He wondered what kind of magic they had used that could have contained a wilder's magic. Did they treat her shackles like they did their armor? That could absorb her excess magic most likely.
While Sebastian considered the question, he could tell that Ashleen wasn't in the mood to think about such things.
Her hand left the warmth of the folds of her cloak to reach for his arm. Sebastian met her hand with his giving it a reassuring squeeze. They walked without really speaking until after they had returned to the inn.
Palose walked into the final chamber on his walk through the emperor's fortress. He had to leave his circle to their own devices as usual. Oween and Nalack were new to this part of his life, but it was too soon to send the newly resurrected wizards back to the front. Litsarin was a waste of his efforts at the moment anyway. Unless Kolban decided to commit more of his forces to breaking the enemy's hold on the last miles of the island that they held, it was going to end in a prolonged stalemate.
Such a wait was likely better for Sileoth and Southwall than for Ensolus. They could continue to call on their allies while the emperor only had so many soldiers and monsters that he could field. What had seemed like an inexhaustible enemy while the mage had served Southwall; was notably finite from what he had seen.
It wasn't a note of weakness by any means. The emperor's mountain cities not only trained men and monsters for battle, the massive pits, as they were called, bred the monsters in chambers like those used to grow the replacement bodies for the emperor. He had no idea how many orcs, trolls, armored viles and the rest could be grown that way in addition to the fact that they could breed naturally as well.
From the smallest of his beasts, the goblins, to the largest like his armored viles; they lived in their own communities living lives very similar to those of the men and elves in his service. They had families and sent sons and daughters to the emperor to serve in his armies also.
It was a war machine unlike anything else Alus had known, but there were many nations and allies for Sileoth and Southwall that could be called upon. Soldiers, mages and wizards could multiply beyond what even the emperor's pits could keep up with. Still, that relied on men getting along and joining the rallying cry of their allies. Alliances could be tentative at best and such strains would test their loyalty to one another.
Ensolus wasn't perfect in its service either, of course. Warlocks and soldiers worked to elevate their rank many times over the backs of their fellows. That left men with ideas of revenge in their minds. Only the strength of the emperor and his magic forced those wills to bend to his. Kolban had even used his magic to bind his servants' wills once upon a time, but Palose was pretty sure that the child like vessel that had been used to hold him no longer held as many to him as he once did.
Kolban had chosen not just one vessel to hold his power as his old body continued to deteriorate, but three. His sister Acheri could have held his power as well as the male body. She was perfect in that way. The final vessel, Lanquer, was flawed. He was weaker and held the least of the old emperor's magic, but all of them derived from the original emperor. Kolban's siblings had the information and some of the memories from the original, but the old man held back some of what made him what he was. That was saved for Kolban as his true self.
Acheri and Lanquer had been evolving and becoming personalities that were nothing like the original emperor or the youth holding all of his memories. Palose knew all three and had met the aging emperor to know that these were not him, and yet they were.
While Kolban had given away some of his magical might, the Dark One had kept most for himself. Lanquer was flawed yet was likely only weaker than his siblings. There were powerful warlocks in Ensolus, but few rivaled the brother. Lanquer had been groomed to be the emperor's protector, a body guard; but Kolban had sent his brother to war on Litsarin.
Palose wasn't sure if it was a position of trust or if he had just wished to send him away.
If he was disappointed in Lanquer, the dark mage had never noticed. Kolban had attacked and drained his power from another flawed vessel, Garosh. He had left the giant to die in his fortress far to the south in the Dimple Mountains. Lanquer had stepped up letting Kolban distance himself from the man's death by killing him for his brother.
Garosh was like Lanquer's half brother, another vessel of the emperor's power; but he had failed not just from his inability to hold the emperor's consciousness and power. That flaw had been erased, but Palose often wondered if he hadn't somehow been drawn close by the siblings to replace that void.
Pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind, the dark mage steeled his face to a confident look that hid his insecurities. Strength was the best thing to show, especially when dealing with someone with the power of a god.
"Palose!" the young man's voice called him over to a set of plump chairs. Kolban looked relaxed as he set a book to the side. Whether the boy had actually been reading or simply wished to pretend that he had been, Palose was unlikely to ever know. Perhaps the emperor put the look on his face that best fit this situation as the dark mage had as well.
"Your majesty," he replied with a nod of his head. The dark mage hadn't been raised to the dramatic gestures used in court and luckily the emperor didn't seem to care. "You sent for me?"
"I did," Kolban nodded, but added, "but you took your time. You are usually more prompt in coming to visit when I send a message to your apartment... or should I still refer to it as Atrouseon's apartment?"
"It was left to me with his death, your majesty," Palose answered trying to be as polite as he could be while answering the emperor. The boy had been almost as loving towards him as for a brother, which hadn't been the greatest news for Garosh. That odd connection between them also extended to Acheri, who he feared was in love with him.
The old emperor had seemed to like him before he had split himself between the three vessels. Palose always wondered if that sentiment had crossed to the other two.
