Mark of the Fool

Chapter 724: The Iron Child

The Roth siblings reluctantly broke their hug knowing that their time together was growing shorter.

Alex stepped away from his sister, placing his hands on her shoulders. His eyes held hers. Youre one of the bravest people Ive ever known, Selina, and I want you to never forget that. Remember that when you think about me, and remember how much I love you. Ill miss you, and Ill come back home. I promise.

Selina sniffled, looking up at him with her large, green eyes.

Alex took a moment, taking in her face, really looking at her, committing her to memory.

Shed grown a lot over their two years in Generasi. She was taller and leaner. Her face was changing, shifting from round, pudgy and childlike, to the angular face of the young woman she would be. There was still more child there than adult, but that would change with time.

He knew that if he was gone long enough, she might barely be recognisable when he got back.

That thought stung. Deeply.

Youre the bravest person I know, Alex, and Im glad youre my brother, Selina told him. I love you, and thats why you have to come back. Soon!

I will, Selina, I will, he promised again, stepping back.

Sniffling, she walked to Claygon, cuddling against the iron golem. A surge of emotion flooded their link as the golem placed a hand on her shoulder.

Alex turned to Brutus who was sitting beside his master.

Goodbye, boy, he said to the cerberus, wondering if the hound truly understood. He hugged the cerberus thick middle neck, then almost laughed; two years ago, Brutus would have lunged at him if hed tried to touch him, never mind hug him. Theresa had been right, as she often was; a little respect had mended the bridge between them long ago.

Brutus licked Alexs face, those big, brown eyes staring into the young wizards until Alexs gaze drifted away.

He looked up at Claygon.

The golem was watching him intently.

Anger seethed through their link, along with a deep well of sadness.

Iam hereto protect youfather he said, his voice like that of a scared young child. You and Selinamade me for that

Alex placed a hand on the golems arm. Thats true, but youre so much more than that, buddy. Youre a singer, youre my friend, youre a warrior, youre part of my family. Any father would be lucky to have you for a son. Youre so much more than a golem thats only there to protect me. Youre not my slave, youre not just my golem: youre Claygon. You can choose to do what you want, beyond what you were made for.

Smiling sadly, Alex tapped his Marked shoulder. Look at me, I was supposed to be a clown, a servant and counsellor for other people, for the Heroes and all of Thameland. But here I am, doing things my way. You have to do things your way, buddy; you have to be more than my protector while I'm gone.

Yourewrong.

Wait, what now? What do you mean?

Yourewrongfather, Claygon said. Waves of sorrow poured through their link, tinged with anger. Anger that was directed at Alex. I knowall of thatalready. I knowwhat I am. I knowwhat you made me forand I know that I can doas I want.

Claygon looked directly into Alexs eyes andthough his were forged of ironthe young wizard could have sworn the golems eyes were alive. Truly alive. I dontknowif I canresist youif you forced me to dosomething. We arelinkedand I have alwaysfollowed what youvetold me to doand I dont knowwhat would happenif I refused.

Huh, Alex said. I dont know either. Were still connected, but you have your own mind and your heart is made from a dungeon cores essence. Youve already evolved twice; honestly, Claygon, I dont know whatyoure capable of. Thats one of the many, many reasons I say youre more than my protect

Yourewrongfather! Claygon suddenly shouted.

Selina startled, recoiling from the golem, stumbling and falling. Ooof!

Below, chair legs scraped across wood.

Theresa startled.

Brutus jumped to his feet, barking.

Alex was stunned into silence.

Burning anger poured through the link.

I am yourprotectornot becauseyou made me that way! the golem shouted. Youmade mebut I am my ownperson! And Iwant to protect you father! I choose youI choose to protect SelinaTheresaBrutusmy family. I choose to protectKhalikIsoldeThundarthe Heroesmy friends. Its what I choose to do. I am notsomeslave that you have to set free...father. I amClaygon. I amyour buddyyourchild. I choose to protect youand thats whythis hurts so much. Because

The golem shook, his head tilting down.

