Mark of the Fool

Chapter 283: Recognition

That faceI think I know your face. Cedric was walking toward Alex; his brow was creased and he seemed to be appraising the taller young man. Im thinkin that Ive seen ya before.

The crowd was parting, looking between the Chosen and Alex as the broad-shouldered Hero approached. Professor Jules looked over at Alex with one eyebrow raised, her mouth opened like she was ready to ask something, but the Sage said something, distracting her. The older woman dragged her attention away from Alex, then fell into conversation with the reptilian-eyed witch while the Champion glanced between Cedric and the Fool.

Others in the crowd watched curiously: Ripp peered down from a tower beside the gate while Tyris took things in from her vantage point atop Vesuvius shell. An apple crunched between her teeth.

Alex brought his attention back to the Chosen, whose eyes flicked between him, Theresa, and others standing nearby, before settling on a spot beside the huntress as he got closer.

Using his Mark, Alex guided his expression and body language, letting them take on a look of surprise, but not fear. He was actively using his meditation techniques to acknowledge his rapidly rising anxiety to let it go.

The calmer he felt, the calmer hed look. The more calm he looked, the better. Theresa kept her cool while Thundar, Khalik, Isolde and the others moved back. No one gave Cedric any reason to be suspicious, and Alex thanked the Traveller for his friends composure.

Cedric waved a finger toward Alex, like he was trying to conjure up buried memories. I know you from somewherean you too. He looked at Theresa. I seen both o yous somewhere befor-

The young mans eyes narrowed on Brutus.

Recognition and genuine surprise entered his eyes.

Balls, I musta got cotton stuck in my skull! I remember all o yous now! Just outside ooh what was that forestCoille, right? Wit those bloody silence- spiders-No wait.

Cedrics brow furrowed. No, no it was jus after I took the lot o them on outside the cave, yeah, there was that straggler spider that went after ya. I remember yer little sister was there an you took the thing down all by yourselves, aye? Its all comin back now.

Yeah, thats right, Alex said, his eyebrows rising a little.

He wasnt sure if he was surprised that Cedric recognized him or not. Hed changed a lot since hed last seen the Chosen: he was just a skinny, scared bakers assistant back in the Coille. His hair was cropped short and he didnt carry himself in the way that he used to, since he trained his body to move by using the Mark.

Now he looked like hed spent years hammering iron in a forge, and his hair was much longer: down to the middle of his neck like some barbarian from the north. His facial features hadnt really changedthough his face was more chiselled and his neck thickerbut that hadnt changed his face enough for him to be totally unrecognisable, not even if theyd only met that one time.

Then again

Cedric certainly made a big impression on me, he thought, remembering the number of times the Chosen had crossed his mind over the course of the year. That time had been eventful and scary. The two of us had certain life changing things in common: we were born on the same day and were Marked for the same task; of course hed stick out in my mind. Considering how we met, maybe we made a big impression on him too.

Alex thought about his next words carefully, grateful that the demon summoner wasnt still running loose and being hunted in Generasi. The cover story hed given officers Ferrero and Gustavowhen theyd interrogated himwas that hed left Thameland as soon as hed gotten the letter from Generasi, but he hadnt said when that was specifically.

Cedric recognizing him wouldve put a timeline on when that happened, and if hed still been a person of interest

Still, the less specifics folks had about that part of his journey to Generasi, the better. He needed to act natural, but be vague: there were a lot of ears around to hear what was said, and maybe put things together that could be a problem for him.

Im surprised you remember us, Alex continued, smoothly changing the subject and hopefully avoiding questions about what hed done after theyd met.

I would have thought you wouldve forgotten us, Theresa said, picking up on what Alex was doing and stepping beside him, slipping a hand into his. She squeezed it. Its been so long and youve been through so much.

Brutus sniffed in Cedrics direction and his tail began to wag; it looked like he remembered that the Chosen had healed him back in Coille.

