Hector- Ghost

“But brimstone? The candle? Have you been communing with the dead?”
“Yes,” said Hector, his head hanging shamefully.
“But why?” asked Drew. “You saw how dangerous it was last time. That shaman’s corpse would have killed you if I hadn’t been there. Why would you put yourself—and everyone else—in peril again?”
“But I know where I went wrong last time, Drew. I didn’t pay the ceremony enough respect; I was careless. This time I haven’t made the same mistakes. I’ve been careful,” he said, striding to the table and picking up a clutch of papers. “These are my own notes on the ceremony, with revisions and safety measures in place to ensure I don’t lose focus again.”
“I don’t like it,” said Drew. “Not one bit. Have you been speaking to the shaman? What on Old Brenn’s earth could he tell you? This is madness!”
“I’ve been speaking to my father,” replied Hector in a quiet, tremulous voice. “I’ve been saying good-bye to him.”
Drew fell silent. His shoulders sagged with heartbreaking sympathy. He walked over to his friend and, in spite of the manacles that still bound his wrists, hugged him to his chest.
“Oh, Hector,” he said, as the other started sobbing. “I am so sorry. I . . . I didn’t realize . . .”
“You weren’t to know,” sniffed the Boarlord. “And yes, I am ashamed. But I needed to say good-bye, needed to know he was at peace. And he is, Drew. He is. He wants me to forgive my brother; can you believe that?”
“Well, I can see his point, difficult as it is to take. Vincent was only doing what he thought was best for your family.”
“For himself,” snapped Hector, not quite ready for forgiveness it seemed. He looked at Drew, his face pale, a sheen of sweat leaving him looking quite sickly.
“So how did you speak with him? I thought you needed the body to commune with? You said your time was limited, that the soul would depart before long.”
“My father is different from the shaman—I don’t require his body to commune with his spirit. Two factors aided my reaching him; we share the same bloodline, plus he was a magister in life.”
“How does the fact that he was a magister aid you?”
“His spirit is rich in magicks and remains in the living world longer than that of other humans and therians.” Hector smiled as he thought of the dear old Boarlord before continuing.
“I climbed into the circle this time. It’s not dangerous when communing with a loved one. It’s only when the line is broken and you’re contacting a dark spirit that you put yourself in danger. I do not fear my father’s ghost. He can sleep now, Drew. He can be at peace.”

B1 P4 C4