“Marvin,” Trey whispered as they rounded a corner. “It can’t be true. I’ve been inside her mind. Dana is not running around killing people.”
“I don’t know what to tell you,” Marvin replied. “Let’s make sure we find Dana first.”
They heard shouting up ahead, sending them into a jog. Approaching Guardian’s Keep, it was clear to Trey that something was wrong. Lora, a guardian in his class, was on the ground with Lizzie and Nico kneeling beside her.
“What happened?” Trey asked.
“Someone just attacked Lora!” Lizzie exclaimed.
“Did you see who it was?”
Lizzie blinked. “Uh, no. I just saw some fire magic.” She looked back at Lora’s unconscious form. “We need a healer.”
Trey groaned, hoping that somehow Dana wasn’t behind the attack. Looking up, he saw Bree running over to them. “We need Eva,” he barked over his shoulder, to either Marivn or Nora.
“She’s been taken,” a voice responded, sending chills down his spine. “Eva has been taken by Dana.”
Trey whirled around to face the Grand Oracle. He was limping and clutching a bulky bandage on his left shoulder. Professor Leek and Professor Mullens flanked either side of him.
“Dana?” Bree said, joining the group. “What about Dana?”
“Dana and Makorra were just visiting me,” the Grand Oracle said. “Let’s just say they made quite a mess in my office. And they’ve kidnapped my prized student.”
Bree glanced up at the Spire where smoke was still billowing from the windows. “No,” she said, slowly shaking her head. “That’s not possible. There’s no way Dana is involved.”
He sighed. “It was difficult for me to believe, too.”
Bree gave her head a quick but vigorous shake as she struggled to wake up to reality. “It doesn’t make any sense.” She peered over at Trey as if begging him to offer any insight.
A groan coming from Lora caught everyone’s attention. The headmaster knelt by her side. “Professor Mullens, this student needs a healer immediately. Could you take these two guardians and see to it?” He gestured at Lizzie and Nico.
The water magic professor nodded and moved to fulfill the order.
The Grand Oracle then caught sight of Jeffers. “You’re a mess.”
“We took care of half the problem,” the head guardian replied. “Professor Kalo had Makorra just about cornered, but was generous enough to let me exact my revenge.”
Suddenly, the door to Guardian’s Keep creaked open and Jakob appeared, looking ghostly pale. The group moved toward him with eager anticipation, as his timid shuffling did little to alleviate the mounting tension in the air.
“I have a message… from her,” he said, his voice quivering. “She will release the healer once she is safely out of Greshelm. Any attempts to stop her will result in the healer’s immediate… execution. If you… you… sorry.”
“If we don’t leave the area in ten minutes,” the Grand Oracle continued, not bothering to hold back his mind magic, “she’ll start killing people. She has two guardians and three forge apprentices as hostages, as well as Eva.”
“Does she have a Mindgaurd?” Marvin asked.
Several pairs of eyes fell upon Jakob. “I don’t know what that is,” he replied timidly.
“They both had Mindguards when they came for me,” the Grand Oracle responded, providing at least a mostly complete answer.
“Let me go talk to her,” Bree offered. “I can get her to stand down.”
The Grand Oracle took a deep breath. He scanned his campus, searching for a solution that wasn’t there. Finally, he nodded.
Bree exhaled, then looked at Jakob. “Where are they?”
“Uh… the forge,” he answered. “Straight through the main room.”
With a determined first step, Bree marched to the door. After only one look back, she slipped into the keep.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Then a crash sent a jostle through everyone. Several sounds emanated from within the keep, announcing that diplomacy had failed. Trey was two steps into his rescue mission when Marvin’s hand grabbed his shoulder. “She’ll be fine,” he said in a hoarse whisper.
Indeed, Bree came stumbling out a moment later, smoke trailing her robes. She rushed over to the group, her eyes angled down as she fought back tears. “She killed him! Right in front of me. I can’t believe…”
“She killed someone?” the Grand Oracle asked.
Bree gritted her teeth and nodded. “One of the hostages. Our chat didn’t go well.”
“Who?” he asked.
“I think it was one of the forge apprentices.”
Jeffers put a hand on Jakob’s shoulder. “Frye and Karl should be in the Arc. Or they might’ve been called over to the Spire. Go tell them to gather as many guardians as they can and report to me.”
The Grand Oracle cursed and took a step back. With closed eyes, he entered a delicate meditative state.
“I hate to say it,” Marvin said, “but I think I should go in there, perhaps with Jeffers if he’s up for it, and take her down.”
Bree made her dissatisfaction with the idea known with an angry grunt.
Jeffers took Bree’s side, though for different reasons. “Going in there with hot magic almost certainly guarantees Eva dies.”
Marvin scoffed. “And you think Eva survives if we let her go?”
“We still don’t understand Dana’s motives,” Bree argued. “There’s a chance she lets her go.”
