And part 6.
Metamor Keep: Investigating Calamity
By Charles Matthias
None of the other
mages had the stomach to ask any hard questions after that Questioner had
pointed out something that should have been obvious to them. It
unsettled each of them to their core. The thought that there might
still be evil from Marzac left to stain the world was frightening.
But at least one of them was certain it was merely a Questioner trick to
keep them from doing what they must.
This mage
had kept silent for the remainder of the inquiry until theyd finished
hearing the Questioners testimony. Theyd dismissed him for a
short recess after which they promised to bring all three of them in for
corroborative discussion. It was formality in many ways for there
were no obvious gaps in any of their testimonies. The sooner they
completed these interviews the sooner the trio from Yesulam could return
to their thrice-damned city.
Would they
have enough information to see that justice was done?
Ah, the
other mage said once the two were together in an alcove off a side
hallway. His pet rat perched on his shoulder this time, sleek black
face sniffing at the other. And what did you learn?
The
Questioners ability with light is stronger than we expected. It
cannot be defeated by any magic we possess. It ripped right through
anything Massenet erected.
Massenet
is overconfident, the man replied as he gently stroked the rats back
with one finger. But, I trust your assessment. And he is too well
protected inside the Cardinals palace.
We need
to get him out somehow. The other mage paused in thought and then began
to nod. Sleepwalking. If we can put an anchor in him, I can force
him to sleepwalk. We can then take him anywhere we want in the
city.
The man
smiled as the idea took shape. Aye, that is the best way. An
anchor that he will digest soon enough to hide the spell, but not so soon
that we cannot get to him. Boots can deliver it tonight. But
how to kill him.
Leave him
in a Rebuilder district. They will kill him soon enough.
The man
shook his head and gently kissed the rat who leaned against his face.
No, the Yeshuel and Yesbearn might be warned in time to save him.
Rumour has it that the Yeshuels heroism in striking down the evil that
murdered Patriarch Akabaieth has impressed many Rebuilders as well.
We cannot count on that. We need something more...
But
what?
The man
gently kissed the rats cheek and then smiled. There is a blind man who
sometimes does work for Master Demarest. I know who he is and how
to get a message to him that will ensure he is discreet and
efficient.
But still
it will look like a Rebuilder killed him. All without the Caial
knowing? The other frowned. And how do we know we can trust one of
Demarests dogs?
The man
laughed faintly, a smile that seemed to delight in the approbation. I am
one of Demarests dogs as well. I assure you, it is a risk, but we
will avoid the Caial.
The first
mage smiled as well. Then we are agreed. Find something for the
Questioner to eat unawares and I shall place the anchor on it. And
contact this blind man. Tonight we act.
I will do
as you say. Tonight.
The two
went their separate ways. Justice was coming!
----------
Elizabeth came
down to antechamber only a few minutes after with a scowl that creased
her face into a death mask. The serving woman whod finished
serving them tea almost dropped her tray in her haste to escape.
Czestadt crouched lower in his seat, both hands holding the delicate
porcelain. Kashin turned from putting another log in the hearth,
while Akaleth looked up with empty _expression_. None of them were
quite prepared for the verbal tirade that erupted from her lungs.
Just how
arrogant and stupid are you? Elizabeth snapped. Her face was
bright red and her whole body shook. Her arms gesticulated wildly
with each word. Her scream was directed mostly at Akaleth, but the
Yesbearn was not excepted, nor the Yeshuel. Is it impossible for you to
remain polite for a single moment? Why must you antagonize
EVERYONE! My brother Misha is more polite and he uses a
battleaxe! We cannot kill you but the King can! Keep your
arrogant, obnoxious tongue still! She pointed a finger at him but her
fury was so rich it could not keep still. That was your only
warning.
Akaleth
pursed his lips and said nothing. Czestadt grunted and turned the
cup of tea around in his hands. Kashin stood and his scowl, though
not as fierce, remained firm. No doubt you know the old adage,
physician, heal thyself.
Elizabeth
turned and pointed her finger at him. Dont even start with me.
Ive had enough of your arrogant preening.
Kashin
took a few steps closer to her, his sole hand clenched into a fist kept
clear of his sword. Since weve arrived we have been belittled, sneered
at, called liars, and treated like human offal. And this by your
vaunted Mage Guild. You, Mistress Lumas, are one of the few who
have not and for that I thank you. But if this is how we are to be
treated, why would you expect anything else from us?
Elizabeths shout was loud and it made the tea set rattle. Do not play
games with me! Your actions have nearly cost lives! Just shut
up and answer the questions and keep your preening arrogance to
yourselves!
Our
actions? Kashin replied and spread his fingers over his chest. No,
Mistress Lumas. It is the actions of your own mage guild. It
is our restraint that has saved lives. Do not lie to me or to
yourself. You know the truth.
Elizabeth
drew herself up and curled her fingers into her palms. The truth is that
you are by your behaviour convincing everyone of the wisdom of keeping
your kind out of Marigund!
We have
no reason to be here, Kashin told her as he took another step closer.
