The Obsidian Pillar

Chapter Forty-eight

Despite the cold coming of winter, the morning was crisp and the sun deceptively bright in the sky as I attempted to port into the tower. It was too dangerous for me to walk over, but without the alarm or panic of the previous night I was struggling to port successfully.

'Concentrate on the task at hand,' Varellna said from behind me, tying the parchment to the raven's collar.

'Where did you find the raven?' I asked suspiciously.

'It comes to me when I call it.'

'It could be anywhere. Surely that's not possible.'

'It's sorcery, anything is possible if you know how.' Varellna winked, raising her arm to the sky as the raven took off, flying south towards Vakaaria.

'It's not him, is it?' I asked sheepishly.

'Waincroft?' she answered with a smirk. 'He'd rather parade through the Fold naked than send messages on my behalf.'

I blushed. 'You don't think very highly of him.'

'He is difficult to get close to. He is guarded. But, that's to be expected.'

'Why?' I asked, hungry for an insight into my mysterious mentor.

'He hasn't told you...' She seemed surprised.

'Told me what?'

'He had a horrible childhood, Valla.' She sighed before me, folding her arms and staring into the sky as she spoke. 'I shouldn't be the one to tell you, it should really come from him.'

'Please, Varellna,' I begged. I actually begged to know more about him. I knew that worry was etched upon my face; my forehead ached from my frown.

'His family tortured him. They were poor; they rented him out for money. Where he comes from, they are very superstitious. They thought he had black magic.'

'Gods,' I breathed, feeling a heavy pull bearing down on my chest.

'I don't know much about it, but I know he bears the scars, internally and externally.' She coughed in the silence. I couldn't say anything; my mind was racing. 'An hour, no more. If we are going to get to the castle, then we need to do it before anyone suspects that we will be.'

'I understand.'

'Concentrate,' the sorceress stated with a smile before returning into the decrepit town hall.

Now that I was alone, I could only do what I thought was natural. I got down onto my knees, dug my hands into the dirt, and shut my eyes tightly to picture the tower room before me. I ignored the need to return to Waincroft, to ask him questions, to learn more.

I felt the air around me change; it was warmer, quieter and the vibrations were knocking around in my ears delicately. I opened my eyes to find myself by the hearth of Arwel's tower room.