Eventually, he decided to focus on finishing what he had started. Maria had talked about moving in, and he was about to create a nation here. His little mansion needed some expanding. As such, he slotted the second slate into the castle size module.
That left Rys with a slate in the dais, which powered the castle itself; two slates providing him with power from the castle for use in summoning; and one slate to help him build and maintain the castle. Four in total.
And another in close reach within the Labyrinth, when he felt strong enough to find and defeat that massive undead dragon.
Power slates didn’t reappear after they had been taken, and Rys had found them roughly every five levels, or powering the Labyrinth’s defense systems. When they had ascended from the power conduit, he had counted the number of staircases, only to learn that they rose one more than he expected. That meant the power slate they found in the crossroads had been on the tenth floor.
They had entered the antechamber of the power conduit—the cylindrical hall that resembled the Marnn citadel—from the ninth floor. When they exited, it had been on the tenth floor. The Labyrinth could even mess with the level they were on while they moved around.
That meant that power slates were special. Irreplaceable, even. The fact they were created from the same material as the obelisks that powered the seals raised questions.
That meant that the seals were powered by the Labyrinth. That helped explain why he could move freely within it, but not outside of it. Given the appearance of the door leading to the power conduit, the seals drew on the Labyrinth’s power in a similar way to the castle.
But it still left too many questions unanswered. Rys pondered the problem, before deciding that only speaking to Orthrus could help.
Unfortunately, he had gone into hiding. After some time, Rys located the wisp within a small chamber in the middle sub-level.
Orthrus hovered over a book. For several seconds, Rys watched as Orthrus glared at the book, as if willing it to open itself and unveil its secrets.
Rys half-expected Orthrus to start threatening the book, but nothing of the sort happened. Only silence, and the almost tangible disappointment of Orthrus.
“You still can’t interact with anything,” Rys said.
Silence.
“That power conduit we broke…” Rys began to say.
“When you shattered it, you saw something, didn’t you?” Orthrus asked. “I felt you change. It was an experience unlike any in my memories.”
Rys narrowed his eyes. “If your memories are sealed like mine, then shouldn’t you have seen the same thing?”
Orthrus sighed, then turned to Rys. The sight disconcerted Rys somewhat. The beak combined with the unblinking, glowing golden eyes gave Orthrus an almost deific appearance.
“My seal is different to yours,” Orthrus said. “I regained knowledge. And apparently some measure of my old strength. But apparently nothing as substantial as what you gained.”
“Different,” Rys repeated. “So the two seals are separate, and one is for each of us.” Orthrus had left that part out. “If that’s the case, then why did we both regain power?”
“It is a curiosity, isn’t it?” Orthrus said. “My seal has been active longer than yours. I wonder if the two intertwined when you were sealed away. It is highly likely that your captors hardly understood what they were meddling with.”
That was almost too good of an explanation, as Rys had nothing to counter it with. He knew that the Labyrinth powered at least one seal—presumably, both. What if somebody used the power of Orthrus’s seal to keep Rys here?
“Then why not tell me the truth to begin with?” Rys asked.
“Ah, yes, because a human who served as one of Malusian’s most trusted generals is exactly who I should place my faith in.” Orthrus’s face shifted, and Rys felt that he was trying to sneer. “You have proven a better ally than I ever dared hope, so I do apologize in retrospect, but I cannot trust you. Freedom is something too great to risk. If you knew that we had two separate seals, you might go out of your way to keep me trapped here.”
“But now I know that our seals are intertwined. Or at least, mine is with yours,” Rys said. “A cynical man would say you planned this.”
Orthrus said nothing, but Rys felt the smugness in his gaze.
“Fine. I won’t hold it against you, given what’s at stake. But I’ve proven that I’m a winning hand of cards. I’ve had enough of your complete refusal to provide basic information and help,” Rys said. “I doubt we can ever trust each other, but we need one another right now.”
