Mark of the Fool

Chapter 299: Brewing Allies

Confiding in strangers was a surprisingly common thing.

Hed experienced it a lot back in Alric, especially working behind the counter at McHarris, and on a few occasions since hed been in Generasi. A bad day. A hard time in school. A tough relationship, or a lost job. All of that boiled up inside a person, pressing down on them, sapping their peace of mind with the weight of a thousand stones.

Pressure would build untilwhether it was during a moment of stress or a chance encounter with a nonjudgmental ear, everything would come tumbling out like the rushing rapids in a river. Hed confided in someone hed never met before one afternoon when he was sitting in the waiting room of the magistrates office, nervously waiting for information about his and Selinas finances. It was during a rough patch in his life. McHarris bullying had been escalating and hed been feeling trapped. He couldnt just walk out of the bakery since he was trying to build up his savings. So, hed been sitting there fidgeting and feeling overwhelmed when this kindly older man sitting beside him said; You look like youve got the weight of the world on your back. Thats all it took for Alex to open up to a complete stranger: someone, no matter what he said to them, hed probably never see again.

Or if he did, itd likely be in passing.

He also remembered a schoolmate of his and Theresas whod unloaded all of her worries onto Theresa just before she left Alric. It happened. Probably a lot. Sometimes people just needed an ear to listen to them.

And now Drestra had found that ear.

It wasnt like shed never see Alex again, but he wasnt exactly in her inner circle either.

And that sometimes made it easier to talk to someone.

I need you to keep this between us, okay? Drestras crackling voice was low behind her veil.

I wont tell a soul, he said, leaning forward and cocking his head.

In the firelight, their nearness made them look like lovers quietly whispering to each other.

Do you know much about the Witches of Crymlyn Swamp? she asked.

No, not really, he admitted. I know that the witchesI mean, your kinhave been in the Crymlyn for a long time There was a little twitch in her body language when he said your kin. He noted that as he continued. and I know that youre probably the biggest group of magic users in Thameland? Then theres some fairy talesbut most of those arent very kind.

So you know what most know, she said. We are adaptable. Weve needed to be if we wished to survive.

Adaptable. Alex could relate.

Its not easy to live as we do: from enduring the persecutions of the church of Thameland generations ago, to surviving the Ravener, to crafting our own paths through magic. None of it is easy and weve had to change ourselves over and over again.

Her golden, reptilian eyes seemed to flare in the firelight. Change is the Wonder of Life, we say in the Crymlyn. Even animals changebut all this. You have no idea what its like.

What whats like? Alex asked.

The fighting. The Heroes. The Ravener. We were told that these cycles and battles have persisted for centuriesmillennia even, no one can say for sure. And they tell you this with a smile on their face.

What? Alex said. Who told you that?

Some of the priestssome of the nobles and knights she snorted, and Alex swore he felt heat rise through the air. They called it the Cycle of victory and horror. The pride of the Kingdom of Thameland, as if theres something to be proud of in any of that.

Yeah, they used to teach us some of the same things at the church school when I was young, Alex said. I think Ive heard that expression before. Most people want the Ravener defeated forever, though, right?

Do they truly? I wonder about that, Drestra said, a hint of bitterness in her voice. There are things we could be doing. Hard decisions we could make, or even different paths to look at, but everyone just wants to do the same thing that Thamelands always done: throw us at monsters like were nothing more than clubs to bludgeon them with. Like were no more than blunt weapons for them to use. What about us? We have this duty but

She paused.

Before he thought, Alexs mouth went renegade. But Uldar never asked, he supplied.

Drestras breath caught in her throat as if someone had thrown ice water over her. Her eyes grew as large as saucers above her veil.

Wha- she stammered.

Uh, well, sorry, Alex quickly apologised, mentally kicking himself. Now he was the one unburdening himself. I didnt mean

Dont apologise, she said. Outside of my family, no one has ever said that to me before. Its true. Uldar did not ask. It doesnt matter who you are, whether youre a warrior, a priest, or you were born here or not, he just brands you like cattle and then off you go to fight. I certainly did not ask for this.

Empathy for Drestra spiked in Alex.

And a degree of shame.

He used to imagine getting the Mark of the Sage instead of the Fool and enjoying the power that came from it. Hed imagined himself pouring spells down on Ravener-spawn with glee and celebrating his growth. But now that hed met the Sage.

And knew she felt the same way he did about being Marked

UghIm sorry to hear that, he said. Its like you have this plan for your life right, then something just decides that your plans don't matter. You. Your family. Your hopes and dreams. Suddenly, youre supposed to just throw that all away. And on top of that, people tell you to just get over it then say something dismissive like, oh well, thats life.

Yes! her crackling voice hissed. You see! You understand! Most talk about this great honour and suchor the wondrous power that the Mark grants me and the other Heroes

Alex fought the urge to wince.

but I dont need such power. What I need is to live, and grow and age in my own time. Id get my own power that way. But this? What good is power when youre only made to fight for your life with it, and they tie your hands so you cant even do it properly.

What about the other Heroes? Alex asked. You talk to them about this?

Drestra let out a quiet, ugly laugh that sounded like a chimney trying to cough. The other Heroes? They are some of the worst ones.

