Curse of the Shadowmage - Mark Anthony [115]
"So what will you two do, now that you are no longer Harpers?" Morhion asked after a while.
Caledan shrugged. "I suppose, when I'm well enough, I'll think of something. After all, I had seven years practice not being a Harper. It won't be that big a switch… for me." His eyes flickered toward Mari.
Mari took a deep breath. "Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be a Harper like my guardian, Master Andros. When I finally donned the moon-and-harp badge it was like a dream come true." She shook her head sadly. But that's what it was. A dream. I thought I loved the Harpers. I didn't. It was an ideal I loved. Still, after all we've been through, I don't hate the Harpers. How can I? They are simply men, mortal and fallible. Just like the rest of us." She gave a wry smile. "Besides, they've kindly decided to leave us alone."
"So what will you do?" Morhion repeated intently.
She tossed her auburn hair, winking at the mage. "Oh, like Caledan, I'll think of something. The ideal remains. And the Harpers hardly have a monopoly on fighting in the world."
After that, they sat together in silence. Finally Mari stood. "I'm going to turn in." She moved to the staircase, then paused to cast a glance over her shoulder. With a Morhion realized that her gaze fell, not on Caledan, but on himself. The shadow of a smile curled about her lips. Then Mari disappeared upstairs. "You love her, don't you, mage?" Morhion stared at Caledan in shock.
"Don't act so surprised," Caledan growled. "I'm an invalid, no an idiot. I'm right, aren't I?" At last, Morhion's cool expression melted. He nodded. "Yes, you're right." He shook his head. "But what does it matter? It is a mage's lot to-"
"-to dwell in solitude," Caledan finished in annoyancy. "Yes, yes. I've heard you spout that foolishness a hundred times." He sighed in exasperation. "You know. for all your knowledge, you mages can be pretty bone-headed sometimes." A gentle note crept into his gruff voice, "She cares for you Morhion. Even if you can't see it, I can."
Morhion opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out.
"And she's afraid," Caledan went on sadly. "She's put a brave face on it, but it's true. Mari has just given up everything that was ever important to her. She's afraid- and she's lonely." He reached out to grip Morhion's hand. "Don't you think you should go talk to her, my friend?" At last Morhion nodded. "Thank you," he said quietly. "For everything." With that, the mage stood and disappeared up the stairs.
For a time, Caledan sat by himself in the light of the dying fire, a bemused expression on face. Suddenly a shudder passed through his body, and he doubled over in his chair. He clutched his chest, stifling a moan of pain. Despite all Estah's efforts, the wound on Caledan's chest had not healed. Nor would it ever.
Kellen rose from his corner and moved into the light. Caledan looked up in surprise. "Kellen," he gasped hoarsely, trying valiantly to mask his pain. "I didn't you were still there."
"We should go to bed," Kellen said simply.
Caledan nodded. Weakly, he tried to rise from his chair but slumped back down. Kellen gripped Caledan's arm and draped it around his shoulder.
"You can lean on me, Father."
"Thank you, Kellen," Caledan whispered gratefully. "You're a good son."
Later, Kellen sat on the bed in his attic chamber, bathed in the light of a single candle. Before him was a small iron box. Morhion said that iron blocked magic, which made it useful for storing enchanted objects. Carefully, Kellen opened the box. Inside were two things. The first was the set of obsidian pipes. The second was the Shadowstar.
Lightly, he ran a finger over the star-shaped medallion. The Shadowstar itself was not evil. It had been by the god Gond for Azuth, the High One, as a weapon against evil. Still, when he touched the medallion, Kellen could feel a distant, menacing presence. The shadevari.
If Kellen listened,