by Jeremy Dwyer
~~~
The Escapade arrived at the docks of the City of Emeth and Tomiko led the crew into the center of the city, near the fountains.
“I have to find a new paid opportunity for us and each of you has some research to catch up on. We can separate now, and agree to meet up here in a day. Yared should come with me,” Tomiko said.
“Genevieve, let’s take a closer look at those experimental results from before. We can try to understand them better, referencing what we find in the Eleventh Hall,” Tristan said.
Genevieve and Tristan went together to the Eleventh Hall, where the knowledge of architecture, crystals and stone was to be found.
Yared and Tomiko went to the Library of Tedorik, to find paid work to recover historical items sought by the librarians or Chroniclers.
“Do you still sense it – the pain, the unusual sound?” Carter asked Nina.
“No, but I’m annoyed enough to find out why it happened. So, I’m going to the Seventh Hall. I can’t be the only one who cares, right?” Nina said.
“No, but I doubt anyone is just as annoyed as you,” Carter said.
“I doubt it, too, so I’m going to do this fast, and not wait for you,” Nina said. She headed over to the Seventh Hall quickly, leaving the others behind.
“There may be some other opportunities waiting, if we look in the right place, and listen carefully,” Carter said.
“I can listen to music, and find peace. Or an opportunity to make peace,” Stephan said.
“We’re here to make a profit, remember?” Carter asked.
“That’s not all that life is about. But everything costs money, I guess, so lead the way,” Stephan said.
“You don’t really have any ideas, do you?” Carter asked.
“Music is a whole world of ideas. That’s what life is really about,” Stephan said.
“If you’re satisfied with the low pay and difficult life of a singer, you’re still free to do that. But bigger opportunities still exist,” Carter said.
“Is bigger always better? Sometimes, wanting bigger leads to war, and wanting smaller leads to peace,” Stephan said.
“Very profound, but there’s also something in the middle that leads to a good life – in this life,” Carter said.
“Where do you want to go?” Stephan asked.
“Research whatever you need – Tomiko wants us to be prepared for whatever comes our way, which could be anything. Meet me back here tomorrow,” Carter said.
Stephan then headed off to the Twelfth Hall to study musical matters, and generally find peace through song. He had little care for profit at the moment.
Carter headed to the Eighth Hall and began his search for records of spirits, and the lost wealth they sometimes – supposedly – guarded. This was dangerous, but it was also lucrative. It was his responsibility to assess the dangers, and not lead them toward challenges that may be more risk than reward.
~~~
Tomiko and Yared found no immediate demand for their services, so they went to the annunciation chamber, where they learned of recent developments, such as the construction of the aqueduct in Baradaxa, and the constructor which quickly assembled it.
~~~
Genevieve and Tristan studied crystals – including water crystals – in the Eleventh Hall, looking to understand the water experiments. They also sought information about the luminous water they found. After this, they left to study in the First Hall, which concerned the waters specifically. However, they learned nothing new.
“These experiments duplicate some of what has already been studied,” Tristan said.
“That doesn’t diminish the value of the work – our own practical understanding was developed, beyond the mere theoretical. The fact that the results were also duplicated is encouraging, because consistency eliminates variables,” Genevieve said.
“That is a reasonable way to view it. Still, we did nothing innovative, which is disappointing. Innovation is where the profits are,” Tristan said.
“There’s also the practical application of established facts. I’ve put existing knowledge of the waters to use effectively, in some interesting combinations,” Genevieve said.
“It has to be more than interesting for Tomiko to be impressed, or for our clients to be impressed. They’re the ones who can help us pay off that ship,” Tristan said.
~~~
In the Twelfth Hall, Stephan wandered through sections of the building that contained knowledge of songs performed on the lyre. He paid considerable attention to these, drinking anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean to be energized and then attempting the chords on his own instrument. The waters granted him the power to control sound, but he was masterful, by his training and studies, at shaping that sound further using the strings of his lyre. Because other musicians were also in study here, he made some distance between himself and them in order to avoid interference.
Stephan wandered to the end of a section of the Twelfth Hall and met with a familiar woman.
“Stephan!” Nerine said, surprised to see him again.
“I was just here to study some new chords for the lyre,” Stephan said, playing the chords as he did.
“I have music students – vocalists – who depend on me to advance my own skills to better teach them. This is my practice day, before I go on vocal rest for ten (10) days and then meet with them to give new lessons,” Nerine said.
“Sometimes, my fingers need a rest, but not for that long,” Stephan said.
“I guess that’s a big advantage of playing the lyre,” Nerine said.
“That, and the pay. Tomiko pays better than I ever got traveling on my own, or just singing. A lot of what we do, we need music, or need to know things about it, to find what we’re looking for,” Stephan said.
“I’m paid better as a teacher than I was as a traveling banquet singer, so I think I understand what you’re saying,” Nerine said.
