Chapter 416 - Secret Wizards

Really difficult chapter and I'm still not completely happy with it but deemed it ready to post. I'm going to do another thorough edit tomorrow, so check back tomorrow evening if you want a more final version. This one hurt my brain though! I have such a thorough outline for Book 6 now, yet this one still needed a ton of new things worked out that I just hadn't considered.

They were back at the guesthouse when Celaine sat down beside Hump. She’d just bathed, and smelled clean, with a hint of something floral. Before he knew what to do, her hand locked with his. He felt the calluses of her palm, and the warmth of her. He stared at it, his heart pounding. How often he had wanted to take her hand in the past, and now it was his.

He swallowed, feeling heat rush to his face again. He caught the others grinning at them from outside. They muttered something, and then left together, giving them some space.

“Well…” Hump said. “This is new.” He stroked his thumb over the back of her hand, her skin soft and smooth.

“Yes.” Celaine nodded stiffly.

“So, what now?” Hump asked quietly.

“Your people call it courting, do you not?”

Hump blinked. “What?”

“I am courting you,” she said matter-of-factly.

Hump stared at her. “That’s… usually the other way around. The man does the courting.”

A frown formed on Celaine’s face as if in deep thought, then she shook her head. “No, I don’t think so.”

Hump chuckled.

“What’s so funny?”

“I always knew you fancied me.” Hump grinned at her. “You always denied it, but the Hump Charm isn’t something that can be resisted.”

Celaine’s face fell into her free hand, trying to hide the wide smile on her face. “Please never refer to it as Hump Charm again.”

“It’s a proven effect now. There’s no hiding from it.”

She burst into laughter.

“And you find me funny.”

“You are funny, I’ll give you that,” she said.

Hump narrowed his eyes. “Why doesn’t it sound sincere when you say it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Uh-huh.” Hump paused. “I just… I’ll admit, I didn’t expect this development.”

“Are you complaining?” Celaine asked with a smirk.

“No, no. Just stating an observation. I am curious though—what changed?”

Celaine leaned into him. “I don’t know.”

“Well that’s helpful.”

She nudged him with her shoulder this time, and Hump smiled.

“I’m serious,” she said. “Back home, Myra pushed me about you often. She kept saying we were perfect for each other. You really made an impression on her.”

Hump nodded wizardly. “The Hump Charm at work again. Oof!” He took the elbow dig to his ribs bravely, knowing he earned it.

“Hump— Do you want to know?”

“Sorry.”

She snorted. “When we left Drakalyn together, I knew I had feelings for you. But I was worried about changing things. Between us, our party—I was scared we’d ruin a good thing. There was always an excuse to ignore it.”

“Until Luna showed back up,” Hump said.

Celaine nodded. “I’m not about to let that pretty priestess beguile you.”

“She couldn’t have,” Hump said. “Even in Sheercliff City, I was only trying to move past you. But in Drakalyn, I knew.”

“You’re telling me if she fluttered her eyelashes at you, you’d have turned her down?”

“What do you think of me?” Hump said, exasperated. “Yes. I’m telling you just that.”

She smiled. “That’s nice. I’m glad.”

“And there’s nothing to worry about,” Hump said. “Whatever happens, I’ll always have your back, Celaine. Always. We’ve fought monsters, warlocks, liches, and even demons. We’ve already been to hell and back together.”

“I know,” Celaine said. “And I’ll have yours. But promise me, if Karlach comes for you, or the warlocks, or anyone else, you won’t leave. I don’t need you to protect me. Whatever comes, we face it together.”

Hump drew a deep breath. Doubt plagued him—if her life was truly in danger, could he promise her that? She turned her eyes on him, green essence swirling in them like stars. Who was he kidding? Celaine was an adult, and a powerful Chosen. It wasn’t his job to make decisions for her.

“I promise,” Hump said.

“Good. Then I’m not worried.” Celaine rested her head on his shoulder, and after a few seconds, Hump pressed his own back against hers.

Nisha came in from outside and wandered over to them, hopping up on the sofa. A low rumble reverberating from her body as she sprawled over both him and Celaine as if she owned them. She lifted her head, eyes gleaming, and sent a series of eager images into his mind—playing with the children, racing through the training yard, a particularly fun game of chase that had ended with a pile of laughing humans and a very proud dragon atop them all.

