CHAPTER 21

I just chuckled nervously and muttered something about there needing to be balance for all the bad that had happened in the time I’d come into contact with the Seelie, which Instructor Sadick just snorted at and laughed, “I can imagine it has. Stay here until the bell for evening mess and you should be okay. Do you need anything before I go and tend the garden?”

I shook my head, pensive already. “Thank you.”

He shrugged and walked off, shaking his head, “Kids these days, man. All the luck…”

Once he was gone, I pulled Frix’s book from my Hollow Flower and opened it to the page after his last message.

I’ll be honest, I am as surprised as you are, boy. The words filtered onto it slowly and there was a pause, then he wrote faster, Kalia says that there were a few instances where your luck would have been different, but sacrificing the stat points changed it.

I can’t control it?

He paused and I could feel the book vibrating, No. But you can trust that until it runs out, it will work in your favor. There was a soft pause and he wrote down, The instances are as follows, Thane would have broken your neck, so instead your luck made the weapons explode and injure you instead. You being approached by Master Aldren instead of told nothing and given pointless hints that I would have had to explain eventually. I think I actually benefitted from that more than you.

Seriously? I glared at the page and he just laughed before going on.

The final one was the Dryad Nixie going out of her way to make you a weapon like that hand axe. She was right, you know. Elven crafters hunt dryads and make them make things for them so that they don’t have to work with the harder woods like Cindry and the air tree. Though the shuna are rare weapons in themselves and that she made you one was incredibly lucky. It took two points on its own.

I looked at it and thought about adding more points to it since it had saved my life and my being able to stay in the advanced weapons classes. I resolved to experiment with it upon my next level up. It would be soon based on the amount of experience my daily course work and all the stuff I’d been doing earned me.

Until then, I had time to go over a few things that I had been wanting to.

Frix, fill me in on everything you know from a technical standpoint of knife and hand axe fighting, include visuals if you can.

There was a small pause and I could almost see the giddiness in his writing, Coming right up!

I spent the next few hours getting lost in the words on the page, to the point where the bell for evening mess surprised me enough to slam the book shut. My arm felt better and the flesh on my shoulder was puckered and pink, but I could move it at least.

I got up, finding a fresh set of clothes folded on the chair that Master Aldren had been sitting on, so I put them on and pulled the academy map from my Hollow Flower. According to it, I was almost directly south of the mess hall, that had to be why the bell was so loud.

Before I left the room, Frix’s book went into the spell inventory once more and I opened the door to find Etran and his sister walking in with him holding his sternum, a pained look on his bruised and bloodied face.

“Move, peasant.” Sanera snarled impetuously, she shoved me out of the way and as soon as she touched me I knew that she had me under her control. “Help me get him into a cot.”

Even though I was mentally screamed at myself to ignore her, my body move of its own accord. But halfway through getting him to the nearest cot, her influence wore off and I allowed her to believe that I was still influenced until I got him where I was supposed to.

Once there she turned to me and ordered, “Go find the medic, and someone else to get that wretched she devil of an Unseelie who dared to attack him for exercising his rights.”

I just nodded and left the room, then went straight into the mess hall with a smile on my face.

I grabbed all the food that I had missed out on for lunch and stuffed my face as I wrote a message to Lolth.

Good evening, Lolth,

I hope your day went better than mine, as it was a bit rough training today. Do you know anything about an Unseelie classmate attacking Etran Marki? I think I owe them some gratitude.

Hope all is well, and I look forward to seeing you tonight.

-Saemus.

As soon as I finished writing the words, they faded and emptied from the page completely, replaced by and eye in the middle of the page that looked like someone was reading. That was interesting.

Her response came just before I decided to put it away.

He tried to attack Coventry, Saemus. He had her pinned in a side hallway and was trying to make advances on her. He said some really terrible things to her, and when he was shouting, Bruth arrived there and got her away from him, but the Unseelie are outraged and her parents are likely already on their way to the school.

The bottom dropped out of my stomach, but I knew what I had to do.

I know where he is. Find Instructor Sadick and tell him what happened in about fifteen or twenty minutes. I will see if there is anything I can do with the dryad’s help, and I’ll try going to find another instructor. Are her parent’s that scary?

It took a moment longer for her to respond this time, but she wrote, Her parents are the right hand of the Unseelie King. If they come to the school and find out nothing was done to punish him, then there will be no saying what will happen. They could pull all of the Unseelie from the school, Saemus.

Xanile came over to the table and smiled at me, “Hello Saemus, what is going on?”

“Something bad that could get even worse if something isn’t done about it right now.” She frowned at me as I stood up and slid my food toward her, “Could you make sure that food gets brought to my room? I have something to take care of.”

“Oh, okay.” She frowned and stood up, “If it is important enough for you to leave mess for, I suppose I should help as well. Make sure that you do not get yourself into trouble like you nearly did yesterday.”

