“Do you have any family?”
The creature’s head nods instantly.
“That’s great. Wait… I’m not talking about the King and his family, I mean your own. Do you have family of your own, Golem?”
No.
“Are there others like you? No? That’s actually kind of sad. I don’t have any family either... But what about Zander? Could he create another like you? Maybe? Is it hard to do what he did? Hmm. I bet it is. I remember reading something about the creation of Golems. It’s powerful magic, Golem. Real powerful. To create another might be too much for him. You agree? Do you miss him? Is this your first time away from him? I missBardot every time we leave, but I do love all the cities and towns we’ve visited so far. The places in Knowledge feel like home, but those in the Court of Warriors…”
My heavy sigh is one of awe.
“Ancients, Golem, they’re something else, aren’t they? I thought the Palisades were lively, but they’re nothing compared to the southern cities of Warrior we’ve traveled to. I see that smile of yours. You agree, don’t you? There’s just something about them that’s soalive.Speaking of traveling, how is this going to work? Do you want me to let you out of the jar for all our stops along the road? No? Just when we reach our destination for the day? Okay, I can do that…”
I drift off to sleep with the rest of my questions, feeling Golem’s presence at the foot of the bed throughout the whole night.
“Was everyone’s reaction to Golem a bit to over the top last night?” I ask Cal as the two of us stretch by the riverbank.
I was up and packed before dawn, trying my hardest not to wake Alanna as I moved around the room to get ready. It didn’t take long to realize that I didn’t need to be so quiet- The blonde Discerni was deep in sleep after staying out so late last night that not even a bucking horse in the room could wake her.
Golem stood at the foot of the bed while I got ready, and when it came time to leave, he disappeared into the bathing chamber right before I closed his jar. I ended up walking out with all of my traveling packs, genuinely having no reason to return to the shared room. Alanna would have too many questions about my arrival with Golem, and that was something I had no intention of dealing with.
“Not necessarily,” Cal flicks his eyes to the river.
Golem is standing next to the bank, his brown robes gently brushing against the shore as he looks out at the water.
“Golems are old magic, Alex. Real old. They predate the Ancients. Lore says that the Elder Father and Mother created the first Golem before they did any other magical being, and even now, only the strongest of Discerni are able to conjure and command them.”
“But Desmond has been around Golem his whole life, and Holis and Mana have seen him a few times when they visit the castle. Surely they’re used to the sight of him by now?”
“To an extent,” he nods, tying his auburn hair back, “but it wasn’t so much as they were shocked to see Golem last night, only that they were shocked to see him withyou.”
I have no response for my friend and narrow my eyes on the magical creature instead. I stopped asking questions when it came to Zander’s decisions early on in my travels and wasn’t going to start doing so now.
“The King didn’t tell you why he gave you Golem?”
“Not exactly,” I sigh, “but Golem hinted last night that he could enter the library in Red Falls with me.”
Cal nods in appreciation, “good. The others may be wary about his presence, but I’m grateful he’ll be there for you. Holis and Mana will be, too.”
Golem quickly turns to look back at the two of us, his brown eyes focusing on Cal who continues stretching.
Ancients, can he hear us from over there?
I shake my head and turn to my friend with a frown. “Last night was the most I’ve heard Mana speak in two years...”
“Really?”
Cal gives me a curious look, considering all of our past trips. “I guess that’s true. Mana just loves his kedge, Alex, so he’ll talk to anyone about it. It’s honestly hard to get him tostoptalking once someone brings it up.”
“His kedge?”
“The bladed staff at his back,” he nods, “it’s called a kedge.”
“A cat with a kedge,” I smile, “very fitting.”
“Cat,” he chuckles.
“Cat,” I grin, “Mana reminds me of those forest cats we see every so often. They keep their distance and stay quiet and secretive, but their eyes and bodies are sharp.”
