Vainglory 3.34 - Asking for Help

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-Plum

34 – Asking for Help

“Well, Ward? You’re sure you can’t join us?” Fitz asked, gesturing toward the clockwork coach, burbling and clicking as it idled near the street. Haley was sitting on one of the cushioned leather bench seats in the open-air passenger compartment, and across from her, Trent Roy lounged beside Lali. The man looked more confused than comfortable, but he’d been surprisingly lucid during their meeting.

“Nah, I promised the Chancellor I’d meet with him at his estate.”

“And this has to do with the whole inquest into that cult business back on Cinder?” Fitz frowned, looking at Ward with genuine concern. He didn’t trust the Assembly, and Ward liked him all the more for it.

“That’s right. Don’t worry, Fitz, I think he’s on my side. It’s not really that he wants to question me there; it’s more that he’s looking out for me. He took a stand against some of the more aggressive chancellors in my little hearing.”

“Hmm. Yes, well, I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you upon your return. You may rest assured that Haley will be well looked after in your absence.” He turned and waved at the coach, and Haley waved back eagerly. “I’ll keep Mr. Roy close at hand, too, so Lali can watch over him as he recovers. It’s a lucky thing he’ll live to tell the tale of your adventures.”

Ward nodded. Trent had been cheerful and maintained conversation, but he had spotty memories of the Garden Gates and none at all of their battle with the squat humanoid golems. He was a little unstable on his feet, and Ward had noted a lack of dexterity while he ate, but the man seemed upbeat. The doctor said he’d continue to recover over the next couple of weeks. “Yeah, I appreciate that, Fitz. He’s a good man. What are your plans for the rest of the afternoon?”

“Oh, we’ll return to my estate. I have an appraiser from Goodman’s Auction House coming by to have a look at the gems and jewels you found in the challenge. After that, I’ll see to it that Mr. Roy and the others are treated to a hearty dinner. I appreciate you allowing me to host Ms. Haley while you’re away. I can assure you that we’ll have a quiet evening and that I’ve had a very nice private suite made up for her.”

“I’m sure you’ll be a gentleman.” Ward clapped him on the shoulder, and though he smiled, his voice became gruff, and he almost growled as he added, “She’s a good soul and she’s been through hell. If anything happened to her, I’m certain I’d lose myself to the wolf.”

“N-no fear of that, Mr. Dyer!” Fitz stammered hastily. “I’ve nothing but noble intentions where she’s involved, and my estate is very secure and well-staffed. Lali isn’t my only man-at-arms—well, woman-at-arms.”

“I’ve no doubt, Fitz.” Ward inhaled deeply, blowing his stress out through his nose. “I’ll see you in a day or two. I’ll be looking forward to hearing how things go at the auction.”

“Yes, well, it’s a bit of a process. I should have an estimate for you by then, but the glories will be a week or two in the coming.”

Ward nodded. “Right, of course. Speaking of glories, can you give me the address of that Gopah master you hooked Haley up with? I’d like to do something nice for her, considering the help she’s given to Haley.”

“Oh, of course. Just a moment.” Fitz opened the flap on his hand-tooled, supple leather briefcase that he carried with him. He pulled out a leather-bound journal-type book and flipped through the pages near the beginning. “Here it is. Ah, yes, Master Rose. Shall I write it for you?”

“I’d appreciate it.” Ward watched as Fitz scribbled onto a page and then ripped it out of the book for him. “Thanks, Fitz. Don’t mention it to Haley, yeah?”

“No, of course. I won’t ruin your surprise.”

“Fitz!” Haley called from the coach. “Let’s go!”

Ward chuckled. “Better get going. I’ll see you in a couple of days.” He held out his hand, and Fitz shook it, smiling broadly.

“Thanks for your trust, Ward.” With that, he turned and, with a spring in his step, hurried to the coach. Ward watched him go, feeling more than a little guilty about not telling him about his plans or his concerns about Haley. Still, he wasn’t sure, was he? It wouldn’t do Haley any good to get everyone worried about her when it was perfectly possible that nothing was wrong.

“Bye, Ward!” Haley called, waving.

