Grimoire Bound

by Jeff Sproul

  "But there's more to you than that," said Minara.

  "Much more," Cynthia spoke up.

  "What's going on?" asked Chaxin. "Why are you asking him these things? What are these entities you're talking about?"

  "She wants to know about the nameless," said Verun.

  "Karnith isn't the only danger on this world, or even the Graymos," said Cynthia with a hiss.

  Minara glanced over to Cynthia, then to Chaxin. "Chaxin, do you know what the Graymos is?"

  "It seems to be the word for everything, like…everything around us?" Chaxin answered.

  "Correct," said Minara. "The dimension around us, the space between worlds, and the space encompassing those worlds, this is the Graymos. Our dimension. The Graymos is home to countless worlds which we call spheres. We as humans appeared here roughly five hundred years ago. But there are things far, far older than us that have been a part of the Graymos longer than we can even comprehend."

  Chaxin listened intently, then glanced over to Verun, whose eyes were cast down upon the table.

  "The spectres are a race of powerful beings," said Minara. "Somehow, Lord Karnith has taken their power and used it to create portals so that he can cast his armies anywhere around Wake, or even across the Graymos to other spheres. Because of these actions, he has inadvertently garnered the attention of at least one of the nameless ones. Perhaps more. The nameless ones are creatures of impossible power. To even look upon them is to know madness. And to say their names is to slowly welcome that delirium into your mind and corrupt you from within. Verun has learned things that no human was ever meant to know. We call them the nameless because we're not sure what else to refer to them as without alerting them to our presence. When Verun speaks the name of one of the nameless and beseeches them, he is creating a direct link between his mind and that of the creature he's speaking to. This power is incredibly volatile. It shouldn't be used even in dire circumstances."

  "Without Verun, I wouldn't be here," said Chaxin. "I don't understand how that can be a bad thing. He did what he had to in order to save himself from Purgatory. And luckily, he took me with him."

  "Be that as it may, I can only continue to caution the use of speech magic," said Minara. "It's easy to use it on a whim. It's incredibly powerful, far more than what you can achieve through scrawl. But I have seen firsthand what toll it takes on the mind and body. Scrawl draws its power from leftover soul energy. Speech magic draws its power solely from the nameless entities that are beseeched. And for that, it is impossibly dangerous to the user and everyone around them."

  "I understand how it works," said Verun. "No need to scare the boy. It's not as though I use it lightly. I only considered it earlier because we were in fear for our lives. A room full of hooligans against the four of us. What would you have done?" Verun asked, looking to Minara.

  Minara kept quiet, even glancing away. "Regardless, it's important for others to know what they're in for when they're around you. So let me ask you this," Minara said, as she slowly closed the grimoire and leaned back in her seat. "You know something about what happened to Trillin. But you're unwilling to tell us anything, correct?"

  "Correct," said Verun.

  "But you don't know what happened to the people of Trillin, based on the fact that the grimoire didn't detect a lie."

  "Correct," said Verun.

  "So, I suppose all I can ask is this. Do you think the people of Trillin, wherever they may be, can be saved?"

  Verun looked away, then shook his head. "They are either in Purgatory, or they could be in hell by now. But the other option is perhaps more grim."

  "Other option?" asked Minara.

  "The other option is that they weren't killed," said Verun.

  "But if they aren't dead, then they have to be somewhere among the spheres, so they can be saved, can't they?"

  Verun shook his head again. "If they are still among the spheres, based on what I was privy to before my death, then no. They can't be saved, because it is unlikely that they are still—" He caught himself and bit his lower lip.

  Cynthia's fists slammed against the table, shaking it as she rose from her seat. "What aren't you telling us? What do you know?"

  Minara grabbed Cynthia's arm. "Calm down," she said urgently.

  "I want to tell you what you want to know," Verun spoke up quickly, his gaze once again on the table, unable to look up to Cynthia, even to her mask. "But I cannot. To do so would cause greater harm than good. For both myself and for those that would hear it. All I can do is ask that you trust me, although you've only just met me."

  "Just tell me this," said Cynthia. "Was it a nameless? Did one of them befall Trillin?"

