Forgiveness
Summary: A tour bus disappears in an isolated part of England's country side where many people have vanished before. Balthazar goes to investigate, and since Dave is on spring break he gets to come along. Oh joy.
Disclaimer: All Publicly Recognizable Characters, Settings, Ideas, etc. are the Property of Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Productions. The Original Characters and Plot are the Property of the Author. The Author is in no way Associated with the Owners, Creators, or Producers of Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Productions. No Copyright Infringement is intended.
Chapter VII
May 22
Dave froze, there was Balthazar his face bloody and his left eye swollen. There were streaks of red across his chest. He was on his knees held in place by two guards.
Alyne and Megan were there as well both looked up at him briefly but because he was still disguised they quickly turned their attention back to the defeated sorcerer.
"So Balthazar feel like telling me where your apprentice ran off to?"
"Las Vegas."
Alyne rolled her eyes. "Well no matter, your apprentice came running to rescue you before, he will do so again."
"Don't count on it."
Alyne's only response was to hold out her hand a silver dreamcatcher pendant dangled on a silver chain. Balthazar flinched. Dave's eyes widened at the master sorcerer's reaction.
"I see you had an accident with your last one."
"I'll do it."
Dave's heart stopped and his mind froze. Had Balthazar just agreed to do something for Alyne? He hadn't realised Balthazar had been brought so close to his breaking point. 'What the hell is that thing?'
"Excuse me?"
"If you somehow get a hold of Dave, I'll convince him to join you, you don't need to use that thing again."
Alyne quickly recovered from her shock and smiled at the hapless sorcerer before her. "Oh this is rich. The great Balthazar Blake can withstand torture, burn him, cut him, break every bone in his body, no problem. But weave a few dreams where you kill his apprentice right in front of him and he breaks."
Balthazar glared at the woman but remained silent.
"Well no matter. You still need to be punished for your escape and this—" she dangled the dream catcher. "Seems to be an effective method."
Balthazar tried to edged away as she approached but the guards held him tight.
"Well maybe if you asked nicely. I'd be willing to settle for something more physical."
"…Pl…" Balthazar's voice trailed away and his eyes narrowed at the sight of his opponents widening smirk.
"Nicely? How about I nicely tell you where you can shove that thing of yours...? My apprentice will never join you. You'll have him over my dead body."
It took a great deal of will power for Dave not jump up and whoop.
Alyne's smile faded and her eyes narrowed coldly. "I thought I made it clear that you are going to die Balthazar, as soon as we're done with Dave you will die. The only question is, will I spend days torturing Dave right in front you before finally killing him then you, or will you die a quick death with the knowledge that you apprentice will live?"
She looped the chain over Balthazar's head. This time he did not shrink away.
Alyne knelt and lightly touched Balthazar chest where the pendant now hung smiling, suddenly her face hardened and she grab a handful of Balthazar's hair and gave a not so gentle tug down forcing him to look up at her.
"It will take days sorcerer, you and he will beg and plead for me to give you another chance to join my family. But once you've refused my final offer there will be no going back, here and now you can refuse to help without permanent conscience. But I personally wove that fist dream Balthazar, you did beg and you did plead over and over again as I tortured your apprentice to death, while he screamed and cried and thrashed to escape. I will skin him for amusement and use hot iron so stop the blood flow and burn out his eyes. Make them melt in their sockets and run down his face."
She cocked her head to the side, "Actually I believe that sight was one of the dreams I wove into the last dream catcher, did you see it?" she smiled when Balthazar's pupils dilated. "You did see it didn't you? Unless you want to see that in real life you will convince him to join. My healers are very skilled he will die over and over again, and both you and he will beg me to let him stay dead.
"So I suggest you decide what's more important your pride or his welfare." She let go of his hair and stood. "Now on the likely chance that he wouldn't leave this place without you, what's say we let him know you're in trouble? Call him," she ordered. "Call him or I make you scream, either way he'll come running." She held out her hand which was now glowing a familiar red.
Dave's eye's widened as he recognized Alyne's favourite torture spell. He hesitated, if he stayed hidden he could wait until they moved Balthazar he would escort the sorcerer to his new cell and be in a perfect position to free him. Then he remembered the pain, he couldn't do it, he couldn't stand by. Besides there were only the two guards holding Balthazar, Megan the captain, and Alyne. Step one; takeout the guards so he would have back up.