Aye, well somethins stick out in the mind, yknow? Cedric had stopped right in front of Alex and Theresa and was smiling at Brutus. Hey boy, hope that wound didn leave no scar.

Theresas expression softened a bit. No. Hes just fine now. Thank you again, by the way.

Ah, bah! Be a pretty crummy Chosen if I let a brave hound carry on wit a wound I could help him wit. An tbe honest, it was the cerberus I remembered firs and that made the other parts click into place.

Ah, that makes sense, Alex said, cursing mentally.

How could anyone forget Brutus? He thought, realising ironically, that he had completely neglected to consider Theresas impossible-to-forget giant, three-headed dog that Cedric had already met when he was thinking about what to do when they met the Heroes...

But ystill stick in the mind aside from him: you lot were the firs that I saw smash some o the Raveners beasties. Cedrics expression turned grim. In them early days, most folk got caught off-guard by all them monsters poppin up around Thameland. Lots o folks suffered while they were gettin to the boats an us four Heroes were gettin our things together. But, you all took sword n magic and brought the fight right to the great, dirty black balls servants. Course Id remember that

He squinted at Alex. Werent you skinnier? Or am I imaginin that?

Alex shrugged his broad shoulders. Ive been working out.

Cedric clapped Alex on the shoulder and laughed. Good on ya. I see yer makin an impression. He looked down at Alex and Theresas clasped hands. Right, then. Well, its good to see a coupla friendly faces after all these months, even if we did only meet jus the once. Trust me, friendly faces are few an far between these days.

Cedric grinned and a glint flashed off a front tooth. Alex startled.

Red hair.

Golden tooth.

He suddenly burst out laughing, and for a moment all his dread evaporated.

Cedrics grin dropped. What? I got somethin stuck in me teeth?

Sorry man. Its nothing, seriously, he was still laughing. I just think theres someone in camp you should meet. You have a lot in common.

Theresa looked at Alex for a moment like hed lost his mind, then her eyes widened. Huh.

Mr. Roth, Professor Jules quickly strodeup to them with the Champion and Sage close behind. Curiosity lay in their eyes. Do you know these people?

Only Cedric, Professor, Alex said quickly.

Well, you should have told me you knew one of our guests! Jules eyes lit up.

Alexs blood ran cold.

He knew that look.

That was the look people got when theyd just found a way to slip out of their responsibilities; hed seen that look many times on Theresas brothers, when theyd come up with a way to pass one of their chores onto him.

I shouldve thought of this before, considering youre also from Thameland, Professor Jules said with a smile that was uncharacteristically friendly. Why dont you act as the unofficial ambassador between our expedition and the Heroes?

Theresas lips tightened slightly, not enough for most to notice, but enough for Alexwho knew her wellto catch. His other friends exchanged subtle looks with each other.

Well, uh. Alexs mind raced. Well, Professor, maybe someone with moreofficial capacity-

Youre being too modest, Mr. Roth, Professor Jules patted his arm. Youre Thameish and youve been a major asset to this expedition from its inception. I cant think of anyone more suited togiving our guests the tour. Later, I can speak to them about the procedures well have to put in place to purchasesamples. In the meantime, you could show them our facilities, make them right at home.

Alex looked at her with an expression that said: Ill get you for this.

She looked back with one that said: No, you wont.

He sighed, then put on a smile while stifling his nerves. Well, mighty Heroes, I guess youll be with me for a bit.

Good to have a friendly face to be leadin us about like sheep, Id say, Cedric laughed. Oh! My mum would have my hide: I forgot introductions. This is Hart Redflecther, the Champion of Thameland.

Good to meet you, the big man said, looking down at Alex with a smile that reached his very large eyes. Those eyescombined with his long nosemade his face resemble a hawksor Najyahs. Alex was tall, but Hart was taller, closer to Thundars height.

His body language

A chill went through Alex.

it was like nothing hed ever seen before. Every motion he made was smooth. His stance was perfectly balanced. He seemed ready for explosive movement at any secondbut his body language somehow still felt chaotic. It was almost like there was more than one person standing there, like he wasnt just one person, but instead, a multitude of people all packed inside one body.

