Chapter 61 - No Free Lunch

Hump woke to banging on his door. “What is it?”

“Sergeant Fredricks is here,” Bud said. “You should come down.”

Hump groaned. “Okay, I’ll be right out.”

Sitting up, Hump rubbed his eyes, his head pounding. After they’d returned from the lighthouse in the morning, he gave the others a briefing on his meeting with Vivienne before the three of them had gone to sleep. Judging from how tired he felt, he guessed that hadn’t been very long ago.

He threw on his clothes and headed downstairs, where he met with Bud and Celaine along with Sergeant Fredricks. They were standing near the door, all of them appearing concerned.

“What happened?” Hump asked.

“Good afternoon, Wizard Hump,” Fredricks said. “So sorry to disturb you after last night, but Captain Winfrey believed it to be important.”

“They fished Albry out of the lake last night,” Celaine said.

“They didn’t fish him out,” Bud snapped. “Some fisherman found him floating unconscious in the lake and helped him back to the shore.”

“I guess he really meant it when he said he’d get a cleansing,” Hump said. “Is he alive?”

“Oh yes,” Fredricks said excitedly. “Hestia spoke to him! Chose him, no less. To think, the goddess herself visited our town!”

“I’m a little confused though, sergeant,” Bud said. “Surely this is good news.”

“Very good news, sir. Only, Captain Winfrey’s worried he might not be right in the head after all his injuries and such. That’s why he had me come over.”

“Do you know why he thinks that?” Hump asked.

“Well that’s the thing you see, he’s saying that Hestia has given him a task,” Fredricks said. “To kill the witch—by that I mean Wizard Vivienne, no disrespect of course.”

“What do you think, Bud?” Hump asked. “Would a goddess want Vivienne killed?”

“Not unless she’s summoning spirits,” Bud said. “Which would really make her efforts last night rather pointless.”

“So either he’s Chosen, or he’s mad priest,” Celaine said.

“Has he caused any trouble?” Bud asked.

“He’s tried alright,” Fredricks said. “There was a big crowd down by the docks this morning, all riled up and ready to storm the lighthouse. The captain managed to break things up before they got out of hand, but Mayor Arnold’s concerned. Priest Albry is a powerful voice in the town, and if the goddess herself has granted her blessing… Well, who are we to judge?”

“Let’s not go jumping to conclusions, sergeant,” Bud said. “The trauma Albry’s been through in the last day is enough to send anyone raving.”

“Absolutely, Sir. If I’m honest, not even the rest of the church seem convinced. They’ve been praying for him, they have—no answer so far. Captain Winfrey’s hoping you might have your own ways of looking. We have Priest Albry secured in the church. I’ll take him to you if you don’t mind.”

“Thank you, sergeant,” Bud said.

Best we deal with this quickly if you ask me. It doesn’t feel right imprisoning a priest, I was half expecting someone to smite me on the way over.”

“Hopefully they’ll hold off on the lightning bolts a moment longer,” Hump said, already heading back up the stairs. “I should probably get my staff.”

“Some shoes might be a good idea too,” Celaine said.

Hump glanced down at his bare feet and nodded. “And some shoes.”

***

Hestia’s church faced the great lake. At the front was a stained-glass window that let in the afternoon sun, flooding the sanctuary with a mosaic of wavy blue lights that made Hump feel as if he were peering through water. It was a beautiful small building, made of old stone and heart that not even Hump could deny.

Sergeant Fredricks led them down the aisle, past several priests and townsfolk that had come to pray for their high priest, and through a door that led to the living quarters. Down the corridor, another guard was waiting for them, along with Captain Winfrey.

“Thank you for coming,” he said. “I assume Fredricks has briefed you?”

“He has,” Bud said. “We’d be happy to assist in any way we can.”

Winfrey nodded. “Albry’s in his chambers. He’s taken all this strangely well, which knowing the man, is all the more unusual. Though I supposed both a brush with death and meeting a goddess would do that to a person.”

“Has a doctor seen him yet?” Hump asked.

“The physician’s been and gone,” Winfrey said. “She expects Albry to make a full recovery.”

