by Frank Morin
“I promise I’ll be careful, and I’ll share what I learn, as soon as I understand enough to know what I’m sharing with you,” Connor said.
Kilian grimaced, then chuckled. “How often do you understand what you’re doing ahead of time?”
Connor shrugged. “Not as often as I’d prefer.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, I’m afraid I agree, and I’m willing to trust those instincts of yours. Sometimes they serve you well.”
Connor was grateful he didn’t point out the times that Connor’s instincts hadn’t been exactly productive. One of his talents was creative battlefield strategies, and with the elements assisting him, he hoped he could develop an actual plan for victory.
They rode in silence, floating toward Merkland, deep in thought until Connor spotted Hamish rise into the sky from the city. He was moving fast and angled to intercept them about half a mile out.
“What’s up?” Connor asked as Hamish slowed and stepped onto the invisible floor supporting the two of them.
He pushed open his visor, looking a bit annoyed and said, “You’re not tapping quartzite internally, and you don’t have any speakstones, do you?”
“Why? What’s wrong?” Kilian asked.
“We just received a note from Ailsa. Sounds serious. We need you guys back in the conference room right away.”
78
If Only Problems Could Be Solved with Marshmallows
The conference room one floor below Ivor’s office in the palace was already packed with their entire core group, plus Mistress Four and Commander Six of the Mhortair, who sat beside Aifric. She had saved a seat for Kilian. Connor took the open seat next to Verena.
She squeezed his hand and flashed a happy smile. “I love granite, but basalt was so much fun!”
“I agree.” He loved that she finally understood how it felt. He scanned the room of friends, all anxious to hear the latest news from Ailsa. Evander took up most of the foot end of the table, with Hamish and Wolfram flanking him. Ilse sat next to Wolfram, one muscular leg crossed over the other, smiling every time she glanced down at them.
Shona sat at the opposite end, with Rory and Ivor at either side, and Anika close beside Rory. Many of the group looked windblown from their recent sprint, and Connor wanted to ask who won the race. Despite the crazy world they lived in and the terrible danger looming over them, at least they’d gotten one really fun training together.
Ivor called the meeting to order and said, “Our recent communique includes much to discuss, including the alarming news that before Craigroy escaped Merkland he arranged with one of his supporters to conceal a speakstone in my office.”
Startled murmurs rippled around the table. That was terrible news. Connor glanced at Verena. “So he’s been able to listen in on all of the discussions there?”
Ivor nodded. “It appears so.”
Verena looked really annoyed. “We should have noted a missing speakstone, but we’ve been using them so extensively, our tracking has gotten a bit loose.
Wolfram said, “I recommend we find ways to improve our accounting methods.”
“I’ll get on it right after this meeting,” Hamish promised.
Shona said, “Craigroy served my father with great distinction for years, which is why I insisted we keep him alive, despite understanding how dangerous he could be.”
Rory grunted. “That stone has already fallen. At least we’ve done most of our meetings in recent days here instead of your office, Ivor. Verena scan the tower and the rest of the palace to identify the location of the concealed speakstone and to make sure there aren’t any others.”
Connor said, “I might be able to help with that too. I discovered that I’m now able to overhear speakstone conversations.”
Most of the team had heard that disturbing news, although the Mhortair had not. They quickly grasped the potential security risks of having the queen overhear what they were saying.
General Wolfram, who was still running fingers through his windblown mustaches to straighten them said, “When you discover the speakstones, I request taking charge of them. They offer a significant opportunity to pass carefully prepared misinformation.”
Shona said, “Of course, General. Such an intelligence windfall is too good an opportunity to miss.”
“Especially if the enemy has learned enough through them to consider the information trustworthy,” Wolfram said with a predatory smile.
Rory said, “I don’t have a mind for those games. Part of me still wants to be a simple bash fighter.”
Verena said, “I now understand your love of bash fighting. I wish the worst challenge we faced was coordinating the world’s biggest bash fight.”
Rory smiled wistfully. “Aye, lass, that would be grand indeed.”
Wolfram said, “Until that day arrives, we’ll deal with what we have. We will most likely call upon each of you to participate in our misinformation campaign. For this to work we need Craigroy or whoever is listening for him to believe the stones are as yet undiscovered.”
Connor was impressed but not surprised that Wolfram would immediately begin planning such an elaborate hoax. No doubt Ilse would assist. Even back around Alasdair they had demonstrated the importance of gathering intelligence and using it against their enemies.
Verena had gifted to Connor a speakstone and asked him to keep it with him to remind him of her. She had failed to inform him that in the meantime it was capturing all of the conversations he had with Shona, General Carbrey, and everyone else. The Grandurians had known everything they were planning.
Shona tapped a parchment on the table in front of her and said, “Our informant also shared insights into how the queen unleashed such terrible destruction upon Jagdish.”
The Mhortair perked up at that, and Ivor said, “I hope it’ll help, because we’re very short on time. The part of the message I’ve read so far also shared news that the various cohorts of the queen’s armies have been gathering in Crann and orders have just been issued for them to marshal and prepare to move against Merkland in force.”
