Chapter 15
The trouble with mentors
As they stepped into the large circular room, Finn gazed around. The single room occupied the entire building. It had well-polished dark-wood wall panelling and floor, with a high vaulted ceiling covered with beautifully rendered elven artwork. In the centre, surrounded by golden flares of light, was a life-sized depiction of the goddess herself. Liss smiled down from her dominion at the mortals below. Cushions covered much of the floor, but Abbot also had a couple of over-full bookcases and some low tables. Along the far wall, five hefty-looking wooden chests rested.
Abbot’s smile was almost radiant enough to warm the room. “A very good morning to you, young Finn,” Abbot said happily. “How have you enjoyed our humble city thus far?”
“Today’s been rough, and I haven’t seen much of the city yet. It’s been a confusing few days,” Finn admitted.
Abbot nodded. “Yes, it must have been. Have you settled in with the Smiths?”
“Yes. Aggy and Hamish are wonderful,” Finn answered. “Aggy is just the best cook, and Gypsy has already struck up a good friendship with Hamish.”
Abbot chuckled. “Yes, Aggy said he would. I believe you’ve also met Neeve, is that right?”
Finn’s face dropped before he could hide the response. He knew Abbot was throwing words at him to see how he reacted, but he needed to pay more attention and guard his reactions carefully. It was a low-impact interrogation technique he’d been taught years ago. “Yes, that’s where much of my confusion has arisen. That and Gypsy still won’t explain what a ‘Cat House’ is.”
Ember choked and spluttered before wrestling her reaction into a simple cough.
Abbot grinned. “Yes, well done, Finn. I thought you’d spot my digging. You diverted it well, too. Poor Ember. Were you trained in espionage and interrogation? Maybe, as an assassin, like your forebears, perhaps?”
Finn wondered why Abbot wanted to know these things about him. Hadn’t Liss already told the old monk about his past? “I’m not sure why you feel you need to know that, but I had extensive training in those areas. I’m not proud of it, and I’d rather it didn’t become well known.”
Abbot’s grin didn’t flicker. “Nothing you say in this room will reach other ears, Finn. Will it Ember?”
Ember looked startled at suddenly being addressed. “Uh, Pixie should know about his training. Otherwise, how can we teach him other techniques?” Ember replied, recovering well.
Abbot looked hard at Ember. “Are you sure that Pixie can be trusted? Is she reliable enough to get the job I gave you done?”
“Yes, of course. I know it’s been sudden, but Pixie is perfect. Finn will love her,” Ember replied emphatically.
“Will I? It would be nice if I were permitted to decide that for myself. Right now, she’s a complete unknown to me. I would like to know when this alleged ‘training’ will start. This is the first time I’ve seen Ember since I arrived,” Finn said. He let the accusatory tone remain in his voice. So far, Abbot had promised much and delivered nothing. He was familiar with that trait as it was common among rookie officers in the fae Skyfleet. “In my old world, real promises were enforced by the pantheon. One thing I’ve learned about Allis is that the same is not true here. A promise here has no meaning.”
Abbot looked shocked at Finn's cynicism. He stared suspiciously into Ember’s eyes momentarily, then turned to Finn and raised his eyebrows.
“What? Perhaps you should ask Ember rather than me? She’s not been with me, so what has she been doing for the last few days? Do you know? I have no reason to trust her now or her new girlfriend,” Finn said, venting his frustration. He deflated, his anger spent. With a deep sigh, he continued. “Yet Ember raises a good point. This whole mentor scheme is your idea, I assume. So far, it’s failed, but if I am to eventually be mentored, then it is fair whoever gets the job knows about me. Providing it remains confidential.”
Abbot looked thoughtful and nodded. “I agree.”
The old monk snapped his fingers and grinned. “Before my old mind forgets, you should have your robes for the trials. Ember will arrange some training weapons when she finally finds the time to begin your training.” He threw a stern look at Ember, who withered slightly. Then he walked over to the far chest, brought out two jet-black robes, and handed them to Finn.