Icannotcome with youyou are right. If I come with youthen Selinamight get hurt ordie. Terror poured through the link at those words. ...if the churchcomes here You goand I cannot follow. It doesnt hurt becauseI am some unthinking thingthat has to go with youit hurtsbecausebecause

His four hands balled into fists.

Because I wantto gowith you! I desperatelywantto go! ButI chooseto staybecause I have to. Andfatherit hurts so muchto think of youby yourselfwith those people hunting you

Suddenly, a bitter laugh erupted from Claygons voice box.

Alex recoiled.

The sound wasnt human, nor even mortal. It wasnt like any noise a living being could make. If iron could laugh, that would be its sound; cold, metal scraping together, creating a noise that was all edges and blood.

A dreadful sound that chilled the heart.

Theyare living thingsborn things! Claygon raised his hands above his head. Theyare born from mothersfrom fathers! They are mortals!

W-who? Selina asked.

The church! Claygons voice was still that terrible, grating, iron sound. They are peoplenot constructs ofclaymetalor stone! They are flesh! They eatthey sleep! They do not wonderif they have a soul! They do notwonderwhat will become of themif they are destroyed! They know!

Heat and light flared in the fire-gem in his forehead.

My bodyis a tool to destroyand to buildif I wish. Butit is not fleshwhat I can dois limited. I will livemaybeforever. ButI do not have the choicespeople do. There are thingsthey cannot dothat I canbut thingsthey can dothat I nevercould. Morethat they can doby my reckoning. They can choose somany things.

That metallic growl grew deeper. Darker.

Butthey do not choose! he screamed, a tearing sound like iron armour crumpling. Theydo notchoose anything! Theyserve! Onlyserve! No matterwhat that meansnot questioningnot thinkingonly hurting!

He suddenly pointed through the window, to Shales workshop. Shaletreats her golemslike she treats her toolsbecause they aretools to her. They haveno minds. They cannot choosethey can only doorif she does not give them an orderjuststand in silence. They areonly tools to herbut how are these people of that hidden churchany different?

There was a terrible clang as he smashed one fist against the other. ThepriestsI knowthey were our enemiesbecausethey were hunting my fatherbut they think! That onethat served the kingTobias Jayhe thought! He lives a life of serviceto his kingand dead godbut he thought! He chose howand he chose whathe thought was right! The king serves his godand peoplebut he chose to let father goMerzhinchooses differentlyafter Careydied. The priestsI saw themdo goodin the Heroes campearlier. They chooseand they help. I thinkBaelin is wrong.

What? What do you mean? Theresa asked.

I amnot surenoI am sure. Not alldeities areparasitessome are badsome are goodsome areregular. Ive seenwhat Uldar didit is evilUldar also did goodmaybe for faith. I have read of deitiesthat do goodor thatdo as nature does. They do not seem eviland Hannah isnt eviland neither is Carey. Carey serves herbut she thinks for herself toobut nothats not right either

He paused, his emotions a whirling storm through their link.

Ihave met people that think deeplyI have met people that onlythink with their stomachs or instincts. Some peoplethinkothers do. But people do different thingsas they need tothey do notjust keep doing the same thinglike unthinking toolsexcept for those hate filledfollowersof the hidden church! They do not think! They do nothingbut only whattheir dead godoncetold themand dont adjusteven if that meansdoing terrible thingsthat they are not supposed to do! They are no better thanShales golemsor her tools! They are nobetter!

Claygon screamed. They were not madefrom steel, clayor stone! They were born from fleshthey were born with mindsbut they actlike they have no minds at all! They actmindlessly! I hate themfor that! Look at meI am choosing to dowhat I dont want to dobecause it is the right thing! I am choosing againstthe purpose I have chosen for myselfbecause it is the right thing! And it hurtsso much But I am doingit! Merzhin didit! Why wont they? There would be so much less painif they didwhy wont they? If they didthen fatherwouldnt have to goto the northto the darkinto dangerby himself! So why. Wont. They!

His scream ripped through the air, breathless and filled with an unending fury.

Through the link, Alex could feel an emotion that hed never truly felt from Claygon before

hate.

True and utter hatred.

It was like acid, burning, corroding.

