Chapter 148: Home Sweet Home

Chapter 148: Home Sweet Home

“The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.”This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.

Wendy Wunder

It had been a long day. It was nice to finally be home or at least it had been before we outlined exactly what had transpired that day during what had supposed to have been a peaceful amble to the eastern side of the island.

“You what!?” Mother practically screamed at us when we started to explain.

“Well . . .” Father attempted to cajole her into something closer to a reasonable level of critique. Mother was not handling it very well so far.

“Could have happened at any time to anyone,” Aleera interjected not ready to admit the disaster it had been even though it could have ultimately gone a lot worse.

“Not my fault.” I pointed out. I felt it was important to state this as soon as possible.

“One at a time from the top.” She demanded. “In fact, Lady Acacia if you would do the honour of explaining what ridiculous new insanity my family have been up to, I would be most appreciative.”

Lady Acacia began to explain the day. A summary of our peaceful sail across the lagoon, the climb past the eastern woods and the eventual placement of the stone marker. Then the eruption of monsters from the very earth beneath our feet. Although her retelling of the incident seemed to imply it was a less significant affair happening a little further away than perhaps it had.

“So, it is Archbishop Grigori’s fault.” She needled down on picking someone to blame for the catastrophe.

“Yes and no.” Lady Acacia agreed and defended at the same time. “While emplacing the Lodestar marker certainly was the impetus for them charging forth the problem already existed, they merely lanced the boil so to speak.”

“Then what happened? I assume the church at least dealt with the problem seeing as you are all standing here in front of me now.” It did not sound as if she would be forgiving the church anytime soon for their most recent actions. But then she still held a significant bias against the church.

“Well upon their release they targeted the closest individuals, which was us.” She kept her calm in the face of our mother’s anger. It seemed to be going smoother with her retelling the day. Perhaps without all the strings tied between our hearts as family, it was easier to listen rather than jump on top of one of us as we explained.

“So how did you survive?” Mother asked now invested in the tale Lady Acacia was spinning.

“Through distraction and building a strong enough defence to withstand their encroachment.” Lady Acacia detailed, though it appeared even she was struggling to think of how exactly to word the flight by foot of my grandfather and the return flight through the air I made in the best possible light.

“Did one of the compass knights lead them astray while you built a defence?” she asked.

“Not exactly.” She hesitated, turning to me, the traitor.

“Again, not my fault,” I added even though I knew it was a losing battle.

“I know. But needs must.” He unhappily replied. “It will be up to you and Sir Jacques to swing their opinions, particularly those of the Silversea family. I cannot stress how important it is that the church improves its relationship with the family in particular its two scions.”

“Have you ever seen anything like that before?” Bishop Bailie queried.

“Which particular eye-opening event are you asking about?” The Archbishop asked.

“Any of them, all of them. Did you realise that placing the Lodestar marker would have such an immediate impact?” He raised the point that had been worrying him.

“Of course not. Has that ever happened before when we have placed the other markers? That was simply bad luck. Not all coincidences are serendipitous.” He replied grumpily.

“Maybe it has happened we simply haven’t been there to witness it.” He argued back.

“Nonsense, the project was approved by the conclave of cardinals and we have heard nothing untoward from any of the places we have visited so far. We have been marking the edge of the compass for our entire circumnavigation.” He refused to even countenance the possibility.

“I will maintain my bearing. But what about them targeting the young Lord Silversea once they emerged or the fact that the boy can fly!” he fell into line with the Archbishop’s reasoning before raising the next event.

“It has to be his mana.” The Archbishop conjectured. “That or a talent. It is impossible to answer definitively with the little lord somehow blocking observe, inspect and appraise. Perhaps in time, he will confide in you. But that will take time and effort.”

“If he has a talent, then that would make him descended from a royal line.” Bishop Bailie had not quite given up his earlier idea.

“We have gone over this already. If he had the talent of air, he would have to be from Ostro and he is far too fair to be one of their descendants. No, it has to be the insane amount of mana he has access to.” Unwilling to consider that line of reasoning. “If you look at his mana production to weight ratio. It would be far easier for him to use magic to keep himself aloft. Besides did you not notice how his robe whipped around him forming wings between his arms and legs? I have never seen a man fly like that but an animal, bird or fish with skin, wings or fins now that I have seen, as have you.”

“Those flying fish were fairly similar in how they glided along the top of the water to evade their hunters.” Bishop Bailie agreed. “Just as well he wasn’t being hunted from the air as well as the ground.” He thought out loud as he recalled some of what they had witnessed on their circumnavigation. “How do you think the family discovered the method of flight?”

“They sail perhaps they saw something similar while fishing and the boy thought to try it. I highly doubt his parents would risk him asking him to attempt something so dangerous.” The Archbishop replied with what he considered the obvious answer. “Now I should not need to remind you that you are to support the boy in whatever he asks for. Whether he is descended from royalty or not he has the potential to be as powerful in time and if we can help him on his journey as well as support his people with their survival then it will be worth it in the long run. Not just you mind you, when Compass Knight Jaques returns I will prevail on him to be as open as possible maybe even offer a few lessons if the family allows it.”

“Of course, your excellency.” Bishop Bailie bowed somewhat sarcastically.

“None of that now.” Archbishop Grigori stopped him. “These are not commands, merely common sense advice. Make of it what you will. Now it is time for me to rest my head it will be a busy day of travelling tomorrow.” He added before dismissing him and turning in for the night.

. . . .

As the sun set on the horizon the world was cast slowly into darkness. The eight newly christened Sentinels of Wester Ponente had replaced the two knights who were making their way back to the town by foot around the southern shore of the lagoon and were watching the entrance to the depths.

“Keep your eyes open.” Arawn Silversword cautioned the four volunteers who had been stationed at the exit. “The rest of us will be sleeping in the tower. Send one of you to wake us in four hours and we will relieve you then. The two archers are to remain at a distance, shooting distance mind you and you two with the two shields and spears are to maintain the high ground. Don’t try to be a hero or make it a fair fight. If anything comes out you try to push it off the cliff first only engage in combat if absolutely necessary. The system does not care how you kill them and neither do I. Keep it simple.” He lectured the four before returning to the tower where the other four volunteers had already laid our rolls to sleep on and amazingly fallen asleep.

It would be fine. It was only one night and then they would see about building defences closer to the exit, traps, pitfalls, etc. He could intervene if anything came forth tonight and tomorrow he would set about exploring this new entrance to the depths. It had been a long long time since he had delved deep into the unknown. Not since he had arrived on the island all those years ago with a newborn babe in his arms. With a new entrance opening up maybe it was time to tell the family what it was he got up to most days. After all, he couldn’t be in two places at once and it was time for the people of Wester to stand on their own two feet. It might even be good for them.