Before Alyne's hand moved more then two inches Dave blasted the guards holding his master with plasma bolts. His disguise fell and he was about to blast Alyne when something hit his side. He could feel his ribs crack he turned to see Megan dart from him to where Balthazar was currently pulling his fist back to deliver a second blow to Alyne's head. Alyne was currently against the wall of the cell rubbing her jaw where Balthazar had punched her as soon as he was free.
"Balthazar lookout!" shouted Dave.
Balthazar reacted instantly but still too late, he turned in time to receive a plasma bolt to the chest instead of the side, he hit the wall behind him and crumbled. Megan withdrew her dagger and thrust it forward, Balthazar was to disoriented to fight back, Megan's blade grazed his arm and she stood before turning to Dave.
"Alyne is not the only one to coat her blades with poison he will be dead by sunrise." She moved her blade to Balthazar's throat. "Or in five seconds, I really don't care."
"Dave, they'll kill me anyway just run."
Dave shook his head and raised his hands in surrender. This was his fault if he hadn't abandoned his master to go find food…
"Dave, run!" shouted Balthazar.
"Dumb move kid," hissed Alyne, she walked over to Dave and grabbed his hand. She unsheathed her own dagger and sliced open his palm. "The poison on that should incapacitate you till morning. Now while we wait for it to take effect, tell me how you escaped."
Dave glared, but said nothing. Alyne rolled her eyes and pointed to where Balthazar lay against the wall his breathing laboured.
"You didn't alarm the floor, I phased through," answered Dave clutching his stomach as the nausea started getting worse, he started to sink to the floor.
"I see, very clever. Megan, give the clever boy a sound lashing, you can do whatever you like just so long as the damaged isn't permanent."
"You said you need him healthy for your experiments!" hissed Balthazar. "I'm the expendable one."
"Which is why the damage will not be permanent, the experiments can wait till he's done healing. You see Balthazar, before my goal was solely to control Dave, now I want to punish you, this is obviously the best way to do it, you had a choice Balthazar your pride or your apprentice's welfare, this time it will only cost a few scars and a few days discomfort. Next time I tell you to be polite I suggest you do so," she stepped over Balthazar to the right hand corner of the cell and leaned against the wall so she was sure to have a good view of Dave and Balthazar's reactions.
"You want me to beg!?" shouted Balthazar turning to her "Fine! Please don—" he was forced to stop as the poison caused a wave of pain through his body.
"Sorry Balthy I didn't catch that."
"Don't hurt him... Please... I'm sorry."
Dave couldn't believe what he was hearing, Balthazar begging was just wrong.
"Too late now, but I will give him the choice." She turned to Dave, "David, your call, you can be punished or your master. The pain and damage will be no worse for him then you."
The apprentice was about to reply when Balthazar shouted.
"Dave! Protect yourself! That's an order!
Dave shook his head, and turned to Alyne. "I'll do it."
"Dave!" yelled Balthazar, his gaze shifted to Alyne. "If you hurt him, I swear, I will hunt you down and show you what real suffering is."
"Megan, I was going to ask you not to be to rough on the boy, but I want part off his scapula to be visible to the healers." She turned to Balthazar. "You just had to try and get the last word in didn't you?"
Balthazar turned to Dave, Megan was walking towards him, her knife unsheathed, the older sorcerer tried to get up.
Megan removed Dave's sweatshirt then used her knife to cut off his t-shirt. Dave offered no protest, he was too weak from the poison. He just lay on the floor, facing the wall, legs curled to his chest and arms around his gut as he fought the nausea. By now the guards Dave had blasted with plasma bolts were beginning to stir.
"Get me a hot iron rod, the boy's wounds may need to be cauterized." Barked Megan as the first guard started getting up. He nodded and dragged his companion to his feet before darting out of the cell.
Megan uncoiled the whip at her side, raised it and brought it down.
"Aahh!" Dave had never felt anything like it before, a beat down from bullies he could handle, but this was different, this was a piercing tearing pain that seared his back, he pulled his arms to his head not wanting to risk the whip striking his face.
