Warlocks Index – Previous Chapter
Leaving The Maker where he lay, I left the tent. The shadows of the forest hinted at the progressing afternoon to early evening. To one side lay one of the young guards with an arrow lodged in his shoulder, unconscious but alive. Others lay groaning on the ground, a couple slowly getting to their feet, all holding or shaking their heads. In the distance I heard voices, and saw people from the village, armed, led by the Prefect and Murtain. Upon seeing me, his demeanor changed.
“THERE HE IS! IT’S THE WARLOCK!”
The Prefect tried to stop the group, but they were not listening to him. They followed Murtain as he broke into a run towards me. I stood my ground. As he got close, he raised the mason’s hammer in his hand and an arrow thwacked into the ground between us. Murtain recoiled along with many of those behind him. Those behind did not see and comically collided with each other, Murtain falling flat before me.
The Prefect caught up and belatedly placed himself between me and Murtain. I stepped around him and held my hand out to Murtain.
“You are here for vengeance, for the truth. If you want to know who is the one responsible for harming your child, take my hand.”
He looked up at me, then the Prefect who nodded, then took my hand, and I helped him to his feet. “Prefect, Murtain, come with me.” And I led them inside the tent.
*****
With the help of the villagers, the captives and enslaved victims were released and given aid. Some of the guards gave some resistance, while others seemed confused and dazed. All were rounded up and escorted through the forest to the carts Murtain’s men had used to get here. Murtain himself was quiet, unapologetic, but did shake my hand as he departed.
Graciul had also joined us, during the clean-up, staying mostly by my side, keeping a keen eye on everyone. The two of us had outlined our journey to the Prefect, filling him as much as was necessary.
“So, is it over?” He had asked.
I shook my head. “The battle is over, but the damage he has done will take time to heal. The young ones he abducted will need support and counselling.”
The Prefect looked hopefully to me. “Could you not… fix them?”
I looked deep into his eyes. “No. It is not our way, and any attempts to do so is likely to cause more trauma than it would cure. They have to adjust naturally. It’s the safer path. Create a space of acceptance and unconditional support, and they will heal in time.”
He looked to the ground. “I will have to deal with Murtain.”
“Go easy on him, and the others. They are as much a victim of The Maker’s manipulations as the youth. The Maker used the young ones because their minds are less rigid, easier to adjust, and they are a parent’s weakness.”
“Huh, a snake with a forked tongue.”
“A most appropriate metaphor indeed.” My thoughts went to the Silver Tongue currently securely stored within Graciul’s pack.
“What now?” Asked the Prefect.
“Now, I must take The Maker back to Haven. They will know what to do with him. You have a village to care for.”
Graciul stepped forward. “I have taken one of the small wagons at the back of the camp. We’ll need a horse though.”
“Take mine,” said the Prefect. “I’ll return with the men.” He stood and held his hand to me. I stood and shook it. “Safe journey, and I will prepare a temporary place for your return. I think getting this group to repair you home will be punishment enough.”
“Indeed.” was all I said in reply.
“And thank you Graciul. I put much on your shoulders, and you have proven a good choice.” The Prefect’s pride was palpable.
“Thank you sir.”
Then they were all gone, the night was upon us, and we mounted a small wagon, the Prefect’s horse in the reins, The Maker in the cabin, Graciul taking the driver’s seat, and I watched over our passenger. In silence we took a dirt track back to the main road, then turned north to Haven.
*****
The long journey back to Haven was uneventful, and a welcome change. I kept a close eye on The Maker keeping him sedated as needed. The effort was not much and with little else to distract me, it gave me something to do. The temptation to delve into his dreams was tantalising, but without purpose. Ultimately, it was unlikely to change anything moving forward.
During quieter moments, I spoke with the Master Crystal, learning as much as I could from its past owners. I also continued creating new memories. I had used the Master Crystal to create a copy of my memories, something I could check against for any changes The Maker may have done. This was my back up plan if my mental shield had failed. Now it formed the basis for adding my own memories to those before.
The visions The Maker had shown me, my/his birth, his/our father, and on, were half-truths. Our battle had let me skim many of his dream threads. His memories of birth I determined had been his idea of being born, not an actual memory. Further, our mother’s face had been the face he must have seen through Tobus’s eyes. It was clear to me now that The Maker had been in control of that act of terror, and possibly our rescue of Tobus had been a part of his plan.
As we neared the gates of Haven, I once more spoke with my mother’s crystal persona. My final entry I thought at the time.
“I also want to thank you.”
“For what Master Juth?”
“For your help during my fight.”
“I did not aid you in that. You never called upon me.”
I was a little stunned. “You mean, I was not focussed through you?”
“No Master Juth. You did not need me.” The image of my mother approached me, offered me her hand, which I took, and saw a different point of view of the confrontation, energies converging on and through me, a bright white presence, and yet the pouch with the crystal was dark and cold.
“It was all you.” She had said.
*****
After some negotiation, messages sent back and forth, we were led into the gates of Haven, escorted under close guard to the academy, and met at the main steps by the Toa Masters, Master Talish by their side. Toa Freyah had a constrained expression of relief as she came down the steps to meet me. Then she did something I did not expect. She hugged me. It took me a moment to register, and then I hugged her back.
The rest of that day was me updating the Masters as to the events since my departure. The Maker’s comatose body had been moved somewhere I did not care to know, and his Silver Tongue taken to an archive of the Academy. I can admit now that I did not reveal all that had occurred. Somethings were more personal and irrelevant to what the Toa Masters’ minds were focussed on. These I did not hide so much as neglect to mention.
My mother gave me a knowing expression when I described the visions I had been given, and that was all the confirmation I required. She must have known I had already seen through her memories in the crystal. My father had been banished before our birth but had learnt of the pregnancy after the fact. He had then broken into the nursery and taken one of the newborns, unaware there were two. It had been a decision of the Masters, with one opposing, to not tell me. The opposing was Toa Freyah, but she abided by her oath.
Once the proceedings concluded, I made one final request of the Masters, then offered to return the Master Crystal to my mother. She had taken my hand, closed it around the crystal, and pushed it back to me.
“It is yours now, by rights. It knows you, perhaps better than it knew me. May it serve you well.”
The next morning, I met Graciul and prepared to return to the Village. Tobus’s body, wrapped and stored within a coffin, was placed onto the wagon. As we loaded our final supplies for the journey home, Billtak arrived, with his own kit, and a chest carried by another student I did not recognise. We greeted each other warmly, then the three of us were leaving Haven behind.
Reflection of a Ham 
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