Then the answer was clear: he had to seek assistance that operated outside the law. It was so obvious who to ask, he was embarrassed to not have already thought of it. Especially after thinking about the story “Aladha va calix,” and the aptly named hero of that story.
He went out of the barn and got on his pedalcycle. The next stop was the University, to find Veranix Calbert.
Chapter 7
VERANIX PACKED HIS THORN OUTFIT, bow and arrows, and the napranium rope and cloak into a rucksack, changed out of his school uniform into normal city clothes. He wasn’t sure exactly what was going to happen right now, but he wanted to be prepared. His fighting staff, though, he’d leave behind. It was just a bit too conspicuous for a walk out west, and since he was going with Delmin, it was best to walk appearing as normal looking as possible.
“So we’re really heading out to the west side of town?” Delmin asked when Veranix met him outside Almers Hall. “You and me, together, to meet those . . . friends of Mila’s?”
“They’re fine,” Veranix said. “I may need your tracking skills. If the giant is that Tarian fellow, I’ve got him tagged.”
“You really think a member of the Tarian Order is involved in this?” Delmin asked. “You did pass Druth History, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” Veranix said. “I only know I saw him leaving Fenmere’s, with that official I’ve seen come and go a few times. Something hinky is there, my friend.”
“Maybe,” Delmin said. He took a deep breath. “But, if you think I’ll be useful, and if this is about helping children, I’m there for you.”
“I appreciate it,” Veranix said. “Besides, when we’re out there, you have to try this Fuergan restaurant . . .”
They took a tickwagon through Gelmoor and Seleth, then walked the rest of the way to Frost Lane. At the corner of Ullen and Frost, a young Cloistress of the Blue, her blond hair tied back in a braid, walked straight into Veranix’s path.
“You, young man, I need your help.”
“Sister,” he said, taken aback by her abrupt approach. “How can—how can we help you?”
She glanced at Delmin for a moment, as if his presence confused her. “I have an assignment to hear absolution from a man staying at Kimber’s Pub. You will guide me to this place.”
“Of course,” he said. “That’s actually where we were going anyway.”
“Good,” she said, taking his arm and starting to walk with him. “Earlier, I was reading the Testament of Saint Benton. You are familiar with it?”
“I’m not, actually,” Veranix said.
“Standing on the bridge—” Delmin started.
“I was not asking you,” the sister snapped.
“Benton isn’t my saint,” Veranix said.
She looked at him with a puzzled expression. “No, that can’t be right.”
“Always more of a Saint Senea fellow.”
They reached the front door of Kimber’s and the cloistress stopped and faced Veranix. She cupped her hand on his head and said, “Then pray to her with me.”
Veranix almost pulled away, but something about the touch of her hand filled him with a sense of pure calm. The instinct to withdraw fell away. He closed his eyes and bent his head down, and she touched her forehead to his.
“Give me your blessing, Saint Senea,” they said together in reverent whisper. “Put your eye upon me, protect me, as I act in the name of the right. Give me your strength, to fight against the unjust, to stand for the oppressed. If my body is broken, guard my soul and deliver it to stand before judgment, which I will never fear as I act in your name.”
He opened his eyes to see hers piercing into him: cool, blue, and strong. “Go without fear today, my friend. You are watched over.”
She let go and went inside, leaving Veranix standing in the walkway, not even sure why he was crying.
“I am very confused,” Delmin said.
“You’re not alone,” Veranix said, wiping the tears from his face. Despite that, he felt more peace than he had in months. He didn’t know who the cloistress was, or what the day was about to bring, but he knew he was ready for it. “Let’s do this.”
Asti was in the taproom, nursing a cider while two pairs of strikers sat in front of him.
“I figured I had a couple of mages coming,” Asti said. “So I thought I’d be prepared.”
“Thank you,” Delmin said as he sat down.
Veranix took a seat. “The kid is upstairs?”
“Verci and his wife are with him now,” Asti said. He was looking at Veranix with an odd regard, and Veranix realized why. It was the first time Asti had seen his face. Blazes, for all Veranix knew, Asti didn’t know his name. Perhaps it was best to keep it that way. “He’s not in a good way, let me tell you.”
“How so?”
“Let me tell you about this kid. I’ve known my share of tough kids on the streets out here. I was one of those tough kids. Verci and me, we ran our share of scraps back then.”
“All right,” Veranix said, not sure where Asti was going with this. He started eating one of the strikers to give the man a chance to talk.
“This kid, he puts us all to shame. I ain’t never seen one this tough, this angry, this willing to fight. He’s only six, best we figure, and he’s a downright terror.”
“Lovely,” Delmin said.
“And whatever he saw, whatever he went through, it’s scared him to his core. Maybe that’s a good thing. It’s the most normal, human thing I’ve seen from him.”
Veranix understood. “What did he lose?”
“Everything,” Asti said. “I mean, I’ve only known him as a street orphan, so I don’t even know if he had parents around. But he had a brother. A