Blow after blow fell, Dave, had no experience with this kind of pain and was having trouble keeping himself from crying out. He clenched his teeth and tried to think of something pleasant, like Becky and her beautiful smile…
"Ahh!" Dave felt as if his back had been split open. He arched his back out of instinct and his arms contacted to his sides the next blow struck his left arm. He brought the wayward limbs back to his head. Red sparks were starting to dance in front of his eyes. He closed them and tried to think of Becky, another lash came down, he heard Balthazar cry out, but he was in too much pain to make out the words. His mind drifted back to the campfire they had shared just the night before they had come to Aldercy. Another blow fell but Dave was thinking about the smores and how pleased the master sorcerer had looked with himself as he and Dave ate. Despite the nature of their mission, to find a group of people who could very well be dead, they had been happy.
Dave continued to lye on the floor, as the whip came down on him over and over again he could hear Balthazar yelling, but he was too weak to make out the sounds the poison combined with the pain made his world very small, nothing else existed but the pain and some far off whispers he knew to be Balthazar but even they faded.
Then the blows stopped. It took several moments for Dave to register the fact. The poison and previous blows were painful and interfered with his ability to process his environment. What he didn't understand was why the sound of the whip coming down and striking flesh hadn't stopped, it was then he noted the strong arm wrapped around him.
"Balthazar?"
"I'm here, you'll be okay."
"No… get off I can handle it, you've been through enough."
"I'm sorry Dave."
"My fault… I should have stayed."
"Get off him Balthazar," ordered Alyne.
"No!" shouted Balthazar as he felt himself lifted into the air, he was sent flying and landed with a thump against the wall before crumpling. He glared at Alyne. Why hadn't she stopped him when he had been crawling to his apprentice if she was determined to keep the two apart?
Earlier, when Megan had first started punishing Dave it hadn't taken Balthazar long to realise that his pleas fell on deaf ears but that didn't stop him. He begged and pleaded with both Alyne and Megan to stop, to torture him instead.
Balthazar had told Dave that no ring equalled no magic, that wasn't entirely true, even in the caster wasn't a foculess. It just meant the magic couldn't leave the body. But ring or no a sorcerer could combat sickness or poison with magic. Balthazar had survived a high fever in a harsh winter when he was young that was when he learned he was a sorcerer. He did it again now using his power to fight the poison. He crawled towards his apprentice Alyne didn't stop him and Megan though she noted it, decided to ignore him.
He had glanced over at Alyne but she merely smiled down at him, amused with his attempts. He finally reached his apprentice and shielded him with his body. Then before he'd had time for more then a few assurances, he had been torn away from his charge.
Megan had never in all that time stopped. But she stopped now. She looked at Balthazar her face expressionless. She took something out of a pouch on her belt and attached it to the end of her whip.
Balthazar saw that it was a piece of curved metal, shaped like a talon, and it appeared just as sharp.
"No! Please! You'll kill him."
Megan looked affronted by the charge as if Balthazar had just insulted her.
Balthazar knew that strikes from the whip with that talon would chunks of flesh off Dave, the resulting bleeding…
"No don't!"
Megan sent the tip flying towards Dave's back, it cut into the flesh where his scapula rested beneath a layer of skin and muscle.
Megan pulled back, causing a large gash in the boy's back. Dave screamed.
Balthazar waited for the next blow but it didn't come.
"Well?" asked Alyne.
"You said you wanted part of his scapula visible to the healers, that is now the case, the boy is unused to such treatment and unable to withstand a fraction of what his master can. Anymore of this and he'll be useless to you."
Alyne's eyes narrowed at her Captain of the guard. "… Very well. Take him to the healers, but before you do give Balthazar some antidote."
Megan nodded, she walked over to Balthazar and taking a small glass vile from her pouched gently held his chin to open his mouth and pored a few drops in. She turned to Dave and gently, attempting to avoid touching and aggravating the wounds on his back though she couldn't help but touch a few causing Dave to hiss in pain, she carried him out the door.
Once they were gone Alyne turned to Balthazar. She waved her hand and a pair of shackles that had been resting against the wall, flew towards his wrists, he didn't try to fight them.
Alyne noticed. "Is the great Balthazar Blake finally cowed? You really should get some sleep you know." She leaned over him she held out her hand and began casting a sleeping spell. "Pleasant dreams, Balthazar."
oo0oo
Dave, tried the breathing techniques Balthazar had drilled into him months ago to help the apprentice deal with pain.
Megan looked down at her charge. "Your breathing is too quick, try to slow it down more."
Dave really wished he had the strength to glare. But he didn't even trust himself to open his eyes he could feel tears behind his eyelids. Balthazar wouldn't cry. He almost laughed, like he would ever measure up to Balthazar in the how to deal with pain department. All the same, he was twenty and well, a guy.