“True,” Orthrus replied. “Very true. I am glad that we agree, then. We are each the keys to one another’s freedom.”
Rys frowned.
When he had first awakened, Orthrus had said that to him.
Now, it made a lot more sense. Orthrus required Rys’s help to ever break free, as he couldn’t do anything. That had always been obvious to Rys.
But Rys had originally thought that he needed Orthrus’s guidance and knowledge to free himself. That remained a possible interpretation.
Or perhaps, the real truth was that they were now deeply connected by the seals, regardless of whether they chose to help each other. By freeing himself, Rys would free Orthrus. Perhaps the opposite was true as well.
“I have something else I want to talk to you about,” Rys said. “But I need more time to digest it.”
“Something that you saw?” Orthrus asked. “I am curious that you even thought to tell me it.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re already aware of it, even if I don’t tell you,” Rys said, fishing.
Orthrus remained silent. He had a great poker face.
“Like I said, I’ll sleep on it,” Rys said after several seconds. “For now, I need to practice my rediscovered skills.”
With those words, Rys left.
He hadn’t lied about practicing. Immediately afterward, he set to work on confirming his power.
The most obvious change was that he had more magical power at his disposal. His balls of hellfire lasted longer and were noticeably larger. He suspected they would burn his targets faster as well, converting matter into energy rapidly.
Rys also had access to more of his strength Gift. It felt closer to what Krisanem had originally given him now—the ability to match the physical strength of any opponent, even if they used magic to enhance themselves.
Another technique rose to the front of his mind. Hefting his axe, he channeled raw infernal energy into its blade. Red light shimmered into existence over the black surface of the axe.
Rys let the spell fade, and the energy burst into prismatic light. That was a technique known as an infernal blow, and was a specialty of Arcas devils. The unstable infernal energy imbued into a weapon allowed for a singular explosive attack, punching through defenses and blowing apart armor and flesh alike. A useful technique.
But the greatest change was that he now knew dozens more summoning rituals than he had before. Including ways to stretch his limited pool of power much further, as well as how to bind more dangerous beings.
He still felt too weak to summon many of the people he wanted to. His summoning ability right now relied more heavily on binding his targets to his will. But stronger infernals could never be bent like that—they always served willingly.
If Rys summoned Asa and tried to bind her, she’d probably shatter the ritual circle with a punch and then try to rip his head off.
No, that would require too much effort for her. She’d probably just flip him off until he got bored and unsummoned her. He lacked the power to forcibly bind her. For now.
But the potential lingered. He had some ideas, including how to use the castle’s power, but left them at ideas for now.
He slept. Tomorrow, he began his plan to defeat Barul. This new power would serve its purpose.
Chapter 23
Now that Rys had returned and was ready to face Barul, he needed to make the final prepar
ations. Maria had mentioned she knew a Kinadain who might help them, so he asked her to summon that Kinadain to his manor.
A few days passed before an older Kinadain woman rode up to his estate. The Lilim led her to the rear courtyard, where Rys sat at a table with recording crystals and a thick pile of paperwork. He’d assigned the Lilim to manage hospitality in the manor, given they appeared human.
It also got the Lilim out of those leotards and doing something other than fucking around the sub-levels. He hadn’t organized a uniform for them, which meant they wore whatever they felt like. Everything they wore was skimpy, though. Succubi abhorred covered cleavage and thighs.
“I had expected a stronger military presence, Lord Talarys,” the Kinadain woman said as she was led to the table. “You’ve left a trail of bodies across the region as you tear apart Compagnon’s schemes. Where are your fortifications and elite guards at every corner? Or do you believe yourself beyond the reach of your foes?”
“Have a seat, Sage Hanna,” Rys said. He placed the report he was reading on the table.
A Lilim whisked away everything on the table a moment later, then laid out coffee and pastries.
