Jonas was sitting in a chair with his back to the wall, drinking from a goblet. Elias lifted an eyebrow at him. “Ale at this early hour, my friend?”
Jonas grimaced. “I wish. Jenna doesn't like m' drinking. I'm not supposed to drink ale or spirits before sundown. She keeps telling me that she will eventually cure me of drinking entirely.” He snorted. “I have my doubts. Still, it's only water, and I'd rather drink it than face her cold shoulder at night.”
Brandt and Elias laughed, Tataramoa smirking in silence. Brandt clapped Jonas on the shoulder. “It's odd how a woman can bring a man to heel, isn't it?”
Jonas bristled slightly. “I ain't to heel yet, pup. I've got plenty of bark left in these bones.”
Elias shook his head, grinning. “Nobody doubts your fire, old man. Just see she doesn't quench it entirely. We'll all need it in the months to come.”
Jonas scoffed. “Tell that to her. She keeps talking about babies and settling down after the war.” He shook his head. “I'm too old for that.”
The door to Quartz's door opened, and she stepped out, eyes lined with dark rings. Though she was obviously still tired, she was otherwise presentable, wearing clean clothing, her long black hair brushed smooth and pulled back into a tight, neat braid. She took her seat between Brandt and Elias, pouring herself a goblet of water. She drained it in one long drink and set the vessel back on the table. She turned to Brandt as they watched her, pausing before she spoke.
“I am hungry. Could you have something brought in, please?”
Brandt nodded. “I'll have a servant bring in some bread and meat.”
She held up a hand. “Just bread please, and butter or cheese if there is any.”
Brandt summoned a servant, and before long, a tray was brought bearing sliced bread and a bowl of fresh butter. She spread the soft butter on the warm bread and took a bite before clearing her throat.
“I take it you all have some questions, with how you're staring at me. Go ahead. I will answer anything you may ask, within reason.”
Jonas tipped his goblet at Quartz as if he was toasting her. “That, m'dear, is an understatement.”
Elias sat forward, resting an elbow on the table. “That... magic you did yesterday. What was that?”
Quarts took a sip from her goblet. “That was the raw manipulation of the earth. It's one of the more direct and simple uses of the element that my Master and I specialize in. With it, I can draw stone up from beneath the soil, I can shatter blocks, or I can form it like clay. I can increase or decrease its density, and, to an extent, I can form one stone out of another, within reason.”
Jonas furrowed his brow. “You can form stone like clay?”
Quartz nodded. “Yes. Let me show you.”
She stood then, slowly, and walked towards a tapestry, pulling it aside. Behind the tapestry, she pressed her hand against one of the stone blocks that formed the wall there. There was a soft glow from her hand, and it sank into the stone like it was made of mud instead of solid material. She pulled her hand back, revealing a perfect hand print, the edges of the mark piled up slightly higher, forming a ridge around the indentation she had made.
Jonas stood, crossing the room, examining the print. He pushed on the stone with his fingers, picking at it. “It's solid, all right,” he said, his voice hushed. “I've never seen anything like it!”
Tataramoa stared at the imprint from across the room. “The seers of Greenreef could command the power of the gods, but it consumed their bodies. Our last speaker, Marl, gave his life to channel their power against our enemies, yet it does not harm you. Why is this?”
Quartz returned to her seat. “From what I understand, your seers and speakers are similar to our priests, here on the mainland. They get their power directly from the elemental incarnations themselves, the entities that are the result of hundreds of thousands of years of worship, the spirits that have formed directly from the elemental energies themselves.”
Elias frowned. “So, you're saying that the elements formed the gods, not the other way around?”
Quartz nodded, spreading butter on a slice of bread with a small knife. “That is how the Masters of the Council view it. The gods worshiped by the common citizen are just energy given form by focus.”
