The Rise of Isaac, Books 1-3, page 86
Rogan nodded with a strained smile.
"And how is he?" She looked genuinely concerned.
"He's...alright." Rogan didn't want to worry her but he had left Wallace's home feeling concerned.
"Obsessive, no doubt?" Annalise softened, squeezing Rogan's arm.
He nodded, looking down at the floor. "He doesn't care about anything but himself or his work."
She sighed. "Don't be too harsh on him. He has a lot of guilt that he's trying to see right."
Rogan looked up. Since his father had left, his mother had never really talked about him. He'd assumed she hated him or perhaps stopped caring. "He's more loyal to his work than his family."
She smiled sadly. "He loves you. But I'm not sure Wallace will ever be able to focus on anything else until he comes to some resolution with his work."
"Did you know it was about Rimori? How he tried to stop him from entering Vale?"
Annalise nodded. "I knew. I supported him, actually. Even when he came home to Aleva less and less, I still stubbornly stood by his side. After he failed, I thought he would come home. But he never did..." Her eyes glazed over as they filled with a distant memory.
Rogan recalled the last time he'd seen his father. Wallace had given him some speech about responsibility that he could no longer remember. As a young boy, he hadn't understood. All he'd known was that his father was leaving him and he didn't know why. The pain cut afresh for a moment then he pushed it away, drawing his mum into a hug.
Annalise sighed, her shoulders rising and falling. "I'll see you soon. Take care of yourself in Theald." She stepped away, giving him a warm smile.
"I have to get a key yet," he said with a lopsided grin.
"You'll get one." She said it simply, filled with so much confidence in him that it made his chest puff up a little.
"Thanks, Mum."
"Stay in touch and out of danger." She grinned then turned on her heel, heading after Quinn's parents.
"Can I organise an escort back to your hotel, sir?"
Rogan turned to the sound of Johnson's voice. "Yes, thank you."
32
The Other Knight
Oliver jumped as the Flash Screen on the wall made a loud ringing noise. He clipped on the Flash Thought earpiece and focused on answering the call.
A man's voice emitted across it. "Oliver Knight you have a visitor waiting in reception."
"Oh, err, okay who is it?"
"He said he's your uncle."
Oliver nodded in surprise. "I'll be right down."
He headed out the door and spotted Rogan walking toward his room.
"Hey, how'd it go?" Oliver asked, hurrying over.
"Yeah, it was okay." He smiled sadly. "My mum and Quinn's parents were there too. Hopefully the appeal will help." He sighed. "Anyway, what are you up to?"
"Hadus is downstairs."
"Oh cool. Well, knock for me later."
Oliver nodded and walked down the iron staircase, finding Hadus there in his dark green uniform. He dipped his head in greeting as he approached.
"Afternoon. I have a little time to spare and thought I would see if you'd like to accompany me for a refreshment?"
"Yeah, sure," Oliver said, following Hadus out onto the busy street.
They walked in silence towards the circular road that surrounded the court. Oliver felt a little uncomfortable around his regimented uncle and struggled to think of anything to say.
Hadus led him to a cafe where he bought them two iced, citrus drinks. They sat at a table outside and looked over the street toward the shimmering blue pool.
Hadus cleared his throat. "It's good to meet you at last."
Oliver nodded, feeling guilty that he hadn't known of Hadus's existence.
"I'd like to apologise for my absence in your life until now. I was, for want of a better word, embarrassed of being related to your father. I suspected that you might not want anything to do with the Knight family."
Oliver shook his head. "I was brought up on Earth. I didn't know anything about the other worlds or my father until a few months ago."
"Ah, I see," Hadus said thoughtfully. "And what are your thoughts on our common interest now?"
Oliver's mouth twitched. "I think he's someone I don't want to be associated with."
Hadus laughed in a deep boom. "Yes indeed. I share your sentiment. Maybe two decent Knights can counter the heavy weight he has put on our family name?"
Oliver smiled. "I hope so. Presumably I have another aunt or uncle too? As mages come in threes?"