Megan carried him to the healers, and with surprising gentleness laid him down on his side before rolling him onto his stomach on one of the beds.
"The healer will be here shortly, her name is Evelyn by the way."
"Fascinating" murmured Dave. "Balthazar…"
"Will be fine, eventually. Alyne will likely not harm him further, physically at anyrate."
"What was with that dream catcher?" questioned Dave desperate for something to distract him from the pain. "She mentioned weaving dreams."
"The mind is Alyne's forte, She majored in psychology, with a minor in general science. She wasn't getting anywhere with physical torture, so she wove dreams where you were tortured to death. The technique has proven effective, your master will soon break."
Dave wanted to argue, but frankly after hearing Balthazar offer to help convince Dave to join the group, he found himself agreeing with the battle castor.
"I'll go find Evelyn," announced Megan after a few moments of silence past, Dave heard the door lock behind her. He debated making an escape attempt but when he tried to prop himself up on his elbows the spasm of pain torpedoed any such notions. He frowned, Balthazar wouldn't let these scratches stop him. He buried his face in the mattress he really needed to stop comparing himself to the fifteen hundred year old sorcerer who had survived countless wars.
Instead his mind mulled over what he had learned, Alyne had mentioned some of the physical torture she had inflicted on Balthazar but it was the dreamcatcher that had come close to breaking the master sorcerer. The one that showed the apprentice dying, repeatedly.
Dave shoved the thought aside. He needed to focus on an escape plan. He turned his head when he heard the door open.
Megan entered with a dark haired women, the women who Dave assumed was Evelyn brow was furrowed in concern for her new patient. Dave took that as a sign the women wasn't sadistic. He hoped that meant he'd soon be feeling well enough for another escape attempt.
oo0oo
May 23
Balthazar's eyes flew open and he scrambled to his feet where was Alyne? The guards? Dave's body? Where was it? It had been in the sorcerer's arms seconds ago. He looked down at his hands no blood. That didn't make sense they had skinned Dave alive, they had broken his bones cut off his fingers one at a time cauterizing the wounds as they went. There had been so much blood where was it? Where was Dave's body?
Balthazar sat down, tried to focus what happened? They had been torturing Dave he had died and they revived him over and over again. Balthazar had broken free of the guards, had swiped one of their daggers. He had run to his apprentice and thrust the knife just underneath the jaw. The blow should have severed the spinal cord and cause instant death, but when he looked at Dave face the boy had still been alive, horror had crept over Balthazar as he realised he had somehow messed up. Then the light faded and the apprentice was gone.
He leaned forward and brought his hands to his face as grief overwhelmed him it was then he noticed the dream catcher around his neck, he took a deep steadying breath as he realised it had just been a nightmare a very long one, worse then anything he'd ever experienced.
He looked down at the dreamcather, and scrambled to removed it, he threw it across the cell. His shoulder slumped he knew getting rid of that thing wasn't going to help him at this point all the residue magic and new images which had been firmly planted into his mind would guarantee nightmares for months.
He didn't know what to do, he could kill himself then they couldn't use him against Dave, maybe the boy could escape if he didn't have to worry about Balthazar, he'd managed it once. But then he remembered Alyne's threat. If Balthazar couldn't be used as leverage they'd use Isabel. Balthazar cursed himself for winking at the girl back in the square, letting Alyne see that the girl was known and liked by him. That left one other option, he could kill Dave, it would be a simple matter to find a means, and he'd have no trouble getting close enough to use it. It would be better then having him tortured, a quick painless death. Balthazar knew how to kill without magic, Dave wouldn't even realise what was happening or that his master had killed him. So it came down to would he rather see Dave dead or a member of the Orrick family?
Dave was meant to be a force for good, not evil, he was good. He was a great kid, considerate, always trying to help. Maybe he should just leave it to Dave, let him decide, then he remembered Alyne's other threat. Veronica would come, if she was taken, their child would be.
He sighed, it didn't matter what Dave personally wanted. He would join the Orricks to watch over the child. Balthazar wouldn't even have to ask.
Balthazar caught himself what was he thinking? He was acting like it was over, he and Dave were going to get out of this, he didn't know how but he knew they would. And he was personally going to wipe that smirk off Alyne's face.
Balthazar continued to sit in his cell, trying to think of a way to end the Orrick family reign to pass the time. It was hours later that the door opened and Alyne walked in, carrying a tray.