~~~
In the Eighth Hall, Carter began researching the various areas of spirit activity, most of which – and the most intense of which – centered on the Zovvin Ocean and the islands within it. The prevalence of activity in that ocean was no surprise, given the nature of those waters. However, he learned many specific frightening anecdotes, and found records of certain areas that were to be avoided, no matter the potential for profit. There were islands known to be certain death traps – from which the living never returned. That was not a path to profit but to death, rendering any money that was already earned irrelevant.
As the hours passed, Carter found himself wondering less about matters of spirit and more about matters of the strange star sounds that Nina heard. Before he could leave, however, he met with an older woman who had become something of a living legend.
“Admiral Gabrielle Ramalaxis – I would not have expected to meet you here,” Carter said.
“I don’t know you, but you seem to know me,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.
“Your story is known throughout the world,” Carter said.
“They only think they know it. Everyone seems to have a different impression of what I tell them, and a different theory,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.
“Do you have your own theory?” Carter asked.
“Not quite. But I want to find out. So much of my life – or lack thereof – was shaped by this. I need to know more. Emeth has a lot of information, but not everything, and it’s all broken into pieces, separated out across the halls. There are too many gaps and uncertainties. I need to go back there,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.
“Back to?” Carter asked.
“Where the battle was fought, in the ‘ghost waters’ as they’re called,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.
“It’s good to know the answers, but you can also try to take some pleasure at this point in your life. I still have to work to build a comfortable life, and making a profit usually involves taking some risks. Some of them are a bit much. The Zovvin Ocean has too many of those risks – you suffered mor
e than your fair share of them already. Is it worth facing that danger again, just to know?” Carter asked.
“Walk with me, and I’ll tell you more about it, and the value of what was at stake,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.
“You have my attention,” Carter said.
Gabrielle Ramalaxis led Carter on a walk out of the Eighth Hall and to the Seventh Hall, where the knowledge of stars, star charts and related subjects was recorded.
~~~
In the Seventh Hall, Nina quickly scanned the rows upon rows of writings looking for information about the sounds she heard. Unfortunately, there were so many more rows upon rows that she felt as if her studies would never end. The information was arranged according to time periods, covering over three hundred fifty (350) millennia across the entire world. The amount of knowledge was overwhelming, and a single lifetime was definitely insufficient to absorb even a small fraction of it.
She drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean and sensed the ordinary sounds of the stars – the blue, yellow and red suns were all present and accounted for. The earlier sound she heard was gone without a trace. Her interest in it lingered, if only because it was disturbing and annoying at the time. If it meant anything at all, she didn’t know. No one around her seemed to be mentioning it, so she kept reading and researching.
Nina found considerable information about star charts made centuries, millennia, or even tens of millennia ago. She wondered whether any of this would lead to a lost cache of valuable cargo. That would definitely get Tomiko’s attention.
She investigated a number of the star charts closely, and began to listen to the sounds of the stars to inquire of them where they had been many years ago, and when they had certain configurations matching those in the star charts. The Atrejan waters that flowed through her enabled her to do this adeptly – the technique was not mathematical, but mathematicians could work out much of it, except for the paths that the yellow suns followed. Since many of the star charts referenced the positions of those yellow suns, she would be gainfully employed for years to come, interpreting star charts to find treasures buried long ago.
Nina found herself engrossed in the subject matter, and hours passed without her finding any definite leads – so much of the knowledge was incomplete or uncertain. Only mathematics was marked with a perfect confidence level of one (1) – every other record in the halls of Emeth was marked with a lower confidence level, giving the uncertainties of interpretations and changing conditions in the world, as well as illusions and other deceptions. She knew not to place too much trust in what she found, but sometimes, you just had to take a chance to make a profit. Or to meet a boyfriend. Or to tell the jerk to get lost and hope he doesn’t go crazy.
~~~
Tomiko and Yared left the Library of Tedorik and returned to the chosen position by the fountains to wait for the others to return.
“While I was hoping to find a good procurement opportunity, they are not guaranteed to be available at any given time,” Tomiko said.
“We still owe for the ship. How much longer do you expect we will have to wait?” Yared asked.
“We’re not going to wait. We’re going to identify opportunities elsewhere,” Tomiko said.
“There is no guarantee that the others will find anything, either. Nina seemed distracted, that much I can tell you. If she heard something unusual, and was not mistaken, we may soon be in another difficult situation,” Yared said.
“It’s a difficult and dangerous world. I’m not doubting you, but I have no intention of worrying about that until we must. There are risks in every business, and some of those risks can be quite large, and affect everyone around you. Yet, there are also opportunities,” Tomiko said.
“Some businesses seem to have more opportunities. Everyone is talking about this constructor,” Yared said.
“It sounds as if it’s a variation on the same machine that built that wall in Baradaxa. Apparently, the architect was able to refine it, and put it to good use,” Tomiko said.
