Cherish My Loving Curse
"You were eavesdropping, you mean." Bink scowled.
"I could have said that, but them you'd be at my throat with spells, questioning me. Now who are these two?" He changed the subject before Bink could berate him more.
"Hello, Tharsouris!" Mhaya jumped up and hugged the man.
He lifted her up and turned in a circle, his robe swirling in a flamboyant manner around him. He set her back down and stared at her, at eye level, pursing his lips in deep thought. She giggled. The man straightened up and pointed an accusing finger at her.
"Ah-ha! You're Mhaya! I recognize that giggle anywhere. My, how you've grown!"
Mhaya hugged him again. "And you don't look like you've changed a bit."
"That's elven blood for you. Now who's this other girl?" He looked to the table, but no one sat there.
"Where did she go?"
"You're tall," said an awed voice.
Tharsouris swiveled around, but still saw nothing. He looked down, and saw a pair of blue eyes the size of saucers staring up at him.
"Yes, elves are naturally tall. Just like how gnomes are naturally short."
Mhaya stepped beside Aquatic. "Tharsouris, this is Aquatic. Aquatic, this is Tharsouris."
"Odd name," Tharsouris commented. He turned back to Bink before Aquatic could comment on his own name.
"I came with a reason other than to offer help. Why-"
"Did you now," Bink drawled.
Tharsouris glared a moment before continuing in a low voice. "Why was a Shadow Bolt cast here a few minutes before I arrived?"
That seemed to strike a cord in Bink. She turned sharply toward Mhaya and Aquatic, her voice suddenly strict. "Go in my study and read."
Mhaya took Aquatic's hand and coaxed her to a room stuffed with books. She shut the door behind them, and handed the grief-stricken girl a book.
"As I was saying-"
"Hold that thought."
Tharsouris could feel a headache coming, but ignored it. He had business to conduct. At least I let the other person finish their sentence, he couldn't help but think.
Once Bink finished chanting her spell, she said, "One of my students cast it in self-defense."
Tharsouris frowned. "Why a warlock spell and not a mage spell?"
"She didn't think. She was in danger, so her first thought was of something else dangerous."
The frown stayed firmly in placed, now being tapped by two fingers.
"That doesn't explain how she knew the spell in the first place."
"She found a book."
Tharsouris nodded, seeing through the lie. Bink wouldn't let any book containing shadow spells near her dwelling. What are you hiding?
Tharsouris held the question in check, instead opting for another: "And what's this about a a place to sleep?"
"One of my students was attacked by an unknown assailment."
"The same one who cast the Shadow Bolt?"
Ever the one with the knowledge of chopping sentences, Bink answered, "Yes."
"Seeing as there are no mages stronger than you in the city able to take care of two children, I suppose the duty falls to me."
Bink spluttered, "What? No mages? None at all?"
"Most are deep in studying magic from foreign lands, and the rest are either too frail or are out of commission for the time being."
"There must be someone else."
"None."
"Then I'll watch them."
"Very well, I'll let you juggle two energic gnomes, the investigation, and your studies. My, you'll barely have time to cook a a suitable meal for yourself and a couple of growing gnomes."
Bink hesitated, but finally yielded. Annoyance clear on her face, Bink chanted the spells that would lower the spell.
Bink ended the conversation with a warning. "I don't want you corrupting them."
Yet Tharsouris had to have the last laugh. "Wouldn't think of it."
He walked over to the room where the girls waited. The door opened, and in peeked Tharsouris. His grin stretched from ear to pointed ear.
"Pack your bags, you're coming with me."
Silence weighed heavily on the trio on their walk from the Mystic Ward to the Forlorn Cavern. The mood seemed to emanate from Aquatic, her unusually dour mood spreading like a fog.
"This is my house. There are two beds upstairs. Set your luggage there and change into something else."
The two girls ran upstairs, and Mhaya asked, "But where will you sleep?"
Tharsouris acted offended. "Please, don't underestimate my mastery of the arcane."
The girls busy, Tharsouris took that time to conjure some food. The magical exsertion had his breathing coming out in ragged breaths. He sat down with a sigh, trying to control his breathing.
Soon enough, one of the gnomes came stomping down the stairs.
"Wow, you cook fast!" Mhaya exclaimed, staring at the steaming plates of food.
"What did I say about my magic?"
"Don't underestimate it!"
Tharsouris smiled.
"Now why isn't Aquala down yet?"
"It's Aquatic, and she stayed upstairs because she smelled the food."
"Why would she do that?"
"Bink didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"That Aquatic isn't allowed food. I'm not sure why, but I know she vomits it back up later."