The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (little red riding hood ebook free .txt) 📕

create the sharp metal point to begin with. “There’s anenchantment on the ring,” I lied smoothly. “I can’t alter it easilywithout a bit of planning, otherwise I might ruin it.”

She accepted my explanation withoutargument, but I could tell she was suspicious. That was fine,though. She would understand later. I excused myself soon after andmade my way over to talk to the newly married Gareth.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am foryou,” I said, shaking his hand.

“Your presence here says enough,” hereplied congenially. “I understand it must have been difficult foryou.”

“I have to get over it sooner orlater,” I said with more confidence than I really felt. “I shouldthank your wife for choosing to have the wedding here.”

He nodded, “I don’t doubt that sheconsidered it before she chose; her kind like toscheme.”

“Her kind?” I said, unsure if he meantconstructs, or humans, or those of the feminine persuasion.Considering both his past and hers, it was open tointerpretation.

“Women,” he clarified.

I nodded. That was something we couldboth agree on. Then I brought up the question that had beenforemost in my mind, “I’ve been meaning to ask you about thisbody.” I gestured at myself.

“The same way I created hers,” he saidwithout offering any context.

I assumed he meant Moira. “I’m justcurious how you did it. Was it wizardry or a product of yourtalents as an archmage?”

“For normal magic it would be almostimpossible. It was the latter, but only a Gaelyn could accomplishit, I think,” he replied.

He might be right, but I wasn’tconvinced yet. “Can you describe the process? Just a roughoutline…”

He was happy to oblige. It turned outto be less interesting than I had supposed, and more difficult, aswell. Using his ability as an archmage he first expanded his bodyand then split it into two equal parts, transforming both intoduplicates of his original self. From that point, he would withdrawinto one, leaving the other fully formed and functional, lackingonly a spirit or animus.

The difficulty lay in two areas. One,living organisms are exceedingly complex, which was why mostarchmages only mastered one fundamental living transformation, thereturn to their original human form. Transforming into a simplebody, like the stone monster I had become in the past was easierphysically, but more difficult to return from mentally. Creating aliving flesh and blood body, such as Gareth’s transformation intothe dragon, was far more complex, but it had the advantage of aliving brain, which helped to keep the mind intact.

The second problem lay inthe duality of what he was accomplishing. He was creatingtwo bodies at one time,and simultaneously keeping them both active and alive until someoneelse could take up residence in one of them. I had experienced abit of that difficulty, when I brought Walter back from the brinkof death after an assassin had stabbed him. The attempt had nearlycost me my own life as I tried to keep both our hearts beatingwhile healing his body.

He had done the same for both Moiraand me, which brought me to another question. “You obviously shapedMoira’s body into what it is now, rather than a replica of yourown. Why didn’t you do the same for me?”

He smiled. “A goodquestion, only a Gaelyn archmage could create a living bodyand shape it into thatof another person or creature. In your case, I didn’t need tobother. As an archmage I knew you could restore yourself to whatyou had been before.”

Listening, I had come to accept that Iwould need his help. It wouldn’t be possible to do what I wantedalone. I would have to persuade him. “Do you still likedragons?”

My change of subject startled him,“What?!”

“You lived as one for over a thousandyears. You loved the idea of them before, but are you still drawnto it?” I said, elaborating on my query.

“Yes,” he admitted, “though I doubt Iwill ever attempt something so foolish again.”

“I have an idea,” I said, easing intomy topic, “and I think you will be interested in helping me.” Igave him the rough outline, although I glossed over a fewparts.

His face remained impassive as Ispoke, but at the end he had a clear cut opinion, “You’re mad. Notonly are you mad, but it’s impossible.”

“No it isn’t.”

“They would die immediately. There’sno way to keep them alive without an animus,” he pointedout.

“I’ll have anima for all of them,” Iinsisted.

“Only a Centyr could produce…,” hebegan, but then he stopped, eyes widening, “…oh.”

I nodded sagely.

“But you still couldn’t do it beforethey died, the time it would require is excessive,” heinsisted.

“I have an idea to circumvent thatproblem as well,” I answered.

“Even if you do, have you thoughtabout the moral implications?”

“You mean since my own experiences?” Isuggested.

“Yes. It’s immoral. I just freed threeof your ancestor’s tormented creations, yet you want to createmore?” He paused and then continued, “My wife would be livid withyou, and me by extension.”

He was referring to the unmaking ofDoron, Karenth, and Millicenth, something he had taken care of inmy stead. “Your wife is an immortal construct, yet she seems happyenough,” I noted.

“For now,” said Gareth, “but she hasthe means to end her existence someday when it becomes too much ofa burden. Will you do the same in this case?”

“No,” I said, “I have a differentplan.” I was less sure about this part, but I felt it could beaccomplished in theory. I just had to figure out how to make ithappen. I gave him a quick description.

“That is definitely impossible,” hedeclared.

“I can do it,” I asserted. “Give me amonth and come visit me. Say nothing to Moira, I’ll explain it toher myself.”

“She isn’t going to go along with it,”he reiterated.

“She will,” I said, “and what’s moreshe won’t blame you for any of it.”

“If it were anyone else…” said Gareth,looking at me from the corner of his eye.

“You don’t have any plans for all theaythar you’ve got locked up in her do you?” I said, referring tothe forty plus Celiors worth of aythar that Moira Centyr wasstoring.

“No,” he admitted. “Frankly it scaresthe shit out of me, but I haven’t thought of a better placeyet.”

“Then this will work out perfectly,” Isaid, staring at the spot of blood on the handkerchief Iheld.

Chapter 55