Return of the Runebound Professor

Noah slept poorly that night. Even though he’d resolved to try to get good rest for the following morning, he couldn’t get his mind to calm. It bounced infuriatingly from thinking about what he was going to do about Isabel and Todd’s situation to trying to figure out what the next Rune he’d form would be.

And, as such, Noah gave up on sleep entirely after about four hours of lying around and staring at the ceiling. Noah snagged his grimoire and slipped it into his belt. He took a page out of Lee’s book and slipped out of his room through the window, pulling himself up onto the roof of the house and silently walking over to look down at the front door below him.

He sat down, leaning against a raised wall, and rubbed his eyes. A yawn slipped from between his lips, but he ignored it. Noah pulled his grimoire back out, flipping through its pages. There were a good number of Runes within it, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to make his next Rank 2 Rune from a combination that Father could predict.

I think I should start by narrowing down exactly what I want. It all comes down to the first medium I want to try to work with. Earth or wind, I think. It should be something that works well initially with Pyroclastic Resonance as well.

That makes me lean toward Earth. Some percussion to add to the symphony. I need to be careful to avoid getting too specific, though. If I do, combining things into a Rank 3 Rune is going to be a huge pain.

Noah wasn’t sure how long he sat on the roof, musing over his Runes, but by the time he finally turned his attention back to the real world, the sun had started to rise over the rooftops of the Linwick Estate.

The early morning was a mixture of dull purples and pinks, casting the gray streets in a rosy hue. Noah enjoyed the view for a few moments before some movement in the streets caught his eyes.

People had been milling about for a little while already, but most of them looked to be laborers preparing for the day. However, the man that drew his attention stuck out like a sore thumb. While everyone else had a purpose and was either carrying something around or heading down the street with purpose, he was strolling.

The man wore light metal and leather armor, and though Noah couldn’t tell at the distance he was at, he suspected the armor was Imbued. Noah trailed the man’s progress as he headed down the street and approached his house.

Stopping before the door, the man adjusted his collar and tilted his head to the side. He stood there for a moment in silence. Sunlight reflected off an earing that hung close to his right ear.

Noah squinted.

He’s not wearing any other jewelry. I wonder what the chances are of that being the equivalent of a communication device right out of a spy movie? Surely that would be too obvious.

Noah crept down the roof, trying to get a better look at the man below. He was still standing still. It really did look like he was listening to something. Finally, he raised a hand to knock on the door.

A grin crossed Noah’s lips and he slipped over the edge of the roof, using a small gust of wind right below he hit the ground and alighting directly behind the man.

“Hello,” Noah said, even as the man spun toward him in surprise.

“Father sent me,” the man said, quickly recovering his decorum. “He’s waiting for you.”

“Speaking to me himself? I thought he’d be sending someone.”

“To get you. The issue you plan to discuss is too significant to allow others to overhear it.”

“Fair enough,” Noah said, yawning. It wasn’t a fake – he really hadn’t gotten all that much sleep that night. “Same place as yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Much appreciated. Have a safe trip back,” Noah said, setting off along the road. There was no need to wait any longer, after all. He suspected Lee had probably either watched or overheard the conversation, so he didn’t have to worry about Isabel and Todd wondering what was going on.

***

The door to Father’s study opened as soon as Noah set foot on the bottom floor of the house.

Well, that’s one way to show you knew I was coming.

Noah entered the room, ignoring the door as it rumbled shut behind him, and inclined his head to Father. The man sat in his chair, exactly how he had the previous day – if Noah didn’t know better, he would have assumed that absolutely no time had passed since their last meeting.

“Sit,” Father said. “You had a busy night. You must be tired.”

“I think bored would be more accurate,” Noah said, pulling the chair out and lowering himself into it. “I hope you have something suitably interesting for me. The information I got was… lackluster.”

Father gave Noah a slight smile. “Yes, Janice was quite on edge. She wasn’t expecting the direction you took the line of questioning. A demon interested in politics?”

“Why would we not be? No better way to start a war than through them.”

“Very true,” Father agreed, pouring a glass of wine. He offered it to Noah.

“This early in the morning?”

“Time is all the same when you are within my room. Day, night. It doesn’t matter.”

Sounds like a really roundabout way to say you’re a shut-in alcoholic that doesn’t leave your mom’s basement.

Noah accepted the drink. It hadn’t really done much to him last time, so he didn’t particularly care one way or another. Father seemed slightly surprised that Noah actually took it, but he poured himself a glass.

“So,” Noah said. “I trust you’re going to actually give me something interesting instead of wasting my time with more posturing?”

“Of course. As a show of goodwill, allow me to answer one of the questions that Janice shied away from,” Father said. He took a slow drink of his wine, then paused until Noah did the same before continuing. “The strongest noble house is the King family. They took that title many years ago, after the Arbalest Empire was established, and every ruler has come from their family ever since.”

There was a note of something in Father’s voice – hunger or jealousy. Noah couldn’t place which, but it wasn’t anything good.

“Below them are the Rivven and Herron families,” Father continued, tapping a finger on his desk. “Both have focused entirely on the might of their mages and nurturing powerful soldiers and craftsmen. They are allied with the King family, which keeps all three in power.”

“Clever,” Noah said. “So they’re basically one large family.”

