(Tom Brady)

The goodbyes were hard when we left the garou camp. I had grown used to these people, my friends. Eric, inscrutable, but quick on his feet; Kevin, always ready to pour on the charm; Walks All Paths, a garou I should have gotten to know much better, but never had the time. And finally Renee - if I'd been straight, I might have contested Walks All Paths for her hand, but as it was she was one of those wonderful people we meet on the roads of our lives. I just wish I'd had more time to spend with these people - there was never enough time...

Raoul drove Cab, Kasee, and I back into Durham and dropped us off outside of Wellspring Grocery. Cab called Pam, her mentor, and secured us a place to crash for the evening. It was very nice of Pam to put us up, but when I saw her one-bedroom apartment, I knew that I'd have to find my own place, and fast.

My feelings were redoubled when I woke the next morning, stiff from sleeping on the floor, in spite of the blankets Pam had been kind enough to provide. Over instant coffee (ick), Cab, Kasee, and I talked about where we would go next. Cab still needed to talk to Pam, though I strongly suspected that the student had surpassed the teacher. Kasee seemed inclined to stick by Cab for the time being, which was fine by me. As for myself, I had my own loose ends to tie off.

Pam, Kasee, and Cab had gone to the grocery store when I tried to call Mr. Forteau. When I had last spoken with him, his behavior had been erratic, at best. I was concerned for him - he was my mentor, and in spite of the fact that he was a prickly bastard I still liked him. I dialed his number, but only got a message that that number had been disconnected. Well, there was only one thing to do. I left a note for Cab letting her know where I was going and set out toward Forteau's. I took the bus down to Woodcroft, and hitched a ride south on 751 with a guy in a pickup truck who was headed down to Jordan Lake for some afternoon fishing.

After a twenty minute drive, I found myself standing outside of Mr. Forteau's house. I thought about when I had it last, on Halloween of 1996. Now, 13 months later, not much had changed. For the house, anyway. Everything had changed for me. My familiar was gone (I felt a pang of sadness at that, but it was a well-worn grief), and I was much more knowledgeable in the arts than I had been. I took a deep breath and started up the driveway, prepared for just about anything.

I walked up to the front door unchallenged. I knocked, and heard a muffled voice from within, "Come in."

"Mr. Forteau? Hello?"

"Reuben? Come in. I'm in the study."

I walked into his office and was struck at how his appearance had changed. He obviously hadn't shaved in quite a while, for his beard was rather bedraggled. His clothes were clean, but wrinkled, and he looked thin and drawn. His eyes, though - his eyes were bright, with a sheen of excitement.

He picked up a bookmark and placed it in the massive tome he had before him, shutting it before I could read much of what looked like Latin text. "I was wondering where you had gone."

I smiled ruefully. "The last year has been very...difficult. I have been to the Shadowlands, and elsewhere."

He spoke as if he hadn't heard me. "I'll be leaving soon. First to Arizona, then a bit more permanently. I've joined a cabal out there. We'll be in a horizon realm for quite a long time - I don't know if I'll see you again."

"When I last saw you, you had been locked in combat. What happened?"

"Every mage is responsible for his own hobgoblins. Be aware of that"

"Paradox?"

"A lot. I never knew until I started studying - I always thought that I was destined for greatness. Ever since that damn gypsy told my fortune in 1855. She said I was destined to lead the Wide-Eyed Messiah. I always thought that she meant that it would be my student and I thought it was you."

I stared at him in shock. "Me?"

"Your destiny is quite strong. I did not realize that it was to be your student. When I finally met her, I knew that perhaps my destiny was at an end."

"When did you meet her?"

"The girl."

I thought back and the answer came to me. "Mary?"

"Yes. It is her destiny to break the final membrane - the barrier that stops all final ascension. It wasn't until I talked to her that I knew for sure, though." He sighed heavily. "The voices in my head finally went away - that's because of you. It is in defending myself against them that I incurred enough paradox that my hobgoblins overtook me. Anyway, I though it best to leave now while the voices are asleep."

I wondered about those voices, but I knew if I was going to get any answers, I'd have to ask now. "I have a few questions if you have the time. Who is Michael Depue?"

He stopped puttering about his desk and looked up at me slowly. "Where did you find that name?"

"In the city records. When we were trying to find out more about the chantry, before it was destroyed."

He sighed and bowed his head. He said quietly, "Michael Depue is my son."

I nodded. It fit the twisted logic of the whole mess. "Is he still alive?"

"No," he said, almost whispering.

I paused, wondering if I wanted to push him further. I wanted to know, though. "What happened?"

"I told you the voice in my head who brought me here from Louisiana kept encouraging me to distance myself from people like Angela and then later Michael, but I couldn't do it. I thought that Michael was going to be the messiah that Ziare the Gypsy spoke of. And one night he went out, as he often did, and never came back."

I nodded. "Was he awakened?"

"Not yet. I was afraid to begin him too young, I had hoped that he would find his way on his own. Up until then I had strong hopes for orphans. I have lost some of my naïve beliefs. I may have been too hard on your young lady because of that."

"So he just disappeared?"

He drew a deep breath, raised his head, and stared at the wall opposite him. "The voice came to me and said that I had taken too long to distance myself and he had taken care of the for me."

