by Owen Elgie
She continued speaking without showing any further emotion, again in the more modern words of today’s societies.
“The Stone was housed in a maze of wonders.” Andrea and I looked on waiting for the follow up description but nothing was forthcoming. The Elder kept the same neutral expression on her face all of the time, showing nothing of any understanding she may or may not have.
“It was kept safe but in plain sight. It was part of the great private art collection of Bress Tal.”
“Who?”
“Where, you fool.” The Elder must have already known at least some of the details judging by that reaction.
The Messenger continued to hold the same expression despite another outburst from the floor. She made no sound but cast her hand out before her, causing the surface of the giant table we sat at to glow and buck. In seconds, a miniature city had grown from the wood to form a visual representation of what was being discussed.
“Bress Tal was an ancient seat of learning and antiquity in the long days before the total rise of mankind. Races of the wide Southern Empire kept everything of their wealth and knowledge in a shared city of wonders. People would come from all over the worlds to witness the wonders of the artwork, the knowledge held in the scrolls, the music, and the architecture.”
The miniature city rotated as she spoke, highlighting specific images and creating stunning enchanted wood depictions of those wonders, all infused with a subtle yellow glow of animating power.
“There were objects of amazing power and unrivalled beauty in the collection, of which the Drake Stone was just one. The city was surrounded by walls of stone over a hundred feet high and half that thick to protect what was inside. The city was a beacon of harmony and was curated by only the wisest and most revered members of the races who made up the Empire, but above all things, it was a place of learning, meditation and peace.”
Giant magical walls reared up around the edges of the miniature as she described them before folding back on themselves to hold the image of a beautifully smooth stone. I could only assume it to be The Drake Stone.
She took a breath and waited in the silence before she continued her history lesson. I swear it was just to create tension.
“When the war rose up between The Circle and The Hive, it was decided that it would be safer for the collection to be moved from Bress Tal to prevent it being destroyed or perverted. The Circle were able to divide the works into much smaller groups and have them spirited from the city before the enemy came for them. The majority of the artifacts were removed before the city fell but almost a quarter of what was held in the city was either destroyed or taken by The Hive when they over-ran the walls.”
She took another breath, but this time there was no hint of there being a staged pause. This time the beat of recollection carried a much stronger air of reverence. When she started again, there was a new ring to her tone, that of resolution. It almost sounded personal.
“It was deemed by The Circle that to hold every artifact, artwork and weapon in one location would be unwise in the path of the oncoming conflict so everything was divided to allow us to protect the collection but also to prevent there being any possible way that The Hive would be able to acquire everything together in the future.”
“What’s so important about the Drake Stone? I read what was written on my scroll but that was pretty sparing with the details. Is there anything else we need to know about it? It’s power? Other uses?” I could feel Andrea looking at me as I spoke and, maybe it was just wishful thinking, I could recognize an expression of appreciation. That was obviously the right thing to ask The Messenger. She, in turn, cocked her head slightly to one side before she spoke and her vision disappeared into the middle distance, her losing focus as her mind searching for the details.
“The stone was ancient even before the oldest races of this world were young. It was discovered by a Tromin party as the earth cracked apart as the lands shifted. I believe that you will have known of this occurrence as the continents breaking and moving apart.” Another attempt to put the situation into words I could understand. “They witnessed a chasm open under the weight of the changing planet and found the Drake Stone, perfectly smooth and finished, within the rocky heart of the land they travelled over.“ I could feel a slight pull in my chest at the mention of the Tromin race. Lloyd had come from their line and I still missed his counsel.
“The Tromin had no idea what they had discovered but they recognized it as something of great value. It was taken with them wherever they travelled, passed down through their families until the earliest civilizations grew up. It was eventually taken to Bress Tal to be studied and it was there that the discovery was made of its ability to store the energy of the Guardian.”
“Lady Messenger. Is that it's only power? Is it able to do anything else? Can it be used in any other ways?” The Elder spoke with a level of deference in her voice, no doubt aware that The Messenger was incredibly powerful so not someone to insult, but she was thirsty for knowledge.
The Messenger faced The Elder and cocked her head to the other side this time, again letting her mind wander her memories in search of the required details.
“The Stone is thought to have the power to focus and store power. It is believed that this ability comes from the properties of the stones crystal constituents rather any form of magical involvement but there has been no conclusive study done on this point. When The Mage discovered how he could store the power of a Dragon within the stone for a time, other uses and strengths of the stone were never found as study was stopped and it was dubbed The Drake Stone from that point on. Does this answer your question Elder?”
Our Chinese Guardian nodded her head curtly and there was no more said on the point. The Elder looked as if there were still questions she had that remained unanswered but she made no further attempt to push the point.
After a dragging heartbeat, Andrea was the next person to speak.
“Lady Messenger. Why did The Mage stop all study on the power and potential uses of the stone when he discovered the abilities to store a Guardians power?”
