Warlock

8

"I don't think this is a good idea," Lyn commented.

The room was full of people, Syl at the head of the table with Jika and Lyn to her left. Kydyn and Cinder sat at her right, and the table filled with what remained of Syl's retinue of rebels. Kydyn gave Lyn a winning smile. "What do you mean? It's dangerous, chalk full of 'what ifs', and I get to do it."

Lyn frowned at him. "That's the problem."

Cinder interjected before the argument could get underway. "If we're going to stop Iriyn, it's our only choice."

Jika leaned forward, putting his elbows on the table as he eyed Cinder with scrutiny. "Are you sure about this? It's Kydyn we're talking about, the man you're in love with. Are you sure you want to risk his life?"

"I think it's not going to matter what we say," Syl said. She'd been quiet during the entire meeting, listening to Cinder purpose his plan intently. "You've already made up your mind," she said to Kydyn.

The warlock grinned. "More power. Gifted to me by an ancient warlock. What could possibly go wrong?"

"A lot of fucking things could go wrong! Why am I the only one with a voice of reason today!?" Lyn exclaimed. He slapped the table with his hand and leaned back in frustration. 

Cinder shook his head. "I know the risks, and I know what it sounds like. But Iriyn is powerful. He almost killed Kydyn and without breaking a sweat either. The vision I had of Kydyn dying, being torn apart by Iriyn's power and dragged into the darkness... it will come true if we don't do anything. I believe Kydyn is strong enough for this. If not tenacious enough," Cinder added with a sigh.

Kydyn beamed at him. "You nailed it, princess."

Cinder frowned, his glare hot and true then. "Stop that."

"Ah, there you are. Done warlording again?"

"Fucking shut up. We are still having a serious conversation, and I still think it's our only chance."

"The summer solstice is coming soon," Syl said. She braced herself on the arm of the chair, resting her head against her curled fingers. "It could be the perfect change. It would mean much more power. Even more risk."

"Never stopped me before," Kydyn answered.

Lyn growled in annoyance but didn't say anything. Jika glanced at the enchanter before he sighed and shrugged. "In the end, it really is up to Kydyn. If Cinder thinks he can handle it, unfortunately there's not much else we can do to stop them. And at the moment, it's a better plan than what we currently have. Which is nothing."

"We could just gang up on Iriyn and kill him that way," Lyn muttered.

"And lose how many? Everyone here would die. And he would still get what he wants. We may be risking our only wild card, but it's a risk we have to take. If Kydyn can handle the increase of power, Iriyn won't be able to stop him."

"Warlording," Kydyn muttered as he watched his lover. It was odd as hell, to see the shift between collected and unemotional to wildly emotional and impulsive. For the moment, his new term was a way of coping with the sudden changes, and keeping his own emotions in check. Just watching was enough to make Kydyn want to hunt Iriyn down and throw everything he had at the bastard despite the fact that Iriyn would simply rip right through him without a second glance.

"Where is this place, then?" Jika asked. 

"North. Ironically, there's a church building built right over the ancient grave site," Cinder answered.

Syl tapped the table in thought. "North... Is it the Saint's Chapel?"

Cinder paused, his eyes gazing out the window for a long while before he nodded. "I believe that's the one yes."

"Are you stargazing? All the time?" Someone asked. 

Cinder looked over and regarded the person with such intensity that they shifted uncomfortably in their seat and cleared their throat. Before they could apologize or take back what they'd asked, Cinder answered him. "Not all the time. But most of the time. When I need it, and sometimes when I don't."

"Saint's Chapel then. We should scout it out before we do anything else. Once it's secure, we'll stay there until the solstice," Syl ordered. There was a resounding reply of agreement and many of the members stood up to leave and prepare. 

"Good. This will give me time to figure out how exactly to do this," Cinder said.

Lyn blanched. "Wait, you don't know how to do this? After all of that, you're going to drop that bomb on us?"

Cinder didn't flinch. "The ritual is a fairly long one and if I get even a single syllable wrong, it'll kill him."

Kydyn paused. He arched an eyebrow at his lover before he sighed and shrugged. Leaning back in his chair he grinned at Lyn and Jika. "Chance of death? Even better."

"You're a dumbass," the enchanter snapped.

Jika reached over and put a hand on Lyn's arm. "It's a risk. Unfortunately one we have to take. Whether we want to or not. I have no doubt they'd go off and do it anyway."

Lyn clenched his fist, but didn't say anything. He looked away, glaring at the edge of the table. Syl sighed and ran her fingers through her fringe. "Then I suggest you get prepared. I doubt Iriyn will give us the time of day to overpower him. I've no doubt he's already planning on destroying us and getting you back."

Cinder nodded. "The solstice is in two days, right?"

Syl arched an eyebrow, certain that the magus knew the answer but was just asking to seem normal. He wasn't wrong and he knew it, but Kydyn could see the way Cinder was fighting to fit in with everyone. He was far too knowledgeable. The kind that was spoken in legends or myths; stories even. It made some of the guys feel uncomfortable. To be looked at with such power. They squirmed under Cinder's gaze now. 

Syl nodded to answer his question. "It is. We'll go tonight to get set up. Hold the place tomorrow, and perform this ritual at midday when the solstice is at it's peak. You," she turned her attention to Kydyn who narrowed his eyes at her. "Should get prepared as well. You're the one most at risk. Your contracted hound? I would undo it if I were you."

"Why?"

"Because gaining new power might shatter the bond and if the increase of magic doesn't kill you, the damn dog will," Syl snipped as it if weren't an obvious thing. "You can contract it again afterwards, but the less loose ends we have going into this, the better chance you have of coming out of it in one piece."

"She's got a point," Cinder offered. 

Kydyn sighed heavily. "Fine. I'll undo it tonight. Damn it. Don't you people know the amount of work it takes to contract one of those things?"

Syl smirked at him. "Well, then just think. If you make it out alive, you'll have more than enough power to make it easy the second time."

Kydyn groaned and glared at her again, "Just fucking peachy."