Then it clicked.

The Mark of the Champion gives the experience of all the previous Champions to the current oneno wonder his body language is so wild, its literally hundreds of peoples movements crammed into a single person, Alex thought as Hart extended a giant hand. But he seems to have complete control over all of it. Its chaoticbut theres no discord in it.

Good to see not all wizards are made of twigs, the Champion said, shaking Alexs hand and drawing a glare from the Sageand several other wizardsat the same time.

A seemingly boundless strength lay in that grip; he didnt squeeze down on Alexs hand, but it felt like he couldve crushed it into jelly if he wanted to. Then there were those large eyes; they burrowed into Alex like a predators.

Hart was watching him, he realised. Measuring him and analysing his body language, just as Alex was doing.

The Fool kept his body language casual and met Harts gaze evenly, holding the eyes of the Champion with his own. He kept his expression neutral, and somewhat friendly, but not intimidated. His own grip tightened on Harts hand, causing the larger man to raise an eyebrow.

Got a strong grip, Alex said. Better for wringing Ravener spawn necks, I take it?

A grin broke out across the Champions face, and a huge burst of laughter erupted from deep inside as he released Alexs hand. Right before I tear their heads off, that is.

As Hart stepped aside to introduce himself to Theresa, Alex watched Thundar and Grimloch eyeing the Champion, sizing him up. The gears turning in Grimlochs head were almost visible as he tapped the end of his massive maul with one thick finger. Alex had to admit, he wouldve paid several pieces of gold to see how a contest of strength would go between Thamelands Champion, and the life-enforced sharkman. Or even one between Hart and Claygon.

But, he had to quickly shove those thoughts aside as Cedric gestured to the Sage. The veiled womans eyes had been darting all around camp.

When stranglins or tearin heads offs out of the question, thats where my other friend comes in: this is Drestra of Crymlyn Swamp, the Sage, Cedric introduced her.

The wise Sage, Alex said, reaching out to shake her hand. Im Alex, it's good to meet you. If youre a fan of magic, whichsince youre the Sage, I hope youre a fan of magic, I think youll like what we have here. I imagine youve heard that magic is kinda what we do.

The Sage looked at Brutus, then over her shoulder at Vesuvius and then to Claygon. Her reptilian eyes narrowed on the golem. Yessss, I can see that. Is it yours?

He, Alex corrected her almost idly. And yeah, hes all mine. Built him pretty much myself, with some help sculpting him from my little sister.

Thats right, I built a super golem, he thought. Could the Fool do that? well obviously, he did, but you wouldnt think so, would you?

I have never seen a golem before, apart from the two standing at the gates, she said, continuing to stare at Claygon. We sometimes make little familiars out of blood, bone and pine, but nothing like this. He is magnificentthe sheer amount of mana coming off of him is incredible

Her eyes narrowed. Theres something about it

Alexs blood went cold, but he kept a friendly smile. Something about it?

Had she recognized the dungeon core substance inside his core?

Its mana just feelsdifferent from anything Ive ever felt before.

Alex nearly breathed a sigh of relief. Well, he is a pretty unique golem; we do a lot of unique things in Generasi, what can I say? Well have a lot of that sort of stuff to show you here in camp. Magical equipment, devices, our research area, magical defences. The works.

Drestras eyes lit up like a child whod been promised dessert before the rest of her meal. I look forward to that.

Well, you seem to be getting along well already, Professor Jules said. I will leave you all in each others care. Just feel free to stop by when youre ready to talk business.

With that, the head of the alchemy department washed her hands of her problems and passed them off to someone else with great success.

Alex almost admired her for it.

Right, lets get things started, the Fool said to the other Heroes. Ill give you the tour and answer any questions youve got.

His smile widened even as his gaze sharpened. Best to make do with a bad situation. Time for reconnaissance.

And for you, Ive got a few questions of my own.