Mark of the Fool

Chapter 314: Morning Amusement and Power

Baelin? W-what are you doing here? Alex asked, suddenly very aware that he must look likewell someone whod been drinking until he passed out.

I had a free morning, for once, the chancellor took another long, amused sip of his tea. And when I arrived in my office, the strangest thing was waiting for me. Roughly fifteen letters that looked like they had been written bywell, it was hard to say, but each was quite insistent that I attend your residence this morning for a mutter of die-eer importunce.

You mean a matter of dire importance? Alex asked.

Oh, I am merely pronouncing your message phonetically, Alex. The chancellor snapped his fingers, Alex felt teleportation magic, then a rather embarrassing letter appeared in the chancellors hand characterised by runny ink and mis-spellings. A scrawl resembling his full name appeared at the bottom to confirm him as the author.

Baelin sniffed the paper. Ah yes, I can still smell the spilled plum brandy. How nostalgic. It smells much like half of the school does during the first few days after exam time ends.

Alexs face grew hot. UhI did want to talk to you about something, but uhits not an emergency and uh.how did you get my letters?

Sitting at the table, both Selina and Theresa looked at each other and grinned.

Huh? Alex grunted, still fighting his fading hangover.

Selina blinked at her brother. Innocently.

His brain suddenly fired. Wheres her messenger construct? The bird of prey sat on a dresser near the open door to her room.

No he said. You didnt!

I didnt do anything, She said innocently. You begged me to use it. So, I let you.

Alex looked at Baelin in horror.

The construct was very effective, I assure you, the chancellor said. It was winging its way from my window ledge when I arrived. Good aerodynamics. I must confess, I thought something of a personal nature was amiss in your homeland on seeing the large number of letters and their frantic tone.

Alex strongly considered throwing himself off the balcony.

Theresa was trying to muffle laughter while Brutusawakened by the noiseshook himself, padded up to him, took a sniff, recoiled, and immediately wandered to the balcony. Crouched in a corner of the room, Claygon was the only one who didnt seem to be judging him.

Ugh, you stink, Alex, Selina wrinkled her nose. You smell like every customer whod ever spent their entire evening at Mr and Mrs Lus tavern.

Hey, thats an exaggerationmaybe.

But, if I do, it was for science, Selina! All for science! Her brother spoke quickly, also directing his statement at Baelin. I needed

Thundar groaned and rolled over. The rooms occupants watched him for a few heartbeats, but the minotaur began snoring again.

So much for back-up, Alex thought.

but yeah, I had to test Cleanse Flesh didnt I? It makes perfect sense! It was all for progress!

Progress needs a bath. Selina got up, quickly walking to her and Theresas room as she loudly sniffed the air.

He shook his head. Go on, run in the face of progress!

Looking at Theresa and Baelin, Alex spread his arms like he was presenting the find of the century. Its science! Its just for sciwait, where are Khalik and Isolde?

I dragged Khalik to his bed just before he passed out, Theresa said. Ill check on him in a bit: he has a date with Sinope this afternoon, so he cant be sleeping all day.

And Isolde?

She said she had enough observations on the before effects so shed be back to see the after-effects. Theresa fought a grin. Shell be disappointed that she missed you casting the spell on yourself, but maybe she can watch you cast it on your two drinking buddies.

Alex twitched.

Well, as amusing as this was, I should get on with my morning if there truly is no mutter of die-eer importance to worry about. Baelin rose from the table, smiling at Theresa. But, thank you for the tea and amusement; laughter is truly a wondrous medicine. One that eclipses the balm promised by deities everywhere.

Youre welcome, chancellor. Theresa nodded to the ancient wizard.

Waitwhy thank her? Alex asked.

Who do you think let me in? Baelin chuckled. Now, was there anything to your claim, or did the mutter of die-eer importunce not actually exist?

Ah, well I wanted to ask you something but uhits not urgent.

I seewell, can you walk? If so, walk with me, and we can chat. But firstI shall cast a spell upon you. Is that quite alright?