“Understood,” Bud said. “We’ll know more once we’ve spoken to him, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course,” Winfrey said. “Would it be alright for me to be present?”

“Of course, captain,” Bud said. “I’d appreciate your perspective as someone that knows Priest Albry.”

“You have it. Do you have a way to know if he was Chosen? I’ll admit to a little apprehension about confining a high priest to his chambers. Doubly so if he’s truly Chosen.”

“I have no way to force someone,” Bud said. “Perhaps a Chosen of the fourth circle or higher might be able to sense it, but such a skill is beyond me.”

“I might have something,” Hump said. “I can’t check if he’s Chosen—to do that I’d need to somehow gain access to his soul, which for one thing is highly illegal, but more importantly it’s far and beyond my ability. I can however use Magic Eye to check for any negative afflictions, which could highlight a magical cause for his symptoms.”

“What about checking if his soul has recovered?” Celaine said. “He didn’t receive any treatment, and Wizard Vivienne said such damage takes months to heal. If Hestia really spoke to him, that damage should be gone.”

Hump scratched his chin, mulling it over. “I don’t know any spells that can directly identify damage to the soul, however damage to the soul should be visible in the body. The effects of soul damage are similar to essence overuse. I’d expect Albry to be suffering from chills, he’d be cold to the touch, and lack much of his normal strength.” He frowned. “Actually, I’d have expected the physician to mention all of these things.”

“You think he might be telling the truth?” Celaine asked.

“It’s possible,” Hump said.

“You best behave then,” Bud said. “Hestia really might smite you down if you’re rude to one of her Chosen.”

“I’ve managed seventeen years without a smiting,” Hump said. “I think I can handle talking to one high priest.”

Inside, Albry knelt on the stone floor, facing the door, his eyes closed and praying. The room was small, with barely enough room for a single bed and a small table and chair against the wall. On the table was a book of scripture and a statue Hump assumed was of Hestia. It depicted her with long, tangled hair that ran down to her feet, almost like knotted rope.

Albry opened his eyes and smiled. “Welcome, Lord Robert. I was hoping for your visit today. I only wish it were under better circumstances.”

“As do I, Priest Albry,” Bud said. “Though I’m pleased to see you’re looking well.”

“You do not do it justice,” Albry said. “I feel twenty years younger, as if fresh life has been breathed into me. I suppose, in a way it has.”

“Captain Winfrey tells us you’ve been Chosen,” Bud said. “And if that’s the case, I must offer you my congratulations, brother.”

Albry’s smile widened. “It is indeed the case. She came to me last night and drew me to her shores. She was there when I needed her most, and now I am hers to do with as she pleases.”

“Would you show us?” Bud asked. “I mean no disrespect in asking, however you must understand that after all you went through last night…”

“You need to know if I’m sane.” Albry barked a laugh. “There is no need to blunt your words with me. I have been a priest for forty years, I know madness when I see it.”

“My apologies,” Bud said. “That is precisely right. Your soul was wounded last night, and we need to know that you are really Chosen, and that this is not some symptom of an underlying condition. Would you withdraw your first circle and present your blessing to us?”

Albry sighed. “I wish I could help you, but I need no approval other than that of Hestia’s.”

“We cannot move forward without proof that you are Chosen,” Bud said.

“The answer is no,” Albry interrupted. “I will not prove myself to you. Whether you work with me or not, it is up to you. I have my instructions, and I will not be swayed from them.”

“To kill Vivienne,” Hump said.

“To protect this town!” Albry retorted. “To slay the witch that has unleashed this evil on us and cleanse the land of her dark magic.”

“Why do you believe Vivienne to be the culprit?” Hump asked.

“Why?” Albry chuckled. “Because Hestia says it is so! Who are we to question the words of a god? You are nothing, wizard. It is your very nature to toy with dark forces far beyond the grasp of mortals, yet you are still beneath their notice, too small a flame to even bother squashing out.”

“Well thank the gods for that,” Hump said sarcastically. “It’s when they start trying to squash me that you have to warn me, okay? That’s when I’ll be worried.”

“Your lack of respect earns you no favours,” Albry said. “The gods judge us all in the end, you would be wise to watch your words. Continue like this and you may find your head on the chopping block beside that witch’s.”