I flashed her my own expression of appreciation at her line of query. She wanted to know what I did. Why would you just stop when you could have been on the cusp of so much more? It really did look like we had both been having an effect on the thought processes of the other.
The Messenger regarded Andrea with a casual indifference and cocked her head again, delving back into the details she had stored in her mind.
“There were no details ever stored on the reasoning of The Mage. As leader of our order, he has made decisions for the whole population of this planet. There must only be the one conclusion drawn for all of The Mages actions. He saw that our cause would be advanced by the cessation of study and further comment would be superfluous.”
Now that was an interesting answer.
“Does this answer your question Miss Thomich?”
Andrea nodded her answer but it was clear for me to see that despite her submissiveness, she was far from content with the answer.
“All this is good to know so far but that doesn’t really advance us a huge amount. We’re still no closer to working out where the stone is.” We needed to get back on track.
“I think it may be a good idea that we examine the site the stone was taken from, see if we can find some clues or pointers as to the who’s and why’s of this whole situation. Agreed?”
The three ladies all looked at me in silence but each wore a very different expression. Andrea seemed to be the only one who was reacting like I’d just had a good idea. The Elder still looked like she was barely keeping her desire to have my flayed alive under control and The Messenger just looked at me with nothing showing on her stark features.
“That would be an appropriate place to begin.” The Messenger gave a small bow and the decision was made.
“Excellent. Where have we got to go and dust for prints?” A little positivity leaked out as someone agree
d with me openly. No-one got the reference.
Try again.
“Where was the Drake Stone held?”
Again, The Messenger delved inside herself to retrieve the details.
“The Drake Stone was hidden in the fraction of the collection saved from Bress Tal which has been watched over by one of our very Guardians. It was held in The Circle Mansion in Argentina.”
22
We all moved very quickly.
The Elder, Andrea and I told The Messenger to wait where she was for the next twenty minutes while we put our forces together in preparation and we would meet her on the steps at the front of the house ready to depart. She just had her own honour guard of giant warriors and I somehow doubted that they’d be anything less than at the highest alert. She agreed with nothing further added and, nodding tightly, simply disappeared, concealed under her impenetrable shroud. She’d said she was going to stay there but there was no way of knowing if she was going to.
The twenty minutes passed in roughly six amidst a flurry of hurried activity and rushing about. Mike and Mark screamed around the mansion pulling together the people that we would need should there be a sudden call for an armed response while Andrea and The Elder headed to the rooms we had billeted their people in readiness.
As they pulled the people together, I waited in the reception of the mansion, doing my best to look regal and as if I was thoroughly in control of what was going on around me. Looking around as people busied themselves around me, I was joined by Leatherpants who sidled up and stood next to me, still clad in his magical skin suit and finery. Always classy.
“My lord. Are you having trouble assembling your force? I would be most willing to offer you my services as a facilitator to expedite the gathering of the people you seem unable to pull together.”
He spoke looking at the activity before him. As he finished though, he leant forward in a bow of sorts and eased himself into my field of vision. I had been doing my best to ignore him but he was determined to elicit some kind of response.
Deep breath Anthony. Keep calm.
“Thank you Mr. Ward, but I think that we will be fine without your help.” I kept my eyes focused resolutely ahead, picking out the details of the turned wood in the staircase rather than looking at him. He didn’t leave it there.
“Lord Guardian. Is there anything else I could offer you to be able to help the mission get underway? It does seem, to a lowly functionary such as myself, that you are experiencing problems. I am, of course, only judging you against the standards that The Elder sets of me and that I then set of my people. I am more than willing to offer my considerable experience to help order your staff. I have been involved in the activities of The Circle for a great deal longer than you after all.”
Again he leant forwards and practically dared me to look him in the eyes. He was starting to get under my skin.
Deep breath again.
It didn’t work. I’d just had enough of him wanting to prove how great he was. He needed to be put in his place.
“Your help would be wonderfully received, thank you.” Leatherpants could barely hide his smugness at the apparent tacit agreement that he was more able than me. Ahead of us Mike was marching with a rod straight back and a determined expression on his face. He was ready.
I continued to Leatherpants as Mike stood before us both.
“Will you please go and get my black leather coat from the cupboard in the main hall? It would appear that my staff have forgotten it.”
I’ll give him credit, he didn’t show anywhere near the level of anger I would have if our positions had been reversed. He did though, harrumph and stride away on his mission grumbling as he went. Probably didn’t help that I was already wearing another jacket.
Mike smiled ever so slightly.
“You’ve got to be careful of him. He carries a great deal of power within The Circle. Don’t just antagonize him, you may need him soon.”
“I know, I know. It’s childish and I should be above such things but he needs to be reminded of his station. I will not have someone like him thinking he can push me around. I will keep him in his place.”