“The architect may become quite wealthy as a result, so long as the structures prove stable,” Yared said.
“Wealth is of no concern to her. Fantine is well-known for her innovative designs, and her total focus on the work itself. She isn’t motivated by anything other than the challenge,” Tomiko said.
“How wealthy do you have to be for wealth to be of no concern?” Yared asked.
“You just have to have a guaranteed income, with a steady supply of work. As an architect – the finest – she has that. As procurement specialists, we do not,” Tomiko said.
“I guess that we made our choices, and have to live with them, even when opportunities are few,” Yared said.
“When opportunities are lacking, you develop your own. It’s not a worry, just extra work,” Tomiko said.
~~~
“It’s approaching time for us to meet with Tomiko,” Tristan said.
“And get some rest,” Genevieve said.
“We might think more clearly afterwards, and come up with some useful ideas. I agree,” Tristan said.
Genevieve and Tristan left the First Hall and met with Tomiko and Yared at the fountains.
~~~
Gabrielle Ramalaxis took Carter aside in the Seventh Hall and said: “Not too many people really value what I have to say. It’s almost like they don’t trust me.”
“They’re afraid of that story – and of what happened to you. They don’t know if the spirits linger around you, and will attack again,” Carter said.
“It’s not like that. I’m truly alone. No spirits have bothered me,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.
Carter drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from his vial and was energized. He scanned the region of the spirit world around Gabrielle and found nothing lurking and waiting to attack. “I don’t sense anything around you at the moment. Still, spirits can behave strangely and attack suddenly. Don’t let down your guard, or look for difficulties,” Carter said.
“You don’t know the reason I was fighting, do you? We were hunting pirates, who stole fortunes from people, ruining their livelihoods. We were trying to recover what was stolen, as well as put an end to the piracy,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.
“Calling in spirits to attack them – which is how I understand the narrative – was taking a large chance on the unknown motivations of those spirits,” Carter said.
“You have no idea how much economic harm those pirates did. They stole far more than anyone realizes. We couldn’t allow the financial ruin to continue. Thousands of businesses were being forced into bankruptcy and tens of thousands of families were being driven into destitution,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.
“Though at a great cost to yourself, you won the battle,” Carter said.
“No, I didn’t. The pirates may have been defeated. Still, the stolen wealth wasn’t recovered – at least not by us,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.
“Is that the real reason you want to go back?” Carter asked.
“No. It’s just an explanation for the risks that were taken,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.
“This is interesting. Do you know where the battle took place?” Carter asked.
“Essentially, yes. I remember the star alignments clearly, and I was able to do some research on that region of the ocean and some surrounding areas,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.
“That’s all we need,” Carter said. At this moment, he saw a familiar woman studying the star charts and called to her, saying: “Nina! Good timing! We need to talk.”
Nina looked up, saw Carter and said: “You’re glad to see me? That’s a first…ever.”
“This is…,” Carter said.
“Gabrielle,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.
“Do I know you? Should I?” Nina asked.
“You should know her, but all that matters is you know the positions and movements of the stars,” Carter said.
“I know that. I also know that we have work to do. What’s this about?�
�� Nina asked.
“Let’s meet with Tomiko. If he agrees, we’ll be able to take you where you want to go,” Carter said.
Carter, Nina and Gabrielle Ramalaxis left the Seventh Hall and met with Tomiko, Yared, Genevieve and Tristan at the fountains.
“Admiral Gabrielle Ramalaxis, it is a pleasure to finally meet you,” Tomiko said.
“We have to talk,” Carter said.
“Apparently, I have to listen to the stars. Better than listening to Stephan, though,” Nina said.
“Well, we’re missing Stephan,” Tomiko said.
“He still has a little while, and he’s not too quick about things. Let him come here, probably late, and wait for us,” Nina said.
“This will be interesting. We should talk on the ship, in private,” Carter said.
“I look forward to the interesting news,” Tomiko said.
The group returned to the Escapade and went into a private cabin. There, Gabrielle Ramalaxis began to explain, saying: “You may have heard the story in different forms, but I was an admiral in the Ihalik Navy. Pirates attacked merchant ships in the Zovvin Ocean, and also attacked coastal towns. They stole large amounts of personal and small business wealth to the point that the local economies were devastated. We had to act to stabilize the economy, so it was necessary to hunt down the pirates. My usual tactics were very effective at a single purpose – destroying an enemy. However, before killing them – which we could have easily done – we needed to find the cache of stolen wealth. Calling on the spirits was a tactic meant to frighten them into retreat so that we could follow. Many of my crew were drinkers of the Zovvin Ocean waters. They knew how to control the spirits they summoned. Something went wrong, though – I have no idea what. All that I know is that the pirates ended up dead, but we never recovered the stolen wealth. It may still be out there, along with the explanation of what happened in the conflict.”