If we are not welcome, then we will leave. What have you done to
make us feel welcome? You wanted our knowledge. Have you and
your ilk no decency?
Elizabeth
lips quivered and her eyes almost grew as red as her cheeks. Have you no
sense!
Kashin
nodded his head. Then tell me, Mistress Lumas, are you pleased with the
way your fellow mages have treated us? Can you honestly say that
you find their behaviour exemplary?
She stood
for several seconds breathing heavily, eyes boring into the Yeshuels
unperturbed countenance. Her voice, when it did emerge, was crisp
with the crackle of autumn leaves under boot and wagon wheel. Just
because my people are acting like ignorant fools does not give you the
right tod o the same. If you keep your friends under control, I
will keep mine. She swept around, robes billowing and slapping the air,
and departed out the door which banged behind her.
----------
The room was
altered by the addition of two new chairs. This skewed the
arrangement and no longer were any sitting in the cardinal directions;
still, the atmosphere suggested a casual, friendly conversation between
equals. The expressions of the various mages and their guests
indicated that it was anything but.
Now that
weve concluded our solo interviews, Demarest said in a dry voice that
crackled beneath his breath, we would like to discuss all of these
matters in brief one last time to make sure that we have all of the
details correct. As you know, we wish to speed you on your
way. Your presence in Marigund is unwise but necessary. Let
us keep it brief.
Then make
your interrogations brief, Czestadt replied tersely. His scowl had
deepened from the first moment he returned and knew that their magical
translation spell was active again. It did not waver in its
disapproval.
Do not
speak to Master Demarest in such tones, Sir Rivers reproved with a
sneer.
I will
speak to whomever I wish however I wish. Do not make me lick his
boots like you. Kashin glowered at the comment and reached his hand over
to restrain the Yesbearn.
Sir Rivers
drew himself back up with purpling cheeks. You bastard!
Czestadt
snorted. For me, an accident of my birth. You? A faint smirk
teased the edge of his lips. Youre a self-made man.
The
offended mage lunged from his seat and struck Czestadt across the cheek
with the back of his hand. Loathsome creature! I will not stand
for such humiliation!
No.
You will crawl.
Czestadt! Kashin snapped.
Alexander! Demarest shouted in a nearly apoplectic rage. Sit
down!
Sir Rivers
stepped back, but kept his gaze focussed on the Stuthgansk knight. There
is a practice chamber beneath this room. When we are finished here,
I would greatly like to feed you those contemptuous words. You may
even bring your swords.
Oh for
the love of Eli! Elizabeth swore and rolled her eyes. Are you mad,
Alex? And you, Sir Czestadt? Are all of you completely
mad?
Akaleth
put one hand on Czestadts arm and shook his head. We do not have time
for such games. Let them sully your honour, your name, anything, as
much as they want. Their opinions should matter nothing to
us.
Czestadt
lowered his eyes and then nodded to Elizabeth and Demarest. Forgive my
outburst. As Knight Templar of the Driheli, I would suffer none to
besmirch the honour of my knights. None. Since my charge is
not concerned with his honour and bid me also not to be concerned with
mine, I shall not be. I apologize.
Elizabeth
took a deep breath and glanced to Demarest who had sat imperturbably
still through the exchange. He gave a slight nod and the Elizabeth
turned to Sir Rivers. The noble sat back down again, but there was
a twitch in his eye still. None of the others had moved.
Good,
Demarest said at last. Now, we will quickly review your testimony and
attempt to put it in chronological order. Correct us if we
err.
There was
little need for correction. The mages replayed the events of the
last year without rancour and neither Akaleth or Sir Czestadt spoke
except to corroborate what had been reported. Kashin and Demarest
did almost all of the talking.
When it
was over three hours later, things had changed not at all. The
mages did not look favourably upon the trio from Yesulam, and the trio
from Yesulam did their best not to respond to anything said by the
mages. And when Demarest gave them a dismissal they were very eager
to accept it.
Thank you
for sharing us what you know, Demarest said with an obvious _expression_
of relief. I believe that we have learned all that we can and so you may
return to your home. Please do not linger here in our city
longer. I want you to leave tomorrow morning without delay.
It is our
intent, Kashin replied with a nod of his head. See that our carriage is
ready and we shall be gone.
It will
be done, Demarest assured him.
The trio
rose and each nodded their heads. Sir Rivers and Chalcus scowled at
them, Massenet had a fierce moue, Diomedras eyes were calculating,
Bartholomew was barely paying attention, and Elizabeth seemed
relieved. A moment later, Akaleth, Czestadt, and Kashin were on
their way out of the Mage Guild. They all hoped desperately never
to return.
----------
Cardinal Bertu
was relieved as well to hear that they would be departing in the morning.
Is the Guild pleased to hear the news you brought?
More
pleased I think that well be leaving, Father Akaleth replied with a
faint grimace. They were seated in the Cardinals study again
sharing tea and biscuits. Father Marchel was officiating an evening
Liturgy to it was only the four of them. I fear the thought that there
may still be evil from Marzac in the world left them rather
distressed. It has me concerned as well, but I neither know where
it might be nor under what form it could take apart from those chevrons I
mentioned the other night.
