Mark of the Fool

Chapter 349: Just Communication

Y-yeah. Cold sweat dotted Alexs brow. N-nice night for a walk, eh?

Theresa in no way looked like she thought it was a nice night for a walk. The exact opposite was true.

The death stalker face she was wearing looked more grim reaper, than peacefully strolling hiker. As she nodded to the saplingits fear spiked.

Im right there with you, little guy, Alex thought.

Well, uh He put on his brightest, grandest smile. its an aeld tree! Surprise! Only took a great big fire, and fighting some Ravener-spawnand, uhm, some other monsters to get it. Simple.

He froze.

The silence fell on him, crushing down like a pair of hands choking the breath from him.

No, no stop thinking like that, Alex thought. Why is my mouth going rogue right now?

Alex Theresa took a soft, careful step toward him. Youre thinking out loud.

Alexander Roth, a Hero of Uldar and favourite of the ancient wizard Baelin, barely resisted the urge to scream.

So Theresa said. You went outall by yourselfremember when you said that anything could happen, and if the worst did, you wanted me to look after Selina?

She let the words hang.

I mean, sure, Alex said. If you wanna put it that way, but language is such a varied anduhimprecisesubjective tool of communicationjeez, is it getting hot out here or is it just me? he chuckled nervously, looking at Grimloch. Am I right?

Its always warm on the surface compared to the deepest trenches of the sea, Grimloch rumbled.

Silence.

Grimloch? Theresa asked, her voice uncharacteristically sweet. Would you mind giving my boyfriend and me a bit of privacy? Just for a little while.

Oror! Alex said. Y-you could chaperone young people whore alone on a dark night. Haha, protect them from danger.

That sounds boring, Grimloch said. I already got my fun out of this. Im getting a snack and going back to bed. He looked at Theresa. Kill him quietly.

H-hey! Alex protested.

What? You deserve it. You knew about a good fight and didnt share. Thats cold. Grimloch shook his head like Alex had spit on his ancestors, then he strode off in search of some sort of meat.

Like his neck was a rusted gate hinge, Alex slowly turned to face Theresawho was advancing on him menacingly.

It must be menacing night in Thameland, he thought, backing away; straight into Claygons immovable form.

Thmp.

H-hold on now.

With a single step, Theresa was right in front of him, so close, he could feel her breath on his neck.

So she said quietly. Tell me. Everything.

Alex Roth might have been branded a Fool by the god of his land.

But, Alex Roth was not fool enough to lie to the woman who knew him like she knew her own hand.

Taking a deep breath, he told the story, leaving no details out, and adding things he couldnt tell Professor Jules. In low tones, he told the huntress that the clawed monster in the windmill was kin to the pair theyd fought at Patrizia DePaolos ball. She was shocked to hear that it was working with a Hive-queen. He told her about the conclusions hed come to, and all the questions and suspicions he still had.

Theresa did not interrupt.

She did not snap at him.

She did not blame him.

And, in a way, that was even more unnerving.

It was just the silence, the death stalker face, and those eyes boring deeper into him with his every word. By the end, he wouldve preferred going another round with the Hive-queen.

And then I met Ripp and we came back home, he whispered. And thats pretty much it.

For a moment, an apology was making its way to his lipsbut he bit it back. He firmly believed hed done nothing wrong; any apology he gave her would simply be false words to avoid conflict.

And he owed Theresa many things

false words werent among them.

After what felt like a lifetime that even Baelin might call long, Theresa let out a long sigh.

Okay, she said, then paused, gathering her thoughts.

Alex knew better than to say anything: he just gave her time.

She crossed her arms across her chest. AlrightIm not mad at you, Alex. She paused again. Okay, I lied. Im a little mad at you.

He nodded, leaning in to show that he was fully listening to her.

Look, Im not stupid: I know you can handle yourself. Ive seen it, over and over again. Youre tough, youre smart and we havent been training with Baelin for nothing. And she paused. well, maybe Im the last person who should criticise you for going off into the wilderness on your own, you knowsince I basically half-lived in the Coille. And youre a lot better equipped for dangerous situations than I was back then. So I wont tear you down for going out there, and besides, you had Claygon with you.

Okay, to be fair, he interrupted her. When you went into the forest, the worst thing you couldve met back then was a wild boar or a bear. Or maybe a cerberus? But, like, they're a lot less dangerous than entire dungeons of Ravener-spawn.

Alex. Are you really trying to tell me that what I did was better than what you did? Right now? When Im trying to help you?

Uh he murmured.

What the hell was he saying?

Yeeeeeees? He offered.

Oh by the Traveller, Alex, she said, a pained note in her voice. Uncrossing her arms, she reached down and wound her fingers around the cuff of his shirt. Idont change, okay? Look, I mean it. Im not mad about you going out therebut why didnt you wake me up?

Uh Alex paused. You were tired from dealing with those Cold Belchers; everyone was, but I have my sleep spell to use, yknow? So I was fresh in no time. I figured it wouldnt be fair to any of you if I woke you up to possibly end up in some dangerous situation when you werent 100%.

Alexthat makes sense, but you couldve just told me. Then I could have said if I was fresh enough or not.

You wouldve forced yourself to come with me, or you mightvetrust me, you really didnt want to face those bastards when you were tired. They were fast, there were a lot of them, and they were motivated.

And I still wouldve wanted to at least know. She looked up at him. Youre a big boy, Alex, butif something happened, then I would never know where to look for you. Never wouldve known what happened to you? You just wouldve been gone. My mother said that to meand she was right. Never knowing what happened to you would beunbearablefor life.

