Dirge for a Necromancer - By Ash Stinson Page 0,86
sure and changed the subject.”
Raettonus raised his eyebrows. “It’s possible,” he said. “I’m not sure about your case, but it’s possible. Maeleht knows that.”
“Oh,” said the ghost. “Why would he lie to me?”
With a shrug, Raettonus answered, “He was probably scared.”
“Scared of me leaving?”
“Scared of how you’d leave him,” said Raettonus. He heard soft, hesitant hoof beats on the stone behind him and turned around.
Brecan hesitated a little ways away, watching him. Raettonus nodded to him slightly. “Who’re you talking to?” Brecan asked, coming closer. “Is it a ghost? Oooh, or maybe an invisible friend? I always wanted invisible friends.”
“It’s a ghost,” said Raettonus, turning away from Ruhrzyk. “Do you need something?”
The unicorn lowered his head and pressed his ears flat. Twitching his tail nervously, he said, “I was just thinking, you were so quiet at dinner. You weren’t even all mean like usual—not as mean, anyway. And, um… Is something wrong, Raet?”
“Not a thing,” said Raettonus.
“You sure?” said Brecan. He sat back on his haunches and looked at Raettonus with his pale blue eyes. “If you’re upset about something, you can tell me. You…you always keep everything all bottled up inside you, Raet, and it makes me worry for you. I mean, it can’t be good, keeping yourself all shut off like that. Part of being friends means sharing with each other, you know? So that you don’t have to keep everything inside. I…I don’t know why you do that, Raet, why you shut down like that. I don’t know—maybe I’m too stupid to understand you. But I try to. If something’s wrong, Raet, you can tell me, and I promise I’ll try to understand. If everything is fine—if you say so—I’ll leave you be, I guess. Just…I want you to know, if you’re upset about something, I’ll listen. I don’t think I could help you any, but…I’ll listen.”
Raettonus took a deep breath and studied the unicorn. Finally, he said, “Master Slade saw Rhodes. He knows that I did that to him and… We got in a fight.”
“I’m sure he’ll forgive you,” Brecan said.
“Yes, he probably will,” said Raettonus. “But even if he does, I’ll still know that he thinks I’m a monster.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t think that. How could he think that?”
Raettonus turned his face back toward the ocean and let out a heavy breath which turned to steam in the cold air. “He called me a demon,” Raettonus muttered. “The way he said it… He meant it. I know when he’s just saying things and when he’s telling the truth, and that was the truth.”
The unicorn edged a little closer. “I’m sorry, Raet,” Brecan said. “But—but it’s not like this is the first time you’ve been called that. You never let it get to you before…”
Pursing his lips, Raettonus glanced sideways at Brecan. “It’s different when it’s someone you’ve spent your whole life trying to save who says it.”
“I’m sure he didn’t mean it…”
“He did mean it.”
“I’m sure he’s going to forgive you, and he’s not going to be mad anymore…”
“What difference will it make? The damage is already done.”
“He didn’t really mean it. Don’t—Raet, please don’t be sad.”
Raettonus sighed and crossed his arms. “I should never have taken Kimohr Raulinn’s offer,” he said sullenly. “I should never have let him bring Sir Slade back to life.”
Brecan’s eyes widened. “Don’t say something like that,” he said. “Raet, you love Slade; why would you say that?”
“I think it would’ve been better for both of us if he’d stayed dead,” Raettonus mumbled. Clouds were beginning to roll in from the south, blotting out the starlight. “I would rather he know me as a pure, innocent young man, the way I was when he died. It’s too bad that that young man died the day he did.”
“Raet…”
Raettonus turned back to Brecan, but wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I really am a monster now,” he said quietly. “It…it’s physically painful to me that Slade sees this. What’s worse is… Well, I don’t think I even want to change, to be a better person. Not even for him.”
Chapter Fourteen
Raettonus was on his way back down to his cell when he came across General Diahsis drunkenly staggering along a little-used hallway. His face lit up as he caught sight of Raettonus. Leaning against a wall for support he called out, “Magician! Well met! Come over here and talk with me awhile.” His words weren’t at all slurred, but his face was red with drink, and his eyes had an unfocused look about them.