Quest Tutelage Through Blood

[Ryan of Tel Idris]

“Yes, Hal, stop offering everyone your meat. It’s disgusting,” Luther remarked slyly.

Eyes like sapphires, glittering with mischief, flicked up to Sierra and her unbound hair.

“My dear, may I say you look absolutely marvelous,” he began, snatching up her hand and placing a kiss on the back of it before she’d time to protest. “Ask and it’s yours.”

 

[Sierra]

Sausage?

“What. No.”

Ew.

And as for Luther. He was lucky she was in a vulnerable mood because the only reaction he got was a snatched away hand and a burning gaze instead of a broken nose.

She stepped closer, huddling with her three classmates. Voice lowered further in fear of the archivist. Or someone else. Arms crossed defensively beneath her chest.

“Do you know...Igot Crane?” He was two years above them. Ready to graduate. A brute and a bully, like most of them. Only, he had a reputation for going after women. Mostly the servants. But recently, he’d been stalking her. Soliciting her.

Normally, she’d stab someone like that and be done with it. Only. This was a little more complicated. He was one of the archon’s favorites. If she came forward, she might be killed. She couldn't beat him in a duel yet.

This was a little more complicated and she didn't think she’d be able to get out of this on her own. And she was running out of time. If he got her alone...

One of her hands trembled, held tightly against her chest.

 

[Harry]

Hal’s forbidden sausage hung between them, and as they all remarked on it with considerable sting, he sadly dropped his arm.

More for him, he reckoned.

He quickly forgot about the meat after a look at Sierra. He respected her. She was always strong, whether it was her martial prowess or emotional strength, she was strong. This... Timidity... It wasn’t like her.

The mentioning of Igot Crane brought sourness into Hal’s mouth. The Apprentice himself didn’t cause such a reaction, but the name did bring up a particularly awful memory of the Archon. He felt the urge to heave up his lunch. If the father was cruel, the son was plain vile.

He was simple, but far from stupid. Between her uncharacteristic weakness, and the mentioning of Igot Crane and the reputation that preceded the near-graduate, Hal was able to surmise the reasoning.

His fingers tightly gripped the meat in his hand.

“Did he do something to you?” Anger rose in his voice, and he more hissed than spoke to the girl in front of him.

 

[Talus]

Igot Crane.

The name did not inspire much confidence in Talus. He'd fought the lad before on the practice fields. It had not been meant as a duel to the death, though Crane had treated it as one. The Proctors had allowed them both the use of their magic.

Talus had barely survived the bout.

Every time he'd seen an opening Crane had attempted to strike a mortal blow. That had been the day Talus had first phase-walked with his whole body, it had been the only way to survive the bout. Afterwards the Proctors had let Crane slide, saying it had been a "Valuable" lessons.

The Bastard did not lack for strength. His magic was a powerful one, and he'd mastered most of the more basic College Magics as well.

Talus did not speak though his hands trembled slightly.

Whether in fear or rage it was difficult to tell

 

[Ryan of Tel Idris]

Rolling his eyes at Hal’s display of righteous anger, Luther sighed long sufferingly.

“Yes, yes the annoying bastard. We’ve all had a run in or two with him.” Hand to his chin, he absently stroked the scar on his cheek with a thumb.

“What do you want us to do? Smother him while he sleeps? Shove him off the tower? Stab him in the wash room? That last one would probably be manageable. I could shock the water and then old Hal could hold him down while Talus gives him a red Cortosi Smile. Simple enough.”

 

[Sierra]

Hal’s anger was surprising. Teeth clenched as her lips wobbled. Her biggest fear was crying in front of these three. Or crying at all.

Throat cleared,voice clearly strained. She looked to each boy and answered their questions in order. “There’s been an errant hand. A whispered threat in my ear.” Arms uncrossed, fists balling into tight fists at her side.

“He’s waiting to get me alone. So yes, Luther, I would like your help to...kill him. Frame him maybe. Get him kicked out of the academy if we can’t get away with killing him. Just...something.”

Sierra inhaled sharply and whispered. “But this needs to happen soon. I can’t...avoid him forever.”

Everyone knew he was like a wolf with a scent. Relentless in the hunt and wouldn’t stop until he’d gotten what he wanted.

 

[Talus]

"We kill him." The words were so succinct, so quick, so concrete that it must have felt like any argument would be quickly tossed out.

Talus was of course sympathetic to Sierra.

Only some of the other Apprentices he wasn't heartless, nor was he a sociopath. Most of his emotions were kept to himself, but that didn't mean he had none.

The truth was though...he didn't say the words for Sierra. He didn't say it to protect her. He said it because he saw an opportunity, an opportunity for something that rarely presented itself for people like him; revenge.

Killing Igot Crane would settle a score, it would be a slight against another man who was all but untouchable. Plus, if they did it right then there would be no questions, and a piece of the board would be off the table.

"We kill him." He reiterated. "We just need to plan how."

 

[Harry]

We kill him. The words echoed in his head.

