Mark of the Fool

The Golden Dragon was perched on a hilltop in one of the wealthiest areas in all of Generasi; a massive building that resembled a small castle of white stone with hulking golden towers. Curving through the restaurant’s spires was an immense dragon statue, plated in gold, seeming ready to launch into the sky.

The interior was palatial, crafted of marble, mahogany, crystal and brass. Its walls were lined with fine oil paintings and murals. Fountains, standing in the middle of multiple dining rooms, sprayed water the colour of the sea into the air, cascading down into waterfalls, and water sprites danced through the falls.

Each seat was an actual conjured cloud, every chair back was woven in the shape of a curve—glowing with inner light—inviting guests to sink right in. While sitting on them, it was easy to imagine what it must feel like to relax on the softest, lightest, cushions from the heavens.

The tables were forged of brass and carven elfwood, alive and pulsing with calming auras.

When Alex and his companions were last there, they’d enjoyed sitting around those tables while, in a corner of the dining room, a series of tiny constructs—no bigger than one’s thumb—stood on a podium, playing magical instruments wrought of wood and platinum.

Now, though?

As the musical constructs were playing.

Many guests weren’t sitting.

The largest hall in the Golden Dragon had been reserved for a grand celebration: the wedding reception for Alexander and Theresa.

One side of the room was dominated by a massive ironwood bar, behind which floated kegs of ale, wine, cider, mead and dozens of other less potent drinks. The stronger stuff was in decanters of golden crystal, floating high above the bar like a flock of trained birds.

The bartender plied her trade, making sure that the guests were fuelled for their revelling.

And revel is what they were doing in abundance.

The tiny constructs played jaunty tunes that left everyone filled with cheer. Wedding guests feasted along the sides of the room, giving speeches, toasting, drinking, talking, laughing and dancing.

Some were in couples.

Some in groups.

All were enjoying themselves.

It was from this crowd that Alex and Theresa finally emerged after dancing for the better part of an hour. The newlyweds sipped goblets of wine, smiles lighting their faces, laughter flowing freely as they held each other’s hand, finally reaching a nearby table and dropping into a pair of cloud-cushioned chairs.

They caught their breaths, taking in the celebration, watching their friends enjoying themselves.

“This…this is nice, isn’t it?” Alex said, wrapping his arm around his wife’s waist. “Like, really nice.”

Theresa nuzzled into her husband’s shoulder. “It is. We should have another one of these,” she joked.

Alex glanced at her, startled for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Well, there’s going to be Khalik and Sinope’s wedding to look forward to.”

The young archwizard looked to where the prince and dryad were dancing. They were hand in hand, eyes locked on one another. Alex didn’t have to be an expert in body language to see how much love was between them.

He smiled, his mind drifting back over the years.

Alex recalled first seeing Khalik in the apartment across the insula, with magnificent Najyah landing on his arm. He didn’t know back then that the muscular young man would become one of his closest friends, confidants and counsellors.

Khalik was a hero in his own right, he would, no doubt, continue building his own legend over the centuries.

As he and Theresa watched them, the prince caught Alex’s eye.

He smiled, giving him a grand smile, then whispering something to Sinope. The couple made their way over to the newlyweds.

“Helloooo newlyweds.” The prince grinned, clapping Alex on the shoulder. “Still high off your ceremony?”

“Might be high off of it for the rest of my life,” Theresa giggled.

“That will be a very long time, from what I hear,” Sinope said pointedly, with a knowing smile.

“That tells you how good it was,” Theresa said.

“Listen, Khalik.” Alex clapped his friend on the arm. “I just want to thank you for giving me that kick in the ass, back then. I needed it, seriously.”

“It is no problem,” Khalik chuckled. “What is a little wisdom between friends? If we cannot share counsel, we cannot share anything.”

“Yeah, I owe you one,” Alex replied.

“Oh, bah, one does not keep track of favours like some sort of ‘social merchant’! We have all of time: we will be repaying each other back and forth through the millennia.”

“Damn right we will,” Alex agreed.

Khalik glanced down at the General of Thameland’s goblet. “Ah, and you are already repaying me right now! You are reminding me that my cup is empty, and I think we should go and correct that grave error!’

Sinope chuckled. “Don’t get too drunk now, my mighty oak blossom.”

“Oh, bah! My constitution is as strong as Claygon’s! How else have I been able to keep up with Thundar?” Khalik threw his head back and laughed. “Come, beloved.” He wrapped an arm around Sinope. “It would be rude to our hosts to not fully celebrate!”

Together, they began turning away.

Alex spoke up. “Wait, Khalik?”

