Chapter 725: The Lonely Departure

“What do you mean you can't stay here? And why are you saying you can’t go to the insula?” Alex looked around, eyes searching the room. “Did something happen while we were gone? I knew leaving you overnight by yourself was a bad idea!”

“I'm fine, I'm fine!” Selina insisted, waving her hands in front of her. “Nothing happened!” There was a note of desperation in her voice; it had been her idea to stay the night at the bakery instead of with the Lus or at her friend’s house. It had been the source of a small argument between brother and sister; one she had only narrowly won. “I’m old enough to stay by myself for the night, Alex…but that’s not what I’m talking about. I'm not worried about myself, I'm worried about everyone else.”

“Why, what do you mean?” Theresa asked.

“Well… If these people are so dangerous, then what happens if they attack the bakery? I might be okay with you, Claygon and Brutus here, but what's going to happen to Troy? To all the people that work here? What's going to happen to our customers? What'll happen to the people in the neighbourhood? They're going to get really hurt, or worse. It'd be the same problem if I stayed on campus, other students and staff could get hurt or killed.”

“Well, Hobb would be there,” Alex countered. “And so would the Watchers.”

She shook her head. “It’d take them time to get there, wouldn’t it?”

Her lips flattened to a thin line. “I remember what happened at Isolde’s cousin's ball…and when the demons attacked the Games. People died at the Games, even with Baelin, the Watchers and Hobb there. There was so much blood…” She shook her head. “I don't want to see that happen again because I'm hiding someplace where others could get caught in some terrible attack.”

“Oh, by the Traveller, you're right…” Theresa murmured.

“Jeez, I didn't even think of that!” Alex slapped the heel of his hand to his forehead.

He'd been looking at things through a single lens.

The one thought that had been burning in his mind had been keeping Selina and the rest of his family safe. He's been so focused on drawing the hidden church’s attention to himself in the Empire, that he hadn't considered what would happen if they did come to the bakery.

But now, he could imagine it; the image was grim.

He could see the bakery, busy, full of happy customers, the servers going from table to table, putting platters of freshly baked tarts and pastries before relaxed patrons. There would be families waiting. Children. Employees from the nearby shops on their lunch breaks. Some of Toraka’s staff would be there as usual; he could see Lagor discussing a job with his assistants over hot buttered bread and freshly brewed coffee.

Troy would be happily serving customers when the door would open. He’d look up, putting on a welcoming smile.

That smile would quickly fade.

Who would be standing in the doorway? The First Apostle. The ancient Chosen of Uldar would be wreathed in power, leading the Third Apostle and a squad of holy warriors, armed, armoured and looking for him…or even worse…his loved ones.

What would Troy do?

What would any of the staff do?

Would they have time to do anything before they were slaughtered? Would they even have time to run?

The hidden church had thought nothing of trying to kill Birger and Bjorgrund, who they had no quarrel with. They’d think even less of killing poor, bakery workers, and their helpless customers.

The same would happen to students and staff members on campus; until Hobb—eventually—arrived. Then, there would be hells to pay. Quite literally. The ‘eventually’ part would be the problem, though. In the time that the registrar took to appear, how many students would be maimed or killed?

There were entire families staying in the insula.

Alex and Theresa had been considering bringing Theresa's family there.

Wouldn't campus be one of the first places the secret church would think to look, if they couldn't find the Fool’s sister where he and his family lived?

“By the Traveller, I really didn't think this one through,” Alex admitted, a spike of shame rising in his chest. “Gods, I nearly did what Isolde talked about.”

“What was that? Theresa asked.

He swallowed. “She said that if we'd gone to her cousin’s ball—knowing that we were being hunted by the Ravener—then she could never have forgiven us. She said the attack would've been my fault, because I would’ve been  too selfish to tell anyone what might have been coming. I didn’t know I was being hunted then, but I do now. So, what I was just suggesting would look like I was doing the same thing; being thoughtless, self-involved, and inconsiderate of other people. And because I actually know about the church now, and that they’re after me and anyone else involved with me, it’d be true.”

Alex flinched. “I can't believe what I nearly did. That I didn’t think about what might have happened to other people.”

“I did the same thing, just focusing on one part of the problem with the church,” Theresa said.

