Two Masters (epic progression fantasy)

Chapter 10: Peril's Reef

Revin made his way to the Healing House, Blackfire jogging with him. Blackfire's excellent night vision helped them navigate the darkness, avoiding roads and the sparse streetlamps. The monks rarely went out at night, but he wanted to avoid any annoying questioners.

The Healing House was barely half the size of the Holy House. It was constructed from white painted cedar, smooth without a harsh edge. The façade of the building was covered with intricately carved flowering plants, gliding birds, and other scenes designed to calm those who came.

Its front entrance was still watched by two monks.

Revin had expected this, smiling and strolling past. They eyed him with suspicion. He continued walking down the road until it bent around the Healing House, concealing him from view. He bent down and released Sprik from where she'd sat in his pocket. She skittered up the wall of the Healing House and into an open window.

After checking seven rooms, Sprik finally found Ismander in the eighth. Revin commanded Sprik to head back outside as he made his way to that room's window. Locks were rare in the Hiriv, and Revin carefully snuck up, and pulled it open. Checking behind him for any witnesses.

And turned back to face a contraption with a short metal pipe in his face.

His eyes widened. He stepped back, remembering the sound of thunder and the puff of smoke.

Ismander let out a sigh of relief. "Now why, young monk, would you be sneaking in through my window rather than knocking on my door?"

"I prefer to keep people on their toes," Revin said.

Ismander let out a slight chuckle and motioned for him to come in.

She turned away from Revin, stuffing the contraption into her shoulder pack which was sitting on her hospital bed. Several items were laid out, each to be shuffled into the bag. "This is the peaceful Hiriv island, why would anyone here need to be on their toes?"

"We had a giant serpent attack a couple of weeks back," Revin said, as he climbed in through the window.

"I heard about that," Ismander said, "and of course, you were the one who tracked it down and sent it home?"

Revin smiled, "Yes."

"The beasts of the outside world put that serpent to shame."

"Your lizard wasn't that big."

"The beasts of the outside world put my cerato to shame," she repeated with emphasis. Her countenance hardened, and she turned back to packing, a little more forcefully now.

Revin had a hard time imagining that. Surely, she was exaggerating? "I can master anything," Revin said.

"So, I've heard." Ismander smiled. "So, why are you here?"

"I want to come with you."

Ismander chuckled. "You don't even know where I'm going."

"You're going to Ateya, to stop Narazoth and Jebuthar from invading with their army of metal men."

Ismander raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You were listening, weren't you? Let me guess, a bird?"

"Gecko."

"Close," Ismander said. She frowned. "Your father wouldn't approve. You heard him."

"Oh, I heard him," Revin said, "He said that he can't send any monks, the revelation said nothing about volunteers going without being sent."

Ismander looked at him, eyes narrowing. When Revin didn't budge, Ismander let out a half-snort. "You sure know how to twist the words of a prophet."

"He's also my father," Revin said. "We've been arguing doctrine for years."