Chapter 403 - Reason

Sorry for the delay on this one. Ended up needing to do multiple rewrites to get something I was happy with. It's a chapter and a half in length though so I hope the long chapter makes up for it!

With the attempt on Hump’s life, every eye in the fishery was back on them. Workers kept their distance, seeming afraid to speak, while the groaning assassin writhed on the ground, his hands clamped over the wound in his abdomen. He wasn’t dying—Celaine had made sure of that. Her dagger had struck true but shallow, armour catching the blade before it could pierce too deeply and avoiding any vitals. Still, the man acted as though he were moments from the grave, his pained moans filling the quiet.

Wizard Ced, on the other hand, watched the scene unfold with an unreadable expression. Hump couldn’t decide if the man was more afraid of him, or just angry at how quickly his operation had crumbled.

Movement to the right caught Hump’s attention, as Mav rushed toward the twenty-odd children she had freed from the cellar. They were dirty, thin, and shaken, but alive. Their hollow stares darted nervously across the fishery as though expecting someone to drag them back into the dark at any moment. Some couldn’t be more than five years old.

Mav skidded to a halt in front of the group. “Where’s Amy? Did they take her?” he asked frantically, his voice rising.

A few of the kids answered. They didn’t know, only that she and a few others were gone.

“Who’s Amy?” Hump asked.

“My sister,” Mav said, worry in his voice.

Hump’s eyes narrowed, his focus shifting back to Ced. “Where did they take her?”

Ced shrugged, his face far too casual for Hump’s liking. “I don’t know. They came a few days ago and took some of the kids—”

“Before the attack on Elenvine?” Hump asked.

Ced nodded. “Yes. I didn’t ask questions.” He hesitated, suddenly looking smaller under Hump’s eyes, like a rat trying to get the blame off his own shoulders. “These guys… they’re not the kind you mess with, kid. I’ve got my own people to worry about, you know? It’s just business.”

Hump clenched his fists tightly. “Your own people?” he repeated quietly. “And what exactly are these kids to you, then? You’re a citizen of Elenvine aren’t you?”

“Ah, it weren’t so bad. They were feeding them, weren’t they? Giving ‘em a place to sleep.”

“And once the coin dried up, you were going to leave them to starve?” Celaine shook her head and tutted in disgust.

“What will they do to her?” Mav asked. “They won’t eat her soul, will they? You said they wouldn’t do it, Hump. She’ll be okay won’t she? It was my fault she was here. I wanted to come. I heard about the food and wanted to see if it was true. Then they didn’t let us leave. But there was a little window, she didn’t fit, but she helped me out and then… that was the last time I saw her.”

Hump’s expression softened as he watched the kid ramble. He could already guess the reason Amy had been taken. The attempt on his life had been rudimentary at best. Against a pre-soul manifested wizard, perhaps they would have succeeded, but their magic lacked subtlety—it had been like thunder in the rafters to Hump. Not to mention, he had a Huntress of Owalyn at his side to keep him safe from such things.

But Mav had noticed the attack quickly—too quickly if Hump had guessed right. It seemed that the instant Hump had sensed magic activate in the rafters, Mav had shouted. The logical explanation for that was that the kid might possess some magic. Perhaps Hump was overthinking it, but he would be far from the first street kid to possess such talent, and if one sibling possessed such a talent, his sister having potential made sense too.

“Your sister… did she sense magic like you?” Hump asked.

“I don’t sense magic!” Mav cut in quickly, his eyes darting around as if someone might accuse him of witchcraft.

“It’s okay, Mav,” Hump said gently. “Don’t worry. If your sister could sense it, then yes, that’s likely why they took her. They must have seen her potential.”

Mav swallowed hard. “Are they going to hurt her?”

Hump let out a breath, his expression softening. “No, I don’t think she will be physically harmed. But they might make her join them.”

Mav looked stricken, his fists trembling at his sides. “She’ll become a soul eater?”

“I’m sorry, Mav, but I simply don’t know. What I can do for you is speak with some of the people in command and begin forming a plan to get your sister and the other children they have taken back.”