Hadus shook his head sadly. "We had a sister. The eldest, the Dud of the family. But she passed away when she was eight. I was a youngster myself and William was just a toddler."
"Oh, I'm sorry. What happened?" Oliver asked with a frown.
"She grew very ill. She wasn't well all her life and my parents took her to the best healers. But it was terminal, there was nothing they could do in the end. Harla was her name. I was too young to remember her but I have a vague memory of this lovely blonde hair she had. Though I'm not sure whether or not I imagined the memory now."
"I'm sorry," Oliver said sadly.
"Don't be, these things happen."
"Are your parents still alive?" he asked hopefully, imagining what it would be like to meet his other set of grandparents.
Hadus shook his head. "My mother died not long after William was reported to have been murdered. I believe it was the shock that started her on a downward spiral. Now she'll never know that he still lives. Considering what he has become, perhaps that's a blessing in disguise. My father died a few years ago, he grew tired after so many years of tragedy. Mages are meant to live longer than the average human but they were both beaten down by a hard life. At least they're at peace now." Hadus looked heavy hearted and Oliver felt a deep loss inside of him for the family he had never known.
"What about your wife? I guess you're married, being a mage?"
Hadus nodded and a warm smile lit his eyes. "Her name's Rayne. She'd love to meet you, no doubt. We live in Barlin together. I'll introduce you if I get the chance."
Oliver nodded with a smile. "And what about your kids? I guess I have a couple of mage cousins?"
Hadus's eyes darkened. "Oh...no. Rayne and I are unable to have children."
"Oh." Oliver swallowed, regretting having asked. "I'm sorry."
Hadus smiled sadly. "We're happy anyway. Though the High Mage would have me remarry if he could."
"What? Can he do that?" Oliver frowned, angered by the laws that forced mages to provide children.
"Yes, but I'm the commander of the seven worlds' army. I'm too much of an asset for him to risk severing ties with me. And if he forced me to leave Rayne well..." He set his wide jaw.
Silence hung in the air, broken only by the trickle of water and chatter of people close by.
"Our family has so much sadness in it," Oliver said grimly.
"That's true," Hadus said, sipping his drink.
"Can we hope to change that?"
"There's no change without hope," Hadus said with a light shrug.
"Were you and William close growing up?" Oliver asked curiously.
"Yes, up until William went to university we were very close. When he met in with Rimori, things changed. I graduated university just after he started and he began having less and less time for me. After he and his friends went off on their quest to win all of the Gateway keys, I never saw him again. I had to follow what happened next in the news.
"When I heard William had been killed, I moved to Brinatin to join the army here. I predicted that there would be a war, it was only a matter of time. And I wanted to be a part of it to get vengeance for my brother. Though things are different again now."
"Do you hate him?" Oliver asked in a quiet voice.
Hadus took in a slow breath. "I thought I did. When I discovered he was alive I could've torn him limb from limb. I blame him in part for our parents' deaths. But sometimes it's very hard to truly hate family. Perhaps a small part of me hopes that he'll yet see the light."
Oliver nodded, rubbing his thumb through the condensation on his glass.
"Do you hate him?" Hadus asked, watching him carefully.
"Yes. I mean, I want to. Desperately." His gut wrenched at voicing the doubt he'd been struggling with.
"Don't worry, I understand," Hadus said and an immense weight eased a little inside of Oliver. "He's your father and he's my brother. I wish to hate him too. Perhaps that makes us good people? If we are only able to wish to hate someone who has wronged us so deeply?"
Oliver was glad to have someone who understood. "Maybe, but it'd be easier if I could just despise him."
Hadus laughed in a low chuckle. "True but you mustn't feel guilty for feeling the way you do."
Oliver's stomach twisted uncomfortably.
"I see that it troubles you," Hadus said, his heavy brow lowering.
"He wants my sister dead. How can I feel anything for him but hate?" Oliver asked, anger bubbling up in his chest.