Finn wanted to scream. After everything he said, the old monk acted like everything was okay. “Uhm! Won’t I be wearing armour for combat?” He asked, confused as he looked at the baggy black garments in his hands. He summoned his storage rift and discarded the robes unceremoniously within.
“Not this time, I’m afraid,” Abbot replied.
Ember huffed and looked annoyed. “It’s bad enough making him wear robes, but black? Why? I thought you wanted him to succeed.”
“What do black robes signify?” Finn asked suspiciously. He had a feeling this was another scheme to make his life harder.
Abbot nodded to Ember.
“Black robes indicate that you are dangerous. It marks you out as a hazard,” Ember explained, not looking happy as she did so. “Abbot wants to single you out without ever seeing you fight. Black robes will ensure that every cock-sure idiot who thinks they are special will challenge you during the initial free-for-all fight. They’ll probably even team up just to take you out early.”
“And how do you feel about that, Finn?” Abbot asked with mischief in his eyes.
Finn was getting annoyed by the old man’s attitude. He was already on edge and felt the monk was finding amusement in making his life harder. “From what Liss says, my path is already preordained. I have to get through the trials. If it amuses you to make that harder for me, which it clearly does, then so be it,” Finn responded grumpily. “Maybe Liss likes a good joke, and I’m it.”
Abbot’s smile fell instantly, obviously not expecting Finn’s bitter response. “Oh, dear. You seem to have missed the point completely. Sadly, your experiences here have made you feel like a victim in a strange world, not the champion in training that Liss wants you to be. It was wrong of us to let you settle in without your mentors, who were supposed to care for you in your tender first days. That blame falls on us.”
“Training?” Finn asked incredulously. “What training? This champion hasn’t seen any of your promised training. Have you done anything to enforce this mentoring scheme? I doubt it. If I asked for a different mentor, would you provide one?”
Abbot’s face became troubled, and he looked sharply at Ember again. “I might have to now,” he sighed. “I think this world is more bewildering for you than we expected. Despite Liss charging us to heal your troubles, you’ve already been let down by us and emotionally bruised by others,” Abbot said, then sighed. “I will have a quiet word with your mother. I am certain Aggy can help you with the emotional aspect as soon as possible. We’ll get to the mentoring issue in a few moments. If you decide you’ve had enough of Shanty and leave us, then we’ve failed you and the goddess. Should that happen, I don’t even want to contemplate the repercussions for us.”
Abbot’s words struck a nerve with Finn. His thoughts had been entirely selfish while he’d been wallowing in self-pity. Until now, he hadn’t realised that Neeve’s rejection had bitten him so hard. While the night had been fantastic, the aftermath was emotionally too much for him. Then Ember stepped up and kicked him while he was already down, making him feel even worse. He was an engineer. Fixing things was what he did, yet he had no clue how he could repair his tattered emotions. None of his medical training had ever mentioned how to cope with emotional wounds.
Finn took a deep breath and tried to rid himself of his pent-up feelings. It failed. “I do understand. You are making my trials more difficult to make me work harder to succeed. I’m concerned that you think I need more pressure right now. Perhaps the whole mentoring debacle was another test? A game of yours, maybe?”
Abbot shook his head. “Our ascendency trials will be too easy for a trained assassin who can use magic as he fights. Therefore, during the combat trials, we’d ask that you wear the robes, not use your runes or teleport. It might also be best for Gypsy to remain docked during the trials.”
Finn felt defeated. As always, he felt his life was out of his control. Rather than a sadistic pirate woman, his controller was now an overly optimistic monk with empty promises. “I would ask you to try and see things from my perspective.” He paused to gather his thoughts. His mind was readying itself to vent his frustration again, but Finn needed to reign his emotions in before he said something he’d regret and needed to apologise for later. “I am trying hard to deal with emotions alien to me while working alone toward goals I don’t understand. You promised support and a mentor, but I have yet to see any efforts to provide either. You are clearly enjoying making my life harder, which I resent,” he sighed. “As much as I’m tempted to cut and run, I won’t. Not yet, anyway. At least I know how to fight, so if I agree to your fight trials, the lack of training from your people won’t be my problem.”
