Page 31 of The Missing Sentinel
But the other sentinels and Ducarius had persevered. His reward had been a life rich with family, friends, and a job that fueled him. All of that awaited Drexley if he wanted those things, but what concerned Ducarius most was his mate’s reluctance to discuss anything related to his future. Drexley’s face grew pinched, and his eyes filled with pain.
It worried Ducarius. There was no avoiding what was ahead, and the last thing Ducarius wanted was for Drexley to suffer unduly. But ultimately it was up to Drexley how everything would unfold. All Ducarius could do was be a shoulder for him to lean on. A task he was happy to tackle.
They knew little of each other thanks to their short acquaintance, but Ducarius was ready to help Drexley however he needed. Eager to be with Drexley, Ducarius yanked on his uniform and left his bedroom. It was odd to wear theclothes he’d borrowed from Drexley. His uniform was far more comfortable, so he continued to don it whenever he could.
Once his weapons were at his hips, Ducarius rushed to the dining room. Drexley grinned at him, and Ducarius returned his smile. As for Adney, the necromancer gave him a grunt of acknowledgement and continued to eat his breakfast. But he would not be Adney if he didn’t complain about the quality of his food or the supposed incompetence of the skeletons he’d temporarily resurrected.
Chander was a firm believer that the soul brought across the veil was ultimately the responsibility of its summoner and that whatever faults existed belonged to the necromancer. But Ducarius was wise enough to keep that information to himself. He settled into his chair and quietly thanked the mute skeleton who put a plate in front of him.
Ducarius wasn’t sure why he continued to keep the information about his family to himself. Adney was sure to doubt the story of him being a Daray, but had enough trust grown between him and Drexley to confess it to the other sentinel in a private moment? Would the information overwhelm Drexley and add to his woes? Or maybe Drexley would be reassured that he’d get to speak directly to the Arch Lich?
“How did you sleep, Ducarius?” Drexley asked.
“Well enough; I hope you had a fine rest.”
“My sleep is troubled,” Adney interjected. “I am dying, and I’m more frightened than ever about your future, Drexley. Ducarius is committed to sticking to his barbaric ways and is not a beneficial influence on you.”
“Ducarius is my mate,” Drexley stated firmly, delighting Ducarius. It was not easy to accept that Drexley’s lone family member disapproved of them, but the only thing that could crush Ducarius would be Drexley’s rejection. “While he iscommitted to his weapons and training, that is not my path. I have spent centuries being educated and have become a man to be respected. I will not be swayed and set aside all I have learned. That is not who I am, and Ducarius has not once pressured me to touch a blade. Instead, he has focused on getting to know me as I am.”
“I believe firmly that each person must follow their own path,” Ducarius said, hoping he could somehow reassure Adney that he had no intention of changing Drexley. If the other sentinel never trained again or continued to shun weapons, that was his choice. “I accept Drexley for who he is and applaud his individuality. But his path is not mine either. I am part of a brotherhood and am proud of the similarities I share with my fellow weapon-toting sentinels.”
“No two individuals are the same, and Fate must have seen something in us she found compatible,” Drexley added softly with a quiet smile that Ducarius immediately returned. They were on the same page, and Ducarius loved the budding camaraderie growing between them. Despite how little Ducarius had paid attention to what others believed was important in a matebond, he believed they were doing well thus far.
“Bah, Fate,” Adney groused. “Trust yourself, Drexley, and my teachings. That is what must guide you no matter what anyone says. Do not be fooled by tales of a benevolent goddess. She has her limits, as her choice of your mate clearly shows.”
“I have no wish to fight with you,” Drexley replied. “You have made your objections to Ducarius known. The last thing I want is a growing chasm between us.”
“Then give up this foolish pursuit of a matebond,” Adney insisted.
An icy chill crept down Ducarius’s spine, and his appetite fled. But Drexley glanced at him, and his lips curved as he shook his head.
“That is not the right path for me,” Drexley stated firmly. “You taught me to respect Fate. I am using your guidance as I have done since you summoned me. Have no fear that I intend to leave behind my education or the rules of society you have taught me. There may be changes I must make to blend into a modern society, but the core of who I am will remain.”
Adney stood and leaned heavily on his cane as he scowled at Drexley. “I wish I could trust that you have the fortitude to remain the gentleman I molded you into, but I have not forgotten the barbarian I met the day we first traveled to this realm. I fear that before my death I will see him again in your eyes. Say no more today on the subject; I need my rest.”
Drexley bowed his head as Adney shuffled out. The sharp pangs of terror had passed, and in their place was a raging tide of fury. Ducarius was wondering how poor an opinion Adney had of Drexley. It was Adney who’d manipulated the realm to slowly erase the past, and he’d convinced Drexley that everything that had once defined him as a sentinel was wrong.
It must have taken great effort, but Drexley had adapted to Adney’s ideal concept of a scholar. He loved Adney and dreaded a world without him. But Ducarius feared that Adney had no respect or care for Drexley. Why had he summoned Drexley only to demand he change completely? What was Adney’s purpose in stripping Drexley of everything that made him a sentinel?
“I am sorry to be a cause of friction between you and Adney,” Ducarius said.
“Do not be,” Drexley answered in a soft voice. “The fault lies with Adney, and it is not good for him to grow upset. He has so little energy. I wish he could focus on the positive and be happy that Fate ensured I would not be alone after he crosses the veil.” Drexley’s head popped up. “Oh, that does not sound friendly at all. Rest assured, I am not using you. I would be gladto meet you no matter what point in my life Fate brought you here. You are far more to me than just a companion to replace a dear family member. I fear I am not expressing myself well. What I mean to—”
“Drexley, hush. I know what you mean. I did not worry that you were using me because your greatest fear was being alone.”
“Loneliness does not scare me. Everything else does, but I will survive the future whether you are at my side or not. Oh dear, again, I am not—”
“Must I be direct and tell you to shut up? You have enough to worry about. Do not add miscommunication woes that exist only in your mind. You are correct. You will survive no matter what you face.”
“Is your self-assurance something I could borrow?”
Ducarius smiled. “You have enough of it inside you. Trust yourself.”
“That is not a simple task. My confidence wavers.”
“Perhaps escape into a book when you feel low?”
“What do you do to bolster your spirits?”
