Heliopath’s World: Heliopath (part 2)

[k_a_webb]

Heliopath watched Kestrel breathe. Occasionally someone was allergic to sleep spells and that could cause major problems. It didn’t seem like she was, but that didn’t stop him from worrying. Sleep spells in general were difficult to get right. People would either make them too weak, so the target wouldn’t sleep for long enough, or they would make them too strong, which would lead the target to sleep for a lot longer than they should. Most people bought them, even if they were in a position to make them, and there were a lot of mages who never got to the position where they could use sleep spells. Purple level was the hardest to get past because of the hallucinations that came with the normal withdrawal symptoms.

Suddenly it came to him that Kestrel may not have gone through the normal withdrawal stage. The rarity of female mages meant that it was hard to know how withdrawal would hit them. Heliopath had never actually met a female mage so he couldn’t help being fascinated by the girl laying on his table. Her low level didn’t matter. It just mattered that she was a mage, that she could use the same magic that he could, and that he wanted to teach her.

“Everything’s ready, sir,” a voice said, making Heliopath jump. “Would you like me to carry her upstairs?”

Shaking his head, Heliopath stood up. “I’ll take her. I need you to send a messenger to the Black Hollow. Falcon should know that we have Kestrel.”

“Yes, sir. Is there anything specific you would like me to put into the message?”

“Tell him I’ll be available in the morning if he wants to negotiate for her release.” Heliopath glanced thoughtfully at Kestrel. “When you’ve done that I want you to get out all the books on the Black Hollow that we have and take them to my study.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Can you also take this up to my study?” He passed the lieutenant Kestrel’s dagger which was still in the sheath. “Don’t touch the blade. You never know what someone might have put on it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m just doing my job, sir.”

Heliopath smiled at him. “If you say so, lieutenant. What’s your name?”

“Benedict, sir.”

“I’d like to give you a special job, Benedict. You may not find it much fun but I think you’re the right person for the job.”

“What’s that, sir?”

“Research female mages for me. I want to know everything there is to know on them. I’d like your first report by the equinox.”

“Yes, sir.” Benedict smiled tentatively at Heliopath. “I think I will enjoy the job, sir.”

“I’m glad. There should be some books in my study so feel free to take anything that may be helpful.”

“I will, sir. Thank you. I’ll get started as soon as I’ve done the other jobs you gave me.”

Benedict left the room, so Heliopath was once more alone with Kestrel. He was able to admit that he was more curious about her than he should be. Getting too interested in a female mage from the Black Hollow could be a major problem for him if she worked out who he was.

Part 1
Part 3
Part 4

Mirrored from K. A. Webb Writing.