She subtly nodded toward Hart. Hes a brute. A strong brute. A brave brute. Butmad. Completely mad. Suicidal. He just goes into fights happy to swing his big blade with every bit of strength he has. Im not sure if he even cares about dying. Cedric

The Sage paused. He means well, he truly does. Buthes not much of a leader. I saw how you people conducted yourselves when we were fighting. The Watchers, the surveyorsyou all moved together like one body. Like wolves in a pack.

Thats a lot of training and experience working together that was playing out, Alex said. It took a long time to get there.

Weve had a full year, Drestra said. Andit still doesnt work. And then theres Merzhin

Merzhinthe Saint, right?

Yes, the Sage said. Heis very focused on sticking to Uldars ways. He and Cedric dont make the choices you need tohow did you put it? Bring a permanent solution.

I can understand how thatd be frustrating, the Fool said. You end up just throwing yourself against the same threat over and over, risking your life, like you said. And then no ones trying to find a way to stop it and make sure it never happens again.

And thats why I used the word 'madness'. Its madness to do that, isnt it?

I dont have a lot of experience with that, Alex admitted.

Though some might say Baelins madbut in a different way, he thought.

In some ways, I envy the Fool, she said.

It took Alex everything he had not to give himself away. Really? They get the short end of the stick. When kids play Heroes and Monsters nobody wants to be the Fool.

She shrugged. Either theyre dead, and none of this matters to them, or theyve escaped and are far, far away from here. Probably making a new life for themselves somewhere. Either way, theyre the only Hero whos escaped this madness, whether by death, or by design.

Alex paused. ...thats one way to put it. Well, like I said. If I get my way, well investigate the cores, the monsters and the dungeons, then see if we can find a way to put all of this to bed forever. Weve got the minds and the equipment to do it. At least, I think we do.

...I hope so. I truly do, she said.

A thought began brewing in Alexs mind. One that could bear fruit later. Drestra was unhappy. She seemed to be already in the mindset of questioning things.

What ifshe were to see something that wouldshake up her understanding of the dungeon cores, the Ravener, and the whole cycle?

What if she learned that people could control dungeon cores?

What other questions would knowing that stir in her?

I tell you what, Alex said, nodding toward the tent theyd placed the samples in. The moment we find somethingconclusive. Anything big. Ill make sure we get word to you as quick as we can. And the other Heroes too. You talk about having tools to fight the Ravener. Well, knowledge is power, yknow? And well see to it that you have that knowledge in your hands to make use of.

She looked at him. Thank you. I mean that. Thank you.

Hey, its what were here for, and remember, Im Thameish too. Its also what I want.

Mmmmm. She made a clicking noise with her tongue, slipping deep into thought. Saymight I ask you something?

Alex fought a spike of nerves.

Calm down, he thought. Why would she ask you if youre the Fool. She just mentioned the missing Fool and talked about them being either dead or long gone. Youre still good, man, just dont panic and give yourself away.

I was wonderingyou said you would do almost anything to end these cycles forever, she said slowly. What if there was something you could do that could help that cause. but some might find itunsavoury. What would you do?

What do you mean unsavoury? he asked.

I meanit could involve a sacrifice.

Can you tell me anything more specific?

No, she said bluntly. Only that some agree it should be done and some think it shouldnt. The rest must remain private. Would you take the distasteful path?

Alex waited, gathering his thoughts. He didnt like giving advice about vague situations. It wasnt clear if shed take any of his advice seriously; after all, he was dealing with the flood of a years worth of her frustrations fuelled by a couple of cups of wine, and they werent exactly best friends. But hed heard enough tragic tales of someone giving someone else advice about some vaguely laid out problem where the advice seemed reasonable at the time, but quickly turned into a disaster when the recipient used it.

Drestra sounded like she was in a tough situation, with a good bit of desperation sprinkled on top. He didnt want to unintentionally push her in a direction that sheand maybe lots of other folksmight end up regretting.

I dunno, he said. I like the idea of everybody wins if you can get that. Except monsters or assholes trying to kill you, of course. They can all go straight to every hell in all the planes for all I care. In tiny pieces would be best. But for everyone else? I like to think that if theres another way, pick the other way. Like a third way. One of my mentorsChancellor Baelin, who youll be meeting soonalways tries to get us to think our way out of problems. Youre the Sage, right? Maybe youll come up with another way thats best for everybody. Beyond that

He shrugged. I dunno. Im not in your shoes so Id feel kinda bad just throwing a bunch of advice at you.

Hmmmwisely spoken, she said. Ah, you know, Ive gone on long enough. But umthank you for listening. Ah! Your partner is coming back with our wine.

Drestra moved away from Alex, turning to greet Theresa as she returned to the campfire. As Alex welcomed her back, he considered everything he and the Sage had shared.

He had a feeling he mightve found a potential ally in the young woman.

They had a lot in common. More than she knew.

Questions.

Discontent at the situation in Thameland.

The need to try something different.

Baelin had said that necessity generated innovation, and the Sage obviously had a big need.

As the celebration wound down, he found himself satisfied with how things had turned out. Hed learned quite a bit from the Heroes, deflected suspicion, and begun building a relationship with the Sage.

If things worked out the way he wanted

he might have more allies than enemies in the future.

And he knew he needed all the allies he could get when it came to cracking the mysteries of Thameland, Uldar and the Ravener.