Nightsworn | The Whispering Wall #2

Ninety: Strange Developments

"I thought we could do with a chat."

"Did you."

Arlen didn't think so. The last place he wanted to be was in the alley outside of Yddris's house, aching all over, after having slept the sum total of a single hour the previous night. The only reason he had come was because Yddris hadn't told him to come alone, and because it was about Calder.

One thing he could say in the witch man's favour was that he didn't beat around the bush.

"I want you to tell me what that Angel did to him."

Arlen frowned. He readjusted his grip on his stick and said, lightly, neutrally, "He hasn't told you?"

"He's barely been awake," Yddris growled. "Nika has to keep sedating him for nightmares. When he is awake, he shakes and won't look anyone in the eye." A pause, and a short, sharp sigh. "Please. If you know something that might give us some clue on how to help, I'd appreciate it."

Arlen blinked, very slowly. Of course he was concerned about Calder. Something about Yddris's tone almost implied that the Unspoken thought he didn't give a shit. He did. He just knew that when it came to Angels, a lot of the 'help' from people who had never experienced it did as much good as a fireguard made of butter. "Don't know exactly. He said something about mind magic. He had a seizure, then puked and pissed on himself. Then he passed out for a solid hour. I'm guessing torture."

He related the symptoms dispassionately, dismissing all his own resurrected nightmares that had revisited him last night, phantoms from his past that didn't even fade in daylight.

"Why didn't you bring him to me straight away?" Yddris asked hoarsely. "Kiel's teeth, man, you just sent me a runner to say he'd already been moved!"

"Because he didn't want to go back," Arlen retorted, enjoying Yddris's flinch. Oh, the Unspoken hated that. He could tell without any freaky sixth sense. "He specifically asked not to. Mostly for the sister, I would bet."

"That would track." The Unspoken nodded. "Fuck. He was on a knife edge already."

"I hope you didn't bring me here to pin that on me."

"The one I want to pin it on is dead," Yddris said gruffly. Almost convulsively he produced a pipe and began stuffing it. "I brought you here for a warning. And a favour."

"Oh, this'll be fucking good. Go on then. Shock me."

"Not that kind of warning, though I've got a lot I'd like to say on that," Yddris replied. "It was a ballsy move, showing up to the castle like that. Don't assume Harkenn hasn't taken good note of you. And don't assume that killing Cael erases your arrest warrant. It hasn't."

"Sometimes I wonder if you think I'm an idiot."

"Far from it." Yddris blew out a long stream of smoke. "If I thought you were an idiot, I wouldn't be nearly so nervous about entrusting my apprentice to you."

Arlen smirked. "Tell me, then, witch man, if I make you so nervous. Why haven't you had me arrested?"

"Because I'm not an idiot," the Unspoken growled. "You being locked up doesn't make him safe."

"No one's ever safe," Arlen drawled. "Okay. Warning noted. What's this favour?"

"I know you hate the Caelumese. I suspect there's a damn good reason for it." It was a good job his pause was only brief, because Arlen was on the verge of stabbing him for the nerve. "Whatever...help you can give him... And I want him to be able to fight outside of the rules. I can teach him a lot of things, but I can't give him a survival instinct. The...the guts to do real damage, if it'll save his life. If we're heading for a war he'll need it. I can't approve it in my position, but if it came from you..."