At first she was not sure whether there was a change or whether it was the mere distraction that made the oppressive cold seem to lessen. Soon the sensation was inescapable; her skin was alive with heat offsetting the coolness of the water. It was different this time, however, there was a balance between the water and the fire, a measure of control and balance and this was precisely what she needed.
A guard’s footsteps thumped on the stonework nearby; Caleigh ducked her head beneath the water listening to the sound grow louder and louder then, with an agonising lack of alacrity, recede into the distance. The test had been passed and sure enough, the room was too dark and the pool just about large and deep enough to keep her from view.
The fire skin spell wore off after a time yet in that time in had burned hot enough to keep the water around Caleigh’s skin nicely above tepid. Darkness had spread beyond the room into the whole complex, save perhaps for the great bath room, whose windows were so large that moon and starlight could still spare it from night’s deeper hues. Thus she emerged into the quiet lightly spreading her wet footprints in her exit. The strigil she had entered the plunge pool with had returned to its natural wand shape and was soon joined by another when she moved towards the east baths.
Rosamund nodded fell into step without a word and with no verbal exchange both changed course from the great bath upon hearing noises from the spring room. They paused by the doorway from the east baths that looked directly across the ways into the courtyard they had followed when being guided by Hera. Waist deep in the spring waters was the large guard Caleigh had seen earlier, stripped completely this time. He was holding a short pole working it about the bottom of the pool while all the while being careful not to step close to the centre from where the spring waters emerged. One by one he fished out trinkets left there over the course of the day by visitors wishing to gain the favour of the gods.
Caleigh and Rosamund were just about to leave him to it when Sister Agnes appeared from the temple courtyard. “Cease that, Rolf, it can wait. Go to the winery and see if you can find anyone who was in the great bath when the strangeness began. Bring them to the temple and we will question them there.” Rolf nodded, got out of the pool and marched right past the women without blinking an eye. They had little time to get over their near miss, back in the spring room there was new activity. A woman covered all over by hood shawl and robe staggered into sight from behind Sister Agnes.
“I will be gone for a time.” Spoke a creaky voice Caleigh recognised at once as belonging to the Oracle. “Say that I am resting and cannot be seen.”
“What if the pretty liar returns?”
“Keep her here and summon me in the usual way.”
“Can we rework the spells without you?”
“The girl can do it. Work her through the night if needs be. I know how your sisters here value the coin my magic brings. They will not ask questions.” The Oracle stepped up to the waters’ edge and walked right into the heart of the spring until she was completely submerged. Sister Agnes retreated to the temple courtyard and with a look to each other Caleigh and Rosamund crept out to examine the spring. Neither was surprised to see that there was no trace of the Oracle to be found.
“Rosamund, you need to find Vaughn and stop Agnes and Rolf somehow. That is the best chance I have of getting to the girl alone and our best chance of helping our friends. Ellie was there when I cast the spell. I don’t want Rolf to hear of that.”
“What will you say to the girl?”
“I know not yet it seems clear she is ill-treated here.” Rosamund sped off and Caleigh turned back in the direction of the east baths. Out of the water and walking on the cold floor gave her goose bumps. After this is over, she thought, I am going to cover myself with blankets night and day. While public nudity could be a thrill, wearing clothes certainly had its virtues.
In the darkness a lamplight shone out ahead of her. In reaction, Caleigh entered the nearest bathing pool as quietly as she could and prepared to duck under. The lamplight moved her way and showed the delicate face of the very serving girl she was searching for, emerging from a trapdoor in the floor. She came out bearing a laden basket as well as the lamp and laid both of these on the floor in locking the trapdoor behind her.
“Oh!” The serving girl exclaimed with a start seeing Caleigh relaxing against the edge of the pool. “I thought all the bathers had left. Unless...are you a new Sister here?”
“Forgive me, I must have fallen asleep unnoticed and now I find myself alone in the darkness.” The serving girl moved closer and crouched down at the pool side.
