Time of the Necromancer: Chapter 40

“So you’re leaving?” Vincent asked.

The four Zodiac looked between him and Morrigan. They were at the south gate of the Free City. The air was clear and the sun was hanging low and beginning to set. There were barely any clouds in the sky and the weather was perfect for travel. Each of them had a horse and each one was ringed with saddlebags mixed with food, maps, and supplies.

It had been a long week since they’d returned from the Necropolis. Nothing would ever become normal like they were before they went over there. Too many things had happened. Too many things had changed. But one good thing that had happened was the fact that the Free Lady was back in her city. The Free City was itself again, moving every day while separate and a part of the world at large.

Gemini nodded putting his hands on the back of his head, “Yeah. We learned about Princess and Scorpio. Saved the world. It’s time for us to go back home.”

“Our parents are gonna kill us when we get home,” Cancer made a face. He could hear Leo’s scolding and feel Pisce’s heavy gaze on him.

“I won’t let them,” Virgo said puffing out her cheeks. “We couldn’t have done this without you two.” She stepped away from them and then rushed over and hugged Morrigan and Vincent pulling them closer to her. She was a shorter girl but her hugs were like an iron grip.

Morrigan and Vincent grimaced at being forced together like this but they each patted the girl on the back. And when she beamed at them they couldn’t help but relax under her gaze. “Let them breathe,” Scorpio said to Virgo as she pulled her backward. “And we couldn’t have done it without you either.”

“You came to my rescue first,” Vincent said softly.

Morrigan rested her hand on both of their shoulders lightly, “You’re both daughters of Cerise. I’m just glad that you found your way home. Well, one of your homes.”

Scorpio looked at her and lowered her head slowly. Stepping away from Virgo she walked toward Morrigan. She stared at her struggling for the words and Morrigan pulled her into a very slow hug. Scorpio hugged her back tightly. “You’re strong Scorpio. My only regret is not getting to see you grow myself. But I’m sure it will be extraordinary.”

“And you two,” Vincent added waving at the twins. “I get the feeling telling you to stay out of trouble would be a waste of time.”

“Trouble? Us?” Gemini asked and split into two before reforming. “I’d never.”

Cancer elbowed him hard and wrapped his arm around his neck, “Yeah I bet.”

Gemini laughed but pointed, “Hey next time why don’t you guys come our way. Castles big enough for all of you.”

“To Nerodala?” Vincent asked and mused. “My maps could use some updating. Maybe.”

“We’d love to have you,” Virgo said.

“Indeed,” Scorpio added. “We should go. It’s going to be a long trip for us.”

“Probably. But you may be able to shave some distance off the trip,” Vincent said looking beyond them to the gate above.  For the barest of a second, he saw her floating in the sky. Billowing robes covered her face but a pair of calmly glowing eyes rested on him before fading away.

They said one last round of goodbyes and the four of them mounted their horses. Waving they watched as the Zodiac road out leaving their desert city behind. He swore he could see hints of green beyond the gate before it was lowered again. Morrigan took a deep breath and glanced at Vincent.

“So do I call you your majesty now or what?” Vincent asked glancing at the slightly taller woman.

She shook her head ignoring the sarcasm, “No. My Queen’s core has already begun its departure, Her new vassal found. In a few more weeks it will vanish to start the process of evolving into Her.”

“Is that why the Harlequin left?” she nodded. “And when she’s back to being, her old queenly self, you guys are leaving?”

“You sound saddened Vincent. Are you going to miss us?” she asked with a small smirk.

“Of course I’d miss you,” Vincent smiled at her. “Your part of our little family. Feels like ages since we first met.”

“You a drunk bandit at a bar.”

“And you a foreign knight with a high opinion of herself.”

They laughed together, soft and warm but also tired. Even with a week of rest there were things to take care of. They walked together in their comfortable silence when Morrigan said, “Bandit I think we should find our twins. And try to enjoy the evening.”

“I’d like that. Alison said they’d be by the eastern gate,” he smiled glancing toward the sky. “But let’s take the slow way. I want the walk and they need the time.”

Ryza looked at the pair of twins before her and smiled, “You didn’t have to see me off you know. We could’ve gotten there together. Well, I could have. Orion would’ve gotten lost.”

Orion’s eye narrowed, “I should just let you wander the countryside for a month or two. See how many times you almost get robbed.” Ryza let out a nasty laugh at their expense.

“We wanted to make sure,” Alistair smiled.

“You’ve both been there for me since we got back. For this entire week. I appreciate that. Even if it was a little weird.”

Ryza had both hers and her brother’s shovels against her back. They were heavy and awkward to walk with at first but after some time and a bit of magic she got used to it. Both of her eyes were silver now and always had a faint glow to them. Shriek hadn’t liked it at first but now he was perched on her shoulder comfortably.

Coal nudged her back with her muzzle and Ryza turned toward the horse. She chuckled stroking her face slowly, “You’re eager to be moving. I can feel it in you. You’ve got a lot of spirit. I hope we can become friends.”

“Where will you go now?” Alistair asked.

“I have someone I want to go meet. Someone that my brother wanted me to meet,” her smile fell at the edges but she looked up. “After that, I don’t know. Even with my brother’s magic and methods, there’s still some things I don’t know and want to learn. Finding immortality is something I very much intend to do. My way.” She glanced at her shoulder as Shriek poked his nose against her cheek. “I’m sure you have ideas little one. They’ll go under consideration.”

“You necromancer’s and immortality,” Orion scoffed. “It’s not all that it’s cracked up to be.”

“Of course you’d say that. You already have it,” she turned her nose up at them and Shriek mimicked her motion. “Anyway. The Sanctum isn’t exactly close. Even with the help of the city. But I know where to find Isaac.”

