The Undead Sorcerer

Chapter Part 13

We head back with Sunny in tow. The witch begrudgingly is dragging her feet, making it take longer to return to the manor. I groan and shake my head. This will take us forever, and I'd like to find out if anyone managed to track down Gregory. If anyone could, it'd be Vincent. His expertise in magic analysis would far exceed anyone else's ability to sense Gregory's magic.

"Just what do you hope to accomplish, Knightwalker?" Sunny asks.

"None of your business," I warn her.

"You think doing a little grunt work for that king will make you something big?" Sunny sneers.

"Didn't I just tell you it was none of your business?" I remind her.

"No one trusts a Knightwalker. You'll be anything with these pathetic excuses for rulers," Sunny points out. I can't help but laugh at her.

"You're wasting your breath," I admit, scooping her up. Sunny yelps in surprise, scoffing at me; she beats her fists at my back, "You see, if that were true, then I wouldn't have been invited to go on this expedition," I remind her. Sunny settles with an impatient huff, and we pick up the pace.

"What are you smirking at?" Sunny snaps at Dylan. The kid snickers at her but doesn't comment. Vincent is out here, on our way back, before we reach the manor, kneeling on the ground. He rises and shakes his head.

"What's wrong?" I notice his frown.

"I was tracking Gregory. I picked up on his magical signature, but it ends here. Everything from here is chaotic, and I can't make sense of anything," Vincent explains. I groan and press my forehead in my palm. "You know something about his magic?" he presumes.

"You see those prints," I point out.

"I noticed them there. That's where my head hurts the most," Vincent confesses, running his fingers through the large, oversized pawprints pressed into the mud. I can only imagine the headache he must be going through to try and make sense of Gregory's beastlike magic; the man is like a wolf.

"He'll be a hard one to track down, but we have information right here," I dismiss him. If we have Sunny, either Gregory will remain on the run, or he'll show up. It gives me the chills when I think about how dependable the man used to be in battle. What the hell changed that you'd throw it all away? Everyone enters the well-decorated room and sits at the grand, well-polished round table. God, I hope this meeting is short. After yesterday's fight, my vision has gotten hazy at times. I don't feel weak or tired, yet I feel like I might be on the verge of a deep sleep.

"Your Highness, they have found Sunny," Vincent announces on our way into the parlor room.

"Where is everyone else?" I inquire.

"Recovering, but they should be in soon," Edward explains on his way in.

"Where's Henry? He should be here by now," Justina notices.

"Mister Goodmen won't be joining us today," King Riverford declares.

"And why not? We should all be present for meetings. Why exclude him?" Avery retorts.

"Because the man has a massive hangover," Zoe snubs his name, her nose crinkling, "Let him sleep it off. There's much to discuss," she dismisses it.

"Sunny, your disappearance after a suspected poisoning is rather suspicious," Peter points out.

"How bold of you, my lord. I am only a Bard. I am no potion's master," Sunny points out. "Have you considered asking the potion master there or the botanist? In the room?" Sunny suggests.