Mark of the Fool

Chapter 735: The Fool's Notes

Tell medo you know what a patch is? Hannah Kims spirit had once asked.

Her question had come when Alex was in a corner of the Hells, within the burning maze of Cretalikon.

Hed frowned, answering her with a question, Like on a piece of old clothing?

Something like that. I couldnt remember if I wrote about that in my book Shed taken a deep breath. In my old world, theres something we use called programs. Theyre a bit like spells, except theyre made by a central, um, company. Uh, place. Then users of these programs use them, but they cant change them.

Okay Alex had said slowly. But, whats that got to do with the Mark?

Shed considered the question, looking as though she was sorting through her thoughts. Well, when a company puts out a program and they want to change it, they release something thats called a patch. Its new codeuh, a new piece of a spell that goes over top of the old spell and changes it.

Alex could have been blown over by a stiff breeze at those words. So youre saying that somebodychanged the Mark? That it was different before?

Shed nodded. After Kelda heard about patches, she spent a long time examining her Mark: the very fibres of magic it was made of.

You can break it down? Alex had asked. Even archwizards havent been able to do that.

She had the Mark, she had my knowledge, and she had to build some very specialised equipment using materials you cant even get in your world. But she built them and used the Mark to get good enough at using them to examine her Mark and mine.

The conversation had taken place many months agothough it felt like a lifetimeand here he was, about to learn what Kelda had discovered.

Alex ran his finger along the notebooks spine as Hannah's words echoed in his mind. He read the title again:

Patch Reversal, notebook I.

Hannah had called the Mark of the Fool a patch.

A fitting title, Alex said out loud.

What's it say? Birger asked.

Alex glanced at the cabinet filled with dozens of books, many were a series of numbered notebooks entitled: Patch Reversal. Twenty-two volumes starting with number one and ending at twenty-two.

These books appear to be notes on reversing the Mark. Honestly, it's going to take me a while to go through them all, the young wizard admitted. I'll have to read, study and examine every word carefully. As for the other bookslooks like they're on alchemy, religion, and philosophy regarding the soul. Theyre probably reference books she used to help with her research. I'll have to read all of them, and when I finish looking through all the material

He took a book from his satchel: a copy of Uldars notes ...I'll have to cross-reference Uldars notes with Kelda's to see if I can figure out where she went wrong. It could take a while.

Sounds like it, Birger said.

How long do you think itll take? Bjorgrund asked. The church is probably still tracking usif we stay in one place too long

I wouldn't worry about that too much, son. Birger gave him a sad smile. Kelda knew how to hide this place from the world for three centuries. And the only reason we were able to find it is because Alex has hers and Hannah's power. I wouldnt think those fiends will ever be able to find us.

Alex looked up sharply. Actually, I'm not so sure about that, Birger.

What? Why do you have doubts? Think about it, it took us months to find this place! The old giants tone was bordering on defensive. Do you really think they're going to be able to just waltz in here right after us?

Probably notbut I'm not a hundred percent sure, either, the young wizard said grimly. Look, we don't know how they're tracking us. No matter where we went, or how fast we teleported, they found us all over the Empire. And they're getting better at it. I wish I knew what they were capable of and what their limits are, but I dont. This place should make it a lot harder for them to find us, but the fact is, we just don't have enough information to be certain.

But even if they manage to find the sanctum, theyd need to teleport from room to room! Birger pointed out. Theyd need your power.

Alex shook his head. I can think of two or three different ways to get from room to room without it, as long as you have someone capable of teleporting with you.

How? the giant demanded.

Alex looked around the laboratory. These rooms are part of the same structure, separated by some very thick walls. I can sense where the other rooms are because of the Travellers power, but if someone can pierce one of the entrance wallsthrough magic or divinity they could get a clear line of sight to the next room, and just teleport there. That's basically how I do it.

Well, what about the traps? Birger asked, sounding frustrated.

They aren't active right now, Alex pointed out. And I dont know if they'd automatically turn on if somebody got in here. After all, you don't have the Mark or the Travellers power, but they didn't react to you because Im here. Im thinking it would make sense that the traps wouldn't be active when Kelda was home. Think about it: if her assistants had to travel from room to room to do different tasks, itd be a big problem if the traps were constantly trying to kill them.

Alex spread his hands. The other problem is we don't know what the First and Third Apostles divinity actually makes them capable of. Im sure theyd find some way to use their gods power to move around in here.

And even if the traps were on, I think theyd only slow them down; they dont seem like the type to let a few trapsor a few dead warriorsstop them, Bjorgrund added.

A long moment of silence passed, then the old giant began cursing. Shit, shit, shit! I'm so tired of them! Do you mean to tell me that we have to run away after so long trying to find this place?

Alex shook his head. No. It's actually the opposite.

What do you mean? Birger looked puzzled.

