal. Claygonll have a spell-mark thatll teleport him to me the instant I call him, and hell be bringing the summons with him.

So Claygons not going to be at your side? Theresa balked further. Even more reason you need me. Come on, Alex, youre not the kind of guy that would just turn to me and say this is too dangerous. Youre not, so wheres this coming from?

Alex winced. II dont wanna say it.

Come on, talk to me. She slid into the chair across from him at their little table. Whats going through your head? Tell me, because I cant understand this. It doesnt make sense to me.

He sighed, closing the spell-guide. Alex looked into his partners eyes, his hands sliding across the table to take hers. The thing is he said slowly. I dont want to risk anyone close to me: It bothers me that I even have to bring Claygon along, but both he and Baelin said itd be rash not to have at least one close ally down there.

Then I can wait with Claygon. Baelin can put a spell-mark on me too, and you can call me and him. If things go wrong, Ill be there to back you up.

Itsjeez, listen Theresa, Im thinking about our family, about Selina, he said. Look, Im going on this mission, and Im taking a big risk. I know that. If things go wrongandby the Traveller I dont want to even think about thisif you, me and Claygon die down therethen what happens to Selina? What happens to Brutus? Thatd be almost our entire family wiped outjust like that.

The huntress winced, squeezing his hands. I get that. But we fight together against dangers all the time. The demon attack here in Generasi. The Ravener-spawn back home. By fighting together, we made sure we both came back together.

Yeah, thats true, Alex said. But this is me trying to infiltrate a greater demons palaceat his partyto get my hands on information about the Traveller that could help us. Its risky, its dangerous andhonestly, I think taking you with me would be pretty selfish. I want to fight by your side, butBrutus, Selinayour parents. I just want to hedge all my bets. Im taking people along to back me up. Baelins going to help me. I wouldnt be doing this at all if I didnt think I had a good chance of pulling it off. But, I want to make sure thatif something does go wrongthat your parents still have a daughter, that Brutus still has his mom and

He took a deep breath. ...and that Selina has someone to come home to after school. I promise, this isnt going to become a habit, but likeI dunno. Just give me this, this one time.

Theresa remained silent for a time, looking deeply into Alexs eyes. A thousand thoughts seemed to brew behind her eyes, most would be left unsaid.

She finally spoke. Alright. It is hard, Alex, and I hate having to think like this. I hate it. But, if I go with you, it would be selfish. Id be going for you and me, not for Brutus and not for Selina. I wish I didnt have to make this decisionbut youre right. This is different from Thameland, or when we were attacked in Generasi.

Yeah, and I hate it too, Alex agreed. Listen, I want you to come with me, butyou saw what happened in Cawarthin, in Ikharrashs fortress.

Her hands squeezed his. We were affected by the terror-field and the demons swarmed us. If it wasnt for Baelins spell-marks, wed all be dead. And you say this Kaz-Mowangs as powerful as Zonon-In?

Yeah, Alexs expression was grim.

She shuddered. If shed been really trying against us, we wouldve all died in the Crymlyn, even withCedric and the witches trees helping. If things do go wrong, well be gone, me, you and Claygonand if the worst does happen

Brutus and Selina are going to need someone to comfort and support them, someone who understands what theyre going through, not three corpses.

Yeah Her grip on his hands was so strong, they ached. Alright. I trust you to come back to us. Gobut make sure you come back. She leaned forward, kissing his forehead across the table. Come back to me.

I will, Alex said, kissing her lips. I swear on the Traveller, I'll come back to you.

For a moment, they held each others hands in silence.

and then the apartment door began creeping open, its hinges squeaking.

In a wild moment, Alex thought demons were at the door to kill him since he was an associate of Baelins, or else as revenge for Cawarthin and Tenebrama. Or maybe it was the Raveners clawed monsters sent from across the sea by Thamelands ancient enemy, claws ready to gut him.

When a horned figure loomed in the doorway, his thoughts went even wilder, imagining Burn-Saw or even Kaz-Mowang himself there to murder them in their apartment.

It was Theresas voice that returned him to sanity.

Thundar? she asked.

Alex blinked.

The horned figure standing in the doorway was the towering figure of his friend. Alexs sigh of relief was so strong, he nearly doubled over. Thundar, you scared the soul out of me! Holy shit.

Jumpy, much? Thundars hooves tromped across the threshold as he slammed the door behind him. Is it because youre about to go down to the hells to face some greater demon by yourself?

