AA3 22 - Words & Warnings (Patreon)

“Time to move. We’ve got a long walk ahead of us,” Ciaran called out once Verdan had finished his rounds. “Stay together and stick with the group. We’ll be getting you all a hot meal before you know it.”

Verdan had dismissed his light spell when they reached the surface, but he recast a weaker version of it when he saw how the dimming light was affecting the rescued villagers. 

More than one of them relaxed as the light played over the group, but a few still looked out uncertainly into the shadowy woods they were walking into. 

As much as he wanted to, there was little Verdan could do about that. 

“Wizard Blacke, I hope you weren’t injured in the fighting,” Padraig said, approaching Verdan as they trekked back the way they’d come.

“No, I’m fine. Thank you for the concern, though.”

Padraig nodded, and the two of them walked on in silence for a short while before he spoke again. “Thank you for seeing to the wounded, and thank you for the enchantment to my weapon. It faded during the fight with the Thralls, but it helped me keep my people alive.”

“I’m glad I could assist,” Verdan said, glad that his aid had been useful. He did have some questions, though, which he hoped Padraig could answer. “I’m from a distant place. We do not have any creatures like the Gormagyr or Thralls there. What are they?”

“Gormagyr are foul creatures,” Padraig said with clear distaste. “They raid and pillage everywhere they can, but they don’t seek wealth. The mad giants steal people, livestock, and anything and everything they can that lives. They conduct foul experiments within their lairs and forge their Thralls, making them from whatever they have on hand. In time, the creature will remake its servants, but at least for a while, it will be limited to what it can do.”

“I see why you all reacted the way you did to its presence,” Verdan said, thinking back to some of the things he’d seen the Cyth do in the past. The Gormagyr felt similar to them, which made sense considering the Abyssal energy it had used.

“They are one of the more disgusting threats we face, that is for sure. The Keepers or the Chosen could tell you more. I am but a Thearn.”

“I heard you use that word before. I apologise if you feel I’m questioning you, but what does that mean?” 

“I do not mind the questions,” Padraig said with a shake of his head. “It speaks well that you are interested in our ways, but I would be wary of asking too many questions of the wrong people. We have struggled alone for a long time; not all will welcome you.” Padraig waited for a moment for Verdan to nod that he understood before continuing. “Thearns are the warriors of the Chosen. The Shieldguard tend to our homes and fortresses, while the Thearns and the Chosen take the fight to the foe. I am a Blade, a trusted warrior who leads in the place of the Chosen when needed.”

“I see. Thank you for explaining.” Verdan inwardly adjusted how he’d been viewing some of the interactions he’d encountered so far. 

Verdan had thought that the Keeper was in charge, but it sounded more like both Sebastian and his son were in charge of their respective sections.

“It was my pleasure,” Padraig said, giving Verdan a respectful nod before stepping away. “I need to check in with the others. Thank you again for your aid.”

Verdan nodded as the Kranjir picked up the pace and diverted across to one of the other nearby warriors. 

Turning his thoughts to his own responsibilities, Verdan moved over to walk next to Dirk and Barb. Dirk looked like he was still riding the high of a successful fight and was quick to start talking about the progress he’d made in his shielding spell.

Verdan humoured his young apprentice, listening carefully as he recounted his part in the fight. Dirk had seen death and battle before, but this was his first time fighting and winning for a noble cause, and it showed.

Verdan wished that he could feel as proud over the battle, but the unavoidable issue was that the Gormagyr had escaped.

Now that he knew what such a creature could do, that fact was eating away at him.

Still, he was proud of how Dirk had performed, and he made sure to offer a few tips on how Dirk could better visualise his spell.

Verdan shared an amused look with Barb as Dirk eagerly devoured all the knowledge he gave him. He could tell that she was fond of his apprentice, and his smile slipped away as he gave her a thankful nod.

Verdan was sure that Barb had worked tirelessly to make sure that Dirk stayed safe. 

“So when do you think I can learn my next Word?” Dirk asked, bringing Verdan’s attention back to his apprentice. “I can create shields now, so I want to add something else in.”

“Anything you have in mind?” Verdan asked, going over the Words of Power that he knew. A modifier, like Grym, was out of the question. Dirk simply lacked the Aether for it. One of the more fundamental Words was possible, though.

“I want something different,” Dirk said, his brow furrowing as he seemed to search for the right words. “Something that I can touch and is more solid than air.”

