22
CHAPTER 21
While Mahala and Bala are at the Cadona Mansion, Vollrath, Baldur, and Elmar have a meeting...
Vollrath’s phone chimed, the insistent ping cutting through the relative quiet of the room. He reluctantly pulled the device from his pocket, his thumb swiping across the screen to reveal the message. A weary sigh escaped his lips, a prelude to the eye-roll that inevitably followed. Typical Balor. At least the infuriating mage was in good spirits, if the breezy tone of the text was anything to go by.
Elmar, ever observant, noticed Vollrath's reaction. His dark eyebrow arched in silent inquiry, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. He’d learned over time to gauge Vollrath’s moods based on the smallest of cues, and the combination of the sigh and the upward gaze spoke volumes. “Dare I ask?” Elmar ventured, his voice carefully neutral, unsure of what fresh absurdity Balor had managed to conjure.
Vollrath’s expression was a mixture of exasperation and disbelief. He shook his head slowly as he recounted the contents of the message. “My brother,” he began, his voice laced with a dry sarcasm, “has inquired if we can… keep,” he paused for emphasis, his fingers making air quotes, “the cute, inquisitive, little imp.” He snorted softly. “Apparently, he ‘likes her’ and finds her ‘fun.’” Vollrath’s head gave another, more vigorous shake as his thumbs flew across the screen, composing a reply. “He further elaborated that he doesn’t think that she will ‘eat much’ or ‘take up much room’ in my mansion.” Despite his internal turmoil, he was treading carefully in his response to Balor. Pragmatism dictated politeness for the time being. They needed Balor’s particular brand of chaotic magic, and more importantly, Balor was the one currently ensuring Mahala’s safety, a fact that Vollrath couldn't afford to jeopardize.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Baldur inquired, his gaze shifting between Elmar and Vollrath, a furrow in his brow suggesting a genuine attempt to grasp the underlying tension. Was he failing to perceive a crucial nuance in their exchange? Or was Vollrath merely succumbing to his often-present irritability?
"Of course, in principle, it is a positive development. I just…" Vollrath paused, his eyelids fluttering shut as he drew a deliberate breath through his nostrils, seeking a moment of composure. "It's Balor, you see. He, too, is a Nachtnebel. Which unfortunately means the ancient prophecy we’ve been dissecting could just as readily apply to him." His jaw tightened, a visible manifestation of the internal struggle he endured to voice this unwelcome possibility. It was a thought he had been actively suppressing ever since Balor's unexpected appearance in the conference room – an arrival made all the more unsettling by Balor's apparent prior knowledge of a highly confidential Council meeting for which he held a seat yet had not been formally informed. The manner in which Balor had simply walked in, exuding an air of effortless belonging, had planted a seed of unease that Vollrath had been desperately trying to ignore.
"For fuck's sake, Vol," Elmar interjected, his tone a low growl laced with exasperation. "Balor is undeniably an ass, a monumental one at that, but even he wouldn't stoop to overtly trying to usurp your position in such a blatant manner. He would have made his move long before now if that were his intention, especially during the numerous instances when you were absent from these chambers, wouldn't he?"
"That's not what he's saying," Baldur stated, his voice calm yet carrying a note of intrigue that immediately snagged Elmar's attention. Elmar’s thick brows furrowed, crinkling the skin above his intense gaze as he turned fully to face Baldur. The air in the room, thick with unspoken tensions from the day's earlier events, seemed to crackle with this new line of thought. "It's always been assumed, hasn't it? Ever since Vollrath took control of the Coven, everyone just automatically accepted that he was the Lion, the prophesied protector." Baldur paused, letting his words sink in, his eyes flicking between Elmar and the silent, brooding figure of Vollrath. "But what if we’ve all been wrong? What if it was Balor all along? He is the elder brother, after all. Doesn’t that carry some weight?"