Uh, yeah.

Bealin raised an eyebrow. Agreeing without confirming what spell I intend to cast? As Ive said before, thats not the Proper Wizard way, Alex. The chancellor looked over his shoulder toward Selinas room. Keep that in mind, young one, do not be as trusting as your brother.

Ill be careful. Good-bye Baelin. Selina said.

Alex shrugged. Youve told me that before, but I trust you. Youve helped me a lot, and Ive tried my best to help you.

While that does make us allies, the ancient wizard said. Let us not forget that an alliance between wizards can be a fleeting thing. Above all else, many wizards desire power. I have seen allies turn against one another in the pursuit of power Alex, even if those allies have been bound to each other over the passage of time.

Power.

There it was again.

He wanted to have a serious discussion about that with the chancellor, but first he had a reply for the ancient wizard. Baelin, if you really wanted to cast something nasty on me, then you wouldnt ask for permission. Youd just do it, and with the element of surprise, theres nothing I could even do about it.

Hm, perhaps. The beastman's goat-like eyes seemed to pierce through his student. But I must say, your sincere trust in me israther lovely, but, always keep in mind that broad trust in everyone one meets, can be ill-advised. Anyway, enough life lessons for now. What a pleasant morning! Alright, to the spell, then.

With a wave of a hand and a single word of power, Baelin bathed Alex with magical powerliterally. As the magic flowed over him, the scent of his clothes freshened, the odour of stale alcohol wafting from his pores washed away, and his hair softened like hed just washed it.

There we are. A bit less offensive to the nose, now. Well, get your shoes on, I shall meet you in the hallway.

The chancellor nodded to Theresa. Thank you again for your hospitality, Theresa. The pine needle tea was excellent. I am glad you were able to forage a supply of needles from your homeland.

Youre welcome, Baelin, the huntress said.

With that, the chancellor swept from the room, his robes billowing while Alex rushed to get his boots on. After the door closed, Alex looked at his girlfriend a little wild-eyed.

You know, I thought a daughter of inn owners wouldve been more impressed with a hangover cure, he said, hopping up and down on one foot while pulling a boot on.

Alex, you know I barely drink, she said. And life enforcement means my body clears alcohol away really, really fast.

Pffft, well with my new spell, youd clear it even faster. He fought to pull the other boot on.

She sighed, an odd look crossing her face. Sliding over, she glanced at the door, then whispered to him.

He could feel her breath on his ear. Hey. Did you mean those things you said to me last night? After the others were asleep?

Alex stopped dead, the boot dropped on the floor.

What things? He asked.

She smiledher eyes twinklingthen went up on her tiptoes, kissed him and walked away without another word.

What things? he demanded, his panicking mind trying to remember what he might have said. Nothing came back, even when he tried using the Mark. He mustve been so drunk that there were no memories to sort through.

What things? he called after Theresa.

She didnt respond, but he could have sworn he heard her laughing.

What things?

All set, then? Baelin asked when Alex stumbled into the hallway. Ah, hello, again Claygon.

Yeah, I just needed to cast Cleanse Flesh on Thundar, the young wizard hurried through the doorway to make room for Claygon. Hell have an easier time than I did when he wakes up.

The golem crouched and stepped through the doorway sideways, stopping beside the two wizards in complete stillness. His face wasunchanged from the snarling clay expression it always had, but something about him felt a bit different for an instant.

Those clay eyes, as well as his fire-gem eye seemed to watch both wizards briefly. A heartbeat later, the feeling was gone.

Baelins eyes narrowed on the golem. Hm, was all he said.

Alex spent way too much time locking the door, trying to fight the blush creeping up his cheeks as he imagined what he might have said to Theresa last night while he was doing science. His mind was conjuring all kinds of things, and with Thundar there, he prayed for the Travellers mercy that neither of them had mentioned anything about rope.

Either way, Theresa hadnt told him what hed said, so all he could do was let his imagination run wilda solid reason for not overdoing the plum brandy.

