Chapter 448 - Lady Kaisura

“Please don’t stand there gawking at me,” Lady Kaisura said. “I would rise to greet you but I am not quite my best today, so why don’t you g

“Please don’t stand there gawking at me,” Lady Kaisura said. “I would rise to greet you but I am not quite my best today, so why don’t you g

“Please don’t stand there gawking at me,” Lady Kaisura said. “I would rise to greet you but I am not quite my best today, so why don’t you go ahead and introduce yourselves.” Her voice was so soft that Hump had to strain to hear it, yet there was an edge of humour to her tone.

Hump was caught off guard by it, and the suddenness of the question, his mind still focused inward, dwelling on what she saw when she peered into his soul. His mouth fell open but words fled him, his mind blank under her gaze.

Thankfully, Bud stepped forward, saving them all from the silence.

“I am Robert of Blackthorne, my lady,” he said with a respectful bow. “It is an honour to stand here before you. With me are my companions: Emilia Rike; Celaine of Drakalyn; Dylan, Chosen of Krioc; and Wizard Humphrey Woodrow, the White Flame.”

Hump followed his example with the rest of his party, bowing his head respectfully.

Lady Kaisura’s head tilted slightly on her pillow, her clouded eyes narrowing with some unspoken memory. “The Blackthorne’s have been pivotal in our fight against the darkness in the past. It is good to see a new flame amongst your generation in our time of need. A pleasure, Robert.”

Bud bowed his head again, silent.

“I’m sure you have all worked out why you are here,” Lady Kaisura said. “I may be old, but there are few things that can slip past these eyes of mine. With warlocks in Elenvine, we must be cautious regarding who we bring into our ranks, and that is where I come in. You need not fear me… that is, unless you are a warlock. Are you a warlock, Robert of Blackthorne?”

“No, my lady.”

Lady Kaisura chuckled, though it was more of a witch’s cackle. She seemed far too amused by all this. “I thought not. Now then.” She turned her eyes upon Emilia. “Step closer, dear. Let me see you.”

Hump saw that even Emilia, who was usually calm and relaxed when meeting with nobles and other powerful people, held her breath. She stepped forward as Bud returned to stand in line with the rest of them.

“I’m afraid I’m unfamiliar with the Rike’s,” Lady Kaisura said, a trace of a smile on her lips. “Are you from a martial family? I see you possess a martial’s soul.”

“I am, yes. You can see that at just a glance?”

“Indeed I can. And you should be very proud. Your essence cuts like tempered steel. It pricks even me.”

A smile broke Emilia’s lips. “Thank you, my lady. I am honoured to hear such praise from you.”

Her gaze drifted to Dylan, and her expression softened.

“And you,” she said. “A Chosen of Krioc. I have known only a few like you. Krioc does not take many as his Chosen, and of those he does, few leave behind much history, for they are not the kind to write their names in legends. So it is curious that you come before me now.”

“I do not seek to leave my name behind either,” Dylan said. “But I do want to see the warlocks defeated.”

“Very good.”

Next was Celaine. When Lady Kaisura looked at her, Hump thought he sensed a change. The warmth of the room shifted from that of a thick blanket to the soft touch of a warm forest breeze.

“It has been a very long time since I looked upon one of Owalyn’s Chosen,” Lady Kaisura said. “Your eyes shine just as I remember. I felt the fall of the Great Tree, child. I am sorry for what you lost.”

Celaine blinked. “You… felt it? How?”

Hump scrunched his nose at the obvious note of suspicion in her voice.

Lady Kaisura’s gaze lingered on her. “The echo of the divine runs deep through the earth, and rings like bells to those that are attuned to it. Some echoes reach very far indeed.”

Hump wondered if Lady Kaisura knew what it meant for the Great Tree to have fallen. Even Owalyn’s own people had not known that it was what bound her to Drakalyn. She had tasked Hump with keeping her freedom secret, so she must have been fairly confident that not even the gods would know. Hump tried to relax. Most likely, Lady Kaisura didn’t know either. Not even Celaine suspected it.

