Return of the Runebound Professor

It struck Noah that he might have come just a little bit too early. He’d really thought that Dayton would have some form of defensive system set up around his office, or at least something that would have notified him when someone broke in.

He idly passed the time by checking on his mindspace. It had been a while since he’d looked at how much damage it had taken, but he was pleased with what he found. Despite his recent deaths, the damage was less than it had been in a while. There were a few cracks where the white void spilled into the darkness, but it was mostly intact. The small amount of damage he did have was nothing to worry about. He dismissed it, not wanting to get caught while distracted.

But, as Noah sat there in the chair as the sun started to rise, washing through the window and over his increasingly bored features. Noah’s chin rested in his palm and he drummed his fingers on his jaw, having propped his feet up on the desk nearly three hours ago in an attempt to get more comfortable. He set another strand of hair aflame and swallowed the smoke, holding it within his lungs.

Despite the size of the throne, it was somehow completely awful to sit in. The cushion was too soft in all the wrong ways, making him sink into it and press into the hard backing. Every second that passed made Noah want to dig through Dayton’s office – even if it was only to spite him.

When the door finally clicked, announcing someone’s arrival, Noah was so lost in his own thoughts that he barely even noticed it. And so, when Dayton stepped into his office, he found Noah sitting in his chair, legs propped up on the desk and a bored expression on his face.

Dayton went white as a sheet. He jumped back, letting out a startled swear as black lightning erupted all around his palms. Idly, Noah wondered how he was generating the lighting. One of the basic laws of magic was that something couldn’t come from nothing.

Maybe static electricity that he’s gathered up? That could be it.

“Come on, now,” Noah said through a yawn. He raised a hand, gesturing for Dayton to wait, then finished his yawn. “We already saw how effective that was. Are you really going to do this again?”

“You,” Dayton hissed. He didn’t blast Noah, which was a good sign.

Dayton’s eyes flicked down to his clothes. He was still wearing the same garishly overpriced robes that he had been on the previous day.

“Who are you?” Dayton demanded, stepping into the room and slamming the door behind him. He locked it with a click. “You aren’t going anywhere until you give me answers.”

Noah burst into laughter. He swung his legs down and rose to his feet. “Is that so? I didn’t realize I had your permission to be here. Good to know I’m still welcome – but I think we’re both aware there’s absolutely nothing you can do to keep me anywhere.”

Dayton bared his teeth. “You think you’re so clever. Who do you work for? Trying to turn me against Father, are you?”

Noah let a surprised look flicker across his face. “What?”

“That’s right,” Dayton said, taking a step closer. “You got too smug yesterday. Overplayed your hand. I looked into Father’s worthless guests – and the idiot whose body you’re copying was in the markets yesterday when he was supposed to have been meeting with me.”

Noah didn’t let his expression shift. He just stood there, watching Dayton silently. Dayton took that as confirmation of his words.

“It would have been clever if you weren’t such an idiot,” Dayton continued. “Unfortunately for you, it’s too late for that. Now I know. Why don’t you drop the disguise and tell me who you really are?”

Noah snorted. “No. Why would I do something like that?”

Black lighting crackled across Dayton’s knuckles again. Noah tilted his head to the side.

“Come on, now. For someone claiming to be the proper fit to lead the Linwicks, you don’t seem to understand the situation at all. Do we need to repeat our conversation again at a later date? Perhaps when you’re in the shower, or during a dinner?”

“I don’t care when you come for me,” Dayton spat. “I’ll crush you like a bug, over and over.”

“And your people?” Noah’s grin stretched wider and he leaned forward, splaying his fingers across the table. “You’ve made a very sore mistake, Dayton. You seem to think I care about this little feud you have going on. I don’t. I’m sure you’re strong enough to keep me from catching you anytime soon – but what about the rest of your manor? The Linwicks under your protection?”

“An empty threat. They are replaceable. The strong will survive.”

“Only to a degree. There are only so many of you, after all,” Noah mused. “Dayton, of the Empty House. That would certainly be an imposing title, wouldn’t it? The strongest one under your roof, but only because all the others are dead.”

“No Linwick would support wholesale slaughter of our people,” Dayton growled. “I’m no fool. Your threats have no power behind them.”

Noah shook his head. He picked up the golden chalice that he’d set aside earlier and studied it, watching the sun reflect off the beautiful metal. He waited just long enough to make sure Dayton’s irritation had built even further before speaking again.

“You still don’t seem to understand,” Noah said. “I’ve already killed some of your men. What makes you think I wouldn’t just keep doing it? You were so proud about figuring out my warning, Dayton. Why does it seem like you haven’t gotten it at all?”

Dayton’s features went still. He pointed an accusatory finger at Noah. “You – you aren’t a Linwick at all. Are you even working for one?”

Noah just smiled. The more Dayton came to conclusions on his own, the easier it would be to manipulate the man even further and get him angry. And, the angrier he was –

A streak of black lighting tore through the room and slammed into the wall with a loud explosion. Static energy arced across Noah’s skin and his hair stood on end.

“Tell me!” Dayton commanded. “Who?”

“Throw a temper tantrum, Dayton. See if whining and complaining gets you what you want. For every visit of mine that you waste, I’ll take something from you. The guards were a pre-emptive fee for our first one.”

Dayton roared. The room buzzed, streamers of black lighting pouring off Dayton’s body. Noah’s hair lifted into the air, and he only had a moment to blink before a wave of electric energy ripped off Dayton’s body.

