Mark of the Fool

Chapter 444: Selina and Claygon

Selina was tingling with excitement as she took the stairs two at a time. From somewhere behind and above her, she vaguely heard Shiani calling her name.

Selina, be careful you dont fall down the stairs! She warned. Your brother will kill me if you do!

Im fine! Selina shouted back undeterred, now stubbornly taking the stairs three at a time.

She hit the ground at a sprint, rushing into the courtyard and skidding to a halt, her shoes scraping along the cobblestones. She was gaping again, her eyes bulging at the sight of the reborn Claygon striding forward with a new body of shining marble.

Oh by the Traveller! She gasped, hands pressing to her cheeks. Hes so beautiful! Look how beautiful you are!

In all of the many timesand there were manythat shed imagined what Claygon might look like if he evolved, shed never thought hed look like this. Sometimes she imagined him as grey stone, sometimes as the same red coloured stone that Alex had said existed in the Barrens.

But never, ever had she thought of stunning, smoothly, polished white marble; she was so transfixed by his glorious form, she didnt notice when he stopped dead in his tracks to stare at her.

She also didnt notice her brother walk up to her, waving his hands wildly while calling her name.

Selina! Selina! He shouted, snapping his fingers in front of her nose. Alex to Selinaaaaa! Come back from the next plane, Selinaaa!

Argh! She yelped, finally noticing he, Theresa, Khalik, Brutus and Najyah were surrounding her. When did you get here?

Alex gave her a withering look and sighed, looking at Theresa. I swear, one little golem evolution and youre suddenly invisible to your own flesh and blood. Truly, no one has ever suffered like I have!

Ah, Alex, Prince Khalik cleared his throat. Considering what happened in Greymoor, perhaps your uhtiming with that joke is a little

Ah. Alex winced. I see what youre saying. AndSelina?

The young girl had left the circle, walking toward Claygon as though she was entranced. AlexAlex what happened to him? Oh, by the Traveller?

As Shiani ran down the stairs to join them, Selina was circling Claygon, eyeing him from his feet to the top of his head. Her gaze lingered on the high gleam coming from his fire-gems.

They drew her eyes like the flame had.

she could feel something emanating from him, similar to what shed felt when Shiani had cast her spell.

Fire mana? She wondered as she noticed something odd.

His head was following her as she circled him, like he was watching her as intently as she was watching him. His lower hands twitched as though wanting to reach out to her, but something was making him hesitate.

Selina frowned at Alex, whofor some reasonhad a big, stupid grin on his face like he was keeping the most amusing secret in the world to himself.

Why are you making Claygon do that? She asked. Youre being weird, Alex.

For a moment, Alexs eye glazed over and his head cocked to the side as though he was hearing something that only he could hear.

No, no, he said gently. Youre not being weird, she just thinks Im being weird.

Selina frowned, looking at Khalik and Theresawho were also smiling at her as though her birthday present was about to be revealedbut neither said a word.

Whore you talking to? She asked her brother, her frown deepening. Youre being weird and crazy again. Are you talking to yourself?

Claygons hand rose, waving at heras though he was denying her words.

Alex burst out laughing. No, no I don't look weird and crazy! Yes, its funnier this way! Yes, yes this is also humour!

Oh dear, Selina, Khalik said, his bearded face a mask of concern. It would seem that your brother has lost his mind. It is a shame really. From my house to yours, I offer my deepest condolences.

I hope you have the strength to take care of your brother when hes chewing leather and chasing birds on all fours. Theresa gave the biggest, fakest sob that Selina had ever heard. Ill be there in spirit!

Her face fell into her hands, her body shuddering with both fake crying and very real laughter. Brutus looked at his master curiously for a moment before dropping to his haunches and raising his heads toward the sky.

The cerberus howled at the sun like a wolf whod lost his entire pack to poachers. Even Najyah began to screech and cry, circling Alex like a vulture whod found a tasty bit of carrion to leisurely pick apart.

Selina was growing even more confused, alarmed and annoyed with every heartbeat. She looked to Shiani for some semblance of sanity, but the fire mage was staring at the chuckling Khalik, the laugh-crying Theresa, and the rambling Alex like theyd all lost their minds.

Slowly, the young girl looked up at the balcony, finding Malcolm watching the scene with a bored expression.

What? Dont look at me? The ice wizard shouted. I dunno, but if hes mad, break his knee and run away or something.

Claygon looked at Malcolm sharply.

Ah, yeah, thats right, Alex said to seemingly no one. Thats more humour. See? Youre learning already.

Whatre you talking about, whore you talking to? Selina demanded, wondering if she should break her brothers knee.

Alright, alright, Alex said, looking at Claygon. Ive had my fun. Time to stop the tortutre. Let that be a lesson: sometimes something starts out funny, but if it goes on for too long, the joke becomes just plain cruel and tragic. So, lets avoid that, shall we? Here.

He took a pen and notebook from his satchel, flipped it open and walked over to the golem with an expectant smile on his face. Here you go, buddy.

Claygon gently took the pen and notebook between his fingers, setting the book on one of his lower palms. Selina watched as he used his palm as a writing surface.

His index finger and thumb gently cradled the pen and he began writing slowly.