Gordon rejoined the group, concern etched on his face. “Eva dies if we let Dana go.”
“I should also mention,” Bree said, becoming more desperate, “that it seemed like Dana was listening to someone. Like she wasn’t in charge.”
A couple of gasps could be heard followed by a string of conversations.
“Did you see anyone else?” Marvin asked.
“Could there be a third accomplice?” Jeffers added.
“What did you hear?” Gordon piled on.
“It was weird,” Bree replied, trying not to get overwhelmed. “I didn’t see anyone. I didn’t hear any words. The forge was too noisy.”Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“What made you think she was listening to someone?” Gordon asked.
“Oh, fuck,” Marvin said to no one in particular while shaking his head at the ground.
“Do you have something to share?” Gordon asked with his eyebrows raised.
Marvin exhaled, lifting his gaze. “I’m sorry,” he said solemnly, though once again, to no one in particular.
Gordon glowered at his dark magic professor. “Marvin—”
“Nora,” Marvin interrupted, “did your father have anything with him when he visited campus?”
Nora, who had been mainly a spectator up to that point, was taken aback. “He had his bag with him?”
“Did you notice him take anything out of it?”
Nora grimaced. “Not that I remember.”
“What are you getting at Marvin?” Gordon asked.
“Just a second,” Marvin replied. “Calvin, could a Soul Mirror command a blood-bound slave?”
Calvin bristled at being called out. “Why would you ask such a question?”
“Dammit Calvin,” Marvin said. “Answer the question.”
Calvin looked around nervously before answering. “I suppose it could, but it would not be sufficient to keep the binding alive. If you are suggesting the Verdant girl is being compelled by Grimmault, then you are suggesting he is still alive.”
The declaration from the artificing professor sent a shiver through all those who heard it, except one. Marvin bit his lip as he glanced around.
“This is much more serious than an incursion on Windrake,” Gordon said with a shudder. “If this is true, then we must prepare for Grimmault’s uprising.”
“No,” Marvin stated firmly. “Grimmault is dead.”
“How can you be so sure?” Gordon asked and extended his good arm. “The evidence is in there holding six—fuck, five—hostages!”
Bolstered by the headmaster’s skepticism, Calvin doubled down. “The Soul Mirror is not enough,” he insisted. “Grimmault would have to be alive.”
“You’re forgetting about the Inheritance Clause,” Marvin said.
“Nonsense,” Calvin countered. “That would imply Grimmault had an heir.”
Marvin’s frown deepened.
Gordon, who was more familiar with Marvin’s enigmatic nature, leaned in closer. “Are you saying that Grimmault had a child?” Before Marvin could answer, realization flashed in the Grand Oracle’s eyes and his piercing gaze fell onto Trey.
That was the only warning Trey received before his mind exploded. An invisible, mental force hit him from all sides, trying to prod its way into his brain. Trey resisted, and after a moment, the attack subsided.
“Marvin!” Gordon shouted, pointing a finger. “Who is that?!”
“It seems you already know,” Marvin replied with a scowl.
“I can’t believe you!” Gordon sneered and raised his sabre. Both Bree and Marvin jumped in front of Trey, wands ready. Nora had a puzzled look on her face, but she nonetheless joined Trey’s side a moment later.
“Don’t do anything rash,” Marvin growled. “He’s your best chance at getting Eva back alive.”
Gordon’s eyes darted back and forth between the different players in the standoff before resting on the entrance to keep. He lowered his blade. “You’re going to send him in there?”
Marvin stood still in a moment of contemplation. “If he’s willing.” He turned his head and stared off into the distance. “I haven’t told him yet.”
Bree spun around to Marvin, inadvertently pointing her wand at him. “What?! He doesn’t know?!”
“I think I’ve known,” Trey interjected, his voice ladened with resignation. “At least, I think I figured it out over the past couple of weeks. Couldn’t convince myself to really think about it, though. I wanted to stay in denial. But the blood-binding? I didn''t make that connection until now. That''s a whole new level of horrifying.” He glared at Marvin, not bothering to hide his disgust. That secret might be unforgivable. He reflected back on what he thought was a beautiful night with Skye, suddenly fearing it was actually a nightmare lurking behind a dark veil.
“Trey,” Marvin started. “I’m sor—”
“He looks like her,” Gordon commented weakly, interrupting Marvin’s apology. A pained look had replaced the malice from earlier. He turned to Marvin. “...How?”
Marvin let out a long sigh. “I was there,” he revealed. “The night Grimmault was defeated.”
The group fell into a stunned silence. Gordon opened his mouth, but for once, nothing came out.
Marvin took a deep breath. “Grimmault had gathered his inner circle together to plan their second assault on Greshelm, convinced they had the strength to bring it down at last. What they failed to see was the plot unfolding right under their noses. A plot to end the Burning Covenant. They were complacent, believing the presence of a mind mage made betrayal impossible within their ranks…” A smile crept onto Marvin’s face. “...unless, of course, the mind mage was the one to betray them.”
