Chapter 562: The Lantern against Loneliness

Chapter 562: The Lantern against Loneliness

Carey beat Alex to the punch.

After his speech thanking everyone and the celebration that followed; once the bubbling winehoneyed milk in Selinas casewas done, Khalik and the dryads, Thundar, Isolde, Svenia and Hogarth went on their way, and the others got to work preparing for the next day. After all, there were discounts to honour.

Alex joined Troy and Lorraine in the kitchen and with help from a small army of Wizards Hands, the baking began. Carey had ordered a couple of apple tartssaying they reminded her of home in better timesso in no time, he put baking sheets in the oven then went to give her an update on how long it would be before her tarts were ready. The dining area was all abuzz, Claygon, Theresa, and Selina were busy getting it back to as sparkling as it was mere hours before.

Carey came toward him with the same forlorn look on her face and cleared her throat. Alex, might we speak a little in private. I was hoping to have a bit of a chat.

I was about to ask you the same thing, he said.

Truly? She looked surprised.

Yeah, you had this look on your face. It seemed like you might want to talk about something.

Well, youre not wrong on that account.

Do you want to talk here or upstairs?

Here is fine, just in a little corner of the room, perhaps? she said.

Of course. Alex gestured for her to follow him to a seat by the front window.

On the way, he threw Theresa a meaningful glance, and she nodded in return.

He pulled a chair from the table and offered Carey a seat, then sat across from her. The young woman from Wrexiff shifted uncomfortably. Ioh this seems silly, now that I bring it up.

Hey, you thought it was important enough to bring it to me, so Ill listen, Alex said.

Well, first of allI must ask about the bakery. I heard the most curious of rumours on the way here.

Oh, that. Alex snorted. Well, lets just say we had a wild opening.

For a time, they talked about simple things. Alex told her what had happened that morning: the opening, Goverts attempted sabotage, all of it. She nodded along, more than a little surprised.

Then anger entered her eyes. Those that spread falsehoods are the ultimate form of wretch, she said with heat. Im glad he met justice.

From there, the subject shifted to the expedition: they spoke of their roles, and upcoming experiments planned for the dungeon cores.

I suspect Professor Jules has something in mind for live dungeon core testing, she whispered. You must have seen the facility being built north of the castle? It looks ever so much like a prison, and I suspect that is exactly what it is: a vast holding cell for a live dungeon core.

Alex nodded, remembering the building. Its probably either for that, or maybe live Ravener-spawn, he said. Maybe both. If thats her plan, though, she hasnt said anything to me about it.

Truly? Carey appeared surprised. You two seem so terribly close: I would have thought youd be the first to know.

Oh no, we are close, I guess you could say, but Professor Jules is still all about protocol. If shes got something planned for live dungeon cores, Ill find out when procedure dictates I should find out and not a moment sooner.

Indeed she said, smiling wryly. I simply thoughtwell, you seem to be closer to her is all. Forgive me, if that was presumptuous on my part. You seem to make friends so easily, after all

She paused, for a moment.

Come now, Alex, are we truly friends? she asked. Its not lost on me that you used to go to terrible lengths to avoid me.

The young wizard froze, a wave of guilt forming in his chest. Well, uh he paused, trying to think of what to say.

She waved a hand, dismissing his words. Its alright, Alex; even I realised it, after a time. You were very polite, and I do appreciate that, but it always felt like you were a deer trying to escape from a trap. And, to be honest, if your relationship with Uldar was so lacking, I can see why. My speeches about him must have been absolutely torturous. II apologise for that.

Carey, Carey, its okay, he said quickly, his guilt feeling like a lead ball in his core.

He wasnt going to lie and say that her early attempts to drag him into Campus for Uldar werent irritating; theyd annoyed the hell out of him at the time, that much was true, but a lot of the reason for his irritation came from the fact he was Marked.

Without knowing it, every attempt shed made to get him inside a church of Uldar in Generasi, would have put him in danger of discovery and ultimately, capture. She didnt know that. She couldnt know that.

And there was no way he could tell her that.

Alex knew Carey, that much was true, but she was in a crisis at the moment. How would she react if he told her he was the Fool? His friends had pretty much accepted the information calmlyexcept for Cedricbut he didnt know Carey that well, andwhile she seemed to be moving away from Uldarhed seen people return to toxic relationships because of fear of being alone.

And right now?

Carey was very much alone.

He sighed. Look, Im sorry if I wasstandoffish before, or distant. Its like you said, I was going through my own thing with Uldar. AndI didnt think going to Campus for Uldar was what I wanted at the time. But look, now we have something in common: we both controlled dungeon cores, and weve both had to question our own gods motives because of that.

Alex pointed to himself. So if you ever need someone to talk toabout that or anything else, I can be that guy. Youre a good person, Carey. And youre a damned brave one: most people would have quit the expedition after the castle was attackedafter you and I were targeted.

Well, thank you, I supposeI still want to serve Thameland, even if its not for Uldars sake she said slowly. Im still willing to give anything for the cause: whether the Ravener is some wild wolf or Uldars hound, it must be vanquished forever. And I am willing to do anything to see that happenbut I simply wish that there was less of a hole where my comfort from Uldar once was.

Well, lets see about filling that hole again: are you looking to pray to the Traveller? he asked. I thought you were thinking of praying to St. Avelyn.

She blushed. Well, to tell you the truth, AlexI tried to pray to St. Avelyn. But I felt nothing, just as when I prayed to Uldar. So, I tried calling on the TravellerandI had just the warmest feeling. Like a blanket wrapped around me.

Alex couldnt even hide his glee.

Hannah was reaching out in her own way. Still trying. Still fighting. Still protecting. And in one fell swoop, he knew he could offer Carey some comfort, while bringing more power to Hannah.

With an enthusiastic smile, he leaned forward. Listen, Im about to be a giant hypocrite. Because now Im going to be the one going on about who I worship. Ill tell you as much as I can He knew he couldnt tell her about the Travellers true origins. about who the Traveller was, and what she did for Thameland. In some ways, she was like you, she gave everything she could.

And so he told her about Hannah and all the things shed done for Alric, for Thameland, and for the future. He couldn't go into every detail, but he could speak of her life after her battle against the Ravener, and how she too had wanted to bring the cyclesto an end.

And he told Carey of howin the endshe had given her very life in her quest to end the cycles.

For her part, she listened like an enraptured child going to sermon for the first time, hanging on Alexs every word. He was already wondering if Hannah just might have a new convert.

By the end of his tale, Careys eyes had grown warm.

Light lay in them.

Her face softened.

Before his very eyes, her loneliness seemed to fade away.