Hump felt a spike of guilt at the thought. He hadn’t considered Owalyn’s freedom for a while, and now that he and Celaine were together it felt suddenly wrong to be hiding that her goddess was free.

But he was doing so on Owalyn’s command. Surely that would make it okay?

Hump inwardly sighed. He had no idea how Celaine would take it. maybe it would be best if he simply never admit that he knew, though if he needed to call on Owalyn’s favour, it would be a little obvious.

“My, isn’t your mind racing,” Lady Kaisura said, her eyes settling on Hump. “Why are you so nervous, Wizard Humphrey?”

Hump looked up, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt it beat behind his eyes, his ribs, his skill. She looked at him, and he felt the weight of centuries settle upon him. Her gaze didn’t just look, it searched. Through his magic, through his veil, through his soul.

He swallowed, thinking of the River and Waves, trying to calm his nerves.

He decided he preferred Owalyn’s deadly intent to the presence of Lady Kaisura’s. At least with Owalyn, he knew what to expect. She was a huntress—if she decided it, she could kill him with a thought. That was terrifying, but it left Hump understanding his place in the conversation. Lady Kaisura’s power was completely different. It was warm, gentle, and welcoming, luring him into a cloak of safety that he didn’t want to escape from, yet deep down a feeling of wrongness resonated within him.

The fact was, Lady Kaisura was old enough to have lived through the Wizard Purge first hand. Hell, she may have even participated in it. It was no secret that the older generations of Chosen did not like wizards, so Hump had no idea where Lady Kaisura might stand on the matter. He supposed it didn’t matter either. He just had to keep his mouth shut as much as he could, do his best to maintain the Veil of Infinite Reflections, for what little good it might do him, and avoid offending her.

“I am merely overwhelmed to be in your presence,” Hump said, trying his best at flattery. “I have never met a ninth circle Chosen before.”

“I should hope not. The only other one around stabbed me through the spine on his way out of the city.” There was a faint smile on her lips, but it seemed real. Her eyes went to his staff—to the Silver Sprig dangling from the end. “You bear quite the gift. Not many can boast to claim a divine artifact.”

Hump made a connection but wasn’t sure if he was misreading. “Do you want me to see if it will help with your wound?”

Lady Kaisura exploded into a fit of laughter that soon turned into a cough. High Priest Alagthar rushed forward, hands raised in worry. She waved him aside and reached for a glass of water, sipping it before finally calming.

“Do you have any idea how long it has been since everyone offered to try and use healing magic on me?” The smile on her face was wide. “You wizards are all the same. Always trying to solve everything. That is kind of you, though, thank you. I’m afraid age is something even I cannot cure.”

Hump grimaced. “Ah. My apologies. I thought… Nevermind.”

“There is no need to apologise. You must have visited Drakalyn too. I sense the same fire in your blood as in Celaine’s.”

“I did, yes.”

“But you are of Alveron, are you not?”

“As far as I know. I was born in Elenvine.”

“How wonderful. The people of Alveron no longer travel as much as they used to. It is good for a young wizard to see what lies beyond the kingdom’s borders. It is even better that you have returned once you did.”

“My friends are here,” Hump said. “My home. I cannot leave them to face these warlocks without me.”

Lady Kaisura smiled and gave a nod. “How noble.” She turned to the High Priest. “They pass the test, Alagthar.” She looked over the five of them. “It was a pleasure to meet you all. May the gods bless you.”

***

The moment Hump stepped out of Lady Kaisura’s chamber, it was like the world exhaled. The pressed lifted. The warm, cozy air of the room was gone, and it was like Hump’s mind had awakened. He staggered a little on the landing outside, catching his breath. Everyone in his party wore the same stunned look.

They followed High Priest Alagthar down the narrow, winding stairs in silence. At the base of the temple, they were reunited with Nisha—curled against the wall like a sulking dog—Wizard Aldric, and the rest of their escort. Now that they were verified, Karina relaxed a little around them. She led them to a quiet, stone-walled meeting room tucked into one side of the temple wing.

Karina stood in the doorway. “Wait here,” she instructed. “Don’t leave the room. I’ll be back shortly.”

