The enemy of my enemy

In the office of the Tahal of Mahaila, three of the four De Vonders talked. Uruk was bringing Xavier and Temma up to date about the eggs and the cave that they had dug in the volcano.

'Something's wrong.'

'What do you mean?' asked Temma.

'The eggs, if you touch them, they give you a strange feeling. They are alive and strong... too strong. Moger is worried; the All Father controlled our growth, but now that the All Father is not around, the eggs seem to grow too fast, and we don't know what's going on,' Uruk explained with a concerned face.

'Well, as far as I have learned, with you guys, everything seems to happen for some reason. As you always say, the All Father always gives you what you need,' Xavier spoke.

Uruk and Temma remained thoughtful. Somebody knocked on the door.

'Come in' authorized Xavier.

'My Tahal, two people from the dinasty have just arrived at the south gate; they request an audience. One of them claims that she has urgent news that requires your attention,' the servant informed with a deep bow.

'What kind of news?'

'She just said that we should mention a man named Clinton and something about a world of dragons.'

Those words caught the curiosity of Xavier and the two salamanders.

'Let them pass; they can come in by themselves; the guards will not be needed.'

'But my Tahal, we can't...' Uruk's and Temma's gaze silenced him. "What am I even thinking? He has two snake gods here." The servant bowed again. 'I understand my Tahal.'

A few minutes later, a red-haired woman entered the Tahal office accompanied by a man. When they saw Uruk and Temma, they were stunned. "By the heavens, What are these monsters?"

The astonishment in the woman's eyes made Uruk smile; whether in his human form or in his salamander form, his diabolical smile was easy to recognize.

"I had heard from my spies that the Vonder were reptile-like monsters, but I thought they were referring to their strength. They're actual monsters." Her mind formed many ideas in a few seconds, and Astrid tried to recover her composure as much as possible.

'Astrid Van Castin, and you must be Geralt. What are a couple of regulators from the dynasty doing in the southern kingdom?' Xavier asked without playing around.

'We have come to share information with you, great Tahal.' Astrid and Geralt made a reverence.

Xavier felt uncomfortable with the fake act. 'Drop the theater; get to the point.'

'Clinton Van Ferra has escaped the control of the court,' said Astrid.

'I don't see how this is our business,' replied Xavier.

'Clinton perfected his arcane magic spells; he worked for years on Van Vatnik's spells and escaped to the dragond world.' Astrid managed to catch the body responses of the two monsters at the mention of the dragon world. "Do they come from that world? What relationship do they really have with Xavier?"

'I imagine that you must be Uruk, and you should be Temma,' said Astrid, looking at the salamanders.

Both nodded in confirmation; their faces remained serious. Xavier focused his gaze on Astrid.

'I know you want to ask me something. Go ahead; I promise I will answer you with the truth.'

The two salamanders looked at Xavier, who nodded.

'Have you seen the dragon world?' asked Uruk immediately.

"Yes, but don't dream about it. It's full of miasma. I could only see the miasma coming out of the hole in the barrier that Clinton created... I imagine you're from that world, right?′

The salamanders didn't answer and looked at Xavier.

'Why would Clinton go to a world full of miasma?' asked Xavier.

'The same reason he did everything, Power, he seems to believe to have found a way to control the chaos.'

'What do you want from us?″

'When Clinton returns, he will be far more powerful than any other warlock in history. He may bring an army from the chaos world with him, or at least that's what his arcane magic spell seems to do. Even if he fails to achieve his goal, he may break the barrier between worlds as revenge. We want the help of the de Vonder family in the battle. If we don't stop Clinton, well, I don't need to explain to you what that means; you saw the caos world with your own eyes.'

'What do you propose? An alliance? With the humans?' asked Uruk, with a gesture of disgust.

'We have no choice,' replied Astrid.

'No thanks,' replied Xavier. The faces and eyes of the salamanders made it clear that he spoke for everyone.

'If we don't unite, he will kill us all,' replied Astrid.

'Let it be so! We will not join the dynasty, nor the other kingdoms. We will fight for ourselves,' Xavier emphasized.

Astrid laughed. 'You guys will not survive; you are too weak. I have heard the stories. You two don't know how to use real magic,' she said, pointing to the salamanders. 'And you can't teach them,' she pointed to Xavier.

'That is our problem; we will find a way,' replied Xavier.

'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,' said Geralt, breaking his silence.

Xavier stared at him.

'Listen, you want the magicians who have survived the persecution in the southern kingdom to learn magic. I have the solution, the perfect man for the job,' explained Astrid.

Xavier and the salamanders waited for her to continue.

'Do you remember Master Delfin, don't you?'

Xavier stood up from his seat. 'It must be a joke!'

'These are difficult times. I can assure you that Clinton will be back. I can feel it in my bones. The miasma will advance and devour the whole world. Your boys are too weak to challenge that, but with some training.'

Uruk moved like lightning towards Astrid and grabbed her by the neck.

'No,' Astrid stopped Geralt, who was about to move to rescue her. 'You're stronger than me; that is true. But you're nothing compared to a warlock.

'Uruk,' Xavier called.

Uruk retreated, emitting a click with his tongue in disappointment.

'I don't want that man near me. I don't trust the masters of the tower.'

Astrid laughed. 'Another thing you two have in common.' Astrid told Xavier how Delfin had been deceived and betrayed by the masters of the tower. Xavier laughed and opened one of the drawers on his desk. Six magician badges came to light, one of which belonged to Aleum.

