Forgotten Embers

31. Come With Me

The three of them sat in the office together, the room dark but for some small light from the lamps in the hall and a chamber candle which Dorcus had lit and set on the desk between them. They sat each in a chair, sipping on hot tea as they discussed their plans.

"So, they will arrest you, then?" Benjamin reconfirmed after rehashing some of their previous conversation.

"Yes, I think that's best," Eliezer agreed. "It may cause Adrien some serious problems if they don't find me, and I would hate for them to come here and find the two of you along with me."

"Will they kill you?" Ben asked, his heart unwilling to ask anything less direct.

"No, I don't believe so," his friend assured him. "Although, I think they'd like to."

"Well enough," Ben nodded. "I should like to attend the trial," he told him after some hesitation.

Eliezer looked to Dorcus, then to his tea, then back to Benjamin. "You know I couldn't prevent you, but I will request that you be careful."

"I'd like to see his face," Benjamin confessed as he stood to go. "It's not often that he makes himself publicly accessible."

'Strange... I suppose this is all politics to him, but it means much more to me than that.'

"Anyway, I must be off if I'm to reach Avera in time," he added as he moved to exit the room. He paused, turning back to them with a bow. "Thank you for your great sacrificial service... both to the kingdom and to me. These years have been ungrateful, I know, but I assure you, I am not."

"It has been..." he looked to Dorcus, who nodded, "and is our great honor and privilege, Your Majesty," Eliezer promptly assured him with a gladsome smile. "We would gladly spend and be spent for you, as you know."

"And Ben," Dorcus added softly, "don't forget to wear those gloves that Kypher and Mira made for you. I would like to see you avoid a repeat of the previous week's incident."

'They truly have shown me such great kindness.'

He smiled, taking the gloves from the tiny end table and slipping them on over his fingers, pulling them tight at the wrists with a snap. "Most assuredly, I will take all due caution, and know that I expect the same of each of you," he told them, lifting the hood of his cloak in preparation for his departure.

His attentions turned again to Eliezer, and he offered a passing glance behind him. 'Fair well, old friend, and may you find favor in the eyes of our most generous King.'

"Ben," Eliezer called after him, catching a secondary glance. He stopped, attentive. "Don't fret, dear child. The kingdom is already given to you, and as for me, all is well with me."

Benjamin nodded with a faint smile and went his way. 'Eliezer... thank you.'

***

He slowed his pace as he approached the house on Mayverch Street, moving stealthily towards it from the rear. There was a magical barrier surrounding the structure with the appearance of a translucent purple bubble.

'Hm... a constraining barrier. I should be able to get in all right, but... once I do, I'm trapped in there. And that means that Zephyr's mages have already arrived, as well. Although...' he looked around, 'they seem to be primarily guarding the front.'

He continued forward with caution, crossing effortlessly through the barrier. Once inside, he reached back and placed his hand against it. The boundary was hard and immovable. He took a breath, isolated from the noise of the streets. 'You'll just have to help me, that's all.'