  Verun closed his eyes and breathed in slowly, then exhaled. "This conversation cannot continue further. I'm sorry."

  "Damnable man," Cynthia hissed and turned around, heading off to one of the open doorways and disappearing beyond it.

  A brief silence befell the table before Minara spoke up again. "Many people's lives were changed ten years ago," said Minara. Her hands came up and clasped together as she rested her chin against them and stared at the grimoire. "For some, it was from Lord Karnith's actions. For others, it was the mysterious events that befell Trillin. There is some speculation that the two events are connected, but so far, no theories have been made. The disaster and disappearance of Trillin's populace preceded Karnith obtaining the power of the spectres." She sighed and leaned back in her chair again. She looked across the four new arrivals. "I take it you all saw the shadow of the nameless earlier?"

  "You mean the thing in the sky?" asked Chaxin.

  Minara nodded. "It has come several times," she said. "It has never breached the clouds, and so we've never laid eyes upon it. It may not be a nameless, but very few entities can move through the Graymos and are of such a massive size. We have no idea what it wants, if it even wants anything. It's almost impossible to understand the desires or thoughts of the nameless. They're essentially gods. Or at least, what passes for gods here in the Graymos."

  "Indeed," Verun whispered, his eyes having opened, but his gaze was still on the table.

  Chaxin wasn't sure what to think of these 'nameless' creatures. He'd seen the spectres, and he knew what Lord Karnith was capable of. That was all he could set his sights on. "I came here to find anyone who might be looking to take the fight to Karnith and put a stop to him," said Chaxin. "From what Nessa told me, Grittin sounds as though it is no longer a city but a massive fortress. I'm sure there's no army that could march on a place like that, but what if it was a much smaller group? A group that could sneak in somehow and kill him, along with Daxar?"

  Minara's lips slowly curled. "It's that very reason that we were so paranoid of your arrival. Because you see, we've already prepared for such a strike. We've been preparing for the better part of a year, gathering soul crystals, leveling up, and finding members who could possibly undertake this mission. We're the only hope of bringing Karnith down. And we're striking tomorrow."

  Chapter 29: Drink

  Chaxin and Verun had been left to themselves at the table. Verun had shifted around to the other side so he could properly face Chaxin. It didn't take long for the older man to speak up. "Looks like you got what you wanted."

  Chaxin's fingers fidgeted, his thumbs brushing over each other again and again, slowly.

  "Yeah," he murmured.

  "We don't know anything about her plan yet," said Verun. "I just wonder if it can be done. These individuals, Daxar and Karnith. They're certainly very powerful. Based on what Nessa told us of their ability to control their armies, it should go without saying that they must also have many powerful underlings beneath them. Having plundered other spheres, I imagine they've acquired quite a few items that have help their war efforts. Who knows what they've gained access to."

  "I never suspected that it'd be easy," said Chaxin, who slowly looked up to Verun.

  Across the room, Nessa and Tamos sat opposite each other at another table, wh
ere they spoke to one of the subordinates who’d been with Minara.

  "Not everyone is joining this fight," Chaxin continued. "Nessa and Tamos aren't coming. You can stay here as well, out of harm's way. If we don't return, then you can set sail with Nessa and be rid of this place, and me."

  Verun sighed and crossed his arms against his chest. He shook his head. "I can only imagine that my… admittances earlier have put doubt in your mind as to my loyalties and potentially even my character and… maybe even my sanity."

  "I saw quite clearly what you did in Purgatory," said Chaxin. "But what choice did you have? We would've been killed. So I agree with the actions you took, despite my misgivings at the time. However, I saw how you acted in Trillin… but after what Nessa told us about those mimics, I think that even your somewhat crazed state was warranted then. I saw how you acted when that nameless appeared above the clouds, I just didn't know why you acted as you did. But I have some idea now. There's far more to you than what I even suspected. So yeah, there's definitely some… doubt, but I don't see you as an enemy. Despite what any of this… delirium means."

  "I appreciate the sentiment," said Verun. "Truly, I wish none of you any harm. There is much that isn't understood of the Graymos, and it seems as though Minara, and to some extent Cynthia, both know what I’ve delved in."