Noah combusted the smoke. There was a flash of pain as his body detonated, a ball of fire rolling out a moment before the electricity tore across the room, ripping the gold tiles to shreds and ravaging the shelves and everything within them.

Well, that wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for.

Dayton snarled, stomping on the ground furiously like a child whose toy had been confiscated at recess. He sent a bitter, hateful look at Noah’s remains, then turned and threw the door open.

Noah let himself be pulled away by Sunder’s call as Dayton’s furious calls for a servant echoed through his mansion.

***

The rest of that day passed without anything of interest. Noah, unable to access his magic once again, passed it stretching and training with Lee. He eventually seceded the training grounds to Isabel and Todd so they could get their own practice in, citing weariness and retreating to his room for the night.

When his headache passed, Lee was waiting.

“Again?” Lee asked.

“You know it,” Noah said with a wry smile. “I’m starting to run out of clothes, though.”

“There are probably some you could buy in the market.”

Noah shook his head. “No, that’s too dangerous. Someone could see us buying them and manage to tie things together. And even if they didn’t or you shapeshifted, they wouldn’t be exactly the same ones I’ve been using thus far. No, I’ll have Father get them. I’m sure he’s got connections already, and there’s no reason not to use them.”

Lee shrugged. “Whatever works. How do I help? I’m bored.”

“I thought you liked sitting around and doing nothing?”

“I did,” Lee said, crossing her arms. “But I also realized there’s only so long you can sit around and do nothing before you start to get bored with it. You need to do other things to make the sitting around feel even better. It’s a balance.”

“Very philosophical. For now, I don’t want two of us wandering around. We need to save that for when I’m meeting with Dayton, which will be later tonight. Just stay in the house and watch over the kids. I don’t think Dayton would send anyone after them now, since he’s pretty convinced Father is on his side, but I don’t want to take the risk.”

Lee nodded. “Fine.”

“Thanks,” Noah said, nodding appreciatively. He strode out of the house, stepping into the evening and making his way along the road toward Father’s mansion. After a short walk, he stepped through the open doors and headed downstairs.

Noah drew up to the door and rapped on it. A moment passed and it rumbled open, granting him entrance into Father’s office. Noah stepped inside and gave the older man a polite nod.

“Father.”

“Why are you here?” Father asked. “You were given a task.”

“I did not realize we’d put limits on my visitation,” Noah replied. He spotted the bottle of wine that they’d been drinking over the past few days and he grinned, walking over to take the bottle. “Do you mind? It’s been growing on me.”

Father pressed his lips together. “Feel free. It doesn’t have quite the kick that I’d been hoping for. Subpar quality.”

Noah took a swig from it. It really didn’t taste like alcohol at all – it was just sharp and fizzy, and the distant taste of mangoes really was like a siren call.

“I need some supplies to deal with Dayton.”

Father gave Noah a cold smile. “Having difficulties?”

“What? No. I’m running out of clothes.”

Father tilted his head to the side. “What? Are you attempting to seduce him?”

Noah tried to channel Lee’s dry responses as best as he could.

“No. Should I be?”

Father’s face didn’t even twitch. “No.”

“Well, that’s good. I still need the clothes, though – perfect copies of the ones I’m wearing. My clones don’t come pre-outfitted, you know. And I need them discretely. Nobody can know they were commissioned. Seven sets should be enough. Actually, get me fourteen.”

“Why do you need clothes?” Father asked.

“Because I want them,” Noah replied flatly. “You’re getting a good deal because I’m bored, Father. Are you really going to get hung up over something as unimportant as this? I told you. By the time the week is up, Dayton will flee the Linwick Estate. These will aid me in that task.”

Father shook his head. “Fine. They will be delivered to your rooms with dinner tomorrow. Is that acceptable?”

Noah smiled. He took another drink from the bottle. “Yes, I’d say so. Speaking of dinner – Brayden was meant to join us. Why didn’t he?”

“Brayden is my pawn. He is busy.”

“Well, unbusy him,” Noah said, his features falling flat. “I take promises I make very seriously, and we agreed to hold supper. Thus, he will be joining us.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“Then he won’t.” Noah’s voice grew softer. “But that would be an odd reason to start complicating our relationship, Father.”

Father grunted. “So it would be. Brayden is busy today. He will join you tomorrow.”

Noah smiled. “Fantastic. Count the days, Father. You’ll have to prepare my reward once Dayton is gone.”

The door ground open behind Noah. He took the dismissal, heading out of the room and making his way back for his house. Noah drained the rest of the bottle, then tossed it into a wooden trash bin at the edge of the hall as he left.

***

Father watched the demon leave, a pensive look on his features.

I cannot tell if he is playing games with me or not. Brayden clearly still has a soft spot for Vermil, so the demon obviously plans to exploit that somehow. Brayden will tell me what happens between them, so the meeting is no loss to me.

But the Soulrend Poison – now he’s playing games with me. Finishing the bottle because it tastes good. Bah.

Perhaps Dayton may actually be in some trouble.

Father’s finger twitched. Janice scampered into the room a minute later, her back stiff as a board.

“Yes, Father?”

“Bring me the tailor,” Father said. “Tell him I have a rush order for some suits. Emphasize our deal.”

“Bring him here, Father?” Janice asked, her eyes widening slightly.

“Did I misspeak, Janice?”

“No, Father. I’ll bring him here.”

“Good,” Father said, sitting back in his chair and waving Janice away. The frown on his face deepened.

The demon has laid down a challenge. Evidently, I am going to need a stronger poison.

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