Alex winced. You heard?

I did. I certainly did. He dropped into a chair beside his shorter friend. The minotaur glared down at him. You know, youve done a lot of crazy shit, but this might be the damndest, most foolish, craziest thing youve ever talked about. Which is why Im coming with you.

Yeah, itswait what now?

I heard everything you said from: Theresa, Ive got to protect all my friends by going down to the hells with a bunch of strangers., but youre going to need at least one person with you to watch your back, Alex. And I get why Theresa cant comeif I was in your shoes, Id have said everything you said to her, that all makes perfect sense. If all of you die, itd put your sister and Brutus in a real bad way. But me? Im the perfect guy to go with you. As I said, youre gonna need someone right there with you to watch your back.

Thundar, I

Remember when we were cooking for the last Festival of Ghosts? I told you: If I die in battle protecting a friend, then I die in battle protecting a friend. Theres few better deaths than that. Thats how I feel, and my ancestors would praise me for it. And me? He pointed to his chest. I dont got a girlfriend or little sisters, or dogs to worry about. If I fall, my family will mourn, but if they know how I fell, theyll be as proud as my ancestors.

Thundar, Theresa cut in. You cant just say youre expendable.

Im not, what, are you nuts? He looked at her like she was nuts. Im just saying Im well positioned to take the risk. And, I got skills hell need. I can fight, but thats not the point. Remember the terror-field? I resisted that. I taught the rest of our team how to get through the wrath-field: when Cretalikons mania-field hits, you can guarantee Ill keep my head. Can you say the same for a bunch of strangers? You got mercenaries, but youll need one good friend to keep an eye on them and you.

Thundar, if anything happened to you, Id never forgive myself, Alex insisted.

Good. The minotaur clapped his friend on the shoulder. Thatll give you an extra reason to be real careful so we get back home. Because if you let me die down there, Im gonna become the nastiest demon-marked ghost you ever did see. Ill haunt the shit out of you.

What if Im dead too?

Extra haunting. Therere no rules saying that ghosts cant haunt other ghosts. Besides. He nodded toward the apartment across the insulas courtyard. You know that when Khalik finds out youre leaving him behind, hes gonna hit the roof, right? Isoldes gonna lecture you about only taking mercenaries down there with you.

Oh, she doesnt have any ground to stand on when it comes to not bringing people with you to dangerous places. Alex scoffed. She didnt bring Hogarth or Svenia on our trips to the hells.

Um. Theresa cleared her throat. Alexcan you think of one single reason why Isolde might not have wanted to bringextra protection from her household with her?

Alex paused, the memory of Cedrics arm around Isoldes waist returning to him. ...oh.

Huh. Thundar chuckled. Ill need to use that against her. Point is. You need at least one person at your side for this crazy quest. I got the skills, Im volunteering, and I wouldnt be leaving behind responsibilities. Plus, itd make Isolde and Khalik feel better. Come on, man.

Alexthis is selfish, but itd make me a bit more comfortable if someone that we know was with you.

He paused, considering everything Thundar had said, and what he was offering. ...Yeah, okay, Alex agreed, at last.

Wrapped in a wave of guilt, a surge of relief also came over him knowing that one of his friends would be with him. He made a vow, promising himself that nothing dire would happen to Thundar. But if you die, and I dont, Im coming to the after-world to kick your ass, and if I also die, Ill already be right there beside you kicking your ass.

Wouldnt have it any other way. Thundar grinned. Now, I didnt come here to bully you: I ran into Baelin earlier and he wanted me to give you a message. The minotaur drew himself up, trying his best to mimic the chancellors dignified voice. I am to inform you that your chance to recruit minionshis word, not minewill be coming shortly. I am also to inform you thatunless they belong to races with natural furthat Kaz-Mowang does not tolerate facial hair on his performers. Zonon-In has informed me that he thinks smooth-skins should be smooth-skins.

He slumped his shoulders as he finished. And thats the message.

Horror stricken, Alex clutched his beard protectively. What the hells other details did she leave out? Waitthat meansI have to shave?

Thundar nodded gravely. You have to shave.

Oh no. Alex murmured.

Theresas eyes shone, and a dreamy smile took her face. She looked up toward the sky as though she could see every deity in the world above her.

Releasing Alexs hands, she collapsed her palms together in prayer. Thank you, Traveller. Thank you.

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