Perhaps if Talus had mentioned the idea of murder a year ago, Hal would have been against it. That being said, he was no stranger to death, and in the past had attempted to justify killing. Executions or missions, he was too used to taking the lives of others. Elves, humans, it made no difference. He always attempted to find a reason.

The three around him knew of his strong will, his optimism. It allowed him to push through several dire situations. It also protected him from going mad at the academy. He was not merely resolved to survive and graduate, but he was determined to maintain some form of morality.

Within the last year, he began to grow at a frightening rate. Coupled with that was the fraying of his optimistic mentality. His resolve to become powerful began to eclipse his resolve to maintain any morals.

"The washroom," He repeated, taking the initiative to decide the location. Igot would be unarmed, and both he and Luther would be in an environment that favored their magic.

Murder was something he had somehow managed to avoid up until now. A quick glance at his three friends confirmed what he often thought to himself.

He'd go to any length for the three that stood next to him.

 

[Ryan of Tel Idris]

“It’s settled then. In the wash, knife shall meet rectum.”

Luther smiled venomously.

The smug Urahil never seemed overly interested in the affairs of his so called friends. Indeed his spite and haughtiness often drove others away. For whatever reason, these three continued to stick by him. Luther couldn’t really comprehend it, but if he was going to murder anyone he supposed this was just as good a reason as the next.

His blue eyes settled on Sierra with the sort of flippant desire that made for court scandals, heedless that it might echo the wolvish lust of the very boy they now plotted to kill.

 

[Sierra]

She missed the look Luther gave her entirely because her focus was on Hal. She was grateful for these three. But there was something in the tone of Hal's voice. Something that made her grim look turn even more dour.

"Okay," she agreed.

"I can be bait." It was said firmly and left no room for debate. It made the most sense and seemed to be the most strategic. Igot would, of course, follow Sierra anywhere. He was already desperately trying to get her alone. It would mean her putting her complete trust in Hal, Luther, and Talus.

But that wasn't a problem after what they'd been through. After the looks in their eyes right now. For better or worse, she trusted them. Completely. Even Luther.

"Can we do this tonight?" She was anxious to get it done. She didn't want to think about what would happen if Igot caught her before then.

 

[Talus]

Tonight would be fast.

If they moved too quickly the chance of messing something up went up dramatically. As much as they liked to think of themselves as good, Igot wasn't exactly a pushover.

The other Apprentice was older and more brutal. He had an ego, but that by far didn't mean he was a fool of any sort. Talus would not have done this if he was alone, but even with the other three things were more risky than likely any of them wanted to admit.

"We'll have to be careful." He said quietly.

Then a thought occurred to him.

"I know how we can get away with it." His fingers scrunched for a moment, and he glanced around a shelf to make sure no one was listening. "We frame Alloi for it."

Another Apprentice in their class, one who had a particular mean streak and didn't exactly hold a favorable view of anyone.

 

[Harry]

They would indeed have to tread carefully. Hal, like Talus, was worried about rushing it. He did not know what the younger Apprentice was thinking, but Hal was resolved to get Igot before the vile bastard was able to lay a finger on Sierra.

Framing Alloi? That was convenient for Talus. She was certainly a detestable one, but was particularly hostile towards him. Hal wasn't quite sure why.

"What's the saying with two birds and a stone?" Hal said to Talus with a raised brow. It seemed some spite lingered in the tone of his voice. It was unusual of Hal to speak so venomously, "If we make a half-hearted effort to frame her, doing so won't serve us well. It's a good idea, but how do you propose we make her our scapegoat?"

 

[Ryan of Tel Idris]

Luther kind of liked Alloi, but he didn't protest. Not like any of them were going to survive this mess in the first place. In fact, Luther knew his family was counting that he wouldn't. Or he might. It didn't really matter to them either way. So why should it matter to him?

Best to make the most out of the experience, for what it was, which mostly involved inflicting pain on others instead of himself. The lesser of two evils and all that.

He waited for Talus to explain, arching a single brow.

 

[Talus]

B
"She keeps a blade hidden in her room beneath the floorboards." Talus did not say how he knew that particular bit of information.

His face remained implacably straight as he continued to speak. There was no change in his tone and from his face one might have thought that they were discussing how to get to a nearby stream or the price of a gallon of milk.

Murder might as well have been nothing at all.

"We can use it to kill Igot." Getting it wouldn't be too easy, but they needed a way to make sure none of them were suspected. "Everyone knows his reputation, and if the blade is left behind they will trace it back to her."

The solution was a brutal one. He was speaking about framing someone for a crime that would likely get them executed, someone who had ostensibly done nothing to them.

He waited, glancing at the others and waiting for their reactions.

 

[Harry]

While Talus spoke, Hal listened. His eyes, however, were focused on the sausage still in his hand. His anxiety in his possession of the meat had diminished. Any appetite he had towards it had been soiled by the discussion. A frown tugged at the corners of his lips as he looked at it.