Selina watched, mesmerised, looking between her brother and the golem theyd built together. But Alex just kept smiling at her like a fat cat whod drunk all the cream in the kitchen.

It wasstrange, now that she actually thought about what was going on.

Normally, when Alex gave Claygon silent directions, he usually had a distant expression on his face. And

Wait, how are you telling Claygon how to write stuff if you cant seewhathesdoi Her voice trailed off as Alexs grin grew wider, her head slowly turned back to the golem.

He was looking down at the notebook as though paying strict attention to what he was doing.

And then

It hit her.

Can youcan you think? She asked, blinking in disbelief. Are you doing that writing on your own, Claygon?

There was a short nod from the golem that made her gasp, and then he looked up, turning the notebook to face her.

Hello. Selina. I am Claygon. I am happy to see you.

Selina screamed.

She screamed so loudly, that it sent Brutus into long mournful howls again, startled Najyah, who veered off her path and spiralled downward to crash into Khalik in a tangle of squawking, flapping wings, flying feathers and shouting wizard.

But Selina didnt notice.

Youreoh my goodness, you can think! You can write! Claaaaaygooooon!

She leapt at him.

Selina sailed through the air, arms spread wide as the golem scrambled to drop his war-spear, his notebook, and his pen to catch the flying younger Roth sibling.

In a heartbeat she found herself wrapped in hard, warm marble arms, holding her as gently as a newborn. She hugged the golem like he was the biggest, softest deepest, well of comfort shed ever known.

The young girl had never felt stone that warm before, and not just warm from heat coursing through it like smooth stone kissed by hours of sunlight, but warm in another way.

A comforting way.

Claygons warmth reminded Selina of winter fires and roasting chestnuts in Thameland. Of baking cakes and hot apple cider. Of warm bonfires and summer nights, and of the warmth of her parents hands as they held hers.

It reminded her of the days when fire was just beautiful; when her father had to pull her hand away from the fireplace because she kept reaching toward the flame. It was one of her first memories, and shed forgotten it until now.

That memory was all warmth, free of guilt and the horror of burning alehouses. Claygon was warmth in the same way.

Welcome to the family, Claygon, she whispered. Im so glad you can finally hear me. did you like the books I read you?

The golem stiffened for a moment, then bent down and scooped up his pen and notebook with his lower arms. Selina pulled her face away from Claygons torso, pausing in surprise.

His chest was wet. But then again, so was her face.

She hadnt noticed the tears running down her cheeks.

Stop being such a little girl, she scolded herself, wiping away tears and watching as Claygon slowly wrote letters in the notebook.

Yes. I liked your reading. Remember the books. Made me feel warm.

And then there was no use in wiping her tears away.

###

Claygon almost died? Selina cried, nearly falling off of the golems lap. What? Oh no!

Yeah, it was really scary, Selina, Alex said grimly, sipping a cup of pine needle tea and leaning back in his chair. Really terrifying. When that beam hit him, I thought he was going to turn to stone and break apart. But nohe changed instead. He turned to stone, alright, but he got stronger than ever. Andlater that nightthats when he started thinking on his own, talking

Its not fair that only you get to talk to him, by the way, she complained, looking up at Claygon. Smash him, will you?

The golem froze, his hand wrote another message in the notebook lying on the table before them. I cant smash father. Dont smash father, Selina. Sad.

She sighed. Fiiiiiine, but Im just glad youre alive. She patted him on one of his thick, stone arms.

The golem leaned toward her touch happily.

She giggled.

Alex looked at Claygon curiously. Huh, thats interesting. You know, whats odd, every time someones threatened me with violence, even as a joke, Claygons gotten a little testy about it. But you seem calm right now, buddy. Even happy.

Her brothers face turned blank for a moment, then he nodded. Ooooh, thats why.

Whatd he say? Whatd he say? Selina pushed.

Yeah what did he say? Theresa asked from across the room. The huntress was kneeling in front of Brutus huge food bowl, filling it with slices of warm meat. The cerberus stared at the bowl, drool pooled on the floor.

Well, he said that he doesnt want Selina and father to fight, and that he knows we wouldnt hurt each other, Alex said. All in all, a bit boring of an assessment, isnt it? What happened to the drama of siblings locked in deadly battles of succession, struggling over inheritance with daggers

Okay, Im just going to ignore you if youre going to be weird, Selina said. Why is he calling you father and me Selina? I helped build him, he should call me mother.

A look passed over Alexs face. Thatthat would be super weird, Selina.

Why? Oh ew! Ew! Youre right, gross, gross, gross! Forget I ever said that! Her skin crawled, as she shuddered in disgust.

Theresa burst out laughing, spilling beef on the floor. Brutus snatched it up.

Thank the Traveller, Alex said. Claygon said that Im his father because hes connected to me. He said youre Selina because youre part of the family and you made him too. He said he could call you Creator, if youd like?

No, Selina sounds nicer than Creator, she said. Maybe he can call me teacher. Im still learning, but Im going to teach you so much stuff, Claygon!

Claygon wrote in his notebook: I like that. Makes me feel warm.

Her smile deepened. I like that, and it makes me feel warm too.