“You’ll do that?” Mav’s eyes were intense. It was a hard look, one nobody as young as him should need to have, but the streets made you grow up fast.

Hump tried to meet Mav’s eyes with confidence. “Yes. I’ll speak with our commanders and do all I can to get them back. But understand, the forces we face attacked many cities across Alveron, Mav. I will try but be prepared for bad news.”

“Hump!” Celaine snapped.

“He needs to know,” Hump said. “False hope is what Chosen deal in. This is the real world, and I’m sure Mav’s seen enough of it to know when he’s being lied to.”

Mav’s eyes glistened but he did a small nod and drew a shaky breath. “Why are you helping us?” his voice was a croak. “Why do you care?”

Hump paused, considering the question. The truth came easier than he expected. “I grew up on these streets, but with some help, I managed to make a life for myself. Now that I have some coin, I don’t want my life to be dictated by it. I don’t want to horde it like some noble arsehole. I want to be the person that helps the kids like I once was.”

The words hung in the air, and Hump felt a little silly for them. Mav stared at him and Hump glanced away awkwardly, seeing Celaine smiling at him nearby.

Suddenly self-concious, Hump didn’t wait for a reply. He turned to Ced, who was shifting uncomfortably. “Call for someone to feed them. Now.”

Ced scowled but gestured at the same woman who had brought Hump and Celaine in earlier. “Take them to the kitchen. Give them whatever they want.”

The woman nodded quickly and led the way into another room.

“I’ll go with them,” Celaine said, following the woman. “Someone needs to keep an eye on things.” She turned back to Mav and the other kids. “You coming?”

They all seemed to hesitate. Mav glanced at Hump, who nodded, then he followed her, the rest going with him.

Mav might not like it, but Hump was sure he’d seen magic in him. That meant there was an opportunity. Hump wasn’t ready for an apprentice, he was too young, too lacking in general knowledge, and too caught up in this war against the warlocks. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t help the kid. If Mav stuck around, they’d talk about it. For now, there were bigger questions.

He turned back to Ced, the old wizard had stood, his arms crossed.

“I’m guessing this deal with the warlocks isn’t the only illegal activity you’ve got going on here,” Hump said. “What else have you been up to here?”

Ced’s glare sharpened, the remnants of his confidence hardening into something uglier. “Look kid, you’ve got the bloody kids. They’re getting food. Your lady friend ain’t here to see the big man at work, so eat the damn food and get out of my fishery. Leave me be.”

Hump chuckled without meaning to. “You think this is over?”

“What you gonna do, kill me? Let’s be real, kid. You might be strong, but you ain’t going to do a thing to me.” He thumbed at his chest, a rotten-tooth grin on his face. “I’ve seen your sorts too often. Too nice. You don’t got it in you to kill an old man like me in cold blood.”

Hump’s smile was slow, deliberate, and completely devoid of warmth. “Is that what you think? What if I told you there are some very upset Chosen on their way here?”

Ced’s cocky facade cracked. His brow furrowed, and he shook his head as if trying to convince himself. “You’re lying. You’re not with the Inquisition—I’d have heard if they’d taken on someone as young and powerful as you. And Chosen don’t get ordered around by wizards.”

Hump shrugged as though it didn’t matter. “They’re on their way. You’ll find out soon enough.”

Ced’s face paled, his confidence evaporating like mist in the sun. He dropped his gaze to the floor, silent and defeated.

“Who are you?” he muttered finally. “Why come here?”

“I told you,” Hump said, his tone hard. “I’m just a concerned citizen. Believe it or not, someone doesn’t need more reason than that to help starving children locked in a cellar.”

Ced didn’t argue. He looked beaten, in more ways than one.

“Who was the assassin?” Hump pressed.

Ced scowled. For a few seconds, Hump thought the man wouldn’t answer. “One of mine. Keeps watch, handles trouble. That’s all.”

“Any more of your ‘guys’ out there?” Hump asked.

Ced shook his head, defeated. “No. There’s nobody else.”

