Rise of the Blade - Charles Moffat [102]
"Talk about impatient!"
The Doctor paused in his tracks but did not turn. That voice was not the voice of Chev. It was a voice filled with experience and undeniable brotherly love.
Pierce turned slowly and met the eyes of the warrior who stood before the adamantite column.
He was tall and broad, with short brown hair and sharp curled moustaches. He wore simple riding leathers and boots with silver heels and toes. He smiled out at Pierce from under those moustaches and gave a quick nod as a salute.
Pierce nodded in return, openmouthed as he took a step closer.
"What's wrong Pierce? You've seen ghosts before!" The warrior waited impatiently.
The Doctor swallowed. "Never one that was my friend. How long can you stay?"
"Not long," Witter admitted. "My goddess will want me back shortly. Chev pulled the strings that got me here, of course, if you're wondering."
"If you see him, thank him," Pierce whispered.
"I already have and he hears you better than I do at the moment so speak up!"
The warrior blushed and walked forward slowly, approaching his friend with uncertainty. "Does it hurt being dead?"
"You know that feeling when your leg falls asleep? It's kind of like that. It doesn't hurt and it isn't enjoyable. It's just kinda numb. There are some plus sides however!"
"Like?"
"Old friends you get to see again, along with new ones you make. The pleasures of the flesh are gone, the pleasures of the mind and soul remain," Witter replied. He peered at Pierce, studying him. "I hear you've been picking your fights with gods lately?"
"The rumours get around even up there eh?"
"They do. I have some advise for you though before I go."
"Which is?"
"It is time you stopped and enjoyed your life Pierce. The Harpers aren't your thing, even if it was mine." The ghost looked upwards at the moonlight streaming through the ceiling. "Besides, you're a father now!" he said with a wink and disappeared like a snuffed candle flame.
Pierce found Nicole in the rose garden outside sitting under a huge maple. Upon first seeing her, he delved into her mind and saw that she knew nothing of her impending pregnancy. Indeed, she wasn't even pregnant. Yet.
She looked about when he stepped on a twig and smiled up at the warrior. Then she frowned when she saw the axe whirl past her head and thud into the tree beside her. She swallowed and looked back at Pierce. "Are you trying to impress me or kill me?"
Pierce shook his head. "Neither." He grabbed the hickory handle of the axe and yanked it out of the tree. "But I would suggest moving because I intend to chop this tree down."
"Might I ask why?" came a perturbed voice from above. "I happen to like this tree!"
"It's also going to make a great statue, so get down and introduce yourself to Nicole okay?" Pierce didn't wait for the drider to come down and immediately started chopping away at the tree.
The drider muttered from above and floated down to the ground below with a levitation spell. He landed in a bow before the stunned Nicole.
What happened next, Pierce didn't notice or care. He knew everything would fine in the end so he simply continued to concentrate on the tree. His foresight was working too frantically to worry about seemingly trivial things.
The axe thudded with a rhythm all its own as he continued to work out a huge wedge in the tree. He could see the statue unfolding before him as he pondered every detail right down to the curls of Witter's moustaches. Everything was so perfectly clear and simple.
The druid and noble woman sat down beside each other, content to watch the drama that was unfolding before them on the trunk of the massive tree. They were not the only ones who watched from afar. Only fifty feet away a dark shadow sat atop the Academy's wall and watched.
Finally he dropped to the ground below and collected the rope lasso hidden under a juniper. He took