Abbot gave Ember a severe look, causing her to stand to attention. “You’re travelling a rough road, young Finn. It will get smoother as you learn our odd ways, and we learn yours. I hope your mentors will now take their roles seriously. If not, I will swiftly find others who will. You have my word.”
Ember winced as if she’d been struck. “Finn will soon know us as the best mentors he could ever have wished for. We hope he will permit us to live aboard Gypsy to be nearby if he needs our help.”
Finn snorted cynically and shook his head. Abbot’s promise didn’t reassure him, nor did Ember’s.
Abbot looked suspicious. “Really? I wonder if that’s for his benefit or yours. He needs your support, not an equal share in your latest domestic issues, which currently seem to rule your life.”
Ember hung her head. “We desperately need a place to stay after tomorrow. We can’t mentor Finn properly without a place to live. So, I admit, it is for our benefit, but I plan on making sure Finn never regrets helping us. I’ll make sure he’s happy to have us around. I swear it. I can promise that on Pixie’s behalf, too.”
Finn just looked on in disbelief. The empty words just kept on piling up.
Abbot still looked sceptical. “Ah yes, and where is the elusive Pixie?” He asked. “I thought you said she promised to be here for this.”
“She did promise, but she’s busy trying to get her alchemy things back from the landlord who stole them,” Ember replied.
“Not good enough, Ember.” Abbot chastised, clearly becoming agitated.
Abbot shook his head sadly, then took a deep breath. When he looked back at Finn, his mood seemed to have softened. He sighed. “Oh, dear. What must we look like to you, young Finn? I’m afraid your dismal first impression of us is perfectly justified. It is now up to us to improve before you abandon us completely.”
Finn just stared back at him, revealing nothing. There was no point in arguing further. After all the talking, nothing had changed.
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There was a tentative knock on the door.
“Come in,” Abbot called tiredly.
“The door opened slowly, and the petite head of a young lady peeked through. She had short jet-black hair, which was streaked with purple. “Uh! I’m sorry I’m late. My cat died.”
Finn’s gloomy mood broke, and he burst out laughing.
“Oh, Pixie, you idiot,” Ember groaned, shaking her head.
*****-*****
Pixie held the door as Abbot, Ember and Finn walked through. They entered the library at its top end. What grabbed Finn’s attention first was the impressively painted vaulted ceiling depicting various scholarly-looking elves he didn’t recognise. It was pretty and in the same style as Abbot’s room. The library’s layout was reasonably straightforward. There were a lot of tables and chairs on the left of the ground floor and what looked like an administrator’s counter nearby. On the right were rows of parallel standing bookshelves over ten feet tall. Sliding ladders stood abandoned in a few places, ready for anyone who needed to reach a high shelf. There were two mezzanine levels above the bookcases, each containing more rows of bookshelves. A large, metal-framed spiral staircase stretched up to the mezzanine levels at the far end.
At a desk set at a right angle to the administration counter sat a lady with long, snow-white hair. She currently had her head buried in a weighty book. Finn had assumed the lady was mature because of her white hair, but he noticed her wonderfully smooth skin when she looked up and smiled at them. In fact, she looked quite a bit younger than Aggy. The woman was slender, and the tips of her ears had a slight sharpness suggesting her elven heritage. She had eyes the colour of autumn oak, perfectly defined by her delicate eyelashes. Her nose was petite, yet her lips were pink and fulsome.
Finn wondered about the lady’s soft-blue coloured robes trimmed with polished leather. He’d noticed a few people wearing that colour and pondered whether it had significance in Shanty. Finn also admired her intricately woven lace choker that highlighted her elegant neck. This lady clearly had a sizeable dormant core. Even in her unawakened state, her aura was evident to him.
“Ah! You must be the fae lad Abbot has told me so much about,” the lady said. Her voice conveyed a warmth yet had a low timbre that made it almost sultry.
