Read The (sort of) Dark Mage (Waldo Rabbit) for Free Online
Authors: Nelson Chereta
weak. You simply have different strengths. I have tried to bring you along, slowly, in the hopes that your special talents would develop on their own. I had been planning to put off your First Quest for a while.”
“How long were you planning to wait mother? I’m sixteen; everyone usually goes between fifteen and seventeen.”
“I was hoping to put it off until you were thirty.”
Waldo stared at her with his mouth hanging open.
“Or until you managed to kill someone,” his mother added pointedly. “Whichever came first.”
“So the fact you’re sending me now is a sign you believe I’m ready?”
“No,” his mother said. “The council has forced my hand.”
“Wait, my going on the quest now was a decision made by the council?”
His mother nodded unhappily. “Not only are you going on your First Quest but there are set conditions you will have to meet before you can return.”
“Conditions?”
XXX
Lilith narrowed her eyes . “What sort of test?”
“Your son is sixteen is he not?” Baldwin asked.
“He is,” Lilith answered suspiciously.
“Isn’t it time he went on his First Quest?” Baldwin inquired in a reasonable tone.
Around the table heads began to nod.
“If he really is worthy of being your heir then let him prove it.” Darius said.
“ I will be the one who decides when he should go.” Lilith stated. “It is always the family head that decides.”
“Not always.” Baldwin remained placid. “There have been other occasions when the council insisted someone take their First Quest early. There is precedent for it.”
“If your son is strong enough to replace you, then he should be strong enough for this.” Gawreth said.
“You cannot keep him hidden inside your castle forever.” Xilos added.
“If he can succeed that would certainly convince us and this whole matter would be closed.” Xilos said.
“You have to admit that it’s only reasonable.” Lothas piled on.
Lilith’s eyes went to each of them in turn. Only Poisondagger had not spoken in favor of sending her son out, and from his previous comment it was obvious where he stood. They have already decided , Lilith realized with sickening certainty. While she would not hesitate to take on any of the other Houses, even she did not have the strength to fight all six.
“So, you intend to force me into this?” Lilith asked.
“Why do you even need to be forced?” Darius snarled. “You sent your other children out when the time came.”
“I sent them when I felt each was ready.” Lilith answered coldly. “He is my only living child now. Do you blame me for being cautious?”
“From our perspective it looks more like you are acting out of love.” Darius said.
“I do love my son.” Lilith admitted. “However I would never try to protect him just because of that. I have good reason to be patient. He is my only remaining heir.”
“He is your only remaining child, ” Baldwin clarified. “If the tree dies you take a healthy branch and plant it. You have cousins and other relatives. Just how many branch families are there in Corpselover?”
“Forty seven,” Lilith admitted. In the extended family there were a dozen masters, and probably at least that many with the potential
“All of them better,” Dante muttered.
Lilith sent him a sharp look and he seemed to shrink into his chair.
“Don’t blame us if your child is weak.” Xilos said.
“My son is unusual I admit, but he is not weak.” Lilith said. “Even the strong do not always survive the First Quest.”
“Then we must make absolutely certain he is strong.” Baldwin said. “If you are to choose him over the branch members of your family it needs to be obvious he really is the best choice.”
Lilith had an unpleasant suspicion of where Baldwin was
“How long were you planning to wait mother? I’m sixteen; everyone usually goes between fifteen and seventeen.”
“I was hoping to put it off until you were thirty.”
Waldo stared at her with his mouth hanging open.
“Or until you managed to kill someone,” his mother added pointedly. “Whichever came first.”
“So the fact you’re sending me now is a sign you believe I’m ready?”
“No,” his mother said. “The council has forced my hand.”
“Wait, my going on the quest now was a decision made by the council?”
His mother nodded unhappily. “Not only are you going on your First Quest but there are set conditions you will have to meet before you can return.”
“Conditions?”
XXX
Lilith narrowed her eyes . “What sort of test?”
“Your son is sixteen is he not?” Baldwin asked.
“He is,” Lilith answered suspiciously.
“Isn’t it time he went on his First Quest?” Baldwin inquired in a reasonable tone.
Around the table heads began to nod.
“If he really is worthy of being your heir then let him prove it.” Darius said.
“ I will be the one who decides when he should go.” Lilith stated. “It is always the family head that decides.”
“Not always.” Baldwin remained placid. “There have been other occasions when the council insisted someone take their First Quest early. There is precedent for it.”
“If your son is strong enough to replace you, then he should be strong enough for this.” Gawreth said.
“You cannot keep him hidden inside your castle forever.” Xilos added.
“If he can succeed that would certainly convince us and this whole matter would be closed.” Xilos said.
“You have to admit that it’s only reasonable.” Lothas piled on.
Lilith’s eyes went to each of them in turn. Only Poisondagger had not spoken in favor of sending her son out, and from his previous comment it was obvious where he stood. They have already decided , Lilith realized with sickening certainty. While she would not hesitate to take on any of the other Houses, even she did not have the strength to fight all six.
“So, you intend to force me into this?” Lilith asked.
“Why do you even need to be forced?” Darius snarled. “You sent your other children out when the time came.”
“I sent them when I felt each was ready.” Lilith answered coldly. “He is my only living child now. Do you blame me for being cautious?”
“From our perspective it looks more like you are acting out of love.” Darius said.
“I do love my son.” Lilith admitted. “However I would never try to protect him just because of that. I have good reason to be patient. He is my only remaining heir.”
“He is your only remaining child, ” Baldwin clarified. “If the tree dies you take a healthy branch and plant it. You have cousins and other relatives. Just how many branch families are there in Corpselover?”
“Forty seven,” Lilith admitted. In the extended family there were a dozen masters, and probably at least that many with the potential
“All of them better,” Dante muttered.
Lilith sent him a sharp look and he seemed to shrink into his chair.
“Don’t blame us if your child is weak.” Xilos said.
“My son is unusual I admit, but he is not weak.” Lilith said. “Even the strong do not always survive the First Quest.”
“Then we must make absolutely certain he is strong.” Baldwin said. “If you are to choose him over the branch members of your family it needs to be obvious he really is the best choice.”
Lilith had an unpleasant suspicion of where Baldwin was