  "And you still can't say anything about what you know, as far as Trillin is concerned?" Chaxin asked. "Do you think they won't believe you? Do you think they will misinterpret what you know?"

  Verun shook his head again. "Partly, but not exactly. As I've stated several times, I do not wish to go down this line of inquiry. I can't go into detail why. Just know that I can't, and I won't."

  "Fair enough," said Chaxin. "So, what's it going to be for you? Stay here, or come with us to Grittin? Minara said she could use anyone she could trust. And she said you mostly passed her questioning. But she obviously holds misgivings towards you. As does Cynthia, perhaps to a greater extent. As do many people, I imagine."

  Verun smiled just a little and looked up at Chaxin. "I’ve lived a solitary life. The few individuals that I've had continued contact with have all been part of the mitigators. I have no way of knowing if any of them still live. I'm sure that some have managed to evade Grittin's agents, but I fear that many have been incorporated into the Grittin army. If we go to Grittin, we may very well be up against numerous powerful individuals, some of whom I may be familiar with. But I suppose that's true for many of the people around us as well. You see, we view Grittin's army as forced conscripts, but what if those people are happy with how things are now? You haven't been here long. You've existed for a mere handful of days, when most have been around for years upon years. Much of the populace of Wake, and I'm sure, of many spheres, have endured the rigors of survival against monsters. But what if you were surrounded by a powerful army? You wouldn't have to fight monsters alone, or with just a couple other adventurers. You'd be with the most outfitted soldiers imaginable. So I fear that to some extent, any toppling of this empire that Karnith has created might be more difficult than we can imagine. But I suppose I got ahead of myself there. You asked my decision." Verun took a moment to breathe before speaking again. "I will come with you. There is a potential treasure trove of knowledge in Grittin. Multiple worlds worth of plunder, surely. I wouldn't mind getting a glimpse of it. I'm also curious to know the specifics behind how Karnith is able to cross the distance between worlds."

  "Karnith built his empire on murdering other humans," said Chaxin. "He's killed or has led to the deaths of many. Even if he's gained an edge on fighting monsters, what happens when he comes across a group of people on another world that have something he wants? He's just going to kill them. He's going to force his army upon them and there will be more and more killing, until only the humans under his rule are left alive. He has to be stopped."

  "Then for better or worse, we shall both endeavor towards that," said Verun, managing a half smile.

  Chaxin's lips parted to speak, but before he could utter a word, six tankards of ale clunked down on the table in front of them.

  "You two look like ya need a drink," came a woman's voice.

  Chaxin and Verun both found themselves wide-eyed, looking up at the new arrival.

  "Never seen either of you around here. I imagine you passed our initiation, else you wouldn't still be here," she said. She shifted to the side and sat beside Verun, but allowed a few inches of space between them. She then began sorting the flagons of ale until each of them had two in front of them. "Now drink up! Might be the last chance you get."

  "Um, alright," Chaxin said, as he reached out for a mug, looking over to the new arrival who'd just helped herself to a seat with them. "Do we need to pay for these?" he asked, as he reached down and slid his hand into his pocket. He wasn't sure how valuable the ale was, or how currency really worked.

  "Naw naw, just drink up!" the woman said.

  "Oh, thank you," said Chaxin, as his fingers felt around in his pocket. The silver coin from Trillin wasn't there. Had he left it in the other pair of pants on the ship? Perhaps he dropped it in the scuffle in the abandoned village.

  He pulled his hand from his pocket and looked up at the woman. She had tied-back red hair and freckles dotting her face. He couldn't help but feel as though she looked a lot like Deloris. Perhaps because he hadn't seen many women with deep red hair. Her voice wasn't as deep as Deloris's was, but she was muscled, much as he envisioned Deloris to be, despite the fact that he never saw Deloris out of her armor. The woman seated across from him had on a pair of brown pants and a long black tunic. Her fingers were calloused, as if she was used to manual labor.

  "I'm Chaxin," he offered. "And this is Verun. We just arrived, and it looks like we're joining the… um," he trailed off, at a loss for words.