Abbot stepped forward, looking a little guilty. Finn had noticed him having a whispered conversation with Ember and Pixie that had become quite agitated.
“Please excuse me. I’m late to the introductions,” Abbot said with a wry smile. “Miris, I’d like you to meet an absolute font of new and essential knowledge, Finn Smith. Finn, let me introduce you to our very own font of knowledge and resident genius, Miris Brell.”
Miris stood and offered her petite hand to Finn. Knowing about elven traditions, Finn grasped it gently and bowed until her knuckle touched his forehead. He wondered if she’d know the old elven mark of respect.
“Oh! How marvellous. You know elven etiquette. You must have had diplomatic training. I’m very impressed young man,” Miris enthused.
“It is you that made me so young, I’m told,” Finn smiled.
Miris gave him a look of friendly sympathy. “Yes, I fear my calculations put you in a very odd situation. Eighteen for a second time. How frightfully traumatic for you.”
“Abbot assures me I will get used to it over time. I hope that his words prove true,” Finn said. For some reason, he’d slipped into his diplomatic persona, and his mind carefully considered every verbal and non-verbal clue. Miris was well-spoken, and Finn suspected he’d done it out of class empathy.
“Yes, Abbot does say things like that. His wisdom usually proves useful, however.” Miris said with a small, self-amused smile.
“I hope so. Abbot was kind enough to share a considerable amount of it while we travelled,” Finn replied.
“Ah yes, speaking of wisdom. I have a book here for you,” Miris said. “Has Abbot explained the trials to you? Did he mention the test?”
Finn had suspected Abbot had just withheld details about the trials to make his life harder. Now, Miris had all but confirmed it. He shot Abbot a scathing look, and he, at least, had the decency to look sheepish.
Finn reached out and accepted the book Miris held out for him. He glanced at the title. “Parables of Liss?”
“It is important for every keeper of the faith to understand that which they uphold,” Miris explained.
“Abbot has been very coy about revealing information regarding the trials. Might your trial question a person’s understanding of these parables?”
Miris beamed at him. “Oo, marvellous! You have a good mind. Splendid! I’m told you are also an expert in runes and have magical abilities. Could you show me? Since I started studying the magic of the past, I’ve always yearned to see a genuine runic spell created.”
Finn grinned. He enjoyed a small amount of showing off, and his urge was to impress this sophisticated librarian. Feeding light mana to his fingers, Finn took his time as he slowly traced a sun rune in the air before Miris.
Light danced from his fingers and hung in the air, sparkling and fizzing as the rest of the rune was completed. Next came a gravity rune whose beginning Finn joined to the tail of the sun rune. This made them connect and perform together rather than activate independently when empowered. Finally came the mandatory moderator symbol that wasn’t technically an archaic rune, but it held the caster’s instructions and controlled the energy the rune construct received.
Finn fed light-aspected mana into the construct until the symbols fizzed and crackled loudly. Then he closed his hand, melding the runes and activating the spell. A solid ball of light floated across the desk to hover over Miris’ shoulder.
Finn was happy. He loved weaving runes. It was his joy to create intricate spell constructs using nothing but his knowledge and imagination. “There. My gift to you,” Finn proudly said. “Your very own sun. It won’t ever get hot, but it will always shine. You can hold it and position it wherever you want it to hover. It won’t object. With the mana I used to empower it, your sun should stay bright for ten years at least.”
Miris bowed low, a happy smile on her face. She grasped her new sun and placed it beside her workspace. It obediently stayed there, casting its warm yellow glow onto her desk.
Ember cooed her appreciation while Finn heard Pixie gasp loudly.
“You never said he could do magic,” Pixie hissed to Ember.
“Abbot told us both. You just weren’t listening,” Ember hissed in reply.
“Oo! This should be fun,” Pixie said, clapping her hands silently and bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“You’ve certainly made a friend out of me,” Miris said in a slightly awed voice. “We have so much to learn from each other, which makes me happy.”
“My apologies for interrupting, Miris,” Abbot said timidly. “However, young Finn should meet Isabella.”