"Yes, you came out quite well after Atrouseon's sad death." Kolban's gray eyes pierced the mage, but his lips were turned up slightly in a bemused smile. The boy brushed at his light brown hair. He was dressed well enough, but could his clothing wasn't so rich looking that someone would automatically think of him as being an emperor. "The strange circumstances that led to his death were never ascertained. He was killed by magic, but it couldn't have been you. He sealed your resurrection with runes that would prevent you from harming him."
"Atrouseon had become a bit manic in the last month or so before his death," the mage said doing his best to show no guilt. Kolban had already decided that he was innocent from his words, but Palose wasn't completely sure that he felt that way. If he had to guess, it was more likely that the emperor was happy that he continued to survive more than he cared about the warlock who had created him. "It is possible that one of his enemies worked against him after he seemed to lose his way. After making vessels that could accept your power, he appeared to become lost in his direction. He was getting paranoid.
"I think maybe he was afraid that there was nothing more for him to do, since you were able to make the transfer."
Nodding at the argument, the boy gestured to the chair on his left. "Well, I didn't call you here for a talk about what is now past. You and I live, so why dwell on such mysteries."
After Palose sat, Kolban leaned forward appearing a bit eager, though the mage was unsure what he was eager for at the moment. "Palose, have you heard of the order known as seers or Visionaries?"
Wrinkling his brow in thought, the mage replied, "I believe that they were a group of men and women with the ability to see the future. Though if that was true, they did little to prepare for the Cataclysm or your arrival."
"So you think that they're ability to see the future was a lie?"
"Maybe at one time some of them could see the future; but by the time you brought your people here they must have lost that gift. Surely if the Visionaries were such great seers, they would have
found a way to save their selves and possibly stopped you in the first place.
"Of course, I mean no offense, my lord," the mage added fearing that might sound like he preferred that option too much.
"Stop acting like I am just your ruler, Palose. You can call be my name. It was almost like you were a god father witnessing my birth. That connects us deeper than just an emperor to one of his servants," Kolban said waving off the words that showed his fealty.
"Now back to what I was saying. Do you think that there are people with such a gift, you know the gift of future sight?"
"I suppose that it is possible. There are certainly a lot of kinds of magic, so I am sure that someone could have discovered that skill or ability using a spell."
"Oh no, Palose, a true seer is born to the magic, I believe. What is more, I think that you are wrong that they didn't prepare for my coming or the Cataclysm wrought on the North Sea.
"I think, that they gave the warning where they could, but knew that it was meant to be."
"I suppose that could be true also," Palose agreed nodding his head. The emperor allowed him to voice his opinions, but the mage always had to worry that someday Kolban wouldn't wish to hear him. That day would likely be his last or the beginning of a long painful imprisonment.
"Now what if I told you that I also had the gift?"
Palose felt like giving the wrong answer here was a trap, so he answered as best he could. "With your strength in magic, I could certainly believe that it was possible. Are you saying that you are a seer as well?"
Laughter escaped the boyish emperor and he rolled back into the embrace of the stuffed chair. "No, no, power in magic has little to do with who might have the gift. I am afraid that what little I may have isn't enough to always be heeded.
"I have seen that there are others who have this gift, however."
Palose was unsure why he was being told this. Believing that he would look more intelligent by waiting for people to fill in the blanks without him having to concede his confusion, the mage waited.
His silence was noted with some amusement by the emperor, but the boy before him acted like he did not and continued on with his musings. "My instincts say that you can find one in Southwall. Since you still have a few portals there, I want you to try looking in the cities that you have seeded and bring any seer that you feel might have the sight. Maybe try in one of the cities that has less unrest in it. I doubt that they would stay in a dangerous or misguided city without trying to guide it away from destruction, so it is likely that they would live where they feel safe.
"I have been wondering about the future. My instincts tell me that we are at a crossroads. Perhaps a little more information, especially if it came from a real soothsayer, might help settle me on my plans."
With a lengthy pause from Kolban, Palose started to rise; but the boy shook his head speaking once more. "This mission isn't the only reason that I have called you hear today."
The admission made the dark mage lean forward with interest. If Kolban was trusting him with another special mission, then he wasn't in trouble so he didn't have to fear. Now the question was, what other reason did the emperor have for bringing him here today?
"My sister Acheri obviously likes you as well. Maybe her attention is a little more than you might wish, but unless she grows out of it, we must deal with it."
These words caused the mage to frown slightly wondering if this was a warning. Whether it was to warn him about Acheri or warn him away was the first concern. If Kolban was suddenly acting the jealous younger brother, the second could be possible. Waiting for the explanation, Palose watched the brown haired youth in front of him as he reminded himself that this was actually a man of around one thousand years of life.
"Anyway, my small bit of magic that helps me see glimpses of the future says that I must prepare in case something should happen."
"But you're young and fit again," Palose retorted unable to contain his surprise. The words shouldn't have caused the mage to lose his control, but something behind them made the man worry. "What would make you worry about such a thing now?"