  "The rebellion?" the woman asked. "The resistance? The hooligans looking to overthrow Karnith? We dreary few?"

  "Yes, you all," Chaxin confirmed.

  "I'm sure we're glad to have you with us. Whoever…" The woman blinked several times, as if something had suddenly occurred to her. "What you say your name was again?"

  "It's Chaxin," he said again. "Why do you ask?"

  "Chaxin… Chaxin," the woman muttered. "I know I've heard that before."

  "What's your name?" Chaxin asked, unsure how to proceed with the woman muttering his name a few times.

  "It's Senna," the woman responded, before reaching out and grabbing one of the tankards of ale in front of her. She brought it to her lips and took a few gulps.

  "Pleasure to meet you, and thanks for the drinks," Verun stated as he reached for the closest tankard of ale and tentatively brought it up to his lips. It wasn't as bitey as he'd imagined it to be, but it certainly wasn't his preference.

  "Of course!" Senna said as she lowered her mug and nudged Verun's shoulder with her own. But her attention seemed to be on Chaxin. "And if you two make it back, we can have more drinks! I do hope some of ya make it back after tomorrow. You two are going, aren't you?"

  "Yes, we are," said Chaxin. "Are you not?"

  Senna frowned and shook her head. "Nah, not me," she said and smirked. "I'm a bit of a crafter. Not really the fighting type. My mum was a fighter. Best fighter you'd ever seen, but I guess I always wanted to stay back and build things. You know? Can't go off fighting battles when you don't have gear and a place to stay, right? So that's what I do. I build, I craft, I repair."

  "There was a woman on Nessa's ship that crafted. She made much of the gear I have on, as far as the leather components are concerned," said Chaxin as Senna glanced him over.

  "I was noticing that when I came over," said Senna. "I do a bit of everything when it comes to crafting. Metal, leather, cloth, even construction. I built a good deal of the rooms here beneath the town hall. Say, have you been here before?" she asked, looking at Chaxin. "Have we met?"

  "No, we haven't. Not to my knowledge, anyway," said Chaxin. "I haven't been, uh, alive? For long. A matter
of days, really. And I don't recall ever meeting you." It was only then that he reached out with both hands to pick up one of the tankards of ale.

  "No matter," said Senna with a shrug.

  Chaxin tasted the drink. It was much weaker than what he remembered having in Kamber before. It was as if it had been watered down, or at least had far less potency to it. As he brought the tankard down, he looked to Senna again. "By chance, are you related to a woman by the name of Deloris? When I look at you, I can't help but be reminded of her."

  "She was me mum," said Senna. At that admittance, her gaze fell to her own drink.

  "Really?" asked Chaxin. "You're Deloris's… daughter? But how does that work?"

  Senna glanced up and lifted a brow at Chaxin. "You're asking how babies are made?"

  Chaxin blinked and shook his head. "No no, I mean I thought everyone arrived by the mausoleums? Some people were born here, then?"

  Senna nodded. "That's right. I was born here on Wake. You knew my mum, then?"

  "Briefly," said Chaxin. "She and two others saved me when I first arrived, during a merfolk attack here in Kamber. I was killed when we went to Grittin and met with Karnith."

  "Chaxin!" Senna blurted out, and snapped her fingers. "That's who you are!"

  Chaxin stared at Senna, unsure how to respond. They'd just discussed his name! "Yes?" he murmured, confused.

  "I remember now," said Senna. "Yes, she spoke of you a few times. That was sort of the beginning of it all, wasn't it?" she said with a shake of her head. She brought the mug of ale up to her lips but then stopped. "Wait, aren't you dead?"

  Chaxin looked to Verun. "We… managed to escape. Purgatory, that is."

  "Oh wow, impressive," said Senna. "If you're young, you have a chance of getting out, I hear," said Senna. "She managed it once… you know. But I don't think she's coming back this time. When you reach a certain age, things begin to take a toll on your soul and body. Strong as she was, she pushed herself too hard. That damn armor. I wish I'd never made it! But I guess the armor's not to blame. I shoulda known when she asked me to make it back then."