“Yeeeees?” the prince turned back to his friend.

“Thank you…seriously, thank you for being my friend.”

Khalik grew a little misty-eyed. “The pleasure is shared, my friend. The pleasure is shared.”

Together, Prince Khalik and Sinope made their way to the bar. Their grace made it almost seem like they were floating.

“He’s great, isn’t he?” Alex asked aloud.

“Yeah, they both are,” Theresa said.

“Hey!” a loud, gruff voice interrupted.

They turned, spotting a very drunk Thundar stumbling toward them with Drestra holding him up.

“Heeyyyyy! What’s up, I’m surprised you two haven’t gone to bed yet, what the hells?” Thundar laughed.

Both Alex and Theresa turned bright red.

“Oh, by the Traveller—” Drestra started to say.

“Yes?” Hannah called from across the room.

“—Thundar, you can’t say that out loud!” the Sage’s reptillian eyes flashed.

“We were all thinking it!” he laughed. “And as the cabal’s leader, it’s up to me to say the things no one else has the spine to say!”

“Thundar…you are very, very drunk,” Theresa said, her expression somewhere between embarrassment and amusement.

“Which is why I’m here!” The minotaur looked at Alex. “Can you do that blood magic thing where you make me sober and get rid of hangovers? I wanna drink more!”

“Heh, anything for our ‘brave cabal leader’.” Alex pressed a hand to Thundar’s arm. With a twitch of his finger, he cleansed the alcohol from the minotaur’s system.

In an instant, Thundar was standing straighter, his eyes clearer.

“That’s a trick I gotta learn for myself one day,” he laughed. “Great one. And now I get to get drunk all over again.” He turned to Drestra. “This time, you’re getting drunk before me!

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Drestra shook her head. “Thundar, I’m a dragon.”

“That just makes it a challenge.”

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “I have terrible taste in men, apparently.”

“And I’m glad for it. Makes a lout like me lucky as all hells.”

Drestra’s face grew pink above her veil. “Smooth talker.”

“I learned from the best.” Thundar winked at Alex. “Seriously, man. I dunno if it was fate or divine decree or just dumb luck that put you, me, Khalik and Isolde together in that first trial for COMB-1000. But it was one of the best damned things that ever happened to me.”

His face grew serious. “Doesn’t matter the battlefield, or the time or place. Ask me? And I’ll be there.”

“As will I,” Drestra’s voice crackled as she looked at Alex and Theresa. “Both of you helped me and kept me sane in a time when I felt all alone. You also helped my people in their time of need. I can never repay you for that.”

“Yeah, and if I didn’t know you, I never woulda met Drestra,” Thundar said. “Alex and Theresa, you two are the best. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

“Right back at you, Thundar.” Alex suddenly stood and hugged his friend. “Seriously. Anyone would be blessed to call you friend, cabal member or even brother. You’re a titan, man. I mean that. I’m glad I know you.”

“Same here,” Theresa said.

Thundar beamed at that, his eyes beginning to shine. “Bah, you two are gonna make me cry! Alright, I’d better get some more booze in me before I lose it. I’ll catch you two later.”

With that, Thundar and Drestra went to the bar, greeting the prince and Sinope, laughing and chatting with them.

Alex smiled, warmth filling his chest. “What a guy.”

“You’re right,” Theresa said. “We’re lucky to know both him and Drestra.”

“Yeah,” Alex said. “We really, really are.”

“I do feel the need to apologise,” a familiar, aristocratic voice said nearby.

Alex glanced in that direction, he and Theresa waved at Isolde and Cedric as they made their way over to them.

“I shall make sure that Thundar is thoroughly chastised later, that remark was quite crude,” she sniffed.

“Aye, it was funny though,” Cedric laughed. “An’ there weren’t a weddin’ that ever passed wit’out some naughty joke!”

“I…suppose.” Isolde crossed her arms, her eyes softening a little. “You do have a point. Even in the Rhinean empire—among nobility and after a few drinks—a faux pas or two becomes acceptable, even expected.”

“Oooooh?” Theresa cocked an eyebrow. “Are you going soft, Isolde?”

“Oh, bah, goin’?” Cedric grinned, his gold tooth shining. “She’s always been a bloody softy. I had a few chats wit’ Svenia an’ Hogarth. She ain’t nowhere near as ‘proper’ as she plays at. An’ behind closed doors wit’ me—”

“Cedric!” Isolde screamed, her face bright red. “Do not dare!”

He raised his hands. “Aye, aye, don’ wanna anger no immortal wizard, now do I?”

“And you had better remember that, hmph!”

