Cerberus Rex, Nameless

A Tale & Adventure, 16

It was late afternoon and nearing evening by the time Noarwin returned home. He sighed, pushed back his short sweep of hair and eased his front door open. He stepped in, peering over the back of his tired sofa at the space he'd opened up for his house guests. They sat in a circle, the center of them a scribble of notes and discarded pages. They'd pushed the blankets and pillows into a ring around them. Asinis sat hunched and cross-legged as he wrote down some ideas with a piece of charcoal he'd supplied.

Silas looked up when Noarwin entered.

"And what are you lot up to?" Noarwin asked as he slipped off his coat. His tucked in shirt loosened, lowering the untied neckline to reveal a handsome chest painted in undiscernible art.

"Planning," Feri said, focused on the pages she shuffled through.

"Oh? Any success?" Noarwin removed the belt holding his weapons and set them by the sofa when he sat on it, one ankle rested on the opposite knee. He didn't expect actual help from any of them and only asked in a half-hearted attempt at interest.

"Silas has a spell," Asinis began, causing Noarwin to perk up. "It can locate people, but he has to be familiar with his target." Asinis scratched his head. "I'm trying to recall what I know about Gunilla to help him."

"Why do you want to find this woman so bad?" Silas asked. "Is there more than what you've told me?"

Asinis frowned, his eyes searching the ground. "I can't think of anyone else to ask for help—or who might know who did this."

"I'm curious, do you consider yourself a great spell caster, Mr. Asinis?" Noarwin asked, not inclined to reveal his interest in Silas's ability similar to the one he'd recently supplied himself. Noarwin wondered—did it have a range, could it compel people to him? Or had Noarwin wasted his money?

He waited for an answer. Asinis had described Gunilla as lacking in ability. Did Asinis feel superior? Noarwin thought Asinis must know something considering the spell he used to help him and Feri put off the guards chasing them, but perhaps that was all and Noarwin pinning him as a war mage candidate off. Noarwin had a good sense for people, but he wasn't audacious enough to think himself always right.

"I'm still a student," Asinis mumbled. "I—started late."

"Don't worry, we'll get you back," Feri said, her hand finding his arm. He forced a smile, but it didn't last.

"And you, Miss Feri?" Noarwin pressed.

She looked at him and then away. "I—don't know much about magic. Nor am I familiar with spells." That stilted reply was a lie, but Noarwin wouldn't press for now as her lack of forthrightness seemed to stem out of an old wound she wouldn't trust a stranger with.

"So, you were at Isenvel to learn," Noarwin said to Asinis. "How did you get mixed up in the tower's accident, Feri?"

"I..." Feri glanced at Asinis who shrugged. She sighed until Silas stroked her hair.

"It's alright, Feri," he said, though Noarwin doubted he knew the answer or understood her hesitation. His trust in her was charming but also naive.

Feri offered him the same struggled smile Asinis gave her and nodded. "I am a warden of the god, Lunis."

"Who?" Noarwin's face twisted. He'd not heard of such a deity. At least, he wasn't popular enough to come immediately to mind. Not that Noarwin familiarized himself with the gods. The only ones who might find interest in him were ones he did not care for.

"God of the dark side of the moons," Silas said.

"The so-called assassin god?" Noarwin asked, his tone taking a thoughtful edge. He had heard of the title, but only ever spoken offhandedly in children tales to frighten kiddies into coming home early at night.