“Yes, of course. I must warn you, though, Finn, unless you can heal people, you will not broker Bella’s attention. Healing is her obsession,” Miris warned. “Lovely girl, though.”
“Thank you for the warning. It has been a pleasure,” Finn said, complimenting his words with a formal elven bow. This one acknowledging equality.
Miris grinned and returned his gesture. “A pleasure indeed.”
Abbot gently steered Finn by the arm, leading him back out of the library. “Mmm! You certainly made an excellent impression on Miris. I thought you might. You’re versed in elven etiquette as well as dwarven and human, then?”
Finn laughed. He recognised Abbot’s friendly interrogation style. “Yes, I like their way of doing things. It has order and well-defined boundaries. Before you ask, I can also play nice with orcs, goblins, most of the kins and all fae-related species. Why? Do you have a diplomatic post you’re trying to fill?”
Abbott sighed. “Sadly, no one wants to have diplomatic relations with us. They regard Shantians as the dregs of society. I think that may change soon, don’t you?”
Finn thought back to the military academy. His assassin trainer, Master Wrathbone, had a fearsome mistress called Celia Pliance, who’d been recruited to teach him advanced diplomacy techniques. Once Finn had shown his competency, Ms. Pliance expanded his lessons to include subterfuge and infiltration. She ensured Finn’s concentration by striking him across the knuckles with the lithe cane she always carried. He winced at the memory of how much that hurt each time.
“Ascendancy trials first. Liss said nothing about raising Shanty’s status, although the way things are going, that may very well come next.” Finn said with a shrug. He considered what he now knew. “I know what two of the four trials will be now,” Finn said, opening his storage and adding the book Miris had kindly given him. Later, if they’re still around, I plan to ask Ember and Pixie for trials three and four.”
Ember sighed.
“Only one trial is unknown to you now,” Abbot said helpfully. “There are two combat trials on the second day. The free-for-all finishes when just thirty-two initiates remain, and then those qualifiers go on to the fourth trial of individual skirmishes.”
Abbot looked at Finn’s two mentors, chatting rapidly in hushed tones, then pursed his lips. “Ember!” he barked. “You should both be paying attention. As well as your other mentoring responsibilities, I want you and Pixie to train and spar with Finn daily. He must be ready to participate in every trial,” Abbot said curtly. “This matters to all of us. Don’t fail him again. Is that completely understood?”
Ember looked startled, then crestfallen that Abbot had spoken to her that way. She knew they’d let Finn down and that Abbot was furious with their behaviour, but his displeasure still stung her. She’d make it up to both of them and make sure Pixie did, too. After all, it was mostly her new lover’s fault they were in this position. Ember had been so wrapped up in their housing woes she’d twice put off the meeting she was supposed to have with Finn. Abbot was now mad at them, and they were on the verge of homelessness. Now, their only hope had already lost faith in them.
“Yes, Abbot. It will be done, just as you say,” Ember replied meekly while Pixie looked on. Ember dug her lover in the ribs, and Pixie began nodding as if she’d been paying attention all along. The tall warrior just sighed.
Finn wondered about Ember’s friend. She concerned him. She seemed flighty and unreliable, something that obviously drove Ember to distraction. Fae pixies were known for mischief and chaos. They were a menace, disliked by most and utterly devoid of honour or loyalty. Would this Pixie be the same? Finn contemplated the wisdom of letting her live on board and accepting her as his mentor. It was only because of Ember that he didn’t dismiss her without another thought.
As they walked along the length of the tall building, he had the opportunity to size her up. Pixie was the definition of petite, as she was no more than five feet tall, slim and had delicate features. She had raven-coloured hair that she wore in a high ponytail. The way her black hair changed to purple toward the edges captured his attention, making him wonder where Shantians went to get their hair done. He felt privileged to have Darcy around, who’d said she would gladly keep his hair looking smart.
Finn could clearly see Pixie’s fae heritage. Like Miris, her ears had pointed tips, and her pale green eyes were slightly almond-shaped.