"I brought breakfast."
"Not hungry."
"Now Balthazar, refusing to eat food offered by one's host is very rude." She held out the tray.
Balthazar glared but took the offering, he was surprised that is was actually a good breakfast. Sausage, egg, bacon and orange juice. He looked up at Alyne in surprise.
"Well you haven't eaten in days, and I plan to put you to work today."
"Work?" asked Balthazar before shoving a piece of bacon in his mouth.
"Yes, you should be feeling much better I had a healer tend to you while you slept and even had her to an energy transference so you should be feeling pretty good right now. And really it's about time you made yourself useful, you were a serf way back when right? Before Merlin?"
Balthazar didn't answer.
"Anyway it was Megan's idea, she thought it best you get outside. They're rebuilding a section of the outer wall the old one was torn down, it was in bad shape. Megan will be here soon to escort you. Have you reached a decision?"
"…Dave will join you."
"Glad to hear it. Well I'll be going then."
After Alyne left Balthazar finished his breakfast and leaned back against the wall of his cell, wondering where Megan was. He was glad she had suggested putting him to work. It would enable him to properly asses the environment, and he was really looking forward to some fresh air.
"Morning Blake," greeted Megan as she opened the door of the cell.
"Morning," he replied coolly.
She smiled as she knelt in front of him and Balthazar saw she had a collar in her hand, with the markings of the Hungarian binding spell, he sighed but made no move to stop her as she placed it around his throat. The pressure would serve as a constant reminder that he was now a slave.
Megan waved her hand and the shackles came loose.
Balthazar rubbed his wrist before standing up.
"Follow me," she instructed, turning to leave, not bothering to check if Balthazar followed.
"Not worried about me trying anything?"
"No, we have your apprentice and you're focusless. Your best shot at this point is to do everything we ask you in an attempt to learn the lay of the land and the exact location of your apprentice, and even then you are outnumbered and outgunned. And any attempt will be punished, by Alyne."
"So you don't think I'll try anything?"
"No, I'm certain you will."
"Then how did you convince Alyne to let me out?"
"I told her I was certain you would try something," chuckled Megan as if it was obvious. "She went through some trouble to get the needed excuse to torture you, remember? She made a deal with Dave and won't go back on her word. If she's going to make sure you're never fit enough to escape she's going to have to give you opportunities to cause trouble."
Megan looked up at the ceiling as they walked, lost in thought. "That, and she really likes torturing you, I haven't seen her smile this much since she defeated the last head of the family."
"I'm flattered."
"You're an idiot, she'd let up a bit if you'd just beg for mercy."
"Not chance in hell."
"Doing so would mean you'd be healthier you'd have a better shot at escape. Need I remind you that if you don't escape you'll lose your apprentice, your child will be taken and you and your wife will die. Is you're pride worth so much?"
"It wouldn't make any difference, whether I beg or not Alyne will always find an excuse to torture me, and she won't stop just because I beg, she enjoys it to much, having a centuries old and very powerful sorcerer at her mercy is too much of a power-trip for her to 'let up'. I've seen her type before."
Megan said nothing, as she continued to lead Balthazar up a set of stairs, Balthazar tried to memorize the way out of the castle though he doubted he'd us it in an escape attempt. He took a deep purifying breath once they got into the open air. It felt good to be out of the dungeons.
"This way Blake," ordered Megan coldly.
Balthazar sighed and followed the younger woman, she led him to the outer wall, well the bit that was been rebuilt.
"Nathaniel!" shouted Megan to a middle man who was ordering an older one to pick up the pace. "Got another worker for you!"
Nathaniel looked Balthazar over noting the various wounds on the shirtless man's chest, he'd wager everything he owned that the man's back was worse.
Balthazar eyed the man in return the ring on his hand and lack of a collar marked him as another sorcerer. A slave driver complete with whip that hung on his belt, though it was a normal leather one nothing like Megan's weapon. He had slightly greying reddish hair, a beard and a beer gut.
"Can he work?" asked Nathaniel drawing Balthazar out of his observations.
"Believe it or not, yes."
Nathaniel shook his head. "Alright," he turned to Balthazar, "name?"
"Balthazar Blake."
"Bit of a mouthful..." his brow furrowed and he squinted at Balthazar "wait the fifteen hundred year old sorcerer? I heard Megan Captured you."
