Aliandra: nymph: Book 1 The Nymph chronicles

by Jacqueline Marshall

  "Form a circle around me. As I point to you activate your armor." Brand pointed at each student randomly and noted those with delays in their armor activation. I will pair those with faulty activation together to keep the contests fair. I need a volunteer." One student stepped forward quickly. "When you spar the armor is often intrusive and limits mobility. What I want to see today is the spot activation of your armor. That means you quickly activate then deactivate your armor as required throughout the contest. It will take some practise to get it right so start slowly to get used to it. It is risky but when you get it right it gives you a definite advantage over the opponent who remains in his armor. I will demonstrate the advantage with this student who will remain armored throughout."

  As Brand activated his armor there was a collective gasp. As he removed his dagger and blade to spar, his student volunteer remained staring and transfixed on his weapons. "Wake up, student. Prepare to spar." The sound of shouts and running feet sounded in the background.

  "Yes, my lord" he said as he became sensible and drew his blade and dagger to begin.

  "As fast as you can manage. Attack" he instructed.

  The student attacked with ferocity and Brand easily deflected his attack, deactivated his armor then swiftly moved to reposition himself behind the student to hold his dagger against his throat. Several more demonstrations were watched by an ever-increasing crowd of student observers. Brand paired the students off and observed their efforts, made corrections and provided instruction as required. At the conclusion of the lesson the students asked to get a better look at his armor and weapons. Brand obliged and after activating his armor her ran through all the attached weaponry. He also brought out of storage the range of others weapons Ali made one by one. He showed the students how to move with and handle each weapon differently. The crowd grew and the students were in awe and were engrossed with Brand's every word.

  Riv returned from teaching his class and listened to Brand as he demonstrated his armor. "If only my students hung on my every word like those around you. Your armor and weapons truly are a work of deadly art. Has Hephaestus finally succeeded in getting you to accept this as a gift?" asked Riv.

  "No" replied Brand.

  "Not the nymph, surely?" asked Riv.

  "Yes. She is sneaky and wayward. If you recall, Hephaestus referred to his assistant as a nice little steamroller. He demanded I not offend her when I went in to pick up my dagger and this is what I got. She melted down my old armor to make a statuette, it is in my office" brooded Brand.

  "The demon pulling a face in the corner? I didn't think that was your taste."

  "She made it for Hephaestus."

  "I see. Yes, he would like that sort of thing, especially since it was made from your old armor."

  "Riv, find out everything you can on Aliandra. For my eyes only."

  "Hephaestus' dowdy little helper?" asked Riv.

  "I warned you she was sneaky so don't underestimate her. She is neither dowdy, dim nor as weak as she makes out. Indeed, I think she is quite the opposite" mused Brand. "Riv, strictly between us, understood?"

  "Yes, boss" replied Riv.

  Chapter 26

  In his office, Brand looked through the file on Aliandra that Riv had compiled. Nothing about it seemed right. No mortals in Eureka had memories of Aliandra, even though it was the place listed as her home. No tribal people would talk about her under any circumstances. The fortress where he knew was the place she had first keened was mostly destroyed. He recalled the image of the tall slim girl courageously firing arrows at his gun. he tried to reconcile that image with the curvaceous beauty in tribal dress and the dowdy helper at the forge. A puzzle in a dress.

  He browsed the information on her boyfriend, Donovan. A tribal river god with wealth and power. A seemingly solid relationship that Brand decided he needed to break up. The phone calls from his house to Donovan's office were interesting. He would leave early and speak with his bed-mates about this surprising new association.

  That evening Brand had a very long conversation with Tana until he was certain she had relayed every detail to him regarding her connection to Aliandra and Donovan.

  "Are you unhappy here, Tana?"

  "No, my lord."

  "I do not begrudge giving my companions choices or making friends. Advise the women that I will arrange a visit to the tribal areas you are so interested in." said Brand. "If you choose to stay or return that will be up to each woman. Contact Donovan and advise him of my plan. See if he might act as host. Make the arrangements."

  "Yes, my lord. Will you be attending with us?"

  "No, I will be busy" he said then Tana quickly left.

  Brand wandered over to his desk and picked up a letter from his mother asking to meet. He then grimly threw it into a draw, locked it and stalked away.

  A hurried knock on the door announced the late night messenger. "My Lord, it is Commander Rivier. He has been badly injured."

  "Where is he now?"

  "En route to the underworld medic station."

  "I will attend at once" he said as he closed the door and disappeared.

  Chapter 27

  The medic station had a range of basic facilities. Professional healers were rarely brought in because of the expense. Those who did not die of their injuries were often killed by competing families, in the cutthroat demon hierarchy, shortly after they were released from the medic station. Brand checked with the medics and found Riv's injuries were extensive and he was currently in the operating theatre.

