Page 29 of Silver
“Then why did you stop?” I found myself asking.
She shrugged. “I knew it wasn’t something I could do forever, so I saved up to open my coffeeshop. My girlfriend at the time let me live with her in her small apartment so I didn’t have to pay any rent, which helped me save up rather quickly, or enough to get a loan at least.”
“I loved doing it, too,” I told her. “I, too, felt free in a way. I’ll always miss it, but even if I went back to doing it now, it wouldn’t feel the same, sinceI’mno longer the same.”
“It’s the same for me. I was a different girl back then, not that I have any regrets about how my life turned out. I’m actually proud of myself, and since I have no parents to tell me they’re proud, I like to tell myself that every day.”
I really liked Julie. I could see why Xari loved her so much. Maybe we could take her with us. I hoped we could.
“What happened to your girlfriend, if it’s not too rude to ask?”
“Oh, we just grew apart. No bad blood between us or anything. We found ourselves living together as roommates without anyromantic feelings between us any longer. And after that I’ve only dated men.”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “I’m mostly drawn to men, but she somehow just did it for me. I figure maybe another woman could be in my future, but who knows, life is wonderful and full of surprises.” She laughed, likely remembering she was now on a road trip adventure with four mages and their magical familiars.
Yeah, life truly was full of surprises.
Too bad our next one involved five new mages.
We’d stopped for gas and had been intercepted by five mages. They hadn’t attacked which was the only reason we were willing to hear them out.
We stood at the gas station, facing off against them, our familiars invisible while we worked to put the ward in place, not wanting to be caught on the surveillance cameras.
When the wards were fully set, we all told our familiars to turn visible. The mages surprised us by bowing.
“Our true leaders,” a woman spoke, her head bowed as she kneeled.
“We’ve come to your aid,” a man said, also bowing his head. We shared confused looks among us, all but Julie, who’d been pushed back inside the RV, much to her annoyance.
“Your mother sent us,” another woman spoke up, this time meeting our eyes. “We have news.”
“Okay,” Xari said. “Tell us.” It was his mother who’d sent them, so we didn’t mind that he took charge.
They stood, all with their hands behind their backs, showing us they weren’t hostile towards us.
“The leaders have given all mages who can create portals free reign over this world, promising them a brighter future if they kill you and return with proof. More mages are coming for you, and if we can find you, so can they,” the first woman said. “My name is Nikki. I’m a ward specialist, and I have a few things you need to add to yours. It is vital you stay out of danger as you find the next mage.”
“Okay?” Xari replied, likely feeling just as thrown as I was.
They were helping? Willingly? Knowing they could die of treason?
“One thing,” I said, unable to be quiet any longer. They all listened intently so I continued, “Aren’t you all facing punishments if they figure out you’re helping us?”
They nodded. “We know it’s a risk, but we all believe in the legends and have begun to get the word out, slowly infiltrating other mages’ daily lives with knowledge about the old legends, hoping they’ll put two and two together. Until then we help where we can.”
That seemed like a good enough reason, I guess.
“My name is Tim,” the man who’d spoken before said. “And I’ve dedicated my life to the legends, waiting for the day you would return. I knew when word got out it had happened. I was appalled when you all got shunned, telling every mage I trusted the truth. We’re a little over twenty thousand believers, all waiting for you to return and claim your rightful place as leaders.”
Twenty thousand?!
“Really?” Niam asked, just as blown away as I was.
Again, they all nodded.
“Our world was better when you ruled and since your souls are the same pure ones as before, we believe wholeheartedly you’ll bring our world to its former glory, no more unnecessary killings or corruption, which all seems to happen to newer leaders. Almost as if the power is too much for them to bear. They get greedy and lose their empathy towards their people,” Nikki said.