Look, it's not all doom and gloom. Without the Travellers power, it would be a lot harder for a wizard to teleport here, even if that fae figures out where we are. The way the sanctum movesdoesnt make it easy. Most wizards would need to have been here before to have the slightest hope of teleporting to it; though by using a divine interdiction, they might come up with a workaroundinterdictions allow wizards who use divinity to change a rule of reality to a certain point He paused. Though thankfully, even thats got its limitations, otherwise the only interdiction theyd ever have to proclaim is; everyone in this area who doesn't worship Uldar, die immediately! In any case, wed be wise to assume they're eventually going to find a way to get in here, even if it takes them a while. Which is actually a good thing.

How is that a good thing? Bjorgrund frowned, looking at Alex like hed lost his mind.

Well, I can't think of a better place to face them and finally put them down. If we can find a way to get the traps activated, they'll lose a lot of their people trying to get to us, and waste time and lives going from room to room. If we engage them here, it won't be us wholl be on their back foot, it'll be them. And if Im no longer blocked by the Marks limits, wouldnt that be a nice surprise for them? Alex smiled. They wont see me coming. I could fill these rooms with an entire army of summoned monsters and be ready for them in a place of our choosing.

His fingers coiled around the aeld staff. Its blooms glowed brighter. And if we strike down their leaders, then the rest of them won't have any place to run to. We'll grind them to paste right here.

That assumes we'll have time for you to reverse the Mark, Birger said. As well as knowing for sure that it works. Keep in mind, if your souls destroyedand we survivethen Bjorgrund and I will die of hunger and thirst right here in this very sanctum, Alex.

And that's why I'm going to make you both an offer, Alex said. Birger, youve found your friends sanctum. Bjorgrund, both you and your father have helped me get here. As far as I'm concerned, the two of you have done enough. More than enough. If you want, Ill teleport you to wherever you want to go, right now. The church is hunting me and if you want to leave, I completely understand.

No way. Bjorgrund snarled, gripping his axe. I want payback. That church nearly killed me and would have killed my father if they werent so busy trying to kill you and the rest of us. Because of them, we couldn't even go back home. His rune flashed through his tunic. I cant let them just get away with that.

Well, I'm the last person that could tell you not to want revenge, Alex said. But Birger, what about you? Do you want to take your son and go?

Birger shook his head. I want them to suffer for what they did to Bjorgrund and the rest of youand pay for hunting us for all these months like we were animals People like them should be stopped. They should get a taste of their own medicine. And besides, Kelda would've wanted you to succeed. You're her legacy, and she'd be damn mad at me if I left you here to face our enemies by yourself.

Thanks for that I'm glad you're still with me, Alex said sincerely. Thenthis is what Ill do, when I'm about to start the process with my MarkI'll make a portal for the two of you to use if anything happens to me. Youll need to be out of the room when I try to change the Mark, too. I dont want you dying like Keldas assistants.

I appreciate that, Birger said. Now, then, what do we do? the young wizard held up the notebook. First of all, I've got to start looking through these notes. If the two of you could start looking around the laboratory; see if there's anything that looks like a control station for the sanctum. Someplace that Kelda would have used to activate or deactivate the traps. If you could find a map of this place, thatd be really helpful too.

Well get right on it, Bjorgrund said. You're going to want to take a look at my rune at some point, right?

Yes, but not yet, the young wizard said. I have a lot of reading to do first, thank the Traveller I learned how to speed read when I was in first year in university.

Alright, then, Birger said. Were going to find this control thingthen I'll see if theres laundry facilities or a kitchen or anything like it. We might be here a while, and things are going to get a bit uncomfortable if we can't cleanse ourselves, or eat. Well need to talk about how we're going to get food and drink in here, too. If this place had any food storestheyd probably be dust and rot by now.

I don't know about that, Alex said. With the amount of magic in here, I wouldn't be surprised if the sanctum's store room could have dried goods in it thats lasted all these years, especially if there arent any vermin around. I agree though, well need that stuff. Im sure we already smell kinda ripe.

Let's get started, then. Bjorgrund stepped away, already looking around the laboratory. If we don't know when or if the churchs gonna show up, wed better hurry.

Agreed, his father said, joining the younger giant.

Good luck with the search, and before I get started with my reading, I have one more thing to do, the young wizard felt a flare of excitement rising in his chest.

He closed his eyes, reaching across the distance to Generasi, touching Claygons mind. Buddy? Are you there?

There was a pause.

I amherefather Claygons thoughts reached back through the link.Alex could feel waves of relief and anxiety coming from him. I am gladto hear from youhow is the search goingare you safe?

Claygon, I need you to contact Toraka and Lucia, Alex said, looking around the well-equipped lab. We need to arrange to get some equipment and supplies for golem crafting.

Excitement surged through their link. You found somewhere safeto make golems?

Alex allowed a relieved smile to spread across his face, and loud, giddy laughter to escape his lips. Oh we found more than that buddy. We found a hell of a lot more than that! Get Theresa and Selina: youll have some news to give them!

We found Kelda's sanctum buddy! We bloody found it!