“So did…I…” Claygon said, his voice dropping low. “But…what do we do, then? Selina needs some place…where she will be safe…and where others will not be hurt.”

“And where my family will be safe too,” Theresa growled. “I know they really like it at the Royal Griffon, but it’s no fortress.” She sighed. “Claygon, Brutus and I need to protect them too.”

Alex's mind was spinning. He needed a place where his family would be safe, and where others wouldn't get pulled into a deadly battle between the church and his allies.

It had to be remote, but defensible. There was also Selena’s schooling to think about…

“Wait a minute,” Alex paused. “What about school?”

Selina shook her head. “I don't think I can go back to school for now. I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened to Abela or anyone else because of me. I won't let that happen.” Her jaw clenched. “I don't want to leave school, but you're leaving home, Alex, and Claygon's making a choice that hurts him.”

She looked at Theresa. “I'm sure it hurts you too.”

The huntress bit her lip, but said nothing.

“So I can't be the only one who isn’t making sacrifices,” she said sadly. “I'm going to miss school a lot, but I don't want to go if it's the wrong thing to do. I don't want to be like those people that are hunting us, just making decisions without caring who gets hurt.”

A deep and terrible anger grew in Alex’s chest.

If the First Apostle was in front of him, he would do everything in his power to rip his head off, not just his arm this time, Mark or not.

“We’ll have to arrange something for you, Selina. I can't let you sacrifice your education for this, even if we do have to make other adjustments and sacrifices. Maybe someone can come teach you and give you your tests at home. But where will that home be?” His nostrils flared as he considered different possibilities. “We need somewhere that's within reach of the university, is a good distance from other people, yet secure enough for even a king and queen.”

“A king and queen?” Selina asked, her eyes growing wide.

“Just an expression.”

“No wait Alex, you're a genius!” the young girl cried.

“What are you talking about?” the young wizard asked.

“King! And! Queen! Where did Khalik’s parents stay?” Selina said. “Think about it, they were in that big villa in the countryside. They thought it was safe enough to be defensible for royalty, and their guards could see anyone coming. It was far away enough from the city that—if it got attacked—no one else would get hurt! It's perfect!”

Alex gasped. “I’m a genius? You're the genius, Selina! I'm an idiot! Why didn't I think of that? It’s perfect! It's also close enough for someone to come from the school to bring you your lessons or—if they can't send anyone—we could hire a tutor from the city!”

Theresa tapped her chin in thought. “There aren't many places to hide around there either…I could easily patrol the countryside in that area. Still, though… If the church is using the fae roads to get from place to place, they could still ambush us there.”

“Which is one reason why it'll be good to be out there, where other people can't get hurt,” Selina said. “If they do ambush us, no one else has to suffer.”

“I’ll need to hire guards. A lot of guards,” Alex said, planning, thinking about one of his trips down to the hells. He remembered the mercenaries: skilled, fearless, tactical fighters. “There might be one person…or maybe two who could really help us out here. I could even ask Toraka for a few golems to protect the manor…agh, no wait, I don't have time to wait around for her to get to the golemworks.”

He continued, considering what to do. “Still, I think this is the best solution. Theresa, would you be comfortable bringing your family out there?”

“I would…protect them too…” Claygon promised.

“Yeah, it's the perfect place for them. But, can we afford it? Especially since we don’t know how long we’ll be out there?” Theresa asked.

“With the coin we're making from the golems, we could probably rent that place for a year before we started to feel it,” he said. “Which is handy, because I made a lot of golems for the business before we started going to the Empire. I’ll still need to talk to Toraka and tell her what happened…or maybe you could talk to her, Theresa?”

“Father, I could talk to her…remember…you and I share a link…I can hear your thoughts, even if you're in the Empire…I could tell her what happened…I could tell her your words…I could relay them to her, as you tell them to me…” Claygon said.

“That's perfect! It means you can let me know what's going on in Generasi!” Alex said, with relief.

“And you can tell us how you're doing in the Empire through Claygon!” Theresa’s voice lost some of its tension.