Hump watched Ced deflate even further, his shoulders slumping. It didn’t more pressure for the man to spill the rest. The assassin was one of several hired thugs Ced used to manage his operations. He was an opportunist—the deal with the warlocks had been a recent thing. A bit of coin on the side. He’d made his business smuggling drugs into the city using fishing routes, concealing the merchandise at the bottom of ice crates to avoid detection.

Hump listened, his expression carefully blank, but inside, his anger simmered. This man didn’t care who suffered, so long as he profited. Hump couldn’t change that—but he could make sure Ced answered for it.

It wasn’t long before Bud arrived, and he didn’t come alone. Chosen and guards moved through the streets, marching in full armour and drawing a crowd with them. Shouts and murmuring filled the air as the crowd swelled behind them like a wave. Word seemed to spread—there were Chosen on the streets, and Elenvine’s people were drawn to the spectacle like moths to the flame. They were a mob. The air buzzed with excitement and tension, the crowd pressing into the market beyond the fishery to get a better look. A few bold voices rang out above the murmuring.

“Warlock!” someone shouted.

“Soul eaters! They’ve eaten the children,” another cried.

Ced tried to stand, and Hump gripped him by the shoulder and pressed him back down to the ground with enough strength to surprise the man. Physically, there were very few wizards that could match Hump now.

“Best you stay here,” Hump said. “They’re here for you after all.”

The crowd surged with anger, and within moments, the fishery workers, those unfortunate enough to have wandered outside, found themselves the focus of the rage. Stones pelted the ground nearby. Hump raised a Shield overhead as one crashed close to him and Celaine. He heard a glass bottle smash to his right and frowned.

He didn’t like mobs. How had they even found out? Or did they simply follow the Chosen?

“They’re all in on it!” a woman yelled, her face red with fury. “Bastards!” She screamed, throwing a burning lantern to the fishery.

Before things could escalate, a sharp, commanding voice cut through the noise like a blade. “That’s enough!”

A blessing filled the air, suppressing the flame and drawing all eyes toward a figure amongst the Chosen as he stepped forward. He was a man of middling height but with a presence that filled the street. His salt and pepper hair was cropped close to his skull, and his eyes swept the crowd with a gaze that could freeze fire.

Definitely a Chosen of Kelisia, Hump thought.

The armour he wore was polished and with a blue sheen, though it lacked the embellishment common on the armour of nobles.

“Back to your homes!” the captain barked. “All of you! This is a city matter now. Anyone caught throwing so much as a pebble will answer to me directly. Understood?”

The threat wasn’t subtle, but it worked. The crowd grumbled but quietened down, though few returned to their homes. Instead, most watched from a safer distance. Hump watched as the man entered the fishery, ordering his men inside too.

The city watch poured through the warehouse entrance, their armour clanking and weapons ready. The captain followed close behind, wrinkling his nose in disgust, either at the smell of fish or the people within. His glare swept across the room, falling on workers frozen in place, afraid to move.

“Everyone, step away from what you’re doing,” the captain ordered. “Against the walls. You—yes, you—move it!” His tone left no room for disobedience, and his guards even less.

The workers shuffled into a nervous line, muttering to themselves as the guards herded them into place. The captain scanned the room brisky, his gaze locking on Hump. Hump smiled back, having not moved an inch, standing calmly beside Ced.

The captain’s brow furrowed, his irritation flaring. He glanced at Ced, who was still on his knees, and the injured assassin. “You deaf, boy? I said move.”

Hump frowned at the man, confused at his tone. “I’m not with them.”

The captain’s face darkened. “I don’t care who you are. Get in line!”

Before Hump could answer, Bud stepped in. “That is Wizard Humphrey, Captain. He was the one that informed me of all this.”

The captain’s hard eyes flicked to Bud, then back to Hump, narrowing slightly as he scrutinised him. “I see. We will need to speak, wizard. Don’t leave until I’m done here.”

Hump’s face twitch. He tried to suppress his annoyance, but this was the arrogance he was used to from Chosen. Once, he had been used to it, but not anymore. “I did you a favour here.”