“That won’t happen,” Hump said. “Even if you want it to happen, you can do nothing to Wizard Vivienne. She is not some newly Chosen fool of a priest, but a wizard that has trained all her life.”

Albry scoffed. “It is nothing in the face of the gods.”

Hump sneered at him. “Enough of this. Bud, I think the route of reason has expired. I’m going to try this my way.”

Albry’s eyes snapped to Bud. “What? What way? Robert! Do not let this wizard manipulate you.”

“He’s just going to run a simple test,” Bud said. “You won’t even notice it.”

“It’s a spell called Magic Eye,” Hump said, taking out the bundle of herbs from his bag. “You don’t need to worry, the spell is completely non-invasive. All it does is allow me to see essence. I’ll be able to tell if you’ve been afflicted with anything.”

“You will not!” Albry cried.

“Francis, just let him try it,” Winfrey said. “We need to make sure you’re healthy.”

“I have agreed to your confinement,” Albry growled. “I have seen a physician who confirmed that I am healthy. I will not be subjected to the dark magic of some filthy wizard!”

“Hey! I object to that. I bathed just yesterday.”

“You will not touch me.” Albry rose to his feet, storming forward, intent on Hump. Bud stepped in his way, holding him back. “You will not look at me with your filthy magic. I am a High Priest of the Pantheon. A Chosen of Hestia. I will not be gawked at like some prize pig.”

“I don’t see you winning prizes.” Hump chuckled. He held up the bundle of herbs and muttered, “Spark.”

Smoke billowed from them, and Hump breathed it in. Hump’s head became light, his mind clouded, and the world came alight with trails of every colour—the winds of essence. His spell had stirred it, sending essence spiralling around the room in beautiful patterns, passing through people and objects as if they were empty air.

When he stared at Albry, he looked the same as everyone else. There was no mark of dark essence to him, no sign that anything was affecting him. He looked… normal. Magic Eye had no power to peer into the soul, but from the way Albry had been acting, and his strength, by all logic it seemed he was completely okay.

“He looks fine,” Hump said. “I… He might really be Chosen.”

“You!” Albry snarled. He charged at Hump, barrelling into Bud as he reached for him. This time he made the knight stumble, pushing him back a step. Bud grunted, and a faint shimmer of essence rose from his body, not enough to be visible to the naked eye but Hump could see it clearly.

Similar trails rose from Albry, shimmering between silver and blue. He reached out for Hump even as Bud held him in place, arms and hands stretching to their fullest, his eyes mad with fury. He was more than just angry, he wanted to tear Hump’s head off.

“Priest Albry,” Bud shouted, heaving the priest back. “You need to calm down.”

“Let me pass!” he roared. “Let me have him!”

Bud threw him back, sending the priest hurtling to the floor. He hit the ground hard but caught himself on all fours, staring up at them with a face full of fury.

“Enough!” Bud roared, channelling Heart of Frostfire. “This is not the behaviour of a Chosen or a High Priest. Control yourself.”

The room turned cold. Hump stepped back, and the fight seemed to leave Albry’s eyes.

“Leave me,” Albry growled, pushing himself to his feet. “I will speak to you no further.”

They left the room after that and closed the door behind them.

“Did you get anything?” Bud asked.

Hump nodded. “Firstly, he’s got quite the temper on him. I wonder if that’s a symptom or if it’s something he always had. Either way, it was very helpful.”

“He’s always been like that,” Winfrey said, then frowned. “How was his outburst helpful?”

“The soul responds to emotion,” Hump said. “Anger makes it flare up, and one’s essence responds with it. It was because of that Albry was able to push Bud back a step.”

“He was channelling essence?” Bud asked.

“Yes. It was both silver and blue, though I do not know what type of essence that is. That could simply be the colour of Hestia’s domain.”

“You sound like you believe him,” Celaine said.

Hump shrugged. “By all accounts, his soul seems to be healed. He shouldn’t have that strength or vigour if that wasn’t the case. I saw no signs of affliction, and he even gave off essence. It seems likely, though why any god would choose him is beyond me. Priestess Elowen would have been a far better choice.”