Ward waved back, smiling, though the stress of his worry surely made it look strained. A few moments later, the brass and lacquered wood vehicle was trundling around the corner and out of view. Ward looked around the street. He was a few miles from the Assembly Square and, hopefully, safe from any duelists who might be stalking him. He’d have to be careful if he went back, though; it would probably be smart to take a coach directly to the building so he could slip inside unobserved.

“Doesn’t matter, anyway,” he muttered, waving toward a passing taxi, one of the ones with the fancy, magical engines that glowed and hummed with a strange, pale-blue energy coursing through the crystals visible under the rear section. There weren’t many taxis using that sort of engine, and Ward knew he’d pay a premium just to ride in it, but he didn’t care; he had plenty of glories on hand and he’d have even more after Fitz split the proceeds from the Garden Gates.

The driver, dressed in a finely tailored suit, hopped down and opened the black-lacquered door, revealing a plush, white-leather interior. “Where can I take you, sir?” Ward handed him the slip of paper Fitz had given him as he climbed in. “Ah, a lovely neighborhood,” the man said as he read the address. “Enjoy the ride, sir. Drinks are complimentary.”

“Thanks.” Ward sat in one of the deep, luxurious captain’s chairs and sighed as the coach began moving. The ride was smoother than his ex-father-in-law’s Cadillac back on Earth.

“What are you up to?” Grace asked, lounging on the bench seat across from him.

“Something’s not right with Haley.”

Grace immediately sat up, her self-satisfied grin fading. “What do you mean? She seemed perfectly fine to me during your meeting. She ate a lot, too!”

“It’s hard to explain—the way she had trouble looking me in the eye, how she agreed quickly to let me go alone, and, yeah, she was too damn upbeat, if you ask me.”

“So, basically, you’re being a paranoid cop.”

“Maybe,” Ward grunted, “but I’d rather be safe than sorry where she’s concerned.”

“So what are you doing?”

“I’m going to ask Master Rose what she thinks. ’Bout time I met her, anyway, wouldn’t you say?”

Grace nodded. “I hope you’re wasting your time, but, as you said, I’d rather you err on the side of caution. Haley doesn’t deserve any trouble. Does this mean you aren’t going to Coral’s country house?”

“Probably not tonight. I can go tomorrow or even the next day. Shit, the only reason I was going to go tonight was because of this feeling I have, this sense of urgency. I don’t know how real it is, just like I don’t know if I’m right about Haley. If this is that dreadmarked—”

“Harrowguard.”

Ward waved a hand. “Whatever. If that’s what it is—I mean, I don’t love it.”

“Didn’t you get a lot of ‘gut’ feelings when you were a cop?” Grace chuckled. “They’re always talking about that in cop shows.”

“Yeah, it sounds cliché, but I did. Do you think it’s this bloodline?”

Grace shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe people just have more of a connection to mysterious stuff like that than even I would have guessed. I mean, if you’d asked me before we came here, I would have told you that there wasn’t a darn thing special about most humans on Earth. Now? I wonder how much lies hidden, latent, and waiting to be awakened. You’re a very different man from the one I kidnapped.”

Ward barked a laugh. “Kidnapped, huh?”

Grace smiled. “Not exactly, but you certainly acted like it.”

“It all makes you wonder, though, doesn’t it? I mean about bloodlines. The guy in this amulet”—Ward tapped his pocket—“talks about the Harrowguard like they’re this ancient order of people or…” He shook his head, trailing off. Then, as his thoughts connected again, he continued, “I mean, it makes you wonder where the hell people came from. Why would I have some ancient bloodline that this alien-looking son of a bitch on another world would recognize?”

“A common ancestor? An ancient race that traveled the cosmos and settled various worlds?”

“Traveled the cosmos or used magical portals? It seems like that’s a hell of a lot more likely, in light of what I’ve seen since you kidnapped me, than faster than light spaceships.”

“Yes, I suppose that’s what I meant. I don’t know why I said cosmos. I just meant different stars, different worlds, etcetera.”

Ward nodded. “Makes you think.”

They rode in silence for a while, but as the magical coach climbed a steep street, Grace asked, “What will you do if you’re right about Haley?”