I grimaced, “I don’t know if you’ll want to get involved in this, Xanile.” I glanced up and down the table before I explained, “Etran attacked one of my classmates in a hallway and her parents may be on the way here.”

“Oh no!” She looked shocked and leaned forward, “Is she okay?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to go and try to keep the peace in the school.” She frowned at my answer and I just sighed, “Please, just trust me a little.”

She nodded and answered, “You’ve earned it, but I want to know what happens and if she is okay. Alright?”

I nodded and fled the table, taking my map out of my pocket to find my way to the garden, but the fastest way was through the infirmary ward with a plan forming in my head. But I didn’t like it.

Once I threw open the doors, I did my best to adopt a serene face as Sanera turned to face me with her hands on her hips and worry on her face. “Well?”

“Instructor Sadick is on his way to help.” I stood still so she wouldn’t approach me again. “Told me to gather ingredients for the pain.”

“I don’t want you anywhere near the ingredients he needs.” She hissed. Then thought about it and muttered, “But he’s under my control, so I can make him get anything we need.”

She looked up and narrowed her eyes, “Get him what he needs, the best of everything.”

I didn’t even glance at her as I tried to robotically walk by her and she reached out and grabbed me before I could recoil. “I knew you weren’t under my control.” She laughed triumphantly. “Go to the garden and get the ingredients you were told to get.”

I couldn’t smile outwardly as I complied with the first part of her order and then once I was outside of her sight and in the garden, her sway was gone once more. Frix, I need you to keep notes on how her power works. Actually, anyone whose power you see that could be used against me, or for me for that matter.

There was a pause and I could feel an awareness on me. Looking around, I saw the dryad tending flowers a few feet from me, “Good evening, I was wondering if you could help me with something?”

She tilted her head to the side curiously, “I can. What can I do for you in this evening garden of mine?”

I told her about what I had in mind and she frowned, “This is not how the avatar of old would have operated, but that is none of my concern so long as this garden and my love are safe and cared for.” She closed her eyes and began to point to where the various herbs and tumors that I needed were as I had Frix compile the recipe for the effect that I wanted.

He even had me do something that I didn’t think of, which was a stroke of genius.

We didn’t have all of the items here, but we had enough that I was certain that nothing would lead back to me or Xanile’s house by attachment.

Using Frix’s recipe, I was able to brew the tonic and it was enough that I was certain so long as no one saw it, we would be fine.

You ensured to add power to the Vold Spore and take the scent away from the Cat’s Grave?

I nodded, knowing that he would be able to sense what I was doing as I was doing it and continued adding the ingredients for the secondary effect I wanted.

Once I was sure that I had it all done, I came into the medical ward and didn’t make it ten feet into the room before Instructor Sadick appeared at my shoulder and yanked me back out into the garden.

“What is in this?” He wondered at me with narrowed eyes.

“Something that will make him feel better and deaden the pain.” I listed the ingredients for the first effect of the tonic and that was all.

He frowned, “And if you were to drink this?”

“I would be perfectly fine, though I might get a stomach ache because I’m allergic to one of the ingredients.” I watched him frown, adding, “Chapter twelve of your course book was very educational.”

His eyebrows shot up and he smiled, “You read that far already?” I nodded. “What was the chapter title?”

“Tonics and Toners and the Differences Between.” Frix had known about it, and gave me the information in case he asked, and I was glad that I remembered it. “I really thought that Ailfrend’s Tonal Tonic on Recovery would be helpful if there’s any internal injury.”

“I used that one on you for the heavy bruising and broken bones just today, it worked wonders?” He looked me over as I moved my left are around and clenched my fingers. “Good.”

I walked with him inside and watched as the look of stressed worry disintegrated off of Sanera’s face. “I trust that this potion will be what makes him feel better?”

“It should.” Sadick shrugged, seeing the bruising on his face, “What happened?”

“Some Unseelie bitch attacked him when he was minding his own business, I was there!” She sobbed, her tears making me want to attack her then and there. “She broke his ribs and hurt him. I want her gone.”

“Then have him drink this.” Sadick said as I pushed the tonic bottle forward.

She shoved it back, her hand touching mine, “You take a drink first, I don’t trust you.”

“He’s allergic to one of the ingredients in the tonic, have the boy drink it.” Sadick growled, but her power had already washed over me and I took a drink from the bottle. A strong, pungent odor filled my mouth that made me grimace, but it was bearable. It was the film that followed that almost made me gag as I swallowed it.

I swallowed again and gagged this time, much the same way as I had earlier on in the day, but this time, there was an immediate wave of cold sweats.

“That happen last time?” I nodded and he frowned.

“The dryad took some of the ill effects from me when she touched me.” I grunted and started to sway on my feet. He grabbed the tonic and shoved me onto the cot behind him before turning around.

“There, this will work just fine.” Sadick sighed and shoved it forward but Sanera shook her head. “If you don’t give it to him now, you’re prolonging his suffering.” She set her feet and crossed her arms as if to defy him further.” He stepped forward, “Fine, I will do it myself.”