“I...I could show you back to the changing room but...Sister Agnes said...”
“You seem to be alone too, there’s no need to worry about what anyone else has said. Besides, you have brought light.” The serving girl smiled nervously. Caleigh subtly directed her charm at her and slowly she relaxed and settled onto her hip. “Since we are alone, come and join me in here so we can talk more easily.”
“I am not permitted.”
“By whom?”
“By anyone.”
“Not true, I permit it. Indeed, I insist upon it.” Caleigh’s smile added to her spell made for an irresistible combination, especially for one so unused to kindness. The girl stripped off shyly, awkwardly revealing a slender and undernourished frame. She looked over at Caleigh and noticing her full, voluptuous body, withdrew slightly. Caleigh took her hand before she could retreat. “It is much warmer in here.” The girl relented and shuffled off her dress to drop into the water.
“If Sister Agnes sees me...”
“Then she will see me too and I will take the trouble for us both.” Caleigh soothed. “What is your name?”
“Rhiannon.”
“My name is Caleigh. How do you come to be here, Rhiannon?”
“The oracle noticed me when I visited the temple four years ago. She said I had talent and the Sisters took care of me from then.” Caleigh brushed Rhiannon’s bruised cheek.
“Care, such as this?”
“I...I serve them...”
“Can I tell you a secret, Rhiannon?”
“Yes.”
“I know you have talent. I came here to find you because of your talent. You see, I have talent too and I have come with companions who have talent also. We all come from a place where talented people are welcomed and protected: not beaten and abused. You can come there with me. We can leave tonight, if you want.”
“I...but if Sister Agnes...or the Oracle. The Oracle is talented, far more so than I am. My talent is only for potions. She has power far beyond me, she can kill! I would not dare go against her.”
“Then I dare for you. Today the oracle tried to bend my thoughts and I did not let her. I resisted and I am scarcely a novice. The friends I came with have more power than I and in Elevered we have friends your oracle would not dare to face. Come with me and we will all stand between you and her.”
“I...I like the sound of what you describe but...they will not let me leave just like that. They need me. The oracle cannot prepare everything alone. Without me they would not be able...”
“To charm people unwitting? To bewitch people for their coin? Is this how you want to use your talent?”
“No but...Sister Agnes, will be looking for me. You should go, mayhap we can talk anon.”
“Rhiannon, tonight the Oracle has departed and cannot know what is afoot. If I know my friends, Sister Agnes will not get near you. Tonight you are free.” Caleigh drew Rhiannon out into the centre of the pool. “Have you ever paddled free?” Rhiannon shook her head. “Now you can.” The serving girl smiled and let herself stretch out on the surface of the water then turned for a few strokes one way then the other.
Their playful paddle was brought to an end at last by a fearful shadow moving about the edge of the room. Where all had been in half-light; one corner stood in complete darkness. Caleigh moved to the steps and guided Rhiannon behind her back, holding out her wand in anticipation. T
he shadow withdrew and in its place stood Vaughn and Rosamund, the latter holding Caleigh’s dress. “Forgive us the intrusion but the winery is near closing and once it does our going might be more noted.” Vaughn explained. “I’ll give you some privacy.” He said turning his back on them and sauntering over to the doorway. Caleigh and Rhiannon stepped out of the water,
“Worry not; we are ready to leave, are we not?” She put to Rhiannon.
“What about Sister Agnes and Rolf?”
“They will be most annoyed when they wake in the morn. Better not to be here when they do.” Vaughn informed.
“Will you trust us?” Caleigh asked and then with a smile ran her wand along Rhiannon’s arm. The sheen of water that covered her body and Caleigh’s turned to steam where they stood leaving both of them dry enough to dress without concern. All the while Caleigh watched her, reading in her the fear of reprisal and the fear of the unknown. Even an unhappy certainty could often feel more attractive than an uncertainty. She knew that if she used her powers to full effect she could easily compel the girl to come. From a sense of right she could justify this. Overriding her fears now for a better future would be in her best interest. Nonetheless, this was something she would not do. She would charm, entice and encourage for all she might. To give heart was one thing: to forcibly change it was quite another. Rhiannon finished adjusting her dress and turned to Caleigh.
