Return of the Runebound Professor

An hour later, Vermil Linwick limped up to the Torrin family’s guardhouse. He bled from several lacerations on his arms and face, and a large bruise was forming beneath one of his eyes.

Every breath he took was labored, but still he pushed on. He barely managed to drag himself up to the guard standing by entrance before crumpling to the ground. The guard grabbed him, steadying Vermil.

“What in the Damned Plains happened to you?” the guard turned Vermil over, pressing a hand to his neck.

“I’m fine,” Vermil wheezed. “I – I bring news. News of a grave threat to Magus Evergreen.”

“What?” the guard pulled Vermil to his feet. “Who are you?”

“Vermil Linwick. I know you don’t trust my family, but this is urgent.” Vermil coughed into his fist, blood splattering across it. “I’m with Moxie Torrin, and she’s been deceived. There’s a rebellion being staged. Please, let me speak to someone in charge.”

The guard wasn’t in the best of positions. A member of their family’s greatest enemy was inches away from bleeding out before him, but his claim wasn’t one that could be ignored. No matter how untrustworthy Vermil was…

“Come inside,” the guard said, spinning and throwing the doors open. He slung Vermil’s arm over his shoulder and practically dragged the bleeding man into the guardhouse, calling out for help as he entered. “Captain Idan! Urgent news! We’ve got a really serious report coming in from a Linwick. Should we hear it out?”

Guards poked their heads out of their rooms in confusion, and a grizzled man with a white beard and bald head stepped out from his office, clad in plain civilian clothing.

“They were let in, sir,” another guard piped up. “I was on shift when he was let in. He’s in the ledger. Together with–”

“Moxie Torrin,” Vermil interrupted, coughing again. Blood dripped from his wounds onto the ground of the guardroom. “Please, this is urgent. I need to see the captain.”

“You’re looking at him,” the large man said. “Spit it out. What happened? Pick a fight you shouldn’t have? You shouldn’t have come to Blancwood if you didn’t–”

“Evergreen is in danger.” Vermil wheezed. “Listen to me you idiots. I was abducted while waiting for an audience with Magus Evergreen. I saw a perfect clone of me standing in my spot as something pulled me through a portal of some sort before beating the life out of me. I overheard them speaking before I passed out. There’s a plot to kill Evergreen!”

Within an instant, the entire room had gone from mildly interested to deadly serious. The captain flicked his hand and the guards burst into motion, moving to don their armor and weapons.

Even if the threat was an empty one, preparing for the worst was part of their job, and every second was precious if Vermil’s accusations were true.

“Them? Who is them?” Captain Idan demanded.

“I – I’m not sure. I think someone said something about a woman called… Rinna? Rinessa? I could barely stay conscious through the beating.”

“Rinella?” a guard asked.

“Yes! That was her name.”

“Hold on. There’s no way Rinella would betray Magus Evergreen,” one of the guards said. “I don’t believe this. We’re speaking to a Linwick, captain. This could be some sort of plot.”

“What more do you want?” Vermil demanded. He doubled over, coughing blood onto his fist. “I overheard something about her leaving to take advantage of the Archdemon. That must be who they replaced me with.”

“Gerald, report to Rinella’s estate immediately,” the captain ordered, pulling his chest plate on and fastening it in place. “Maximum speed. Locate Rinella. You have three minutes. Everyone else, prepare for a battle. Do not make any actions until Gerald returns.”

A guard gave the captain a sharp salute and blurred as wind enveloped his body and he shot out of the room at an impressive speed. He wasn’t quite as fast as Lee was, but he’d have given her a decent run for her money.

“What else did you hear, Linwick?” Captain Idan asked as he tugged on the last pieces of his armor and snagged a sword from where it hung on the wall, sliding it into a sheath and fastening it to his side.

“Nothing. I passed out. I can barely remember anything else. I dragged myself here when I woke up. They must have left me for dead in their haste.”

“If there really are two Vermil Linwicks, how do we know that you aren’t the fake?” Captain Idan asked. “This could be an elaborate ruse to get the guards all away from the rest of the city.”

“I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t want our families to get plunged into war. I care about Moxie and the Torrins. We’ve worked together at Arbitage, and I don’t want her or her students hurt. Look. I’ve got this.”

Vermil held the gourd at his side up. “Ask anyone that knows me. I always carry it around. The fake didn’t take any of my clothes or belongings, they just replicated it. They stole my bag, but left me with this because it was strapped to my belt.”

Idan stepped forward and examined the gourd closely. “If you’ve got a healing potion, why didn’t you use the damn thing?”

“It’s empty.” Vermil shook the gourd. “Just a good luck charm. You don’t have time for this. Evergreen is in danger!”

Many of the guards shifted uncomfortably, worry playing across their features. Idan’s eyes narrowed and he pounded a fist against the wall to get their attention.

“We will act on confirmed information.” Idan barked. “If the Linwick’s words are true, then we will know shortly. Do not panic. Remain in order and prepare to move out. Gerald will return shortly with more information.”

They didn’t have to wait long. Just a few minutes later, the door flew open and Gerald flew in, wisps of wind curling off his body as he slid to a stop and caught his balance.

“Magus Rinella was not in her main room, sir. Her guards stated that she had retired early for the day, but I was unable to verify that fact. Magus Billdan was outside her Estate and was irate that Rinella left midway through his audience after a mystery figure assaulted him.”