Mike frowned and nodded slightly, “As you wish my lord.”
That hurt.
An awkward silence fell between us and I couldn’t look him in the eye. I’d just done exactly what I had been straining against from the first day in the fight. I’d thrown my weight around and there hadn’t really been any cause for it. If I’d used my position of power to change some great injustice or defend someone weaker than myself I could at least defend my actions as being for the good of one or many. What I’d just done was make fun of someone who, despite being a world class knob about it, was only trying to help. I’d probably just antagonized him even further so he’d probably just take it out on the people below him. Excellent work Anthony. The hot head of the Fire Dragon doing something that seems like a good idea at the time which will do nothing but hurt people around you.
“Look …” I started to apologise but Mike spoke first.
“Come on bach. I know what you meant.” A broad grin creased his face as he slapped me too hard on the arm. “If I was in your shoes I’d have done worse to him by now.”
I didn’t add anything. I didn’t need to. I just smiled back at him, relieved that I hadn’t broken something between us. It was at that moment that Leatherpants re-joined us, my leather jacket casually slung over his arm. Our smiles faded back to the blanks of all business.
“Was this what you required my Lord?” His tone was back to his syrupy servile best as he proffered my jacket. Any anger or frustration had been utterly smoothed over.
I reached out and lifted the jacket from him to give it a cursory look before discarding it (in as respectful a manner as I could, Mikes words still ringing in my ears) but got no further than taking it from Leatherpants.
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Both of the sleeves remained on his arm, both severed from the jacket as a whole. Whatever he’d used to make the cut hadn’t been that sharp judging by the ragged ends.
Leatherpants and I just stared at each other.
“Is your jacket to your liking my Lord?” That sticky voice of his was pouring all over me, threatening to swamp me in saccharine deference.
I could feel from Mike next to me and, despite his best efforts, from Leatherpants as well, the subtle fear of anticipation. Both knew that the Fire Dragon would behave in a very set fashion after such a slap in the face so they were readying themselves for the inevitable.
“HA! Fair enough.” You had to admire what he was risking. Standing up to a much more powerful adversary who was pushing weaker people about. It was so easy to become the bully. Somehow, I’d found myself on the wrong side of the equation.
Mikes words were truly still in my mind as I responded. I’d given him a dressing down before my ‘staff’ despite his elevated position within this group and he’d just repaid the favour. He wasn’t at my level in the hierarchy of The Circle but he was as close as anyone could be without them being an actual Guardian and he’d pushed back.
Mike was right. I needed to keep him on side despite my dislike of him. That and I had to treat everyone like the human being they were. I’d been happy to talk the talk, now I was being put into a position to walk the walk.
Mike and Leatherpants flicked glances back and forth between themselves and me, both uncertain what my reaction could ultimately mean.
“Touché. Come on then team, let’s get amongst it.” I grabbed all of the ruined coat and threw it at the nearest wall before slapping Leatherpants on the arm, more than just a bit too hard, and made my way out of the main door.
Outside, everyone was gathered ready to fight. Each member of the task force who had been brought together were armed to the teeth with all manner of medieval weaponry and they all looked like they were standing on the edge of a very violent and potentially fatal battle.
Andrea stood with her group and was s
peaking quietly to a couple of her guards who were clad in what can only be described as an Elvish interpretation of the Snow Storm troopers uniform from The Empire Strikes Back. The armour was all white except for the small eye slits in the blank faced helms. Whereas the Empire had been very functional concerning their uniform, these looked as if they had been fashioned with the greatest of care in every detail. The most subtle of designs could just be seen on the various surfaces, none wishing to truly scream to be looked at but exquisite in their design none the less. Her whole guard looked ethereally beautiful, almost as if they were designed to be nothing more than works of art.
They weren’t the only armoured troops.
The troops who joined us from the estate in China all stood stiffly to attention in ordered lines. They wore a similar uniform to the Elder but they were far less ornate. I cast my eye over the assembled battalion and could pick out different designs and pictures on their armour which no doubt signified the different ranks within their army. Each had worn a helmet with the full face guard designed into the traditional demon design. As Andrea’s troops, the only feature of their faces that I was able to see was their eyes.
My soldiers were still to join the group. All I could do was just stare on and do my best to keep my mouth from dropping open. I had to cling to the knowledge that Mike had said everything was under control.
Each and every member of the guard who waited for the off was attired in a way that called back to a long past time when there was no mass production of materials. Each soldier’s uniform had been created with the future wearer in mind. Everything about the group was bespoke, I suspected, even down to the weapons.
Andrea though was able to outshine all of them.
She had finished speaking with her lieutenants and had turned to face me. When I’d last seen her she had been wearing a great deal of more modern tactical gear along with areas of more ‘olde worlde’ plate armour but she’d obviously been busy completing her dress since we had finished our meeting. She was now stood in what can only be called Angel Armour.