Hanna was not what Rys expected. Supposedly ostracized by the elders of the local dains, Hanna was a matronly woman with curled ivory horns. Her clothes were conservative and consisted of an enchanted blue robe that covered almost all of her skin. Magical energy clung to her faintly.
Rys had expected a young firebrand. A rebel who opposed the elders and commanded respect because of her principles. Instead, he got a traveling monk.
“I’m better protected than I appear,” Rys said. “I don’t need walls and a hundred belligerent thugs to keep my estate safe.”
“That places you a step above every other would-be-lord who has come here,” Hanna said. She ignored the pastries and drank her coffee black. Without sugar, of course.
“There’s no ‘will be’ about it,” Rys said. “I’m already working closely with Maria. I believe she told you as much?”
“We spoke briefly about you. I speak with and support the demihumans in Anceston and the low-lying areas, so we are familiar with one another.” Hanna gestured to the drinks. “Aren’t you going to drink?”
He poured a coffee and demonstrated that he hadn’t poisoned it. Technically, he could have, given he was immune to poison, but she didn’t know that.
“Lady Maria has been very busy lately. Gathering village chiefs and town mayors together, sending out supplies to free villages, and attempting to keep the flames of rebellion from being stoked too hard.” Hanna raised an eyebrow at him. “The fact you haven’t used the anger of the people speaks well of you. But it makes me wonder why you need me.”
Rys decided to skip the buildup. “You’re ostracized from the dains. Why?”
“Ah. So that’s why.” Hanna smiled bitterly. “Maria spoke of Kinadain and demihuman relations, so I had my suspicions. You don’t really think I’ll help you bring my people to heel, do you?”
“That’s not why I’m asking. I have proof that another Sage is helping Compagnon—one of the liaisons from the dains. The Kinadain have been working with Compagnon for years. That’s an untenable relationship for me to have with the Kinadain. Especially given the power they have over Maria and Anceston.”
Hanna’s eyes bore into Rys. She drained her coffee, then poured another one.
Wind rustled through the courtyard. The two nearby Lilim made no effort to keep their skirts in place as they pretended to stand guard.
“I had wondered if things had deteriorated to this extent,” Hanna muttered. She sighed. “I left the dains after the incident with Maria. It represented the latest in a long string of power grabs by the elders. They’ve become corrupted by greed. So much of our culture has been. But how can I trust you to truly help us?”
“Corrupted?” Rys asked. “I thought trading in artifacts was normal for the Kinadain.”
Hanna laughed. “Oh, no. In fact, it was considered a grave felony to ransack the Labyrinth until your people came. But reality is cruel. Once, we traded food from the Ariadain in exchange our protection and blacksmithing skills. A highly beneficial relationship for each of us.”
Symbiotic, even. Rys didn’t tell her that, because she likely didn’t know the word. To say nothing of how dehumanizing it might sound.
“Foreigners changed everything. Your tools and metals are superior. Your warriors could match all but our very greatest. And you knew evocation—for every Slayer we had, you could muster an army of mages,” Hanna explained. “We had nothing to trade and no ability to grow food. Many left the mountains. Maria is a descendant of one such Kinadain.”
Something clicked in Rys’s mind. “Do the Kinadain view those who left as traitors? Is that why the topic of demihumans and Kinadain is so sensitive?”
Hanna nodded grimly. “Our world was shattered by your ships. It’s foolish to say that we can live how we did before, given even then we relied on neighbors to support us. We’ve changed. Even the isolated island of Kinaria has changed, although I feel that’s due to political interference by the remaining Kinadain. Many do not like being reminded of a place that has resisted the change that was forced on them.”
“I won’t pretend to understand,” Rys said. “But nothing I’m hearing sounds healthy. How does Kinaria resist the continents? Surely, trade vessels from Gauron would forcibly open the ports, given the difference in power?”
“Because Kinaria is protected by Tenno Morai, the Death Saint,” Hanna said.
Rys stared at her.