The announcement was not a surprise, but it still blanketed the room in a new somber quiet. Connor felt deeply frustrated that they didn’t have just a little more time. He felt convinced that he was close to proving he could help people establish new affinities. If he could, then they could swell their army significantly in a matter of weeks.
They would still need to train those new Petralists. Without that training they would face battle at a significant disadvantage. Verena had demonstrated that in her recent duel with Shona. Although she had performed remarkably well, without all of her mechanicals to assist, Shona would have pounded her. Any other new Petralist he helped would not have the benefits of her mechanicals and experience.
Shona added, “Our report suggests the queen herself may be journeying to Crann to take command of her forces and lead them against us.”
The already somber mood in the room turned grim. Facing a much larger and more powerful army was pretty much standard practice for them. If not for the queen leading her people, Connor felt pretty confident they could defeat her army, no matter their size and makeup.
Aifric and the other Mhortair did not share his worry. They exchanged excited murmurs, their expressions turning eager.
Mistress Four said, “This will be our opportunity to strike.”
“Perhaps,” Kilian said but his expression was more thoughtful than enthusiastic. He knew better than anyone the challenges of confronting his mother.
General Rory raised a hand to calm the swell in conversation around the table. “Before we get bogged down in detailed battle planning, let’s discuss the other information provided in the communique. With any luck it’ll shed some much-needed light on what the queen did to Jagdish. We need to prevent her from doing the same to Merkland.”
Everyone listened intently to Shona. “Apparently the queen did utilize a sculpted serpentinite stone in that attack.”
It was go
od to get confirmation that what he had seen was indeed a sculpted stone, but Connor glanced at Aifric and her two Mhortair companions and asked, “I still don’t understand how that allowed her to destroy everything. Have you come up with any new ideas?”
They shook their heads. Shona pointed at the paper. “There’s more here, but it does not exactly make sense to me. See if any of you understand it. I’m hoping you, Master Evander, at least can gleam useful insights. Apparently, the stone had been buried along with one of her powerful ancient servants in elfonnel form, who’s been slumbering for centuries at a convergence of something called the sylfaen.”
Verena perked up. “I heard Water mention that term, but don’t understand it.”
“She mentioned it to me too,” Connor said. “Explained that it’s some kind of vast energy that encircles the planet.”
“What’s the convergence?” Hamish asked.
“I don’t know,” Connor admitted.
Evander started nodding slowly, as if he was making connections in that big head of his. Connor dearly hoped so.
Shona said, “Your explanation helps, Connor, and there’s more about convergence here.” She frowned and added, “But this part still gets a little weird.”
“Let’s see if we can work through it,” Kilian suggested.
Shona scanned the page and read, “Apparently the sylfaen touches down onto the world at these convergence points. They’re scattered around the globe and funnel energy that sustains and supports life.” She looked up, frowning, but Kilian gestured her to continue.
“That energy is dispersed through the planet. Okay, here’s the part I don’t get. By burying slumbering elfonnel at these convergence points with master-sculpted stones, she claims they filter some of that power into frequencies accessible to Petralists. The power gathers in quarries where it’s absorbed by power-grade stone to be tapped by Petralists. Have any of you heard of anything like this before?”
It made sense to Connor. He’d seen the red and green energies, as had Kilian and Evander, but he hadn’t understood how the energy of the sylfaen was filtered at convergence points by elfonnel and sculpted stones. That part was brilliant, although he couldn’t imagine how anyone had figured that out.
“Did your mother build that system to create Petralists?” Connor asked in an awed tone.
Kilian was also nodding slowly, his expression amazed. “I think so. Some of the off-hand comments she made now make sense.
“Why did she never teach you any of this?” Aifric asked, placing a hand on his.
“I can only guess she feared I might have messed with it.” He smiled, his eyes flashing for a second with white flames. “I was known to act impulsively at times in my youth.”
Evander guffawed, laughing louder than Connor had imagined he could. “That’s an understatement big enough to swallow Donleavy.”
Connor exchanged grins with Verena. He bet Kilian had been wild. With such powerful parents, the greatest Builder as his younger sister, and both Evander and Tallan as nephews, he’d almost have to be. He really wanted to ask Evander to share some tales.
Kilian scowled at the red-faced, laughing Evander, whose mirth was spreading around the table despite the very serious nature of the conversation. It seemed impolite not to join in while Evander’s deep, booming laughter shook the room like muffled thunder.
“Enough, or I’ll share the story of when you and Tallan tried rerouting the Macantact to avoid taking baths,” Kilian warned.
Evander actually managed to look chagrined, an expression that Connor had never seen on his face. While the big man coughed, trying to swallow his laughter, Kilian seemed to think pretending the outburst hadn’t happened would make everyone forget about it.
He looked to Connor and asked, “Have you sensed these convergence points? I have no direct experience with them.”
