Page 32 of The Night Prince 3
“Why do you say that?” Vex’s voice was toneless. Maybe he hoped that Declan wouldn’t ask. Maybe he wanted to shield his son from this.
“Maybe he shouldn’t ask, because the answers will be painful.” Finley shook his head. “Maybe he should just forget all of this forever.”
For some reason, he kept thinking of the layers of Blood Tattoos on Vex’s skin. Remembering this might cause a few more to be added to Declan’s body. Did he want that? No. Because each mark represented some pain, some hurt, some horrible necessity.
But the truth is the truth. Shying away from it isn’t wise, his conscience told him.
But his love for Declan meant he wanted to shield his best friend from whatever had caused him to scratch “Mother” into this stone again and again and again.
“The answers to these questions are not why you are here, Finley,” Vex reminded him.
Finley’s head jerked back up to look at the Night King. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m not here for anything! I was only brought along to lead the others through the Pedway and–”
“You’re here, because you want to fight by my son’s side,” Vex interrupted. “And you cannot do that as you are now. Without certain knowledge and perhaps… materials.”
Finley’s heart raced again, but this time with sick anticipation. The desire for magic was like a drug. Its aphrodisiac qualities overriding his system easily. And he couldn’t help Declan’s mother. She was dead and gone and… But he could help her son. He could be by Declan’s side no matter what danger they faced. It would be faced together.
“You brought me here,” Finley corrected, “because I’m your son’s best friend and he wouldn’t have wanted me to die.”
Vex flashed a white, sharp grin. “I could have saved you back on Earth. No, I brought you here, because… don’t you believe you have a story, Finley? A greater purpose? A fate?”
“I… I don’t know.” But Finley’s heart cried out otherwise. He found himself quickly adding, “I’ve always wanted to believe so. But that has seemed to be for others. Not me.”
Like Declan who is so special. But I’m not. Just strange and don’t really fit in.
“But what if it’s not? What if your story really takes off here?” Vex pointed, but not at the ground of the tomb, but towards a deeper spot in Illithor.
Finley found himself moving so that he could see clearly where Vex was pointing. He followed Vex’s pointed finger. It was aimed towards a low, bulbous tower that squatted, rather than soared at the end of a twisting set of stairs and pathways. The tower was a dark crimson color like old blood. At first, the base of it was completely dark, but then a brazier flared to life by an open doorway. Red flames. Finley’s heart thudded heavily in his chest. He swallowed suddenly bitter bile in his mouth.
“What’s that? What’s there?” Finley asked.
“That is the Temple of the Necrilem,” Vex said. “Where death is worshiped.”
Is? Not was? So death is still worshiped there?
“Death?” Finley thought of what Vex had said about how a human would get their power through death not life. Could this be a place where he could learn about that?
He couldn’t quite imagine how gaining magic from death would work. Draining life maybe? But that sounded wrong. That was still life. Reaching beyond life? How would he ever do anything like that?
Maybe there are answers inside. Vex wouldn’t point it out otherwise.
“To become a Mage, Finley, one must strive and suffer. One must reach. One must face great dangers inside and out. And one must do it alone.” The last word sounded like the tolling of a sonorous bell.
Finley’s head jerked again towards the Night King. “You want me to go there? By myself?”
“I want?” Vex’s eyebrows raised. “I thought we were talking about what you want.”
“If the way to discover magic I can wield is there I will go!” Finley stood up straighter, but he realized he was trembling slightly.
It had been one thing to walk through Illithor’s silent streets by Vex’s side, but to go alone? Towards an evil-looking temple and head inside to face who knew what? By himself? Without weapons or magic or anything?
It sounds suicidal. But he wouldn’t even tell me about that place if he thought I couldn’t succeed and come back with knowledge. Declan would kill him, for one. And I don’t think he wants me to die.
“You could go there. If you wish. Or you could stay here until Rahven and the others arrive to rescue you,” Vex shrugged as if it was no nevermind to him.
Finley’s shoulders curled forward at that description. He imagined Declan and the others appearing at the top of the path to the tomb. His best friend would have a look of determination on his face.
He would race to Finley. He would check him for wounds. When he would see that there were none–or just a few scrapes and bruises–he wouldn’t chastise Finley for being foolish in coming closer to watch the fight. No. He would say nothing other than he was glad Finley was okay. But inside, Declan would be thinking, “I will never let Finley accompany me on another dangerous mission. I need to keep him safe.”