The
red-haired cleric frowned, his wide cheeks firm with concern. Indeed,
that is unsettling news. Still, I trust that there were no more
histrionics this day?
In that
you would also be unsettled, Akaleth said with a definite grimace. I
fear I did lose control of my tongue at one point and offered some rather
injudicious candour regarding the differences between Followers and
Rebuilders.
Bertu
scowled and shook his head. Can you ever learn? Do you intend to
make my role in this city as difficult as possible?
In his
defence, Kashin interjected as he turned a biscuit about in his fingers,
the mages goaded him by slandering the Ecclesia in a rather foul way
from what Im told.
Their ill
behaviour, and I do not doubt that it was ill, is no excuse for your
own!
Akaleth
bowed his head and sighed. Hence my calling them injudicious.
Bertus
lips curled in a milk-curdling scowl. If you have set back relations
between the faiths here in Marigund...
If
I have set them back? Akaleth retorted incredulously. We had
this conversation once before, your eminence. There is nothing from
which those relations can step back. So long as you insist on
dodging around the central truth of your people there will never be
advancement! You will always live one breath away from your Burning
time.
You have
no notion of what that time was like, Father, Bertu replied with a long
sigh and shake of his head. We may be right that we are living on the
edge of anarchy; but if so, it can only be avoided by a careful
balance.
And what
does it say of your people if they are living on the edge? Akaleth asked
in softer tones. You are a house divided against itself. Marigund
could be a world power and force for good. Instead, you are a dog
on the leash of Salinon hosting Galendors greatest mage guild which is
too busy jealously hoarding knowledge to be of any good to anyone
else. How far from the truth am I?
Bertu
folded his hands together, eyes wavering from the Questioner to briefly
glance at both Kashin and Czestadt. The two warriors sat
unperturbed and quiet, their thoughts cloaked though it was clear both of
them gazed inward. What they saw none could guess. Finally,
the Cardinal nodded his head slowly, red hair brightening in the warm
firelight. We are not what we could be, it is true. Marigund is
unchallenged by any of our neighbours, but, we cannot stretch forth our
hand to object to anything Salinon does. At least not coherently.
Sometimes I think Duke Otakar uses our internal squabbles to keep us at
his heel. Last year he took the heir to the Kelewair duchy hostage
and has been holding him since. Our reaction was mixed and loud,
and so completely enfeebled. We should do better. He lifted his
face, and his eyes filled with strength. But we will not be united by
starting holy wars!
No, you
wont, Akaleth agreed. He sipped at his cup of tea and stared
inward for several long seconds. How well he could remember his
years thinking the only solution to the division in Yahshuas body was to
kill all the heretics. Had not Yahshua said that there was more
rejoicing in the one sinner repenting than in the ninety-nine just who
did not need repentance? The mercy of Eli was vaster and more
sublime and ultimately, more powerful than the justice of Eli which was
itself perfect. To insist on justice and despise mercy was not to
hold to virtue; it was to mask some sin those who sought justice
possessed. The story of Yahshua and the Yehudim leaders whod
brought the adulterous woman for stoning showed that clearly enough.
And what
had his own sin been? A never ending quest to dishonour his father,
a man who had once used violence and hate to try to beat what he saw as
sin out of his only child. Akaleth took another longer sip of the
warm tea, the subtle hint of maple soothing his wounds.
No, he
repeated after setting the cup of tea aside. You cannot start a holy
war. It will only serve to drive more into the Adversarys
arms. But you know the status quo cannot persist. Your holy
office was not given to you to be your property, your eminence. Nor
is it usufruct. Nor was my office given to me to use as I
wish. We have a responsibility to be the light on a lampstand, the
city on a hill that cannot be hid. We must be open and we must be
honest about our faith, and it must alone guide our lives. Let
Yahshua tend to the peace in this city. Man has always made a mess
of things when he tries to usurp Elis authority.
Bertu did
not reply immediately and for several minutes the four of them ate and
drank in silence punctuated by the sharp cracks of the fire, the creaking
of the walls, and the rattling of the windows in their frames. His
voice when it returned, and his _expression_, were resigned but calm.
There is much wisdom in what you say, Father. Allow me the chance
to consider what this might mean in my city. But for now, you all
ought to consider what recompense you can make for the unrest you brought
to the Guild.
Indeed,
Kashin agreed with a light nod. And that we shall. Our departure
is entirely necessary; I was rather hoping to stay for Sunday Liturgy,
but we shall do with what Father Akaleth can provide us on the
road.
Bertu
nodded. I will not delay tomorrow morning that you might celebrate with
us one last time.
Thank
you, your eminence, Father Akaleth said with a genuine smile. If then
we have your leave, I would like to retire for the night. I have
much to pray over before I sleep. Bertu nodded his ascent and the
Questioner priest silently departed. Neither Czestadt nor Kashin
lingered much longer themselves.
But the
little white-booted rat whod been watching and listening to them
followed the Questioner and paid no heed to the others.
----------
May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love,
Charles Matthias
!DSPAM:4c97e928230601122247586!
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