Claws of time

Chapter 17- The scroll

Fathom looked towards me as if I had the answer, but I just shrugged. "Uhm, who exactly are we talking about? I just want to clarify some things." I asked. "My father," Darkstalker said. "I know he was there, I heard his brain muttering." He growled. "But- if he was there, why didn't he come over to make sure you were all right?" Fathom asked confused, "Why didn't he jump in to stop Quickdeath?" I put a talon on Fathom's shoulder, indicating for him to stop asking questions. Darkstalker growled again, "Because he hired Quickdeath," Darkstalker said. "You're really slowing this conversation down, Fathom." I shot a glare at Darkstalker. "Did you hear him think that?" I asked Darkstalker. "When you heard his thoughts - was there anything about the assassin or wanting you dead?" Darkstalker thought for a moment. "No more than usual. What I caught mostly had to do with my sister. Father hated the way she was looking at Thoughtful. He's probably the one who needs to watch out for assassins next." "So maybe it wasn't Arctic," Fathom said. "Wouldn't he be thinking about it, if he knew it was about to happen?" "Not necessarily." Darkstalker plucked a stalk of bamboo from one of Fathom's tall vases and started methodically shredding it. "Besides, I stopped listening to him after the first few grumbles." He flung a piece of bamboo into the corner. "I'm sure it was him, but we can all be sure if I do a spell to find out." "No!" Fathom cried. "Please don't. Think about your soul. Clearsight, you agree with me, don't you?" Clearsight looked between them for a moment, rubbing her forehead. "You should tell him about the scroll," she said to Darkstalker. "Really?" He looked surprised. "You think that's a good idea?" Clearsight nodded, "You told Shiver, why not Fathom?" "You think that's safe?" Drkstalker asked, surprised. "I think it's safe," she said. "As far as I can tell, you show it to him in all of the good timelines." "And the bad," he pointed out. "He's not the one who turns them bad," she said quietly. Darkstalker scowled at her. "Your faith in me is so heartwarming." While they argued, Fathom turned to put the soul reader back in his trunk. "Fathom?" Darkstalker said behind him. "I'm trying to tell you something totally momentous over here. It'll change your life, trust me." Fathom turned around and smiled, "Sorry, what is it?" Darkstalker looked at Clearsight nervously, "Well, Fathom, I don't think you have to worry about me going crazy anytime soon from my magic, because I found the loophole!" Fathom tilted his head curiously. "I enchanted a scroll a while back to hold the majority of my magic inside it, like a talisman." Fathom shook his head, "No- Darkstalker you shouldn't have done that, the magic is dangerous how would a scroll help?" Darkstalker put a comforting talon on Fathom, "Fathom, if the magic isn't inside me, how would it turn me crazy? The magic can only turn one crazy if it is inside them, right?" Fathom thought for a moment, "Nobody knows exactly how animus magic works. The only safe option is to avoid using it at all. Besides, it could still be affecting you." "Why would we have this power if we're never supposed to use it?" Darkstalker shouted in frustration. Clearsight stepped in between the two, "Alright, no need to get hostile. I think we're all just tired from today's events, why don't we all go home and sleep?" In one final agreement between us all, we all left Fathom's room and headed for our own.