“Oh man, you are too funny, Isolde,” Alex shook his head, laughing. “And you really do your best to keep all of us from going too far into degeneracy.”

“An extraordinarily difficult task, I can assure you,” she said, before uncrossing her arms. Her eyes softened again. “But, more to the point, this has been an absolutely delightful affair so far. And congratulations, to you both.”

“Why thank you.” Theresa placed a hand on Isolde’s. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Please. Even if the Ravener and Ezaliel themselves came back from the dead, they could not hope to keep me away.”

“Hah, and the same will go for your wedding when the time comes,” Alex said. “We’ll be there, no matter what. Even if you don’t invite us!”

“Please, Roth.” She rolled her eyes. “I would rather tear out my own hair before I skip sending you an invitation. Listen, and listen well. You both are two of the truest friends anyone could ever ask for. I do mean that sincerely. I did not imagine that my truest friends in life would be found not in my year, but in COMB-1000. What a wonderful thing it was that we were put together in the trial for Baelin’s course.”

“Yeah, hah, Thundar, Khalik and I were just talking about that,” Alex said.

“No doubt. Weddings tend to bring about reminiscent conversations,” Isolde said. “And well they should. By the elements, I am glad to have known you two. And I consider it an honour to continue to know you in the future.”

Alex smiled at that. “Likewise, Isolde. Likewise. Glad you decided that hanging around us wild and crazy guys was worth it.”

She blushed at that. “More than worth it. More than worth it indeed. I recall being in something of a dark place after Derek’s actions. And yet, here I am…and he is barely a distant memory. It is…good.”

“Aye, all o’ yous don’ have any idea how happy y’make her,” Cedric said. “It’s a bloody beautiful thing. S’too bad we couldn’t o’ met even earlier than we did. But, eh, we gots time now, wit’ the Ravener bein’ dead an’ all.”

“That we do!” Alex said.

“Alright, I think I shall have some more libations myself,” Isolde said. “Alex, Theresa…thank you. Thank you for being some of my closest companions.”

With that, she and Cedric went off together, joining Khalik, Sinope, Thundar and Drestra at the bar.

Alex wrapped his arm around Theresa’s waist, and she snuggled into him. “We really got lucky with the people we know,” he said.

“Yes we did,” Theresa said. “That we did.” She kissed his cheek.

He looked at her for a long moment, then opened his mouth to say something.

“You know—”

“Oi, all of you!” Thundar’s voice boomed.

The minotaur was making his way back to the dance floor, looking at the bride and groom. He was followed by his other cabal mates; Drestra, Sinope and Cedric. “That’s enough sitting! We’ve got some real partying to do!”

Alex grinned at that. “Rested up enough, Theresa?”

“Absolutely.” She leapt to her feet.

She and the young archwizard joined their guests back on the dance floor, to cheers.

Soon smiling faces were pressing goblets into their hands.

Thundar came roaring across the room, a goblet of wine in either hand, dancing toward Drestra. He quickly drained both glasses, slamming them down on a nearby table. His hooves clacked on the tiles as he jumped into a tauric jig: a dance often used in celebration of the changing of seasons by his people.

He turned, whirled, and clapped in time with the beat of the drums and swell of the music. The guests—especially younger men who’d had a few drinks—whistled, clapped and laughed.

“Oi, nice jig y’got there friend!” Cedric called, placing his hands on his hips and dancing toward Thundar. “Th’ Dance o’ th’ River from Clan Duncan’s even better, though!”

The red-haired man jumped into his own dance, his feet whirling with graceful movement.

Thundar snorted. “Oh ya? Well, I accept your challenge!”

The minotaur danced toward him in turn, a circle quickly formed around the two young men.

Alex, Theresa and the others clapped as Thundar and the Thameish Hero faced each other. Claygon’s clapping sounded like a smithy crashing down on top of a kitchen full of pots and pans. Merzhin winced beside him, clapping with a somewhat awkward smile on his face, though he still seemed to be enjoying himself.

As the minotaur and the Hero faced off, their feet continued moving in dizzying patterns.

It was hard to tell who was out-dancing the other as they moved with a warrior’s grace.

“Oh, bah!” a voice cried. “Enough of that. Let the chicks give way! A true eagle is taking flight!”

“Father, no!” Bjorgrund cried.

“Oh yeessss!”

Birger slipped past his son into the circle.

With a grin, the grey-bearded giant jumped into his own version of a jig, one combined with several other forms of dance, all fused together in a jaw-dropping display of acrobatics and art.

“Oooooh!” Thundar and Cedric cried as one, giving way to the giant as he whirled, tapped and stepped through the circle.