Hump chuckled, rubbing the soft scales beneath her chin. Your thoughts are getting clearer, he sent to her.

She puffed up proudly, curling her tail around his arm.

***

Emilia’s mother woke that evening. Relief swept through the Rike Estate, but it was a joy tempered by grief. Her wails of anguish echoed across the grounds. It was the kind of sorrow that seeped into the bones of everyone that heard it, and a stark reminder of all that had been lost.

When Emilia returned late that night, she walked through the door as if asleep, her shoulders stiff, her movements mechanical. Celaine was first to reach her, pulling her gently toward the sofa and wrapping an arm around her. Emilia sank into the embrace, resting her head against Celaine’s shoulder. Bud paced near the fireplace, restless, uncertain, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.

“How is she?” Dylan asked.

“Asleep,” Emilia said. “The physician gave her something to help her relax. I’ve…” she drew a deep breath, “never seen her like that. It’s made it all feel so real.”

“Can you tell us about him?” Celaine asked quietly. “What was your brother like?”

Emilia’s breath hitched. She stared at the floor, her fingers gripping a fold of her top as if holding herself together. “He was a trouble,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Always causing trouble, really. Cheeky, and obnoxious obviously.” She smiled. “But he was a good brother. I should have spent more time with him. I always wanted to be off doing my own thing, chasing my own path, but we trained together often when we were younger.” She let out a choked laugh, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I will miss him.”

Soon, Celaine moved over for Bud and came to sit next to Hump. She leant against him, and Hump noticed the tears in her eyes.

“Don’t look at me,” she whispered.

Hump chuckled quietly and awkwardly wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Look at what? There’s nothing to see.”

Celaine sniffed and gave a nod. “Damn right.”

They talked into the night, reminiscing with Emilia at first, but soon others joined with stories of their youth. It was a depressing turn to the day, but as Celaine pressed up against Hump’s side, rested her head on his shoulder, and squeezed his hand, Hump couldn’t help but feel content. The warmth of her presence was oddly comforting. It wasn’t the hesitant touch of before—she was simply there, as if she belonged. All of them had lost people, but they had each other. True friends to support each other.

***

Despite the dreary evening the night before, Hump couldn’t help but feel optimistic as he woke the next day. Life was good. The sun was out, warm against Hump’s face, and he hadn’t stopped smiling all day.

But the relaxed afternoon had to come to an end eventually. Wizard Aldric’s note instructed him to arrive in casual attire, so that’s what Hump did. His party went on ahead of him as a separate group—something Hump appreciated, particularly when meeting a group of secret wizards. It wasn’t that he was suspicious, just careful. The stakes were high, especially when dealing with people that knew about his spellbook. If things went south, he had his gear stored away in his Bag of Holding.

But it wouldn’t. Wizard Aldric had shown himself to be an ally. If the man had wanted his book, he wouldn’t have just saved him from Karlac like he had. No, he was an ally. And when Wizard Starick appeared in Sheercliff City during the warlock attack, he too had proved himself to be against the warlocks. Still, a little caution never hurt.

Hump wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when Aldric had informed him of their meeting point—a tavern called the Dragon’s Head. On its own, it wasn’t the kind of place Hump expected a group of powerful wizards would gather, and that confusion only grew as he made his way into an area of Elenvine that had clearly seen better days. While not as bad as the harbour he’d taken Celaine on their ‘date’, it was far from the fineries Hump was growing accustomed to.

The Dragon’s Head was a dingy tavern tucked into the shadowy corner of an alley. Warm golden light spilled out through smoke-yellowed windows. A carved wooden sign of a red dragon’s head gleamed in the dim glow of a lantern, its flame flickering gently within its glass house. No essence stone lamps, no artifacts of any sort, just a plain old oil lamp.

Not exactly wizardy, though Hump supposed secret wizards tried to avoid such things.

