Page 82 of An Archer's Reckoning

“Did one of you call me just now?” he asked, sounding like he just drank a barrel full of ale.

I shot Atikus a curious look. “No.”

He tumbled to the ground and bent his knees into his stomach, his hands squeezing his temples. Then he went limp.

Atikus hustled to Keelan’s side, checked his pulse and his breathing, then carefully lifted his eyelids with bony fingers.

“What is wrong with him?” I asked.

“I am not sure. It sounded like someone was communicating Telepathically in his mind.”

“Is it not common courtesy to announce one’s self when using Telepathy? High Chancellor Thorn would communicate mentally with my father. I remember them talking about the courtesies involved a few times. Nothing made Father angrier than to have his private thoughts interrupted without so much as a knock at the door, as he called it.”

“That is the custom. I do not think whoever was chatting in his head cared much about courtesy.” Atikus nodded. “What worries me more is how it affected him. I have never seen Telepathy cause a physical effect. It might be disorienting at first, but I have never known it to cause pain or render someone unconscious.”

“Do you think someone was trying to hurt him?”

“I do not know. It is possible, but it is more likely that someone is trying to find us.” He rose from his knees with a grimace. “As far as I can tell, he is sleeping peacefully now. Hopefully, we will learn more when he wakes. We should keep an eye on him as we finish our dinner. Our mystery communicator rudely interrupted my soup, and it has probably gone cold.”

Before I could think of a crack about the Mage’s grumbling belly, the man had the fire blazing and the soup bubbling once again. Atikus tested a spoonful before adding a few herbs and salt from his pack. Once satisfied, he ladled a bowl for both of usand settled back onto the ground near Keelan, happily slurping, with only a tiny amount dribbling into his beard.

I eyed him over my bowl. “Why is Keelan so important to you? I can see it when you look at him and hear it when you banter. He is more like a son than someone assigned to your team.”

“What I would not give for some fresh, hot bread.” Atikus crammed one more spoonful into his mouth before turning his attention toward me.

“You have a keen eye. Keelan and his younger brother, Declan, were given into my care when they were small boys.” A faraway look entered his eyes. “Life was simple then. I was the Chief Historian for the Mages’ Guild. I studied and taught every day, sometimes in the Academy with the future Mages. My boys roamed the halls and terrorized the staff, especially Declan. He was something else. Those two gave that musty old place—and a few of us musty old men—new life. Those were good days.”

I gave him a moment to think. “What do you mean they were given to your care? What happened to their parents?”

The spoon paused as it reached his mouth, then he set it down and looked up thoughtfully. “The boys lost their parents. They were very dear to many of us. Their sacrifice . . .” He trailed off, his eyes lost to the distant darkness.

“Their sacrifice?”

“Yes. Sacrifice. They literally changed the path of the world, the path ofeveryperson living then and now.” He rubbed his forehead and sighed deeply. “Great deeds demand even greater sacrifices. They never saw the fruits of their work. They never watched their boys grow into strong young men. They gave more than anyone will ever know; and, while the world changed for the better, we lost much in their sacrifice, too.”

We finished the meal in silence.

As we rinsed our bowls, I whispered, “What was Keelan like?”

Atikus looked up, one bushy brow raised.

“As a boy. What was he like?”

This brought a warm smile to the Mage’s weathered face. “A miniature version of what you see today—although, he was neverthatminiature.” The distant look returned to his eyes, but his smile remained. “From the day he walked into my office that first time, he was a serious, thoughtful child, consumed with protecting his brother. He was also kind and generous, offering to help with anything the Mages might need. He was a good boy.”

“Protecting his brother? What would a child living in the Mages’ Guild need protecting from? I thought you said those were good times.”

“Oh, they were, but Keelan felt the loss of his parents deeply. He could not understand what happened and tried to be strong. He hid his heartache, but I could see it written in his eyes. Watching him hurt like that was the hardest thing I have ever lived through. I came to love those boys beyond any measure.” His eyes clouded. “Keelan decided protecting his brother was his purpose in life. He never really bonded with other boys his age. They resented his attachment to his brother and the favor the Guardsmen showed him. I have never seen a boy surrounded by so many people look so alone, but Keelan never let Declan see any of it. He even protected him from his own inner trials. I sometimes wonder if that did not translate into his passion for being a Constable. He believes his purpose lies in protecting everyone now, not just Declan.”

“Is that what you think he is doing now? Protecting everyone? Even you and me?”

Atikus looked up, and brightness filled his eyes. “Of course, he is. The boy would not know how to put himself ahead of others if his life depended on it. He crossed the mountains to protect a girl who was kidnapped. He went into that temple to protect you. He tried to protect your brother, but your father wouldnot let him. Now, he is crossing a foreign countryside to protect you again, with the slender hope that peace is possible, that he might protect our people from the ravages of war.” His voice fell to a whisper. “He has grown from a good boy into a remarkable man.”

Something about Keelan’s finer qualities made me uncomfortable, so I decided to lighten the mood. “Is that a father’s pride talking? Has someone lost his Magely objectivity?”

Atikus snorted. “Magely?Your Majesty, I do not believe it’s your royal prerogative to make up words.”

I gave him a crooked smile and turned my chin upward. “The last I checked, as monarch,wemay do asweplease, MisterMagelyMage.”

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