“Yes. And that leaves the rest of us,” Father said, his brow darkening. “The Linwicks and the Torrins. Still powerful noble houses, but locked in a worthless war for years upon years and only weakening each other in the process.”

“You don’t approve?”

“Of course I don’t.” Father shook his head and chuckled. “A waste of resources. The Torrins are fools, but much of my own family is little better. We fret too much over politics and clash internally, keeping us from ever truly growing to the strength we should be at.”

“Perhaps I am a prophet, but I suspect your request has something to do with this.”

“Perhaps you are. The Linwicks are like a tree. We must trim the unwanted growths in order to bear the most bountiful fruit.”

“Wouldn’t you all be stronger standing together? Not that I care one way or another.”

“Perhaps, but you are getting ahead of yourself,” Father said. “I will not share my ultimate goals with you, but the service I seek is the trimming I spoke of. There are a multitude of Linwick family members that do not deserve the titles they hold. I wish for you to remove them, without leaving any connection to me.”

I thought this was about some sort of election?

“Who?” Noah asked.

“We can start with one that you already seem to have your eye on,” Father said, sending Noah a knowing glance. “Considering you have already begun your assault on him.”

“Assault?” Noah asked with a half-smile. “I’d hardly call that an assault, Father. Just a little trimming.”

Father chuckled. “Whatever terms you wish to use, Spider. I wish for Dayton Linwick to meet an untimely end. I do not care how, so long as he dies and it cannot be associated with my name. And, once he dies, deliver his grimoire to me.”

That was… a lot more direct than I thought he’d be. Either he’s completely confident I won’t betray him, or there’s something else he’s got. Maybe he thinks that the information he has over me is enough?

You know, it probably is. He could cause a lot of trouble for Isabel and Todd if he wanted to, and he already knows that would annoy me at the bare minimum. Whoops.

“And what will you give me in return?” Noah asked. “Dayton’s soldiers were enjoyable ways to waste some time, but killing a Rank 5 isn’t a small task, even for me.”

“He is Rank 5 in only name,” Father said with a derisive snort. “A pathetic wretch who can do nothing but revel in cruelty and use his branch’s resources to force himself up in the ranks. Even if he possesses a Rank 5 Rune, he cannot utilize its powers.”

“But he still has a Rank 5 Rune. You can’t expect me to lower my prices just because my target is a bumbling idiot.”

“Perhaps not,” Father said, taking another slow drink from his wine. Noah mirrored him, finishing the last of the glass and setting it back down on the table.

They were silent for several moments.

“What do you want?” Father asked.

“You gave me worthless Runes,” Noah said flatly.

“You are complaining about a gift. Bad form, Spider.”

“Never said I was one for decorum,” Noah said. He tapped his wine glass. “More.”

This time, surprise did flicker through Father’s features – though it still didn’t enter his eyes. Noah was certain of it. The man didn’t let it stall him for long, though. He leaned forward and poured Noah another glass.

“You wish for better Runes, then?”

“Let’s be honest with each other for one sentence, Father. I want Runes, but I don’t want you to know which ones I take. You want me to kill a man, but you don’t want it tied back to you.”

Father gestured for Noah to continue. He made no moves to pour himself any more of the wine. Noah took a sip from it, mostly to see Father’s reaction. The older man had steeled himself once more, though, and Noah received nothing from his body language.

“I will take Dayton’s Runes,” Noah said. “All of them.”

Father’s eyes narrowed. “He is the head of his branch. His grimoire is worth far more than his life.”

“Is it worth his death?”

Father’s lips quirked up. “Not all of it. You may take a quarter.”

“Three quarters.”

“One quarter and no more.”

“Half, and I don’t kill the rest of his house in the process.”

Father tilted his head to the side. “What makes you think I care in the slightest about the rest of his house?”

“Your actions follow the path of improving the Linwick family. You spoke of it as a tree, but no gardener wants his tree to die. Even if Dayton is a fool, there are good men and women working under him. Am I wrong in guessing that you plan to take them under your wing?”

Father watched Noah silently for several seconds. Then he let a slight smile creep across his features.

“Very astute, Spider. It seems we both have trees we are cultivating. Perhaps, in both of our interests, we shall avoid salting the ground.”

A flicker of anger welled in Noah’s chest, but he quelled it.

Fair play after what I said, but he’s still threatening Isabel and Todd. If I accept this immediately, it’ll be too obvious I care. He’s played his hand, but my cards are still partially hidden.

“Half of the grimoire,” Noah said, crossing his arms. “Trees can be replanted, but mine is much younger than yours.”

“Three-eighths.”

Noah smiled. “One last thing, then. Do you need him dead?”

“That is the entire point of this.”

“Is it?” Noah asked. “You need his branch to fall. Is a coward not worse than a dead martyr?”

Father burst into laughter. “If you could make him show his true colors and flee while denouncing the Linwick name, then I will give you half of his grimoire, provided he doesn’t take it with him.”

Noah extended his hand. “Then it sounds like we have a deal. I will have him dead or fleeing within the week.”

Father grasped it, and they shook. Noah reached down, grabbing the glass of wine and draining the entire thing while keeping his eyes locked with Father’s until the door opened behind him, then turned and strode out of the room.