As Hump pushed open the door a wave of charred oak, spilled ale, and incense drifted out. Inside, the place was full of people, eating, drinking, and enjoying the evening. Dark wood panelling, old hunting trophies, and shelves with mismatched bottles, books, and ornaments gave the tavern a rustic charm. The bar was long and sturdy, its mahogany surface burnished by the many years of elbows resting on its top. Behind it was Hump’s man—tall, middle aged, red hair, just as Aldric had described.

A bard played lively music in the corner; a small crowd had pulled up chairs to listen. Looking over the clientele, Hump noticed they weren’t your usual city dwellers. Nobody carried weapons, but he saw the signs of dangerous people. A few had wrapped equipment leaned against the table beside them, others had knives hidden beneath tunics, or wore magic rings that the average person simply couldn’t afford. They carried the scars of adventure.

Hump spotted his own party at a table against the far wall. His eyes found Celaine and caught the mischievous twinkle in hers. He forced himself not to smile. They fit right in amongst the crowd, though they were on the younger side.

Celaine no doubt hated the place. The air was stale with old drink, there were too many people, and it was too loud for her sensitive ears. But to Hump, this was natural. He had spent many a night in places such as this. There was an energy to the room that reminded him of the days with his master, when they had the coin for a room or stable for the night.

Why did Aldric bring me here? Hump wondered. He supposed he would soon find out. He approached the barkeeper.

The man patiently polished a glass while surveying the room, his green eyes landing on Hump. “What can I get for you, lad?” the man asked.

“Have you got any 506?” Hump asked, following his instructions.

The man eyed him. Hump wondered if he’d made a mistake—there couldn’t have been another Dragon’s Head nearby, could there?

Then the man spoke. “We’ve got some in the back. Want to take a look?”

Hump nodded.

He resisted the urge to glance at his party and followed the man around the corner, to  a backroom at the rear of the tavern. There, he was guided downstairs, where the man opened a door. A wine cellar was inside.

“You’ll find it in here.”

Hump looked at the man, waiting for him to step inside, but it seemed he had no intention of moving. Frowning, Hump stepped through the door. The coolness of the air struck Hump as he gazed over the racks of wine bottles, not spotting a single speck of dust anywhere. He didn’t spot anything else either. The room was empty.

Hump turned back to the man. “What am…”

The door clicked shut behind him, the barkeep gone. Immediately, Hump felt a tingle against his skin. Essence stirred in the air, gentle and non-invasive, but no time some sort of enchantment had activated. Hump directed essence to his eye, capturing a shimmer to the wall at the rear of the cellar with his Spirit Sight. A few seconds later, and the wall was gone, revealing a round table with a single occupant. Wizard Aldric sat there, sipping on his silver flask, a grin on his face.

“Good evening, Wizard Humphrey. I hear you’ve been busy the last two weeks.”

“I was mentioned?”

“Oh yes.” The man gave an exaggerated nod. “Count Daston sings your praises, and General Korteg complimented you in his reports. I can say with certainty that even King Henry knows your name. Quite the accomplishment for a boy from the bushes.”

Hump’s eyes widened. The king? He wasn’t quite sure what to make of that.

“Why did you have me meet you here anyway?” Hump asked.

“This is one of the oldest districts in the city,” Aldric said. “And the Dragon’s Head has been here for longer than the Three Eyes.”

Hump looked around, searching for something more than the small cellar but seeing nothing. “I’d never guess.”

Aldric barked a laugh, clapped his hands, and rose to his feet. “No you certainly wouldn’t. Prepare yourself, for we are going on a trip.”

Aldric’s cane echoed on the stone as he strode to the back of the room and stared at a brick wall. Hump followed, watching curiously as Aldric raised a hand and pressed his palm flat against the bricks.

Light pulsed through the wall, spreading like ink through water. One by one, bricks lit up, forming a circle of runes. Then, with a soft thrum, the symbols shifted. Essence coursed through hidden channels like liquid gold, spiralling outward in a mesmerising cascade, forming an intricate pattern of glyphs that wove together like a puzzle. It reminded Hump of new entries in his spellbook as they were inked in essence.

Then, as if it had always been there, a wooden door appeared.

Aldric turned the handle.

