Then, he concentrated on creating light. For that, he still needed a focus; it didn’t come as easily as the fire did. He used a stone, as he did in the Rustling Elm tree which seemed forever ago. Now he could make it shine like the sun itself had dropped into the room, and hold it with little effort. He laughed to remember his efforts to get the three of them free that day. The day they had left him to his fate.
Now he could have driven the entire Soul Gaunt army back and burned the tree to the ground for good measure. And he could have made sure that Shireen and Orlando were the ones left inside.
“I still have no idea how Malachi will use you,” Melanie said when they were finished. “You’re a destructive force of nature, for sure, but not exactly subtle.”
“Well, maybe we’ll have to change his plans,” he smiled back.
♦ ♦ ♦
“What is it that I simply must see?” Malachi was back to his usual sour expression. He showed no sign of remembering the events of last night, however.
“Thaddeus has taken a huge step forward in control,” Melanie said, then turned to him. “Go ahead, show him.”
“Be careful,” Malachi growled. “If I don’t like what I see, I’ll shut you down. Maybe for good.”
Thaddeus didn’t know if the man could do that or not, but the memory of the pain he could easily inflict was never far from his mind. He had no desire to test that again. His role right now was to be a distraction, to allow Melanie to slip into Malachi’s mind more easily.
He conjured up a small flame and made it dance above his palm, moving in a circle, dividing itself in two to form a tiny ball and hoop that passed through each other.
“Very cute,” Malachi sneered. “You’ve managed to make a toy from flame.”
“Wait,” Thaddeus said, and sent the flame forward, slowly, toward Malachi’s desk and the stack of papers neatly piled in the corner.
“Careful,” Malachi growled.
Thaddeus set the flame down on the papers but didn’t let it burn them. There was no smoke or odor of singed paper. He let it come back up and shoot toward his open hand. Closing his fist around it, he extinguished it and looked back at the Head of House Subtle Hemlock.
“Wonderful….” Then Malachi’s voice died and his eyes unfocused.
With a start, he came back to. “Truly wonderful! You are coming along very well!”
“Thank you,” Thaddeus said, aware that Melanie had him. “Well enough to get out of the tunnels? Maybe live up here?”
“Perhaps.” Malachi nodded happily. “You’d be a great asset to the House and a huge help to me personally.”
“And Melanie, too, of course,” Thaddeus put in.
“Oh, of course. You two make such a great couple. We couldn’t split you up, now could we?”
Thaddeus sat back in his chair. “But if we’re going to help you, we really need to know what the plans are. Why we’re involved in the Greenweald.”
“Well, that’s a secret….” A slight sheen of sweat broke out on Malachi’s brow.
Thaddeus looked over at Melanie. She sat stiffly upright in her chair, her eyes closed and her breathing deep and controlled. Malachi might be fighting her, but judging by their appearances, he was losing.
“Still,” Thaddeus said, “we can’t help if we’re not privy to it.”
“True. It’s simple really, and two-fold. The first is for profit. This place didn’t come cheap, and it’s not inexpensive to maintain. There are some things that can’t be done by magic, you know. We hire out to those who can afford us, like that insufferable Jamshir, and we use the money for the betterment of the House. And since I am the House, well, you get the picture.”
Thaddeus did indeed. He was slightly disappointed that Malachi’s grand scheme was based on something so… ordinary… as simple greed.
“What’s the other reason?”
“Revenge, of course. Revenge on a system that keeps those of us not fortunate enough to be born into wealth down in the muck. Suitable only for serving our betters.”
Malachi’s voice lost its pleasant tone and became harsher. The sweat on his brow began to trickle down his temples. Strain was beginning to show on Melanie’s face as well.
Thaddeus didn’t quite understand Malachi’s complaint, but he could deal with that later. Better to steer the discussion into safer territory now.
“That’s a fine reason. To do that, we’ll destroy the three Great Houses and rule the Greenweald ourselves then? With you as the supreme ruler, of course.”
“Of course.” Malachi calmed slightly, and some of the tenseness left Melanie as well.
“Or at least I used to think that,” Malachi continued. “But not anymore. Who cares about the Greenweald? Look at this place, the majesty of these mountains. And there are many other worlds, with places equally grand. No, I have no use for the Greenweald and its antiquated ways any longer.”
“Then if not ruling it, what?”
“Destruction. I’ll let the whole thing be destroyed and laugh as I watch. It’s already started with Jamshir and his once-proud House. Glittering Birch is already feeling the effects of my new friends, and they’re only the first. Soon, the Greenweald will be…different. The best part is that those who looked down on me for so long will still be there to reap the harvest of what they’ve sown.”
Thaddeus looked at Melanie. Her eyes were open and staring at Malachi, a tear leaking from one eye.
She shut her