"Family bonds run deep. I don't know you Oliver and yet I'm your uncle. But it's more than a term, we're family. It's something intangible that we cannot fully understand."
Oliver nodded, meeting his uncle's eye. Despite how little time they'd known each other, he already felt a connection to Hadus. "You're right."
A woman in a dark green uniform hurried over to Hadus and saluted him. "Commander Hadus, my apologies but we have urgent business to discuss." She glanced at Oliver and they both stood.
"Forgive me, Oliver. Another time," Hadus said then followed the woman towards the Cerulean Court.
Oliver walked down the street heading back towards the hotel, feeling slightly lighter than he had before.
33
Into the Forest
The snowstorm finally eased and Ely stood to look out of the window. The snow was now several feet deep across the valley and the Gateway tree was caked in white.
A shape appeared up on the hill. He squinted, making out a large figure who sat atop a horse, leading another behind it.
"Someone's heading this way," Ely said, turning to Hamish who was still sat in his chair. His heart rate picked up a notch.
Hamish stood and joined him at the window. "That'll be one of my contacts. I sent a message to him, he'll take you into the city."
"Can I trust him?" Ely asked in a low voice.
"Implicitly. He has lost a lot because of Xen. He remains in his employment though, feigning loyalty to the crown."
Ely nodded and watched as the man drew closer. The horses were large, with long legs that allowed them to wade through the snow.
The man dropped from the saddle. His face was covered by a swathe of material, concealing his nose and mouth.
He tethered the horses to the banister on the porch and Hamish moved to open the door. The man ducked his head to enter and removed the scarf that covered his face.
A short, red beard was exposed. "Hamish, it's good to see you again," he said, revealing gaps in his teeth as he spoke. He glanced down at Ely suspiciously.
"This is Ely Fox," Hamish said. "He was on Xen's list. He's going to help us."
Ely held out a hand and the huge man took it.
"I'm Marley, one of the King's hunters."
"A hunter? Then perhaps you knew my grandchildren, Oliver and May Knight?"
Marley raised his eyebrows in surprise then smiled. "I did. They came on the rescue mission to save the Prince."
"It's good to see a friendly face," Ely said, releasing Marley's huge hand.
Marley nodded stiffly.
Hamish moved to the window, twitching the curtain and glancing outside. "It's probably best if you get on the road as soon as possible. Xen will send a soldier out here to check on me soon enough."
Marley nodded. "We'll head to Galice. We'll have to take the less trodden paths. I ain't takin' the chance of bein' stopped by the King's soldiers on the road. Can you ride Fox?"
Ely frowned. "I can certainly learn."
Hamish hurried away and returned a moment later with a parcel wrapped in cloth. "Here's some food for your journey. Travel well, and send word when you can."
"Cheers Hamish," Marley said, stowing the parcel inside his jacket. "I've news of your wife and son."
Hamish perked up. "What news? Are they safe?"
"They are. They live in moderate comfort in the palace. I caught sight of your son briefly in the horse yard, the King is puttin' him to work. He's...managin'."
"Good, good. Well, that's something. Thank you Marley," Hamish said, briefly gripping his arm.
"Come then," Marley said to Ely and opened the door.
The cold swept in and Ely quickly warmed himself with magic. He followed Marley onto the porch and gazed up at the huge horses. They were chomping on something inside feed bags attached to their muzzles.
Marley climbed onto the black stallion and Ely glanced at the chestnut horse apprehensively. He dropped down into the snow and moved around to its side, the stirrup almost above his head.
"Need a hand little man?" Marley asked, reaching an arm down to him.
Ely waved him away and reached up to the stirrup. He used magic to strengthen his arms and pulled himself into the saddle, wobbling a little as he righted himself.
The chestnut horse whinnied and whipped its head up and down. Ely firmly took the reins in his hands.
"Let the reins slide between your little finger and ring finger. You'll find it easier to grip 'em that way," Marley instructed.
Ely did as he was told and Marley untethered the chestnut horse from his own.
"What's its name?" Ely asked.