The captain didn’t flinch. He stared at Hump, his gaze like flint. “A favour from a wizard is much like coin from a banker—they never come free.”

Hump turned to Bud. “Who is this guy?”

“Sir Garret Hurst,” Bud said. “Knight of Kelisia. And Captain, please remember this is my friend and party leader. When he says that he has done you a favour, he speaks truth.”

The man drew a deep breath. “If my brother in Kelisia vouches for you, then I must apologise for my curtness. Would you brief me on the situation.”

Hump decided to let the situation go and reported what had happened.

“What will happen to these kids?” Hump asked, showing the man into the kitchen.

“They will be provided for,” the captain assured. “We’ve established dorms for the victims of these warlocks. A place where they can be safe and observed. Now if you excuse me, I must speak with this wizard.”

Wizard Ced was afraid now. A lone wizard, even one as powerful as Hump, was dangerous but what Ced had said was true—Hump didn’t have it in him to kill the man in cold blood. But a Knight of Kelisia… now that was a different matter entirely. As the man moved away, Bud stepped closer.

“What are you doing here without the rest of us anyway?” Bud asked quietly. “It’s not like you not to include us.”

“That wasn’t the intention,” Hump said. “Celaine wanted to look around for that bakery I mentioned, and the idea just came to mind.”

“I had fun,” Celaine said, smiling at him. “You did a good thing, Hump.”

Bud frowned, looking between the two of them. “Well… next time include me. It could have been dangerous.”

Celaine laughed. “Bud, Hump and I made it through the Fallen Lands to Drakalyn on our own. You think anything here is a danger to us?”

“You’ve been to the Fallen Lands?” came a voice behind them.

Hump turned to find Mav poking his head out of the kitchen door, a slab of meat in his hand.

“Nobody tell you that eavesdropping was rude?” Hump asked.

Mav shook his head. “Nope. I’m not going to those dorms by the way. You said we’d speak, so speak. What happens now?”

“You’ve made a friend,” Bud said with a grin.

“Who are you?” Mav asked.

“I’m Bud of Blackthorne, Knight of Kelisia. And who might you be my young friend?”

“I’m Mav of… just Mav. And we’re not friends.”

Bud turned a bewildered gaze to Hump, his brow raised.

Hump smiled. “Mav and his sister were taken in by the warlocks. It seems his sister was one of the children that they took with them before the attack. Mav seems to possess some talent with essence, so I suspect his sister was taken for her potential.”

“I see,” Bud said. “And what do you intend to do with him?”

Hump hadn’t thought that far ahead. He’d already decided that he couldn’t stay with Emilia’s family any longer, not when he might be hunted for the Book of Infinite Pages. And moving from inn to inn at a moment’s notice didn’t seem like something to drag a kid into.

You think Emilia’s family will add them to their disciples for a bit? See if he’s got potential?”

“Quite likely,” Bud said. “The Rikes care little for a person’s background. And if not, he can be my squire!”

“I don’t want to be a squire to some prancy knight. Or some stupid disciple. I just want my sister back.”

“You leave that for us to handle,” Hump said. “In the meantime, I can find you a place with warm food, a clean bed, and no bloody soul eaters around. It also won’t smell like fish.”

Mav bit his lip, seeming to think about it, then nodded. “Deal.”

“Hump’s also got a baby dragon you can meet,” Celaine said.

“A what now?” Mav asked. “I can meet a dragon?”

Hump winced, sucking in a breath. “Sorry kid, but we already made the deal. Can’t go adding in extras now, isn’t that what you said?”

Mav looked between the three of them, seemingly not knowing what to make of them.

“Don’t worry about it,” Bud said, clasping his shoulder. “Hump’s a softy. You’ll probably get to sit on her if you behave yourself.”

“Sit on… a dragon?” Mav said bewildered. “I have no idea what’s going on.”

Hump grinned as he left the fishery. The day had woken him up to what he truly wanted. More than growing his strength or getting rich. More than defeating the warlocks or the mission left behind by the first master of the Book of Infinite Pages. What Hump wanted was to help misfortunate children like his master had helped him.

He thought the old man would be proud.