A wry smile flit across the emperor's lips as if he had won a point in a game or perhaps the game itself. As his smile slipped away once more, Kolban continued, "Health and age aren't always the reason one might have to worry for their future. I shouldn't have to tell someone like you, one who crossed over and returned from his own death, that anyone can die. Death isn't even the only thing that might make me need to prepare, Palose."
The mage nodded hearing the wisdom of centuries coming from this boyish face.
"My only concern that falls to you, is that you must promise to take Acheri away from here and protect her, should something happen to me."
If something happened to the emperor, Palose feared that he would have to escape as well. Bringing the spoiled, dangerous sister of the emperor with him might not be the best idea, however. He wanted to say no, but saying yes would be safer. The answer didn't actually have to be the truth of it, should that dark future come true.
Even so, it wasn't as hard for Palose to agree as he thought at first. He did have some affection for Acheri, but his biggest worry was that the princess would prove to him that she was as jealous as he believed. Though the mage had never been able to confirm it, he was certain that the princess had been the cause of Sylvaine's death. It had been a little too coincidental in timing and the deadly action was aimed at a girl that Acheri knew that he liked. If the princess didn't wish to share, but feared driving him away by killing her rival outright; then she might have used her political power to send the girl on a one way mission.
Sylvaine had been forced to hide her resurrection for that reason as well. Of course revealing that Palose could bring others back and had was the other main reason to keep his circle hidden from those who would notice the ties of necromancy on them.
"Would the princess even let me take her away from your side? I would think that she and Lanquer would stick by you no matter the situation. You were all breathed life from the same source after all."
"Don't worry. Acheri will follow you when you come. You will need a plan to steal her away and anyone else you deem necessary to protecting my sister," the boy added as if he knew that Palose's circle existed. Were he to flee Ensolus, he would take his people with him. The dark mage had always wondered if Kolban knew the truth of his circle despite their best attempts at secrecy.
"She will be hard to hide with her powerful magic aura, plus Acheri is quite beautiful. Men won't forget a face like hers, even if she looks young," Palose cautioned. He wasn't sure if he was giving excuses for another protector or if he was trying to work out how to hide the girl. "Shouldn't Lanquer be the one to take care of her without you?"
"Lanquer is my bodyguard, not my sister's. That is his fate and if my dreams are correct, he will have a different role to play."
Palose wondered what dreams Kolban had had that would drive him to bring up contingency plans that seemed frighteningly necessary from the emperor's beliefs.
Kolban stood and Palose followed his lead. After nearly a year since pulling this body from his birthing chamber, the emperor's new body had barely changed. He was still shorter than the mage and probably closer to Sylvaine's height if he had to guess. While physically smaller than the dark mage, Kolban could let slip the shields holding back his power. He could hide his aura to the point that most wizards had no idea of his true magical strength. When he released his aura, the entire city could feel it.
That power made Palose feel small in the face of the Dark One as his people had referred to the emperor for so long.
"All I need is your promise. If you do, I know that you will see to it in the end," Kolban stated demanding a pledge from the mage.
"Of course, your majesty," Palose said sounding more formal once again as this was the emperor asking him to swear an allegiance of sorts to him. "I promise to make sure Acheri stays safe and will start thinking of a place we could g
o. I have a feeling that none of the Dragon Spine Mountains will be safe."
The emperor shook his head. "Litsarin will likely be dangerous for her as well."
Palose didn't know enough of the world to know where else to begin, but if it was being left up to him for some reason, then the mage had to figure out where he could go. How they would get there was likely easy enough to decide. Portal magic was almost second nature to him in his casting now. He could use others' magic to draw him to them also. Perhaps the mage would have to send out messengers or members of his circle to achieve this mission.
There was little more to be said, when suddenly a girl burst into the room. She looked furious and her anger was pointed at her brother.
"Why are your men refusing to let me in to see, Palose, brother?" she yelled at the emperor fearlessly. Her power was significant, but it was still much less than the one who gave it to her. Acheri's aura made Lanquer's pale by comparison, yet the dark haired beauty's magic still was nothing compared to the inheritor of the emperor's full memories and most of his magical power.
"Good morning, sister," Kolban greeted with a bright smile. He didn't fear the girl who had been made from a fraction of the original emperor's psyche. "I had to threaten them with killing them and their families if they didn't slow you down as long as they could. I had something that needed to be said to Palose without you butting in for once."
Acheri looked furious, but more because she had failed to win this game. It was all a game to her. The princess had found members of the staff who would look out for Palose on his visits. It was a rare visit where she wouldn't interrupt their talks by showing up moments after he arrived. This conversation had been about her, so Kolban had taken precautions to prevent her interrupting them this time.
"Now he is leaving again. You know that I like to see my friend, brother. That isn't very nice," the pretty girl said changing from furious to pouting. Her lower lip stuck out slightly as she tried to work on her brother. She seemed to have Kolban wrapped around her little finger most of the time. Palose saw it as the emperor loving this amazing creation that was once a part of him, but had become so much more.
Battle Mage Visions (A Tale of Alus Book 12) Page 12