Mark of the Fool

Chapter 549: Seeds of an Imperial Court

You were inside the demon? Theresa choked, her hand squeezing Alexs so hard, that it actually hurt.

By the sapphire sea. Prince Khalik almost spat out his drink.

Alex, that is insanity, Isolde gaped.

In retrospect, but it worked, and results were all that mattered then, Alex continued regaling his friends with stories of Jaretha. If it werent for Claygon, Thundar, Ripp and the other mercenaries, I would have been dead like five times over: desperate measures were needed after a while.

Ill say. Thundar threw back a shot of whiskey. At one point, this demon filled the hall with fire, it was like the whole place was a furnace, I thought I was a goner for sure. He reached for a glass of water. We have Celsus to thank for us still being here. I swear, Im gonna keep praying for my ancestors to guide him to the afterworld. Him and Guntile both. For at least a year.

Oh, no, Guntile died too? Selina asked sadly. She sounded cool.

Yeah, she was, Alex paused. But, Ill get to all of that. Theres a lot that happened.

It hasbeen eventful, Claygon agreed.

That it has, buddy, that it has. Taking a deep breath, he continued the story.

Alexs cabal, along with Claygon, Theresa and Selina, had gathered in the bakerys apartment. The early evening reunion was intense: so far, theyd shared moments of laughter, tears, relief, and a lot of joy.

Later, thered be mounds of food to look forward to, and the drinks would keep flowing.

But for now?

Alex needed to catch his friends up on certain developments.

He continued his tale, recounting how theyd escaped from Jaretha, the apocalypse Baelin and his cabal had unleashed on Ezaliels domain, then he slowed right down when it came time to tell them about the Traveller.

Alex glanced at Selina, remembering what hed promised Baelin. He wasnt supposed to tell anyone except his cabal and closest friends what hed discovered about there being other worlds in the universe. But, that shouldnt apply to Selina, he knew he could trust her completely. Shed never told anyone about Uldars Mark, so why would she tell anyone about this, especially if she knew she wasnt supposed to.

The Travellers from another world, he blurted out.

Jaws dropped and eyes grew wide.

The word what?, seemed to echo through the room.

Shes from another world? Selina repeated, glancing out a nearby window.

The Travellera more fitting name than I thought. Khalik nodded.

The theory is correct! Isolde cried. By the elements!

Yeah, but Baelin says we cant tell anyone that. And you cant tell anyone about this next part either, Alex continued.

Theresa nearly fell from her chair when he revealed that the Traveller had returned to the world of the living, and how shed blessed him with both power, and knowledge. Prince Khalik spilled his drink on his shirt. Isolde choked on hers.

Selinas eyes were very, very wide. If she can come back from the dead she started, her voice thrumming with excitement.

NoIm sorry, Selina, Alex said, pain in his eyes when he looked at her. It doesnt work like that. The reason the Traveller was able to come back was because of her power, and because of our prayers to her. Both needed to come together. She cant bring others back either, not as far as I know. Im sorry.

Selina blinked, anguish gripping her face. Then, as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. Her jaw hardened and she nodded without saying another word.

Alex reached over and took her hand.

His sister tensed for a moment, looking like she would pull it away, then she sighed, relaxing her hand in his. Her brother squeezed it, while Theresa squeezed his other hand, and he continued with the last parts of his story.

He finished to the sound of breathing, overlaying utter silence. No one spoke.

Thundar was nodding knowingly.

Then Alex abruptly broke the stillness.

And when I got home, thats when Lucia, the sky-gondolier, came out of nowhere with a lot of coin from betting on us in the Games of Roal. Shes rich now, Alex announced dramatically.

What? Thundar cried. No, youre lying.

Truly? Khalik stared at the minotaur. That is what you react to? Not the demigoddess returning from death, but to the sky-gondolier getting rich?

Well, I was kinda there for the returning from death part, I didnt know about Lucias coin multiplying like a bunch of ants in spring! Thundar shouted. I couldve bet on us, ugh! I could be rich now!

What she didwhile impressivewas an incredible risk, Isolde said primly. Any factor shifting slightly could have ruined our chances of victory, and cast her right back into pauperdom. Gambling is a bad habit. But I am shocked that she made that much from gambling on our successes. She is rich, you say?

Yeah, but she didnt get there through gambling alone. Gambling gave her seed money. This is why you shouldnt gamble, Selina, Alex said.

Alex, all that you have said so far has been a ringing endorsement of gambling, Khalik pointed out.

Alex waved him off dismissively, watching his sisters reaction. It was muted, her face was still tinged with disappointment. Hed have to talk with her later.

He went on to explain everything else that he and Lucia had talked about, he also told them about his conversation with Toraka Shale.

Well, thats pretty much everything, Alex finished. Its been a crazy few days.

I can see that. Isolde shook her head. I must truly grow my power: some of what you went through in Jarethawould have been the end of me.

So, the churchs secrets, as well as Hannah and Keldas legacy lie before us. And you have new power that needs mastering, Khalik said.

Yes, Alex said. With what lies ahead? We have concrete information now, so its time to build up our strength and knowledge. We have some direction, thanks to Hannah, but maybe going after the church or trying to go to the Irtyshenan Empire right away, might be too soon.

Indeed. We have to build on our foundationyour teleportation will be most useful, Khalik thumbed his beard. Ill seek spells to compliment it. So, what do we do now, do we simply work with the expedition for the time being?

