Page 10 of To Love a Dark Lord

“Can I ask you something?”

“I probably can’t tell you the answer, but sure. Hasn’t stopped you before.”

Gwen let out a half-laugh. That was fair. “Is Mordred…is he suffering?”

The wizard paused before he replied. “You already know the answer to that.”

“I know, but—is he okay?”

“You don’t need me to figure that out.”

Gwen shut her eyes. “Doc. Please. Just this once, speak plainly. I’m really, really not in the mood.”

“Fine, fine.” He took a swig from his bottle. “You’re a witch. Use your magic to contact him. He’s not the only one who can wiggle his fingers and invade dreams, y’know.”

“I wish I knew more about how to use my power. Can’t you teach me?” She looked down at her palm, half expecting to find something there.

“All magic is different. It’s like handwriting. You’re on your own, kid.” Doc leaned back against the rock wall. “And I mean that in more ways than one.”

She turned to face Doc. “What?”

“It’s time for me to go. Avalon doesn’t need me anymore—and neither do you.” He smiled up at the sky, clearly watching the clouds drift by. “I’m ready to retire.”

“You—you can’t leave me alone, not right now.” She shook her head. “I need your help figuring all this out, and if I’m going to free Mordred, I?—”

“No. You don’t need me. I can promise you that. You have plenty of other friends and resources.” He pushed up with a grunt. “The future will play itself out on its own without my silly meddling. It’s time for me to go home.”

Something told her that he didn’t mean his house by the mountain. “Where are you going to go?”

“I don’t know.” He chuckled. “I think I’ll just step into the void. Wherever it takes me is where I’ll stay. Maybe I’ll find a new adventure. Or maybe I’ll get blown to bits. Either way, I’m ready to move on.” He took another swig of his bottle and placed it down on the stone next to her. “This has been fun, kid, but it’s time for me to say goodbye.”

“No. No, no, no.” She stood and brushed off her dress. “I won’t lose you—I can’t lose another friend. Mordred’s gone, and Galahad—and—” She winced. “I guess Grinn kind of counts, but?—”

Doc chuckled and hugged her. He smelled like alcohol, and maybe weed. She couldn’t say she was shocked. “I’ll just be in the way annoying you with all my bad jokes and non-answers. You’ll be too busy to miss me.”

“No. I won’t be.” She held him tighter. “Please don’t go.”

“You’ll say that a lot in your life, I’m afraid. That’s the curse of living as long as we do. The time we have with the ones we care about is never long enough, no matter how many centuries we live.” Doc kissed her temple. “But it’s time for me to be done. I’m tired, Gwen. Exhausted. And Avalon has you now. It doesn’t need me to be the wizard anymore.”

She took his hands in hers and squeezed them. It was hard to believe she’d never see him again. Letting out a wavering breath, she finally let him go. “I am going to miss you, though. No matter what you say.”

“I know. I’m just trying to make you feel better.” He nudged her shoulder.

“You suck at it.”

“I know that too.” He chuckled. “All right, kid. Tell the dog I said he wins.”

“What?”

“Oh, we had a bet running.”

“Which was what?”

“Which one of us would die first.” He snickered. “I said it would be him. He said it would be me. He wins.”

She felt her eyes go wide. “That’s a terrible bet.”

“Meh.” Doc shrugged and turned to walk away. “Animals think about death a lot differently than we do. They aren’t hung up on it. It’s just a thing that happens.”

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