Caed was on his way back to the stable when Valcoth paid him another visit.
You have been requested.
Not this again. Stopping in his tracks, Caed turned to look towards his shadow. As expected, there were two crimson eyes staring up at him from its depths. He shifted his weight to steady the bulging bag in his hands.
“Do we have to have this conversation again? I am not available.” He said, venom dripping from each word. This was growing tiresome.
She is no longer asking. Raker has been sent to retrieve you.
Oh, hell. Caed grimaced just at the thought of that freak invading his space. Worse, if he saw Veleria it could end in disaster. He looked around, considered his options, then sent a wave of force towards Valcoth to banish the little bastard.
He was disappointed to find that Valcoth had already fled. Although he knew that Raker could track him once he had a clear enough scent, it was likely that Valcoth would help him get a head start. Were they acting optimally then the little shadow would simply guide him the entire way.
Caed sucked his teeth. He could scream. What was so important that Alk’Hath was willing to send that psychopath his way? Just to threaten him? What a terrible turn of events.
He returned to Veleria before nightfall. Before he left he had untied her long enough to allow her redress, then merely changed the position she was in against the beam. It would be kinder on her wrists.
Veleria watched him pick at at his meal until he offered her some.
“I don’t actually have any need to eat.” She admitted. Caed made a face in agreement and then ate his offerings.
“You really are something,” said Caed through a mouthful of bird and potatoes. “You don’t need food, nor water. What about sleep?”
“I just sleep because it passes the time.”
“Does it also let you see him?” He pushed the plate away, watching as realization dawned on Veleria’s face.
“You…You know about him? Caellach?”
“Caellach? Is that his name?” Caed leaned against one arm. The other rested atop his knee. While she considered her response, she looked Caed over only to see just how thin he was. More than half his plate was left. She could see his ribs through the loose shirt he wore. He didn’t wait for her to comment. “This other self of yours shattered my hypothesis that you were a living source. While you do appear to have some similar effects, when Caellach assumed your body it looked to me like he was trying to pull on the leylines…Sort of.”
There was a lot to take in with what he just said. Veleria decided to start from the last part.
“What do you mean by leylines? And what do you mean ‘sort of’?” She leaned in as close as she could reasonably get without bruising her wrists.
Caed shrugged.
“Plants need sunlight, right? Fire needs fuel. Sorcerers and wizards need fuel, too, and the leylines are that fuel. They are naturally occurring sources in our world.” He started to tap his foot. “While at first it seemed like he was trying to use the leylines, your Caellach was actually taking back what you were projecting. That power was coming from within you.”
Veleria didn’t notice that her mouth was slightly ajar.
“Whatever he was trying to do failed, for whatever reason. Which reminds me, have you noticed that sometimes little embers come off you?”
She hadn’t. Veleria looked down at herself. Caed waved his hand in front of him.
“Not right now. It happens occasionally.” He said, shifting his weight to his other arm.
“Alright, well…” Veleria grimaced. “You said Caellach ‘assumed’ my body? Is that what happened between your attack and me ending up here?”
“That’s right.” Caed put both his knees up and leaned into them. “My sorcery had no effect on him. I have to wonder what he was going to do with all that power he pulled in.”
He was going to burn you alive, thought Veleria with sudden clarity. Why had he failed? While she certainly had no love for her captor, the objective horror of setting Caed alight certainly frightened her. Even he did not deserve such a fate, right? He hadn’t actively harmed her. Or even Adrian.
“Caed,” she met his eyes, “what am I doing here?”
He was quick to respond.
“For my knowledge and understanding.” Caed got to his feet. “Our world has faced a decline in magic for centuries now, and from what I understand Cromwell has been at the center of those efforts. You and this Caellach are clearly quite special. Perhaps I let myself worry that Cromwell would put you in a cage like all the old tomes and shit he’s stolen over the years.”
While he picked up after himself and made his way to the adjoining room, he glanced back towards Veleria once more before leaving her alone for the night.
“Our time together is temporary. I will learn what I can before Cromwell comes to retrieve you. If luck is on my side, then I may even negotiate with him.”
“What would your terms be?” Veleria asked, relaxing against the beam behind her.
Caed donned his signature grin, “Istvar has shown me how Cromwell might defeat Alk’Hath. That knowledge, for my freedom from the bitch? One hell of a deal.”