“We cannot imprison a Chosen,” Winfrey said. “That will bring disaster upon our town.”

Bud rubbed a hand over his face. “Well we can’t let him out, at least not tonight. Can you hold him here until tomorrow? That will give Wizard Vivienne a chance to deal with the next wave of spirits without worry.”

“Lord Robert, I don’t feel comfortable with this,” Winfrey said. “It is not for us to question the gods and their intentions. We should not hold him.”

“One night, captain,” Bud said. “Chosen or not, it was a traumatic experience. It’s as much for his own health as it is for anyone else.”

Winfrey looked at him with a frown. “I’ll have to speak with Arnold. This isn’t a decision I can make alone.”

“Very well,” Bud said. “Tell him he can lay the responsibility of the decision on me. If there are any repercussions, they will be mine alone.”

“Understood.”

“Thank you, captain.”

“I best get to it,” Winfrey said. “Do you need anything else from me?”

“One thing,” Hump said. “I’ll be setting up a defensive formation in the inn. Direct people there if they spot any spirits, and I should be able to keep them safe.

Winfrey nodded. “I’ll do that.”

***

The night was short compared to the one prior. The spirits came and went in a couple of hours, and at least as far as Hump could tell, none had managed to slip past Vivienne’s beacon.

His own formation was far less clever. It was a basic defensive veil, designed to hide the presence of people inside rather than physically block the spirits from entering. Hump had already seen they were effective against his shield—force wasn’t going to do the job, so he intended to trick them. The runes would store enough essence to last for a few hours, but without a wizard to provide them essence it would run dry in less than a night.

When afternoon came, they met with Vivienne inside her lighthouse. She’d asked to speak with Hump, Bud, and Celaine together, along with her apprentice Dylan. They were seated in the now rearranged living quarters where the clergy had previously rested. There was no tea, but a pitcher of water with lemon had been set on the table with five glasses, which Hump took as a good sign.

“I think formal introductions are in order,” Vivienne said. “As I’m sure Hump has informed you, I am Wizard Vivienne Sharone, a Rank 5 wizard and a specialist in Chosen studies. This is Dylan, my apprentice. He is a third circle druid of Krioc.”

“It’s good to see you all again,” Dylan said. “While my life has taken a bit of an unexpected turn, I’m a woodsman by trade. There’s no need to stand on formalities with me.”

Bud introduced himself and Celaine.

“Oh, a Blackthorne boy,” Vivienne said. “I met a Druse Blackthorne once; is he a relative by chance?”

“My uncle,” Bud said. “I’m afraid to say he passed away a few years ago.”

“My sympathies,” she said. “Celaine, I’d be very interested to hear more about your homeland when we have time. I’ve heard of Lady Owalyn and would be intrigued to learn more. For now, we must speak business.”

“What type of business?” Hump asked. “It sounds like you intend to have us stay.”

“Indeed I do,” Vivienne said. “You must understand something though. I do not have time for three children. What I do have is a need for three adventurers. Fishers Lake is plagued by attacks, and they are getting worse by the month. That is my priority. I am willing to train you—all three of you—if you are willing to work with me to uncover the cause of this infestation.”

“I’m not quite sure what to say,” Bud said. “I didn’t come here expecting training. My training in the past has only ever been done by Chosen.”

“Master Vivienne researches the formation of circles and how they give our souls structure,” Dylan explained. “She’s helped me come a long way in mastering my own blessings and my control over my soul.”

“None of my teachings will infringe upon the restrictions the gods place on their Chosen,” Vivienne said. “This is no favour, Robert. My training is for the purpose of making you all as useful as I can. There will be no free lunches. And make no mistake, this quest will be dangerous. Whatever these spirits are, I fear they are just the start of something greater. Before we even begin training, I need to ensure that you are worth the effort.”

“You mean to test us?” Hump asked.

“Yes. Make your choice. Either leave now and I will seek the assistance of another group of adventurers, or take up my offer.”

Hump glanced at his companions, who gave him a nod. He looked back at Vivienne. “We’re in. When do the tests begin?”

“Perfect.” Vivienne smiled. “There is no time to waste. The tests begin now.”