She tried to get in his way but he shoved her aside and put the bottle into Etran’s mouth, then emptied the contents into his gullet and clamped his mouth and nose shut so he was forced to swallow.

I took a moment to reach into my pocket and grab one of the roots I’d pocketed and made sure it was the right one before popping it into my mouth to suck on. The cold sweats and nausea skyrocketed and I turned my head and spat the root into my hand just before I vomited everything I had managed to eat for the day onto the floor surrounding my cot. But the film was dissolved and looked like food now.

“Disgusting!” Sanera screamed, frustrated. “Get out!”

I was only too happy to oblige, but it was Sadick I looked to. He nodded, “Go get some rest, I don’t know if you’re aware but there are no classes on weekends. You are expected to train and study on your own, however. Do you need help?”

I shook my head weakly, muttering, “No, I should be alright, thank you instructor.”

He nodded and rounded on Sanera, “You had better get away from me, little girl, as this is my domain and I will not hesitate to put your uppity ass in one of those cots too. I can heal you just as well.”

I fled the room slowly, to make it look like it was still feeling ill, then as soon as I was out of the room I stood fully and made my way to my room.

Once I arrived, I checked the sheet of parchment and found notes from Lolth.

They’re here and they’re furious. They’re meeting with the head master. Where are you? What happened? They’re coming to talk to me and Coventry soon.

I wrote her back and said, I will explain everything to you soon. I will use Aren to find you. Don’t let anyone make any decisions yet.

I didn’t take the time to see if she had seen it and instead called, “Aren!” The spider spun her way down from a web that she had made above my door, “Ah!”

She swayed at my breath and I swore she crossed her arms, but my shock was gone and I had to hurry, “I need you to take me to Lolth right now, can you do it?”

She just stared at me as I put my hand out, so I pleaded, “Come on! If you don’t hurry, she’s going to have to leave the school!”

She lowered onto my hand and pointed toward my door, so I followed her directions. Out the door and to the main hall, two rights, then a left toward the other side of the school. Three halls down from the Magic Theory classroom, then a left. Another left and a right.

Finally I stared at a rather plain-looking brown door that the spider pointed four of her legs at. Taking a deep breath, I knocked three times.

The door opened and Lolth reached out and grabbed me much the same as I had her the night before, hissing, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to make things right!” I hissed back, but someone cleared their throats before I could explain any further.

“Lolth, who is this young man?” A deep voice rumbled over her shoulder and made my blood run cold. They spoke in the Muck tongue, but I soon saw him and knew I was likely in trouble.

The man stood three and a half feet taller than me and had broad shoulders for an elf that reminded me more of Thane than my father. His hair was dark and his eyes were a deep maroon color that was filled with unbridled rage. “Is he the culprit?”

“No, sir!” Lolth put herself between the two of us as if to hide me. “This is my male.”

“Why is he here?” He seethed and stared intently at me over her shoulder.

I answered in Muck, “I’m a classmate of Lady Coventry’s, sir, and I know the boy who did that to her.”

“That?” The man growled and surged forward, moving Lolth aside as if she weighed nothing, and grabbed me around the back of the neck to pull me across the room to a ground of figures. One of them was our magic instructor herself, Lialarn focused on healing the girl, her hands glowing with amber light as the more brutal bruises faded under ministration. He had done to her what he had to me, but this time only Bruth had been there to stop him. It was a wonder she got away too.

The bruises were extensive, and I had to wonder if I wasn’t being too lenient on the noble dog. But that wasn’t for me to decide. “That, is what this other boy did. You will tell me where he is, so that I can deal with him myself, then we will leave this place and march on the Seelie in a fortnight.”

“Forgive me, sir, I know I speak out of turn—” The woman beside Lialarn who looked almost identical to Coventry hissed, interrupting me.

“Then do not speak.” She sobbed quietly. “We will avenge her and lay waste to her attackers.”

It was now or never, or there would be a bigger war on our hands than was already here. “I’ve already begun the revenge, ma’am.”

Her head turned to me so fast that her neck popped and her eyes widened, but it was Coventry’s father who spoke in a threatening tone. “Speak.”

I reached toward my pocket and the pressure on my neck grew so tight that I was beginning to see spots. “The item I mean to give you is in that pocket, it’s a root.”

A small hand reached into my pocket and I saw that it was Lolth’s lifting it up for them to see.

“What is it”” My legs grew weak as the blood still didn’t flow to my head, his wife snarled, “Release his neck so he doesn’t pass out, Gronan!”

The pressure was gone and I fell to my knees anyway, allowing oxygen to fill my blood and mind enough to allow me speech. I took a deep breath and said, “The key to killing him painfully.”

The man leaned down and grabbed me by the back of my shirt, pulling me gently so that he could stare me in the eyes as he muttered, “We’re listening.”