Gordon’s eyes widened as he listened to Marvin’s tale. “Elena had stood by through the horrors of the war, even playing her part, but she had finally decided to put an end to it. You see, she had found a reason to make a stand. She didn’t want her son to grow up in the world Grimmault was creating.”
Marvin looked at Gordon with excitement. “The amount of willpower she commanded that night… it was terrifying. She must have manipulated at least half a dozen people at a time. Even with his Mindguard and his legendary magic, Grimmault was the first to fall. He put up a fight, but against a group of his hand-picked generals? Even he couldn’t beat those odds. The inner circle fell shortly after—except for Grimstone. He had brought his Mindguard that night, and slipped away.”
“What were you doing there?” Gordon asked.
“Someone owed me a favor,” Marvin replied. “Snuck me in. I provided some support, but my job was to keep the baby safe. Wasn’t too difficult, given Elena’s dominance.”
“So…” Gordon started, then hesitated. “Elena made it out?”
Marvin’s expression darkened. “We escaped the encampment before the alarm was raised, but… she knew the sacrifice she was making. She was never going to get to raise Trey. Grimmault had her poisoned. The remedy—which required his blood—was given to her every day. Once he was dead, she accepted her fate. She spent her last couple of days with Trey—in a world free from Grimmault’s tyranny.”
“But… you could’ve gotten more blood from Grimmault’s corpse!” Gordon stammered. “We had potion masters that could’ve figured it out. She might have lived!”
Marvin shook his head. “I tried. I promise I did. It wasn’t… what she wanted. She would’ve never been left alone. That’s not the life she saw for Trey. She didn’t want to burden him with their mistakes.” Marvin looked at Trey, a single tear escaping the corner of his eye. “I’m sorry you had to find out like this. Your mother was adamant that you would never find out. If she was here, I would hope she’d forgive me. There wasn’t much I could do once I figured out you had her mind magic as well as your father’s affinities.”
Trey exhaled, staring at the keep’s door to avoid making eye contact with anyone. He had listened, and he had felt just about every emotion he could’ve felt. All that was left was numbness. “I could take a lifetime to unpack everything I just heard,” he finally said, “but Dana and Eva need us now. Tell me what to do.”
“He needs armor,” Jeffers butted in.
“No time,” Trey responded, continuing to stare down Marvin.
Marvin closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. “It should be simple. Go in there and tell her to release Eva and come out peacefully. She’ll be receiving conflicting orders, but she should listen to yours.” Marvin peeked over at Calvin looking for any sign of confirmation. The short-statured man only gave a weak shrug.
Trey willed his feet forward, approaching the keep’s heavy door with as much focus as he could muster. He entered the keep and slinked stealthily over to the forge. He paused outside the entrance, listening for any clues about what he was about to walk into. Receiving nothing substantial, he stepped inside.
Once inside, he quickly spotted a group of hostages huddled together in the dim light supplied by the glowing hearth.
“No!” he heard. “Don’t send anyone else in! I have to kill another one.”
His eyes snapped to Dana, who was raising her wand. “Dana!” he shouted “Stop!”
She stopped, then looked at him in confusion.
“Release the hostages,” he ordered.
Her eyes widened with excitement as she leaned over and started fiddling with a chain. Trey heard a murmur in the background, giving him enough of a warning to dodge the Fire Bolt that streaked toward him. He channeled mana to redirect the next one before calling out to his attacker. “Stop! Do not listen to him. Only listen to me.”
The magic ceased and Trey continued. “Walk over to me. Do not listen to anything he says.”
Dana approached him, a cautious hope hiding behind the awe in her eyes.
“Stay here,” Trey ordered. “Only move when I tell you to.” He jogged over and released the chain holding five people together. Four of the hostages hurriedly rose, testing their regained freedom. Trey avoided looking at the fifth.
“Head out of the keep,” Trey instructed. “The headmaster is waiting outside. Tell him everything is under control, but do not send anyone else in.” He eyed Dana warily, hastily running scenarios in his head.
“Trey?”
He spun around to find Eva a few steps away. Sliding down next to her, he began working on her restraints. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” she replied, even as Trey spotted some scrapes and bruises. “Just tired of being used as a pawn.” Trey freed her, allowing her to lean over and check on Dana. “How did you do that? She has a Mindguard on.”
“It’s… complicated.”
Eva rolled her eyes. “Well, you''re involved, so that’s a given.” Then her face scrunched and her voice turned accusatory. “Wait, is Dana in your harem? How many girls are you—”
Trey let out an exasperated sigh. “Seriously? You want to talk about that right now? No, Dana is not in my harem.”
Eva opened her mouth, but she was interrupted by a third voice—a voice that sent a chill down Trey’s spine.
“I’ve always wondered what you would sound like.”