Chapter 36: Choosing the Long Walk

  Riley yawned as her eyes opened, perched atop her bedroll. Carefully digging in her claws, she stretched before flopping to her side, bending her body into an arch with a yawn.

  “Laaaazy,” for a moment, she breathed and let the feeling of her meditation slide off as memories of yesterday percolated through her mind.

  “Plenty of fruit, plenty of fun, and no stress,” she rumbled with contentment before flopping on her side.

  Lordia, the larger of the two moons of Calaria, was high in the sky, surrounded by a canopy of stars. Its soft blue light filtered down amidst the rafters of Astor Hall, casting long, faint shadows across the stone floors.

  Across from her, glowing embers heralded a fire that had been piled high inside an ancient fireplace that took up much of that wall.

  Even hours later, the stones still radiated with heat, cutting the autumnal chill.

  Craning one ear up, she listened for Tobias, but all was quiet; righting herself with one final stretch, she reached within.

  ‘I’m out front, going through my training. Humbert is with me. I let you sleep.’ They were not words so much as projected thought, as the echo of his counting echoed like a distant drumbeat.

  “Form one, form two, form three,” Riley’s whiskers twitched as she pulled herself up, shaking out her coat, “No reason to laze about all day. It’s near enough to dawn, I guess.”

  She paused, cocking her head as a realization struck her.

  Clocks were not a big thing in Calaria.

  The prompt system helpfully opened her inventory screen, highlighting Tobias’ pocketwatch, but Riley willed it away.

  ‘Thanks, but no thanks, Sparky, ’ She projected, taking a deep, contended breath.

  A prompt window opened in her vision, and text began populating as if typed: ‘No problem, boss!’

  It was different here. The bells in the Cathedral tolled the hour, and the Guards kept the time in the night, and that was good enough for the Ashenrealm. Meetings came with windows of arrival, or someone came to fetch you.

  “The pace is different here; time is more like jazz; it’s fuzzy,” She mused, all as Tobias ticked away at his practice like the seconds of a watch.

  1...2…3…4…

  It made the world quieter and more peaceful; there was no incessant ticking, no drumbeat of the pulse of a day slowly running out.

  “But there’s pressure in other ways,” she mused, hopping out into the night.

  There was Tobias underneath the light of Lordia, his sword sparkling in the moonlight, as Humber sat on the steps watching.

  “Good morning, M’lady,” He whispered, setting one hand on the ground as if to rise.

  “Don’t get up,” she projected toward him alone, coming up alongside him.

  The old man nodded and looked up toward the moon, staring serenely.

  “Been up long?” She asked as Tobias reset and started again. His gaze turned quickly to her before he nodded and went back to his work.

  “A little bit past two, according to the young Master, Ma’am. I quickly found my rest after that feast, and oh my, the bed! Finding you and young sir on your bedrolls was most distressing, I must say.”

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  “It was just stew and fruit, and you deserve the bed. We’re used to sleeping the way we do; it’s actually kind of nice,” Riley replied.

  “It is more than I ever have had, Ma’am, at least since a child. It’s been long enough, at least, for me to forget such comforts. It’s like I’m in a new world,” he mused.

  “I know what’s that like. I only came to Calaria a year ago,” Riley replied with a yawn.

  “You’ve said as much, so surely you understand why I might find all of this so strange and beautiful,” Humbert continued to stargaze as Tobias stopped and toweled himself off, moving in their direction.

  “ I do, I guess… It’s just… as long as you’re with us, you get to be a person,” Riley felt awkward and fidgeted with her front paws.

  “Well, I’ve always been a person, Ma’am, but that doesn’t mean I could forget my station.”

  This old road was becoming too familiar.

  “How did you fail your trial?” Riley asked as Tobias walked up, a look of curiosity on his face.

  “I refused it, Ma’am. I… don’t like killing. My specialty was in plant growth and nature magic. I… don’t like hurting things, so I took the long walk,” his voice stammered as his eyes bore an ancient pain.

  “You can do that?” Her ears went pert.

  “A refusal is a failure. Same result,” Tobias spoke for the first time, “That’s brave. Tossing everything away.”

  “Or cowardly, if I may, young master. My understanding is that M’lady has command of nature and life, yet she did her duty,” the old man sighed.

  “It sounds like you were being true to something that called to you. That can be a hard burden, but you’ve borne it,” Tobias replied.

  “As you say, sir,” Humbert turned his eyes away from the stars and stared down at the ground.

  An awkward silence rolled in like a heavy fog.

  “So today. We get organized. Humbert, what are your orders exactly?” Tobias’ voice cracked the awkward silence like thunder, causing the old man to startle.

  “I’m to Check in at the Castle this morning and meet with Sir Wilhelm’s servants, acting as a liaison between him and your house. He’ll have a bounty sheet for me to bring to you; I was planning to set off at first light with M’Lord’s permission,” he explained, rising only to duck his head.

  “Fair, and I imagine he will ask you to report on our goings-on?” Tobias asked the question like he thrust a dagger.

  “Well, master… of course I have to report on what I’m ordered to report, but I will swear loyalty if you ask,” Humbert stammered.

  Tobias rested a hand on his shoulder, “No, make your reports. We have nothing to hide, but should you wish to swear to our house formally, perhaps that could be arranged. I am in need of a chief steward.”

  Humbert’s eyes lit up in surprise and awe, “You.. are certain, M’lord?”

  “You would do as well as any I could find, and you are familiar with our peculiarities. Think on it, let me know next week,” Tobias replied.

  “Very well, my Lord! I shall! Now, with your kind permission, I’d like to request my leave and prepare for the day. Will you and M’Lady require breakfast?” He asked.

  “That would require us having a functional and supplied Kitchen,” Tobias chuckled, “No, we, too, must be off to the city today. There’s work to be done now that we’re out of trials. I must go to the bank; that's something I never expected to say and need to arrange for some kind of furnishings.”

  He sighed, putting his hands on his hips and looking out toward the grounds.

  “And check in at the Cockatrice with Sabine.” Riley prompted.

  “If he’s reporting to Sir Wilhelm, until we know more, we play it close,” Tobias whispered over their soul connection.

  “Of course, M’lord, may I ask again if I may take my leave?” Humbert inquired.

  “Of course, feel at ease and enjoy the day. If there’s anything we can do to make you feel more welcome, please ask; you’re welcome here,” Tobias set a hand on the old man’s shoulder with a smile.

  “As you say, M’Lord,” Humbert took one step back, bowed, and left, scurrying back into the hall.

  ”We have a lot of work to do,” Riley said.

  “He’ll come around. We just need to give him time and let things settle. I think we all need that, but speaking of Sabine…” Tobias’ words trailed off as a com crystal appeared in his hand.

  It began to pulse with a pale blue light before gaining a steady glow.

  “Authenticate,” Came a strangely distorted voice.

  “Rowan and Greenbriar actual. By the Light of Arctos and might of Galdor, do we walk the path in Half Night and High Sun,” Tobias replied.

  “What’s your status?” Sabine’s voice was all business.

  “Trials completed. We’ve been assigned to the capital. We were going to stop at the Cockatrice today to check in.” Tobias replied.

  “It’s shut down for the moment. Lots of things are in flux, but this is how you find me…” She replied as Tobias and Riley shared a look.

  Second Tier Sorcery

  Thank you so much for reading!