Yeahbut He winced; a dark image rose in his thoughts, and he had to push it aside. If youd forced yourself to come with me and then something happened to you because of a situation I dragged you intoI know I couldnt live with myself.

She sighed. Alex. Alex. Alex. This is me. Im not stupid. I wouldnt get into something I couldnt handle: Ive been in Baelins classes too. I know how to measure a fight I cant win, or a hunt I cant complete. Even if Id just hung back to back you up if you got in over your heador even if I stayed behind, but knewwhere you werethatd be a lot better than nothing. Besides, remember that night I walked into your room back in Alric.

She looked at his shoulder. I walked with you. Just like you walk with me. Let me keep walking with you. Just tell me. Thats all.

Alex chewed his lip, imagining if the worst had happened: his body would lay beneath the windmill among the crumbled remains of Claygon. Gwyllain would have disappeared into a hags belly, and his body would've followed. By the time surveyors tracked him to the woods, there mightve been nothing to find but crumbled bits of clay, and maybe some bloodstains.

And then, Theresa, Selina, and Mr. and Mrs. Lu wouldve been left with a cruel hope that he might be alive somewhere. The kind of false hope that shattered people with futile quests and fruitless dreams.

okay, yeahthat part wasnt cool. You deserved to know, he sighed. Im sorry.

You dont have to be sorry justif youve got to do something like that again, tell me where youre going. Im not your shepherd or your grandmother: I dont need to know everywhere you go. but if youre going up against a horde of monsters, please tell me. I know you said Gwyllain thought the monsters were probably gone, but he wasnt sure

yeah, okay. Alex wrapped her in a hug.

She stiffened for a moment, then hugged him so fiercely, he had to exhale. Welcome back, she said. Im glad youre in one piece.

Thanksme too, Alex smiled. andnext time, Ill tell you. As a matter of fact, if you can come, I want you right beside me next time.

Next time? She looked up at him.

Yeah, I meanif the aeld tree grants me a nice big branch, then Ill have the body for my staff. But, Ill still need to power it. And that means breaking a dungeon, to get its core.

Theresa paused. I hope its a silence-spider dungeon.

Oh? Why?

She gave a little growl. Because you got another go at a Hive-queen. I want one too.

Ill see what I can do. Alex nodded.

He and Theresa talked for a while before exertion finally caught up with them, dropping their voices to whispers and replacing their words with yawns. Claygon stood patiently in the moonlight, cradling the sapling as Alex and Theresa shared a goodnight kiss, then hand in hand, walked toward Alexs tent. The golem followed, being as quiet as he could.

No one poked their heads out from any of the sea of tents they walked by, most were likely still deep in sleep.

Night Claygon. Night little tree, Alex and Theresa said, crawling into his tent and closing the flap behind them. With Claygon holding the aeld, it wasnt long before the soft drone of snoring drifted from within. And so, the golem stood beneath the stars, nestling the magical sapling, bathed in its green-golden light. Clouds drifted above. Guards patrolled the walls.

Andunder the joined light of moon and aeldClaygons head moved slightly to face the little tree. If Alex had been awake to stand in that light, he might have noticed a wave of surprise rising in the saplings aura. Surprise, followed by inquisitiveness. And inquisitiveness followed by a sense offocus.

If he had been awake and present

he might have thought that the golem and sapling were communicating.

The next morning found a great commotion among the Generasians.

In the centre of the encampment was the familiar sight of Claygon, holding the decidedly unfamiliar aeld tree. Burlap wrapped its roots in place of Alexs cloak, and summoned water elementals misted its roots and soil. Mixed with another dose of leas-todhar dust, the water sank into the wrapped soil, feeding the aeld while the wizards discussed when, if, and how to plant itas they waited on some expert help with their decision.

Im walking here! Im walking here! Professor Salingers familiar voice drifted through camp, rising above the crowd as the dark-haired magical botany professor pushed his way through those assembled to witness whatever was going to happen.

When he reached the tree, he dusted himself off as though hed just rolled through a field of dust.

Well, look at what weve got. This is a treasure! Ive been briefed: weve got to get this lovely in the ground as quickly as we can!

Indeed, Baelins deep voice rumbled, and Alex could see his horned head rising above the other Professors. Ive had the wonder of having an aeld tree grow on some property of mine, and I must say, we are most fortunate because it was quite the boon. I agree with Professor Salinger, it should be planted with all haste in a spot where it has plenty of room to grow. We must also give it proper care and attention. Now, where is the scoundrel who wrenched such a prize from the hands of our enemies?

The professorsas onelooked at Alex from their breakfast table, and Baelinhis eyes twinkling with delightmade his way over to the young wizard.

Well done, Alex! You left, you saw, and you conquered, just as a Proper Wizard should, the chancellor said. And now you feast on the breakfast of champions. Well done.

See? You did nothing wrong, Grimloch grunted at Alex.

I would not go so far, Prince Khalik said, buttering a chunk of bread. You did not share.

Oh come on, not you too, Alex said.

Now, now, Baelin cut in. There are more than enough monsters in this land for everyone. There shall be plenty of opportunities in the future.

He looked at Alex. Now, Professor Jules told me a little of what occurred last night. Andshowed me a most interesting sight.

He glanced toward the research tent where specimens from the windmill had been taken. One, was the clawed monster. Alexs hunter.

Baelin gave him a pointed look. I do believe you may have more to share with me. And it seems we just might have some planning to do.