The young wizard swallowed; this was the hate of metal. Unending.

Ornot?

It began to fade, calming to a dull anger. A resentment. A sadness.

Dont worryfatherI will dowhat needs to be doneI willlet you goeven if it hurtsbut answer me He looked at Alex. Whydont they choose better?

The Thameish wizards mouth opened and closed.

An old memory rose from the deepest mists of his mind.

He was in the kitchen with his father early one morning, with the sunlight streaming through a foggy window. His father had been cutting carrots, and Alex clearly remembered the sound of the knife running along the cutting board.

Hed looked up from the potatoes hed been peeling and asked his father. Why do people die?

The knife had stopped moving. His father was still for a moment, and Alex hadnt understood why.

Then, with a small smile, hed turned to him and said.

It's because we're mortal, son, and sometimes that's the only reason for anything.

But why do mortals die, father?

Here son, you're doing a good job with those potatoes. How about a cookie?

Oh, thanks Dad!

Alex had devoured his cookie happily, quickly forgetting his questions about life and death; it was only now that he realised what his father had done.

He distracted me, Dad never had a real answer, he thought. How could anyone? When he froze like that, he was probably panickingjust like I am now. Huh.

In that moment, Alex felt like he understood his father better than he ever had before.

Claygon He paused, searching his thoughts. I don't know why people do what they do. I don't think even the deities and archwizards of the world know why some people choose hurt and some dont. If they did maybe this would be a better world.

He sighed. Or maybe not. I dont know. I wish I could tell you why they kill for a dead god. Or even a living one; I mean, they do a lot of awful things He shook his head. I wish I could tell you why Uldar built the Ravenernot to help Thameland, but to kill his people over and over againpeople who trust him, who believe in his goodnessbut Ill never understand. I'm not sure if I even want to.

I see maybe it'smore comfortable for themthey don't have to think. They don't have to decidethey don't have to feel the pain of decidinglike I do now Claygon said, his voice returning to that of a small child.

Alex swallowed. Maybe you're right, buddy, maybe you're right. This decision hurts me too. It hurts me a lot.

He took a step forward, his arms spreading to hug Claygon.

Somebody cleared their throat.

Um, is this a bad time? Bjorgrund filled the doorway, eyes wide. I heard shouting and some kind of loud bang, and I thoughtwellthat you were in trouble? His eyes fell on Selina. Um, do you need a hand, small child?

The young girl gaped at the giant, then slowly turned to her brother. Alex, who is this?

Um, um, Im Bjorgrund, the young giant muttered. Uh, sorry for disturbing you all.

I told you not to interfere! Birgers voice called from somewhere below. He sounded like he was standing at the bottom of the stairs.

Selina's eyebrows rose.

Well, Selina, Alex cleared his throat. This is Bjorgrund and Birgerhis fatheris downstairs. Theyre, umnew friends we met in the Empire.

Okaynew friendswe keep making thoseokay, the young girl said, though she looked a little wild around the eyes. She turned to the young giant at the door. Im Selinawelcome to our home.

Gingerly, she reached for the giants hand.

With a single swift yank, he helped her to her feet. Selina yelped. Yikes!

Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you! He recoiled. Its just, uh, I've never really met anyone so small beforeandyou know what? Im just going to go now.

That's okay, I

Goodbye! The young giant quickly turned and fled, thundering down the steps, drawing a cry of alarm from his father.

By my ancestors, watch where you're going, son! Birgers crutch thumped across the wood. You're liable to crush me!

Sorry, father!

Don't apologise, just shut the door! You left it open! Blast it, son, give these people their privacy!

Yes, father!

Bjorgrund scrambled back up stairs, bowed his head in apology, then with a heavy bang, the door slammed.

Silence descended on the room, draining some of the tension away.

Ah, he seems nice, the young girl gave a strained, confused smile, looking like she wished she was in bed.

She suddenly frowned.

Um, we have a problem If there's people who could come here to hurt me, then I can't stay in our home. Not anymore.

Thats why youll be going to our old apartment in the insula, Alex said.

Selinas eyes hardened like emeralds. I cant go there either. Not ever.