“I hardly know you and have little reason to trust you save that you have shown me more kindness tonight than I have ever felt here. I have seen a glimpse of a good heart and that seems better to me than knowing all of a bad one.” Caleigh kissed her on the cheek.
“I hope I can prove worthy such kind words.”
23. The Trail of the Dead
A miniature image of Sister Agnes went about the corridors of the bath house of Minerva, turning this way and that in confusion. As much as Caleigh tried to picture her she could not summon a like image of the Oracle. “Will they come after Rhiannon?”
“I think not.” Tovrik answered. “Even if they know whence she went the name Elevered holds some power. They will know she is under our protection now.” There was something weary in his tone and it did not go unnoticed.
“Something troubles you about this? Did I err?”
“No far from it. I think you did remarkably well and, what is more, you did right. I am troubled by this crone who calls herself an oracle. I fear what would have happened had you confronted her directly.”
“Is she very powerful?”
“That depends on what you mean by that. From all you have told me of your encounter with her I would guess she has far less talent than you. On the other hand, she is old and has had many years to hone her craft. As long as a wizard has a grip on their mind they will continue to gain in power, assuming they continue to study and practice their art.”
“Do you know who this crone is?”
“I know not her name or her history. I strongly suspect she is a member of the Coven.” Tovrik sighed.
“What is wrong?”
“We have reached a point where we seem to be following in the trail of the dead. The fall of the Kingdom still touches everything we do.”
“Then it is time I knew how that story ended, I think. Why did the Kingdom fail?” Tovrik thought long before giving replying.
“The short answer would be that men grew to love things more than the Kingdom itself, for Albion it was Gwenythar, for the knightly orders it was the Vessel of Life and their sense of honour and for the nobles it was personal ambition.”
“They said at the temple of Minerva that the Vessel of Life was first filled from their spring, yet in my vision it seemed rather that the Vessel was emptied into the spring.”
“The Vessel of Life was created by Loreliath and Argahan to heal the western lands after the great cataclysm that ended with the fall of Xyraxis. The waters of the vessel come direct from the otherworld. What you saw is more likely true than the priestesses’ version. Loreliath and Argahan may well have purified the spring waters there. The legends of the spring were told long before the Senatians built Minerva there. It was for that very reason that they did so. After Argahan betrayed Loreliath he kept the vessel to himself for many hundreds of years until he gifted to the Danarians as a reward for their loyalty. No doubt, possession of this artefact aided the Danarians in maintaining their independence from the Senatian Empire. Argahan must have been furious when they surrendered it to Albion.
If you remember our last talk on this I said this was the high point of the Kingdom and thus it was. The greater part of all the Western Lands were united by conscience and for a time there was peace unknown afore. Best of all, we had the Vessel of Life to drive ailments and harm from our people. The knightly orders took protection of the Vessel to heart, particularly the Knights of the Blessed Maiden, to such an extent that a new order was created solely to protect the Vessel as it went about the Kingdom doing its work.
When war returned to our lands, it was not to the Kingdom of Albion but to our allies to the north, the kin of our Queen Gwenythar. So Albion went with only his personal retinue to protect them. While Albion was away in the north there was an outbreak of plague in the southern provinces. Without the King to authorise it, the knightly orders refused to send the Vessel south to heal the damage done. Protesters came to the temple of the Vesselars, or so the protectors of the Vessel were known, in Lakehaven. Angry and desperate the mob was close to bloodshed when Ranevark came before them. As you know, Ranevark was a great Enchanter and his words and charm was enough to placate the protesters and hold them at bay for a day. That night assassins struck at Ranevark’s home and, powerful and sharp of mind as he was, they murdered him.”
“Were these assassins with the protesters?”