Walk with me, then, Baelin said, waving Alex to accompany him.

The two wizards made their way out of the insula, through throngs of students hurrying to the library or courtyard with arms or forcedisks filled with books.

Midterms were looming like an ever-present phantom, and the sight of the chancellor, Alex with his growing reputation, and the enormous four-armed golem, caught peoples attention as the trio strolled from the insula.

Under the sunlightwhich hardly stung thanks to Cleanse FleshAlex struggled with how to broach the subject on his mind.

Well? the ancient wizard said suddenly, his hands clasped behind his back. I can nearly feel your discomfort, what troubles your mind?

Uh Alex paused. Look, Im just going to come right out and ask. Baelin, youre the most power person Ive ever met

Perhaps.

Wait, what? the young wizard asked. Come onI mean. You have to be.

Am I? Baelin raised an eyebrow. Perhaps. And perhaps not. Power often cloaks itself in the guise of weakness or normalcy. Even I employ that strategy, somewhat. I am known as the chancellor of a university, and I wear power as an accessory. But do I wear my true strength? Only I know that for sure. And I have an interest in displaying power. If I did not, you would likely not see me as I presently am before you. Instead, you might see an old beastman: a vagabond storyteller who pilfers pantries. Or you might see another old beastmanor perhaps another racecloaked in drab clothes, who loves fireworks. Perhaps you might see me as a pipe smoking young woman, or even a street urchin begging for coin. In those ways, I could wander the world or settle in it, unnoticed and protected by anonymity, while I went about my business. My displays of power are a choice.

Alex listened carefully. Soyou mean to say I could have met someone as powerful as you and not known it? And that I shouldnt assume certain things about anyone Ive met and how strong in magic they are.

Very good, the chancellor said. It is something for you to consider too as you grow in strength. Will you don the guise of weakness to go about your business and surprise enemies when the need arises? Will you wear power as a deterrent to those that mean to harm you? Or will you display power so that it might attract opportunity? These are the questions you will eventually have to answer.

His eyes shifted to Claygon. Perhaps sooner than you might think.

Rightand a Proper Wizard who assumes he knows who is mighty and who isnt, might end up on the wrong end of a nasty surprise?

Exactly. I know for a fact that youve met at least three people who are donning weaker guises in order to hide true strength,

Really? Alex looked up at the chancellor sharply. Wh-Wait. Youre not going to tell me who?

Of course not. To do so would be to rob you of some valuable education.

Rightwell maybe, you can answer this insteadis power addictive?

...is power addictive? Why yes, yes it absolutely is. Baelin looked at him piercingly. But what a perfectly odd thing to ask. The way you phrase itit almost sounds like you think that such a fact would beunnatural. The addictive nature of power is the most natural form of addiction there is. Andif you must be a slave to any addictionit is the most logical oneas long as you deal with it within limits.

I know youve mentioned this beforebut yesterday someone told me that the Irtyshenans call everyone not of their empire barbarians.

An all too common tactic among mighty empires that spawn from jewelled thrones, Baelin said gravely. It becomes repetitive. Like a bard playing the same song over and over on a broken lute.

But, if powers addictive, then how do you stop yourself from that kind of thinking? From becoming like that? I mean, it might not happen today, but I could see it happening as someone keeps chasing power over decades, or even longer.

Hmmm. Baelin looked at Alex closely. You have noticed a change in thinking recently, have you not? A hunger? Perhaps that is why you seek to master Itos Spiral?

Y-yeah, Alex said. Howd you know?

I saw it on your desk when you opened your door this morning. No need to be ashamed of it, Alex, I would be the same if I were one such as you.

Someone young? Alex asked.

Baelin smiled, his voice dropping so low that Alex could barely hear him. He said a single word of power, before he spoke: A Fool. And perhaps that is something you should consider in our search for others of your title. After all, from observing you and the other HeroesI do believe I might have found a flaw in your gods design. One of many, in fact.