"I had help, and yes it is him," said Megan tiredly. "Now put him to work."
"Ooookayyy, Blake, see that well at the bottom of the hill?"
Balthazar looked to where the man was pointing. "Yes."
"See those buckets?"
The master sorcerer looked at the two wooden buckets that rested several feet away on the ends of a brace used to distribute their weight across the shoulders.
"Yes."
"See those guys over there mixing the mortar?"
To his Left Balthazar could see a man, a teenage boy and a twelve year old girl mixing a grayish substance in a small wooden tub with long sticks.
"Yes."
"Do you need further instruction?"
"No."
"On your way then."
Balthazar grabbed the buckets, settling the brace on his shoulders he made his way down the hill.
Manual labour felt oddly good. Course after days of rotting in a cell anything physical in the fresh air would be good.
He saw a couple of little kids, a boy an girl of about five years of age, running around too young to work, but since their parents were busy, the children were stuck playing in the immediate area. Alyne apparently wasn't big on daycare. Balthazar guessed that the two women glancing from their work setting stones in the wall at the top of the hill to the children were their mothers.
This was the life he once expected to lead, little more then a slave, hard manual labour his entire life followed by death by age forty at the latest.
To think he was back. He felt oddly nostalgic. The he remembered that he had been sold to his master and the feeling passed.
It was on Balthazar's fifth trip that he saw one of the kids, the five year old girl trip, and cry out. Her friend tried to help her up but she screamed again when she put weight on her ankle. Balthazar saw one of the women try to rush to her child but Nathaniel shouted at her to get back to work.
Balthazar frowned, and started walking towards the child she was only about ten feet away.
"Come on Susan, I'll carry you up." Said the five year old boy as he knelt in front of her so she could climb on his back.
"You're not strong enough Dave, you dropped me when you gave me a piggy back ride," wailed the girl.
Balthazar tensed when he heard the boy's name but shrugged it off.
"You two need help getting to the top?" asked Balthazar.
"You'll get in trouble if you bring us instead of the water," said the boy eyeing Balthazar suspiciously.
"Then I'll have to bring both, I'll need each of you to grab hold." He told them shrugging to show that he was referring to the brace. He knelt by the girl.
"You'll drop us."
Balthazar turned to Susan looking her directly in the eyes, she almost backed away from the intensity in them. "The only way you'll fall is if you let go, and even then you won't be hurt, because I won't let you."
She nodded and grabbed hold of the brace. Little Dave did the same on the other side.
Balthazar rose to his feet and started up the hill, the water combined with the two five years olds and his back which had yet to fully heal, made it an arduous task.
Susan and Little Dave managed to hold on tight and seemed to really enjoy the trip, Balthazar had been worried that the strain on their arms would prove too much but he solved the problem easily.
"I wonder which of you can hold on the longest."
It wasn't until Balthazar knelt and brought their feet back down to the ground that they reluctantly let go.
Healthy competition, how he loved it.
"Dave, put Susan's left arm over your shoulder."
The young boy did as ordered.
"Good, now help her over to the section of the wall over there. The part that's done, no more running around, you make sure Susan's okay."
Little Dave nodded and helped Susan to her feet. "Susan keep off that foot." Ordered Balthazar as the kids made their way to the wall.
He picked up the buckets and went back to work. After a couple more trips Nathaniel had him start placing stones on the wall, the work was rough and dirty, but again, better then the cell.
"Excuse me," said a quiet voice to his right suddenly.
Balthazar turned to see a young woman in her early twenties with blonde hair and blue eyes.
"I'm Susan's mother, Alice. I wanted to thank you."
"It was nothing," replied Balthazar forcing a smile and a bit of cheer into his voice. He turned back to his work.
Alice sensing the dismissal said nothing and went back to her own set of stones that needed placing.
"Alright time to break for lunch people," announced Nathaniel. "You can take your kid home Alice."
The woman he had been speaking to nodded, she darted over to her child and picked her up in her arms before walking away at a brisk pace.
Lunch, for Balthazar at least, was a simple serving of bread cheese and water given to him by Nathaniel, most of the others had brought something to eat with them, and found nice spots to sit and eat. Balthazar sat at a distance, he remembered Alyne's casual threat against Isabel. It was possible that any friends he made would be used as leverage.
He dropped his food when he someone scream his name, he recognized it's owner.
