FATE\Deus Decipit

Chapter 93: The One Who was Born Again

11:30am, The Alghul Villa; the Upper Room Workshop

The Upper Room, an extra room with no set purpose, was as cozy and comfortable as any other place in the villa, and carried with it the same log-cabin aesthetic of rough-hewn wood. In this room she had all her familiar comforts, her desk, her sofa, her various bits and baubles, and yet the space was so utterly claustrophobic, especially now that much of it had been pushed along the walls, that she had to wonder why she would ever choose such a space for her workshop. She supposed to herself that there wasn't an actionable alternative, but then, why would she choose a temporary home without any room for her workshop, which was the pride and core of any mage? Surely she was smarter than that?

Perhaps she only mused like this because she sought to escape her current situation. Like a scolded child she sat in a chair, knees tight together, waiting on the one supposed to be her Servant to finish drawing in chalk underneath her. Next to her in the circle was the mercenary Xander Haq, who had returned to the villa the day before. According to him, his wife had suffered a fatal injury via means unknown, but Caster had successfully "reunited" them, and she was now safe in an undisclosed location. Across, the third and final sitting person, was Archer, who sat hunched over; eyeing Xander with suspicion. Xander's testimony seemed too good to be true, but, at the very least, it was perfectly obvious that Archer believed what he was saying. Having nothing to add, she had ended up tuning the conversation out entirely, and she became aware of her surroundings as if waking from a deep sleep; as if the last hour hadn't happened at all.

Archer turned his sharp eyes towards Caster's scribbling.

"Almost done?"

"Yes, yes."

He made a final, pointed sketch across the floorboards, finishing his hex.

"Now I'm done." He stood up and dusted the chalk from his hands, "Why so hasty, friend? Don't you trust me, yet?"

"Not at all, and not in the least because you've failed to explain why she-" he gestured towards Aisha with a talon-like hand, "Is joining in on this. If the mercenary is to be my Master, then why should she be in the circle? Isn't that the least bit suspicious?"

"Well, yes I suppose it is." He turned and began to fiddle with books and pens behind him, continuing unabated, "See, friend, nothing in life is free, of course. But, we, here, believe in a little something called sharing. You, Xander, Aisha and myself will all be sharing energy amongst ourselves. Consider it a tax if you like. Does that satisfy you?"

"Why would that satisfy me?"

"Because this whole time you've been searching for our ulterior motive, and now you've found it. Don't tell me it's too much for your antisocial pallet?"

He shook his head with a 'harrumph'.

"Just get on with it."

'Lies'

She looked around, searching for the source of the whisper.

Caster turned to her, "Something wrong?"

"Uh-no. Not at all."

'If there are two Masters, then why would Archer be left with a net negative? Shouldn't the rising tide raise all ships?'

She had no answer.

"Good." He clapped his hands together, "Then let's begin."

Caster took his place in a fourth chair, such that each of them made a point of the compass over top the circle. He took a collection of crushed up herbs and minerals from his hand and scattered them over the floor, then began to murmur arcane words in a language she didn't know. The air became colder, wind blew in from nowhere at all, and it wasn't long before indigo lightning began to crackle underneath them. This continued until Caster spoke again.