“Yeaaaah, Birger!” Theresa cried.

The giant’s powerful legs kicked him into the air, he backflipped twice before landing on his toes. “By the Traveller—-”

“Yes?” Hannah said, and Alex was starting to think she was doing that on purpose.

“—it’s good to have two legs! Come on, everyone! Join in! Don’t just stand there clapping! Dance is made to dance, not just spectate! And come on you two young chicks!” He gestured to Cedric and Thundar. “Let me teach ya some moves that broke the hearts of maids the world over!”

Laughing, Thundar and Cedric joined Birger again, and the rest of the circle melted into a frenzy of dancing.

Professor Jules—quite inebriated—danced a wild, exaggerated waltz, stumbling along with Toraka, Val’Rok, Mangal and Baelin, all of them in a spinning circle.

“That’s right, Vernia! Dance as a Proper Wizard would!” Baelin roared with laughter.

“You…there’s no way a Proper Wizard needs to dance!” Professor Jules slurred back.

“As the inventor of the term, I can change its definition whenever I please. Now, dance!” Baelin winked.

“Old goat,” she cursed him, then laughed as she continued whirling.

“An old goat who is still a Proper Wizard!” Baelin laughed, his hooves clacking.

As the professors spun away, Kybas burst through the crowd dancing wildly, flailing around, looking almost like a bee alerting members of its hive to nearby flowers. “Hahaaaah! Now this is a party! Great way to spend the day before we go off, Grimloch!”

The sharkman—who was annihilating a buffet table off to the side—caught the goblin’s eye. “Monster hunting’s gonna be fun together. The world’s gonna be our buffet!” His deep voice cut across the room, even over the spirited music.

“Yes!” the goblin laughed maniacally. “You and Harmless will eat all the monsters! I’ll eat regular food.”

“Coward.”

“I just wouldn’t dream of taking food out of your and Harmless' mouths!”

“Fair enough, then.”

Kybas laughed and continued dancing, passing Tyris and Hart, who were wrapped around each other like strangling vines as they danced. Dirtily. Very dirtily.

On the other side of the dance floor another circle formed as Fan-Dor and Gel-Dor started the Spear-and-Oar dance. The two selachar showed off their ancient dance, drawing cheers from Lucia and other guests.

Claygon and Selina waltzed their way past the circle, heading right toward where Alex and Theresa were dancing with wild abandon.

“Alex, Theresa!” she called, her hands linked with the golem’s lower hands.

“Hey!” Alex called. “Look at you, the last time we were at one of these parties, you were with the kids, now here you are with the rest of us adults, Selina!”

She rolled her eyes. “The last time we went to a party like this was at Isolde’s cousin’s, and we got attacked by monsters!”

“Well, we didn’t get attacked by monsters this time!” Theresa countered.

“Yeah, but you two got married in a place where we were nearly killed before! And, of course that’s where you would get married!” She stuck her tongue out at them. “Claygon, let’s get away before they get us killed!”

“I…do not think…we are in any danger…oh wait…it was a joke…yes…father…Theresa…I must go…before we are destroyed…!” he called.

Giggling, Selina danced away with Claygon.

Alex stared after his sister. “Is this a rebellious phase?”

Theresa wrapped her arms behind her husband’s neck. “No, she always liked making fun of you.”

He sighed. “Such is my lot in life.”

“Hey.” Suddenly, her face was very close to his. “What were you going to say earlier? Before we came back to the dance floor?”

“Oh that? Just the truth.”

“What truth?” Theresa asked.

“That you are my universe and that will never change,” Alex said.

She froze for a moment. “Alex, you wanted to take a picture of all of us, right?”

“Yeah.”

“We should do that right now.”

“Why?”

“Because the night’s getting on, and I’m about three seconds away from dragging you to bed. So you’d better get that done fast.”

“Oh. O-oh!” Alex shouted. “Alright, then!”

He turned. “Everyone! Could I have your attention for a second! I’d like to get an image of all of us, before the night ends! So, gather around!”

Pulling out Hannah’s phone, he caught the Traveller’s eye.

She smiled at him, then nodded.

Together, the wedding guests met in the centre of the room.

Alex conjured a pair of Wizard’s Hands, giving them the Traveller’s artefact, they floated in front of his guests, pointing it toward the smiling group.

All smiled.

All were together.

And then came the click.

What was captured was a perfect moment in time.

A moment of Heroes.

A moment of lovers.

A wonderful moment of celebration among giants, wizards, priests, bakers, scholars, warriors, and, indeed…

…fools.

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