"Dave!" Balthazar jumped to his feet, he started running towards the castle only to have a whip wrap around his leg and trip him. Balthazar rolled, grabbing the offending strip of leather he pulled back.
The whip came out of Nathaniel's hands. Balthazar tossed it aside, he did not have time to deal with it's owner. He bolted towards the castle, the guards at the entrance way had no reason to stop him. People came in and out the entryway doors often, not often at a run, but it wasn't unheard of they had no reason to believe Balthazar wasn't on business. He was just a serf.
Still, they had to ask. "Hold!" shouted one of the guards.
"Urgent message for Alyne Orrick can't wait!" yelled Balthazar as he sidestepped the guards. Hoping they wouldn't follow but not really caring.
Where had the scream come form? High, it had been high up he needed to find stairs. He spotted a servant girl.
"Excuse me!" he shouted with a wave and what he hoped was a friendly smile. He didn't want to frighten her. "I have an urgent message for Alyne Orrick, where is she?"
"I don't know, I think the west tower, at least that's what I heard."
"Quickest way there?" asked Balthazar trying to keep panic from his voice, Nathaniel hadn't been far behind.
"Down that hallway third door to the right, take the stairs."
Balthazar bolted, no way Dave could have screamed loud enough to be heard from the wall, unless magic had been used to amplify his voice.
He ran up the winding stairs.
"Dave!" he shouted, when he saw his apprentice in the stairwell, he was been held up by two guards, he was also right behind Alyne and Megan.
"Guess you heard the scream," said Megan. "You got here quick."
Balthazar darted past them, Alyne looked like she was about to block his path but Megan pulled her out of the way.
Balthazar didn't know if he should be grateful or insulted that they didn't consider him a large enough threat to fight.
"Dave!"
The young man's skin was deathly pale, his breathing shallow and he didn't respond to his master's voice.
"Balthazar!" shouted a male voice from behind.
Balthazar tensed and turned from his charge to the slave driver. Who was currently readying a plasma bolt.
"Knock it off Nathaniel," ordered Megan "we have the situation under control. I'll be discussing security measures with you later. Now, get back to work."
The middle age man glared but turned and walked down the stairs.
Alyne turned towards Balthazar, her hand glowing red but Megan stepped between them.
"You know we were going to get you once we got Davey here settled. But seeing as you're here follow us." she gestured down the stairs.
Balthazar turned to the guards supporting Dave. "Let him go. I'll carry him."
The guards refused to move. Balthazar clenched his fist and was about to throw a punch at the man's jaw when Megan interrupted.
"Henry, let Balthazar take your place."
The guard on Dave's left glared at Balthazar but moved so Balthazar could help carry the young man to wherever they were taking him.
They went down the stairs, through a few halls then up more stairs, finally they reached a room located in a tower, it was a simple room, a dresser, desk, a four poster bed, and a small window facing the east.
"I can take it from here," hissed Balthazar to the other guard carrying Dave. The guard glanced at Megan who nodded.
Balthazar made his way to the bed, he laid Dave down and took off the young man's shoes before placing him under the covers.
He gently put his hand on his charge's forehead, his eyes losing their hard edge as he felt the clammy skin and elevated temperature.
"He has a fever." Announced Balthazar standing and turning to the two women, "What did you do to him?" Balthazar voice was deadpan, toneless, his face granite, the only sign of emotion was in his eyes which burned with a cold blue flame as he stared at his opponents.
"The spell that keeps us hidden needed charging," said Alyne. "Normally I gather up the strongest members of the family to direct energy from the ley lines, but since Dave was here..."
"He hasn't even had a chance to recover from the lashing you gave him last night! How dare you! He could have been killed! You know how dangerous it is to channel power from the ley lines! It takes dozens of sorcerers to do it safely and you demand it of a untrained twenty year old kid! Why didn— "
Balthazar's tirade ended when Alyne used magic throw him against the wall, his hands sunk into the stone holding him in place.
"Well I guess I'll be going," said Megan. "Henry, Geoffrey," she said to the two guards.
Once the door closed Alyne smiled at Balthazar, the smile of a psycho who had been given a kitten and told she could kill it anyway she wanted.
"I'd say try not scream cause it might wake David up, but he's out of it and I really don't care, not like he'd be able to do anything."
She stared walking towards Balthazar her hand glowing red.
Well that's depressing, everyone give AwesomeGizmo a high five for getting me off my butt and posting this chap