Not quite. Alex looked at Thundar. Im going to talk to the Heroes next time I see them, and bring them up to speed about what we know. For now, we have to keep gathering strength. In the meanwhileThundar, how would you like to make a lot of coin?

The minotaur blinked. What kinda question is that? Coin can be exchanged for goods and services, and I love me some goods and services.

Perfect. Alex rubbed his hands together. Ill be needing some help: Ive got to focus on building this power for a while, so I probably wont have a lot of time to go to Thameland regularly to get dungeon cores for new projects at Shales. Which got me wondering if maybe youd be interested in going to get them with Claygon, and maybe Ripp and He looked at Theresa. you, honey.

Go on, Theresa looked at him closely.

You, Thundar and Claygonif you want buddycan get a share of my profits from any golems that you provide the dungeon core substance for. To put it bluntly, Im getting rich, and you all should be rich too.

I do not hear you offering to make me rich. Khalik glowered.

Nor me, Isolde folded her arms across her chest.

Alex gave his two richest friends an icy look. Listen. Listen. The last thing you two need is more coin.

This is discrimination. Isolde shook her head, a mocking look in her blue eyes.

So sue me. Alex fired back. Aaaaanyway, Thundar, Claygon, and Theresa: Id go with you sometimes, but if I cant be there, Id like to leave getting the cores up to you. If you need coin to hire extra hunters, just let me know. So, what do you say?

Well, Ive been taking hunting contracts here in Generasi. Theresa shrugged. So this would basically be the same thing, except Id be helping Thameland, it pays better, and Id be helping my partners business.

Yeah, itd be good training too, Thundar agreed. Without Claygon, Id say we wouldnt have the muscle for it, but with the big guy? He nodded at the golem. Wed have a solid chance, if we fight smart. What do you think?

Iwould like to helpdestroy Thamelands enemies Claygon said. Raiding dungeons would be good practise There was a clang as he tapped the iron still covering him. I was notable to stopYantrahpretaye.I needmore skill

Thats a good attitude. And dont worry, buddy, Ill be getting all that iron off of you soon, Alex said.

No.

Wait, what?

Do not takeall of it off Claygon said. I want to leave someas a reminderof what happened

Alex scratched his chin, peering at the metal. Well, if thats what you want. Ill at least take some of it off so that it looks better. Ill treat it too: I dont think youll be looking your best with a bunch of rusty iron attached to you.

Thank youfather

No problem, buddy, no problem The young wizard peered at the golem, already mentally planning which parts of the iron to cut away and which parts to leave for the sake of aesthetics.

Id like to be rich too, Selina said quietly.

Alex watched her face, carefully. Why?

Why not? The young girl looked at her brother like hed asked the most ridiculous question ever uttered by mortal lips. Im not rich like Isolde and Khalik.

Youre also eleven.

Almost twelve.

If Im rich, so are you, Selina. Youre my little sister.

Her jaw tightened.

I tell you what, if you come up with an ideathats not dangerousto make yourself some coin, and you really want to do it and it wont interfere with school, then Ill help you all I can. Deal?

Deal. Selina brightened, squeezing his hand.

Theresa squeezed his other hand, and winked at Selina.

Alex turned back to his friends..

Listen. I think Lucias onto something. With a proper network and proper products? Dungeon core substance? He looked at an open window, gesturing to the city beyond.Give me a hundred years and Ill own half the city.

He grinned at Thundar and Theresa. You two will own the other half.

This is ambitious, Alex, his partner said. And its going to be a lot on you.

And I have to do it, the Thameish wizard said. Listen, were going up against the church next, and Im not stupidmost of the time, that is. The more we look into the church, the more its likely theyll start looking into us. Into me. I told you about that spy that came to the encampment: I dont think hell be the last, and all itll take for my secret to get out is for some ordained priest to walk past me with a holy symbol in his pocket.

He held up one finger. One second, and Im gone, its all gone. The best way to counter that? Coin and power. Alex nodded to Khalik. Lets say it was you that was marked, and priests wanted you, do you think Generasi is going to send a prince off like a common criminal?

It would be war with Tekezash. Khalik nodded approvingly. But, if you are an indispensable cog in Generasis economic machine, they would be reluctant to send you anywhere.

Exactly, Alex said. So were back to gathering wealth and building power. That sound good?

Isolde sighed. A part of me will miss the trips to the Hells.

Is that because youll see Cedric less? Selina asked innocently.

The young noblewoman turned as red as Cedrics hair. Itrainingit is important to keep ones skills up!

And the thing about that is, were still going to be training with the Heroes, Thundar assured her. Dont worry, youll still get to spend time with your big hunk of man meat.

I hate you. I hate you. I hate you all. You sicken me! Isolde cried.

Just give up, Isolde, Theresa said. You know they have you cornered.

Hmph!

Alright, Alex said. Ill tell Lucia we have a deal for a trial period. Its time to make some golems and some more deals. Andlots of coin.

Hmmmmm, coin. Khaliks eyes shone. You know what occurs to me?

Whats that? Alex asked.

We did quite well for ourselves in the last Games of Roal, Khalik mused. How well would we do this time? Prize money? Fame? Perhaps the right bets placed by others who are not competingbut who are also our friends?

Alex brightened. Now theres an idea I can get behind. Theres one hell of an idea, Khalik.

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