She took a bite from the slice of bread. “Instead of drawing directly from that insanely powerful force, we instead pull our power from what they bleed off. Think of the elemental energies as a river. You wouldn't use a river to irrigate your fields; it would wash your crops away. True, some of your plants would be watered, but many would be destroyed by the deluge. Instead, you direct a small flow from the river in a channel, and you carry water from that channel in an appropriate vessel.”
Quartz leaned against the table, resting on her elbows. “In this way priests and mages differ. We direct a part of the flow, suiting it to our needs, whereas the priests try to channel the river.”
Elias sat forward, clasping his hands together. “How did you learn do to all of this?”
She took another bite, chewed and swallowed. “Study. My master tells me that I have a natural skill that he has never before seen in an elf.”
Jonas spoke up. “So your master, he is more powerful than you?”
Quartz looked up at Jonas and slowly nodded without speaking.
“How much more powerful?”
Quartz held Jonas's eyes with her own. “Much.”
Tataramoa spoke next. “Are there more like you?”
Quartz shook her head. “Like me? No. I am the only elven student amongst the Council's apprentices. All of the rest are humans, as are the masters, though they have been able to extend their lives well beyond their natural years.”
Elias asked another question. “How many masters are there in the Council? Can they all do what you did?”
Quartz shook her head again. “No. Each master has their own skill, to which they showed affinity to before they were selected by the previous masters.” She looked around the table. “I think it would do well for me to explain how our order works.”
“I think it would, too.” Jenna's voice came from the door to the great hall. She closed the door behind her and walked to sit next to Jonas. She was clean, though her clothing was stained with blood – evidence of her work with the wounded soldiers. She crossed her arms over her chest and sat back expectantly.
Quartz raised an eyebrow. “You don't like me.”
“I don't trust you,” Jenna corrected her. “I saw what you can do yesterday, and I see how involved you are in this campaign. What I don't know is why.”
Quartz sighed, looking down at her food. “That is fair. Unfortunately, my motivations must remain my own, as I fear they would reveal too much at this time.” She looked back up at Jenna. “I can, however, tell you more about my master, our order, and what we can do.”
“Then start with that,” Jenna said.
Quartz nodded and took another bite of her bread. Holding the slice in one hand, she poured herself another goblet of water from the nearby carafe. Setting the vessel down, she reached into her shirt and pulled out a jeweled medallion on a silver chain. Drawing the necklace off over her head, she set it on the table where everyone could see it.
It was silver, about two inches in diameter, and was made similarly to other medallions Elias had seen before. He again noted the prevalence of the eight-pointed star in flags, jewelry, and diagrams, but kept his observation to himself. Instead, he studied the pendant.
The star held nine stones, one gem making up each of the eight points, and a large octagonal stone in the center. The top point, closest to the silver bail that the necklace passed through was a brown tiger's eye, followed by green, blue, orange, white, black, red, then finally yellow. The stone in the center was purple, likely an amethyst. Between the points, on the disk of silver, were sigils engraved into the metal.
Quartz tapped the medallion. “Most people think of the world as consisting of the classic four elements, earth, fire, wa
ter, and air.” She tapped the tiger's eye, then the red, blue, and white stone in turn as she spoke.
“These are the cardinal elements, the physical ones that shape our world and add form to what we see and can feel with our hands. However, four other forces shape the physical ones. These are creation, destruction, order, and chaos.” She tapped the other four stones in turn, green, black, orange, and yellow.
“These forces exist in balance. If the balance is upset too far to one end or another, the world suffers. If the forces of chaos grow too powerful, then the world is plunged into a destructive cycle where nothing that depends on order can thrive. Soon, all is chaos, and the world as we know it would come to an end. Something else may be born in its place, but first, all would cease to be. If order grows too powerful, then entropy sets in. Nothing can grow or change, and the world would wither and die. It is the same with creation and destruction, respectively. If there is too little destruction, then the force of creation would use up all of the available resources, and everything would choke off and die. Too much destruction and life could not regrow, leaving everything barren and dead.”