Connor had witnessed many amazing new things, and as he considered the list, he felt anew a deep sense of wonder. His affinities were such an integral part of him that he couldn’t imagine living without them, and yet as much as he knew about them, he was still learning more. He marveled that so much truth could be woven together into layer after layer that had resisted their efforts to peel back for so long. Maybe they were finally getting to the deepest secrets.
He asked, “Any idea what a convergence of sylfaen would feel like? I’ve felt the red and green frequencies of power, but haven’t sensed where they might be coming from.”
Evander spoke softly, his brows furrowed and his expression one of deep concentration. “The first glimmer of dawn, filtered through the clouds, is sufficient to cast back the blankets of even the darkest night, and the greatest secrets begin to yield their fruit when the lock is turned and the door of the vault cracks open.”
That was excellent Sentry speak, but not as indecipherable as most. Connor actually felt like he grasped the heart of what Evander was trying to say.
Most of the rest of the team merely stared at Evander with long-suffering looks, but Captain Ilse looked excited. “You’ve made new connections between items from your vault research, haven’t you?”
Hamish muttered, “It’s so good to have a translator.”
Evander nodded and spoke in the slow, deliberate way he used when using unfiltered words. “Indeed, Captain. I am thinking of a reference heretofore obscure. A rare page written in my grandmother’s own hand. She stated, ‘The great duty of the monarch is not in managing an unruly populace and dragging them ever resistant toward enlightenment, but the maintenance of the ramverk. Only its stable filters ensure access to the sylfaen. It must be maintained at all costs or my dynasty will fail’.”
“Ramverk?” Verena asked, glancing at Connor, who shrugged and looked to Kilian, whose expression had turned thoughtful again.
“I’ve heard my mother mention ramverk, although she never explained it. In the context of our conversation, my guess is that ramverk is what she calls the process of harvesting power from these convergence points.”
“Almost like a higher form of Builder construct,” Verena exclaimed excitedly. “Don’t you see, what she’s doing with stones and elfonnel to harness power, to filter it and make it available is so similar to what Builders do. I bet Kristin started figuring it out.”
“That may be possible,” Kilian said. “She seemed to understand things about wielding Petralist powers that she should not have.”
“And she built the higher constructs like Kirstin’s Defense that pushed the limits. What if she was trying to access one of those convergence points?”
“Would that be good or bad?” Connor asked.
Her good humor faded and she shrugged. “I don’t know, but I feel like we’re right on the verge of finally understanding important truths.”
“Me too,” he agreed, taking her hand and squeezing it.
“I wonder if that factored into my mother’s decision to execute her,” Kilian said.
“That would reinforce how important these facts are,” Verena said eagerly.
“I hope they’re important, but I don’t see how it helps us stop the queen and her army,” Hamish said with a frown. He gestured at Evander with a hard breadstick he’d produced from a pocket. “No offense, but I had sort of hoped your next breakthrough would be something like, ‘I finally understand. My mother’s weakness is toasted mallows.’ or something like that.”
“Mallows?” Evander asked, curious.
“Don’t get him started,” Verena warned.
Shona said, “Back to the matter at hand. This may help. Apparently by utilizing that serpentinite stone, the queen tapped elevated levels of power beyond what even she can normally achieve. Something about rising into the green. Apparently she believes all of her affinities are permanently enhanced as a result.”
General Wolfram blew out his mustaches and muttered, “The last thing we need is for her to continue growing stronger.”
Shona continued reading. “And apparently by using and consuming tha
t stone she did indeed somehow sever the serpentinite affinity.”
Mistress Four looked like she thought that made sense, but Connor frowned. “She severed it from the lower power source, but not from the green.”
Shona shrugged and gestured with the parchment. “According to this, the queen considers serpentinite all but useless even to her until she can get another stone sculpted and bury it again with her servant. That’s supposed to restore the affinity over a period of years.”
The look of hope on Mistress Four’s face faded to dejection as she realized there would be no restoration of her affinity in the near term. Connor wondered what her bridges and islands would look like in her affinityscape. If his attempt to make new bridges failed to help establish new affinities, maybe her broken affinity might give him additional insights.
“I’m amazed that our contact gleaned so much information,” Ivor said, saluting the parchment in Shona’s hand. “Her contributions might prove the deciding edge in this war.”
Connor agreed. He loved his Aunt Ailsa and marveled at her success. He couldn’t imagine standing right in the queen’s presence for months but remaining undiscovered.
“So how does this help us?” Hamish asked again, looking frustrated.
Shona only looked at Connor and raised one fine eyebrow. “Any thoughts?”
Everyone looked at him expectantly, as if he could pull the answer out of his hat. He should’ve worn a hat. That might’ve helped.
“I think we should figure out how to find this ramverk. Maybe that will help us figure something out,” he offered.
“Good idea,” Kilian said.
Ivor added, “So, how do you propose to do that?”
They continued watching him, waiting expectantly, as if the fact that he’d ascended again gave him all the answers. Even Kilian and Evander were looking to him. No doubt Evander had more things to say, but seemed willing to wait until Connor made the attempt to find the ramverk or a convergence point.