The Undead Sorcerer

Chapter 16

Morgan approaches the manor, her hands aimed at Vincent to torch the advisor at any moment. Vincent sighs, tenses his shoulders, and hangs his head as they come nearer the manor.

"Stop. I SAID STOP!" Avery demands, adjusting his aim on Morgan.

"What are you doing?" Morgan complains.

"Come any closer, and I'll shoot," Avery demands.

"I thought the Advisor was a target?" Morgan reminds him, planting a hand on her hip. Avery's aim weakens and shakes.

"What is this?" Avery scoffs.

"The Advisor. Now move," Morgan demands.

"You gave up Sunny and Greg," Avery complains, refocusing his aim.

"They had me backed into a corner," Morgan sneers. "Be glad it wasn't you," she adds.

"Are you serious," Avery snaps.

"They were dead weight. And they're taking care of themselves. They were never really imprisoned," Morgan brushes it off. "I'm still focused on our objectives and got this one. Did we get Peter?" Morgan asks.

"What did you do to our king?" Vincent asks.

"Please, you two and your weak politics," Avery sneers at Vincent. "Bring him in," Avery decides, gesturing for Morgan to follow. With them heading in, we break from the treeline for the wall of the manor to get inside. We're moving down a hallway from the kitchen to the main room, where Vincent was hoping they'd be keeping the others, when Vincent steps into the hallway. We duck back into another open room.

"What have you done to Peter?" Vincent demands to know.

"Shut up and keep moving," Morgan demands to know.

"You won't get away with this," Vincent warns.

"What's she doing here?" Sunny sneers. There she is. Vincent was right; they're in the room beside us. If we could get out a window or... I swallow hard. I take a deep, shaky breath.

"I did what none of you could. I got the advisor," Morgan boasts.

"How?" Avery asks. Shit. There's a pause. Come on, Morgan, think of something.

"I got his trust. I made up that sob story, won their trust, and then, when he was alone, I cornered him. He's not a very skilled fighter," Morgan scoffs as if it were so obvious, and while she's making up her explanation on the fly, I quietly tap on the wall, praying that only their hostages are in the room. Edward shoots me a look, sweating when I do it again.

"What are you going to do with us?" Dylan asks from the other side.

"I said keep it down in there," Sunny calls from the hallway.

"I suggest you make me," Dylan taunts.

"Sunny wait-," Morgan blurts out.

"What? You're taking pity on them now?" Sunny sneers at her, and there's a slap from the hallway, breaking into a fight. The lyric mage takes a deep breath, but Morgan's flames fill the hallway with black smoke before she can begin her treacherous song.

"You-you're a damn traitor," Avery coughs. Sunny gags – having taken a deep breath full of smoke, she collapses.

"What the- you!" Henry roars, sword in hand. He runs from the other end of the hallway, and Justina meets him halfway.

"This needs to end," Justina declares.

"No... No!" Avery coughs, struggling with a shaking hand to draw an arrow back.

"Summoning," I murmur, not wasting time to think as I plunge my hand into the void for my sword to take down Avery. One usurper is dead. Justina brings Henry to his knees. As for Gregory – he's nowhere to be seen. That bastard must have taken off running. I clench my fist and shake my head.

"Are you going to kill me?" Henry sneers.

"I am not your judge, your executioner perhaps, but not your judge," Justina seethes at him, keeping her sword aimed at his throat. Henry scoffs under his breath with a wicked smirk. Dylan is first to check the hallway, and finally, Peter Riverford makes an appearance. He scratches his chin. "Say it, and he dies," Justina suggests. Edward gently touches her shoulder and pulls her back a step."I trusted him-" Justina huffs.

"And he's going be judged for his crimes," Edward assures her.

"Go ahead and judge me. It won't change a thing," Henry sneers. "There will always be someone that comes after us," Henry warns, giving me the chills – Gregory's still out there.

"I want him restrained. Lock him in the basement. I think it's time we return to the capital... tomorrow morning. After dinner, I will have a talk with each of you. I think we all can agree that could use some time to clean our wounds?" Peter suggests. We give each other a look. There are injuries from bruises, scrapes, and some minor burns. A moment to myself gives me a chance to breathe fresh air outside and realize that I have a beating heartbeat and body heat again. There's a different feeling to my flesh when I flex and clench my fist. I don't know what this means for my mortality, considering I still have my void magic, but I suppose we'll cross that bridge when we get there someday.

(Justina and Allistair need to talk here )

"I wanted to feel the fresh air," I tell him with a shrug. I wonder what Vincent told him?

"I know that plan was not all Vincent's work. Nor was it Morgan's idea," Peter continues.

"And what of it?" I inquire. Please get to the point.

"You've surely heard by now the unrest that's been stirring. This was just the first taste of unrest from the inside. We're sure to face more civil unrest when our enemy reveals themselves, and I need people I can trust. Edward has agreed to take Henry's position in the church-," Peter tells me.

"What of Justina? Her magic and swordsmanship exceed Edward's level," I point out.

"I asked her first, and she turned me down," Peter answers. Well, I'll be damned. "Both Morgan and Dylan have agreed to attend an academy for sorcerers where they can refine their talents and make something more of themselves," Peter adds. "You would be working among friends here if you chose to return as the lieutenant," Peter offers.

"After Avery-," I remind him.

"A tragedy... That's going to take time to recovery from. But that was not your fault when he was out to kill first. Your actions were to defend the lives of others," Peter reasons. I- I- my life is moving forward again isn't it?