Pixie wore a black leather bodysuit with short boots and a broad, bronze-coloured belt, where she kept her daggers. Mounted on her back was a wicked-looking double-headed spear. Finn knew she must be a blade dancer from her choice of weapon and physique.
Again, Pixie skipped forward to open the large door for them. She gave Finn a mock salute and grinned mischievously as he passed. Finn watched her feet to ensure she didn’t try to trip him.
Surprisingly for Finn, the clinic looked a lot like the ones he’d seen in his old world. Spotless, white walls made the area look bright and clean, while the floor was lined with a pale, seamless stone instead of wood. The same style of vaulted ceiling loomed high above them. This one had pictures of elven cavalry and rangers marching proudly in full regalia. What that had to do with the sick and wounded was anyone’s guess. A large waiting area occupied the hall’s centre with partitioned cubicles around the outside of three of the four walls. Large, double-doored cupboards lined the far wall. A few wheeled trollies waited patiently by the cabinets while others guarded cubicles. Each trolley had its two layers packed with medical tools, bandages, bottles, dressings and squat tubs full of unknown substances.
As in the library, a wide counter sat directly before them as they entered. The reception desk was higher than the one in the library. Behind it sat two ladies in well-starched, light-blue uniforms. As soon as the ladies behind the counter spotted them, one whispered something to the other, and the shorter lady hurried off toward one of the trolley-guarded cubicles.
After a long minute, a different lady made her way over toward them. She wore a uniform of white linen with brown sleeves, which sported green edging and a woven belt of light green that emphasised her narrow waistline. The lady’s rich chestnut hair was braided into a tight bun held in place by a flower-patterned Alice band. She had pretty peridot-coloured eyes, a small heart-shaped mouth and a slightly upturned nose that centred her high cheekbones.
“Finn, I’ve just heard a loud noise from the nearby mountainside,” Gypsy said. Her thoughts were nimble and insistent. She shared everything she knew via their bond. “That’s where the mine’s entrance is. There’s a lot of dust over the building near the entrance. A cave-in, perhaps?”
“Abbot,” Finn said urgently. “Is there a history of cave-ins at the mine? Gypsy thinks that one has just occurred.”
The lady with the peridot eyes tilted her head, her expression curious. “Who is Gypsy?”
“That’s a long story. Can I tell it another time?” Finn answered, his voice urgent. There could be people trapped, hurt or worse down the mine. Some of them might be his new family. A rescue attempt would need to mobilise quickly, so Finn needed to go.
“Very quickly, Finn, this is Isabella Summer. Isabella, this is Finn Smith,” Abbot said hastily. “Finn is the fae boy I told you about. He can use his magic to heal. You might need his help very soon.”
Finn heard a dull, low-pitched whine in the far distance. Finn had a suspicion he recognised that noise from his military days. “Is that a siren?” The others looked mystified and shook their heads. The noise grew louder and rose in pitch as the seconds ticked past until, after ten seconds, the others also heard it.
“That’s the mine’s siren. Gypsy was right,” Ember said. “That alarm is only used if there’s been a disaster inside the mine.”
Abbot looked at Finn with pursed lips. “After our previous discussion, I hate to ask you for more, Finn, but can you and Gypsy help us? Certainly, there’ll be wounded, and maybe even people trapped lower down.”
“They’re clan,” Finn said impatiently. “Of course, I’m helping.”
Isabella looked resolute. “I need to be there,” she said. “It’ll take over thirty minutes, so we must get going now. Though, I need to pack a medical bag quickly.”
Abbot held up his hand to Isabella. “Finn will take care of the logistics, Bella. This will be your chance to see him work.”
Immediately, Finn’s training spiked him into action. If Isabella needed her supplies, he could ensure she had them, even though Gypsy was superbly stocked with medical provisions. Wrapping himself in spatial mana, Finn blinked across the large clinic and grabbed a trolley that rested by the cabinets. He opened his storage and placed it inside carefully. It would be safe enough in there regardless of what was occurring outside.
Then he blinked back to the waiting group. “Who’s coming?”