  Brand left to advise Hephaestus of Riv's injuries and to see if Riv could take on the secretarial position to prevent any further attacks on him.

  "Ali will have to give the final agreement since we are essentially business partners now. I have the forms she drew up for that position and the list of qualifications" said Hephaestus.

  Brand quickly reviewed the list and said Rivier was more than qualified. However, there was one item he would have to address with Hades. Ali had insisted that the applicant was able to retract their existing oaths of allegiance in order to swear fealty to one of the owners in order to safeguard any business secrets. Brand made an appointment to meet Hades the next morning.

  Hades welcomed his High Daemon Lord and asked of the troops and their training progress. Hades also asked to view Brand's new armor. Brand showed Hades through all the weapons and accessories.

  "A grooming application you say. Ingenious!" exclaimed Hades. "Very impressive suit, Brand."

  "Hades, I have come on behalf of Commander Rivier. He has sustained serious injuries in the line of duty and if he is able to recover from the injuries then he will certainly be attacked and finished off as soon as he leaves the medic station" said Brand.

  "What is there to do, Brand? It is the nature of the underworld" replied Hades.

  "Our friend, Hephaestus, is looking to fill a secretarial position in his business. One requirement of the position is that the applicant must be able to nullify their existing oaths and swear fealty to the owner to protect their business secrets. I ask for Commander Rivier to be released from his oaths of fealty to you and the underworld so he may work for Hephaestus and be given the chance to fully recover from his injuries" said Brand.

  "Hephaestus is also friends with Rivier?" asked Hades.

  "More of a drinking buddy, sire" replied Brand.

  "I will require a payment to release Rivier" stated Hades.

  "Sire?" asked Brand.

  "I wish to have a suit of armor comparable to yours. Also a suit of armor for my wife. That is the payment for Rivier's release to Hephaestus" said Hades.

  "I will carry the message to Hephaestus, sire" said Brand.

  Brand left and wearily ran his hand through his hair with the feeling of defeat staring him boldly in the face. Time was running out for Riv and only Ali could make the armor. She wasn't even talking to him so it seemed unlikely she would make the armor. The situation looked hopeless for Riv.

  Brand appea
red at the forge office and entered wearily. Ali was working at a bench and Hephaestus approached him in welcome.

  "How goes it, Brand?" asked Hephaestus quietly.

  "To release Rivier to you, Hades wants two suits of armor, one for him and one for Persephone, but they must be comparable to mine. That is the payment and he will not change his mind" said Brand.

  "We must tell Aliandra. Aliandra, come forth please" called Hephaestus.

  "On my way."

  When Ali arrived in front of Hephaestus, Brand had slunk down on the couch. "Aliandra, our friend, Brand, has located a suitable secretary for the business. It is one of our friends, Commander Rivier. Riv has been seriously injured and to save his life he needs this job to keep him out of the underworld while he heals. It is normal for demons to attack their competition while they are weak or injured. So it is literally a matter of life or death that Riv gets this job."

  "What is the problem?" asked Ali.

  "Hades has demanded a high payment. Two suits of armor, comparable to Brand's, in payment to release Rivier from his oaths of fealty to Hades and the underworld" explained Hephaestus.

  "So, what is the problem?" asked Ali.

  Brand stood and shouted "I have not the money to pay for such suits and save my friend. You are the only one who can make the suits even if I could pay for it. Riv will be released in a matter of weeks then attack is certain when he is at his weakest. Such suits would take many months to make."

  "The payment I ask is for you to speak with your mother. All else can be delivered on time" said Ali. "If you agree I can meet Hades and Persephone today to custom design and measure. The suits will be delivered within the week. Does that suit you?"

  A small flicker of hope crossed Brand's. "You will do it?"

  "Of course" replied Ali "Your payment, do you agree?"

  "Yes" said Brand firmly.

  "I guess we are talking again, Brand. Take me to Hades" ordered Ali as she turned to gather up her design supplies.

  Chapter 28

  Brand and Ali entered the throne room where Hades and Persephone waited for them.

  "Sire, may I present the designer and maker of my armor, Aliandra" announced Brand.

  Ali stepped forward. "Hades, I have agreed to make custom-fitted suits of armor for you and Persephone. They will be comparable to Brand's suit of armor. I am here to design and measure for the armor. Do we have an agreement that you will release all oaths that connect Rivier to you, the underworld and any other contractual obligation he may have signed? I have the contractual agreement to make the two suits here. I wish for you to prepare the agreement that releases Rivier from all his oaths, contracts and obligations while I design and measure. The documents will all be signed today and Rivier will be released to my care today. Does that meet your approval?" asked Ali.

  "My, my, my. You are forthright and organized, are you not? How long will it take to make the suits and have them delivered?" asked Hades.

