“You know, Heppa and I talked to this wose once,” Tric tells Kachen as they continue to sit together on the crates in the darkness behind the healing tent. “It’s a fae creature that looks very similar to a tree. I don’t know if you’re familiar with them?” Kachen reminds Tric that they have spoken of woses before, back when he visited Estbryn Forest. Then the matter under discussion was whether one could become reanimated as a form of undead.
“Well, woses are ancient beyond knowledge and highly attuned to the fae currents,” Tric says. “They glanced within each of us, Heppa and me. Now Heppa was, particularly at that time, far more magically attuned than I am. The woses showed some concern for her situation. And for a significant amount of time, Heppa became concerned about corruption of her own self. Now, I don’t know if that’s the same kind of thing you’re feeling. But I want you to know that it’s not a one way street. It doesn’t mean that you’re a terrible person. I… I can’t fix this arm right now. That has to heal on its own, I suspect. It was magically induced, and it has to take the time to slowly recover, bit by bit. We can’t heal this on the outside until we help you heal this,” he taps Kachen’s sternum with the knuckle dusters, “on the inside. And that’s not about darkness or light! It’s about…” Tric shrugs. “I don’t know what it’s about, exactly. But I know there’s a path for you. Do you know how I know? Do you want to know?”
A small smile crosses Kachen’s face. “Is foretelling another one of your other hidden talents?”
“I could say yes, and you wouldn’t know the difference,” Tric points out. “What’s the difference between a foretelling and a story? But no. I met someone with a staff similar to yours earlier today. I don’t know if you noticed her visit to the camp?”
“Heppa went dashing off when there was a flash of light earlier. I thought it might have been a teleportation,” Kachen says. He has never been in a position to observe anyone else performing the spell.
“It was one of the order of silver mages,” Tric tells him. “Are you familiar with them?”
Kachen’s brow crinkles. “Silver? No.”
Tric is not surprised. Kachen grew up among shadow mages. He left Alduin early and has been immersed in dark studies of one form or another ever since. “They are an order of mages not entirely of Alduin,” Tric says, applying a framing to appeal to Kachen. As he had hoped, this raises his friend’s interest. “Among their specialties is teleportation using staffs such as the one you possess—although slightly more elaborate.” He gestures at the empty socket atop Kachen’s.
Kachen nods. “Yes, this one is missing its crystal.”
“Anyway, she said that they practice some magics that others are uncomfortable with, but that silver mages seem to have a much keener understanding of.” Tric shrugs. “It just sounded a lot like someone I know. Only, you know, with the added confidence of years and a support network of mages who understand them.”
“And this mage is here? Among the paladins?”
“No, she’s gone already. But I believe she can be contacted again.” Tric nods at where Mate is scratching at the ground. “And she cycles through the camps. Her purpose in the battle is to deliver mail, as if by bird—but by mage. Now, to be clear, I’m not suggesting that as an occupation for you! I had to have her add the saurians to her cycle because they were not on the list. So she knows about the safe place in the swamp. And I think she knows that someone teleported there.”
“Ah.” Kachen’s eyes drift away from Tric as he considers the ramifications of that.
“But not specifically who,” Tric clarifies. “Other than that I probably know them.” Kachen gives a little nod; the list of who it could be is pretty short. “Oh, and if she asks, you’re my apprentice,” Tric adds. Kachen actually gives a quiet snort of amusement at that.
“Look, I’m not saying you have to decide anything right now,” Tric tells him. “I’m just saying that your fate is not preordained. You don’t have to go live in a volcano somewhere completely isolated from society. We developed a medication to control this affliction you suffer. You have that under control now. You’ve shown that you are under control; you’ve hurt yourself rather than do even more drastic things that should not be done. Maybe after we finish this battle, after we put down this threat, Cwuml would be someone worth talking to, you know? But you don’t have to decide right now. I just wanted to let you know that these people exist.”
“Thank you,” Kachen tells him, and it is heartfelt.
“I’m sorry I can’t do anything about your arm, though. The magic of the silver tongue is a fickle thing, and we are a small audience. Sometimes it’s more like the magic of the steel tongue. I can get into a war of words, but I can’t actually fix anything with it.” Tric sighs. “It’s one of the limitations of my kind of magic.”
“I’m learning about all sorts of new magics tonight,” Kachen says with appreciation, alluding to the silver mages.
“Oh, and also, if she asks, I’m impossibly hundreds of years old,” Tric throws in. He is rewarded with an actual laugh from Kachen. With that, Tric encourages him to come to the tent he and Heppa have set up. They will simply say he was dazed from the battle and needed some time to rest on his own. “I understand if you’re uncomfortable here, but it would be unusual if you did not show your face at all. You don’t have to talk to anyone, but more questions than you want will be asked if you stay hidden.” Kachen agrees, seeing the wisdom in his words.