“I see,” Verdan said, thinking of a few likely candidates. Scooping a pebble and some dirt from the ground, Verdan rested it all in his hand. “Drea. Garreg. Garec.”

The dirt compacted together before the pebble broke apart, and then it all reformed into a slightly larger pebble.

“That one, Garec,” Dirk said, his eyes lighting up as he tried his best to replicate the word.

“Garec,” Verdan repeated the word, causing a part of the pebble to break apart. “It means rock. It is the sum of all the things within this pebble, not just the stone. You can command them all with it, but it is a general word, so it is best in generalities.”

“Certainly more solid,” Barb murmured with a smile, making Dirk laugh as Verdan rolled his eyes.

Already, Verdan could see his apprentice rolling the word around in his mind, mouthing it to feel the shape of it. 

Passing the pebble over to Dirk, Verdan left his apprentice to his thoughts.

-**-

It took much longer for them to return than to leave, but thankfully, the shining light Verdan provided had made sure that any unwanted guests had stayed well away.

The relief of the villagers they’d rescued was evident when they caught sight of the outpost the caravan was resting in, and as soon as they were through the gates, they were taken away to be fed and looked after.

“Verdan,” Ciaran said, coming over to him while Jarn put Padraig in charge of seeing to the Thearns who’d come with them. “Thank you for your aid today. You saved lives by accompanying us, and I won’t forget that.”

“Would you have gone in after it if I hadn’t been there to light the way?” Verdan asked, holding up a hand and quickly continuing at Ciaran’s angry frown. “I mean no offence. I’m simply trying to understand.”

“We would have gone in, and we would have done what was needed,” Ciaran said stiffly, lifting his chin defiantly as if daring Verdan to argue.

“Those villagers are not part of the Clans, though. Correct?” Verdan waited until Ciaran reluctantly nodded before pushing on. “Would all Chosen have acted the same way?”

“Perhaps not,” Ciaran grudgingly admitted after a moment. “It is the responsibility of a Chosen to act in what they believed to be the best way.”

“You sound as though you disagree with how the other Chosen act,” Verdan said neutrally, wanting to draw out as much information as he could.

A muscle in Ciaran’s jaw visibly flexed before the Chosen let out an uneven breath and fixed Verdan with a hard stare. “The Chosen of Clan Thrain know our duty, and we know who our true enemies are.”

Verdan nodded, hearing the implicit warning in Ciaran’s words. “Then I am glad to be travelling with Clan Thrain. Please do not mistake me. I would have gone down there alone if needed, so your attitude is one I share.”

“I see,” Ciaran said after a short pause. “I may have misjudged both you and the Sorcerer. We have had Southerners try to bribe us in the past, but they would never have fought a Gormagyr.”

“No, I very much doubt it,” Verdan said bitterly, thinking back to how little honour and care the majority of Sorcerers had shown so far.

“I’m not politically minded, Wizard, so I will speak bluntly,” Ciaran said, rubbing the bridge of his nose for a moment before continuing. “My advice is to keep to yourself when we arrive and then head home with your apprentice when the time comes. Doing anything more than that will be more trouble than it is worth.”

“I thank you for the advice and the spirit with which it was given,” Verdan said with a tight smile. 

“But you won’t take it, will you,” Ciaran said flatly, shaking his head before Verdan could respond. “If anyone tries to kill you, I’ll step in. I owe you that much from today, but you’re on your own for the rest.”

Verdan watched Ciaran walk away with mixed feelings. On the one hand, he was learning more and more about what he’d be facing. On the other, though, he was getting less confident that all this would turn out well.

Ciaran seemed honourable and dedicated to his people. Verdan couldn’t fault him, and he found himself liking the blunt Chosen, but his hopes of all the other Chosen being so agreeable were gone.

“That seemed to go sort of well,” Kai said, coming over to join Verdan with only a slightly pained expression.

“I think it did, actually,” Verdan said softly before turning and muttering out a fresh healing spell for Kai. “They keep warning me about not pushing things, which makes me feel that they think there is something I’ll react to. What exactly that is, I don’t know yet.”

Kai snorted, wincing a little as he let out a dry laugh. “They should know better than to warn someone like you away from something. It just makes you more likely to want to investigate.”

Verdan gave Kai a mock-indignant look before chuckling. He couldn’t really argue against a statement like that.

Not when it was so true.