A Fool's Tale

Chapter 28 - The Fool Awakens

It is a strange feeling to wake after you believe you have died. One would think it would be a joyous occasion, but for me it was a mixture of surprise and disappointment. I think a part of me had hoped to move on to a new world; one with less pain, and I was strangely discomforted to realize I was still alive.

The last thing I remembered was Pickles talking to me as I lay motionless on the hard tourney grounds, but I was somewhere else now. I heard a voice. It sounded like Talia. Where was I? I tried to open my eyes, but they remained shut. My head pounded with pain. I attempted to move a hand to stroke my pulsing temples, but there was no sensation where my hand should have been. Perhaps it twitched. I don't know.

"Gael! Gael! Are you awake?"

It was Talia. I tried to answer, to call out that I was okay, but my mouth couldn't form the words.

"He's too far gone. Only his magic can aid him now. He must save himself." Master Isidor's voice drifted into my consciousness.

'Master Isidor', I tried to shout. It was pointless. I could no longer control my body.

I considered his words. Mind magic. It was my only hope.

My body may have betrayed me, but I still had magic. Looking within, I saw it, a pulsing mass of energy. I skittered around the edges, building up my courage. It was likely the only way to save myself, but it was also a gateway to torment.

If I could have taken a deep breath before plunging into the pool of anguish, I would have. And so I dove before my timid fears could pull me away. As with last time, my mind power came to me quickly, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that in my current state, my body was dead to the pain of magic and injuries that had been inflicted upon me. It was fortunate, for I was in no condition to endure a difficult ordeal.

Although I didn't feel any pain, I also didn't sense any life. The functions of my heart and mind seemed absent. It was like my body was nothing but a dead thing. But if that were true, how could I hear Talia and Isidor talking? I didn't know the answer. All I could do was trust my instincts that I was still alive. And right now, they were telling me that I only had a short while to reactivate my senses.

I pushed further into my mind magic, plunging ever deeper, trying to find the core of my being. Magic swirled around me in thin tendrils. It occurred to me that in this state, it would be an ideal opportunity to explore the different realms of magic, pain free, but I was inexperienced and unsure whether I could cause damage to myself. Drifting through the tendrils, I reached a black hole. My core? I couldn't say for sure, but it seemed likely.

Circling around it, I attempted to embrace the darkness. Go! Start! I cried, but I felt nothing. Reaching deeper into the black hole, I embraced it with my thoughts and gave a giant squeeze, as if I was hugging my insides...and I felt a response. It was pain and life at the same time. I gave another even larger squeeze, and this time the response was stronger. Energy flowed through my body, and with it, the extraordinary pain of my exertions. I withdrew quickly before I was overcome with agony.

Slowly, my eyes edged open. I was lying on a bed in a plain square room with a dresser and a tall, standing mirror. Talia sat on a chair beside me. She was holding my hand. I felt it. A wonderful sensation; her soft hand pressed against mine.

"Gael, you're awake. Master Isidor, his eyes are open!" Talia cried out.

Master Isidor swam into view, standing behind Talia. He smiled. "Oh, my boy, I can't believe you made it back."

I had so many questions, but the one that seemed most important rushed into my thoughts. "The king. Is he alive?" I croaked. My throat felt raw, as if I had swallowed a handful of crooked needles.

"He is, you saved him," Talia responded.

Thank goodness. "What happened?" I asked.

"Mind Control," Isidor stated. "A powerful mage took control of one of the knights and forced him to try to kill the king."

"Malacor," I blurted without hesitation.

Isidor stroked his chin. "I thought so as well, but there are reliable witnesses who claim that Malacor was deep in discussions with one of his advisors at the time of the attack. It's impossible that even a sorcerer as powerful as Malacor could have controlled the knight and carried on a conversation at the same time."

"It has to be him. He must be involved. What about the knight that attacked the king? Does he know anything?" I persisted.

Isidor shook his head. "His mind was damaged beyond repair. Whoever took control of him used him viciously, and without regard to the stability of his brain. Perhaps such cruel treatment was even done on purpose to ensure there were no witnesses."

My thoughts leapt to the welfare of Prince Stefan. I had taken control of him. Had I damaged him? "What about Prince Stefan? Is he alright?"

"He's fine. He thinks he saved the king, although you could very easily have damaged his mind through your ignorance." Isidor regarded me sternly. "If it weren't for the extraordinary circumstances of this situation, I would terminate your apprenticeship immediately. To have taken that kind of risk with the prince's life was foolish. Just imagine if you'd killed him. You shall never do anything like that ever again, no matter what the reason."

I disagreed with Isidor and wanted to argue. The risk had been worth it. The atmosphere in the room grew tense.

"Seeing as we're on this subject, Gael. Was there a reason you had to make my idiot brother into a hero?" Talia interjected, breaking the tension.

"A hero?"

"Yes, nearly the entire kingdom has heard the story about how he bravely dove at the king, knocking him to safety."

"Oh, well. I'm sorry...to both of you. I just reacted without thinking."

"Yeah, well that's not good enough for me," Talia replied. She folded her arms and winked at me.

Isidor sighed and rolled his eyes. "What's done is done I suppose." He looked at Talia. "I have a meeting to attend. Don't stay long. He needs rest."

He moved out of sight. I heard a door creak open and then snap shut.

"Where am I, Talia?"

"Silver's room. She gave it up for you. Most of the people in the castle think you were injured falling from the tower, although I'm pretty sure Silver suspects the truth. There's something special about her."

"Does anyone else know?"

"Isidor told my parents, but they decided to keep it a secret."

"Good. It's better if Prince Stefan is the hero. I'm just a fool after all," I muttered.

Talia shook her head and frowned, but didn't argue. "I suspect your jester friend, Kyla, figured it out as well. When we ran out to you, she was examining your head for bruises. She mentioned it was odd that you were unmarked from your fall. I said the bruise was on the inside of your head...and she sneered." Talia shook her head in disbelief. "I think it was the first time in my life that anyone has actually sneered at me."

"She's not overly fond of royalty."

"I've noticed. You should see the nasty looks she gives to me at my house when she thinks I'm not paying attention." Talia paused and a strange expression crossed her face. "I think she likes you, Gael. She seemed quite upset that you were injured."

I shook my head and regretted it instantly. Pain rattled around my eye sockets at the slight motion. "I doubt it. We fight whenever I defend you." I spoke slowly. The piercing ache around my eyes alerted me to how exhausted I was. My eyelids drooped and I began drifting off, but before falling asleep, I noted Talia's expression. She looked happy.