“Whatever I have to.”

Grace nodded. “Good.”

When the coach arrived, Ward paid the driver and said, “Wait here for me, and I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Absolutely, sir.”

Ward turned to the house, nearly obscured by the dense front garden. A walkway, flanked by flowering, vine-covered trellises, led through the thick, manicured foliage toward a wooden house, painted in earth tones with a high, peaked roof tiled with metallic scales that glimmered in the sunlight. He could just make out a dark, polished door, so he started toward it, noting that Grace had, once again, made herself scarce. A copper knocker hung in the center of the wide, almost oval-shaped door. Ward gave it a couple of whacks.

Nobody responded at first, but after a dozen seconds or so, just when Ward was contemplating knocking again, a woman cleared her throat behind him. “You’ll be Ward, then?”

Ward spun, scowling, the wolf in him lurching toward the surface, instinct overcoming reason as surprise pumped adrenaline into his system; he hadn’t heard even the faintest sound or smelled a hint of the woman’s musk as she approached, catching him unawares. When he laid eyes on her, he began to relax immediately, recognizing that she must be Rose. She wore a black bandana over her eyes, and her clothing was much like Haley preferred—loose, flowing robes with wide sleeves, belted at the waist.

“Am I right?”

Ward cleared his throat, nodding, and then, recognizing the stupidity of the response when addressing someone without sight, said, “Yes, I’m Ward.”

“Yes, you feel like the lines of love and debt I saw connecting you to Thorn. I can sense the weight of your aura. What brings you here, darkening my doorway with your burdensome shadow?”

Ward looked around the garden, shifting away from the door. Apparently, he wasn’t going to be invited in. “I’m worried about Haley.”

“And well you should be, her love for you will keep her entwined with your dark dealings.”

“I don’t have dark dealings!” Ward sighed, already weary of the woman’s judgment. “I mean, not on purpose.”

“A good man, are you? An innocent victim, not responsible for the shadows that cling to your spirit? Did you not just bare your wolfen fangs at me when I startled you?”

Ward began to recognize the game she was playing. “You’ll judge me for being startled? Did I not put those fangs away?”

“True, true. Well, if it’s concern for my student that brings you here, then come inside. We’ll have some tea.” She breezed past him, and, for the first time, he caught a waft of her scent. It was like that of her garden—floral, earthy, rich, with just a faint undertone of feminine musk. He found his pulse slowing as he breathed it in, and he suddenly felt more relaxed. He hadn’t liked not being able to smell her. Was that new? How long had he been subconsciously gathering an index of scents to match everyone he met?

He followed her into the tranquil, garden-like central hall of the home. It felt almost like an atrium, with plants lining a broad, empty wooden floor. Rose paused at the edge of the pale, polished planks and turned to regard him, gesturing to her bare feet. “Please remove your shoes.”

Ward pulled his boots off and followed her onto the floor, where she turned to face him and sat, cross-legged. Ward followed suit, sitting down and mimicking her posture. The ease with which his body complied struck him, and he remembered how stiff he’d been prior to coming to Vainglory with Grace. He certainly had changed a great deal.

“Dandelion,” Rose called, and just a handful of seconds later, a young woman wearing garb similar to Rose’s appeared from a side hallway, standing at the edge of the wooden floor and bowing deeply. “Fetch us some of your spring tea and those biscuits you made yesterday.” Dandelion didn’t speak, but she straightened and hurried off, back the way she’d come. Rose looked at Ward and said, “My niece. She’s not a student.”

Ward nodded. “Ah.”

“Thorn calls you foolish. Do you agree?”

Ward’s eyebrows shot up. “She does? Well, I suppose I’ve made plenty of mistakes. I’ve done—”

“You have a backbone, but you’re not prideful—willing to admit to your mistakes. Take comfort knowing that when Thorn said that, she was extolling your virtues. She said you were too kind, that you try to do good, even at your own expense, especially where she’s concerned. Is that what this visit is about? Are you certain you’re not being overprotective?”