Vollrath, who had been staring intently at the intricate patterns in the ancient wooden table, finally lifted his gaze as Baldur finished speaking. A slow nod, almost imperceptible at first, confirmed he had been listening. Inside, however, a knot of unease was tightening in his stomach. The implications of their speculation were unsettling, stirring emotions he preferred to keep buried.
Elmar leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, a shrewd glint in his eyes. "If that were the case," he began, his voice laced with a confident skepticism, "I think we would have seen things go very differently today. Certain… reactions would have been absent." He paused for emphasis, his gaze locking onto Vollrath. "Icebergs don't simply melt without significant heat, Vol. If she truly meant nothing to you, then do you honestly believe that your perpetually frosty exterior would have thawed even a fraction? When have you ever felt a flicker of jealousy over a woman? Just name one single instance. And yet… today… well, today was certainly… interesting." A bit of a cocky smirk played on Elmar's lips as he continued, his confidence growing. He’d known both of the formidable warlock brothers since they were unruly children, witnessing firsthand Vollrath's characteristic indifference towards romantic entanglements. "Now, after all that transpired, you’re trying to tell us she's destined for Balor again? It doesn't quite add up, does it?"
Baldur chuckled softly, adding his own observation to the unfolding theory. "He has a point, big guy," he agreed, nodding towards Elmar. "And not to mention the rather significant fact that if your charming big brother was indeed supposed to be her destined partner, I think Elmar and I, your ever-present shadows, would have noticed at least a spark of something when he met her for the very first time. Instead, his reaction was… well, Balor being Balor. Polite, detached, almost clinical."
Vollrath finally broke his silence, a low, guttural grumble escaping his lips. "This is precisely why I don't do relationships," he stated flatly, the words laced with a deep-seated annoyance. He hated the uncomfortable, introspective nature of this conversation, the way it forced him to acknowledge feelings he’d spent decades suppressing. The entire situation was infuriating.
"I mean, if you genuinely hate it so bad…" Baldur began again, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes. Whatever teasing remark he had been about to utter died abruptly on his lips. The look Vollrath was now directing his way was not merely annoyed; it was downright murderous. Baldur swallowed hard. As the Master Warlock of their Coven, Vollrath possessed the terrifying ability to kill with a mere thought, without so much as a touch. Some lines, Baldur wisely concluded, were definitely better left uncrossed. The heavy silence that descended upon the room was more telling than any words could have been.
“I would strongly advise against completing that particular sentence,” Elmar interjected, a suppressed chuckle bubbling beneath his earnest tone. He cast a pointed glance at the other man. “And Vol,” he continued, his voice firm yet laced with concern, “reign it in. He was merely teasing you, a bit roughly perhaps, but ultimately in jest. You absolutely MUST develop a thicker skin if you intend to prevent your… shall we say, volatile emotions from turning her delicate mind into an unsavory pudding at some unforeseen moment.” His dark eyebrows arched dramatically as he inclined his head towards Vollrath, a silent plea in his expressive eyes. “I am acutely aware that there is likely some form of utterly bizarre and potentially sanity-shattering chaos currently unfolding within the labyrinth of your brain,” Elmar elaborated, his gaze unwavering, “but you must, for your own sake and hers, gain some semblance of control over this internal maelstrom. She has made her affections abundantly clear, displaying a singular focus of attention solely upon you. Balor is not going to interfere; you can be certain of that. Even if, hypothetically speaking, he were to somehow embody the legendary Lion itself, he would not dare to act against you in secret or otherwise. You possess a deep understanding of his character and his respect for protocol, a knowledge that runs as deep as our shared history.” Elmar’s attention shifted between his two companions, his lips pressing into a thin line of growing frustration at the palpable tension that hung heavy in the air.
