The Phoenix Ring(42)

Aidan and Timothy sat on Borin's left, and Aaliyah and the boy who brought them to the camp on his right. It was a great honor to sit so close to the head of the table, but Aidan wished he could be further from the amogh girl. She took every chance she could get to irritate him, and to generally be as hateful as possible.

It wasn't really that bad though, most of the time the mages just ate or made polite conversation with Borin, or the boy who brought them in, whose name was Joshua.

He was actually rather nice, despite the fact that he looked as if he could kill both of them with his little finger. Aidan hoped he would be the one to join them on their journey.

As the last course came out, some sort of fruit pie, Borin stood and raised his glass in the air.

"I would like to propose a toast, to the new Guardian Of The Light!"

Aidan was about to raise his hand to clink his glass with the others when Timothy caught his arm, while continuing to raise his own glass.

"Why not?" Aidan asked, feeling a little embarrassed. He didn't know who this Guardian of the Light was, but he sounded important. To not pay him homage would be a sign of great disrespect.

"That's what they used to call Marcus Thunderheart," Timothy answered, "You bear the Phoenix Ring now. They're talking about you, mate. No pressure or anything."

Aidan sat back in his chair and looked across the table. Aaliyah's cup hadn't been touched.

"Now I know that you've all been waiting for me to tell you who will be accompanying the new guardian. I am glad to say that I brought the matter before the elders, and they have now made their decision!"

The moment he said those words, about ten older men and women, probably in their fifties or sixties, walked into the torchlight. None of them looked strong or healthy, and some were leaning upon one another. Even as Aidan watched, one of them turned to the side and coughed, spitting something red into the grass.

Blood-Cough.

One of the men stepped forward and shakily held a piece of parchment out to Borin. As soon as he took it, the elders turned around and left, but not before one woman, probably the oldest, stopped and looked straight at Aidan.

"You have the same look about you as he did." the woman said, in a scratchy voice. "You'll do well. Good luck, Guardian." She then followed her brethren into the night, coughing as she went.

Every eye turned to Borin as he held the parchment in the air.

"The name of the amogh that will be joining the Guardian is… Aaliyah Brennon!"

The amoghs all burst into wild applause, and someone called for a toast. Aidan raised his cup, every bit of magic in his body ready to burst in a rage.

They know she hates us. Why would they try to send her on a journey where she might be our sole protection? Are they trying to kill us?

He noticed Timothy stand up out of the corner of his eye and leave, without even participating in the toast.

He set his glass down and looked questioningly at master Borin, who nodded consent. The young mage stood, grateful for the excuse, and walked into the darkness.

He found Timothy by the front entrance of the camp, whistling a strange tune into the night.

"What are you doing?" The older mage asked, trying to keep his voice steady. His friend looked as angry as Aidan felt, and he didn't want to make it worse.

"I'm calling Grogg," Timothy said.

Aidan felt a cold dread settle into his stomach.

He's completely under the beast's thrall. If this keeps up then Timothy is going to hurt himself or someone else.

"Why would you do that?"

"Grogg already told me he doesn't like bad luck. Bringing an amogh is bad on its own, but bringing a female amogh is like poking a griffin with a stick. Grogg should know."

Aidan was beginning to wish he had incinerated the goblin when he had the chance.

"Timothy, you look tired. Why don't you let me talk to Grogg, and you can go to bed early?" he said, pushing as much magic into his voice as he could without casting a spell.

Timothy seemed confused for a moment.

"Will you tell him that the message is from me?" Timothy asked, swaying a little on his feet.

"Yes. I will. Now go to the cot and go to sleep."

Timothy turned around and stumbled off into the night, mumbling something about gnomes and amoghs.

Aidan felt a little guilty, he knew that Timothy's power deprived body would be especially vulnerable to any magic, but he knew it had been necessary.

Aidan waited until Timothy was out of earshot before turning back to look at the eerily dark forest.

"Grogg!" he yelled, "I know you're listening. We're going to have a friend joining us. You're going to be alright with that, aren't you?"

He heard a hiss that was probably supposed to be a laugh from somewhere in the trees.