Ward sighed, shaking his head. “Wish I knew. I have…feelings. Maybe they’re more like instincts. I’m dealing with some evil people, and, yeah, darkness hangs over me like a cloud, but right now I can’t focus on any of that because I feel like something’s wrong with Haley—Thorn.”

Rose nodded, and Ward found himself focusing on her lips since her eyes were covered. They were red-tinted, standing out like flower petals against her pale flesh, though it didn’t look like she was wearing makeup. “Well,” she said, “start at the beginning. Why are you concerned?”

Ward nodded and opened his mouth to speak, but then the young woman reappeared, carrying a tray. He paused as she silently padded onto the wooden floor and set it down beside Rose. It was laden with a flower-printed ceramic kettle, two matching cups, and a tray of small, dark cookies.

“Thank you, Dandelion.” The girl bowed and hurried away. Rose deftly picked up the kettle and a cup, pouring it full of steaming tea. She held it out to Ward, and he took it gingerly. “You’ll enjoy this. It’s suited for a man with an aura like yours.”

Ward narrowed his eyes, but didn’t say anything as he blew on the hot tea before taking a small sip. It was mild with a faint hint of citrus as he swallowed it. “Very nice.”

Rose smiled, nodding, as she sipped the cup she’d poured for herself. “Go on, now. Tell me what worries you.”

Ward held his cup before him, enjoying the warmth of the ceramic in his palm. “Haley told me you’re aware of her, um, corruption?”

“Yes. Your gift to her.”

Ward frowned, but he didn’t argue. “Well, you may not have seen her under its influence because she’s been very good about practicing her Gopah, keeping it at bay. I’m sure, when she’s here, she’s at her best, considering she’s doing Gopah with you…” He went on to describe how Haley sometimes became sulky and dour when the corruption gained a foothold. He told her about how Haley had been very positive and upbeat in the challenge and then about how her demeanor had shifted as they left. Then, he told her about his misgivings—his gut feeling that Haley was hiding something from him.

When he finished, Rose had already poured herself a second cup of tea, and she sipped it before asking, “Why do you come to me? This sounds like something you may be qualified to help her with. You’re already intent on investigating her behavior, no?”

“Because I don’t know quite how to help her. Yeah, I can encourage her to do her Gopah, but what if that’s not enough anymore? What if…” Ward shook his head, hating the sound of his paranoia. “If she’s lying to me, then something’s changed. Something’s worsened. Then, there’s the chance that I’m wrong, that I’m just being an oversuspicious ex-cop.”

“You aren’t.” Rose’s voice was flat and sure, and Ward stared at her red lips, wishing he could see her eyes.

“How do you know?”

“I felt her. Her threads, stretching from me to you, were bright with fire—she worked Gopah last night, and it wasn’t in practice. She was fighting in the night, and, worse, I can see the corruption on her threads.” She stretched out her arm, pointing to things Ward couldn’t see. “I believe the corruption, suppressed by her fire for so long, was lying in wait, building its strength, and waiting for a moment to assert itself—a moment when she was weary and vulnerable.”

“Like after a long battle?”

“Yes, though it was likely after several long battles, no?”

Ward nodded, frowning. “Yeah.”

“I’d hoped there would be time for Adept Thorn to climb to at least the black tier of Gopah before she faced her corruption and defeated it…” She shook her head, clicking her tongue. “She’s just begun working through the rhythms of a Gray Adept, but she’s strong! Much stronger than I was at that rank. I think she might yet succeed. Tell me, Ward, what would you give to help her?”

Ward didn’t hesitate. “Anything.”

Rose smiled, and Ward had the impression it was the first genuine smile he’d seen those lips form. “That’s the man she told me about. Very well, then. Tonight, when the corruption takes her again—it will, have no doubt—you must follow her. Confront her in whatever dark task she’s about, and then bring her here.”

“Why don’t I just go and get her now?”

“Because we need insight into what the corruption is driving her to do. It will inform the strategy I devise. You’ll need to be very quick and very stealthy to follow her, Ward. As you know, she moves with great grace. Look within yourself and utilize the skills of your bestial alter ego. If anything could stalk Thorn undetected, it would be a born hunter like a wolf.”