Beyond the threshold was no alleyway or passage—just a small room of grey stone, featureless except for another door opposite them. Hump hesitated. He wasn’t fond of walking blindly into mysterious spaces, but this was much more inline with what he expected from an order of mysterious wizards. Curiosity won out, and he followed Aldric inside, feeling a strange liquid pressure slide over his skin as he passed.

A feeling he recognised well. “We’re in another realm.”

Aldric smirked. “Not a realm, but a pocket dimension.”

Hump’s gaze swept over the room. “Amazing. The Three Eyes created this?”

“Once,” Aldric said. “But that was long before our time. None alive understand the workings of this place. It was created by wizards of old, and such mastery over space has long since been lost. Come on, the others are waiting. They are eager to meet you.”

Hump followed Aldric through the silent halls, marvelling at the place. The manor they entered was pristine. Despite its age, Hump didn’t spot a single speck of dust. The walls were lined with woven tapestries, some glimmering as if real stars had been stitched into the fabric. Ornate paintings of long-dead wizards observed him from gilded frames, their expressions subtly shifting as he passed. Magic lingered in the air like a whisper, curling around the high, arched ceilings and settling in the grey stone beneath his boots.

It reminded him of the lich queen’s phylactery. He wondered if there were other pockets of space out there containing hidden caches of knowledge. Considering there were already two that he knew about now, the concept seemed likely. If he could learn the workings of such a place, perhaps he could hunt them down.

“Could the warlocks be hiding in a space like this?” Hump asked.

Aldric glanced at him and gave a nod. “It’s possible. Anthony was one of us. At the very least, he will know of the existence of places like this.”

“How is the situation in Fort Nordric?” Hump asked.

“For now, the defence holds,” Aldric said. “But we are in dark days, lad. We balance on a knife’s edge. The next War of the Firmament lies before us, unless we can somehow prevent it.”

“Protect the two remaining seals.”

Aldric frowned. “Yes. If we could do that, it would certainly help.”

“You’re not confident we can?”

“Ten have already fallen. The odds are against us. And it’s possible the warlocks can find a way even with them.”

“How? Do they not seal the old gods away?”

Aldric shook his head. “Even the Three Eyes do not know exactly what they do. Only that with their destruction, it is said that the Path to Heaven is open. Some interpret that to mean the old gods can return, but I’m not so sure.”

“What else could it mean?” Hump asked.

“There are many gods in this world. Who knows whose heaven it refers to.”

They came to a set of large twin doors that swung open as they approached, revealing a library within. The chamber stretched on as far as Hump could see, its towering shelves stuffed full of books. Ornate gilded arches made even the ceiling look expensive. Essence stones were suspended from above, illuminating the room in a warm orange glow. The scent of parchment and ink filled the air, mingling with a faint metallic tang.

There were no cushioned chairs or cozy reading nooks here. Only towering tomes, chained grimoires, and scrolls locked behind glass cases, their pages brimming with forgotten spells and lost knowledge. Massive stone statues lined the walls like watchful guardians. Between them and the many portraits, Hump felt as if he were being watched.

Aldric continued forward, his cane a constant beat in the room. Other than that, it was absolute silence.

“When the Pantheon came to the wizards and ordered the burning of our books, the Three Eyes had to act to ensure all of this was not lost,” Aldric explained. “And even with their efforts, much of ancient wizardry is gone.” He pointed at a painting on the wall, of a man with dark skin and a pointed hat. “This man was known as the Catalogue. He would search through the libraries of temples and universities. If he recognised a title, he would point at it and it would be added to a pile. If he didn’t, an assistant would add it to a Bag of Holding. Those in the pile were burned, while the others were eventually brought here.”

“There are so many books,” Hump said, searching for an end to the many shelves.

“You are in the greatest library in all of Alveron,” Aldric said. “Some of the others will tell you there is no greater in the world, but there is no telling what lies out there.”

There was a gap in the shelves on the wall to their right, and Aldric came to a stop before another set of doors. “Here we are.”

He tapped twice with his cane, then turned the handle. Inside, eight people were seated at a long table. Amongst them was Starick, the very wizard that had fought off Anthony in Sheercliff City.

A wizard Hump was all but certain had breached the seventh rank.