  "I will aim to complete them and have them delivered by the end of the week. They will be of the finest quality, so I will not do a rush job on them. It takes as long as it takes for the finest craftsmanship. All other projects will be sidelined to meet your deadline. You have not answered my question, are you in agreement with signing documents and releasing Rivier into my care today?" said Ali staunchly.

  Hades sighed. "Yes, that will be the agreement, the suits of armor for Rivier. It can be accomplished today" Hades waved his hand and a small wiry man stepped forth. "Draw up the agreement now." The man bowed and disappeared.

  "Now, the fun part. If you stand and remove your robes I can measure you both now with this instrument. Hades first. Please step forward, remove you clothes and turn until I say." Hades did so until Ali said "Stop. extend your hands and I will get precise measurements of them so every weapon will be perfectly fitted to your hands. Please dress. Persephone, Please step forward. Remove your garments and turn." Brand remained standing staunchly at attention. "Please stop and extend your hands. Done! The worst is over. "Persephone, please dress and I require a table and some chairs for the design process."

  "Hades, a striking snake perhaps?" Ali did a few designs and Hades chose his favorite. "Persephone, what impact do you prefer. For something beautiful and graceful I can design a deer eating sheathes of grain on a silver background or for something more daunting I would design bats on a dark background. Hades will be on a striking snake on dark background. Do you choose to match or contrast with Hades. Your choice."

  "Each design reflects my positions as goddess of spring and queen of the underworld. I would have the bat design because queen is the dominant position on the hierarchy" stated Persephone.

  "Of course" said Ali and she made various bat designs from which Persephone chose one.

  Ali then took the chosen design and made a detailed drawing of what the suits would look like with the designs on them. She made a list of weaponry Hades and Persephone wanted incorporated in the design.

  "We want the grooming application too" interrupted Hades.

  "What kind of storage capacity do you have on your current gems?" asked Ali.

  They said and Ali said she would include complimentary gem storage with the suits because they needed larger capacity. Once Ali got their choice of color, both black, she got Hades and Persephone to initial all the drawings to signify their approval.

  "Please check the designs carefully now to determine if you want to make any changes or additions" asked Ali. "I want them to be perfect for you, not just acceptable."

  Both were pleased with the agreed designs and weaponry. Ali produced her contract to produce the suits for the payment of the release of Rivier from all oaths, contracts and obligations that bind him to Hades and the underworld. The small wiry man returned with the contract pertaining to Rivier and Ali took it and quietly read it through.

  "This contract is incomplete" she stated. "Please correct it."

  The little man produced another contract and Ali read it through. "I want you to change the wording. Rivier is to be released from every oath, contract and obligation linking him to Hades and the underworld. Fix it!" she demanded as she handed it back to the man.

  "You seem to understand contracts" said Hades.

  "It was necessary. I have been learning about business management" responded Ali.

  "Quite" said Hades.

  The small man returned and Ali read the contract slowly and carefully. "Yes, this is acceptable. We need it signed and witnessed by two people. There has been no space provided for witness signatures" she said and the small man angrily waved his hand and produced the space for witness signatures.

  Ali checked it through carefully again. "This is acceptable. Hades, Persephone please put your formal signatures on this document, I will follow, then the witnesses. The little man needs to stay and Brand please step forward to witness." The documents were passed around and signed. Ali checked their signatures were present and correct. "Your formal seal please Hades to acknowledge the document." said Ali.

  "That contract is indeed watertight now" griped Hades after he used his seal of office.

  "Indeed. Now we sign the contracts to produce your suits, please read it carefully" said Ali. The documents were passed around and signed by all parties. "Please advise your troops and medics that Brand and I are permitted to remove Rivier from the underworld with your blessing. I would not like anyone to think we might be kidnapping him. We will wait while you make the announcement" said Ali.

  The announcement was duly made and Ali and Brand bowed and exited. Ali and Brand made their way to the medic station. Riv was still heavily medicated. "We are here to remove Commander Rivier, here is the document releasing him to our care" stated Ali. The medics checked the contract and nodded. "Brand, unhook him and 'port him straight to the forge office couch. I will take it from there" Ali whispered. Brand 'ported Riv out and he and Ali followed.

  When they arrived in the forge office Ali said they had to wait for
the medication to wear off first so that Riv was coherent. Ali was shaky after the underworld encounter. "It was like a contractual battle ground. No wonder the mortals don't stand a chance with Hades. He is the sneakiest, most vile critter I have ever encountered. It is a good thing I was so familiar with contractual law and Hades' usual bag of tricks" said Ali as she flopped down on a chair.

  Hephaestus brought some coffee over and they sat quietly sipping it.

  "You saved his life little Ali-cat" said Brand with emotion. "I grew up with Riv, we were best friends from the day we met."

  "I haven't saved him yet. When he wakes I will heal him" she said.

  "He isn't earth" disputed Brand.