Free Hemlock And The Dead God's Legacy (Book 2) by B. Throwsnaill

obelisk to start healing me.”
    “I remember that.”
    “I think that is the point when I started to feel more…human.”
    “But you were there in the Atrium.  You decided to join us in the teleport cage.  That was a conscious decision, right?”
    “I don’t remember, but I do know that I was in the Atrium in accordance with my scheduled duties.  Miss Hemlock, I think that when my body was damaged by the witch magic and later healed, some permanent damage was done.”
    “Why?  Do you feel bad?  Do we need to have you examined?”
    “Go ahead and examine me yourself.”
    Hemlock focused her magical sensitivities and looked at Merit’s body.  The complex spells wound all around him, and infused the machinery of his body in a tangle of rune lines and auras.  No damage was apparent to her until she compared him with one of the other automatons.   She noticed that some parts of the complex weave of magic were missing from Merit, and some others that were present were weaker, and even flickered on and off subtly.
    She weighed how Merit might react to this information, but decided to tell him . “Merit, I do see some damage.  You may be right.”
    His small head swiveled up and down on his mechanical neck.  “It is as I thought , then.  I believe that our bodies were constructed to keep us alive.  But I think they were also constructed to imprison us somehow.  I fear that my comrades will never recover as I have unless we can figure out some way to affect their bodies as mine has been affected.”
    Hemlock approached Merit and clasped his small brass hands in hers.  “That sounds dangerous.  We could kill them in the process.  Merit, promise me that you won’t do anything rash to them or yourself until I return.  I couldn’t bear to lose you.”
    Merit’s grip firmed slightly in her hands.  “I won’t, Miss Hemlock.  You need not worry.”
    Hemlock smiled at him and then, after a few moments, withdrew a few paces and turned toward a bookshelf.
    “So what of the book?”
    Merit walked swiftly into her field of vision before responding in animated fashion.  “Miss Hemlock, it is a detailed memoir by Julius.  I’ve read about his life before he came to the City, and I’ve learned a little about the Imperator and his reign.  Shall I tell you in detail?”
    “No, Merit.  Not now.  Just keep reading. Once I return we will discuss it in detail.”
    “Miss Hemlock, what of Gwineval?  Can I share this with him?  So far it has not seemed like dangerous knowledge.”
    Hemlock paced back and forth before replying: “No, not yet.  I have allowed Gwineval and the rest of the Wizards to search Falignus’ chambers.  There were other books there, so they will have new information to consider in my absence.  I’d like to continue to keep this book between you and I until I get back, and we can understand the whole book and what it means.”
    Merit seemed crestfallen, which made Hemlock feel terrible.  But she had seen Zaringer and Falignus, and feared what this hidden knowledge might do to a wizard.
    It’s not worth the risk.
    “I have to leave, Merit.” 
    She awkwardly hugged his small frame, and they parted with some final words of friendship and well wishes.
     
     
     
    Hemlock departed the City by walking under the rusty old arch that marked the western outskirts of the Warrens.  A few Tanna Varrans who had immigrated to the City had decided to return home once word had spread that their realm would soon be sundered from the City and its regions.
     
    All together, their group numbered twenty eight.  There were twenty one Tanna Varrans: eighteen who had accompanied Tored in his delegation from Tor Varnos, and three returning from the City. 
    There were five Wiz ards in the group.  These included four First Circle fighters, and Renevos, a specialist from the Second Circle, who was an expert in teleportation. Renevos was an older wizard with a waist length white beard, but he