“I know, I know,” Vollrath conceded, expelling a long, ragged breath that seemed to carry a sliver of his inner turmoil with it. He consciously reined in the tempest of his emotions, his gaze fixed on the worn surface of the table before him. An overwhelming confluence of pressing concerns was swirling around him, each demanding immediate attention and making it an agonizing struggle to focus on any single issue for more than a fleeting moment. The woman who had, much to his chagrin, burrowed her way into the deepest recesses of his heart, now found herself under the care – or perhaps, control – of his own brother, a man with whom his relationship was, to put it mildly, strained even on the most auspicious of days. Furthermore, a subtle but persistent unease had taken root within the Coven, a creeping suspicion that someone within their ranks was actively working against them, sowing discord and undermining their efforts. A nagging intuition whispered that the true scope of their predicament was far greater and more complex than any of them currently comprehended. The weight of these uncertainties pressed down on him, leaving him with a profound sense of disquiet and a gnawing lack of security.
Baldur, ever the pragmatist, cleared his throat, drawing the attention back to the matter at hand. “Then let us endeavor to refocus our collective energies on the critical matters that require our immediate consideration,” he stated, his voice calm and measured, a stark contrast to the underlying tension in the room. “This will allow us to conclude our discussion at a reasonably decent hour, affording us the opportunity to obtain some much-needed rest before the inevitable demands of the tomorrow. We must not forget that we have a uniquely powerful novice witch under our charge, for whose magical development and well-being we will all bear a shared responsibility. Additionally, there is the potential task of thoroughly investigating the aforementioned mansion, the necessity of which hinges upon the discoveries made tonight by her and Balor.” Baldur’s keen gaze moved steadily between his two friends, carefully weighing their limited options and considering the most logical starting point for their deliberations. “We have a finite amount of time and a considerable amount of ground to cover. It is imperative that we proceed efficiently and decisively, addressing each issue methodically so that we are adequately prepared to confront whatever challenges lie ahead.”
“Let’s start with who we think the weak link is besides Jonathan,” Elmar began, his gaze sweeping between Vollrath and Baldur. “Obviously, it’s ballsy enough to go into Vollrath’s office and think he can go through his desk, but he had to figure he had some kind of backup to do that. I wouldn’t even do that, and I consider myself his friend. What would possess a lesser warlock to attempt such a brazen act? If it hadn’t been Mahala that interrupted him, but one of us, he had to have formulated some kind of plan on what he’d say or do. I seriously doubt attacking us was his intended course of action. That seems too…unintelligent, even for Jonathan in a panicked state.”
“Agreed,” Vollrath affirmed, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Attacking me directly would have been disastrous for him, potentially fatal. So, the question remains: who would he have ready to vouch for him and provide cover? It would have to be someone higher up in the Coven, someone in good standing, capable of concocting a convincing story that would withstand scrutiny. The risk of exposure for both of them would be immense otherwise.” Vollrath paused, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to mentally sift through the ranks of the Coven.
“Do you have him assigned to any other projects currently, or perhaps collaborating with anyone on other tasks?” Baldur interjected, his voice laced with the same frustration that was evident on the other two men’s faces. “Maybe that was the excuse he intended to use as a cover – claiming he was looking for something related to that collaborative effort.” Baldur shrugged, the gesture conveying his own lack of certainty regarding Jonathan’s motivations. The sheer audacity of rifling through Vollrath’s personal belongings was still difficult for him to fully comprehend.
“He’s been lending a hand to a couple of individuals with smaller, relatively insignificant projects, nothing that would warrant such behavior,” Vollrath replied, his tone reflecting his own bewilderment. “However, I’m not going to entirely dismiss the possibility that he intended to use that as a flimsy excuse if confronted. The individuals he’s assisting might be completely unaware of his true intentions, which means we’re going to have to be exceedingly careful in how we proceed with our investigation. The last thing we want to do is inadvertently spook anyone who might be actively working to undermine the three of us. We need to gather information discreetly and ascertain the extent of this potential treachery without alerting the conspirators.” Vollrath sighed heavily, the weight of the situation visibly pressing down on him, his shoulders beginning to slump. “And now Balor as well. Someone deliberately tipped him off about Jonathan’s actions. Did they do it naively, perhaps thinking that Balor’s loyalty to Jonathan would somehow shield him from the consequences? I was genuinely shocked at Balor’s response, his unexpected… resignation.”