“About that,” Alison said stepping forward. “We know that time isn’t on your side. And we can help make the journey swifter. We’ll just need you to make it possible.”

“What are you. Oh?” Ryza smiled. “Oh indeed. Would that work?”

“Our master has shown us the framework of the spell.”

“Show me,” Ryza said walking past the gate so that they could have some space between them.

They stepped out onto the dry grass and Ryza began explaining the spell, working through the hand motions and the magic itself. Ryza remembered the short cut that Vayne had shown her before going to the Necropolis but now learning the behind the scenes opened up a few new possibilities.

They broke away and practiced the spell and managed to get it in one go. The portal wasn’t nearly as massive but it gave enough space for the two of them and their horses.

“Vayne is many things that I dislike. But his spellcrafting is beyond my own. I can admit that, Ryze said. His voice was like a whisper on the wind now. Fading more and more every day.

Ryza whispered, “You’ve found some humbleness in death. I guess that’s the one positive to things.”

Alison was able to see Ryze but not hear him. “This will likely put you on the edge of Sanctum territory. It will get you as close as possible without setting off the mage hunters.”

Ryza nodded quickly and face her this time lowering her head, “Thank you. Really. This is. A lot. I’m not used to this kind of kindness.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Alison shook her head. She stepped forward and hugged her which again made Ryza grimace but she hugged her back.

“Take care of yourselves. Please,” Alison said. “You’re welcome here anytime.”

“Seconded,” Alistair said.

“We’ll try to remember that,” Orion said and she was sure they would have smiled if they could. “I could get used to this place one day.”

Ryza nodded and glanced over her shoulder at the floating spirit of her brother. Still translucent and silver. Still calm and observing. “I remembered meeting her before and thinking she was an odd person. Now I guess that oddity was just being kind,” Ryze said. “I wish we had run into her and her brother when we were in Noria.”

“Me too,” Ryza said softly and took Coal’s reigns. She glanced at Gest’s mask at her hip, miraculously still in one piece after everything. “Come on you grumpy construct. We got places to go.”

They rolled their eyes taking the reins of the borrowed horse. They nodded toward the twins and Ryza waved once more before going through the portal. It closed behind them and Alison looked at her brother before hugging him tightly. Letting go she wrapped her arm around him and pointed forward.

“Let’s go find Morrigan and Alistair. We just want to be with our family today.”

“I second that sis.”

The sun had fully set as Ryza and Orion followed the dirt ridden path. The air was electric like that after a large battle. Despite stopping Pride, she wondered if her ritual had started in the Sanctum and begun a minor calamity. She loosely wondered what demons may have been born.

But she knew that they were close. She could see the small cottage with a flame burning in the window. A shape was sitting on the porch and stood up as they approached. It was off the beaten path and travelers at this time could only mean trouble in some shape. But slowing down as they road Ryza recognized this cottage. A familiarity not her own but warmed her anyway.

The man, a soldier by the way he carried himself, walked down the steps slowly and met them before they even approached the house properly. His face was stern as he looked at them, though his eyes were kind. She saw that clearly.

He looked at her and then at Orion and back to her, “Who are you two? Why are you here?”

Just staring at him without her brother’s memories she knew what he was. Knew that he was one of the undead, kept alive by magic. It was comforting to meet one such as him. Liches and necromancy she understood. But what was going to come next, she was unprepared.

Getting off her horse she walked toward him and he tensed but she raised her hands. “Are you. Isaac?”

“Yes,” he replied. “Why do you ask?”

Her heart ached for a moment but she steeled it and said, “My name is Ryza. This is Orion.” She chuckled as her rat squeaked. “And this is Shriek. You knew my brother.”

“Ryze.” His face softened and his eyes lit up, “You’re his sister. I should have known. You have a shovel like him. And a similar air. Albeit friendlier. I had hoped to see you both together though.”

“That’s the thing,” she closed her eyes tightly. She looked at Ryze beside her fading further still but he nodded toward Isaac. “My brother. My brother is dead.”

“What?” Isaac asked in disbelief.

Ryza nodded and despite carrying her brother’s shovel and his spirit it was still hard to accept. “It’s a long story. But I know two things. I know that my brother wanted me to meet you.” She reached across her back and pulled his shovel from her back. Cradling it across her arms she stared at it and traced her fingers across the runes.

Shaking her head, she extended it to him. “We didn’t have a real home. But my brother called you his friend. And I’m sure he would have wanted this to rest here.”

Isaac stared at the shovel and then at her. He took it slowly, turned it in his hand and nodded. “I’m sorry Ryza. For everything. Come inside,” he motioned toward his house. “I’ll start some tea. We can talk.”

“I’d like that. And crackers for Shriek. He loves them. Or bread.”

“Would you like to join us? Orion right?” Isaac asked.

Orion nodded, “Not much for tea. And I didn’t know Ryze too well. But”

“Just come inside. Enjoy some conversation,” she motioned for them to join as she walked to the door. “

Isaac looked between the two of the strangers that walked past and the horses they’d left behind. Coal remembered him the moment he got close and he laughed as she butt her head against him. He walked them both to their stables and Coal whinnied happily when she saw Soot.

Leaving the horses to rest, he walked toward the front of the house. He rested the shovel on the porch facing the direction of the sunrise and looked at it. “I’m sorry Ryze. I get the feeling that you died saving the rest of us. So thank you. I’m just sorry you couldn’t have one of Hector’s home cooked meals again. I’ll miss you my friend.”

He rested a hand on the blade one more time and turned back toward the cottage. He could hear Hector waking up and hear Ryza’s voice like an echo of Ryze. He laughed to himself. “Like brother like sister I guess.” He went inside and shut the door behind him.