As soon as she left, the tension broke like a snapped string.

“Gods above, Hump,” Bud said, rounding on how. “How do you always managed to say the wrong thing?”

Hump dropped his face into his hand. “I have no idea. I almost killed the most powerful Chosen in the city.”

“When she started coughing I really thought you might,” Emilia said, barely containing her laughter.

Hump groaned and dragged his hand down his face. “Well, at least she’ll remember me.”

“Do you want her to remember you?” Celaine asked, eyebrow raised.

Hump frowned. “Not particularly.”

“She was quite something though, wasn’t she?” Dylan said. “I’ve never been around someone that exerted so much will by purely being in the same room. Imagine what she’d be like if she was angry.”

“I have heard tales of Lady Kaisura’s strength,” Bud said. “Chosen of Emirai are not known for their combat prowess, but there is a reason she has lived so long.”

About fifteen minutes passed before the door opened and Karina returned, accompanied by Otto, Aldric, and a new man. He looked to be in his forties, battle-worn and solidly built, with the kind of bearing that suggested he’d earned every scar. He wore a navy and steel uniform marked with a silver insignia on one pauldron.

“This is Captain Merek Halvon,” Karina introduced him. “Commander of Prince Gregory’s personal guard. You will be working under his command.”

Captain Halvon stepped forward, eyes sharp as he scanned them each in turn. “I was rather surprised when the prince requested your team personally,” he said. “I was told you were young, but I didn’t realise quite how young.”

Hump stepped forward. “We may be young, but we’ve seen more than our share of combat. And warlocks. And demons. We’ve held our own.”

The man’s eyes narrowed, but there was a glimmer of approval behind the scrutiny. “So I’ve heard. There’s not much for us to discuss today. I’ve arranged for you to begin working with us the day after tomorrow. Arrive in the palace promptly that morning and we shall go over your duties and everything else you need to know. That is all.”

“Hold on a second,” Hump said. “Before you go, what is it we need to guard Prince Gregory from? Has there been a threat?”

“Did you not tell them anything?” the captain asked Karina.

“It is not my job,” Karina said. “They have only just spoken to Lady Kaisura.”

Captain Halvon let out an impatient sigh. “The royal family were targeted by assassins in the previous attack. Only the late Queen was killed, but it has given us reason to believe that they will be targeted again.”

“Our leading theory is that they want to clear a path for Kassius to take the throne,” Otto said. “A bit of a way to go though. He’s seventh now. He was fourteen only a few months ago.”

Karina shot him a disapproving look. “Otto.” She sighed. “Those are your instructions. If there’s nothing else, Aldric will escort you out.”

It was a shorter trip than Hump had expected, but Hump wasn’t complaining. If anything, he wanted things to move quicker. Prince Gregory had requested them personally, and that had made him curious as to what the man might want from them. He supposed they were a good fit for the task. There were not many parties that could rival them in Elenvine. Most that possessed sixth circle Chosen were otherwise indisposed, but he and his friends were fairly new to Elenvine. Other than their work with Marshal Anara, they were unbound.

Before they parted, Wizard Aldric took Hump by the arm. “Come by the Dragon’s Head for a talk tomorrow. I have something to show you.”

Hump gave the older wizard nod. “I will. I could do with some advice actually.”

“Oh?”

“When I fought Menos, I had him,” Hump said. “I hit him with everything I had—caught him off guard, full force. It still wasn’t enough. If I’m going to guard Prince Gregory—if I’m going to protect myself from the warlocks and demons that are after me—I need something stronger. I need a spell that can kill anything.”

Aldric’s expression grew thoughtful. “Killing anything is a tall order, but the Order will have spells that should satisfy you. I’ll speak with Master Dorn and see what can be arranged. I believe you are more than owed a gift in return for your efforts.”

“Thank you.” He had his spellbook to look through too, though he was curious to see what they had in the library of the Three Eyes. Looking never hurt anyone. And neither did more spells.

“Good luck with the prince,” Aldric said. “And don’t screw this up. The royal family may not be warlocks or demons but they can be just as nasty.”