'Okay,' said Xavier to the surprise of Astrid and Geralt.

"Wait a moment..." Astrid doubted. 'Listen, I hope you're not thinking of taking revenge on Delfin. He is not a saint, but he has thrown his pride away to commit to something bigger. Now he is learning arcane magic to confront Clinton. He can teach the magicians of the southern kingdom; train your boys. He is more useful alive than dead.'

'I know,' replied Xavier with a macabre smile. 'Don't worry, he won't die; I won't allow it; I will make him give back everything he destroyed.'

Xavier laughed. 'It is ironic that the man who destroyed me in the past will build my future.'

A feeling of chill passed through Astrid's body. As a regulator, she dealt with all kinds of criminals, degenerates, murderers, and aberrations in human form. She knew how to recognize dangerous people. "This is not the Xavier who I met in the academy, nor the one I saw as a noble in the dynasty; this is a monster... but I have no choice."

'We will send Master Delfin soon. I hope you think of the greater good and not of your personal wishes,' said Astrid.

'I told you not to worry; I am not a child.'

Geralt and Astrid departed from Mahaila, and while traveling by boat back to the dynasty, they talked about the events that had taken place. Geralt was even more surprised at Astrid's ability to manipulate people. He knew her for years and knew about her talent as a strategist, but this was pure manipulation.

'How?'

Astrid laughed. 'Delfin is an idealist; he has always been; his desire to learn arcane magic is nothing more than a way to gain power and face the corruption that rotts the dynasty; for that purpose, he has thrown aside his pride. If you offer him the opportunity to train new magicians to the image of honor and decency of his dreams, he will take it. On top of that, he can make up for his mistakes with Xavier and Aleum. A noble man will always be tormented by the mistakes of his past and will give his life without thinking about it in order to correct them. He is easy to manipulate; you just have to sell him redemption.'

Astrid took a look at her hands with some disgust. "What an irony; to defeat Clinton, I had to learn and copy a lot from him."

'Are you sure that Xavier won't kill Delfin?'

'I don't believe he will. That man is as cold as metal. Hate is one of the few emotions he can feel; everything else is dead. In the end, we're all Clinton.'

'What were those things?' asked Geralt, remembering Temma and Uruk.

'This is just a conjecture, but Im sure they come from the dragon world; survivors of some kind, an intermediate race, I don't know. Now I understand why they are so strong without enchanted armor, and their affinity for fire magic is at the level of a titled magician. But this is good, they will be a great weapon against Clinton.'

A few weeks later, Master Delfin arrived at Mahaila.

'Master Delfin, the Tahal and the serpent gods are waiting for you,' one of the guards said, welcoming him into the city and escorting him.

Delfin entered the spacious office with his bare feet on the red carpet. In front of him, Xavier was sitting behind the desk. On both sides, Temma and Uruk acted as guardians.

Xavier stared at Delfin. He wore ordinary clothes, wide, in the style of the desert. His head had been shaved, and his face had no beard, showing the burn scars inflicted by the masters of Liev's Tower. Delfin bowed in reverence to the Tahal, as was customary.

"How things have changed," Xavier thought. 'I will get straight to the point. I don't like you; you don't like me, but we have a common enemy. Temma, Uruk and Moger are powerful magicians, but they don't know how to use their magic. You were once a great master at Liev's Tower. I hope you do your job and teach them properly. Astrid has warned me that you're learning arcane magic; we don't care. Do whatever you want. As long as you do not affect our position with the locals and do not use the population as a sacrifice, I don't care. Do you understand?'

'I understand great Tahal,' replied Delfin. He was surprised at the appearance of Temma and Uruk, but Astrid had already warned him of what he would find. "So these are the survivors of the dragon race."

'I also hope you can create an academy for magicians in the south.' Delfin and Xavier continued to look each other in the eye; it was obvious that there was a personal matter to solve.

'Uruk, Temma, leave us alone,' Xavier ordered.

The salamanders and Delfin looked at Xavier, confused. Xavier's firm gaze made the salamanders fulfill their request. Xavier pulled out a bottle of rum, a couple of glasses, and served the drink. There was no nervousness or animosity in his behavior. They both drank a gulp of the strong spirit.

'I will kill you one day,' said Xavier, yet without showing any emotion.

'I know. I've made mistakes in the past; I take the blame for that, but don't you think I'm going to give up my life voluntarily,' said Delfin, raising his glass.

'In any case, we have a common enemy, and I suppose you already know that my boys are actually dragons.'

Delfin nodded.

'They are powerful, strong, and trustworthy. I don't trust you, and I never will. But the boys need your knowledge; I can't train them properly. But let's be clear, if at any moment I feel like you're trying to trick us, I'll kill you. Don't think I can't do it.' It became an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds.

'I also need you to teach me arcane magic, but the boys must not know about it, no one should know about it,' said Xavier, surprising Delfin.

Delfin nodded.

From that day on, Delfin began to perform his functions as the director of the newly established magic academy of the southern kingdom. It was a pleasant surprise to know that there were some surviving magicians in the southern kingdom. Some hid their awakening; others were protected by their parents. Now, after all those years, they could come to walk in the light; no one dared to contradict the new Tahals and hunt the mages down.

Delfin taught the new mages and the salamanders; every two or three days, he taught Xavier arcane magic in secret, although Xavier had no talent for it.