“Thank the Traveller, ” Alex said. “I wanted to tell Professor Jules, Professor Val'Rok, and Professor Mangal that I was leaving; it wouldn't be right just to disappear, especially when Mangal made so many exceptions for me, but I didn't think I'd have time. Oh, and it’d probably be better if I let Toraka know I had to go myself, things might get a little sticky there, and at the same time, I could arrange for those security golems from her. You’re making this easier, Claygon. I could kiss you right now!”

“I'm glad we're still going to be able to talk,” Selina smiled. “But it's going to be hard not having you here with us.”

“I know, Selina, I know,” Alex said, some of his cheer fading.

“It's going to be awful without you…” Theresa’s face fell. “Alex, this will be the longest time we've ever been away from each other.”

Her eyes met his. “We spent so much of our time together in Alric…then we came here on this journey together…”

The huntress’ voice wavered. “We've done so many things together. By the Traveller, I wouldn't be half the woman I am—or half the warrior—without you.”

She bit her lip. “Now you're going, and I can't be by your side. And you can't be by mine.”

Alex was across the room in two strides.

He took the huntress in his arms, squeezing her tight.

She buried her head in his chest, and he could feel her trembling against him.

He held her tighter.

This hurt. It all hurt.

“I promise I'll be back as soon as I can. I'm going to do everything I can to get these filthy…false holy men.” He bit back the urge to curse in front of his little sister. “I'll make them suffer for what they did to us…for what they did to you. I'll make them wish they’d never heard of any of us.”

His voice turned dark. “I'll even make them wish they'd never heard the name ‘Uldar’.”

She held him so tightly it hurt. “I don't care about that. Not that much. It shouldn’t be your priority. All I want is for you to come back to me…to come back to us, so we can be a family again. Don't go hurting yourself just to hurt them. Just do what you need to do, to protect yourself, to protect us, and then come back home. Then we can end the Ravener and put this whole neverending nightmare behind us. Behind all of us.”

Theresa looked up from his chest, her eyes glistening. “Alex, kiss me.”

He leaned down, and their lips touched.

They pressed against each other with desperation. They pressed against each other like it might be their last kiss. When they parted…they paused, then dove back into each other, locking lips, clinging to each other hungrily.

At last, though, they had to let go. Alex looked around.

His eyes took in his lover. They fell on their cerberus. On his sister. On Claygon, his golem, who meant so much to him.

And he smiled sadly.

He was leaving them, and it tore him apart.

Yet, they would be safe. He would take the fight to their enemies, and that was the only thing that let him swallow this.

“Alright, if I don't go now, I'll never leave. Let's get downstairs,” Alex said, taking up his bags and slinging them over his shoulder.

In silence, the little family took the stairs down to the eating area of the bakery. As the giants rose from their seats at the table, growing back to full size, the young wizard took a final look at his business and home. A long look.

He didn't know when he might see them again.

He wished he could capture the image and look…he suddenly remembered something.

“Wait,” Alex said. “I need to get something.”

Teleporting to his lab, he got Hannah’s phone, put it in his bag, and went back upstairs.

“It's time to go, is it?” Birger asked.

“Yes, it is,” Alex sighed.

“Are you ready?” Bjorgrund asked.

“No,” Alex admitted. “But I have to go, anyway.”

Theresa looked at the giants. “Take care of him for me, okay?”

“Please protect my brother,” Selina looked at Bjorgrund.

“I will,” the young giant promised.

Brutus whimpered, sensing his master’s pain.

“Take care of yourselves…too…” Claygon said.

“I'll take care of both of them,” Birger said. “The old have to guard the young.”

“I wish the First and Third Apostles thought the same way, Birger. I really wish they did.” Alex turned to his family. “Goodbye everyone, I'm going to try and come back to you as soon as I can, and as best as I can.”

He hugged each member of his family again, calling on the Traveller’s power, before he could lose his resolve.

“Take care, everyone, and we’ll talk soon.”

The power flared within him.

He touched the two giants, taking one last look at his family. Memorising every detail of their faces and his home.

And just like that, they were gone.

###

Hello thirty-six cool fools, almighty chosen, wise sages, and mighty champions! Thank you for your support!


And so Alex is off. I actually wanted to get this departure done in a single chapter, but there was a lot to cover. A lot of logistics, a lot of emotions and a lot of things to take care of. Well, he's off and I can't wait to show you where he goes…and also to see how Professor Jules and the others react.

See you tomorrow!