Death Saint? He felt the influence of angels once more. Even the name “Tenno” was from Pharos and was the word for emperor.
“The Slayers, Sages, and Saints are part of a system that operates across the whole archipelago,” Hanna said. “Once, it involved meeting at the standing stones in Kinaria once every few years. Now it operates more centrally from Dalyros. Slayers are our greatest warriors; Sages our spiritual guides; and the Saints a combination of both. Or at least, that’s the idea.”
“I take it that power corrupted?” Rys asked drily.
“I do not believe so. I remain a Sage, after all.” Hanna frowned, thinking over her next words. “But something happened with Morai. She remains a Saint because there aren’t any other Death Saints, but the circle that governs us despises her. Not that it matters. She can destroy armies single-handedly.”
Tenno Morai shot up into the top ten of people that Rys didn’t want to piss off. Any mortal capable of destroying an army was far beyond his ability to fight. For now. He’d handle her once he had most of his power back.
“Where do elders sit in this system?” Rys asked.
“They don’t. Not officially.” Hanna smirked. “But elders must hold at least one position, according to the customs of most dains. Most elders are Sages. There are also very few Sages nearby to replace the existing elders, for some mysterious reason.”
Ah, yes, a mysterious reason that involved preventing political opponents from being eligible to become elders. A tried-and-true tactic of corrupt leaders everywhere.
“I feel like we should be on the same side,” Rys said. “So why the misgivings?”
“Because the cause of this was your people,” Hanna said, although her tone was soft. “We broke our laws and traded in artifacts to maintain our way of life. But then we needed to protect the mountains from intruders, or else we’d lose our only source of income. After that, we cooperated with friendly rulers to protect ourselves from retribution. Every step had a justifiable reason, but increased the greed and power of the elders.”
“The current situation is untenable,” Rys said.
“It is. But removing the elders might allow you to sweep us from the mountains entirely,” Hanna countered. “You’re already involved in the artifact trade.”
“I… really don’t care whether the Kinadain live in the mountains or not,” Rys said bluntly. He rubbed his temples. “The artifact trade was
a means to raise funds, before Maria approached me. If I’m a king, it won’t matter. I’ll just tax the businesses involved.”
“Then promise me that my people will retain their land and be ruled by their own people?” Hanna asked.
Magic flared up within her.
“Do not try to bind me to a spiritual contract,” Rys growled.
Hanna glared at him.
“But that’s a promise I can easily make and keep, so long as I have the support of the Kinadain,” Rys said. “Is that enough?”
“It will have to be.” Hanna chewed on her lip. “Maria hinted that this related to Barul. Are you intending on breaking up their engagement?”
“Correct. The elders can override Maria’s spiritual contract. If I prove that I am a better fighter than Barul, then they’ll have no choice but to support me. If they don’t, their refusal will destroy their credibility, especially combined with evidence that they’re supporting Compagnon.”
“Devious. Evil, perhaps. But I was naïve to try to change minds through normal means,” Hanna said. “As a Sage, I can referee a sanctified duel under our customs. But I guarantee that the elders will ignore the result, even if they will attend out of morbid curiosity and pride.”
“Even better,” Rys said. “I just confirmed that you can create spiritual contracts, so that means my alternative plan is possible.”
He briefly explained to her the details of how he wanted to hold the duel. Now that he knew what Hanna was capable of, he was able to make some adjustments to improve the chance of success.
Hanna’s eyes were wide. She brushed her silvered hair back. “Yes, very devious. But I see one fundamental problem: Barul will refuse any spiritual contract to adhere to my rulings. He is a Slayer and therefore sees himself as right in everything.”
“I’m not one to speak, but that’s a little arrogant.”
“No, you’re really not one to speak,” Hanna said with an upturned look. “Each of you will need to offer collateral. He will ask something from you which will cripple your attempt to rule this region, if you lose. But you will be able to ask for something of immense value in return.”
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