“I probably was the only one who wasn’t entirely surprised by Balor’s reaction,” Elmar confessed, his statement earning him inquisitive looks from the other two. “I don’t share the same history and inherent distrust that you two have with Balor. Furthermore, I observed his genuine concern and profound unhappiness with Mahala’s recent… instability. Regardless of your past interactions, he was clearly looking out for her well-being, and looking out for those weaker or more vulnerable has always been a defining characteristic of your brother, Vollrath.” Elmar was relieved when Vollrath offered a slow nod of agreement, choosing not to challenge his assessment. They already had a potentially significant internal crisis brewing; the last thing they needed was to exacerbate the situation with unnecessary internal conflict.
“El’s right,” Baldur conceded, his gaze softening slightly as he considered Elmar’s point, “he does have a tendency to shield those he perceives as weaker, and that often includes women. It's a frustratingly chivalrous streak, but it’s undeniably there.” He tapped a finger against his chin, his brow furrowed in thought. “Maybe someone on the Council, perhaps someone who was uncertain about which way the disciplinary vote was leaning, discreetly informed Balor of Jonathan’s duplicity. Balor’s unusual appearance might not have been an attempt to undermine your authority, Vol, but rather a strategic move orchestrated by someone who actually supported your proposed punishment.”
Baldur paused, pacing slowly as he voiced his evolving theory. “Think about it. He didn’t even directly challenge your pronouncements, Vol, his only real demand was to meet Mahala, a request that, according to established Council protocol, you were obligated to grant. It wasn't until after everyone else had departed the chamber that he raised any substantive objections, and even then, his immediate target wasn’t you, but rather Elmar and myself, because of our deliberate omission of information.” He offered a small, almost apologetic shrug, a slight upward curve touching one corner of his mouth.
“So,” Vol began, a thoughtful expression replacing his earlier frustration, “whoever tipped him off might have inadvertently done us a favor. While Jonathan might not have a high-ranking conspirator actively working to destabilize the coven, I think we can all agree that his behavior was undeniably suspicious. He outright lied to the three of us, and it defies logic to think he believed that one, if not all, of us wouldn’t eventually uncover his fabrications. Even if Mahala wasn't…”
Vol’s words trailed off abruptly as the distinct, synchronized chime of their phones sliced through the air. A collective groan seemed to ripple through the room as all three warlocks instinctively reached for their phones. Vol’s eyes scanned the brief message displayed on his screen, his breath hitching in his throat. “Fuck!” The expletive escaped as a low, guttural sigh, his eyelids squeezing shut as his head gave a slow, disbelieving shake. There was simply no scenario in which a summons from his brother, urging him to immediately scry the notoriously private Codona mansion, could be interpreted as anything remotely positive.
“I’m going to venture a guess that we all received the same cryptic missive?” Baldur inquired, his gaze sweeping between Vol and Elmar, his usual sardonic amusement noticeably absent. “How often does anyone request a scrying of a specific location, especially the Codona estate, rather than simply traveling there directly? The very nature of this request sends a shiver of unease down my spine. My instinct screams that we should proceed with extreme caution. I propose we go in armed, and I’m not just talking about our inherent magical abilities. If this turns out to be nothing more than a trivial discovery, then no harm done, but if there’s something more sinister at play, then we’ll be prepared to face it.”
“Agreed,” Elmar affirmed with a decisive nod, his usual calm demeanor edged with a palpable tension. Judging by the grim reactions and worried expressions etched onto the faces of the other two powerful warlocks, none of them harbored even a sliver of optimism regarding the cryptic message. While Elmar possessed a considerable degree of faith in Balor’s capabilities to protect Mahala under normal circumstances, the events of the day had already veered drastically off course, leaving him with a gnawing premonition about just how much further into chaos their carefully ordered world might descend.
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