She gestured to Elias. “You can see this even in the wilds of Lonwick. Fires will rage through the great forests, destroying all of the ground cover, but it is with these fires that the great redwood trees can drop their seeds, replacing what giants are burned and destroyed. The ash makes the ground fertile again, and new life fills the forest while the old, dead ground cover is eliminated. Destruction so that new life can be created, chaos of fire so that the order of the cycle can continue.”
Elias nodded. “I have seen this.”
Amethyst paused, taking a drink from her goblet. “In this way is our order formed. There are eight masters, each with an affinity for an element. My master is the most powerful mage regarding the element of Earth.” She held her hands in front of her as if trying to present her words with them. “He specializes in manipulation of stone and minerals. It is easiest, of course, to manipulate the raw, living stone, but with enough training, even metal can bend to one's will. Soil is much more difficult, as it is seldom comprised of just the elements, often having organic matter and other impurities...”
She waved her hand as if dismissing the thought. “But I digress. The mechanics are of less importance. Suffice it to say, that my master is the greatest manipulator of stone and metal this world has ever seen. Each apprentice learns from their master, and one they ascend to their master's position, they add to the wealth of knowledge that has been built over the ages. Sometimes a master passes before they are able to teach their apprentice all that they know, and in those times, their element suffers.”
She set her hands on the table. “The line of my master is unbroken from the foundation of the council, eons ago. His colleagues are, likewise, similar masters of their elements, though most cannot trace their magical lineage as far back and the master of Earth can. They convene to discuss amongst themselves how or if they should use their magic to guide the world into balance.”
Jenna scowled. “Deciding the fate of the world from a lofty retreat, no doubt.”
Quartz shook her head. “It's not like that. This world, if left to its own devices, would have come to an end long ago. Whether it be one of our own, an external force, or a natural imbalance, the scales tip periodically. The last time that happened, entire civilizations were wiped from the surface of this world, and what was once a vibrant, healthy country was reduced to nothing but wasteland, dotted with oasis.” She glanced up at Jenna. “You would know that place as the Burning Sands.”
Jenna stiffened in her seat but didn't speak again, so Quartz continued.
“Countries have risen and fallen with and without our order's influence. Sometimes, a force enters our world that threatens the balance, and we must act. Such a force is in our world now, and its reach is farther than we have ever seen.” She looked to Elias. “You have encountered it already, both in Lonwick and on the Greenreef islands.”
Elias sat up. “The Felle.”
Quartz nodded. “Precisely. Their forces upset the balance. They defy the natural cycle of things, raising the dead from where they fall, twisting creatures of this world into creations of war, and opening the Abyss to allow abominations not meant for this world to roam.”
Jonas caught his breath. “Raising the dead?”
Quartz nodded. “Those would be the Felle themselves, from which the rest of the army draws its name. Fallen warriors pulled from their graves and forced to follow the perverted will of their masters.”
Elias's head swam. He knew he was facing an army of orcs, ogres, and trolls, but an army of the risen dead? How could he hope to prevail against that? What hope did Lonwick have against such a force?
Quartz was quiet for a moment, taking a bite of her bread. “It is good that you burned the bodies of the fallen. The North has always been a place that has very few Felle, for this reason.”
Brandt nodded, his face pale. “We burn our dead. It's one of our many traditions. Our legends speak of a time where the dead would return from the crypts and inhabit their old bodies to torment the living, so we venerate our fallen by ensuring their rest in the afterlife.” He shook his head. “I had no idea that the stories were anything more than that.”
Quartz finished her meal and sipped from her goblet. “Many legends have a basis in fact if you know where to look, and how to read the signs.”
Jenna had relaxed, leaning against Jonas, her arms still crossed in front of her chest. “So. What do we do now?”
Quartz sat back in her chair. “Carloman will have likely heard of our victory here, or if he hasn't, he will very soon. Time is of the essence; we must liberate the queen from Carloman's clutches. However, we cannot have Gerulf or Adalhard reinforcing him. He is already far too powerful, second now only to you, Lord Brandt. With Gerulf and Adalhard aiding him, they would still outnumber you.”