“No. Assassins of that kind only ever serve the Society of Shadows.”
“Who are they?”
“You remember time ago I mentioned that there are some who desire the rise of the Beast. Such are they. Even today little is known of how their society operates or by whom they are supported. Yet of all our enemies they are the most effective wizard slayers.” A memory of an earlier vision was triggered in Caleigh’s mind.
“They used to serve Xyraxis.” The black clad figures striking from the darkness and butchering a group of wizards played before her mind’s eye. “Warriors fared better against them than the wizards”
“There are times when a strong arm can outdo a brilliant mind. Ranevark fared as well as any wizard might. There were traces of perhaps a dozen slain attackers. He fought well.” Tovrik wandered over to the standing map and drew the focus towards the great city of Lakehaven. On the god’s eye a vast scattering of buildings appeared either side of a broad crossing. At either end of the lake the cliffs rose high allowing for bridging points. Otherwise, one side or another was reached by one of the numerous ferries and ships speckled across the water. “Without Ranevark there to reason with them the protesters were stirred into violent revolt. Again, I believe this was the work of the Society of Shadows. In the confusion the Vesselars guarding the treasure were slain and the Vessel of Life was stolen.”
“Why do you say this was the work of the Society of Shadows when the protesters were so desperate? Could they not have murdered the guards?”
“I have no doubt they dressed as the protesters but those who murdered those guards did so with a precision rarely found from angry mobs. In any case the Vessel of Life was swiftly spirited deep into the southern provinces to heal the damage wrought there. Mayhap they were better served by the plague than by this act for as soon as word of the deed was known all the knightly orders of Helmgard declared war on the thieves and fell upon the southern provinces with great fury in their attempt to regain what was lost. They slew where they went and each time they drew near the Vessel was moved on, always out of reach until all the southern provinces had felt their vengeful sword to no end.”
“Why did Albion not stop this?”
�
��Albion was, at the time, far in the north laid low with sickness. By the time any news even came by his ears much blood had already been spilt. More was to come too. Bare weeks had passed since the fall of Ranevark when the news was heard that Benifran had been killed too, trying to maintain peace with the Danarians. Perhaps this was Argahan’s revenge and he could not have chosen a better time for it. All the knightly orders were away to the south, Albion was stuck in the north and it was left to the nobles of the land to fight off a new Danarian invasion without the support on which they had come to depend. Then it was that a rumour reached Helmgard that Albion had passed. The nobles panicked and a young, ambitious one of their number named Benoc convinced the others the Kingdom could only survive if it united around a new King, himself. He acted swiftly and imprisoned Gwenythar and attempted to do likewise with her children. Sadly, Gwenythar did not know that Caerddyn had saved her children and taken them here, to Elevered. In her ignorance she agreed to wed Benoc on condition that he vowed to spare them.”
“Albion knew nothing of this.”
“Alas no, he was not idle however and while the nobles fought to defend Helmgard from the Danarians, Albion came upon their rearguard, severing lines of supply and burning their ships so that no more could come. If he had come through Elevered much might have been saved. Instead he hastened to meet his noble allies. Realising he was doomed if ever word of Albion’s return reached Helmgard, Benoc went to his King in pretence of greeting only to ambush him the moment he made camp. This ill turn was complete in its failure. Albion though mortally wounded, managed to escape with a company of his trusted knights and with them went word of all that had happened.”
“So people found out about Benoc’s treachery? What of Albion, did he die there?”
“Yes to both. Albion had his body sent downstream to Lake Nimenorn where first he had perceived Loreliath. So passed the greatest of us; our greatest hope and our greatest loss, worth more by his vision, fairness and fortitude than any number of sacred Vessels.” Tovrik breathed heavily and leaned on his staff for support, weighed down by the emotion of the telling. “Ranevark, Benifran and Albion died within two months of each other. That is how long it took to undo the Kingdom ten years in the creation.”
Enchantress Awakening: Part One of the Book of Water (The Elemental Cycle 1) Page 25