We warmed ourselves by a more natural bonfire Gwyn created amongst the great circle of her inner sanctum. The salve she rubbed over my aching fingers helped ease the pain, if not removed it entirely. Whatever the cause, it was sourced of something that confounded even her impressive healing powers. She did, however, seem amused at my state. Just like her, of course.

“I warned you this would happen to you if you allowed yourself to become old,” she told me. “The path you chose will not end in a manner at all pleasant.”

“You know what I believe about what is done to mitigate that,” I told her.

Her expression grew angry again.

“You know I do not judge,” I told her more softly. “I merely state what I feel. You know I never enjoyed the act of taking even when I did allow myself to partake.”

Her expression softened. She nodded. My thoughts went back to Omar and his courtiere. I had truly thought better of him.

“I do like that you feel the way you do,” she admitted. “It is a weakness, but it is one thing that I have always liked in you. It is something I will miss.”

“But with the elemental expelled, I am left where I started.” I shook my head. “Whoever the wizard is, either he or she has far more command than I currently able to wield. There is nothing I can do to better mine – even if I was to break Tenet. And certainly not with my fellows likely already searching for me.”

“But you cannot let this act go unpunished,” she told me. “You have to act however you can. And something like that, it has to be one who knows you. One of your fellow collegiates. Even I would have noticed the perverse stench of a Vaeranshi.”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

“Yes, we can at least be thankful that stones will not allow southern magicks to uproot them.”

That much was true. It had been attempted once. And the end had been unspeakable for the sorcerer-thief who had attempted such a brazen larceny, spectacular even.

“Regardless, the theft could only have been in an attempt to gain Arcory’s power,” she insisted. “You will have to destroy whoever has attempted this, if you seek to maintain any reputation amongst your kind.”

“No,” I insisted. “There is still likely much more about this than it seems. Their motive could be one of many. And we are past such behavior.”

“Not all of you are. Your adversary sent elemental fire to destroy you,” she replied raising her voice in reproach. “I think the time for words has passed between you any your adversary. Once you were set free of your mission and walked alone the chance was taken. You must look at putting an end to this in what ever way is necessary before whoever holds your master’s precious stones grows bolder, or perhaps more desperate. Three rocks are likely just the beginning, do you not think? I would suspect that if whoever is behind this manages to unravel their magicks they will continue and all of your precious marches will be lost, at the very least.”

I wanted to glare at her, but she was speaking the bare truth, and I knew it.

“You always seemed so proud of how you found a way to use the stones to protect those accursed lands,” she continued in a softer tone. “What is more disturbing is what they may do with something of your former master’s power should the find a way of gaining it though the stones. And they could have allies. And not just of our world.”

I let out a breath, having to agree. Her wisdom, selfish and pragmatic and cruel as it had ever been again showed the path of need. But where was I going find the power to deal with such a powerful thief? I stared down at my numbed and curled fingers. After what I had just experienced I did not know if I dare call upon such power again.