Brandt sat forward. “Our numbers are now large enough that no one lord could take Valtheim or the surrounding land. With Adalhard and Gerulf's armies weakened, perhaps my bannermen will rally once more.”
Jonas sat forward, disturbing Jenna, who frowned at him. He gestured with his goblet to Brandt. “No offense, Lord Brandt, but it seems like we have much bigger fish to fry. Should we really be focusing on rescuing one person if we have an invasion from beyond the grave to deal with?”
Brandt frowned and was about to speak, when Quartz held up her hand to silence him, interrupting. “Queen Eira is no mere noble, not just a woman. She is the apprentice of one of the Council. Her master rules over the element of Air, and is greatly distraught at her loss. He has been absent from every meeting of the council since he lost his apprentice.”
Brandt was stunned, his mouth hanging open. “She... what?”
Quartz nodded. “It's true. Have you ever wondered why Valtheim has had such favorable weather, while much of the north freezes, and has no droughts, while the mountains just south of the Stromgard valley wither each summer? Her influence was subtle, but effective nonetheless.”
Brandt sat back, his eyes still wide in shock. “I... I never knew.”
Quartz smiled slightly. “She was discreet, to be sure. I understand she said she was visiting her kin when she required more training.”
Brandt nodded numbly. “Every summer, after the solstice festivals. I remember.”
Elias remembered as well. She would depart with an escort sent by her family, and return with another escort. It would seem that she wasn't being entirely transparent in her travels. He rested his elbows on the table, his chin on one massive fist. “So, if she is an apprentice like you are, can she not overcome Carloman's forces herself? If she has even a small measure of the power that you have shown, it should be a small task.”
Quartz nodded. “Normally, it would. But there are complications. Carloman isn't acting alone.”
Jenna furrowed her brow. “Adalhard and Gerulf, are they keeping her from acting?”
Quartz waved her hand. “They are little more than popular peasants. No, Carloman has aid from an agent of the Felle. We do not know the identity of this agent yet, but we have some educated guesses. It is most likely a mage from the Abyss or one of their allies on Erde.” She sighed, and lifted her goblet of water again, absently looking over the designs etched into the cup. “They have a ward in place that is sufficient to quell the students. Any of the masters could shatter it; however, they are bound not to act.”
She looked up at Brandt. “A union between Carloman and Eira would legitimize his claim to the North in the eyes of many, and it would give the Felle a foothold in the region, more so than they have already. We must prevent this from happening, and if possible, we must assassinate Carloman as well.”
Tataramoa leaned his spear against the wall, having finished it while Quartz was speaking. “Can you get us into the castle?”
Quartz shook her head. “No. Well... not directly. The same ward that prevents Eira from practicing her magic also stops me. I can get us close, but once we are there, it will take more... conventional means to achieve our goals.”
Elias considered. “How close can you get us?”
Quartz thought about it for a moment. “There is a thick stand of trees two miles from Carloman's fortress at Tiefuhr, where he is holding Eira. I can transport us there, and I can get us back from there. The rest will be up to you.” She drummed her fingers against the table. “I will need a day to prepare, and you will need to do exactly as I tell you when the time comes. I can move myself and at most three others.”
Brandt stood. “I will go.”
Quartz shook her head. “No. You must remain here, to lead your men.” She pointed to Elias with the goblet in her right hand. “You will come with me, as will you, Tataramoa, and you, Jonas.”
Jonas looked up, startled, and Jenna's eyes widened.
“Jonas? Why Jonas?”
Quartz set the goblet down. “Jonas has experience with infiltrating fortified buildings, and Tataramoa is skilled at being silent. Elias is familiar with the queen, and she will be more likely to trust him and come with us. While she and I aren't adversaries, per se, our masters are rivals. Their elements work against each other, which means if my master grows too powerful, it is her master that brings him into check, and vice versa.”
Thunderbolt (Dynasty of Storms Book 2) Page 17