“Damned Plains.” Idan’s eyes widened. “The Linwick wasn’t lying. To arms! March for Magus Evergreen’s Estate immediately, and prepare yourselves for a battle. Gerald, go send for an Inquisitor. We may need their services. Linwick, remain here. We will speak after the battle. There are healing potions in the guardroom stocks. You may utilize one.”

The guards fell in line, rushing out of the guardhouse with Idan at the lead. Within seconds, the guardhouse was empty. Vermil wiped the blood from his mouth and pushed himself up to his feet.

His appearance shifted and the clothes on his body stretched as he filled out, taking on the muscular form of one of the guards. He grabbed one of the sets of imbued armor that had been left behind, pulling it on before turning back toward the door. Once he’d donned everything, he strode out the door in pursuit of Idan’s men.

***

“Magus Evergreen,” Moxie said, bowing her head respectfully. Noah mirrored the motion as best as he could, even though he wanted to do nothing more than put his fist into the smug old woman’s wrinkled features.

That move had served him well in the past, but it wasn’t going to get past a Rank 6 mage’s domain.

“Magus Moxie.” Evergreen’s eyes were cold. She looked down at them from the elevated chair she sat in, a familiar wooden staff in one of her hands. The chair was made of gnarled wood that had interwoven itself into a throne, rising up high behind her back.

The old mage had kept them waiting for nearly an hour before letting them in, and nobody had even left her large audience chamber. They’d been kept waiting purely as a way to remind them who was in control.

Just as Moxie had predicted.

“You called me to return, Magus Evergreen. I came as quickly as I could.”

“Do you expect applause for doing what you were meant to?” Evergreen tilted her head to the side. “It hardly matters. You are aware of why I called you.”

“Yes. You have decided that my services are no longer needed for Miss Emily, but I beg to disagree. We have made striking progress–”

“You are twisting her mind,” Evergeen said, her knuckles turning white as her grip on the staff tightened. “She disobeyed me. Do you understand, Magus Moxie? You have been a rotting influence, tearing her away from the proper path.”

“I never encouraged her to do anything like that. She made that decision on her own, and she didn’t disobey you, Magus Evergreen. She is young. Emily just wants some independence. She’s fiercely loyal to you.”

“Orders are not to be questioned.” Evergreen rose from her chair, her gaze thunderous. “Not by her. And certainly not by you. You have failed, Magus Moxie. You corrupt Emily, both on your own and with your poor choice in companionship.”

Her eyes flicked to Noah.

“Magus Evergreen, I–”

“Be silent,” Evergreen snapped. “Even now, you display how far your judgement has fallen. You brought a Linwick here?”

“You let me in,” Noah pointed out. “She brought me here because I have something for you.”

“Yes. I can sense the scroll in your bag,” Evergreen growled. “The one that the Linwicks stole from me.”

“And the one that I have come to return,” Noah said, pulling the scroll free and laying it at her feet. “All I ask in return is Moxie’s life. She has always greatly valued her family, Magus. I personally couldn’t care less about you, but there’s no reason to waste such a dedicated worker. This–”

Wood cracked, winding up around Noah and snapping over his mouth before he could finish his sentence. He grunted, struggling to free himself, but he was bound in place.

“You are a fool. You will not leave here alive.” Evergreen stepped down from her throne, her staff tapping against the ground as she walked toward them. A tendril of wood pulled the scroll from the ground where it had fallen and set it down on Evergreen’s throne.

She stopped to stand before Moxie, and the two of them were silent for several seconds.

“I won’t beg,” Moxie said, her voice stiff.

“I know. You are a Torrin,” Evergreen said, a slight smile crossing her lips. “You knew what waited for you. The price for failure must be paid. At least you will die as one of us rather than a pathetic worm fleeing for its life.”

Anger churned in Noah’s chest. He felt it run through his limbs and wrap around his heart, and he did nothing to stop it. Evergreen looked to be done with her gloating.

It was time.

Come on then, asshole. Let’s feed you some emotions.

My powers are not yours to command, Vines. Free food, on the other hand, I will not decline.

The wood binding Noah in place started to smolder as the temperature around him rose rapidly. Evergreen’s eyes snapped over to Noah as fire enveloped his body with a roar, ripping through her magic in a flash.

Noah stumbled free and drew in a ragged breath, raising his hands and forming two large spikes of superheated ash in the air above him.

“I won’t go down so easily, Evergreen,” Noah snarled. Fire and ash swirled at his feet, turning into a violent vortex. “Spit in the face of my gift, will you? I came in peace!”

Evergreen laughed. “Petulant child. You – a mage that has not even reached Rank 4 – dares to raise a hand against me? Come, then. I was going to give you a clean death, but I oblige your request and rip you to shreds, keeping you alive until every last nerve in your body has been frayed.”

Noah roared and thrust his hands forward. All the magic that had gathered around his body surged toward Evergreen in a red and black wave. Evergreen didn’t even budge. The attack drew close to her and parted, rushing past a large sphere that surrounded her body harmlessly.

“Attempting to attack me without a domain of your own. Idiot. Just like a Linwick.” Evergreen scoffed and raised her staff. “Are you done? If so, it is my turn.”

The flecks of ember that had passed by Evergreen gathered behind her. Azel materialized, his suit crisp and eyes smoldering with fire as a hungry smile crossed his lips. “No, Magus Evergreen. I believe it is mine.”

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