"Her name is Cloud, this is her son Snowshoe," Marley said, tugging on his reins and pulling his horse about. "Adjust your stirrups, they're too long."
Ely glanced down at the stirrups which hung a few inches below his feet. He waved a palm at them and, with a flash of blue light, they shortened to the perfect length. He slid his feet into them and pressed his heels down, finding a comfortable position.
"Kick her gently to start her forward. Tap the reins on the side of her neck in the direction you want her to go. Pull back to stop," Marley said then kicked Snowshoe and darted out into the field, following the trail he had already carved through the valley.
Ely patted Cloud's neck and leant forward. "Be a good girl for me now, won't you?"
The horse snorted and Ely say up straight, kicking her lightly behind the shoulders. She started forward after Marley and followed the trail instinctively.
Marley encouraged Snowshoe into a trot up the hill leading out of the valley. Cloud hurried after him, making Ely bump along in the saddle. He dug his feet into the stirrups and rose and fell with the rhythm, copying Marley.
At the top of the hill, Marley held a hand up and halted his horse. Ely pulled back on the reins too hard and Cloud stopped abruptly, bumping her nose on Snowshoe's rump.
Marley kept his hand raised as he gazed down at the road. The heavy clouds let little light into the world and the way ahead was a featureless landscape of white. Marley pointed then kicked Snowshoe into a fast canter. Cloud bolted after him, making Ely's stomach swoop in alarm.
They descended onto the snow-covered road, their hooves clopping on the stone beneath it. They continued on, hurrying over the next hill and moving at speed towards a vast forest in the distance. Green leaves poked through the white flakes that clung to the treetops.
Marley ducked his head under low hanging branches as they fled into the cover of the trees. Ely could stay upright, the branches not quite low enough to cause him trouble.
Marley headed onto a worn, muddy path where the snow hadn't penetrated the thick canopy. He slowed Snowshoe to a fast walk and Cloud swerved around him. Ely pulled back on the reins to slow her down and she stumbled to a walk, keeping pace with Snowshoe.
"How far to the city?" Ely asked, a little breathless.
"This route will take us half a day. It'll be dark by the time we reach Galice."
Ely nodded and they continued on in silence. The woodland was alive with birds and other wildlife, scurrying through the trees and across the forest floor. The horses seemed accustomed to the small animals that skittered about and didn't react to their presence.
The trees grew closer together until the daylight was almost completely blotted out. The wood quietened as they progressed into the heart of it.
A bird squawked loudly nearby then everything fell ominously silent.
Cloud slowed and stamped her feet, making Snowshoe whinny in response, dropping to her side.
"The horses seem upset," Ely whispered.
Marley nodded and retrieved a large, hunting blade at his hip. "The woods don't always make for safe passage."
Ely lifted a palm and lightning crackled between his fingers. Cloud flicked an ear back to listen to the sound. He patted her soothingly with the other hand but she kept a wary ear trained on him.
A twig cracked up ahead.
Ely and Marley gazed towards the noise into the gloom.
"What is it?" Ely breathed.
"Something's stalking us," Marley growled. "Keep close." He kicked Snowshoe forward and the horse grumbled a little before stepping onwards.
Cloud seemed more reluctant but Ely managed to get her going after a few encouraging kicks.
A piercing howl sounded from somewhere far away.
"Wolves?" Ely questioned in a hiss.
"The warwolves don't usually venture this far from the mountains. The only thing we have to worry about in this forest are the red bears."
"What are they?" Ely asked, wetting his dry throat.
Before he could answer a reddish, brown blur flew at Marley from the trees. He swung his hunting knife about too late and the creature took him out of the saddle. They collapsed to the ground in a flailing heap.
The beast was huge, almost the size of the horses. It was covered in thick fur with a long neck and a jaw full of snapping teeth. It had two pointed horns on its head that it was desperately trying to drive into Marley's side. Marley had his hands around the creature's long neck, wrestling the bear away from himself. His knife lay in the dirt beside him.