More questions. "Who is this voice?"

"I've never known. He speaks with such authority. He never told me his name."

He sounded beaten - something I had never heard before. I was appalled. "You never asked?"

"I always thought it was God."

At any other time I might have laughed, but certainly not now. I tried to divert him from that topic, at least. "Another question: Can you tell me about this?" I pointed to the tattoo on my wrist. I wasn't sure if it was still Billy, or just a remnant to remind me of the affair of the Four.

He glanced at it and said dismissively, "It's something you people do in your youth."

I pressed him. "Can you tell me if this has any sentience?"

He looked at it more closely, and his eyes widened. He glanced up at me. "It's like a crystal wall, but now it has no mind. Who did this to you?"

"The Four."

He slumped back in his chair and ran his hand down his face. "I've grown too old for this shit. Ten years - fifty years ago I would have loved to hear the story. I don't care anymore. Did I ever tell you about my bid to the oracles?" I shook my head. "They've turned me down twice so far - I'm afraid to ask a third time."

"Why did they turn you down?'

"They really don't talk about it. They didn't even respond the second time. I am currently the fourth most powerful mage who is still on Earth, but I don't think they think I'm ready."

He was silent for a time. I finally asked, "When will you leave?"

"I was waiting for you."

"Waiting for me?"

"I've just told you enough to know how I knew you were coming. Allow an old man's ego that much. I am fully aware of what I have become."

I held my tongue at that. "And what of this place?"

"I hadn't thought about it. Golem will probably keep it going. Want a place?"

Did I! But..."Could I maintain this?"

"Probably - the golem knows you so it wouldn't bother you., but I wouldn't bring anyone else. I mean, we'll probably drop a ley line here later, but if you need a house or something, you're welcome to it. The kitchen is stocked. You know the drill."

I nodded. "I remember it well."

He dropped to silence for a few moments, then picked up again as if he had been speaking the whole time. "All I know is that in the last days when the voice wasn't quite so loud, I felt you there. Maybe you can tell me who it was. He seemed tired, more tired than I."

I thought of who I had been with over the last few weeks, someone tired...I gasped. "Oh my God."

Forteau continued, "He told me to kill the werewolf. That was the last thing I remember before the hobgoblin came. When I awoke I found him quieter, more tired. I think he's older than I am."

I leaned forward over the desk. "I think I know who he is. Have you ever heard of a being named Trelane?"

He nodded, remembering. "Yes...Ziare told me that that was the name of God."

"Trelane is a vampire thousands and thousands of years old. He's very old and very strong."

"Then now is perhaps the time to go to the horizon."

"Indeed. He's sleeping now. How long did you hear this voice?"

"It started in...I remember I was called to here from my home - Louisiana. That was in 1856, and he'd been calling to me for years by then."

Good heavens. To be haunted so long. "Is there anything else I need to know about this house?"

"As I said, it's not particularly forgiving to visitors. The node will probably be redirected before too long. I suspect we may move this realm. There's a realm here you may have seen. We may move it or collapse it. When the realm goes away - well, I wouldn't spend too much time in the Umbra here. As I said, you're welcome stay as long as you like. When you're ready to leave just turn out the light." He pointed to an oil lamp on his desk that I remembered had always been kept lit, though it seemed to have no source of fuel. "Make sure you have your things, since you won't be able to find your way back. You're welcome to stay as long as you like. It will take us 45-50 years to set up a Horizon realm - maybe 30 - we're good." He stood and picked up the tome from his desk.

I stepped back and with a small bow, said, "I wish you luck."

"Thanks, I guess I'll my stuff." He snapped his fingers and the golem appeared in the doorway. "Is my stuff ready?" The golem nodded.

He started toward the door, then turned. "It really was a pleasure. I hope you do well. I don't know if I'll hear from you. I hate long goodbyes."

I nodded. "I understand. Thank you, then. For everything."

He gave a jaunty wave and walked out the front door. I stepped into the hallway to wave goodbye, and, naturally, there was no sign of him outside the house. He had made exactly the exit I would have expected. I smiled to myself and shut the door. Turning to the golem, I said, "Well, looks like it's you and me, kid."

The golem stared at me impassively. I shrugged and set off to explore what appeared would be my residence, for now at least. I headed to the library, and was dismayed though not surprised to see that large sections of books had been removed. Looking at the books remaining, I recalled a few titles that Forteau had mentioned as being useful only for their humor, rather than scholarly, value. Sure enough, those had been left behind. After surveying the library for another few minutes, I surmised that the only use for these books would be to show what NOT to do when using magick. So much for that.

I walked outside and noted that Forteau had left his Lincoln. I guessed I would need to brush up my driving skills. I looked about the property, and then looked deeper at the prime patterns. The place practically glowed with prime; one spot in a small wooded area behind the house stood out. I walked back cautiously and was delighted to find a small fountain. Looking closer I realized that in the water from the fountain I had found the tass from the node here. That was useful, for certain.

I walked back to the house and realized that tonight I would be sleeping in a real bed for the first time in months. The idea sounded decadent, and delightful. I smiled as I stood on the porch and realized that for the first time in my life, I had a stable place to live, to call my own (at least for the immediate future), and no need of the outside world.

© 1998 by Thomas Brady

Back to Rob's Mage Page