The frown faded as he turned his attention to Talus. Blue eyes, cold as ice, met his friend's gaze. A storm of thoughts raged in the older Apprentice's mind, and that was reflected in his intense, unsettling gaze. After the moment of thought, his demeanor relaxed completely. His eyes were no less blue and cold, but the intensity behind his gaze had left.

His only response was a nod.

 

[Sierra]

"Okay," Sierra whispered. Brow furrowed as she watched the different emotions cross Hal's face. Maybe she shouldn't have dragged him into this. She couldn't shake a growing bad feeling in the pit of her belly about this. And Alloi?

Sierra didn't have the luxury to feel anything about the other apprentice.

It was either Sierra run away or face Igot and suffer the consequences alone. She'd been so miserable these past few weeks, ending her own life hadn't been entirely off the table, either. Jaw set.

"Someone will have to sneak into her room. Probably during sparring." Eyes traveled to each boy. "Do you know when her next session is? Or, Luther, you could probably distract her for a few hours." Sierra gave him a rather long, pointed look.

 

[Talus]

"I can take care of the knife." He stated plainly, again not sharing any more information than he had to.

The others would know that Alloi was...particularly contentious when it came to Talus. None of them would know why, but that wasn't really all that important. He wasn't about to open up to them about things like that just yet.

"Meet me in the training yard." He told the others. "Five hours."

With that he straightened, turned on his heel for a moment only to stop. He half turned to Hal and reached down to quickly tear off a piece of the sausage. He popped it in his mouth without a word and headed off out of the archive.

True to his word, Talus came sneaking up in their next small bit of free time into the Training Yard.

The sun had set about an hour before, and the yard was now shrouded in the dim darkness of moonlight. Guards stood on the wall of the Keep of the Academy as they always did, but they paid no attention to the students as they walked through the yard.

Talus found his friends already waiting for him. "Got it."

He said, motioning towards the small of his back where he had tucked away the blade.

 

[Harry]

Hal waited with the others when Talus appeared. His outward appearance was calm, yet inside his nerves were on edge. This was different from a normal task given by the Proctors. He could live with punishment. What he would not accept is what would happen if Igot were to have his way with Sierra. With anxiety came motivation to follow through with their plan.

He looked up when Talus approached, and a faint smile lightened his expression.

"Never in doubt," He said. He looked to the others, seriousness now painted on his face, "Well, shall we lay the bait, then?"

 

[Sierra]

She frowned, gaze turning to Talus. The empath felt a myriad of emotions coming from her fellow student. Was it Alloi? Was he having regrets?

She wondered why he'd picked her out of any of the other students to betray.

Attention snapped to Hal. Jaw clenched. "Okay. He'll be coming back from the mess hall. I've been avoiding the training grounds between the food and the bathrooms at this time because..." voice trailed off. They knew why.

"I can go there now. Give three a chance to get in place."

 

[Talus]

"Do it." Talus said with a confident nod.

This plan was dangerous, not only to Sierra, but to them as well. Igot's magic was a powerful one. He was a...well, it was difficult to describe.

The boy had the ability to control blood that lay outside of the body. One cut, one small drop was all that he needed to end things. Talus had seen him finish a fight by impaling a fellow Apprentice with his own blood. He would prefer to avoid that.

"We'll be right behind you." He told Sierra. "Come on."

Motioning for Henry and Luther to follow him into the shadows.

 

[Harry]

Jaw muscles danced as Hal’s teeth clenched down. He watched Sierra walk away to her destination, and was snapped from his trance as Talus called for their attention.

Ostensibly a fool compared to his friends, Hal often defied expectations regarding tasks that required finesse. As the three of them lurked in the shadows, Hal wasn’t the least bit clumsy as they took up their position. They waited in silence. Nothing needed to be said now. They knew exactly what needed to be done. It was only a matter of time.

 

[Sierra]

Sierra had dealt the blow that was the beginning of the end. Talus had the first hit in but Hal finished Igot off. Sierra's normally braided hair was ripped free, auburn strands wildly framing her face. She knelt over Igot's body as blood pooled from beneath it.

Blood the older apprentice no longer controlled.

Blacks and blues were already blossoming across her jaw. Blood dripped down her face from a split lip. The back of her hand ran across her face as she tried to get her breathing under control.

"It's done," she heaved. Unable to move. Barely able to breath. Water from the shared bathrooms began soaking into the legs of her pants as she continued kneeling on that cold floor.

 

[Talus]

Talus dropped the knife.

There was no need to speak afterward, no need to seal their secret with any sort of pact. He glanced at the other two, not quite sure where Luther had gone off to. A breath filled his lungs, and slowly he took a step back.

In his head he could almost feel something change.

He was not quite sure what, if anything at all. Yet he could have staked his life on it. Almost as though a gear had clicked into place. Something, something was different. His fingers unfurled, and slowly he took another step back from Igot's corpse.

"No more half measures." The words were not meant for them.

Talus turned away, walking from the baths.

He wasn't sure if he expected them to follow.